Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s biggest property developer, is investing Dh1.5 billion ($408 million) to transform its hotel portfolio amid a boom in the UAE’s tourism sector.
As part of the strategy, Aldar is partnering with Hilton to operate the Eastern Mangroves hotel in the capital under the Waldorf Astoria brand with new premium rooms and suites, a new retail mix and enhancements to the promenade and marina planned.
It is also revising its entire master plan at Yas Plaza to turn the six-hotel complex into a fully integrated resort that will be operated by IHG’s ‘Vignette Collection’ brand and renamed Straylight Yas, Aldar said on Wednesday, adding that it will be the "largest Vignette Collection resort in the world".
Aldar’s hotel in Al Dhafra region, formerly known as Tilal Liwa, will also be part of the Vignette Collection brand, with new luxury suites and other upgrades. The collection is IHG’s newest luxury and lifestyle brand.
“We see a tremendous opportunity to enhance and reposition our hotel portfolio to meet expected demand in the luxury segment while maximising the revenue potential of each asset,” Talal Al Dhiyebi, group chief executive of Aldar, said.
The UAE has recorded robust growth in its tourism sector as travel demand continues to soar globally. Passenger traffic at the country's airports rose by more than 14 per cent in the first half of 2024 to 71.75 million, the latest data from the General Civil Aviation Authority shows.
The number of arrivals at UAE airports in the first half of the year reached 20,274,694, while departures hit 21,090,750. The number of transit passengers was 30,391,978.
Tourist arrivals in Abu Dhabi are also continuing to grow amid the opening of new Terminal 1 at Zayed International Airport and other attractions in the emirate.
The Emirate's hotels welcomed a total of 2.4 million guests in the first five months of this year, Wam reported in August citing Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi data.
Abu Dhabi's tourism body is planning to invest more than $10 billion in infrastructure as part of its new major tourism strategy, the chairman of the emirate's Department of Culture and Tourism, Mohamed Al Mubarak said in April.
He added that the emirate also aims to grow the number of hotel rooms to 52,000, from the current 34,000, to support the Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030.
As part of the hospitality transformation programme, Aldar is also undertaking a “major refurbishment and expansion” of the Nurai Island resort.
As part of the plan, Nurai Island’s existing villas, food and beverage options, spa, gym, and beach club will be renovated. This will be followed by a major expansion of the island to cater to additional luxurious villas, a ballroom, a community hub, and a jetty.
In Ras Al Khaimah, the company’s flagship hotels including Rixos Bab Al Bahr and DoubleTree by Hilton Resort and Spa Marjan Island will also be upgraded.
In 2022, the company acquired the DoubleTree Marjan Island, as well as an adjacent beachfront development plot for Dh810 million and Rixos Bab Al Bahr hotel in Ras Al Khaimah in a Dh770 million deal.
“Aldar’s ambitious plans for hospitality mirrors the significant investment under way across the business, guided by a strategy for transformational growth, which is driving rapid expansion and diversification alongside consistent upgrade and optimisation of Aldar’s assets and operating platforms,” the statement added.
Last week, Aldar said it would establish four joint ventures to own and manage real estate assets worth more than Dh30 billion across Abu Dhabi as part of a new partnership deal with Mubadala Investment Company.
As part of the deal, Mubadala and Aldar will create a Dh9 billion retail platform that will own Abu Dhabi’s existing retail assets including Yas Mall and The Galleria Luxury Collection.
The two companies also aim to establish a joint venture to own Dh3 billion worth of income-generating real estate assets at Masdar City, focus on the development of two islands off Saadiyat Island and Yas Island and develop a Dh5 billion Grade A industrial logistics park in Al Falah, near Zayed International Airport.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The years Ramadan fell in May
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
EA Sports FC 24
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
More coverage from the Future Forum
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Harry%20%26%20Meghan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELiz%20Garbus%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Duke%20and%20Duchess%20of%20Sussex%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
