Kempinski to manage Ski Resort in Dubai

Kempinski Hotels & Resorts has been awarded the management contract for a truly unique hotel at Majid Al Futaim Investments' 'Kempinski Resort Mall of the Emirates' on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is Kempinski's first hotel in Dubai and is scheduled to open in September 2005, at the same time as the Mall.

The five-star Kempinski Resort Mall of the Emirates features over 400 suites, including 24 prestigious duplex ski chalets offering unprecedented views over the Middle East's first indoor ski resort, featuring one of the world's longest indoor ski slopes and a snow play area where children can experience winter with real snow. This unmatched 'Alpine' experience is set to make the hotel one of the most sought after in the region and a tourist destination in itself.

"We are delighted to be the hotel group of choice managing this prestigious resort at the Mall of the Emirates," commented Ulrich Eckhardt, Vice President Middle East of Kempinski Hotels & Resorts. "This Mall will become a central attraction in Dubai, offering international tourists and local visitors a unique blend of shopping, entertainment and sporting facilities. This vision fits very well with Kempinski's philosophy."

The 48,000m² hotel will take pride of place at the forefront of the Mall with views over the Arabian Gulf. In addition to being linked to one of the largest and most exciting retail developments in the Arab world, the hotel will offer guests a complete leisure experience with a state-of-the-art health club including Ayurveda wellness centre, swimming pool and tennis courts.

Guests will be able to go skiing or simply soak up the 'winter' atmosphere in one of the fully licensed fine dining restaurants, all of which overlook the ski slope.

Business travellers and corporate guests will be able to take advantage of fully-fledged conference facilities, including 12 inter-connecting meeting rooms with state of the art audio-visual digital facilities, while private meeting rooms will also be available on the Executive Floor.

"The agreement between ourselves and Kempinski is a key building block as we continue the development of the Mall of the Emirates," added Peter Walichnowski, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futaim Investments. "We are looking at world class partners to ensure our vision of an 'experience like no other' is fulfilled. Kempinski will help us achieve this vision."

The Mall of the Emirates will include over 2.4 million sq. ft. of shopping, leisure and entertainment space, the largest single-level Carrefour hypermarket in the Middle East, two major department stores, a 14-screen multi-plex cinema with VIP facilities and numerous food and beverage outlets. When it opens in September 2005 it will be the biggest mall outside North America.