By Rafiq Vayani
RAS AL KHAIMAH: Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, today announced the launch of the company’s first hotel and residences project in Ras Al Khaimah, at the Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference 2018.
Located in the Views island of Al Marjan Island, a four-island mega-development, Address Al Marjan Island hotel and residences will be managed by Emaar Hospitality Group’s premium lifestyle brand, Address Hotels + Resorts. This marks the first expansion of the Address brand to Ras Al Khaimah, and the first development venture by Emaar Development (DFM: EMAARDEV) in the emirate.
Address Al Marjan Island will be a resort-style development that draws on its exceptional natural location, directly by the Arabian Sea. The hotel will have 249 rooms, including suites, while Address Residences Al Marjan Island will comprise 234 high-end apartments. As part of Views, the largest of the four islands that make up Al Marjan Island, residents will be in close proximity to the ubran core of the master-planned community as well as the town centre. With direct access to over 600 metres of beachfront, residents and guests will have uninterrupted views of the sea in addition to a range of lifestyle amenities.
Sheikh Khalid bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman, Al Marjan Island, said: “We are honoured to welcome Emaar and its prestigious Address hotel brand to Al Marjan Island, which will further strengthen the appeal of our master-planned development as a preferred hub for visitors and investors from around the world. Emaar’s proven strengths in mixed-use developments will add significant value to Al Marjan Island with the Address hotel to contribute to our emirate’s tourism sector.”
Mohamed Alabbar said: “With its positive economic growth and focus on strengthening the tourism and investment landscape, Ras Al Khaimah has recorded robust growth in visitor arrivals and in attracting inward investments. The vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, to transform the emirate is underlined by mega-developments such as Al Marjan Island, which offers an ideal destination for us to showcase our competencies in hospitality, residential, retail and leisure developments.”
The announcement of Address Al Marjan Island follows a MoU signed by Emaar in December last year to develop 2 million sq ft mixed-use projects including high-end residential, hospitality and retail components in Al Marjan Island.
Eng. Abdullah Al Abdooli, CEO, Al Marjan Island, said: “The Address hotel and residence development will be another catalyst for Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sector, and underline Al Marjan Island as a vibrant destination offering exceptional hotel choices. The active participation of leading developers such as Emaar in Al Marjan Island highlights the tremendous potential for growth offered by the master-planned community which has already attracted international investors and hotel brands.”
Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Address Hotels + Resorts is our homegrown success story – a brand that has redefined the hospitality sector with its philosophy of ‘where life happens’. Address hotels are set apart by their location, its service standards and the wide range of lifestyle amenities that assure a premium lifestyle for guests and residents. Address Al Marjan Island marks our expansion to the fast-growing emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which is focused on strengthening tourism and leisure developments to welcome visitors from around the world.”
Address Al Marjan Island will feature several unique restaurant concepts including The Restaurant at Address for all-day dining, meeting and banquet space, a business lounge, a modern fitness centre, spa, pool and other wellness amenities. More details on the hotel will be announced in due course. Residents of the branded residences can access the hotel amenities.
Emaar Hospitality Group had most recently announced its expansion to Sharjah with a management agreement to operate three hotels in Aljada, a 24 million square foot integrated lifestyle destination, and a new leisure and entertainment hub for Sharjah, developed by ARADA. The three hotels will be under Emaar Hospitality Group’s premium lifestyle Address Hotels + Resorts, upscale lifestyle Vida Hotels and Resorts, and the contemporary midscale Rove Hotels.
Globally, Emaar Hospitality Group has a portfolio of over 35 upcoming properties. It has 12 operational hotels and three serviced residences in Dubai including five Address hotels – Address Boulevard, Address Dubai Mall, Address Dubai Marina, Address Montgomerie and Palace Downtown. In addition to an upcoming resort in Fujairah, internationally, Address Hotels + Resorts will operate hotel projects in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey and The Maldives.
Al Marjan Island has a development value of over $1.8 billion with 1,500 operational hotel keys and more than 2,000 residential units. Al Marjan Island is a cluster of four coral-shaped islands that is set to be a tourism and leisure hub. Framed against the Yanas and Jais Mountains, and with its exotic all-round waterfront location, the development is aimed to drive the growth of the tourism, hospitality and retails sectors.
