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
LuLu marks Founding Day with ‘Made in Saudi’ campaign
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources honored LuLu Hypermarket in recognition of its pivotal role as the exclusive retail partner of the “Najoud Bikhairna 2026” initiative, commending its continued efforts in supporting and empowering national industries while showcasing the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.
The initiative, led by the ministry in partnership with the Saudi Export Development Authority, represented by the Made in Saudi program, stands as a pioneering model of public-private sector collaboration in activating community-driven initiatives with sustainable impact. Through this program, more than 280,000 Saudi-made products were distributed to 10,000 families across various regions of the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan, reinforcing the presence of national products and strengthening the values of social solidarity among individuals and institutions alike.
The ministry’s recognition of LuLu Hypermarket coincided with the official launch of its Saudi Founding Day celebrations at the Dharat Laban branch in Riyadh, marked by the unveiling of a comprehensive promotional campaign dedicated to Saudi-made products. On this occasion, a wide range of special offers was introduced on local products, available across all LuLu Hypermarket branches throughout the Kingdom.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Dayel, general supervisor of the Made in Saudi program at the Saudi Export Development Authority, and Mohamed Haris, director of LuLu Saudi Arabia, alongside members of LuLu’s executive management team. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the specially designed Founding Day gateway.
Following the inauguration, guests toured several dedicated zones and exhibitions highlighting national products. The tour commenced at the grocery and “Made in Saudi” consumer goods sections, showcasing the diversity and quality of local brands. It also included the “Made in Saudi” dates pavilion, presenting a premium selection of the finest locally sourced dates in celebration of one of the Kingdom’s most iconic national symbols.
The visit continued to the fruits and vegetables section under the theme “From Our Land,” featuring an exceptional assortment of Saudi agricultural products, reflecting the richness and excellence of the local agricultural sector. Guests also explored the LuLu private label corner, which features products exclusively manufactured within the Kingdom for LuLu, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing.
The tour concluded with a presentation of “Made in Saudi” products within the chilled and frozen categories, underscoring the rapid growth and qualitative advancement of the Kingdom’s food manufacturing sector, and further reinforcing the strong market position and competitiveness of Saudi products.
