IHG Signs Two Airport Hotels in Dubai

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a franchise agreement with Abjar Hotels International for a new 450-room Holiday Inn Dubai World Central and 250-room Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central.

The two hotels will be located in Dubai World Central (DWC), along the main route to the Al Maktoum International Airport and a stone's throw from the current terminal.

Holiday Inn Dubai World Central will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, bar and meeting space.

Located beside the new Holiday Inn hotel, Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central will be the first franchised property under the brand in the Middle East. The new Staybridge Suites hotel joins a pipeline of two other Staybridge Suites properties set to open in the next three to five years across the UAE.

Staybridge Suites Dubai World Central will feature a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. The suites will feature fully-equipped kitchens, entertainment and communications facilities, and separate working areas with complimentary Wi-Fi.

Dubai World Central is the world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis. Built around Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World Central is a city, which at 145 square kilometres, has been designed as a self-sustained economic zone with a state of the art airport in the centre surrounded by businesses, trade facilities, customised transportation links, residential offerings and the home to Expo 2020. The eight districts comprising DWC are Residential, Logistics, Aviation, Commercial, Humanitarian, Exhibition, Golf and the Airport itself.

Rashed Bu Qara’a, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai World Central, said, “DWC is pleased to open its doors to IHG as it expands its presence in the UAE. In line with the National Vision, DWC represents a dynamic plan of expansion and development. To meet the needs of the 25 million visitors for Expo 2020, 70% of whom will be from other countries, as well as the 200 million passengers expected annually at Al Maktoum International Airport, we are proud to be able to offer our hospitality partners the necessary infrastructure and facilities needed to remain at the forefront of this growth.”

IHG currently has 17 hotels across five brands in the UAE: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. The company will open a further nine hotels in the next three to five years, including InterContinental Dubai Marina by next year and Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina by 2016.