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Dubai master developer Nakheel and Thailand’s Minor Hotels have signed a management agreement for a new 372-room hotel to be constructed at Ibn Battuta Mall.

Under the agreement, signed in Bangkok by Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah and William E. Heinecke, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Minor International PCL, the hotel will be managed under the vibrant AVANI Hotels & Resorts brand, which offers guests relaxed comfort and contemporary style in city and resort destinations.

The 18-storey hotel for which a construction contract will be awarded in February this year is the second Nakheel hotel at Ibn Battuta and one of 16 in the developer’s hospitality project portfolio. Adjacent to the recently-opened Ibn Battuta Metro Link, which is directly connected to the mall, the hotel will feature a pool, spa, gym, all day dining restaurant, coffee shop and parking.

Minor Hotels’ portfolio currently comprises more than 20,000 rooms across 156 hotels, resorts and serviced suites in 24 countries under the Anantara, AVANI, PER AQUUM, Oaks, Tivoli, Elewana, Four Seasons, Marriott, St Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International brands.

Nakheel Chairman Ali Rashid Lootah said: “Today marks yet another key milestone in our commitment to enhancing and diversifying Dubai’s hotel offering by bringing new, reputable international hospitality brands to the emirate in line with the Government’s vision. We are delighted to welcome Minor and the AVANI brand to Ibn Battuta Mall, which, with over 20 million visitors a year, is one of Dubai’s leading tourist destinations.”

William E. Heinecke commented: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Nakheel for the new AVANI hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Having launched our upscale AVANI brand in the region last year, we are delighted to continue the brand’s expansion in the UAE with this new hotel and we are confident that the brand will prove successful in this key market.”

AVANI Ibn Battuta is the second Nakheel hotel at the mall. The first, a 372-room Premier Inn, opened last year. The hotels are part of Nakheel’s ongoing expansion at Ibn Battuta Mall, the first phase of which was completed last year with the opening of a 300,000 sq ft extension and 210 metre link to the Dubai Metro. The mall currently has 400 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets across 1.5 million sq ft of retail space, with phase two of the expansion under way.

Nakheel has more than 5,300 rooms across a diverse range of hospitality projects.  Two are already complete and operational, with the rest at various stages of construction and development.

Nakheel’s hotel portfolio includes:

Ibn Battuta Mall:  AVANI-branded hotel with 372 rooms adjacent to the new Ibn Battuta Mall/Metro link. Management agreement signed.
Ibn Battuta Mall:  Premier Inn-operated hotel with 372 rooms directly linked to the mall. Opened October 2016.
Dragon Mart 2:  ibis Styles hotel with 251 rooms, directly linked to Dragon Mart.  Opened February 2016.
Dragon City:  Premier Inn-operated hotel with around 320 rooms, forming part of the Nakheel’s Dragon City expansion. Management agreement signed.
Palm Jumeirah: The Palm Tower, a 289-room luxury hotel, to be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts under the St Regis brand, occupying the first 18 floors of Nakheel’s 52-storey hotel and residential tower. Under construction.
Palm Jumeirah: PALM 360, luxury twin-tower hotel and residential complex with 12,000 sq ft, branded penthouses and apartments. Upcoming.
Jumeirah Village Triangle:  251-room hotel to be managed by Hilton under its DoubleTree by Hilton brand. Letter of Intent signed.
Deira Islands: joint venture with Spain’s RIU Hotels & Resorts for a 750-room, all-inclusive beachfront resort.  Agreement signed.
Deira Islands: joint venture with Centara Hotels & Resorts, also from Thailand, for a 550-room, AED500 million resort and waterpark.  Agreement signed.

Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai is delighted to announce the completion of phase one in its extensive renovation programme which has been undertaken across its public areas including the Lobby Lounge and Dunes Café. The renovation programme has revealed a beautiful and modern, yet classical design and marks a new chapter in the evolution of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai.

With the aim to create a contemporary haven of elegance that blends modern Arabia with Shangri-La’s legendary hospitality in the heart of Dubai, the hotel’s Lobby Lounge has been extended, whilst Dunes Café has been designed as a more private dining space set aside from the lobby by pods which shield the area discreetly from the hustle and bustle. Steel and gold chandeliers are suspended from the lobby ceilings, whilst a welcoming and open guest arrival lounge provides a warm and uplifting first impression for guests. A stunning ‘wave’ chandelier designed by bespoke chandelier designers, Lasvit, hangs in the entrance of the hotel weighing the equivalent of over 700 bags of sugar. Another spectaular chandelier hangs in the two-storey staircase connecting the lobby and dining outlets. In the lobby itself, plentiful flashes of gold and ruby red detailing reflect the jewels of traditional Arabian souks. In addition, 4,212 hand-cut, blue, tiger’s eye stone tiles have been pieced together to form the entry walls to the six lobby elevators. The stone is also featured on the tables in the Lobby Lounge. Tiger’s Eye is a semi-precious stone believed to hold soothing qualities and has been introduced to bring a further sense of calm to the surroundings.

The hotel’s impressive, atrium-style lobby area has been designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) the world’s leading hospitality interior design firm. The new layout  across the renovated areas of the hotel has been planned in a manner which enables guests to effortlessly mix work with pleasure. Host a business meeting in the new stylish Lobby Lounge, meet friends for drinks, enjoy Asian High Tea or watch the world go by while having a specialist tea or coffee.

Located on the ground floor, Dunes Café is convenient and perfectly placed for casual dining with friends or business associates. The live open kitchen, featuring numerous culinary styles, is a showcase for the best of international cuisine.

The renovation project, which began in June 2016, has taken over 5.5 million minutes of man-time from the start to the end of phase one.  Phase two includes the renovation of 302 rooms and suites to be completed in 2018, which will place Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai firmly as one of the most desirable destination hotels in Dubai for both international business travellers and tourists as well as discerning locals alike.

The soon to be renovated guest rooms are being designed with style and comfort front of mind. A touch of classic glamour is conveyed through the warmth of Asian-influenced, wooden fixtures and fittings combined with white, blush and pastel blue soft furnishings. With every guest room situated on the highest floors of the hotel, each visitor will enjoy inspiring and far-reaching views either across the Arabian Sea, or of the architecturally inspiring Dubai city skyline.

Mr Gerhard Hecker, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, said: ‘It is our mission to ensure we create truly memorable and elevated experiences for our guests. I am delighted to finally reveal our newly renovated public spaces and am confident this will further enhance our guests’ experience. I very much look forward to welcoming both existing and new guests as we enter the next stage of our hotel’s history in this vibrant and growing Emirate’.