Rotana to expand with 16 new openings in 2017

Rotana is all set to reach its goal of operating 100 hotels by 2020, with the opening of 16 new properties by 2017.

Rotana’s ongoing growth momentum will include the opening of five new properties in the UAE, four in Saudi Arabia, two each in Turkey and Iraq, and the opening of Rotana’s first property in Muscat, Oman.

It will also begin extension work on one of the company’s UAE properties, The Cove Rotana Resort in Ras Al Khaimah, next year.

These new developments will see more than 3,756 keys added to its existing inventory by the end of 2017, helping Rotana grow its portfolio to 75 operating hotels with more than 19,450 keys in total.

Rotana president & CEO Omer Kaddouri said in a release: "Rotana has an ambitious global expansion strategy and the vast number of property openings due to take place in 2016 and 2017 will not only increase our presence in a range of destinations but also allow us to reinforce our position in the hospitality market in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe.”

However Rotana has identified Africa as a key growth market and is set to make its debut in the continent with the opening of more than 100-key Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, late in 2016.

In addition to the property in Congo, it currently has a number of projects under various stages of development across Africa including Marrakesh, Luanda, Nouakchott, Dar es Salaam and Lagos.