Nakheel Hotels opens first One and Only Resort in South Africa

The One & Only Cape Town builds on Nakheel Hotels' strong relationship with Kerzner International, owners and operators of the One & Only and Atlantis brands; and expands its portfolio of best brand luxury hotels in key destinations in Africa.

The 137 room hotel is built around two artificial islands, with a huge swimming pool fringed by palm trees, and two restaurants operated by celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Matsuhisa.

The elegant hotel set the scene for a rare appearance of the father of modern South Africa and elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, who joined Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, and Sol Kerzner Chairman and CEO of Kerzner International, at a luncheon to mark the opening of One&Only Cape Town.

The One & Only Cape Town is the newest high-end hotel to open in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which has become South Africa's most visited destination.

Dubai World, Nakheel Hotels' parent company, is part of the consortium that owns Victoria & Alfred Waterfront totaling some 123 hectares of prime property in Cape Town and is set to be center stage as South Africa hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June next year.

Dubai World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, who was visiting South Africa for the hotel's opening on Thursday, commented:

"We see a bright future for this dynamic continent and continue to invest in Africa for the long term. We are delighted to add the One & Only at Dubai World's own Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to our Africa portfolio. Our strategy is to work with the best partners and invest in high-end assets in key destinations around the world, which deliver real, measurable results. The One & Only Cape Town is part of that highly successful business model."

Dubai World and its divisions including Nakheel Hotels, Leisurecorp, Dubai World Africa, and DP World; has a number of landmark investments in Africa. In February of 2009 Nakheel Hotels, opened a second phase of Djibouti's first five-star hotel, the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, which has shown excellent returns since its opening in 2006.

This is due in large part to a synergy with Dubai World, which has invested more than $800m in projects in Djibouti such as a new port, a free-trade zone, and new roads.