HOT PROPERTY

Uae

TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA (1)

Located on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, this luxury resort features 325 rooms and suites and is the third Taj-branded hotel in the UAE. Facilities include Taj’s award-winning Jiva spa, a private beach, the longest pool on The Palm Jumeirah, the Popsicle Kids’ Club, and F&B options such as Indian fine dining at Varq; a unique gastropub experience at the Roaring Rabbit; an Arabesque atmosphere at Raia, the rooftop bar and lounge; Palm Kitchen, serving international dishes; and The Coast, a beachside bistro offering coastal delicacies. There are also two ballrooms and multiple meeting rooms.

INK HOTEL DUBAI (2)

INK Hotel is a four-star boutique property located in the Al Jaddaf Waterfront community overlooking Dubai Creek. The five-storey hotel is described as “fun, trendy and offbeat”, focusing on sustainability and “inclusive hospitality”. It features 63 rooms in two sizes, all with floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop swimming pool with Dubai Creek views, a pop-up gym and designated areas for pets. With sustainability crucial to operations, INK Hotel has installed solar panels on the roof and staff uniforms made from recycled plastic. The all-day dining restaurant, Bistro by INK, has collaborated with the local café roastery, Grandmother, to provide speciality coffee and other goodies. It also stocks climateconscious, ethical, organic teabags from Pukka. INK Hotel is close to contemporary art attractions such as Jameel Arts Centre and Al Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture and provides access to the 6km waterfront promenade with the weekly INK Running Club hosted by Nike running ambassador Manal Rostom.

25HOURS HOTEL DUBAI ONE CENTRAL (3)

The very first 25hours hotel to open in the Middle East offers 434 rooms and suites and a guest experience that gives a nod to the ancient traditions of the Bedouins, brought back to modern life through innovative design. A fun property with plenty of spaces to work, rest or play, it is intended for real people to “come as they are”. The hotel is just a stone's throw from Dubai International Financial Centre and also overlooks the stunning Museum of the Future. For dining, there’s Tandoor Tina, combining British and North Indian cuisines; Nomad Day Bar by Dubai-based cult coffee roasters, Nightjar; and the super popular Berlin import, Monkey Bar on the rooftop, next to the pool. There’s a spa (The Extra Hour) and an indoor and outdoor gym inspired by the vibes of Venice Beach.

HYDE HOTEL DUBAI (4)

The recently opened Hyde Hotel Dubai in Business Bay is the second Hyde hotel globally. Described as “a lifestyle concept with personality” if offers large rooms and suites, a home-fromhome guest experience and outstanding dining options. They include Hudson Tavern, the place to grab a beer and craft burger; Cleo, a vibrant Eastern Mediterranean-inspired restaurant promising elevated social dining; and Katsuya, serving Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi’s authentic Japanese cuisine with impressive views of the Burj Khalifa as a backdrop. Facilities also include five meeting rooms, a ballroom, rooftop pool and lounge, a gym and the Cinq Mondes Spa.

ANANTARA WORLD ISLANDS DUBAI RESORT (5)

Anantara’s seventh property in the UAE and the first resort to open on the South American continent of Dubai’s World Islands development features 70 suites and beach and pool villas. The 40 private pool villas have an outdoor dining area and direct access to the beach. Stand-out features include a Cinema under the Stars at the end of a sandbar and Anantara’s signature Dining by Design on the shoreline. Guests can also relax on their own luxurious HamacLand, a unique floating lounge with hammocks and VIP food and drink service. Dining options include Qamar, an Arabic-Indian restaurant with a large southwest facing deck; Helios is a casual Mediterranean restaurant; and Luna, a bar lounge with elevated panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. The Anantara Spa opened in March with six treatment rooms and spa cabanas on the beach. Located approximately 4 km off the coast of Dubai, the resort is a 15-minute ride from the jetty at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort.

