Sharia-compliant hotel to open in Dubai

Abu Dhabi: Hotel management group Millennium is opening a 163-room Sharia-compliant property in Dubai that does not serve alcohol and has separate timings for men and women using the swimming pool.

Reda Mukhtar, general manager of the Copthorne Hotel, said the hotel, opening on Sunday, will serve people looking for a "more decent treatment" in services.

"The hotel is dry. The background music is inspired by nature [in the form of chirping of birds, waterfalls sounds, beach wave sounds], men and women have different timings to enjoy the covered swimming pool," he said.

Mukhtar said the hotel is open to families and individuals, but it will not try to find out the relationship between a couple when they check in.

"We are not going to check on couples. We will just register their identities," he said.

The duties of female employees working as receptionists, waitresses and housekeepers will be the same as in any other hotel, Mukhtar said, adding that "they will not be covered up, but have to dress decently."

Mukhtar said Gulf investors are growing interested in Islamic hotels because of demand for this accommodation.

The Copthorne Hotel is owned by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.