It was a Dubai landmark for decades and marked Al Habtoor Group’s first foray into the hotel business.
The original Metropolitan Hotel was built in 1979, but the bulldozers moved on to the site in May 2012, when it was demolished to make way for the vast new Al Habtoor City.
Now its doors are set to open once again, in the fourth quarter this year.
The new Al Habtoor City includes three five-star hotels and three luxury residential towers along the upcoming Dubai Water Canal.
“We look forward to welcoming our first guests,” said Khalaf Al Habtoor, the chairman of Al Habtoor Group.
“When we demolished the Metropolitan Hotel I promised our loyal customers that I would rebuild the hotel.
“I have fulfilled that promise, and we look forward to receiving both new and old customers to the premises.”
The Metropolitan Hotel Dubai will reopen in a new location on Sheikh Zayed Road, near Exit 41, on Al Thanya Street.
The four-star property has 320 rooms including 18 suites.
Guests will also have access to the pool and beach facilities at Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection a short drive away, the company said.
“The hotel will see the return of old favourites The Red Lion, a traditional English pub, and Don Corleone, an authentic Italian eatery.
“It will also be home to Al Safa, an all-day dining concept serving global cuisine, Al Sheif Shisha Lounge serving Arabic cuisine, and Tropicana, a pool bar,” the developer said.
The original Metropolitan Hotel was one of just a handful of hotels in the city at the time.
Since then the hospitality industry of Dubai has become world-famous, with thousands of new rooms under construction catering to the rapidly expanding tourism sector.
Al Habtoor Group’s hospitality unit incorporates seven hotels in the UAE, including the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai; The Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection; The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah; The St Regis Dubai; W Dubai – Al Habtoor City; The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City; and The St Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club.
Overseas, the group owns The Ritz-Carlton Budapest; InterContinental Budapest; Hilton London Wembley; Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection, Vienna; President Abraham Lincoln Springfield, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel; The Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand; and Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace Hotel.
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