Jamal Al Habtoor Real Estate, one of the leading real estate agents in the UAE, has announced that it has recently launched its new Rahat service to provide the burgeoning hospitality sector with a fresh supply of fully furnished serviced apartments in the heart of Dubai Marina. The Rahat service, offering one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, takes off as Dubai anticipates a surge in visitors in view of upcoming global networking events and winter attractions.
Initially 15 apartments for short-term occupancy are available, all fully furnished with sea views, and incorporating the latest technological amenities such broadband internet, cable TV and telephone. The apartments also offer full housekeeping services and 24-hour security.
"The Rahat service will offer visitors a cost-efficient, spacious and luxurious alternative to a regular hotel room. Our apartment facilities are equipped with a complete set of amenities and hotel-style room services at very reasonable prices, aside from offering a strategic location that is just minutes away from all major destinations in Dubai," said Jamal Al Habtoor, Chairman, Jamal Al Habtoor Real Estate.
The Rahat apartments are located in Dubai Marina with easy access to the beach, shopping centers and Sheikh Zayed Road. The apartments are also just five minutes from Ibn Batutta Mall, 10 minutes from Mall of the Emirates, and a short walk away from the new Marina Mall. Dozens of local food shops, cafes and fine-dining restaurants offering a range of gastronomic choices are in the vicinity.
"Current room occupancy rates are already very high, with most hotels indicating between 80 to 90 percent occupancy in a season when outbound tourism is at its peak. Within the next few months, inbound tourism to the UAE will boom as many visitors will attend various global networking events and other winter attractions such as the Dubai Shopping Festival. As a result, we can expect the corresponding increase in number of visitors to strain the current supply of hotel rooms. This will open an exciting growth opportunity for Jamal Al Habtoor Real Estate through our new Rahat service," Al Habtoor said.
According to recent reports, the Middle East posted the second strongest results in global tourism in the first four months of 2007, outperforming both Europe and America with an impressive nine per cent growth. In the UAE, growth was pegged at six per cent, led by Dubai's rising popularity with its impressive infrastructure development, widespread promotions, and a booming events sector. This has been manifested by Dubai's outstanding hotel room occupancy rate, which stands at 89.4 per cent, the best in the Middle East and significantly higher than the region's average of 71 percent.
However, according to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Dubai’s tourism growth was restrained in 2006 because Dubai's 40,000 rooms were not enough to accommodate the volume of visitors. Dubai now targets some 22,000 new rooms to be opened by end of 2008 to meet the strong demand.
Established in 1989, Jamal Al Habtoor Real Estate deals with all aspects of real estate services for both individual and corporate clients, including property and land sales, property investment, residential rentals and commercial leasing, and comprehensive property management services. The company mainly deals with prestigious properties such as Burj Dubai, The Palm and The World islands, Jumeriah Golf Estate and Business Bay.
Serving clients from countries such as United Kingdom, Italy, France and the entire Gulf Region, Jamal Al Habtoor Real Estate also offers a range of value-added services such as interior design, financial and legal advice, and top-to-toe property management, which have helped diversify and increase the company's customer base. Other innovative services offered by the company are helicopter and yacht tours of the properties for potential clients.