31 October 2015
Developer brings another new hotel brand to tourism hotspot

Dubai - UAE master developer Nakheel is planning to partner with one of Thailand's leading hotel groups, Centara Hotels & Resorts, to create a 550-room resort at Dubai's newest tourism hotspot - Deira Islands.

The upscale beachfront resort, complete with its own waterpark, would be the first Centara establishment in the UAE, adding another international name to the growing collection of new hotel brands in Dubai.  The resort and waterpark would be located within easy reach of Nakheel's Deira Mall and Deira Islands Night Souk, which will have 6,400 shops, restaurants and cafes between them. 

Centara's portfolio includes around 14,000 rooms across 67 hotels and resorts under six brands across Asia, Indian Ocean, Africa and the Middle East.  Many are landmark properties in prime city, resort and beachfront locations.

Nakheel's anticipated joint venture with Centara is the latest development in the company's aggressive expansion into Dubai's hospitality sector, under which 10 hotels - including five star, all inclusive and value-for-money concepts - are planned at locations across Dubai, with five of them at Deira Islands. Nakheel's hotel portfolio also includes the five star Palm Tower on Palm Jumeirah, two hotels at Ibn Battuta Mall and two at Dragon City.

The planned partnership is Nakheel's third joint venture for hotels at Deira Islands announced this year. The company is already working on a 750-room resort with Spain's RIU Hotels & Resorts and a 500-room AVANI resort with Thailand's Minor Hotel Group. Nakheel now has 1,800 hotels rooms at Deira Islands in the pipeline under international joint ventures, with more to come.

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said: "We are committed to partnering with reputable international hotel brands to bring new tourism concepts to Dubai in line with the Government of Dubai's tourism vision, and our joint venture with Centara is another fine example.  We are delighted that one of Thailand's biggest, most popular hotel operators has chosen to invest in Dubai and help us create yet another unique offering at Deira Islands."

 "We continuously explore new opportunities to strategically expand the Centara portfolio in international markets. Dubai is a key city for us and with Nakheel's strength and success in the market, they make the ideal development partner," commented Mr Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. 

Nakheel's Deira Islands coastal city will add 40 km, including 21 km of beachfront, to Dubai's coastline. The project paves the way for the development of hotels and serviced apartments, retail destinations, mixed-use buildings and residential waterside developments at what will become Dubai's newest hub for culture, tourism, entertainment and leisure.

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Media contact: Rebecca Rees on +971 4375 9702 (Rebecca.rees@nakheel.com)

About Nakheel
Nakheel is one of the world's leading developers and a major contributor to realising the vision of Dubai for the 21st century: creating a world class destination for living, business and tourism. Nakheel continues to deliver and enhance an iconic portfolio of innovative landmark projects in Dubai across the residential, retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Nakheel's master developments in Dubai include Palm Jumeirah, The World, Deira Islands, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Heights, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Warsan Village, Dragon City, International City, Jebel Ali Gardens and Nad Al Sheba Community. Together, these span more than 15,000 hectares and currently provide homes for over 200,000 people.  Nakheel has nearly 21,000 residential units under construction or in the pipeline.

Nakheel's growing retail project portfolio comprises large-scale destination developments at various locations in Dubai, including Nakheel Mall, Deira Mall, Deira Islands Night Souk, Warsan Souk, Al Khail Avenue, The Circle Mall and The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah; major extensions to Dragon Mart (renamed Dragon City) and Ibn Battuta Mall; and several neighbourhood community centres. Our existing and pipeline retail projects cover more than 13 million square feet of leasable space.

Nakheel is also developing hotels at various locations in Dubai, including Palm Jumeirah, Deira Islands, Ibn Battuta Mall and Dragon City.

www.nakheel.com

About Deira Islands
Deira Islands is a new, 15.3 square kilometre waterfront destination from Nakheel that will transform Dubai's Deira district into a world-class hub for tourism, retail and entertainment. The project will add 40 km, including 21 km of beachfront, to Dubai's coastline and contribute significantly to the Government of Dubai's tourism vision.  The four-island project paves the way for the development of hundreds of new hotels, serviced apartments, mixed-use buildings and residential waterside developments.  

Nakheel itself is developing a significant amount of the 4.5 million square metre south island, creating a unique creek side destination, easily accessible from the mainland by road bridges and by water via abras. The island's host of attractions will include Deira Mall; Deira Towers and Boulevard; Deira Islands Night Souk; an amphitheatre for 30,000 people; and a marina that can accommodate large yachts.  The four islands that make up Deira Islands will feature hotels, resorts and residential, commercial and retail units. Nakheel will master plan and complete infrastructure work ready for third party development on each island, and is planning to build five hotels of its own at Deira Islands.

About Centara Hotels & Resorts
Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand's leading hotel group, with 46 properties covering all the main tourism destinations in Thailand. A further 21 resorts in the Indian Ocean, in Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka; the Far East, in Bali, Laos and Vietnam; and Africa and the Middle East, in Ethiopia, Oman and Qatar, are either open or in project.

Centara operates six hotel brands, thus ensuring that a broad range of holidaymakers will find a hotel or resort that will fulfil their needs. Centara Hotels & Resorts also operates 30 branches of SPA Cenvaree, one of Thailand's most innovative spa brands, together with its value brand Cense by SPA Cenvaree, which provides core spa services for busy travellers. The company's Kids' Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to take care of the youngsters and teens. The hotel group also has three state-of-the-art convention centres in Bangkok, and two in north-eastern Thailand, one being located in Udon Thani and the other in Khon Kaen.

© Press Release 2015