PARAMOUNT HOTEL

MIDTOWN (6)

Synonymous with entertainment, bold imagination and creativity, Paramount Hotel Midtown in

Dubai’s Business Bay is steeped in the rich 110-year history perfected by Paramount Pictures. It promises “timeless Hollywood elegance” with design touches including a “gold-dipped lobby splashed with retro artwork, a perfect grand entrance in true Hollywood star style”. There are 281 contemporary rooms and suites including Scene Rooms, A-List Suites and a Paramount Suite, decked out with balconies overlooking the Dubai coastline or Burj Khalifa. Gastronomic experiences include Paparazzi Tuscan, CineScope and Melrose Bar & Lounge, as well as Malibu Sky Lounge and Pool Bar with panoramic skyline views. Facilities include four Business Studios, a

PAUSE Spa and PAUSE Fitness Centre, and The Kids Studio Club with a menu of cinematic experiences.

Saudi Arabia

JW MARRIOTT HOTEL

RIYADH (7)

Situated on King Fahad Road, five minutes from King Abdullah Financial District, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh will occupy one of the city’s most desirable addresses when it opens this quarter. It will also be one of the tallest properties in the city, spanning 66 floors, with 349 rooms and suites inspired by Najdi architecture and dining outlets including the renowned JW Steakhouse.

BANYAN TREE ALULA (8)

Opening any day now, Banyan Tree AlUla, located in the stunning Ashar Valley, comprises luxury tents inspired by Nabatean architecture. Each ‘villa’ has its own pool and boasts desert and mountain views, with one-, two- and three-bedroom options available. Guests can dine at one of two venues – Saffron, a signature Banyan Tree Thai restaurant, and an Arabian venue serving authentic local cuisine, while facilities include a Banyan Tree spa and a fitness centre. Experiences on offer will focus on the discovery of AlUla.

SHANGRI-LA JEDDAH (9)

Shangri-La made its brand debut in Saudi Arabia in February with The Shangri-La Jeddah opening in Burj Assila, the city’s building. It features 220 rooms and suites with Red Sea and city views; three restaurants, including the brand’s famous Chinese dining concept, Shang Palace; extensive wellness facilities; a dedicated kids’ club; and versatile meeting and event spaces including the 960 sqm

Shangri-La Grand Ballroom with Red Sea views. The hotel is close to major shopping areas and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, home to the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

Qatar

ZULAL WELLNESS RESORT BY CHIVA-SOM (10)

The region’s largest holistic wellness resort and the world's first contemporary showcase of Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM), opened on March 29. The resort is managed by Chiva-Som, a globally acclaimed pioneer in wellness and lifestyle transformation with 26 years’ experience honed at its flagship resort in Hua Hin, Thailand. The Zulal wellness experience is built on six pillars of wellness: Nutrition, Fitness, Spa, Physiotherapy, Holistic Health and Aesthetics, all infused with TAIM. At Zulal Wellness Resort, there are two distinct paths to achieving wellness goals. Zulal Serenity is the adults-only area for guests aged 16-plus, with 60 rooms and suites and programmes tailored to individual health needs. Extensive wellness facilities include thermal and hydrotherapy suites, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa suites, a well-equipped gymnasium, exercise studios, a state-of-theart physiotherapy studio and an aesthetics centre. Zulal Discovery caters to guests seeking family experiences and to make wellness an integral part of the family bond, with programmes customised for multi-generations and specific age groups. Facilities have been designed by child and family specialists. Accommodation is offered in a range of set-ups across 120 rooms and suites.

VOCO DOHA WEST BAY (11)

This 46-floor property in West Bay has 396 rooms and suites, “well-loved” restaurant and lounges including The Social, Serenitea, and Sky Lounge on the 35th floor, plus an exclusive helipad and facilities including a pool deck, a 24-hour gym with steam, sauna and Jacuzzi, a spa and a kids’ wading pool and five meeting rooms. The property offers a selection of studios, and one-, two- and three-bedroom fully serviced suites.

