Baccarat Hotel & Residences Dubai is due to open in 2026 as part of a new ultra-luxury mixed-use development facing the famed Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Skyscraper duo
The property’s twin tapering towers, designed by architectural firm Studio Libeskind, will combine a luxury hotel with full-service branded residences. The structures’ glass facades are reflective of desert sand, sea, and sun, as well as the House of Baccarat’s opulent reputation.
The site will be owned and developed by diversified investment firm Shamal Holding, based locally in the UAE.
One third suites
The hotel will feature 144 guestrooms, a third of them suites, along with 49 Baccarat-branded private residences, designed by the London-based studio, 1508.
Food and beverage offerings include a formal dining room with indoor and outdoor seating, private dining rooms, a casual poolside bar, and a Grand Salon serving morning pastries, afternoon tea, and a champagne and wine programme into the evening.
New regional team
The project will be managed by SH Hotels & Resorts affiliated and newly established regional team in London, under the leadership of Robert Koren, who was recently appointed as SVP and area MD for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. SH Hotels & Resorts believes this latest development exemplifies its sustained commitment to driving the firm’s growth in the region.
Barry Sternlicht, chairman of SH Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are thrilled to be partners in the development of this extraordinary hotel and residences in one of the top travel destinations in the world. The Baccarat brand celebrates the quality of light, and where is the sun more spectacular than in the Middle East? Our artisans will work to create a spectacular property to take its place among the most revered in the world. We are excited for this project’s gleaming future.”
Evolution stage
SH Hotels & Resorts CEO Raul Leal commented: “Our debut in Dubai marks an exciting new stage in the evolution of the Baccarat brand. We are creating a new identity in an already remarkable region, and we are sure the hotel will become the singular, unforgettable, luxurious experience in Dubai.”
Abdulla Binhabtoor, chief portfolio management officer, Shamal Holding, added: “Investing in the extraordinary is core to our mission and undoubtedly, Baccarat Hotel fits within this vision. With one of the richest brand equities and legacies in the luxury hospitality sector, we are ecstatic to be able to bring this brand to Dubai, a market that is no stranger to magnificent hospitality and experiences. We are certain that this mixed-use development will be a highly sought-after destination for both residents and visitors alike, contributing to the country’s vision to make Dubai one of the world’s best places to live, work and stay.”
Baccarat breadth
Baccarat’s hotel portfolio is on the rise, rapidly expanding from its first flagship property in New York, which debuted in 2015.
There are four other global projects currently under development for the brand: Baccarat Hotel Diriyah Gate, a 200-key site due to open in Q1 2025 as part of the Diriyah Gate development in Saudi Arabia; delivering in the same quarter will be Baccarat Hotel Rome, a restoration of a historic hotel site in the Italian capital which will bring 83 keys online; further north in the southern European country will be the 76-room Baccarat Hotel Florence, opening within the 14th-century Villa Camerata estate in Q1 2024; and Baccarat Hotel Miami in the US’s Sunshine State, adding a massive 324 rooms to the American portfolio in Q1 2025.
