Rixos of Turkey plans move into Abu Dhabi

Rixos Hotels is looking at opportunities to expand in the region, with Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia under consideration.

Rixos Hotels, a luxury operator based in Turkey, is eyeing opportunities to expand into Abu Dhabi and throughout the region as it prepares to open its first hotel in the UAE.

Rixos is opening its delayed resort on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai next week.

"We are very keen to be in Abu Dhabi. We have some talks now," said Fettah Tamince, the chairman of Rixos Hotels.

The company yesterday announced plans to manage an all-inclusive resort in Ras Al Khaimah, which is expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

The operator is also close to signing another agreement in Dubai, Mr Tamince said.

"I'm interested in the whole region."

Rixos has a project under construction in Bahrain. It is also considering projects in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and is hoping to sign another hotel in RAK.

It originally had plans to operate the Zabeel Saray hotel on the Palm Jumeirah, which is being operated by Jumeirah Group. Rixos took over another hotel on the Palm that was originally intended to be managed by Jumeirah.