A multibillion-dollar integrated resort on Al Marjan Island is in the pipepline
Marjan, RAK Hospitality Holding, and Wynn Resorts have announced a multibillion-dollar integrated resort development on the Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
The spectacular Al Marjan Island, already a leading tourism destination, is only 15 minutes from the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and 45 minutes from the Dubai International Airport. Comprising four islands, Al Marjan Island delights visitors with over 7.8km of sparkling beaches and 23km of waterfront in addition to world-class hotels and residential developments.
Al Marjan Island spans an area of 2.7 million sqm of reclaimed land extending into the Arabian Gulf. The new integrated resort on one of the exclusive islands, which covers an area of almost 250,000 sqm, will offer a pristine setting with spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf as well as sandy beaches and a marina. The development is the first beach resort being developed by Wynn Resorts globally. The current scope includes a circa 1,000 + room hotel, high-end shopping mall, a state-of-the-art meeting and convention facility, an exclusive spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a wide array of entertainment choices, a gaming area, and other amenities.
The integrated resort will be developed with significant foreign direct investment by Wynn Resorts. As the largest project of its kind in the Emirate’s growing hospitality sector, it will create substantial value to the local economy by accelerating tourism, creating jobs, and energising the growth of related sectors. Set to be completed in 2026, the entire project will be developed to the highest standards of sustainability best practices.
The new resort is in the initial stages of design and development and will be applying for an integrated resort licence from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.
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Kempinski to open the world’s first floating palace resort in Dubai
For the first time, a Kempinski Floating Palace, is opening as a floating building around which 12 likewise floating luxury villas are grouped with the possibility to sail to other anchorages at times. The high-tech metropolis and emirate of superlatives is always up for surprises, and with the new extraordinary Kempinski Floating Palace, discerning guests are awaited by a jewel of a very special kind. Anchored next to one of the most exclusive beach stretches in Dubai on Jumeirah Beach Road, highly sought after by luxury travellers and locals alike for its vibrant hotels and F&B scene, guests are brought to the 156-room and suite hotel or their villas by speed boat or arrive directly with their own boats. Moreover, a connected floating helipad next to an impressive yacht parking deck for up to 16 yachts, allows discerning guests to arrive in style. Kempinski Floating Palace is envisioned to be positioned as one of its kind – a novelty which guarantees unforgettable moments and an outstanding experience to all guests.
Reflecting contemporary lifestyle in the UAE, the new Kempinski Floating Palace is an addition and special touch to the hotel’s world in Dubai, long known for unparalleled achievements and attracting world tourism. This project will be another breakthrough for the already spectacular tourism industry of the country.
The main building of this floating palace, structured in four parts, is connected in the middle by a glass pyramid and offers every luxury of a 5-star hotel, from exclusive gourmet restaurants, bars, spa, pools to boutiques, banquet areas and the possibility for even larger yachts to sail in and out at the centre of the hotel.
The 12 luxury villas, connected by pontoons, are partly for sale but also for rent by hotel guests and benefit from all the services offered at the hotel. High-quality and elegant design over two floors with a roof terrace and infinity pool, respectively twelve villas with each of two, three or four bedrooms, crew and staff rooms as well as indoor and outdoor living rooms characterise the luxury houseboats with large panoramic windows and all the technical features of a smart home. Cruising at a maximum speed of 6 nautical miles, the villas are equipped with solar panels and are designed to be environmentally friendly.
“We are delighted to be able to offer our guests in Dubai such a first experience from 2023 onwards, combining the destination’s reputation as a high-tech city with the timeless European elegance of Kempinski Hotels”, says Bernold Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of Kempinski Group and Chairman of the Management Board of Kempinski AG. “The highly innovative project by Seagate Shipyard convinces not only by its high-end technology, but also through impeccable style and design.”
“We are proud of what we have achieved so far, especially at the Floating Palace in Dubai, where we have partnered with a global leader in the hospitality business”, Mr. Mohamed El Bahrawy, CEO and founder of Seagate Shipyard, added. “I am so grateful to Bernold Schroeder and Kempinski Hotels for their trust. It is thrilling to see, that for the first time a brand of the calibre of Kempinski will manage a floating hotel of such magnitude, and we are confident that our hotel will soon be one of the top tourist attractions in Dubai. It will undoubtedly occupy an iconic position among floating hotels all over the world.”
