The Amwaj Rotana is a 5 star hotel situated at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence. It offers 301 rooms and suites, numerous restaurants, plus a health club and swimming pool.

Timur Ilgaz, General Manager of Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai said: “We are proud to launch Rotana’s first property with beach access in Dubai and our aim is to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience, for great value accommodation”.

The new stations opening are: Emirates HQ, Dubai International Airport Terminal 1, GGICO (Al Garhoud), Al Karama, Trade Centre, Dubai Marina, and the Ibn Battuta Mall.

The remaining 11 stations will open in October.

Commenting on the announcement, Omer Z. Kaddouri, Senior Vice President UAE of Rotana said: “The essence of Rotana is the diversity in its products and for us to be managing this newest property, which is Rotana’s first property with a beach access in Dubai, makes this statement stronger. Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach’s team, headed by the General Manager Timur Ilgaz, has been working hand in hand with Rotana Corporate Office to ensure all areas of the opening are perfected for the operation of this attractive property”.

“Providing a great location to relax and unwind, this property is part of Jumeirah Beach Residence Complex and will be the ultimate comfort and convenience for great value accomodation” , revealed Timur Ilgaz, General Manager of Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai.

This world class property offers 301 superb rooms, suites and one presidential suite with their modern designs overlooking the Arabia Gulf Sea. Each of the rooms and suites will have a high-speed internet connection and a variety of amenities and facilities. Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai features exquisite dining venues including Rosso – Bar, Enoteca & Ristorante – an Italian restaurant with a convivial ambience offering al fresco dining, Benihana an American Japanese Restaurant and sushi bar with al fresco dining, Horizon, Sun Deck the pool bar and terrace, and Atrium the lobby lounge Café.

In addition, the hotel offers the most up to date technology in its 3 meeting rooms all offering daylight, one ballroom with private access, business facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, outdoor temperature controlled swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms.

The new stations opening are: Emirates HQ, Dubai International Airport Terminal 1, GGICO (Al Garhoud), Al Karama, Trade Centre, Dubai Marina, and the Ibn Battuta Mall.

The Red Line opened with 10 stations on September 9 2009. The Burj Khalifa Metro Station opened in January 2010.

The remaining 11 stations will open in the ‘following months’.

The RTA also announced that the completion date for the Green Line has been pushed back to August 2011.

The beachfront resort currently features 138 sea view guestrooms over seven floors. Spearheaded by Dubai-based architectural firm Rice Perry Ellis, there are plans to build an adjacent wing to house an additional 163 guestrooms, bringing the total number to 301. Of these, 18 are designated as suites including two Royal Suites, each providing more than 180 square meters (1,937 square feet) and offering a 180-degree panoramic view of the Arabian Gulf.

All guest rooms will be equipped with the finest bedding experience, state-of-the-art technology including wireless and wired internet access, iPod docking stations, flat screen televisions and DVD players as standard to enable guests to both work and relax in their rooms. Located on the third floor of the new wing is The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, offering six complimentary food and beverage presentations throughout the day and dedicated multi-lingual concierge service.

As the new wing is located away from the resort’s guestrooms and recreational facilities such as the Spa and swimming pools, General Manager Andrew Nasskau believes the impact will be minimal. “We are mindful of the effect that the expansion programme will have on our guests and we will make every effort to ensure that their comfort and enjoyment will not be compromised,” he says. “All our rooms and suites will still be occupied for the next two years, and the only areas that will be closed are La Baie, the spa pool and garden in front of the new wing.”

To capitalize on the requirements of corporate travellers, the resort will boast sizable meeting and function space to include an 800-square-meter (8,640-square-feet) grand ballroom that is divisible by six, a boardroom and three multi-purpose function rooms. In total, the resort will offer 1,160 square meters (12,528 square feet) of meeting space, all of which will be equipped with the most advanced technology. In addition to a world-class audio and visual set-up, the hotel’s Technology Butler, floral artist services and a dedicated catering and conference team ensures a seamless experience for all meetings and events.

Culinary offerings will be enhanced by the 10 new private dining rooms within an enclosed solarium in the Italian specialty restaurant Splendido, and the signature restaurant La Baie will be revitalized by a new concept and a larger dining space. During the day, sun-worshippers may enjoy the fresh look of the Pool Bar & Grill Pavilion which can accommodate up to 100 guests around the new swimming pools.

The new wing will feature the resort’s famed landscaped gardens including new outdoor swimming pools and a terrace. A 2,020 square meters (21,743 square feet) Spa and Fitness Center, with separate entries for men and women, will showcase a fully equipped gymnasium, beauty salon and 13 private treatment rooms.

On completion the 124-floor building at Dubai Marina will be the world’s tallest residential building and the second tallest building in the world (after the Burj Dubai).

Construction is expected to take 2 years.

Daily during the fast breaking hour, the resort’s Al Dhiyafa gets lively to welcome guests with a lavish Iftar buffet starting from AED 175 per person inclusive of municipality fees and service charges. The Iftar starts from sunset and continues till 8:00 p.m. It features a fine array of delectable Arabic cuisines, traditional Ramadan juices and much more.

Yet another speciality of the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa, during the month, is its Hush Lounge. Blooming with the magical spirit of the Ramadan season, the Hush Lounge presents a relaxing ambience where guests can spend quality time with their friends and family. The guests are offered a wide assortment of traditional Arabic delicacies, along with the finest selection of sweets, Arabic coffees and a host of shisha flavours, as they unwind till the early hours for Sohour.

Garry Hollihead, who earned the first of his three Michelin stars at Sutherland’s restaurant in London, has been appointed Executive Chef of Grosvenor House.

Pam Wilby, General Manager of Grosvenor House said, ‘Garry has extensive experience in the industry and brings with him a strong and passionate philosophy about food and restaurant hospitality which will add to our guest promise; to maintain excellence in everything we do.’

Restaurants at Grosvenor House include Gary Rhode’s modern British restaurant Mezzanine and Vineet Bhatia’s Indego.

The 26,000 square feet supermarket is situated on the promenade level and carries a range of Waitrose branded products and a selection of John Lewis non-food items.

It is the second Waitrose store in Dubai. The first opened at the Dubai Mall in November 2008.

The tramline will run along the Al Sufouh Road and with connections to the monorail at the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Metro. Completion is expected in late 2009.