Baker McKenzie with Aldar on its partnership with IHG

Baker McKenzie has acted as legal counsel to Aldar Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Aldar, the real estate developer, manager and investor in the UAE, on its partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts (“IHG”) in respect of the Yas Plaza Hotels in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, as part of Aldar’s AED 1.5 billion hospitality portfolio transformation in the UAE.

Baker McKenzie’s team

The Baker McKenzie team was led by real estate and hospitality partner Keri Watkins (pictured), with support from senior associate Amir Ali and associates Tessa Crawford and Jana Al-Afoo.

About the partnership

Under the partnership, Aldar is revising its entire masterplan to turn the six-hotel Yas Plaza complex into a fully integrated resort that will operate under IHG’s ‘Vignette Collection’ brand and be renamed Straylight Yas. For the first time, the resort will have access to a private beach and Aldar will add beachfront suites to provide even more choices for guests. Once completed, the Yas Plaza Hotels will be the largest Vignette Collection resort in the world.

Among other developments in Aldar’s hospitality portfolio transformation programme are the Eastern Mangroves Hotel, which will be upgraded and operated under the Waldorf Astoria brand; the desert resort in the Al Dhafra region, formerly known as Tilal Liwa, which will also be reimagined and operated under IHG’s Vignette Collection brand; Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah and DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, and Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi’s ultra-luxury hospitality destination, the sale of which Baker McKenzie previously advised on.