KARBALA | Al-Rawdatain Residences | 15 fl | U/C

[elusive]

The Range Hotel, Karbala

In January 2010, Dewan was appointed as lead architects and consultants to another major new hotel development in Karbala.
The Range Hotel will feature a 12-storey hotel apartment complex, comprised of studio and one and two-bedroom units. The Development, with a total area in excess of 72,000 square metres, will include more than 650 apartment units and facilities, and will offer a serene and secure setting with 24-hour security in and around the development.
It is ideally located in the heart of the Holy City of Karbala, less than 1 kilometre away from the shrines most frequented by religious visitors.

[BigDreamer]

It's great they're building new modern hotels/apartments in the city. But I really don't want them to build it so close to the shrines/city centre. It will ruin the character of the city.

The should instead keep the old city enclosed and preserved, and build a new modern sector of the city near by, linked by modern roads and metro

[dude01]

Originally Posted by BigDreamer

It's great they're building new modern hotels/apartments in the city. But I really don't want them to build it so close to the shrines/city centre. It will ruin the character of the city. :oh no:

The should instead keep the old city enclosed and preserved, and build a new modern sector of the city near by, linked by modern roads and metro

Yes but Karbala need new hotels especially next to the shrine..look at Mecca, many hotels are being build around the Ka3bah.

[BigDreamer]

they completely ruined Mecca !!! there is so much land, they don't need to build them so close to the shrines. the area around the shrines should be listed under UNISCO world heritage site, and they should be preserved for posterity.

[sheytanElKebir]

i think the structure for the first 5 floors is complete on this. at least a building very similar to this in central karbala!

[elusive]

Originally Posted by sheytanElKebir

i think the structure for the first 5 floors is complete on this. at least a building very similar to this in central karbala!

do you have any photos?

[baghdad_sara]

I like it, Iraq has many traditional sites and shrines that i appreciate much more than fancy buildings but i think its time we incorporated a little modernism throughout the country.

[dude01]

Range Hospitality Launches 5-Star Development in Karbala


Range Hospitality, a dynamic, progressive and innovative institution focused on hospitality and real estate, has launched the Al Rawdatain Gardens development in Iraq’s pilgrimage centre, Karbala, to cater to the significant shortage of accommodation.

Approximately 18 million pilgrims visit Karbala during the peak seasons every year. With a current shortage of accommodation in the city, Al Rawdatain Gardens aims to cater for this demand at accessible prices. Investment in this development is available through Mulkiya Intifa’a – a Shariah Compliant Fractional Ownership proposition.

Iraq’s $112 billion economy whose GDP is growing at an average rate of 5.1% over the last three years has seen the Government actively encourage foreign investment through a number of initiatives including an amendment to the National Investment Law.

His Excellency Shehzada Shabbir Bhai Saheb Nuruddin, brother of His Holiness Moula Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS), leader of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, has been appointed as Range Hospitality’s honorary chairman. Range Hospitality has recently strengthened its roster of shareholders through the appointment of Ali Hussein Al Nemer (Saudi Arabia), Alykhan Karmali (Uganda), Munaf Ali (United Kingdom) and Mohammed Asaria (United Kingdom) to the Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to be the recipient of Shehzada’s support and guidance and honored by his participation. The Board of Directors comprises individuals from various parts of the Muslim world which will ensure a wider catchment area for our offering – Mulkiya Intifa’a,” said Mohammed Asaria, Vice Chairman, Range Hospitality.

Earlier this year, Range Hospitality mandated Abu Dhabi-based investment company, Noor Capital PSC, to procure the necessary initial funding for the Al Rawdatain Gardens development. In addition, Range Hospitality has appointed Dewan Architects & Engineers, an architectural firm with over 25 years experience and projects spanning over 10 countries in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa, also known for the Yas Marina Hotel and Marriott Courtyard Dubai, as the lead architects and consultants. Control Risks, a leader in specialist security consultancy with over 30 years experience in the Middle East and seven years in Iraq is another of the leading names supporting the project.

// Range Hospitality has taken every step to protect its Mulkiya Intifa’a investors. “We are providing an Escrow account with one of the leading global financial institutions, Standard Chartered Bank, to assure security of investment and timely delivery of the project to our investors,” said Munaf Ali, CEO, Range Hospitality. He further added: “Although it is not mandatory for Range Hospitality to have an escrow account for a development in Iraq, this is a self-regulating step to ensure investor confidence given the current market sentiment.”

