wasl Asset Management Group, one of the largest real estate development and management companies in Dubai has announced the launch of the city’s second luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel, which is due to open in November 2020. The new location in Dubai’s Commercial District of Sheikh Zayed Road will complement wasl’s Mandarin Oriental hotel on the waterfront at Jumeira Beach, which will open in the fourth quarter of 2018.
The new hotel will be the centerpiece of the 63-storey mixed-use wasl Tower which is being developed as a commanding addition to the city’s skyline. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main thoroughfare, the property will have direct access to the area’s key business districts and tourist attractions, including Dubai Opera House, City Walk and Dubai Mall, as well as the city’s two airports, being 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport and 40 minutes from Dubai South – Al Maktoum International Airport. The hotel will also include a full suite of on-site luxury entertainment and leisure facilities that redefine Dubai’s premium hospitality offering.
His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of wasl Asset Management Group, commented: “We are pleased to be partnering once again with Mandarin Oriental to bring another elegant and sophisticated hotel to Dubai, which furthers wasl’s mandate to supply the Emirate’s hospitality sector with quality hotels. Combined with the premium property offering at wasl Tower, we are offering the height of luxury in both the hospitality and residential sectors, which wasl works to support in alignment with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership.”
Both hotels are being developed in collaboration with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, the international hotel investment and management group with luxury hotels across the world, while Amsterdam-based UN Studio is the appointed architect of the 300-meter-high building, wasl Tower, which has been designed as an integrated urban environment that promotes connectivity and sustainability.
One of the hotel’s key attractions will be a beautiful double level sky lobby, offering stunning views of the beach and Sheikh Zayed Road from either end. Guests will access the sky lobby via a plush reception area on floor 35, with a club lounge, a lifestyle lounge and a tea lounge on the same level, while floor 36 features an all-day dining area.
The hotel includes 257 spacious and contemporary guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments, which will be located on floors 16 to 38 of the tower, providing outstanding views over Downtown Dubai and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. All accommodation will reflect the local culture, with features inspired by both Emirati and oriental heritage.
Adding to wasl Tower’s residential offering, the hotel will also be home to 144 residences located on the tower’s upper floors, which will provide some of the most luxurious private homes in the city. The Mandarin Oriental Residences will have their own private access, with dedicated facilities including a Resident’s Lounge, while also benefiting from direct access to the hotel’s facilities and Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service.
The food and beverage offering at the Mandarin Oriental will feature award-winning restaurants headed by some of the world’s most celebrated chefs, with a variety of restaurants including a lively rooftop sky lounge with citywide views, a signature dining experience, an all-day dining venue, a poolside restaurant, a Club Lounge, and a signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop.
There will also be extensive banqueting and meeting spaces designed to accommodate social and business events, while the Spa at Mandarin Oriental will introduce Dubai’s most comprehensive spa, beauty and wellness services. The two-storey facility will feature 12 private treatment rooms, a wide-ranging fitness centre, vitality pools, heat and water therapies, and an outdoor swimming pool set within a landscaped garden terrace.
James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group said, “Dubai continues to develop in stature as one of the world’s leading destinations, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to operate two luxury hotels in this important city. We look forward to collaborating again with wasl Hospitality and Leisure to create a second iconic property and to be extending our brand’s presence in the Middle East.”
His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of wasl Asset Management Group, concluded: “We look forward to introducing new visitors and residents to the exceptional service for which Mandarin Oriental is renowned. The new project sets new standards for architecture, redefines the premium life style offered in Dubai, and is another milestone in establishing this city as the home of luxury hospitality and the world’s favourite destination.”
