JAL Hotels expects to begin operating a luxury 471-room hotel in Dubai in April despite the financial problems plaguing its parent company, Japan Airlines (JAL).
JAL Hotels already operates the JAL Fujairah Resort and Spa, which opened in 2007, making it the first Japanese company to manage hotels in the region. The Hotel JAL Tower Dubai, a five-star establishment on Sheikh Zayed Road, is aimed at business travellers.
Both hotels are owned by ACICO International Real Estate Development, a property and development company, which is a subsidiary of Kuwait's ACICO Industries.
JAL Hotels said its "brand expansion in the UAE and in the region remains prosperous and promising for more openings to come".
But, JAL Hotels' parent company has faced a tough time amid a global downturn in travel. JAL, which is Asia's largest carrier by revenue, has been bailed out four times by the Japanese government.
This year alone, JAL's market value has fallen by half.
In October, JAL applied to a state-backed turnaround fund for help, while recent reports have suggested that the carrier could be put through bankruptcy court as part of a restructuring. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have been locked in a bidding war for a minority stake in JAL as they seek to gain access to its Asia network. JAL has liabilities totalling Y1.5 trillion (Dh60.06bn). There has been some speculation that restructuring options could include the sale of the hotel business.
For JAL Hotels, the operating environment in Dubai could prove to be challenging.
Hotels in the emirate have experienced sharp falls in revenue this year after being forced to cut prices to lure customers amid declining demand and an increasing number of rooms.
Other five-star hotels due to open in Dubai next year include the Royal Amwaj and the Ottoman Palace Dubai, while the four-star Rotana Rose Rayhaan hotel opened on Sheikh Zayed Road this month.
"Expanding the footprint of JAL Hotels brand in the market has always been one of our objectives, and certainly Dubai has proven to be the destination with the highest potential," said Chiyuki Fujimoto, the executive officer and project director of Hotel JAL Tower Dubai.
JAL Hotels, which is based in Tokyo, operates 59 hotels worldwide and has also signed an agreement for a Hotel JAL Bahrain Resort and Spa.
@Email:rbundhun@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)
Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
THE BIO
Age: 30
Favourite book: The Power of Habit
Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"
Favourite exercise: The snatch
Favourite colour: Blue
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
Barbie
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
