Dubai-based hotel group Jumeirah is to open its first hotel and residences in the Syrian capital of Damascus.
The group has signed a letter of understanding to manage the five-star Jumeirah Abrai Souria, a 300-room, 100-residence property. The hotel forms part of the mixed use Abrai Souria development in the Baramkeh district of the city, around 2km for the city’s old town.
Jumeirah says the project will take four to five years to complete, and will feature a spa, several restaurants and “and extensive conference, banqueting and leisure facilities”.
There are relatively few international hotel brands in Damascus, although Four Seasons operates a 297-room hotel in the downtown area, and Sheraton has two properties, one in the business and diplomatic district, and a second mountain resort 20 minutes from the city centre.
Bmi flies daily from Heathrow to the Syrian capital, while Syrian Arab Airlines offers a three times weekly service.
For more information visit jumeirah.com.
Report by Mark Caswell