Rotana will open seven new hotels in the UAE and Qatar this year, underlining its status as the fastest-growing hospitality brand in the region.
The hotel management company, based in Abu Dhabi, is expanding after what has been a challenging time for the global hospitality industry.
"Opportunities are presented across the Middle East," said Omer Kaddouri, the chief operating officer of Rotana. "We believe the Middle East, and in particular the GCC region, has great potential to maintain the economy in a much healthier status than other parts of the world."
The privately-owned company, which manages 41 hotels across the region, is to open six hotels in three emirates of the UAE and one in the Qatar capital Doha this year - a total of 2,500 rooms. Rotana has more properties planned, including hotels in Oman, Syria, Bahrain and Jordan.
After sharp falls in hotel profitability in the UAE, triggered by the global economic crisis and an increase in the number of hotels in the market, Rotana opened several new properties last year, including the luxury Amwaj Rotana at Jumeirah Beach Residence, its alcohol-free Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan hotel in Abu Dhabi, a budget Centro hotel in Dubai, and its second hotel in Fujairah.
The company says it manages more properties in the UAE than any other operator, with 10 hotels in Abu Dhabi and 13 in Dubai.