Sharjah: In a couple of years, visitors to the UAE will be able to go back in time and experience the Emirati lifestyle and environment in Sharjah over half a century ago when visiting the traditional Al Bait Hotel in the Heart of Sharjah.
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced the commencement of work on the first traditional Emirati five-star Al Bait hotel in the heritage area which is set for completion towards the end of December 2014.
The traditional hotel ties in with the “Heart of Sharjah’ initiative which aims to revive the heritage area in Sharjah, and restore the remaining historic fabric within the city by 2025.
Shurooq will be working with a hotel management firm, General Hotel Management Ltd (GHM), after an agreement was signed by Shaikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, and Hans R. Jenni, Director and President of GHM.
The Al Bait Hotel aims to reflect the Emirati lifestyle and traditions while combining it with a five star hotel in terms of services, amenities and cuisine.
“We want tourists and guests to be familiarised with both our traditional and modern customs and culture, and we want to offer them a pure Emirati ambience that reflects the reality of life, and the history and traditions of the UAE and Emiratis,” said Shurooq CEO Marwan Bin Jasem Al Sarkal.
The Dh100 million Al Bait hotel project in Sharjah which will spread over almost 10,000 square metres will also include five of the heritage houses in the area. “Al Bait hotel will include a number of houses and buildings, five of which are heritage houses — including Bait Ebrahim Al Midfa, Bait Eissa Al Midfa, Bait Abdul Rahman Al Midfa, Bait Abdullah Al Mahmoud and Al Midfa Majlis, which will be renovated,” said Al Sarkal.
Al Sarkal also added that the houses chosen will keep their original names to highlight the lifestyle of the Emiratis who once stayed in them.
Work in the area will also focus on the surrounding streets and courtyards, which will be revitalised and resurfaced. “The design concept for Al Bait Hotel is based on the integration of the hotel and its associated public and service facilities into the existing historical urban fabric, recreating where possible the urban character of the historical city in the past time,” added Al Sarkal.
The hotel will include 54 guest rooms ranging from standard and deluxe suites to junior suites, along with a spa and health club, and several dining areas. Offering visitors the full cultural experience, the hotel will also include a traditional Arabic tea and coffee house, a traditional Arabic restaurant, and an all day diner. Also a part of the development project is one of the oldest souqs in the region, Souq Al Arsa, which will act as a pedestrian anchor to the area as it surrounds the hotel.
