Major Sharjah hospitality projects on track

Significant progress has been achieved on two major hospitality projects in Sharjah, with Al Bait Hotel more than 70 per cent developed and Fossil Rock Lodge 60 per cent complete, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said yesterday.

The announcement follows an inspection tour of the two projects by Shaikha Budoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson of Shurooq, which is developing the projects.

Shaikha Budoor oversaw the progress at Al Bait Hotel’s heritage houses, which are being renovated from the outside and redesigned from the inside, to provide premium and cultural experiences to guests and visitors.

The five-star luxury property is coming up in the Heart of Sharjah, a historical district of the city, and is expected to open sometime next year.

Once inaugurated, the hotel will immerse guests and visitors in the Emirati way of life, the local traditional living environment, as well as Emirati architectural details.

Shurooq also reported that the management of the hotel will be undertaken by the GHM Group of luxury hotels from Singapore.

The hotel, being developed on a Dh100 million budget, features 54 luxury guestrooms and suites, five cafés and restaurants, a traditional Arabic tea and coffee parlour, business centre, museum, library, retail outlets, spas for men and women and other amenities.

The hotel is connected to one of the oldest marketplaces in the country, Souq Al Arsah.

Shaikha Budoor and the delegation also visited the site for Fossil Rock Lodge, coming up in Mleiha as a modern hospitality facility being developed as part of the second phase of the Mleiha Archaeological and Ecotourism project.

Slated for opening by the end of the year, the property will enable visitors and guests to enjoy ecotourism hospitality. The lodge will accommodate only up to 10 guests at a time.

The project features a restaurant with 42 indoor and outdoor seats, allowing sweeping views of the Mleiha’s golden dunes and desert flora and fauna.