The Langham brand will help Dubai build Chinese market and Far East links

The arrival of the first The Langham hotel in the Middle East will help Dubai establish greater links to the Far East – particularly the growing Chinese market.

Since it was announced, Omniyat, the developers of The Langham Downtown Dubai, has registered a significant amount of interest from China and other countries in the Far East.

Although The Langham brand is synonymous with the iconic London hotel that has been a favourite of royalty and A-list celebrities for over 100 years, the holding company Langham Hospitality Group is based in Hong Kong and has multiple developments in the Far East. 

Mohammed Hmeid, General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Omniyat, said: “We knew that bringing The Langham brand to Dubai would be first and foremost a game changer in terms of absolute quality and heritage. What is fascinating is the impact the brand has in China and the Far East – the esteem in which it is held is incredible. 

“It will give not only The Langham Downtown Dubai a greater presence internationally but also the whole of Dubai and the regional hospitality and lifestyle market.”

The Langham Downtown Dubai and The Langham Place Residences will be situated in the heart of the Marasi development on the banks of Dubai Canal, with stunning views of the new marina on one side and the Burj Khalifa on the other. It will be a 167-room hotel with 239 fully-serviced five-star residences, ranging from one, two and three bedroom suites to duplex penthouses. It is expected to finish late in the third quarter of 2020. 

Hmeid added: “In the GCC markets – such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – there is the recognition of The Langham from regular visitors to London and so again you have the brand name truly meaning something special to people. 

“The tradition of afternoon tea at The Langham is one that has been experienced by generations of GCC nationals when they have visited London and it is the little touch points such as that which make the narrative of The Langham coming to Dubai so strong.”

On its opening in 1865, The Langham Hotel was regarded as Europe’s first Grand Hotel and pioneered use of hydraulic lifts and air conditioning. On opening the building the Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VII, famously said that the hotel had ‘everything a man, woman or child could desire under one roof’.

The Langham Hotel London was frequented by many of history’s most famous names, including Sir Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Napoleon III, Princess Diana and Wallis Simpson. 

Omniyat is a rapidly expanding Dubai-based property developer. Since its launch in 2005, the company has built a development portfolio worth over $6.2 billion and in the next five years plans to roll out further ambitious residential and hospitality developments. Some of the  company’s impressive luxury projects include: The Opus, One Palm, The Sterling, The Pad and ANWA.