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Designs unveiled for Saudi Arabia’s captivating Desert Rock mountain resort
We often talk about immersive experiences in the context of virtual reality, but The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) in Saudi Arabia is taking the concept a step further by carving a luxury hotel into a rock mountain for its future guests to literally immerse themselves in.
Set in one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world, the Desert Rock resort is being integrated into the stunning mountainside and offers panoramic views of the mountain canyons below and a canopy of stars above.
As part of The Red Sea Project, TRSDC recently revealed a first look at Desert Rock’s designs, which are intended to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s spectacular natural beauty and Nabatean heritage.
“Since the inception of the Desert Rock project, creating a development that combines luxury, sustainability and an immersive experience for our guests has been at the heart of it all,” said John Pagano, TRSDC CEO. “We cannot wait to welcome guests to enjoy a stay at this unique property.”
Inspired by the surrounding beautiful mountains, volcanoes and wadis, Desert Rock will feature 48 villas and 12 hotel suites. A variety of accommodation styles will be available to best meet guests needs, from ground level dwellings to crevice hotel suites midway up the mountain.
An impressive feat of engineering, a select number of rooms will sit within the excavated rock-scape, giving guests access to stunning views of Saudi Arabia and opportunities for star gazing, all from the comfort of your room.
The unique rock formations included in the resort architecture were produced by a series of cataclysmic seismic events thousands of years ago, and so the architecture has been designed to keep this natural beauty while also reducing energy consumption, supercharging the ecosystem, and regenerating native flora. This innovative architecture model offers guests a completely unique and unmatched form of luxury, combining nature and sustainability as one.
“Desert Rock offers a ‘never before seen’ opportunity for guests to connect physically and metaphysically with one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world,” said Chad Oppenheim, Founder of Oppenheim Architecture, the design and planning firm behind the concept. “Our key intention when designing the resort was to build with the land, not on it, and to be mindful of the stunning nature elements that already exist at the site, amplifying its natural beauty.”
Guests will enter the resort through a hidden valley nestled between the mountains. Most roads leading into the resort will follow the edge of the main wadi, hidden behind landscape mounds, to provide uninterrupted views. This will also minimise sound and light pollution, allowing guests to fully absorb the surrounding dramatic desert landscape.
The resort features state-of-the-art facilities, including a world-class spa and fitness centre, remote destination dining areas as well as a feature lagoon oasis.
Visitors will be able to hike with members of the local community who will provide educational tours of the area. Dune buggies will also be on hand to hire as part of the site-wide activities program, making it the idyllic holiday destination for those seeking adventure and relaxation alike.
TRSDC is championing the ancient history of the area, which is positioned at the crossroads of continents, connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. For centuries, Saudi Arabia has been a meeting point for civilisations and a crossing point for caravans on the incense trade route carrying spices, myrrh, cotton, ebony, and silk.
The Nabateans – an ancient Arab people who inhabited northern Arabia and the southern Levant and who are perhaps best known for their rock-cut monumental tombs in Petra, Jordan – inhabited Saudi Arabia’s north-western region some 2,000 years ago and constructed their second largest city there at Mada’in Salih, a few hours’ drive from Desert Rock.
The Desert Rock resort will be open for guests to visit as part of phase one of the Red Sea destination set to complete in 2023.
Desert Rock Destination Key Take-aways: Desert Rock will feature 48 villas and 12 hotel suites, a total of 60-keys with a select number excavated within the rock massif itself. Where possible, materials used in the architecture are recycled from the site and have the same integral colours as the surrounding landscape to further immerse the architecture in its setting. During daylight, the natural silhouette of Desert Rock and its respective shadows will prevail. At night, the glow of the architectural lighting from within the destination, not upon the rock will be visible to those passing by. The destination includes a world-class spa and fitness centre, as well as a feature lagoon. Guests will be able to stargaze, hike and use dune buggies all on the Desert Rock site to explore nature and cultural heritage of the region. |
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The Address Beach Resort by Killa Design wins Hospitality Project of the Year award at Architecture Leaders Awards 2021
Killa Design picked up the Hospitality of the Year award for their The Address Beach Resort project.
The Address Beach Resort occupies a prime location on Dubai’s JBR beach and distinctly marks the end of Dubai Marina. The 77-storey tower is located on a multi-levelled landscaped podium and has a large central void extending over 50 floors.
