Marriott International expects to end 2018 with the addition of 11 new properties and over 2,600 guestrooms added to its UAE portfolio, alongside a robust development outlook over the next five years, Invest-Gate reports.

“Year-to-date, the company has added six new properties and is scheduled to add five more in the country, extending its portfolio to 59 properties with over 17,000 rooms across six emirates by year-end,” Marriott said in an official statement on October 10.

“Fueled by a strong demand for its diverse range of well-established lifestyle brands, each offering different attributes that cater instantaneously to an ever-changing and evolving marketplace, the company plans to further enhance its footprint in the UAE with the addition of more than 20 new properties in the next five years,” the statement highlighted.

Currently, Marriott is gearing up to feature regional brand debuts this year, including the eco-conscious Element Hotels brand, which launched earlier in 2018 in Dubai, and the EDITION brand, which is scheduled to open in Abu Dhabi later this year, the statement added.

Deeming 2018 as a milestone year for Marriott in the UAE, the company anticipated its new developments to generate more than 5,000 new jobs in the UAE.

Commenting on the news, President and Managing Director of Marriott International in Middle East and Africa Alex Kyriakidis said, “With a presence in the market that dates back over three decades, we have witnessed and been a part of the transformation of the UAE as one of the world’s most dynamic travel destinations.”

“Our established and growing portfolio of hotels underscore the substantial demand for our brands in this market.  We remain very optimistic about the UAE and continue to explore opportunities to further amplify our growth in the country through new deal signings and conversion opportunities,” he concluded.

During the first half of 2018, the design-led “Aloft Hotels” made its debut in Dubai with three new openings, Aloft Palm Jumeirah, Aloft Me’aisam, and Aloft City Centre Deira. Mariott also launched its eco-conscious Element Hotels brand in the region with the opening of Element Me’aisam. In the luxury space, the Ritz-Carlton brand inaugurated its fifth property in the UAE – The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach in Ras Al Khaimah.