• Home
• /
• Realty
• /
• Business

Aiana forays into Doha, Makkah

Dubai - Hotel management firm's Saudi Arabia property will welcome guests by year-end

Hotel management company Aiana Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled the design and architectural elements of Aiana Suites and Residences, a 180-key luxury property that will be located in the business district of West Bay in Doha.
To mark Aiana's first year anniversary, Shaikh Turki bin Faissal Al Thani, chairman of Al Sawari Holding; Amruda Nair, joint managing director and CEO of Aiana Hotels & Resorts; and Mohammad Shafiek, managing director of Al Sawari Holding; announced Aiana's plans to open a 611-room hotel in the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
 In Doha
Aiana Suites and Residences Doha have been designed by Portuguese interior design firm Promontorio. The residences will include access to Aiana hotel services such as laundry, housekeeping and concierge facilities as well as branded amenities.
"In addition, the hotel will also have a modern Indian restaurant and an Ayurveda-inspired spa, which will be the first in Doha," said Nair.
The residences will be split into studios, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
 In Makkah
Aiana Makkah will be Aiana Hotels and Resorts' first hotel in Saudi Arabia. It is located near the city centre and has direct connectivity to the Masjid Al Haram; it will offer clear views of the Haj ritual site (the Jamarat).
It is designed to cater to the needs of families and groups that visit Makkah for pilgrimage. Among regular hotel services, Aiana Makkah will provide adequate car parking space and all-day dining that will feature signature dishes from the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Far East and North Africa.
It is scheduled to open in Q3 2016. Aiana Makkah will be the first Aiana property to welcome guests.
Shaikh Turki said: "It is a four-star luxury hotel located in Azizia in Makkah which is very lively and has a lot of retail outlets. Considering the location from the Kaaba, it's about 10 to 15 minutes away. It's true there are many luxury properties opening, but they are right near the mosque, and this location is a little farther."
"At Al Sawary Holding, we are delighted with the progress achieved by Aiana in less than one year. We believe in the potential of the Aiana brand and are committed to support its expansion across the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and South East Asia," said Shafiek. Al Sawary Holding is the asset owner. Al Sawary Holding and Aiana split an equal percentage of shares.
In the UAE
Looking to first create a flagship model in Doha, and then replicate it in the UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi, Nair said: "We believe there is a gap in the market for serviced apartments in the UAE."
Compared with the UAE, Qatar is still in the earlier stages in the life cycle, she said.
Comparing the Qatar market with others in the region, she added: "Qatar still hasn't seen a slowdown when you talk about year-on-year growth like the other bigger cities have. The primary reason is that demand continues to grow. There's a chance that supply will eventually overtake demand, but we haven't seen that as yet."
With the announcement, Aiana Hotels & Resorts now has seven hotels across the Middle East and Indian subcontinent.
It has entered into an agreement with India's Moonriver Resorts to open Aiana Munnar in Kerala. Spread across 20 acres, it features natural springs and an extensive Ayurveda-inspired spa. Aiana has also signed an agreement with India's Ferns Estates and Developers to manage and operate four new resorts in the south Indian state of Karnataka.
- kymberlee@khaleejtimes.com