Oman

AVANI MUSCAT HOTEL (12)

This contemporary brand's first property in the Sultanate of Oman is located in Seeb, close to Muscat International, and features 161 guest rooms with in-room workspaces as well as 45 studios and one, two- and threebedroom serviced apartments. Dining options include Trisis, a nature-inspired all-day dining restaurant with indoor tree features specialising in Omani, Arabic and international cuisines; Avani's gourmet grab-and-go concept Pantry, known for its honest, nutritious meals and speciality coffee; and the alfresco Patio Bar next to the pool. Dedicated exercise and health club amenities are available at AvaniFit and the multifunctional events space includes a 720 sqm ballroom.

Jordan

THE RITZ-CARLTON AMMAN (13)

The Ritz-Carlton Amman Hotel opens its doors this month (May 2022). Located in two towers, the brand's first property in Jordan will feature 228 rooms and 34 suites, complemented by the brand’s legendary service. It will feature an elegant Cigar Lounge, a Mediterranean venue, and a rooftop restaurant and bar, plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre and spa, and a 1,000 sqm ballroom.

Egypt

Marina Resort Port Ghalib

(14)

Marina Resort Port Ghalib, a member of Radisson Individuals, opened in February, growing the Radisson Hotel Group’s portfolio to eight hotels in operation and under development in Egypt. It features 59 rooms and suites and five bars and restaurants and is located on the Red Sea desert coastline, next to Port Ghalib’s palm tree-lined promenade and popular yacht-docking harbour, with direct beach access and its own water park. The resort is also near to attractions including the popular dive site Marsa Mubarak where visitors can get close to fish, sea turtles, and local marine mammals.

THE ROYAL ATLANTIS RESORT & RESIDENCES (15)

Another Dubai icon in the making, the Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, sitting next to its pink sister on The Palm, will feature some 90 swimming pools, including a stunning rooftop infinity pool suspended 96 metres above the manmade island on level 22. The hotel will offer 17 restaurants and bars, with some of the world’s leading international celebrity chefs at the helm including Gasón Acurio, Costas Spiliadis, Ariana Bundy, Heston Blumenthal and Jose Andres. The resort also recently announced it has joined forces with the Hakkasan Group to open the world’s third Ling restaurant. The lobby will double up as an entertainment venue, home to a dramatic fire and water attraction and one of the largest jellyfish tanks in the world, housing approximately 2,000 jellyfish.

LXR HOTELS & RESORTS ABU DHABI (16)

LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton’s collection of independent luxury properties, will open a new golf resort on the private Al Nawras Island in Abu Dhabi next year. It will offer 80 beach and water villas, as well as a 450 sqm two-bedroom Royal Villa surrounding the golf course. Al Nawras Island will place a strong emphasis on exploration, expression, and wellbeing. Among the property’s world-class leisure and recreational facilities are an upscale gym, fitness studio, and three swimming pools – one indoor and two outdoor – as well as tennis and padel courts, a private marina, exclusive beach club, and elaborate spa. Children will have access to a playground, dedicated swimming pool, splash pad and club. The property will also feature an array of culinary offerings – from two signature restaurants with al fresco dining areas, to two tasteful bars and a wellness-inspired café.

RIXOS DUBAI HOTEL & SUITES JEWEL OF THE CREEK (17)

Part of a three-hotel complex at the upcoming Jewel of the Creek development in the Port Saeed area of Deira, Rixos Dubai Hotel & Suites, opening soon (2022), will feature 770 rooms and suites and outstanding leisure, entertainment, sports and gastronomy experiences for which the Turkish brand is known. A large conference centre, commercial zone, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a fitness centre, wellness centre, infinity pool, entertainment and show arena and beach promenade, plus kids and teens facilities are all planned.

