Shurooq to showcase luxury projects at WTM

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) will be participating at World Travel Market (WTM) for its 17th consecutive year and this time they will be showcasing their luxury mega projects 2022-2023; H.E Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting CEO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) shares more with TRAVTALK.

TT Bureau

Could you share the importance of participating at WTM this year?

This will be Shurooq’s 17th consecutive participation in WTM. We consider this market leading international event as a key annual opportunity to showcase our latest and upcoming projects, particularly in luxury hospitality, eco escapes, leisure and entertainment. The event, which is expecting around 51,000 attendees this year from 140 countries, is also a key networking platform for us and an opportunity to showcase Sharjah’s burgeoning potential and appeal as a business-friendly destination and a leading global hub of investments in the sector.

What will you showcase this year?

Shurooq is gearing up to turn the spotlight on its latest developments and upcoming mega projects, particularly in luxury hospitality and authentic eco-inspired travel, scheduled for completion in 2022 and in early 2023. We will also be showcasing our diverse world-class portfolio of existing eco-destinations. Several Shurooq projects will be making their WTM debut. These include the Lux* Al Jabal Resort – a luxurious beach resort in Khorfakkan overlooking the pristine waters of the Soueifa Beach; the Lux* Al Bridi Resort in Al Dhaid set adjacent to the Sharjah Safari – the largest wildlife safari in the world outside of Africa; and Nomad which explores the emirate’s nature through beach trailer experience in Al Hamriya. Heritage-inspired projects by Shurooq that will be making their WTM debut are the Serai Wing, Bait Khalid bin Ibrahim – a pearl merchant’s 19th century family home in the Heart of Sharjah district, which Shurooq is converting into a modern 12-key boutique wing of The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah; and the Mysk Najd Al Meqsar Village, which will feature 13 luxurious heritage-style hotel units that Shurooq is building on the foundations of 100-year-old houses in the mountainous terrains of the picturesque coastal city of Khorfakkan.

New entertainment destinations, Al Hira Beach and Khorfakkan Beach, and the popular Al Montazah parks will be showcased alongside Mleiha Archeological and Eco-Tourism Project and Al Noor Island, the two projects with which the entity has set a regional example of environment conservation and giving people access to nature in the heart of a bustling city.

Will you be able to list out the projects scheduled for next year and a brief about them?

LUX* Al Jabal Resort – nestled in the picturesque landscape of Khorfakkan on the east coast of the UAE, the LUX* Al Jabal Resort is an idyllic mountain hideout that will serve as the perfect escape for nature lovers. Scheduled for completion in 2023, the five-star resort will comprise 45 eco-friendly 1 and 2-bedroom units, including simple and luxury options, of which several are equipped with a private swimming pool, in addition to a royal suite with a private garden and pool. A kids play area, clifftop restaurant with mesmerising sunrise/sunset views, a reception hall on the sloping hills, gym and LUX* ME Spa are other amenities.

Shurooq’s LUX* Al Bridi Resort, an upcoming five-star hospitality offering in Al Dhaid, Sharjah occupies 784 hectares of the Al Bridi Nature Reserve where Sharjah Safari project, the largest wildlife safari in the world outside Africa is located. Also scheduled for completion next year, the LUX* Al Bridi Resort marks a new era of luxury living in the wild. A partnership with Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) ensures the care and conservation of the wild species inhabiting the reserve.

The Serai Wing, Bait Khalid bin Ibrahim is a pearl merchant’s 19th century family home in the Heart of Sharjah district, which Shurooq is converting into a modern 12-key boutique wing of The Chedi Al Bait. Launched by Shurooq in 2017 and managed by GHM Hotels, The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, is a 53-key hotel offering luxurious Emirati hospitality and bespoke experiences.

Mysk Najd Al Meqsar Village is nestled in the mountainous terrains of the picturesque coastal city of Khorfakkan. The destination is being developed to bring travellers and residents a brand-new opportunity to experience the emirate’s diverse natural landscapes. With this ambitious project, 13 houses in the 100-year-old Najd Al Meqsar village, which were restored as part of a larger revitalisation project in the Wadi Shie archaeological site by the Sharjah Infrastructure Development Authority ‘Mubadara’, are being transformed into luxurious heritage-style hotel units by Shurooq. Seven hotel units, the 300-year-old Meqsar Fortress which offers a vantage view of the historic settlement from a height of 220m, a barbecue and outdoor areas and a mosque, are complete. As part of the project, Shurooq will also be developing 9 villas with private pools, private farm villas, hiking trails, horseback riding routes, tracks for electric club cars, and other attractions.

NOMAD by Mysk – With a collection of 20 fully-equipped trailers designed to complement their natural surroundings, Shurooq is introducing the airstream experience to the UAE. The trailers will dot the sandy beaches of Al Hamriyah. Nomad will start welcoming guests later this year or early next, who will be treated to an offbeat escape, an exciting array of water sports and other beach activities.