Bianca Bartz
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 $3B Luxury Resort by 2012 MGM Mirage announced its plans today to construct a $3 billion luxury resort in the United Arab Emirates. The Las Vegas hotel and casino anticipates construction to be completed by 2012, at which point the non-gambling hotel will open alongside two other extravagant MGM resorts on Abu Dhabi Island. The 50 acre waterfront project will be situated downtown on the island and will have over 1,200 rooms, an arena to seat 12,000 and is to be surrounded by upscale restaurants and retailers. It will belong to a larger community of waterfront residences on the harbour, complete with berths for private yachts. “MGM Mirage will develop and manage the project for a fee while Mubadala will own it,” the International Herald Tribune said. “The property, aimed at the high-end market, will have ‘unparalleled views of the city skyline’ and ‘stunning panoramic views of the waterfront,’ the companies said in a release.” I was impressed by the Las Vegas edition of the Mirage, but this one sounds like it will be simply mind-blowing and the perfect place for oil tycoons to indulge in luxury. 
The MGM Grand Abu Dhabi is the first project of MGM Mirage Hospitality, a joint venture firm the companies set up in April to develop non-gambling hotels and resorts around the world. Aziz said the group is looking for other sites to develop.
It also marks MGM Mirage's first venture into the Muslim world.
Abu Dhabi, the richest of the oil-laden United Arab Emirates, has a large expatriate population and is aiming to transform itself into a global tourist destination.
Alcohol will be served throughout the complex, but some Las Vegas offerings, such as the Crazy Horse Paris topless revue at MGM Grand, will not be part of the plan, Aziz said.
(iht)References: mgmmirage, iht Comment: on MGM Mirage Abu Dhabi |
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