KEMPINSKI FLOATING PALACE (18)

The world’s first floating sea palace resort, Kempinski Floating Palace, anchored next to the popular stretch of beach on Dubai's Jumeirah Beach Road, will open in 2023 with 256 rooms, suites and villas. It will also feature a floating helipad next to an impressive yacht parking deck for up to 16 yachts. The main building of this floating palace, structured in four parts, is connected in the middle by a glass pyramid, home to exclusive gourmet restaurants, bars, a spa, pools, boutiques and banquet areas and offers the possibility for even larger yachts to sail in and out at the centre of the hotel. Some of the 12 two-storey luxury villas, connected by pontoons, are for sale, but also for rent by hotel guests, and benefit from all the services offered at the hotel. Not only will they feature a roof terrace and infinity pool and indoor and outdoor living rooms, but each doubles up as a luxury houseboat with all the technical features of a smart home. Cruising at a maximum speed of six nautical miles, the villas are equipped with solar panels and are designed to be environmentally friendly. There are two-, three- and four-bedroom options available.

ANANTARA MINA AL ARAB

RAS AL KHAIMAH (19)

Part of the new Mina Al Arab luxury development, a beachfront playground with a marina, waterfront cafés and boutiques, the Maldivian-style resort will feature 174 guest rooms, suites and overwater villas. Highlights will include an eco-learning centre, outdoor pool, Anantara Spa, health club with gym and fitness studios and dining options such as a specialty Asian restaurant and a seafood grill by the beach.

NH DUBAI THE PALM (20)

NH Dubai The Palm, part of the Minor Hotels group, will be located on the west-facing area of The Palm’s trunk, featuring 533 rooms, a sports bar, rooftop bar and lounge by an infinity pool.

W DUBAI –

MINA SEYAHI (21)

Opening soon, this 318-key property is the UAE's third W Hotel. It will feature five restaurants, bars and lounges, a 1Rebel fitness studio, Bar-B Spa and stunning pool facilities.

MARRIOTT RESORT PALM

JUMEIRAH (22)

The first Marriott resort in Dubai will be a gastronomic destination in its own right with eight restaurants offering a wide range of global cuisine from Korean and Italian to Japanese and Mexican. Adding to the growing Peruvian restaurant scene, ‘Above Eleven’ will entice guests with a garden maze at its entrance. It will feature 608 guestrooms and a world-class spa.

Mandarin Oriental

WASL TOWER (23)

Mandarin Oriental’s second Dubai property will be located on Sheikh Zayed Road in a striking 63-storey property featuring 257 rooms, suites and serviced apartments. Outstanding dining experiences will be a focus at this luxury property, which will offer a “lively rooftop sky bar with citywide views”, a signature restaurant, all-day dining venue, poolside bar and restaurant, lobby lounge, club lounge, cigar room and a Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop.

RADISSON RESORT PALM JUMEIRAH (24)

Radisson's new 389-room resort on The Palm Jumeirah will open this summer, offering 389 rooms, five restaurants and bars, a fitness centre, spa, swimming pools and three meeting rooms.

MAMA SHELTER DUBAI

Mama Shelter is bringing its affordable hospitality and edgy style to Dubai’s Business Bay in 2023. Designed as a city resort, Mama Dubai will feature 197 rooms, a brick-oven pizzeria, cocktail bars, four pools and an outdoor cinema.

SAUDI ARABIA THE RITZ-CARLTON DIRIYAH AND THE LUXURY COLLECTION DIRIYAH (25)

Marriott will open two luxury hotels as part of the Diriyah Project in Saudi Arabia. The Ritz-Carlton and The Luxury Collection properties will be located around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif. Slated to open in 2025, The Ritz-Carlton, Diriyah, Riyadh will feature 195 rooms and suites, a specialty restaurant, an all-day dining venue, meeting rooms, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. Ritz Kids, the brand’s signature kids’ club and programming are part of the vision, as are a signature spa and immersive guest programmes. The Luxury Collection in Diriyah, Riyadh (pictured above), situated in the Samhan district, will open this year, offering 141 guestrooms, including 27 suites. Two signature restaurants, an all-day-dining venue, a coffee and juice bar, fitness centre, pool and spa, plus meeting and event facilities, are all planned at this property.

