Mandarin Oriental will take over management of the Emirates
Palace in Abu Dhabi, effective Jan. 1. There are plans to renovate and reflag
the property.
The Emirates Palace is currently operated by Kempinski
Hotels.
The 394-room hotel will undergo renovations over the next
two years, during which time the property will remain open. According to Mandarin
Oriental, “significant upgrades” will be made to the Emirates Palace’s
guestrooms and recreational amenities. Plans also call for new restaurants and
bars.
The Emirates Palace, which sits on nearly a mile of private
beachfront property, houses a total of 12 restaurants and bars, 40 meeting
rooms, two swimming pools, a spa, two fitness centers, a marina, an auditorium
and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 2,500 people.
The property will be Mandarin Oriental’s second outpost in
the United Arab Emirates, following the opening of the Mandarin Oriental
Jumeira earlier this year.