US-based MGM Resorts International will open two new hotels in Dubai – an MGM and a Bellagio.
The company, which operates a dozen hotels in Las Vegas, has agreed a deal to advise on and manage a 26-acre “premier destination resort” for Wasl Hospitality, a division of Wasl Asset Management Group.
The resort will contain 2 million square feet of built-up space, including an MGM Hotel, MGM-branded residences and a Bellagio-branded hotel containing a total of 1,000 rooms and 10 villas. There will also be a 500,000-sq-ft theatre, a range of restaurants, museums, a major beach club and adventure zones for both adults and children.
According to a statement from MGM Resorts, the site will “occupy the longest stretch of waterfront ever developed in Dubai” along the Jumeirah Beach front.
Work is set to start on the project in the third quarter of 2017 and will take four years to complete.
“We are excited and honoured by the opportunity to introduce our brands in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations,” said Bill Hornbuckle, president of MGM Resorts.
“This marks the first time we will offer multiple MGM luxury brands at a prime beachfront location.”
Hesham Al Qassim, the chief executive of Wasl Asset Management, said the deal “fulfils Wasl’s mandate to attract global hospitality players to Dubai, where we are constantly striving to raise the bar in the city by offering tourists, residents and visitors ever-more sensational hospitality and entertainment experiences”.
MGM Resorts also owns resorts in other American cities as well as properties in Macau and China. In 2016, the company declared a net profit of US$1.1 billion on the back of a 9 per cent increase in net revenue to $9.5bn. It employs almost 77,000 people worldwide.
Wasl Asset Management is responsible for managing assets in non-freehold areas of Dubai. It has more than 25,000 homes and 5,500 hotel rooms and apartments in its portfolio.
mfahy@thenational.ae
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Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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