Dubai hospitality projects valued at Dh1trn

 
Fifty-five of the 124 vast hospitality developments to be completed in Dubai by 2016 share an estimated value of more than Dh1 trillion, Emirates Business has learned.

The figure was revealed by a senior official at Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, who said the emirate was set to become of the most sought-after tourist and business destinations in the world. He could not disclose the full cost of all 124 projects.

“Dubai is already one of the top destinations due to the ease of access, the quality of its infrastructure, its friendly atmosphere and its leisure facilities,” said Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, the department’s Overseas Promotions Director.

“The majority of the 124 projects scheduled to open between 2008 and 2016 are tourism-oriented, ranging from furnished apartments to super-luxury hotels.”

Al Geziry said 52 of the projects would cost an estimated Dh930 billion and the majority of them would be completed between 2009 and 2011.

“The vast Bawadi tourism and leisure project being developed at an estimated cost of Dh200bn will be fully completed in 2016,” he said.

Part of the development will be ready in 2010. The scheme comprises 51 luxury hotels with 60,000 rooms. One of them, Asia Asia, will be the world’s largest, with 6,500 rooms.

“Tourists are attracted to a destination by certain factors such as how easy it is to get there, transport systems and roads infrastructure, comfortable and affordable accommodation and interesting places to visit,” Al Geziry said at the second edition of the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition in Abu Dhabi. “We have them all and are further improving and expanding them.”

Dubai is becoming one of the easiest destinations to reach due to airport expansions and enhanced facilities for arrival by sea, he said.

“Dubai International Airport is being further expanded, Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed, Emirates airline is expanding and Dubai Cruise Terminal is set to become the regional hub for cruise lines. Dubai caters to business tourism, leisure, stopover, shopping, sports and long-term stays. These are what make a destination popular and these are what a tourist would be looking for.”

Al Geziry said Dubai had 40,000 hotel and hotel apartment rooms.

“The quality of services and facilities in Dubai hotels are excellent compared to many other destinations. The room rates paid for the same services in hotels in other destinations are much higher,” he added.