The Al Habtoor Group said it will team up with the St. Regis brand for its 1 billion dirham luxury equestrian hotel development in Dubai. The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club will be ‘the’ destination for polo aficionados in the region.
The announcement comes after a signing ceremony with the Al Habtoor Group and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide late last year. It marks the first time ever that the St. Regis name has been put to a polo resort.
Mohammed Al Habtoor, Vice- Chairman and CEO, Al Habtoor Group, said, “We are delighted to partner with Starwood for another landmark project in Dubai. The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club will be part of a state-of-the-art polo and equestrian community. Every guest of the hotel will be able to watch polo from their rooms, suites and the restaurant terraces. This offers something truly unique.”
In the joint announcement, Michael Wade, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East said, “St. Regis has long been associated with the world of polo, and we are excited to lead this milestone project together with Al Habtoor Group an important partner for Starwood who shares the St. Regis brand’s passion for ‘the sport of kings’.” He added, “We are also delighted to extend our partnership with the Al Habtoor family, with whom we are working to open our first St. Regis hotel in Dubai later this year.”
Scheduled to open early 2017, the 136-room hotel will be the centerpiece of a six-million square-foot equestrian sports complex in Dubai. In addition there will be 162 luxury bungalows, of which 24 will be St. Regis branded, and various culinary venues alongside a polo club, a state-of-the-art polo academy and a riding school with 500 stables.
Guests will have access to the polo academy, which will offer a wide range of programs including dressage, riding, and show jumping for riders of all ages. The resort will be home to world-class polo fields which will reinforce Dubai’s leading position on the global polo circuit.
Led by British architects WS Atkins & Partners, the design of the resort will be inspired by Andalusian architecture. The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club will be part of Dubailand, a landmark project on Emirates Road just 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Set to become a regional and global tourism hub, Dubailand will feature various sports, leisure, entertainment and shopping attractions, and is expected to attract an additional 15 million tourists to Dubai annually once completed.