Bin Salem Group signs with TDIC to build Grand Corniche Hotel and Residence landmark in Abu Dhabi

The 35-storey property has been designed by Singapore's Surbana Consultant Pte Ltd to reflect Abu Dhabi's maritime heritage. It will be built by Bin Salem Group, a UAE company based in Abu Dhabi under a lease for the 4,800 square metre site in the fashionable Khalidiya agreed with the UAE capital's Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC).

To be built at an approximate cost of AED 370 million (US $100 million), the Grand Corniche Hotel is scheduled to open in Dec 2009.

'This will be a significant addition to Abu Dhabi's hospitality stock and an aesthetic asset for the capital's skyline,' said His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon al Nahyan, Chairman of TDIC and of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). 'This agreement is a sterling example of the private sector responding to the government's desire to see increased investment in Abu Dhabi's tourism infrastructure.'

To be made entirely of glass, the sleek tower design is reminiscent of a stately racing dhow - the traditional Arab sailing vessel.

'The intricate details of the sail will be clearly visible in daylight,' explained Ahmed Mohamed Al Dhaheri, CEO, Bin Salem Group. 'When night falls, the sail will seemingly fade into the darkness but when illuminated from within, the tower will glow like an encased pearl.'

To be managed by an international operator yet to be appointed, the Grand Corniche Hotel will have 349 rooms and 90 suites, 144 serviced apartments with a mix of one and two bedroom units and 3,600 metres of shopping arcade set on a retail podium. Four basement floors will be given over to car parking.

The hotel will have four restaurants - including a rooftop dining outlet - a café, lobby bar, two pool bars, swimming pools, spa, gymnasium and meeting and banqueting facilities to cater to up to 1,000 guests.

'While addressing the needs of the increasing number of tourists arriving in Abu Dhabi, the hotel will also have every modern facility required by the business traveller,' said Al Dhaheri.

The Bin Salem Group anticipates the hotel will achieve 80% occupancy in its first year of operation.

'Tourism in Abu Dhabi is currently undergoing a major transformation and the city should soon emerge as a major business and leisure destination,' explained Al Dhaheri. 'With the strong backing of the government, major tourism projects are underway to make the city a more alluring destination. The stage is now set for an increased private sector role in delivering Abu Dhabi on the international stage.'