Partners discuss further details of 750-room concept at Deira Islands

Dubai, 5 November 2015: Dubai's first four star all inclusive resort - a new 750-room hospitality concept by master developer Nakheel and Spain's RIU Hotels & Resorts - has moved a step closer following meetings between the two partners.

The companies met in Dubai this week to discuss the design and construction of the planned project, which will be located at Deira Islands, Nakheel's new 15.3 square kilometre waterfront city in Dubai. 

Under the partnership, announced in May this year, Nakheel and RIU plan to create one of Dubai's biggest resorts in terms of rooms, and the first RIU resort in the Middle East. The company already has 45,000 rooms across more than 100 hotels in 19 countries.

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said:  "RIU Hotels & Resorts was the first hotel operator to partner with us for Deira Islands, and our discussions this week bring this exciting new concept a step closer to reality. We look forward to moving ahead with the resort."

Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, said: "With its long standing experience, Nakheel is the ideal partner for us in this new venture.  We are convinced that our partnership will lead to a successful RIU resort at Deira Islands."

The collaboration with RIU Hotels & Resorts is one of a hat trick of hotel partnerships for Nakheel in the last six months.  In September the company revealed a planned 500 room AVANI-branded resort with Thailand's Minor Hotel Group and last week announced a partnership with Centara Resorts, also from Thailand.

Nakheel is planning 10 new hotels across Dubai as part of its expansion into the hospitality and leisure sector.  Five will be at Deira Islands, one on Palm Jumeirah, two at Dragon City and two at Ibn Battuta Mall.

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 and Villas at Nad Al Sheba. Together, these span more than 15,000 hectares and currently provide homes for over 200,000 people.

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; a 250-room hotel; 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.  The developer also plans to build five hotels of its own at Deira Islands.

About RIU Hotels & Resorts

The international RIU chain was founded in Mallorca by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specialises in holiday resorts and over 70% of its establishments offer its acclaimed All Inclusive by RIU service. With the inauguration of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU is expanding its range of products with its own line of city hotels called Riu Plaza. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has more than 100 hotels in 19 countries which welcome over 4 million guests a year and provide jobs for a total of 28,813 employees. RIU is currently the world's 30th ranked chain, one of the Caribbean's most popular, the largest in Spain in terms of revenue and the third largest in number of rooms.

For further information: Press Department // Tel: +34 971 74 30 30 // prensa@riu.com

© Press Release 2015