Marriott International continues to reinforce its position as a leading hospitality company in the UAE with the expected addition of 11 new properties by year-end and a robust development outlook over the next five years.
Year-to-date, the company has added six new properties and is scheduled to add five more in the country – bringing its portfolio in the UAE to 59 properties and over 17,000 rooms across six Emirates by the end of the year.
Marriott did, however, lose three properties to Hilton at Al Habtoor City.
Two of Marriott’s openings this year feature regional brand debuts – the eco-conscious Element Hotels brand, which opened earlier this year in Dubai, and the Edition brand, which is scheduled to open in Abu Dhabi later this year.
Fuelled by a strong demand for its diverse range of well-established lifestyle brands, each offering different attributes that cater instantaneously to an ever changing and evolving marketplace, the company plans to further enhance its footprint in the UAE with the addition of more than 20 new properties in the next five years.
The company expects this development pipeline could generate over 5,000 new jobs in the country.
Arne Sorenson, president, Marriott International, commented: “Our success in the Middle East stems from our long-established presence in the market and the value we deliver to our owner-partners.
“It is the trust owners have in Marriott International, combined with our differentiated brands and collective strength of our global platform, that has put us in a position to further expand our portfolio in the country and strengthen guest loyalty.”
He added, “We are privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing growth and diversification of the UAE’s economy and remain committed to supporting the direction of its visionary leaders to further enhance the tourism sector.”
This has been a milestone year for Marriott International in the UAE, with the company anticipating having added a total of 11 properties and over 2,600 rooms by year-end.
“With a presence in the market that dates back over three decades, we have witnessed and been a part of the transformation of the UAE as one of the world’s most dynamic travel destinations,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.
“Our established and growing portfolio of hotels underscore the substantial demand for our brands in this market.
“We remain very optimistic about the UAE and continue to explore opportunities to further amplify our growth in the country through new deal signings and conversion opportunities.”