Aldar signs for resort in Al Raha

The management contract with Mövenpick for an upscale resort hotel due to open in 2012 is the second one between the companies.

Entrance to the Aldar building model display at Cityscape Dubai 2008.

Aldar Properties, one of the largest property development, investment and management companies in Abu Dhabi, has signed an agreement with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts to operate an upscale resort hotel in the Al Seef area of Al Raha Beach development, the company announced today. The agreement marks Aldar's second management contract with Mövenpick. The hotel will be an island resort with 300 rooms and will open in 2012.

The first agreement - for a 500-room luxury hotel on Yas Island - between the two companies was signed in 2007. This hotel is due to open in late 2010. "We are looking forward to signing more contracts with Mövenpick for our future projects," said Paul Bell, the managing director of Aldar Hotels & Hospitality. The new hotel will attract leisure tourists, said Andreas Mattmüller, the senior vice president of Middle East & Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. "Our brand is already well known in Europe, but we also have many hotels in the Middle East. So attracting visitors from within the region will be our target," said Mr Mattmüller.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts operates 21 properties throughout the Middle East and more than 60 globally. "By the end of 2012, we are planning to add 22 hotels worldwide, from which eight will be in Dubai and four in Abu Dhabi," said Mr Mattmüller. Aldar plans to build 40 hotels in Abu Dhabi over the next five to seven years, 12 of which are currently under construction. "At Al Raha, we are planning to have five more hotels," said Mr Bell.

He added that Aldar also planned to form its own hotel management company. "The management company will not have a brand but will name the hotels according to their location." [e-mail]