THE RIXOS OBHUR JEDDAH (26)

This involves the upgrade and restyle of the current Makarem Annakheel Village, transforming it into luxury resort featuring a water park, swimming pools, as well as villas with private pools. It will be the first luxurious integrated resort in Jeddah, meeting increasing demand for this type of destination offering in the city. Located in Obhur Bay on the Red Sea, Rixos Obhur Jeddah will feature a private beach and 247 residential units, including 174 rooms and 73 villas, plus a Club Prive lounge, a fine-dining restaurant, a lounge bar, and two specialty beach restaurants. Facilities will include a fitness club, a male and female spa, clubs for kids and teens, and several swimming pools, plus meetings and events facilities. Beaches, a seaport, and a plaza ocean views will also be part of this new development.

Four Seasons Diriyah

The Four Seasons Hotel Diriyah, an opening date for which has not been revealed, will include around 150 rooms and suites, expansive meeting and event spacs, a wellness spa with seven treatment rooms and a fitness centre, as well as two outdoor pools with private cabanas. It will also offer four culinary outlets, including a poolside restaurant and Sunset lounge. The hotel will be adjacent to Diriyah’s culturally rooted district along the Wadi Hanifah escarpment.

Raffles Jeddah

Inspired by the rich history of Saudi Arabia and Jeddah’s old-town architecture, Raffles Jeddah, opening this year, will have 181 guestrooms – including a spectacular wedding suite and penthouse 'entertainment' suite

Red Sea Project Hotels

By 2030, The Red Sea Project will feature 50 hotels and around 1,000 residences on 22 islands and six inland sites. Properties currently signed will represent the following brands: Edition and St Regis by Marriott International; Fairmont, Raffles and SLS, part of Accor; a Grand Hyatt by Hyatt Hotels Corporation; InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Six Senses, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts; and a property by Dubai-headquartered Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. Details revealed so far include:

St. Regis Red Sea Resort

Situated on a private island, this St. Regis resort is expected to feature 90 villas, two signature restaurants, an outdoor pool, fitness centre, spa, plus a kids’ club. It is expected to open in 2023.

Raffles Red Sea

Raffles Red Sea will offer its signature personalised hospitality across its room and suite options, plus six dining destinations, a spa and several meeting venues.

Fairmont Red Sea

A luxurious family, wellness and nature focused resort featuring 200 rooms, seven dining outlets, including overwater restaurants, meetings and event space, a greenhouse and a spa centre. It will be situated next to an 18-hole championship golf course.

SLS Red Sea

Opening in Q1 2023, the property will feature 150 hotel rooms, suites and private pool villas, Ennismore's top culinary and mixology experiences including Seabird, Fi'lia and Floating World, plus a Ciel Spa Altitude Pool and fitness centre.

Grand Hyatt The Red Sea

The 430-room Grand Hyatt The Red Sea will be located on Shaura Island, the project’s hub on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. The luxury resort will be the largest of 11 hotels set to open on the island and will be located near the Red Sea International Airport.

Porsche Hotel

Saudi Arabia will be the launch destination for the new Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels brand. Deutsche Hospitality and the Porsche Design Group are joining forces to create the innovative hotel concept, which will “bring together design, technology and lifestyle at the very highest level”. The plan is to open least 15 hotels in major cities globally, including London, Singapore, Dubai and Shanghai. Marcus Bernhardt, CEO of Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality, says: “Our joint goal is to establish a new hotel product for a global target group, which seeks uniqueness and has the highest aspirations regarding quality.” No further details on the KSA property have been revealed to date.

