Ras Al Khaimah's newest hotel has opened in Al Hamra. The Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort is now welcoming guests in the northernmost emirate, with rates starting from Dh863.
Blending French sophistication with Arabian inspiration, the resort is nestled in Al Hamra Village and has a beachfront position overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
With 292 rooms and 47 suites, there's a range of accommodation to suit travellers of all types, including two presidential suites in addition to one and two-bedroom options. All rooms have Diptyque amenities, private balconies and rain showers.
Interiors are inspired by a rich tapestry of Emirati history, encompassing pearl diving, sailing and pottery. This is obvious from the moment guests enter the property via a sprawling colourful mural created in Arabesque stained glass.
With four swimming pools, all right on the beach and one with a cascading waterfall, there are plenty of options for sun-seekers and those looking to take in as much ocean air as possible.
There are seven dining options, from the Citron lobby lounge to all-day restaurant East. While lounging poolside, guests can order from Mediterranean-inspired Samphire, while Reunion is the place to go for authentic French cuisine. Waka Polynesian Restaurant brings something new to Ras Al Khaimah's dining scene, with a menu of exotic dishes.
Health-focused travellers can visit Blend & Squeeze, a juice bar offering freshly-crafted drinks, while grape fans can head to Veritas, a sleek bar stocked with premium bottles from around the world.
Families are welcome, with children aged four to 12 able to attend Le Petit Prince Kids Club, where supervised activities and games are on offer. There's also a mini water park with tube rides and slides.
For a dose of relaxation, the first Sofitel Spa with Clarins is on-site and has an extensive menu of treatments available. Golfers have access to Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah's 18-hole championship located 100 metres from the hotel entry.
“We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to visitors to this region, celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty and verdant surroundings,” said Karim Abdelhamid, general manager of Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort.
“Ras Al Khaimah stands out as a premier destination for residential living, recreational pursuits and tourism, and the inauguration of The Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort, Ras Al Khaimah marks another milestone in the island’s expanding array of top-tier hospitality offerings.”
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
