Hilton Worldwide is to take over the management of the former Rocco Forte Hotel in the capital.
The luxury European operator Rocco Forte exited the Abu Dhabi hotel earlier this year because the location was not right for the brand, a senior executive with the company told The Nationalthis month.
The distinctive wavy, green glass building on Airport Road has been known as the Abu Dhabi Al Maqta hotel since, but will reopen as Hilton Abu Dhabi Capital Grand this summer.
The news will come as a surprise to some as Starwood Hotels and Resorts had been rumoured to take over the property and run it under the Sheraton brand.
"We are delighted to have signed such a prestigious deal for this unique, quality hotel in Abu Dhabi and in an emerging business community," said Rudi Jagersbacher, the president of Hilton Worldwide Middle East and Africa.
The hotel will undergo a series of brand changes before joining the Hilton portfolio, the company said.
Sheikh Hamed bin Ahmed, the group managing director of owner Al Farida Investment Company, said the company was "delighted to bring the enviable reputation and quality service standards enjoyed by Hilton Worldwide to this outstanding hotel".
The 281-room hotel was originally scheduled to be up and running in 2009, but it did not open its doors until 2011.
It was expected to have a 10,000 square metre shopping area featuring retail brands, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Rocco Forte understood that it would also be located in an area zoned for banks and embassies, according to the brand managing director Richard Power.
"It looked, from all we were seeing at the time, and to others too, that it was a good location," Mr Power said.
"The reality was that none of those developments have materialised and none of them can be seen on the horizon. So those areas which are very much seen as our core markets for our high-end luxury travellers just didn't exist in enough volume."
The property was Rocco Forte's first foray into the Middle East but it is currently building a hotel in Jeddah, which is due to open in a year's time.
gduncan@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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Shower or bath after being outside.
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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
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Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Sunday's games
Liverpool v West Ham United, 4.30pm (UAE)
Southampton v Burnley, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City, 7pm
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
The Book of Collateral Damage
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(Yale University Press)
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
