The Rocco Forte Collection recently signed a contract to manage a new property in Abu Dhabi, marking its expansion into the Middle East.

The project, due to open in 2010, is a significant milestone for the company, already the leading luxury hotel brand in Europe. The owner and developer of the hotel is Al Farida Investments, a conglomerate based in Abu Dhabi which primarily invests in hospitality and leisure, retail, mixed use residential and commercial real estate.

Located in the district which will become the new commercial centre for the city, the 282-room five-star development is within easy reach of downtown Abu Dhabi and the international airport.

Facilities at the 12-floor hotel will include a 25-metre swimming pool, a separate children’s pool, a 500 sqm health club and spa and a choice of bars and restaurants, including a bar suspended on the 5th floor of a 10-storey atrium. There will also be extensive conference facilities, with dedicated lifts and nine function rooms, the largest of which will be 800sqm with 550sqm of pre-function space and a maximum capacity of 700.

Of the 282 bedrooms, two will be presidential suites measuring 290sqm including balconies and 29 other suites ranging from 69 to 97sqm. The development will also include a second building with 134 serviced apartments, which will also be managed by the company.

Sir Rocco Forte, chairman and CEO of The Rocco Forte Collection, said:

“We have spent 10 years building our new company to become one of Europe’s leading luxury hotel groups and now we are ready to expand into the Middle East.

“I am delighted to be back in the region and in particular in Abu Dhabi. The city’s financial wealth and political position as capital of the UAE make it the ideal location for our first hotel in the Middle East, it has also embarked on a major programme of economic diversification and expansion, particularly in the high end tourism field. We are pleased to be associated with Al Farida Investments, a leading Abu Dhabi developer.”

Sheikh Hamed Al Hamed, managing director and CEO of Al Farida, added: “We are delighted that The Rocco Forte Collection and Al Farida Investments have joined forces to deliver one of the best hotels in this part of the world and so support Abu Dhabi’s development programme.”