Nakheel to open new DoubleTree in Dubai

Dubai-based developer Nakheel has signed a letter of intent with Hilton Worldwide to manage a new DoubleTree hotel at Jumeirah Village Triangle.

Under the proposed agreement, the 18-story hotel will be part of Nakheel’s upcoming Al Khail Avenue retail, dining and leisure hub. The DoubleTree by Hilton will be directly linked to the mall’s 350 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets.

Nakheel won the AED1.5 billion contract to build the mall and 256-room hotel complex earlier this month. Construction is slated to begin in October this year, with completion in 2019.

Nakheel’s growing hospitality portfolio includes nearly 5,200 rooms across 14 hotels and serviced apartment complexes across Dubai. The company is also behind Dubai’s third St. Regis hotel (slated to open in 2018) and partnered with Thailand’s Centara Hotels & Resorts late last year to create a 550-room resort at Dubai’s Deira Islands. Just two weeks ago, Nakheel and Spanish hospitality giant, Riu Hotels & Resorts commenced the development of their AED900-million 800-room joint venture resort and waterpark at Dubai’s Deira Islands. A construction tender is expected to be released by the end of 2016, with anticipated completion of the hotel—Riu’s first in the GCC—expected for the third quarter of 2019.