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
Azure opens Azure Takhassusi residential community in Riyadh, fully leased to Saudia
Azure, a Mohammed Al Habib Real Estate company and the owner of Riyadh’s largest portfolio of residential compounds, has announced the official opening of Azure Takhassusi, its newest premium residential community. The project has been fully leased to Saudia, the Kingdom’s national flag carrier.
The launch marks a major milestone in the eight-year partnership between Azure and Saudia, one of the longest-running and most successful corporate housing collaborations in Saudi Arabia. The development reflects Saudia’s continued confidence in Azure’s ability to deliver high-quality residential environments that meet strict standards of comfort, privacy, service excellence and operational reliability.
Purpose-built to support the wellbeing and lifestyle needs of airline professionals, Azure Takhassusi offers more than accommodation. The community provides a fully integrated living experience, combining modern residences, premium facilities, dedicated resident services and professional community management. Designed to promote stability, convenience and peace of mind, the compound allows employees to focus on their professional responsibilities with confidence.
“This opening represents more than the launch of a new residential compound,” said Fahad Al Assaf, president of Azure. “It is a strong statement of trust built over eight years of partnership with Saudia. Azure Takhassusi reflects what long-term collaboration can achieve when two organizations share a commitment to quality, people and performance.”
For Saudia, fully leasing Azure Takhassusi underscores the airline’s continued investment in its workforce. By providing secure, comfortable and professionally managed housing, the airline aims to strengthen its employee value proposition, recognizing the role that high-quality living environments play in attracting and retaining talent.
Azure currently operates the largest portfolio of residential compounds in Riyadh and is a market leader in corporate housing for major institutions across the Kingdom. Its partnership with Saudia remains one of its most significant, spanning eight years of steady growth and large-scale delivery.
The opening of Azure Takhassusi marks another milestone in that journey, setting a new benchmark for corporate housing that supports workforce wellbeing, operational excellence and long-term partnerships in Saudi Arabia.