As the first modern development to be built in Karbala, Al Rawdatain Gardens will have an elegant 12-storey residence structure at its core comprising a mix of fully furnished and serviced studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Spread over 55,000 square metres, the development is designed and furnished in accordance with international standards, with full air conditioning and heating, including internet access and safety deposit boxes. The entire development will include a total of 624 suites, extensive public areas, four restaurants, landscaped gardens, health facilities, 24-hour security, child care facilities, business centre, and guest services.

“We are receiving independent approaches from some of the world’s leading hotel operators to manage Al Rawdatain Gardens,” Asaria revealed. “We are in the process of operator selection and the calibre of the companies approaching us is clear evidence of the importance of Karbala within ‘New Iraq’ and the wider MENA region.”

In conclusion, Ali mentioned: “Range Hospitality was established to achieve both commercial and altruistic objectives. We have committed to donate 20% of our annual profits to charities under the direction of our Charitable Donation Committee.”

About Range Hospitality
Range Hospitality was founded to develop hospitality projects in emerging markets and areas that benefit from significant volumes of pilgrims. Range Hospitality’s ethos is to provide the highest quality international standard services to its guests and is a socially responsible investor – at all times ensuring its developments adhere to important local customs. Range Hospitality is owned and supported by a number of prominent business families from across the Islamic world.

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/201...nt-in-karbala/

[elusive]

interesting info about this new hotel...

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/1940065...971487/name/RH

[wasta]

http://rangehospitality.com/

[elusive]

its currently under-construction so someone please change the status

[ali4iraq]

Nothing proofs that this project is currently under constrution. And if there is what is it.

[elusive]

Originally Posted by ali4iraq

Nothing proofs that this project is currently under constrution. And if there is what is it.

according to the pdf report they're clearing away land and getting ready to start

[BigDreamer]

I wonder if it's U/C now...

[IraqSpirit]

Still no new pictures or news published on their website.. also didnt find much with google.. hope to get some updates soon!

[mlknyc]

Originally Posted by dude01

Yes but Karbala need new hotels especially next to the shrine..look at Mecca, many hotels are being build around the Ka3bah.

I totally disagree that Kerbala needs new hotels near the Holy Shrines. The Holy Shrines are sacrosanct (especially that of Imam Hussein a.s. which is the Sanctum Sanctorum)and should be kept that way unlike Mecca which looks like a monstruous commercial shopping mall. If there was no Kaaba there would be no Mecca. That similarity holds true for Kerbala and Najaf too. So i really hope they preserve the historical artifacts and dont let them be destroyed as they have been in Mecca and Medina by building humongous monstrocities.

[wasta]

http://www.rangeholdings.com/index.php

[wasta]

A UAE based hospitality group has announced the launch of Karbala’s first modern development, a $100m, 624 rooms, five star hotel property that will cater to pilgrims and visitors to the Iraqi holy city.

Munaf Ali, chief executive officer of Range Hospitality, which is developing the property in conjunction with Shaza Hotels, said that the project would begin construction in February 2011, with construction aimed to be completed by 2013.

“We launched the project over a year ago and we have had a great response from investors to the actual end users. We originally raised the seed capital early in 2010, and we were massively oversubscribed, even in this economic environment,” Ali said, adding that Abu Dhabi based Noor Capital helped source the funding for the project.

Designed by Dewan Architects and Engineers, the UAE based firm behind projects such as Yas Hotel in Abu Dhabi and the Baghdad Rotana Hotel, the Al Rawdatain Gardens hotel project will be operated by Shaza Hotels, a joint venture between Guidance Hotel Investment Company and Kempinski Hotels.

Simon Coombs, president and CEO of Shaza Hotels said the luxury brand would be able to use its experience in catering to religious markets to provide a ‘contemporary, luxury service’ to Muslim pilgrims from across the world.

Shaza Hotels launched their new hotel in Medina on Sunday, and Coombs said that its specialized needs would allow the brand to perfect its strategy for the Karbala project, where religious considerations set it apart from normal hospitality operations.

With Shia Muslims making up 10 to 15 percent of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslim populations, holy Shia sites like Karbala are expected to witness a swell in pilgrim numbers as the political situation in Iraq stabilises. Officials are estimating that 12 million pilgrims will visit the city on the day of Arbaeen in 2010.

As pilgrim numbers increased, Ali said that the world traveller, or pilgrim, was getting more sophisticated, which meant that the city’s existing facilities would not be able to cater to their needs and specifications.

A recent report by Business Monitor International said that Saudi Arabia is expected to receive 12.91 million religious tourists in 2010, a figure that is expected to grow by 6.5 percent year on year. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has reported that tourism revenue will increase by 4.8 percent this year to reach $17.8bn, and is expected to reach $31.4bn by 2015.

Ali added that this meant that the Iraqi religious tourism market was ripe for a luxury developer to enter, as the accommodation in and around Karbala was of an insufficient standard to cater to pilgrims who wished to travel in comfort.

“I’m very confident in attaining occupancies in Karbala. All the evidence seems to indicate that with the pricing now for relatively low grade accommodation, we’re seeing some very healthy average rates, so we want to offer something that offers value, and I think we’ll see a very strong demand for that,” Coombs added.

The two firms have also collaborated on another project in Mashhad, Iran, which is currently scheduled to be operational in 2011, with 70 percent of the work on the hotel completed.

[wasta]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11979974

[BigDreamer]

Five-star hotel in Karbala, Iraq, by mid-2013.



The strategic partnership, signed by Al Daaysi Group and UK-based Range Hospitality yesterday, will see them launch further hotel projects in Islamic pilgrim sites across the region.

Al Daaysi Group became a partner with Range Hospitality having made an undisclosed amount of investment and will be involved in various hotel projects and promoting them in Bahrain.

Other hotel projects in the pipeline are based in Islamic pilgrim and religious sites in Najaf, Iraq; Mecca, Medina and Ma'shad in Saudi Arabia; and Damascus, Syria.

An official signing ceremony was held by Al Daaysi Group managing director Essa Al Daaysi and Range Hospitality chief executive officer Munaf Ali during a Press conference at the Capital Club, Bahrain Financial Harbour.

"We as partners share the long-term vision for the religious hospitality sector," said Mr Ali.

"Today the religious hospitality industry is worth approximately $18 billion (BD6.8bn) with more than 300 million travellers.

"With the addition of Mr Al Daaysi to our board of directors, Range Hospitality looks forward to grow from strength to strength."

Mr Al Daaysi said the two companies complemented each other in many forms and believed the partnership would help prosper and strengthen their business relationship.

"Bahrain is a significant market for the retail distribution of Mulkiya Intifa'a (Sharia-compliant fractional ownership) and we are confident to achieve our objectives," he said.

Al Rawdatain Residences is a $100 million (BD37.8m) investment, 12-storey hotel and residence and the first modern development to be built in Karbala.

It will be spread over 55,000sqm and comprises a mix of fully furnished and serviced studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites.

The entire development will include 624 suites, public areas, restaurants, landscaped gardens, health facilities, 24-hour security, child care facilities, business centre and other guest services.

Kempinski Hotels S A will be the overall managers of the building and the hotel will be operated by five-star hotel brand Shaza Hotels, which is a Sharia-compliant company owned by Kempinski.

Forty per cent of the project is already sold, although construction will not start until March.

Construction is being carried out by the TCD Group and is expected to be completed by July 2013.

"It's a 12-floor building, the first three floors will be managed as a hotel by Shaza and floors four to 12 are residences, almost like serviced apartments," said Mr Ali.

"Pilgrims can buy a certain period, like a week, or they can buy the apartment and use it and rent it out with the Kempinski group.

"The cost of buying the smallest apartment at low season for one week for the next 50 years starts from $5,500 (BD2,079).

"This means the apartment is $100 (BD37.800) every year for seven nights or $15 (BD5.670) for a room per day, so the pay back period is between two and three years."

Ten per cent of the payment is payable on signing, 10pc at the start of construction, 10pc on the completion of the foundation work and 70pc on completion of the project.

All investment is paid to Standard Chartered Bank Escrow account.

Mr Ali explained the main reason for launching a hotel and residence in Karbala was to help meet the accommodation needs of millions of pilgrims who visit every year.

He added 20pc of the company's profits were directed to global charities.

"There are about 20m pilgrims and tourists who come to Karbala every year," Mr Ali told the GDN.

"The hotel is less than a kilometre from the pilgrim sites, it's about a 12-minute walk.

"One of the reasons we did this was because Mecca and Medina are so developed, but there are just as many if not more pilgrims going to Karbala but the prices are so high, so we wanted to change that and we wanted to give back to the community."

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsD...storyid=296556