Dubai World Central Signs Deals For Three New Hotels

Dubai World Central (DWC) announced that it has signed agreements to develop three international hotels – Aloft, Studio M and Millennium – close to the new Al Maktoum International Airport in the emirate.

The agreements were signed with Radar DWC for Aloft, Tetra Hospitality Investment for Studio M and ABA Hospitality DWC for Millennium.

The hotels are scheduled for completion between 2018 and 2019 and will collectively add 1,300 rooms to DWC, a statement said.

Aloft Dubai World Central will feature 150 rooms and over 1,000 square feet in meeting space. The hotel will also include a grab-and-go gourmet area RE:FUEL, a lobby lounge RE:MIX, a fitness facility RE:CHARGE and an all-day dining restaurant.

The three-star budget Studio M Dubai World Central will offer 750 rooms, while the Millennium Dubai World Central, featuring 400 rooms, will cater to the upper-midscale and upscale corporate traveller, with meeting rooms and business facilities.

Earlier this week, Dubai Airports confirmed that construction would begin later this year on expanding the passenger terminal at Dubai World Central.

“As Dubai International nears its capacity limit due to the rapid growth of passenger traffic, DWC will play an increasingly important role in absorbing additional traffic,” it said.

The expansion, expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2017, will boost the terminal’s current annual capacity.

Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to have capacity to handle 120 million passengers annually in the next five to eight years.

This is anticipated to create a demand for about 20,000 rooms, DWC said.

Mohammed Al Awadhi, VP – Real Estate, Dubai World Central, said: “We anticipate considerable demand for hotel accommodation not only from passenger flows at the Al Maktoum International Airport and the Expo 2020, but also from the business travellers associated with the wider DWC community.

“We are also looking at a diverse offering focusing on the mid-range segment. More specifically, over 50 per cent of the hotel accommodation around the airport at DWC will be in the three-star segment.”

DWC recently signed an agreement with Abjar Hotels International for a new 450 room Holiday Inn Dubai World Central and a 250 room Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central.

Both hotels are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2018.