Sofitel planning its largest hotel in Middle East

Coming in late 2019, the Sofitel Dubai Wafi will have 501 rooms, 86 suites and 97 serviced residences, to be operated on an extended-stay basis.

The hotel is being built with development partner MKM Commercial Holdings and will join Sofitel’s portfolio of 14 hotels currently in operation and under development in the region.

The hotel will be adjacent to the Raffles Dubai, now a sister hotel under the Accorhotels umbrella, with the group saying “both properties will form a luxury cluster” within the Wafi area, with guests able to share amenities and services across the two hotels.

The developers said Wafi, a “major shopping destination”, was set to undergo a “comprehensive” retail and leisure expansion.

Sheikh Manna Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, chairman of MKM Commercial Holdings, said: “We are confident the Sofitel, through its distinct brand positioning and expertise in the luxury segment, will be able to complement our existing Raffles Dubai while cementing the strength of hospitality offerings present within the expanded and revitalized Wafi.”

Sofitel Dubai Wafi will include an Asian specialty restaurant, gastro pub, a destination restaurant, bar and lounge on 43rd and 44th Floors, a French lobby cafe, an all-day restaurant and a pool bar. There will also be a SoSpa, gym, outdoor pools, private cabanas and a kids club.

Sami Nasser, chief operating officer, luxury brands for AccorHotels Middle East, said: “This will undoubtedly become a future flagship for Sofitel in the region. The development of this property is aligned with our strategy to operate one of our leading luxury brands across strategic locations in the Middle East.”

The brand has four hotels in UAE, as well as Beirut, Jeddah, Cairo and Bahrain; future projects globally include Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara, Sofitel Singapore City Centre, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Mexico City Reforma.