The tower reconnects on higher floors by a sky-bridge which holds, the largest and most prominent apartments, restaurants, spa and gym and a rooftop sky-club with lounge and pool, positioned almost 294m above ground, making it both the highest infinity pool in the world as well as the highest inhabited skybridge in the world, all with unparalleled views of the Arabian Gulf, sunsets and the shoreline of Dubai.
The initial design brief called for a twin tower design; analysing the highly fragmented skyline of the Dubai Marina, we realized the importance of creating a pure, simple and timeless building form. Introducing a large dynamic void within the mass of the tower, opens the building to its surrounding context and increases daylight intake, while creating a distinctive gateway project for Dubai Marina.
The site offers an opportunity to locate the tower close to the beach and beyond the skyline of the remaining JBR beach; the building is therefore placed right at the setback limitation. The building is furthermore turned to not only offer direct views to Bluewater’s and Palm Jumeirah, but also offering excellent views along the beachfront itself.
The twin towers are orientated exactly on the East West axis as a first principle passive design sustainable measure to reduce solar gain on the façade of the building.
This singular design measure reduces the solar gain on the building by up to 40% whereby reducing the cooling and energy demands for the development.
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10 Design wins competition to create a luxury resort in Lukoran, Croatia
10 Design is leading on the master plan and architectural design for the residences and beach house within the luxury Lukoran Resort set on the island of Ugljan, Croatia. The team has been commissioned by SITNO Holding Real Estate to produce the first phase of the 77,000sqm site, following an international design competition.
The scheme incorporates a series of premium villas with private infinity pools, townhouses with shared pool amenity and 4 apartment blocks. The residential scheme is underpinned by a publicly accessible beach club located adjacent to a proposed new marina, which is set to be complete with food and beverage outlets, leisure facilities including gym and spa, small retail units and a large external hospitality space with a pool terrace.
The various different residency options share a common architectural vocabulary and materiality, creating a uniformed brand for the product range. With contrasting shades of the local stone and contrasting dark grey paint, the residences are finished with robust steel detailing. This architectural language has been inspired by the dramatic landscape and marine tradition. The beach club bears a corresponding design palette to the residences and will act as both a waterfront gateway and a central destination for the scheme.
Paul Rodgers, Design Partner at 10 Design says: “As the design lead for the first phase of this master plan, we have realised a scheme which embraces the site’s landscape and celebrates its origins. The brief was to produce a suite of premium products which together create a sense of destination unique to Lukoran. The scheme’s design will set a new benchmark for quality resorts in Croatia.”
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VX STUDIO joins forces with major Maldives-based architectural firm to become the leading resort and hospitality designers in the MENA region
VX STUDIO signs an exclusive agreement with the leading design and architectural firm in the Maldives – GX Associates, ensuring their mutual growth in the MENA region. GX Associates are based in the Maldives and excel in hospitality and resorts with many stunning and revered resorts under their belt already such as Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Kihavah Villas, The Four Seasons, Hilton Irufushi, Niyama, Naladhu, Aarah, and Baros to name just a few.
The combination of the two companies guarantees maximum reach of global developers looking to create a signature and world-class resort and hospitality assets. VX STUDIO is part of the Ayana Holding group of companies and is renowned for successfully delivering iconic projects both locally and internationally. Their value-driven, developer-led designs continue to turn heads and prove successful from concept to execution. Opaal, the sister company of VX STUDIO will collaborate for exciting interiors utilising their resort skillsets to provide a unique lifestyle and a one-stop-shop exclusive service experience.
During the signing ceremony, CEO of VX Studio/Ayana Holding and the leading force behind the group’s strategic growth, Hamid Kerayechian, said: “We will be strengthening our position within the market through this partnership with the leading designers based in the Maldives. Their wealth of knowledge in creating world-class resorts only adds to our portfolios mutually and ensures we continue to bring the best from around the world and make it available here in the region.”
Picture caption: At the signing ceremony the meeting was attended by the Partner of GX Associates Mohamed Shafeeq (L) and the CEO Of VX Studio/Ayana Holding, Hamid Kerayechian (R)
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OK Design creates an office in Israel inspired by a ski resort
Imagine entering an office in the Middle East and feeling like you’re in a European ski resort. SkiDeal is a prominent Israeli tourism company specialising in full-package ski vacations in prime European resorts. The company’s offices are located in the heart of Israel, in the “Ir Yamim” towers in Netanya, Israel.
