Nakheel signs deal with Centara for Dhs500m Deira Islands resort

Dubai developer Nakheel has signed a joint venture agreement with Thailand-based Centara Hotels and Resorts for a 550-room, Dhs500m beachfront resort at Deira Islands, it announced on Monday.

Plans for the JV were first disclosed in November 2015.

Under the agreement, the two companies will develop the upscale resort – Centara’s first in the UAE – across 295,900 sq ft on Deira Islands.

Features include a waterpark, dining facilities, business centre, kids’ club, spa and fitness centre.

The resort is anticipated to have a soft opening in 2019 and a grand opening in 2020, Nakheel said in a statement.

Nakheel chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said: “Our joint venture with Centara cements our commitment to partnering with successful, reputable international hotel brands to bring new tourism concepts to Dubai in line with the government of Dubai’s tourism vision.”

Deira Islands, Nakheel’s new, 15.3 sq km, tourism, leisure, retail and entertainment destination, will add 40 km, including 21 km of beach, to Dubai’s coastline.

Nakheel has, so far, invested more than Dhs3bn in infrastructure work, coastal works and design services for new projects, it said in the statement.

The developer recently completed a Dhs150m access bridge to the islands, and has just released a tender for the construction of six marinas.

When complete, the development is expected to have around 250,000 residents, create over 80,000 new jobs, and offer hundreds of new hotels, serviced apartments, mixed-use buildings, retail and leisure attractions.

Nakheel alone is building 16 residential towers, five hotels, two serviced apartment complexes, Deira Mall, Deira Islands Night Souk and several marinas at the islands.

The developer also signed a joint venture with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts in February last year for an 800-room, Dhs900m all-inclusive resort and waterpark in Deira Islands.

It is also building a 500-room Avani-branded beachfront resort in collaboration with the Minor Hotel Group within the development.

Also read: Nakheel, RIU begin work on Deira Islands beachfront resort

Nakheel appoints AE7 to oversee $1.36bn Deira Islands Boulevard