Shurooq in deal for Khor Fakkan resort

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) recently signed a contract with General Hotel Management (GHM) to bring Thai hospitality chain Chedi hotels to Khor Fakkan. The investment of the project is worth more than Dh350 million. The Chedi Khor Fakkan Resort will comprise three components — the fort, the hilltown and town square. The fort is located on the hilltop and will serve as the primary access point to the resort. It will contain restaurants, spa, gym, business facilities and reception. The hilltown is composed of 170 suites with seaside views situated along the natural gradients of the hillside. The town square is located in the centre of The Hilltown. Town Square will include a variety of cafes, preserving the beachfront and providing a secondary gathering point. Article continues below Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development, said: "Sharjah is always keen to support the tourism sector with more investment and projects that build on the foundations and international standards that keep tourists flowing into the emirate. "This is an important step in increasing the cap-acity of the area and ensuring quality and sophisticated services are available to the tourists who visit it; it is a great leap forward in the tourism sector." The Chedi Khor Fakkan Resort will join the other Chedi hotels that GHM has launched, including in Chedi Chiang Mai in Thailand, Chedi Muscat in Oman, Chedi Andermatt, and the Chedi Club in Bali, Indonesia. Marwan Bin Jasem Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, said: "We want to develop Khor Fakkan to be not just one of the key ports in the region, but a tourism destination too. So we looked for a project that would be unique in its design and size, but at the same time, would not adversely affect the environment, or detract from the beauty of the mountain scenery. It was this objective that lead up to today: where we sign the deal for the construction of GHM'S Chedi Khor Fakkan Resort." The Chedi Khor Fakkan Resort is expected to open in 2015. "Prestige projects like the Chedi Khor Fakkan Resort continue Sharjah's growth as a cultural, scenic and tourist destination. It has been carefully considered and thoughtfully planned to minimise the environmental impact, while maximising the social and financial sustainability of the project, and its accessibility to the other emirates will make it a prime destination", Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad said.