OK Design took the inspiration for the 350sqm office design is derived entirely from the world of skiing, including materials, colors, ambiance, and experiential elements. The objective was to design a ski environment within the office space that sits in complete contrast to the dry desert climate of its Israeli surroundings, presenting an alternative reality to the outside world.
The primary focus of the project was to create an environment where employees and customers would genuinely feel as if they were entering a ski resort. While many design projects incorporate surrounding landscapes as a complement, the SkiDeal office’s proximity to the Mediterranean Sea presented views that stood in contrast to the theme of the space.
The design’s authenticity was key to achieving the client’s goal of motivating employees, given that they are skiing afficionados. Skiing is a significant aspect of their lives, and the goal was to provide them with a work environment that, while functional and departmental, would also echo their passion.
“In addition to the main concept of creating a ski environment, we were very cognoscente of the fact that this is a functional office, so our approach also focused on noise reduction that facilitates the transition,” says designer Keren Offner. “In terms of ambiance, our choice of materials and colors serve to transition people to the skiing world.”
One of the challenges to the overall design was balancing the intimacy of the environment with the concept of an open office space. The solution came in the form of glass walls with pinewood frames, and office divisions that pass through drywall openings.
Upon entering the office’s main glass door, visitors are greeted by a wide reception desk and seating area. Behind the reception desk, a wall cupboard rotates into the space, transforming into an après ski open bar, complete with a large iron library. A pinewood harmonica window separates the bar from a large adjacent conference room. When opened, the window connects the bar with the conference room to create a larger open space. The conference room also serves as a sort of courtyard area, where conference calls are held with various ski resorts and big screen TVs broadcast skiing events from around the world.
The secret to creating the core transition was the abundant use of three-ply pinewood, used to create separator walls, to frame the office’s display cases, and to line the ceiling in the form of plates. Abundant use of the wood draws its inspiration from the pine tree surroundings of ski resorts, as well as construction materials used to build ski chalets.
The space’s light gray walls and smooth concrete floors frame a colorful ski world of blue skies, white snow, and green pine trees. All of the office furniture is white, and the lighting design accentuates the architecture to emphasize divisions of space and create focal points. Warm lighting throughout the space creates a cozy environment, while a combined lighting/acoustic solution implemented in the sales area conjures up hints of mountain views upon approach.
Photo credit: Amit Geron
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Return to Omani heritage with luxurious Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is delighted to invite guests back to lush beachfront luxury, with the resort officially reopening on 1 October 2020.
Guests can take advantage of amazing savings with two new offers. Book accommodation in our elegantly decorated Garden and Sea View Rooms and Villas along with exquisite dining opportunities at our fabulous restaurants. The team at Al Baleed Resort are all busy preparing to welcome you into our “new normal” and make you feel completely comfortable.
Committed to the well-being
New health and safety measures have been implemented at the resort, that go beyond the strict measures recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), from check-in and luggage sanitation, to enhanced cleaning schedules with the latest in cleaning technology being used. Our restaurants will be set up in compliance with social distancing guidelines and a la carte meals will be carefully prepared and served to the table. Guest rooms will also contain a new hygiene kit. A new dedicated Guest Guardian will be present at the resort to ensure all standards are both achieved and go beyond to ensure your health and safety at all times, so you can stay with peace of mind.
Giving back to those who care
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is pleased to offer Oman’s frontline workers a free stay at our hotel. We are giving away 50 room nights that can be booked any time from now until the end of October on a first-come, first-served basis. We appreciate all that our frontline workers have done and hope they can take some well-deserved relaxation with a night on us. To qualify, please send your details to [email protected], we will notify you if you are among the first 50, and we will send you further information on how to proceed with the booking.
Escape to a private beach
Choose from two incredible offers to save more on your stay at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. We’re offering Omani and GCC residents a Staycation offer with Private Pool Villa accommodation, breakfast daily and 30% savings at Anantara Spa and all our restaurants.
Stay five nights or more and you can enjoy further savings on your room or villa, complimentary mini-bar, a barbecue dinner, two massages and free laundry. Toast a return to normality in our verdant paradise with balmy temperatures, an infinity pool and private beach. Immerse yourself in Omani heritage with day-trips to nearby historical sites and trekking across mountainous terrain.