Hilton Hotels & Resorts has opened its second property in Abu Dhabi following the refurbishment of the former Rocco Forte Hotel in the UAE’s capital.
The distinctive, curved glass building close to Abu Dhabi’s International Airport and the National Exhibition Centre has been renamed Hilton Capital Grand Abu Dhabi.
It contains 281 rooms, a 700-capacity grand ballroom and a 500-capacity function room with five large meeting rooms, two boardrooms and a business centre.
Hilton Worldwide said that the new property would take its total number of rooms in the UAE to over 3,000.
Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts said: “The opening of our second Abu Dhabi hotel continues the outstanding 40-year legacy the company’s flagship hotel brand has enjoyed with the UAE.”
The $163m (AED: 600m) hotel, which was developed by UAE-based Al Farida Investments Company in conjunction with Abu Dhabi’s government-owned Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), opened under the Rocco Forte Hotels banner in November 2011 but the operator confirmed in March this year that it was no longer going to run the venue.
The hotel was the UK-based group’s only current Middle East property, although it has openings in the pipeline in Cairo and Luxor in Egypt, Marrakech and in Jeddah.