DEWAN Architects & Engineers, one of the region's leading architectural and engineering consulting firms, has been awarded the consultancy contract to design and supervise the construction of the 5-star Arab Resort Areas Company's (ARAC) Hotel and Hotel Apartments in Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The 5 star hotel development is one of a number of projects that Dewan is taking on in the GCC region and forms part of the company's regional growth strategy. The development will feature 200 5-star hotel keys and 120 hotel-apartments, four dining venues and leisure facilities such as a gym and spa, kids club, indoor swimming pool, retail shops, hairdressing and a number of coffee shops. It will also have has a fully equipped 600 person capacity banquet hall supported by a business centre and meeting rooms to host conferences, banquets, and exhibitions. Ammar Al Assam, Executive Director of Dewan, said "the economy of Saudi Arabia is developing rapidly and there is a great demand for luxury leisure destinations within the Kingdom. ARAC's foray into the luxury hospitality sector with this project is an excellent opportunity for Dewan to further consolidate our already strong presence in Saudi and contribute towards the development of the country. With nearly three decades of experience and numerous landmark projects to our name, we are looking forward to further employing our expertise to the benefit of the region." The hotel and apartments will be strategically located along the Prince Turki Highway only ten minutes from Dammam 1st Industrial City and 45 minutes from the Dammam International Airport and will offer its short and long term visitors access to a range of premium amenities as well as breath-taking views of the Arabian Gulf. The design concept for the ARAC focuses on contemporary and functional design parameters with an emphasis on light and visually engaging spaces and areas that invoke the spirit of Arab hospitality and create a sense of belonging that invites guests, residents, and visitors alike to relax and enjoy the hotel's warm welcome. – SG The Arab Resort Areas Company was established in 1997 with the aim of providing high quality tourism services within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The scope of their operations ranges across the entire spectrum of the tourism industry and include hotels and resorts, as well as other recreational services and facilities such as sport clubs, swimming pools, and private tourist beaches. Dewan Architects & Engineers is a regional architectural and engineering design firm with offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, India, and the Philippines and with over 28 years of industry successes across GCC countries, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Well known and respected for its expertise in the hospitality industry, Dewan already has a number of world-class hotel developments to its name such as the world-renowned Abu Dhabi Viceroy Yas Hotel, the Djibouti Kempinski, the Fairmont Resort in Abu Dhabi, the Park Hyatt Resort in St Kitts & Nevis in the Carribean, and has recently completed the 242-room Premier Inn Hotel at the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The much-awaited addition to the facilities of the airport was designed, detailed and constructed to carry an Estidama Sustainable compliance credential demonstrating the efforts done by the stakeholders to share the environmental responsibilities towards the surroundings and beyond. Dewan was recently ranked 7th globally for its Hospitality Design work, according to prestigious industry publication Building Design Magazine in its January 2012 issue, which featured the magazine's annual 'World Architecture Top 100' - a unique, definitive listing of the world's largest architecture practices. The firm was also ranked as the 48th largest architectural firm in the world, and the 3rd largest in the region. - SG -
