Dubai hotels

Hotels in Dubai have reported a strong double-digit increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) while those in Abu Dhabi have continued on their downward spiral in the first half of the year, according to the latest report by Ernst & Young.

After much anticipation and years of preparation, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) officially opens its doors today. The 341-room hotel, with 124 executive residences, is the second Ritz-Carlton in Dubai and the sixth property in the region for the luxury hotel company.

Hotels in Dubai recorded the biggest increase in average daily rate, or ADR, in the Middle East/Africa region in November to underscore the emirate’s position as the fastest growing hospitality hub of the region.

Marriott International’s plans to increase the number of hotel rooms in Dubai to 10,000 by 2020 have been underpinned by the UAE’s successful Expo 2020 bid, a senior executive of the hotel group has said.

Positioned at the epicentre of one of the world's most exciting destinations, Jumeirah The Meydan provides a prime location to catch the exhilarating action of the racing season, and creates a coveted travel destination all-year round.

Construction of the Water Discus Hotel will start this year in Gdynia, Poland, with Dubai and the Maldives showing interest in purchasing of the prototype, according to information published by a Polish government agency.

Rixos Hotels has announced the launch of Rixos Residences Palm Jumeirah, a combined hotel and residence project in Dubai.

Dubai's Palm Jumeirah has two new luxury hotels with more to follow, just as strong signs of recovery in tourism begin to appear. A US$150 million (Dh50.9m) One&Only hotel, with room rates starting at an average Dh3,500 a night, opened on the palm-shaped cluster of man-made islands in November. This month, the Zabeel Saray hotel, managed by Jumeirah, opened its doors.

Other factors driving the growth include the growing importance of sports tourism with many sporting events such as the Dubai Desert Classic, Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the increase in investment in the aviation sectors by the GCC countries.

Located on the upper floors of a mixed used building, the new first class- and full service hotel is walking distance from the Dubai Mall and just 10 kilometres from the international airport. Infiniti Bar & Terrace provide a cosy spot for relaxing, while the outdoor terrace bar is great for catching some sun and enjoying stunning views of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.