Centara Hotels And Resorts continues to expand its footprint and will now be opening in Dubai after agreeing to a joint venture deal with Nakheel. The two companies agreed to build a 550-capacity, waterfront resort on Deira Island that is valued at USD 136 million, Gulf News is reporting.
“This is Centara’s first hotel in Dubai, and the UAE, and represents our arrival in a key gateway city in the Middle East,” says Centara Chairman Suthikiati Chirathivat. “As we look forward to an even stronger and meaningful business partnership with Nakheel in the near future, we believe that Centara Deira Island Beach Resort Dubai will offer unforgettable holiday experiences to guests through our unique Centara hospitality and service.”
The resort will feature a waterpark among other features and will be the first deal between Centara and the Dubai-based developer. The new property will cover an area of 295,900 square feet and will also have dining facilities, a business centre, a children’s club, a spa and a fitness centre. The upscale resort will be situated along a stretch of beach on Deira Islands and will open fully in 2020 according to the news outlet but there is talk it could begin operations with a soft launch in 2019.
Nakheel has been eager to continue its expansion into Dubai’s hospitality sector and finds a willing partner in Centara who continues to expand globally. The deal is the second international joint venture on Deira Islands for Nakheel following an 800-room, all-inclusive resort and waterpark with a company from Spain that costs an estimated USD 245 million.
The announcement marks Centara’s entry into the UAE market, but the company has developed a number of projects outside of Thailand including a resort in Maldives. In addition to this, Centara boasts a number of hotels and resort throughout Thailand.
Image via centarahotelsresorts.com