– and 188 branded residences. Alongside six restaurants and lounges, including a gentlemenonly lounge, there will be an extensive library, a 1,200 sqm spa with eight treatment rooms, and a state-of-the-art fitness club. The hotel’s meeting facilities include a 1,500 sqm ballroom overlooking the corniche and 1,000 sqm of conference rooms.

KEMPINSKI HOTEL & RESORT YANBU AND KEMPINSKI AL QESHAN HOTEL (27)

Kempinski is opening two new luxury properties in Saudi Arabia. Launching on Al Mahar Island on the Red Sea waterfront later this year, the Kempinski Hotel & Resort Yanbu is an existing property being renovated and repositioned as an elegant high-end resort hotel, offering “community club-like experiences”. It will feature five gourmet restaurants and lounges, extensive spa facilities and exceptional meeting spaces, with accommodation upgraded to reduce the number of deluxe rooms and instead, offer 23 additional suites, 12 villas and 48 designer apartments. Facilities will also include an infinity pool, a fitness centre, a private beach, a marina for excursions, a diving school, and spacious meeting and conference areas, which will be suited to weddings. There will be a separate and exclusive Ladies’ Spa too. Kempinski has also signed a deal to manage Kempinski Al

Qeshan Hotel, located in Riyadh’s Al Olaya business district on King Fahad Road. It will offer 150 elegant rooms and suites, 10 serviced apartments, separate male and female spa facilities, two high-end restaurants and a rooftop terrace with lounge and pool.

DESERT ROCK (28)

Hotels are wowing guests with a wide range of imaginative ‘immersive experiences’ these days, such is the trend, but The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) in Saudi Arabia is taking it to the next level by carving a luxury hotel into a rock mountain. The Desert Rock resort, part of The Red Sea Project, celebrates Saudi Arabia’s spectacular natural beauty and Nabatean heritage. Inspired by the surrounding mountains, volcanoes and wadis, Desert Rock will feature 48 villas and 12 hotel suites, ranging from ground-level dwellings to crevice hotel suites, midway up the mountain. It will also house a spa, fitness centre, remote dining areas and a lagoon oasis. Guests will enter the resort, which is due for completion in 2023, via a hidden valley. This property will offer guests uninterrupted spectacular views.

Qatar

FAIRMONT HOTEL AND RAFFLES HOTEL & BRANDED RESIDENCES (29)

The iconic Lusail Towers development – an architectural translation of Qatar’s national seal, representing the traditional scimitar swords – will play host to two of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands, Raffles and Fairmont, with both properties set to open this year ahead of the World Cup. The towers will rise gracefully from podium level, one occupied by the six-star Raffles Hotel & Branded Residences featuring 132 suites and 49 apartments, and the other home to the five-star Fairmont with 361 rooms and suites and pitched at business travellers. State-of-the-art entertainment and recreational facilities, including specialist boutiques, VIP movie theatres, signature restaurants and a private Cigar Lounge, as well as banqueting and conference spaces are all part of this project, developed by Katara Hospitality.

Palais Vend Me And Le Royal M Ridien Doha

(30)

A lavish hospitality experience embodying classical Parisian elegance will set Palais Vendôme (pictured) apart when it opens this year. This Luxury Collection Hotel with a palatial presence will feature 250 rooms, including two Presidential Suites, and will be part of a three-property complex. It will mark the entry of the brand into Qatar, offering global explorers a “unique gateway to this visionary destination”. Le Royal Méridien Doha, which is part of the same development, will offer a more contemporary style, reflecting modern French culture and design. The property will house 250 guest rooms, including a Presidential Suite in one wing, and the other will house 150 serviced apartments.

Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel

Opening soon in a unique location – the middle of Al Samriya Farm, part of Qatar’s Shahaniya area – the Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel has been built using traditional materials and masonry from the farm. Comprising 62 rooms and 26 villas, a spa and a restaurant, the property is walking distance from three attractions – The Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, the Al Samriya Equestrian Centre and the farm’s oryx reserve.

