Langham brand will appeal to Kingdom, Kuwait when it arrives in Middle East

The arrival of the first The Langham hotel in the Middle East will be a major hit with people across the Gulf — especially those in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait — who have fond memories of staying at the famous London location. Since it was announced, Omniyat, the developers of The Langham Downtown Dubai, has registered a significant amount of interest from the Gulf, China and other countries in the Far East.

Although The Langham brand is synonymous with the iconic London hotel, which has been a favorite of royalty and A-list celebrities for more than 100 years, the holding company Langham Hospitality Group is based in Hong Kong and has multiple developments in the Far East.

“We knew that bringing The Langham brand to Dubai would be first and foremost a game changer in terms of absolute quality and heritage,” said Mohammed Hmeid, general manager of sales and marketing at Omniyat. “What is fascinating is the impact the brand has in China and the Far East — the esteem in which it is held is incredible,” he added.

“In the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) markets — such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — there is the recognition of The Langham from regular visitors to London, and so again you have the brand name truly meaning something special to people,” said Hmeid.

“The tradition of afternoon tea at The Langham is one that has been experienced by generations of GCC nationals when they have visited London, and it is the little touch points such as that which make the narrative of The Langham coming to Dubai so strong.”

The Langham Downtown Dubai and The Langham Place Residences will be situated in the heart of the Marasi development on the banks of Dubai Canal, with stunning views of the new marina on one side and Burj Khalifa on the other. It will be a 167-room hotel with 239 fully serviced five-star residences, ranging from one-, two- and three-bedroom suites to duplex penthouses. It is expected to finish late in the third quarter of 2020.

On its opening in 1865, The Langham Hotel was regarded as Europe’s first Grand Hotel, and pioneered the use of hydraulic lifts and air conditioning. On opening the building, the prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VII, famously said the hotel had “everything a man, woman or child could desire under one roof.”