Buddha Bar plans to open hotel in Abu Dhabi

Buddha Bar, the luxury bar and restaurant company, is in talks to open a hotel under its brand in Abu Dhabi.

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Last Updated: May 16, 2011

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The company opened its first hotel in Prague two years ago, part of a growing trend among restaurant brands to venture into the hotel market.

"We're looking of course to establish hotels in the Middle East, in Dubai, Abu Dhabi," said Nabil Souhail, the director of business development at Buddha Bar Hotels, Resorts and Spas.

According to Buddha Bar's website, the company plans to open an Abu Dhabi hotel in 2015. Mr Souhail said its location was yet to be decided.

Nobu and Hard Rock Cafe are other restaurant brands to develop hotel divisions. Last month, Nobu announced plans to open a hotel in the capital within an US$8 billion (Dh29.38bn) property development on Reem Island. Hard Rock's plans have been delayed, and it is now expected to open hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2013.

Buddha Bar, known for its use of trendy Asian decor in its properties, has a bar and restaurant in Dubai Marina in the Grosvenor House hotel.

It is also in advanced negotiations to launch properties in Las Vegas, London, Bucharest and Almaty in Kazakhstan, Mr Souhail said. Buddha Bar hotels are already under development in Budapest, Paris and Mexico, with a resort planned for Egypt.

Mr Souhail said George V Eatertainment, the parent company based in Paris, was enjoying growing demand for upmarket modern restaurants in the UAE and the wider region.

Rival brands in Dubai, including Zuma and Nobu, would provide "healthy competition", he said.

"There's a lot of demand in the region," Mr Souhail said. "There's always room."

Other George V brands include Sanctuary nightclub and Karma Kafe in Dubai, and the Rush and Skylite Lounges in the Yas Hotel.

Food and beverage revenues across Abu Dhabi's hotels reached Dh1.1bn in the first 10 months of last year, up 13 per cent on the same period in 2009.