Accor expands its presence in the UAE, Saudi with new projects

Global hospitality group Accor has announced new projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, boosting its Middle East footprint.

In the UAE, Accor has signed a partnership with Dubai Developments to manage the Rixos resort at the upcoming Jewel of the Creek project in Dubai.

Once completed, the project will offer 770 hotel rooms and suites as well as food and beverage outlets, a large conference centre (3,000sqm), a commercial zone, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and fitness centre, a wellness centre, an infinity pool, an entertainment and show arena, a beach promenade and kids and teens facilities.

The wider Jewel of the Creek project, located in Deira, is a one million sqm, mixed-use development featuring residential, commercial, hospitality, sports, entertainment, recreational and marina components, which are connected to the main city area with over seven tunnels and almost 7,000 parking spaces available.

Outdoor features include pools, landscaping and water features, with a waterfront promenade offering retail and food and beverage outlets and an 80-berth marina.

Essa Al Maidoor, general director of Dubai Developments said: “Once our elaborated and strategic improvement plan is complete, the project will offer all elements to bring a true Rixos product to the Dubai Creek area, which will appeal to a larger target audience and vastly distinguish itself from the competition.”

Accor currently operates four Rixos properties in the UAE, including Rixos Premium Dubai JBR, Rixos Dubai the Palm Hotel & Suites, Rixos Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi and Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaima.

Rixos Jewel of the Creek will expand Accor’s footprint in the UAE to 65 properties (17,979 keys) with 29 more projects (7,900 keys) in the pipeline.

Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia, Accor has partnered with Al Raya Real Estate for the exclusive signing of the first Swissôtel Living property in Jeddah.

The project will feature 150 serviced residences including 53 studios, 75 one-bedroom units and 23 two-bedroom units, as well as an all-day-dining restaurant, a lobby café and pool lounge, nearly 400 sqm of meeting space, an outdoor/indoor gaming area, a fitness centre and a rooftop swimming pool.

The project, which will be attached to mixed-use development J View, is scheduled to open in 2021.

Mark Willis, CEO of Accor Middle East stated that their research in the Saudi market indicated “growing demand from Saudi travellers to stay in serviced apartments and benefit from the additional space with kitchenette facilities and privacy”.

“The opening of our first premium stand-alone serviced residences in Jeddah within a high quality mixed-used development is a great opportunity to meet the demand and it will strongly add to Accor’s credentials of being a leader in the extended stay segment,” he added.

Accor currently operates 39 properties in Saudi Arabia (14,314 rooms) with 34 more properties (10,035 rooms) in the pipeline.