UAE: Sharjah Enjoys Halal Tourism Market

Sharjah will stake its claim to the halal travel and tourism market at this year’s World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition, which takes place in Abu Dhabi from 19-21 October. The world’s halal travel and tourism market is currently estimated to be worth US$135 billion (AED 496b) and is forecast to grow to US$200 billion (AED 735b) by 2020. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), which recently confirmed plans to invest AED 5 billion (US$ 1.4b) in tourism development projects by the year 2018, is a sponsor of the event.

Sharjah is fast developing into a key halal tourism hub and the emirate’s ongoing investment in tourism, cultural and Islamic resources makes it ideally positioned to drive future growth. Last year, Sharjah announced nearly AED 1.5 billion (US$ 408 million) worth of projects related to its year as Islamic Culture Capital alone. The projects includes a wide variety of Sharjah institutions and tourist attractions including new universities, monuments, Islamic parks, traditional markets, museums and libraries.

Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, a tourism development strategy announced by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) earlier this year, targets family tourism, Muslim tourists and those seeking art and culture. According to the SCTDA, 70 per cent of Sharjah’s tourists are families, with a high percentage of Muslim visitors. Sharjah plans to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021.

Against the backdrop of Sharjah’s investments in art, history and Islamic culture, there are large-scale resort developments aimed squarely at halal tourism and other complimentary market segments. In all, about 30 new hotels are expected to open in the emirate over the next few years catering to business, budget travel and luxury travel segments, including new properties under the management of Accor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and GHM Hotels.

In May, the construction of a new US$100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed 5-star luxury beachfront hotel and resort, the Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah, was announced, to be built over an 12,000 square metre area adjacent to Sharjah’s corniche. To be managed by global hotel operator Accor, the property is being themed in a contemporary style reflecting the cultures of the region with a focus on Islamic art and culture.

Shurooq is building the AED100 million (US$ 27m) Al Bait Hotel in the Souk Al Shanasiyah heritage site in the Heart of Sharjah, one of the region’s largest historical preservation and restoration projects.

On Sharjah’s east coast, Shurooq is developing Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan, a luxury 5-star resort, and Kalba Eco-Tourism project incorporating a waterfront development with a botanical garden, picnic park, camping site, shopping mall and a hotel.

Meanwhile, 65 kilometres off the UAE coastline on Sir Bu Nuair island, Shurooq is developing a AED 500 million (US$ 136m) eco-tourism project be completed during the next three years, including a 70- to 100-room luxury hotel with 70 serviced apartments.

World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition (WHTS15) is expected to be attended by Shariah compliant banks, hoteliers, developers, business angels, venture capitalists, investors, lawyers, and key decision makers from all over the world.

UAE: Basma Group Awards AED 120m (US$ 32.7m) Novotel Sharjah Expo Contract

Basma Group Sharjah has awarded the AED 120 million (US$ 32.7m) construction contract for the Novotel Sharjah Expo to Klampfer Middle East LLC, a joint venture between Basma Group and KBW Investments. The new 4-star hotel will be located adjacent to the international exhibition and conference centre in Sharjah city’s central business district.

The Gulf region’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market is estimated to be worth about US$1.3 billion (AED 4.8b) annually. Expo Centre Sharjah was the first exhibition centre to be established in the United Arab Emirates and has been hosting international fairs and exhibitions since 1977.

The Novotel Sharjah Expo will have 200 rooms including standard rooms, club floor rooms and executive suites, plus world-class amenities and business services. The location is also conveniently located near Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The new Novotel will have a business centre and two meeting halls including a large meeting-cum-function hall of approximately 200 square metres.

The Novotel Sharjah Expo will be managed by Accor Hotel Services Middle East, one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the region. The group now has several upcoming hotel projects in Sharjah, including a 188-room Pullman hotel being developed by Al Manzil Group, which will also be located near to Expo Centre Sharjah, and the 5-star Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah luxury beachfront hotel and resort, which was announced by Basma Group and Sharjah and Khaled bin Alwaleed (KBW) Group last year.

Klampfer Middle East LLC, which was established by KBW Investments and Basma Group Sharjah in April 2016, is also undertaking the construction of the Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah on the corniche.

Sharjah’s Tourism Vision 2021 strategy plans to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021. Sharjah already offers a wide range of hotel services and has a total of about 10,000 hotel rooms, with an estimated 4,000 additional hotel rooms becoming available during the next three years.

UAE: Accor Adds Pullman Brand To Sharjah Hotel Pipeline

Accor Hotels Middle East, one of the fastest growing hospitality groups in the Middle East, is expanding its footprint in Sharjah with the addition of a 188-room Pullman hotel, near to Expo Centre Sharjah. The group announced the new property after signing a number of new hotel management agreements with Sharjah-headquartered Manazil Group. Accor has previously announced plans for a Novotel Sharjah Expo and a 5-star Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah luxury beachfront hotel and resort.

Construction of the Pullman Sharjah is expected to be completed by 2018 in the Al Taawun area of Sharjah city, close to Expo Centre Sharjah, Al Qasba and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. There are over 80 Pullman hotels worldwide, typically located close to prime tourist destinations and city business districts.

The new Pullman property will offer 188 rooms and suites, three lounge-cafés, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, large meeting rooms, two health clubs, a spa, two indoor pools, one infinity indoor pool and a poolside juice bar.

The Accor group has already announced plans to open a new 4-star 200 room Novotel Sharjah Expo by the first quarter of 2017, adjacent to the international exhibition and conference centre. The new Novotel will offer standard rooms, club floor rooms, executive suites, a business centre and meeting facilities.

Meanwhile, Accor’s largest new Sharjah development in the pipeline is the US$100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah, backed by Basma Group Sharjah and Khaled bin Alwaleed (KBW) Group. The new resort will occupy an area of around 12,000 square metres on the Sharjah Corniche and will offer 234 rooms in total, with Deluxe Sea View rooms, Deluxe Private Garden rooms and Suites. Scheduled for completion before 2018, the hotel expects to raise the bar for beachfront hotel accommodation in the city.

Sharjah’s Tourism Vision 2021 strategy plans to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021. Sharjah already offers a wide range of hotel services and has a total of about 10,000 hotel rooms, with an estimated 4,000 additional hotel rooms becoming available during the next three years.