Centara debuts in the UAE

Centara Hotels & Resorts, along with Nakheel, recently cemented a joint venture with a construction contract worth 2.63 billion to build a 601-room beachfront resort at Dubai’s Deira Islands. Centara Deira Islands Beach Resort Dubai, Centara’s first in the UAE, is scheduled to open in 2020.

TT Bureau

The joint venture between Centara Hotels & Resorts and Nakheel is expected to significantly boost the emirate’s four-star accommodation – the fastest-growing segment in 2017 with a 10 per cent growth rate last year – in line with the increasing popularity of Dubai as a tourism hotspot.

Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO, Centara Hotels and Resorts, said, “This is Centara’s first hotel in Dubai and the UAE, which signifies our presence in a major gateway city in the Middle East. This signing ceremony marks a profound milestone of expansion for Centara as we continue to extend our upscale resort portfolio internationally. With the expertise from a regional leader in development like Nakheel and Centara’s record of delivering and inspiring extraordinary guest experiences, Centara Deira Islands Beach Resort Dubai will represent a oneof-a-kind resort that will give our guests fond moments for years to come. We look forward to opening Centara Deira Islands Beach Resort Dubai in 2020.”

Led by Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman, Nakheel, the contract was signed in Dubai. Talking about the company’s contribution to Dubai tourism, Lootah said, “Nakheel continues to play a pivotal role in shaping and diversifying Dubai’s tourism offering with a AED 27 billion hospitality and retail expansion that supports our government’s vision. The joint venture with Centara underlines our commitment to working with trusted international brands.” Located at a prime beachfront spot at Nakheel’s Deira Islands waterfront city, Centara Deira Islands Beach Resort Dubai will be managed by Centara, whose growing portfolio already includes over 12,000 keys across 60 hotels and resorts in Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East.

The family-centric resort will feature a waterpark, multiple restaurants including indoor, alfresco and rooftop options, kids’ clubs, spa and diverse family entertainment options. The 601 sea-view and city-facing rooms will cover a range of categories from standard and deluxe rooms to expansive duplexes and suites.