Emaar's hospitality arm expands to South Asia with Maldives resort

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Emaar Hospitality Group, the hotel management arm of Dubai-based Emaar Properties, announced on Tuesday it is expanding into South Asia after agreeing a deal to manage a new Address Hotels-branded resort in the Maldives.

The Address Madivaru Maldives Resort + Spa is a 75,000 square metre project containing 80 beachside and over-water villas that will be developed on the 2.4 square kilometre Ehtere Madivaru private island owned by Finolhu Investment's chairman, Adam Abdul Gafoor.

The resort is scheduled to open in 2020 and will house a dedicated spa island and a water sports island offering diving, surfing and other activities. It will also house floating restaurants and lounges, swimming pools and children's play areas.

The island will be accessed by a 20-minute sea plane ride from Male International Airport. A few of the villas being built will also be offered for sale.

Finolhu Investment already offers cruise and yachting businesses in the Maldives and its chairman has also been associated with hospitality projects in the past, according to Emaar Hospitality's press statement.

Abdul Gafoor said: “We are delighted to welcome Emaar Hospitality Group’s Address brand to Maldives to manage our exceptional property that will complement our nation’s focus on tourism growth.

"With a strong intake of Middle East visitors, Address Madivaru Maldives Resort + Spa will appeal to visitors and investors from the region for holiday homes and luxury stays in our country.”

Olivier Harnisch, chief executive officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Maldives is an ideal fit to our expansion plans to take our proven competencies in hospitality to newer geographies.

"It is our privilege to have been chosen by Finolhu Investment to manage this iconic property in the Indian Ocean."

Emaar Hospitality Group said that it now has 29 upcoming hotel projects, including proposed new properties in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Turkey. It currently operates 11 hotels and three serviced residence buildings in Dubai.