DUABI Sol Meliá SA announces its first property in the Middle East, a 5-star urban resort in Dubai slated to open in October.
The 164-key Meliá Dubai is a 200 million dirham (US$54 million) project owned by Khamas Group.
“This is our first property in the Arabian Gulf and the first step to realizing our expansion plans for the region,” says Andre Gerondeau, executive vice president of Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts. “We are currently negotiating with potential partners in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and we hope to make further announcements in the near future.”
Sol Meliá’s brand recognition among Europeans, who frequently holiday in the Middle East, makes the group’s leisure expansion there an obvious choice. “Our brand strength in Germany, UK, Italy and elsewhere in Europe will give us a competitive edge when we begin our marketing campaigns in these regions, for inbound business to Dubai,” says Daniel Lozano, senior vice president of the Meliá brand. “We can also use that leverage to secure outbound business as well.”
Meliá Dubai will offer five restaurants—including a signature Indian restaurant by celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor—along with a YHI Spa and a rooftop swimming pool that will feature a tapas bar.
The hotel expects a guest mix of half business and half leisure, targeting Gulf Cooperation Council nationals, Indians, Germans, British, Spanish, Greeks, French and Brazilians. Opening rates will start at 650 dirham.