- Djibouti's first five-star hotel to host COMESA Heads of State Summit in November 2006
- Djibouti Palace Kempinski opens after record nine-month design-build timescale
- Major construction effort sees 97 per cent of construction and furnishing materials imported to site
Nakheel Hotels & Resorts, part of Dubai World has today completed and opened the first-ever five-star hotel development in Djibouti, East Africa, after a record design-build period of only nine months. The hotel will now host the prestigious COMESA Heads of State Summit, which runs until the 16 November.
The Djibouti Palace Kempinski, managed by Europe's oldest luxury hotel group Kempinski Hotels, has been designed using a unique fusion of Swahili and Arabic architectural themes. It has 177 rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art conference centre, a grand ballroom for up to 1,100 guests, meeting rooms and presentation facilities, and the latest communications infrastructure.
It is being used to host a series of meetings for the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) Summit attended by leading politicians and Heads of State from around the world. Kempinski has hired and trained 150 local Djiboutian employees and has brought in a task force of over 100 experts from around the world to service the COMESA delegates.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Nakheel Executive Chairman, said: "Djibouti will be showcased to Africa and the world during the COMESA Heads of State. We are proud to have created such a fantastic venue for this prestigious international event.
"Many companies would have worried about the challenge of a nine-month design-build time for a five-star luxury resort, especially with the incredibly high quality standards set by Kempinski. But Nakheel Hotels & Resorts with our partner, the Taisei Corporation of Japan, we have been able to meet that challenge.
"I have no doubt that the Djibouti Palace Kempinski will become one of Africa's premier resorts. It will provide a real boost to the profile - and indeed the economy - of Djibouti."
When all phases of the hotel are complete, the Djibouti Palace Kempinski will have more than 400 rooms and will feature luxury resort facilities including a beach club and retail arcade, fitness and entertainment centres, a state-of-the-art spa and a safari sports bar. There will be four a la carte restaurants, including a pan-African restaurant - the first of its kind in the world.
Further phases of the wider development will see a range of residential villas and apartments, commercial offices and retail units.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Nakheel Executive Chairman, said: "The Emirate of Dubai and the Republic of Djibouti have built a special relationship since we started working together on Djibouti's port project in 1998. I am delighted that, together with Kempinski, Nakheel Hotels and Resorts is now bringing the first five-star hotel to the country."
James Wilson, chief executive of Nakheel Hotels & Resorts, said: "To get from ground-breaking in February this year to first guest check-in in only nine months is quite an achievement.
"But we are particularly pleased given the conditions we faced. Almost everything had to be brought in from outside the country.
"This project is an important milestone in Nakheel Hotels & Resorts' development as a world class organisation, with a diverse portfolio of products across the globe
Over the last nine months, hundreds of containers were shipped in to the site in an enormous logistics effort, through the port developed originally by Nakheel Hotels & Resorts' sister company, DP World. Ninety-seven per cent of all the construction materials and hotel furnishings were imported in this way - including a last-minute shipment of luxury furnishings that was flown from Dubai by a 747 cargo plane from the Emiri flight.
Nakheel Hotels & Resorts is also working on other developments in Djibouti, including a mountain-top spa and island resorts.
-Ends-
About Nakheel Hotels & Resorts
Nakheel Hotels & Resorts is a division of Nakheel, Dubai's premier development company, which is also owned by Dubai World. Nakheel Hotels & Resorts develops and managers properties and developments across the world. www.nakheel.com
About Nakheel
Nakheel is the uniquely focused property development company behind a variety of new landmark developments in Dubai. Nakheel aims to redefine the concept of property development whether residential, tourist, commercial or retail. It has therefore placed great importance on examining the requirements of the different sectors of the community and developing its visionary projects around these findings.
Nakheel's portfolio currently includes The Palm, The World, Jumeirah Islands, The Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Jumeirah Golf Estates, The Lost City, International City, Discovery Gardens, Jumeirah Village and Dubai Waterfront. Further information can be found at www.nakheel.ae
About Kempinski
Kempinski Hotels is the oldest luxury hotel collection in Europe, acquiring its first property in 1897. While the Group was founded in Germany, its portfolio is now spread throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia with properties in locations such as Beijing, Berlin, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, London and St Moritz. Rich in tradition, it comprises a fine collection of hotels and resorts, from the truly historic to the breathtakingly avant-garde.
For further information please contact:
Four Communications
Tel: +971 4 362 5129
Ray Eglington
Tel: +973 3913 2854 / +44 7973 893208
David Baker
Tel: +971 50 650 3459
Steve Pratt
Tel: +971 50 755 9246
Istithmar
Rebecca Pearce
Tel: +971 50 458 5345
© Press Release 2006