RIXOS DOHA QETAIFAN (31)

Turkish all-inclusive resort brand Rixos will make its debut in Doha this year. Rixos Doha Qetaifan will not only feature a 345-key hotel, but facilities that will elevate the Qatari capital’s tourism offering including a Souq, a beach club, theme park and water park. The property will be part of Qetaifan Island North project, a new island destination close to Lusail City, located 27km from Hamad

International and accessible via two iconic hanging bridges linking the island to the mainland. The theme park will feature The Icon Tower, the world’s highest structure of its kind, standing 82 metres and promising guests a memorable adrenaline rush.

SWISSÔTEL DOHA CORNICHE PARK TOWERS (32)

A contemporary and stylish hotel promising service quality and 476 innovatively designed rooms with modular functionality reflecting the brand’s Alpine heritage.

THE PLAZA DOHA ANANTARA HOTEL & SUITES (33)

Minor Hotels will open its second Anantara property in Qatar in the last quarter of this year. The Plaza Doha Anantara Hotel & Suites, located in Um Ghuwelina, will feature 118 guest rooms and 172 serviced apartment suites, plus a large ballroom and six meeting rooms. It will be a grand-looking property with a palatial façade and inside, blend Parisian design with Arabian luxury, with examples including the hotel’s centre piece – an elegant, air-conditioned courtyard atrium. For leisure, guests will be able to choose from a rooftop infinity pool, indoor pool, a gym and a signature Anantara Spa. A kids’ play area and multiple dining options are also among the hotel’s highlights.

NH COLLECTION DOHA OASIS HOTEL & BEACH CLUB (34)

Slated to open in mid-2022, this property is located in the Ras Abu Abboud area along Doha’s eastern coast, midway between the city centre and Hamad International Airport. The previous Oasis Hotel, from where the new property takes its name, was in the same location and was Doha’s first ever hotel when it opened in the 1950s. The hotel has a rich history and was a prominent destination for local Qataris, residents and state visitors, with many celebrations and official events having taken place there. The fully redeveloped NH property will feature 300 rooms and more than 50 suites, F&B, six restaurants and bars, male and female spas and gyms, a large ballroom and meeting rooms, plus a beach club with a swimming pool and padel tennis courts.

ANDAZ DOHA (35)

Hyatt will debut its luxury lifestyle Andaz brand November this year to coincide with the FIFA World Cup tournament. The 318-guestroom Andaz Doha, located in the West Bay area of the city, close to embassies, consulates and key government institutions, will boast sea views and four food and beverage outlets.

Egypt Mandarin Oriental Shepheard Cairo

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a management agreement to rebrand the historic Shepheard Hotel in Cairo, Egypt. A comprehensive renovation of the landmark property, which first opened in 1841, is underway. Parisbased interior designer, Sybille de Margerie, is tasked with preserving the building’s heritage design while enhancing facilities and services. Upon completion in 2024, the hotel will feature 188 rooms and 88 suites with views of the city, the Nile and Gezira Island; five restaurants and bars; a ballroom and meeting space; plus a Spa at Mandarin Oriental, an indoor lap pool, rooftop swimming pool, beauty salon, fitness centre and a kids’ club.

SOFITEL CAIRO NEW CAPITAL HOTEL & RESIDENCES (36)

Located in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) of Cairo, this new flagship property will comprise two towers and a podium, with one tower featuring 200 hotel keys and 280 branded residences, from one to four bedrooms, and the second tower housing offices and commercial spaces. Five dining venues, meeting space and large recreational areas will also be part of the offering. The New Administrative Capital is home to parks, an international airport, educational institutes, medical facilities and 20 skyscrapers, including Africa’s tallest tower. The property will also offer convenient and easy access to the main roads running from north to south and further connecting the NAC to the rest of Cairo.

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