Palma de Mallorca, April 25, 2018. Meliá Hotels International is pleased to announce two new hotels opening in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco in 2018.

The first, currently known as the Desert Palm Hotel in Dubai, is an exclusive urban oasis only 20 minutes from the city center. The hotel has 38 spacious rooms, suites and villas, as well as a wide range of dining and wellness facilities, a horse riding school and a first-class polo field. Just a short distance from the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai, the resort will seamlessly combine classic Spanish elegance – of which the Meliá brand is one of the finest ambassadors – with an uncompromising luxury experience. The Desert Palm Polo Club will be one of the most prestigious and well-equipped polo clubs in the world, with four polo fields helping to reinforce the position of Dubai as a leader on the international polo circuit.

The hotel opening is borne of a partnership between Meliá Hotels International and the hotel owner, Albwardy Investment Group, with whom the Spanish company already operates three other hotels across Tanzania and Argentina. Meliá Hotels International has a long and successful track record in managing luxury boutique hotels worldwide, including the Meliá Colbert, Meliá Champs Elysées and Meliá Vendome in Paris, the Meliá Campione and Meliá Villa Capri in Italy, among others.

Gabriel Escarrer, Executive Vice President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, said of the collaboration, "taking over operations at this exclusive Dubai resort makes Meliá Hotels International very proud and also gives us a chance to demonstrate our proven excellence in the management of luxury urban resorts in a market to which the company is already firmly committed.”

Secondly, Meliá Hotels International has announced an agreement to grow the Sol by Meliá brand with the addition of Sol Marrakesh – the Company’s fifth hotel in Morocco, which will operate under the family-friendly holiday resort brand.

Located in the popular area of Palmaraie, Sol Marrakesh enjoys a privileged location just 11 miles from the airport and less than six miles from the center of Marrakesh. The well-known resort, which first opened its doors in 1988, is currently closed for full refurbishment to bring it up to the highest standard and will re-open in late 2018.

Sol Marrakesh will offer 211 rooms (including 25 family units) as well as over 14 acres of indoor and outdoor space in which guests can relax or enjoy a wide range of leisure activities. Upon completion, services will include a spa with hammam, fitness facilities, four tennis courts, a volleyball court, soccer field, golf driving range and spectacular swimming pool complete with sundeck. With its own nightclub, theater, two bars and a Kid’s Club, Sol Marrakesh will be the ideal destination for visitors traveling with the family.