Rotana will open seven new hotels in the UAE and Qatar this year, underlining its status as the fastest-growing hospitality brand in the region.
The hotel management company, based in Abu Dhabi, is expanding after what has been a challenging time for the global hospitality industry.
"Opportunities are presented across the Middle East," said Omer Kaddouri, the chief operating officer of Rotana. "We believe the Middle East, and in particular the GCC region, has great potential to maintain the economy in a much healthier status than other parts of the world."
The privately-owned company, which manages 41 hotels across the region, is to open six hotels in three emirates of the UAE and one in the Qatar capital Doha this year - a total of 2,500 rooms. Rotana has more properties planned, including hotels in Oman, Syria, Bahrain and Jordan.
After sharp falls in hotel profitability in the UAE, triggered by the global economic crisis and an increase in the number of hotels in the market, Rotana opened several new properties last year, including the luxury Amwaj Rotana at Jumeirah Beach Residence, its alcohol-free Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan hotel in Abu Dhabi, a budget Centro hotel in Dubai, and its second hotel in Fujairah.
The company says it manages more properties in the UAE than any other operator, with 10 hotels in Abu Dhabi and 13 in Dubai.
This has taken it ahead of the big global brands in the country, including InterContinental Hotels Group and Hilton, in terms of the number of properties it operates. Rotana plans to have 70 properties by the end of next year.
Mr Kaddouri identified the UAE, Qatar and Iraq as providing some of the best opportunities for hospitality development.
"Furthermore, we will be entering new markets, which we will be announcing in due course," he said.
Three of the openings this year will be properties under Rotana's budget Centro brand. One of these is being developed at Sharjah Airport and the other two will be in Abu Dhabi.
It also plans to open its Capital Centre hotel in Abu Dhabi this year, as well as a 621-room property in Dubai under its alcohol-free Rayhaan brand, and a hotel in Al Ain.
In the first half of 2009, the limited number of hotels in the capital meant they were able to command higher rates amid a shortage of rooms.
But rates and occupancy levels in the capital have fallen as new hotels have opened.
Data from STR Global show occupancy in Abu Dhabi hotels was at 56.3 per cent in the first seven months of last year, down from 76 per cent during the same period the previous year.
Revenue per available room was halved to US$114.96 (Dh422.26) in the same period compared with $228.55 in the first seven months of the previous year.
But Rotana's strategy is underpinned by the Abu Dhabi Government's determination for tourism to play a key role in its economic diversification strategy.
To this end, the emirate is developing the multibillion-dollar Saadiyat Island, which is planned to be home to branches of the Louvre and the Guggenheim museums, while last year it opened the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park, the largest indoor theme park in the world and featuring the planet's fastest roller coaster.
Abu Dhabi is aiming to attract 1.9 million hotel guests this year, contributing 11.1 per cent to the emirate's overall non-oil GDP.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has said that would mean a 15 per cent increase on last year's hotel guest target, an increase of more than 5,000 hotels rooms and a 0.4 per cent increase in overall non-oil GDP contribution.
Although average spending is down, the emirate has managed to boost tourist numbers, as Etihad Airways expands and awareness of the destination increases because of marketing efforts and high-profile events such as the Formula One Grand Prix.
Other hotel openings in the emirate planned for this year include Ritz-Carlton, Rocco Forte, Park Hyatt and Jumeirah. Hoteliers and analysts say that is likely to put further pressure on rates and occupancy in the short term.
Most of the major hotel groups are expanding across the region, although a number of projects were delayed or cancelled after the global downturn and as financing conditions deteriorated. Dubai and Abu Dhabi account for 33 per cent of the total planned Middle East hotel projects and 64 per cent of all rooms currently under construction in the region, according to the US research firm Lodging Econometrics.
Abu Dhabi will this year continue to improve its position as a leisure destination, Rotana said.
"With more than 200 natural islands, year-round sunshine and fabulous beaches, we are a strong contender for the 'sun and sand' tourism sector," Mr Kaddouri said.
The group operates a Rayhaan Rotana hotel in Mecca and is developing two properties in Jeddah, two in Riyadh and one in Al Khobar.
Last month, Rotana launched a property in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan and also has a hotel under development in Baghdad.
"Iraq is in the process of rebuilding its infrastructure, and hotels play an important role in this due to the number of international firms involved [there] that have accommodation needs," said Mr Kaddouri. "Based on our research and market study, we believe these markets are emerging and there is a tremendous need for development. With the number of contractors, engineers, architects and so on, Rotana is well positioned to cater to these needs."
rbundhun@thenational.ae
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
More on animal trafficking
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
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
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
