AccorHotels, a leading travel and lifestyle group, has announced the signing of an agreement with Al-Ghurair, one of the Middle East’s leading family businesses, for the rebrand of a landmark property consisting of 428 rooms and 192 apartments located at Al-Ghurair Center Complex.
Both properties will be managed as part of the group’s upscale Swissôtel & Swissôtel Living portfolio, representing the brand’s first foray into the UAE. Located within Deira, the hotel and residences offer access to Al-Ghurair Center — one of Dubai’s original upscale shopping centers, which recently completed an AED1.8 billion ($490 million) expansion.
The hotel and apartments will be m0anaged by AccorHotels before transitioning to Swissôtel & Swissôtel Living by the end of 2017 when the first phase of soft refurbishment is completed.
Sami Nasser, chief operating officer, luxury brands, AccorHotels Middle East, said: “The Al-Ghurair family plays a leading role in driving Dubai’s growth as a global destination, and as such, the iconic Al-Ghurair Center is the best location to debut the city’s first Swissôtel & Swissôtel Living. Through this rebrand, we are bringing a new travel experience that is full of energy, passion and vitality — all part of the Swissôtel brand DNA — to the revitalization of Old Dubai.”
He added: “Along with two notable Swissôtel properties welcoming guests in Makkah, in addition to our flagship Swissôtel the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Al-Ghurair Hotel and Al-Ghurair Living provide an excellent base and springboard for the future development of the brand in the Middle East.”
Sultan Al-Ghurair, CEO of Al-Ghurair Properties, and responsible for the organization’s extensive real estate portfolio, said: “This landmark agreement, in partnership with AccorHotels, reflects Al-Ghurair’s commitment to working with best-in-class service providers and to attracting new brands to the UAE. The Al-Ghurair Center comprises over 350 retail, dining and entertainment outlets, attracting more than 21 million visitors a year. With the rebrand of our hospitality offering, we are proud to include international brands such as Swissôtel & Swissôtel Living as part of the Al-Ghurair Center experience. With 53 real estate projects under development, of which a large proportion are in Deira, the rebranding of the Al-Ghurair Center hospitality offering is a key part of our goal to lead the regeneration of Old Dubai.”
AccorHotels, Al-Ghurair announce rebrand of landmark Dubai properties
AccorHotels, Al-Ghurair announce rebrand of landmark Dubai properties
Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation
Saudi Awwal Bank has become the first bank in the Middle East to receive a 7‑star Certified Innovative Organization rating from the Global Innovation Institute, the highest recognition awarded by the institute.
The accreditation marks a significant step in SAB’s innovation strategy and follows an innovation maturity assessment conducted by the institute in December 2025. The review, which built on an earlier assessment in December 2023, raised the bank’s maturity level from “Champion” to “Leader.” The new rating reflects SAB’s institutionalized approach to innovation, its enterprise-wide impact and its ability to consistently deliver measurable results.
With the 7‑star rating, SAB becomes the first bank in the region to reach the highest innovation maturity level, strengthening its position as a regional reference point for innovation-led and future-ready banking.
In 2025, the bank opened its flagship Innovation Centre and secured six internationally recognized innovation awards, along with a lab accreditation. The centre has supported SAB’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, encourage cross-functional collaboration and reinforce its standing as a regional leader in financial innovation.
Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB, said the recognition reflects years of focused work to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.
“By investing in SAB’s culture, governance and talent, innovation enables the bank to remain future-ready,” he said. “This milestone reinforces our role in accelerating financial innovation in Saudi Arabia and delivering long-term value for our customers.”
The certification adds to SAB’s broader efforts to strengthen its innovation capabilities as the Kingdom’s banking sector continues to evolve.
