A joint venture between Thai real estate investor and developer U City and Dubai-based developer Nakheel are is developing a 600-room beachfront Vienna House-branded hotel on Deira Island in Dubai. The property is slated to open after 2020.
Keeree Kanjanapas, chairman of U City, told the Bangkok Post that the companies will finalize the project development plans for the new resort, including the budget of the investment, the location, the number of projects, within the next two months. The project has a reported cost of $160 million.
“This venture will expand the portfolio of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG, under the brand ‘Vienna House’. Dubai’s economy continues to show continuous growth especially in the property and tourism industry, which is a result of its well development plans. This is a great opportunity to bring the brand, which is already well-established in the European markets, to other parts of the world," said Kanjanapas.
Rupert Simoner, CEO of Vienna International Hotel Management AG, said in a statement, “The brand ‘Vienna House’ is about the joy of travelling, adventure and discovery. Vienna House Deira Beach will offer quality leisure experiences that are designed to offer guests authentic moments and memories. There is nothing comparable in Dubai at present. We are honored to partner with Nakheel to create this uniquely-designed beach resort, which will be introduced under our ‘Affordable Great’ concept, providing a quality yet informal and laid-back atmosphere inspired by the Bohemian lifestyle.”
“Nakheel is delighted to be working with Vienna House on this unique new concept for Deira Islands," said Ali Rashid Ahmed Lootah, chairman of Nakheel PJSC. "Our ongoing strategy is to bring new, highly-reputable hospitality brands and concepts to Dubai as part of our commitment to support the government in realising its tourism vision. The Vienna House Deira Beach is a shining example of how this strategy is coming to fruition. Vienna House has an enviable track record in hotel management and is renowned for its excellent service and hospitality across Europe, and we look forward to welcoming this new brand into our ever-growing portfolio of global hospitality partners.”
This will be Nakheel's third joint venture on Deira Island. The group already has a portfolio of 1,400 guestrooms through joint ventures with Spain-based Riu Hotels and Resorts and Thailand-based Centara Hotels and Resorts. Nakheel has a total of more than 3,600 guestrooms in Deira Island through current or upcoming projects or management agreements. The new Vienna House is Nakheel's latest development in its pipeline for Dubai. The developer has 18 hotels planned across the emirate, with eight slated to open in the Deira Islands.
The new Vienna House is also the latest addition to the Austrian hotel company's pipeline. The Vienna House Company has more than 30 hotels across Germany, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Romania under its Vienna House and Vienna House Easy brands. U City also plans to expand the brand’s footprint into Thailand, following eight properties currently operating under its U Hotels & Resorts and two operating under the Eastin brand.