Ritz-Carlton plans to open its long-delayed hotel at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in mid-December, the hotel management company said yesterday. The 341-room luxury hotel will be the company's second property in Dubai.
The other hotel, at Jumeirah Beach Residence, is being expanded. Pascal Duchauffour, the vice president of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said the DIFC hotel was still under the ownership of Union Properties, although the developer was selling the property, at a price of Dh1.5 billion (US$408 million).
Mr Duchauffour said Ritz-Carlton, which has five properties in the Middle East, should have a total of 15 hotels in the region within the next five years. "We're very focused on Oman, where we're working on a couple of opportunities, and our next target is really Riyadh," he said.
"After Riyadh, we'd love to be in Jeddah. Asia has been a very strong focus, and now we're opening those hotels. Now the next focus for the next two or three years will be the Middle East."
In Abu Dhabi, the company plans to open its Grand Canal hotel, which is being built opposite the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr property, by the end of next year, Mr Duchauffour said. The Venetian-themed property has more than 500 rooms.
rbundhun@thenational.ae
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'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars
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Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
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