Dubai Global luxury hotel chain Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts will officially announce its first project in Dubai shortly, the Canada-based company has said.
"Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts can confirm that we are close to making an announcement on a project in Dubai," the company spokesperson told Gulf News in an emailed statement.
"Once all details are in place, we will be happy to discuss this exciting development which will be a great addition to the portfolio."
The company did not divulge additional details of the project, but according to market sources, construction of the five-star resort has begun on the Beach Road in Jumeirah on the site of the former Jumeirah Beach Club.
It is likely to be called Four Seasons Jumeirah Resort. The project is due to be completed in 2013.
"A local developer called Bright Start Holding is building the resort," a source told Gulf News, adding that the hotel will have a total built-up area of 65,000 square metres with guest rooms to be located on the first five floors of the building.
Appropriate location
This is Four Seasons' second attempt to enter the Dubai market.
The hotelier, positioned in the ultra-luxury segment of the market, has been looking for an appropriate location since a Four Seasons hotel project in Festival City's Al Badia Golf Club complex was called off by developer Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate in June 2009 amid the global economic downturn.
The property was meant to be a waterside hotel in Festival City, housing 400 rooms including ultra-exclusive residential apartments and luxurious amenities and services.
The UAE's first Four Seasons, however, will open in Abu Dhabi's Sowwah Island next year, comprising approximately 200 deluxe rooms and 125 residences, in partnership with Mubadala Development Company.
"Four Seasons already operates nine hotels in the Middle East and has several others in the pipeline, including in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Bahrain, Kuwait and a second property in Doha," the company's spokesperson said, adding that Four Seasons looks forward to its Dubai announcement.
Meanwhile, speaking at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin last month, Scott Woroch, executive vice-president of Worldwide Development at Four Seasons, reportedly said that the company has now got a "great site" for its Dubai property and that it was going to position the brand in "very good location with a great partner".
Room for development
He added that there was room for further development of attractions in Dubai.
According to STR Global's February report, Dubai has 26,643 rooms in the development pipeline.
Dubai hotels received 7.26 million guests in 2011, up from 6.56 million in 2010, and the emirate's tourism sector recorded a 20 per cent jump in revenues to Dh16 billion last year owing to factors such as the Arab Spring and the opening of new properties.
