Poised to become one of the largest international serviced residence operators in the Middle East as it sets to more than double its network in the region

Singapore — CapitaLand’s wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has continued its strong growth in the Middle East by inking contracts to manage its first two serviced residences in Al Khobar, one of the main metropolitan cities in Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich Eastern Province. The 172-unit Ascott Corniche Al Khobar and 133- unit Somerset Downtown Al Khobar are slated to open in 2018 and 2019 respectively. These latest contracts will increase Ascott’s presence in the Middle East to more than 2,300 apartment units across 16 properties in nine cities in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mr Lee Chee Koon, Ascott’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Ascott started in the Middle East in 2006 with only 84 apartment units at a property in Dubai. Today, we have more than 2,300 units across 16 properties in the region. In addition to these two new properties in Al Khobar, Ascott will open seven more properties over the next three years, in Dubai in UAE, Istanbul in Turkey, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Muscat and Sohar in Oman. As we continue to see strong demand fuelled by the growth in domestic and regional business as well as leisure travellers, Ascott targets to more than double up our scale to achieve 5,000 serviced residence units in the Middle East by 2020.”

Several countries in the Middle East are taking steps to boost their economies. Saudi Arabia, the largest economy in the Middle East, has opened its stock market to foreign investors. In recent years, it has been diversifying its economy by investing in telecommunications, petrochemicals, natural gas and power generation sectors. As more multinational corporations from these sectors expand in Saudi Arabia, it will generate demand for Ascott’s serviced residences. Major infrastructure projects are also underway in Qatar and the UAE for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the Dubai World Expo 2020 respectively.

Mr Lee said: “Recognising Ascott’s strong capabilities in operating award-winning serviced residences globally for over 30 years, many partners in the region have been approaching us to manage their properties and we will continue to expand through management contracts. In the last seven months, Ascott has opened four properties in the Middle East – its first property in Oman, Somerset Panorama Muscat and another three in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In addition, we have formed a US$600 million fund with Qatar Investment Authority to invest in serviced residences and rental housing properties, with an initial focus on Asia Pacific and Europe. We have acquired two properties since the set up of the fund in July 2015. With these growth strategies, we are well on track to achieve our global target of 80,000 units by 2020.”

Mr Tony Soh, Ascott’s Chief Corporate Officer who oversees the company’s business in the Middle East, said: “Ascott is one of the first international serviced residence operators to set foot on Al Khobar with our world-class Ascott and Somerset brand of serviced residences. Al Khobar is our 101th city globally as we continue to bring our serviced residences to more cities around the world. Demand for quality serviced apartments has been on the rise driven by corporates such as Saudi Aramco, Sumitomo and Al Rashid, which are based in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, where Al Khobar is located. In addition, Al Khobar is near the Jubail Industrial City, one of the largest industrial estates in the world, housing companies such as Total, Dow Chemical, ArcelorMittal and Chevron. Moreover, Al Khobar is Saudi Arabia’s most popular leisure holiday destination. Its convenient connectivity via the King Fahd Causeway Bridge to Bahrain where more entertainment options are available makes it even more attractive for local and foreign visitors.”

Mr Soh said: “We expect Ascott Corniche Al Khobar and Somerset Downtown Al Khobar to perform well given their prime locations. Spacious apartments, quality furnishings and amenities, coupled with Ascott’s award-winning hospitality will ensure the properties set a new Benchmark for short- and long-term accommodation in this vibrant region of Saudi Arabia.” Ascott recently opened Somerset Panorama Muscat andCitadines Al Salamah Jeddah, the first Citadines-branded property in the region, following the successful opening of Ascott Sari and Ascott Tahlia Jeddah last year. Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh is due to open later in 2016. Citadines Culture Village Dubai,Citadines Al Ghubrah Muscat and Somerset Maslak Istanbul will open in 2017. Four more properties are slated to open in 2018 – Ascott Culture Village Dubai, Ascott Corniche Al Khobar, Somerset Corniche Jeddah and Sohar Garden Residences in Oman. Somerset Downtown Al Khobar will open in 2019.

Ascott Corniche Al Khobar (opening in 2018)
Offering a picturesque view of the Arabian Gulf, the premier Ascott Corniche Al Khobar is located in the Corniche waterfront esplanade along Prince Turki Street, a popular area in the city with a variety of restaurants, retail shops and malls. The serviced residence is also in close proximity to King Fahd Road, the main business district in Al Khobar, and a 10- minute drive from the Al Khobar-Bahrain causeway.

Ascott Corniche Al Khobar will have studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Residents can look forward to a wide range of facilities at the property, including a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gymnasium, sauna, steam bath, restaurant, business centre and lounge.

Somerset Downtown Al Khobar (opening in 2019)
Somerset Downtown Al Khobar is located on Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Road, the city’s busiest thoroughfare with a wide array of shopping, dining and entertainment options. It is also situated within the business district where many local and international companies are based, as well as within easy reach of the popular Corniche.

The serviced residence is easily accessible from all parts of the city via a well-developed road network. It is a five-minute drive from Al Khobar’s upcoming main railway station, which upon completion in 2017, will link the Eastern Province to Riyadh in less than three hours. Somerset Downtown Al Khobar will offer one- and two-bedroom apartments with facilities such as a gymnasium, swimming pool, restaurant, residents’ lounge and children’s playroom.

Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah (now open)
Ascott’s first Citadines Apart’hotel in the Middle East sits on Prince Sultan Street in the north of the city, a 15-minute drive from King Abdulaziz International Airport. Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah is located within the Al Salamah district in convenient proximity to dining and shopping options including the Mall of Arabia and Red Sea Mall. It is also within easy reach of Jeddah’s financial institutions, the International American School of Jeddah and attractions such as Iceland Theme Park and Stationary Fantasies Water Park.

Residents can select from 129 studio, one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments, each of which is tastefully designed and configured with a fully-equipped kitchen including cooker, kettle,

fridge and all crockery and cutlery, as well as separate living, dining and work areas. The property also offers a 24-hour reception, residents’ lounge, complimentary WiFi, café, prayer room and gymnasium, along with a flexible menu of services such as daily or weekly housekeeping, breakfast, laundry and dry cleaning services.

Somerset Panorama Muscat (now open)
Located in Muscat’s bustling Bawshar district, Somerset Panorama Muscat forms part of an integrated development with the Panorama Mall, located directly below it. The 277-unit property is conveniently located mid-way between the city’s central business district and Muscat International Airport and is close to the diplomatic area and Ghala Industrial Estate.

Popular leisure destinations such as the Muscat Grand Mall, Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Al Ghubra Beach and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque are all within a five-minute drive.

Ideal for travellers who are on business or on holiday with family, Somerset Panorama Muscat is a perfect option for short- or long-stay travellers who want the flexibility of being able to explore Oman’s fascinating capital from the comfort of a modern serviced apartment.

Residents can enjoy a balanced lifestyle with the property’s wide range of recreational facilities and residents’ activities. Whether it is relaxing in the café, dining in the restaurant, working out in the men’s and ladies’ gymnasiums, unwinding at the spa, or lounging by the swimming pool or outdoor terrace, residents will be spoilt for choice.

Source: http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/global/154000320/4075286.html