Hotel linked to Al Maryah Central mall expected in 2019

A new 200-room hotel is expected to open on Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Island by 2019

The hotel will link up with the Al Maryah Central mall, which is expected to open in 2018. The operator is yet to be finalised.

“It will compliment other ­hotels, the Galleria Mall and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi,” said Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, the vice president of business development at Mubadala Real Estate and Infrastructure.

A Four Seasons hotel is due to open on the island next month.

“China is definitely a source market for us since we opened the [Rosewood] hotel, whether from the hospitality perspective or for medical tourism, but the [Arabian] Gulf is also on our ­radar,” he said.

Rosewood Hotel, the first ­hotel to open on Al Maryah Island in 2013, draws business from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to which it is interconnected.

“People come for complex surgeries from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain,” Mr Al Nowais said.

Brands such as Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s are expected to open at Al Maryah Central shoping mall when it opens in 2018.

Abu Dhabi had 24,457 rooms at the end of March, according to the research company STR.

New tourism attractions are gradually coming to the market. At Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the third phase of expansion will add three new rides and attractions over the next year, according to Jesse Vargas, the theme park’s general manager.

The leading source markets for the park are the Arabian Gulf, India and China, he said.

The theme park, which is home to the world’s fastest roller coaster Formula Rossa with a top speed of 240kph, currently has about 30 rides and attractions.

Cruise tourism is also on the rise. Abu Dhabi expects to record an increase of 9.6 per cent in cruise passengers this season as new tourism attractions gather pace.

During the 2016-17 season, cruise liners are expected to deliver 250,000 passengers from 151 calls.

During the 2015-16 season, Abu Dhabi reported 228,000 passengers from 113 calls. MSC Cruises took to home porting at the new Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port. Cruise tourism in the city started in 2006.

Sir Bani Yas Island is home to a dedicated cruise beach stopover, the only one in Arabian Gulf.