Rotana announces further expansion plans
Rotana, the leading hotel management company in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the expansion of its portfolio to 66 properties to open by 2012. This came as a result of new management agreements signed by Rotana for new properties across the region, including Cairo, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.“Year after year, Rotana is gaining strength and positioning itself as a leader in the industry within the region. This is part of our strategic aim to have a property located in every key city in the Middle East and North Africa and this goal is being steadily achieved through careful long-term planning and timely action. The new properties will not only expand our portfolio in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar but will also introduce Rotana into new markets such as Cairo, Oman, Iraq and Saudi Arabia” said Selim El Zyr, President & CEO Rotana.
Rotana has already signed management contracts and some of these properties are now under construction or development. For the next four years, Rotana will open 10 hotels per year. The plan is right. The strategy is there. The execution and know-how are there. The objective is clear. Rotana is positive that as long as the company is able to manage growth in an efficient way, then there is the scope to take up further properties.
Rotana has signed a joint venture with Orascom and SHUAA to manage five Centro by Rotana properties in Egypt. Furthermore, a management agreement has been signed with Jiwar Real Estate Management & Marketing Company to manage the first property in Saudi Arabia, Al Marwa Rayhaan in Makkah, which will open in January 2009. Most recently, SHUAA Capital Saudi Arabia, cjsc (SCSA), the Saudi Arabian subsidiary of SHUAA Capital psc, announced the signing of a master agreement with Rotana to develop 17 four & five-star hotels and resorts in addition to hotel apartments across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprising 5,500 rooms.
Only this year, Rotana is fortifying its position as Dubai’s leading hotel operator with the opening of another four properties, including the world’s tallest hotel. Over the next few months, Rose Rotana, Amwaj Rotana, Media Rotana and the newly opened Arjaan Dubai Media City will add to the company’s eight existing properties in the emirate.
Arjaan Dubai Media City opened its doors on 15th of September and is Rotana’s first property under the newly launched brand, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana. A landmark property designed with arcs, domes and cupolas, the 30-storey tall structure is part of the Arjaan complex located right at the entrance of Dubai Media City on the famous Jumeirah strip and boasts a magnificent view of the sea and the Palm Island. Sleek and elegant, Rose Rotana is located on Dubai’s landmark Sheikh Zayed Road, a stone’s throw from the economic and commercial heart of the city.
Standing 333 metres tall and spread over 72 floors, it is set to be the world’s tallest hotel upon completion in early December. Amwaj Rotana, located on Jumeirah Beach, will open its doors to the public in early 2009. As Rotana’s first resort in Dubai it will form part of Jumeirah Beach Residence, a large-scale residential complex also housing a multitude of shops and restaurants, with an Italian restaurant and Sushi bar located within the hotel itself. Media Rotana, a four-star plus, deluxe hotel located at the heart of Dubai’s business hub will open on 15 November 2008. Media Rotana will offer 467 rooms and suites, a vast array of food and beverage venues and flexible, state of the art meeting rooms and business services.
Rotana currently manages more hotels in Dubai & the Northern Emirates than any other single operator and the scheduled openings will increase the company’s stronghold further.
