A new five-star hotel that will not serve liquor has been inaugurated in Abu Dhabi, the third major alcohol-free resort facility to be launched by one of the largest hotel operators in the region.

Rotana said its Dh1.2-billion Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan hotel had started to receive residents since it was opened three months ago on trial basis.

“The hotel is the third opening under the alcohol-free brand, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts, respecting the beliefs and culture of the company’s guests and delivering world-class standards true the existing reputation of Rotana.”

The 443-room hotel had a 20 per cent occupancy rate in the first days of its inauguration before it rose to 30 per cent three months later.

“We expect the rate to reach 75-80 per cent in October and November as Abu Dhabi gets busy because of the holding of several conferences and other events,” its general manager Alain Kropf said.

The high-rise hotel is located just opposite the sprawling seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel on the western edge of the city, dwarfing the ageing Hilton Hotel and overlooking the azure serene Gulf water.

“I am privileged to be part of the opening team of this magnificent property and we have been working hand in hand to ensure the opening is perfect,” Kropf said.

The property offers six fully equipped sea view meeting rooms for small to medium size conferences, as well as state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.

“The resort offers outstanding recreational facilities allowing guests to enjoy creative team challenges and outdoor adventures.”

Rotana currently manages 70 properties across the Middle East and North Africa including luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Beirut, Kuwait, Syria, Sudan, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh.
Rotana Hotel Management Corporation (Rotana) was founded in 1992.

It opened its first property in Abu Dhabi in 1993 and is today one of the largest hotel management companies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Rotana’s aggressive expansion plans have seen the Company grow from two properties in 1993 to a total of 70 by 2014. Several further properties are planned for opening and new projects are in the pipeline.

New properties are currently under development in the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria.