Dubai gears up hotels for the money men

Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is adding more than 1,500 five-star hotel bedrooms to cope with the 16,000 visitors expected to converge on the state next September for the 58th annual meeting of the boards of governors of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Major projects under development include the 674-bedroom Grand Hyatt in Garhoud, the 301-bedroom Shangri-La on Sheikh Zayed Road, and the 412-bedroom Novotel and 210-bedroom Ibis that are being built next to the new convention centre.

The convention centre, which is being co-ordinated by the Dubai 2003 organisation, will have a total floor area of 8,100sq m, 25 meeting rooms and seating for 6,000 people.