Four Seasons confirms new Dubai property

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has signed a new Dubai property, which is set to open in 2016 in Dubai International Financial Centre.

Speaking to Hotelier Middle East, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts president, hotel operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa Christian Clerc revealed the hotel would have just under 100 rooms and at least two F&B concepts.

Located in DIFC’s Gate Village area, the hotel will target business travellers.

When it opens, the hotel will be the brand’s second property in Dubai, joining Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, which opened in 2014.

Commenting on the strategy to operate two hotels in the same city, Clerc said: There aren’t a lot of properties right now that would sustain two Four Seasons – London is one of them; New York could sustain and we have another one under development in New York; so it has to make sense.

“This was ideal just because of how complementary the two hotels are and the fact that Dubai has amazing demand. It has the long term vision. It draws from markets that are critical to us and where we have a strong presence.”

Other projects in the regional pipeline for the group include the 190-key Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, which is due to open late 2016, and a 263-key property, scheduled for a Q3 2016 opening.

Commenting on future properties, Clerc hinted at a project in Jeddah, but would not reveal more details. The group is also eyeing opportunities in Oman. He said: “I would love for us to go to Oman. I think it would be an amazing destination for our guests. It’s one that we’ve been focused on and something that we’ll continue to look at. There are great opportunities there.

“We’ve achieved so much in the past 10 years in the Middle East – I think we could end up with one or two more hotels in the UAE for sure. We could have a desert experience – one of those high end luxury desert experiences would be appropriate here; and maybe another beach resort.”