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Construction Begins on Dh1b
Hotel on Saadiyat Island

ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi National Hotels broke ground for Dh1 billion luxury hotel project on the Saadiyat island, emirate’s $18 billion cultural showpiece.

The Park Hayat Hotel being built by Abu Dhabi National Hotels or ADNH will be one of ten five-star properties to be developed on the eight-kilometre white sandy beach of the Island, where tourists can watch dolphins or visit natural turtle-nesting habitats.

Spread over 27 kilometre Saadiyaat Island is a mixed-use leisure, housing and culture destination to cater 150,000 people. It will have 25-hotels, apart from attractions like The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, The Louvre Abu Dhabi, a performing arts centre and maritime museum, the Zayed National Museum, two championship golf courses and other tourist hotspots.

Scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2011, Park Hayat will be the first operational property on 
 the Island.

The hotel will have 316-rooms, suites and villas in addition to four dining outlets and dedicated facilities for conferences, banqueting and recreation.

ADNH has awarded Al Jaber Engineering and Contracting or ALEC the contract to build the project on a 75,000 square metre land.

According to the agreement signed on Wednesday, ALEC, the main contractor will be responsible for all construction, building and finishing works for the hotel, its facilities and villas.

ADNH Chairman Saif Mohammed Al Hajeri, who was present on the occasion, said that with Abu Dhabi poised to be the regional destination for tourists, holiday-makers and business travellers, there is a growing need for luxury properties in the capital.

Park Hyatt will be a vital addition to ADX-listed ADNH’s portfolio of high-end hotels and resorts, Al Hajeri said.

ADNH, which manages around a dozen properties in the country, is investing Dh4 billion to expand its portfolio by adding 2200-rooms in next three years, its chief executive officer Richard Riley said.

Next week, its one property Al Diar Al Barsha will be opened to guests, while in July it plans to open five-star Sofitel Jumeirah Beach, both in Dubai. Sofitel is a holiday retreat with 438 sea-facing rooms including 40 suites with direct access to the beach.

Grand Canal Abu Dhabi by JW Marriott is being developed to bring an iconic waterfront resort to the 
shores of Abu Dhabi.

With 771-rooms the second largest hotel development in the UAE is slated to be completed next summer. 


haseebhaider@khaleejtimes.com