'Raffles Dubai' also marks the Singapore-based group's first foray into the Middle East and further expands its global presence to 41 hotels and resorts in 35 destinations.
Conceived in a stunning signature pyramid shape by lead architects Arif & Bin Toak, the 240-room Raffles Dubai will be a prominent landmark when completed in 2007. It will have 188 well-appointed guest rooms and 52 luxurious suites, nine food and beverage outlets, a grand ballroom, seven meeting rooms, a Raffles Amrita Spa, a gymnasium and a Raffles merchandise shop. The interiors of the hotel will be designed by the Dubai-based LW Design.
The hotel complex will also house 242,000 sq. ft. of retail space spread over two floors and consisting of 91 shops and a large department store. It will be located at Wafi City, facing Sheikh Zayed Road and be an extension to the existing Mall.
Sheikh Mana bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Chairman, MKM Commercial Holdings LLC, which owns Wafi City, said the deal has further enhanced Wafi's integral role in the advancement of Dubai's world-renowned hospitality and tourism infrastructure said, "Raffles Dubai will add yet another luxury hospitality brand to the emirate's growing deluxe property portfolio and contribute to the fulfillment of the government's vision to establish Dubai as a major global tourism destination."
"Distinction and differentiation are core values of Wafi City and the association with RIL is in line with our overall brand essence of ensuring customers and guests can experience luxury with a Middle Eastern touch."
Jennie Chua, Chairman, Raffles International Limited said, "Establishing a presence in Dubai has always been one of Raffles International's major goals. With the signing of the contract to manage Raffles Dubai, we are pleased to welcome the latest addition to our collection of luxury Raffles hotels and resorts known for exceptional standards of hospitality and service. Raffles Dubai, with its unique architectural structure, magnificent design and ideal location, is well positioned to cater to the affluent business and leisure traveller. We are honoured that Wafi Group, one of the most esteemed business conglomerate in Dubai, has entrusted us to manage their first luxury hotel."
Site excavation work by the project's main contractors, Khansaheb Civil Engineering LLC, is already underway and hotel construction will start in May.
Peter Henley, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Raffles International Limited, commented, "As Dubai's prominence as the regional hub for commerce and tourism in the Middle East increases, there will be greater demand for accommodation to cater to the growing number of business and leisure visitors. Raffles Dubai is well poised to tap on the growth trend in this key gateway city."
Ian Wiedersheim, Managing Director, MKM Commercial Holdings LLC said,
"Raffles Hotels & Resorts will greatly strengthen Wafi City's already expansive destination offering and the linking of these two prestigious brands creates a synergy which cannot be other than highly successful."
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Wafi Group signs with Raffles International
- United Arab Emirates: Sunday, April 24 - 2005 at 15:54
- PRESS RELEASE
Wafi Group, the Dubai-based diversified business conglomerate, will invest more than USD 140 million in its first luxury hotel project which will be managed and operated by award-winning hospitality chain Raffles International Limited (RIL).
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Notes and media contacts
For further information: Sony Elias, MCS/Action, Dubai. Tel: + 971 4 3902960; Fax: + 971 4 3908161About MKM Commercial Holdings LLC
Established in 1973, MKM Commercial Holdings LLC has several businesses in Dubai, namely property asset management, hospitality services comprising food & beverage, health & leisure, manufacturing and industrial services and freight forwarding, shipping, trucking & car rental and shipping agency. It is owned by Sheikh Mana Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, a cousin of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister.
About Raffles Holdings Limited & Raffles International Limited
(www.rafflesholdings.com and www.rafflesinternational.com)
Raffles Holdings Limited is a hospitality company listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. It is headquartered in Singapore and has an approximate 12,000-room portfolio comprising 41 hotels and resorts in 35 destinations across Asia, Australia, Europe, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America and South America.
Raffles International Limited is the hotel management arm of Raffles Holdings Limited and is a name well respected in the industry for its standards of quality and award-winning concepts. Raffles International markets its hotels and resorts under two brands -- Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts (www.raffles.com) is a collection of 15 luxury hotels located in major cities around the globe and distinguishes itself by the highest standards of products and services. Each hotel is a landmark in its respective city and most are positioned at the top of their local markets. The collection of legendary hotels includes Raffles Hotel and Raffles The Plaza in Singapore, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills in the US, Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines, Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg, Germany and Raffles Le Montreux Palace, Montreux, Switzerland.
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts (www.swissotel.com) is a distinctive group of 26 deluxe hotels for today's discerning modern business and leisure traveller. It combines individual, modern and functional design with local character and renowned standards of Swiss hospitality, service efficiency and product quality. Located in gateway destinations and city centres, the hotels offer convenient access to business and shopping districts and local attractions. Many of the Swissôtel hotels have won prestigious awards and accolades.
About CapitaLand Limited (www.capitaland.com)
CapitaLand is one of the largest listed property companies in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, the multinational company's core businesses in property, hospitality, property services and real estate financial services are focused in gateway cities in Asia, Australia and Europe. The company's property and hospitality portfolio spans 88 cities in 30 countries. CapitaLand also leverages on its significant real estate asset base and market knowledge to develop fee-based products and services in Singapore and the region.
The listed subsidiaries and associates of CapitaLand include Raffles Holdings, The Ascott Group, CapitaMall Trust, CapitaCommercial Trust and Australand Property Group, which is listed both in Singapore and Australia.
For more information, please contact:
Goh Kah Lin
Manager
Corporate & Marketing
Communications
Raffles International Ltd
(Regn No. 198903239E)
Tel: (65) 6430-1366
Fax: (65) 6339-1713
Beatrice Ganter
Director, Marketing Communications
Europe, Middle East & Mediterranean
Raffles International Ltd
(Regn No. 198903239E)
Tel: (41) 1 317-3370
Fax: (41) 1 317-3355
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorSunday, April 24 - 2005 at 15:54 UAE local time (GMT+4)
Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap Limited.
This article was updated on Tue May 01 2007.
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