InterContinental is opening a luxury beach resort in Ras Al-Khaimah in February

We normally get to hear about new IHG hotels before they get anywhere near opening, but the new InterContinental Mina Al Arab resort in Ras Al-Khaimah seems to have popped out of nowhere.

IHG has a bit of a problem in the UAE. It has a lot of hotels, but no high end beach resorts. This makes the chain less attractive, especially in a market like this where a lot of local residents like to book into hotels at the weekend to get pool and beach access.

This is about to change.

On 1st February, InterContinental Mina Al Arab Ras Al-Khaimah is due to open.

Bookings are now being taken via ihg.com here.

As you can see from the photo above (click to enlarge), it looks good. Below are a few more from the website:

The rooms look particularly impressive:

and

According to IHG:

“Escape to the exquisite landscapes and hospitality of modern Arabia. Situated along the breathtaking shores of the Arabian Sea, InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort and Spa awaits with the promise of spectacular adventure, ultimate relaxation and cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Stretching across two peninsulas and a private beach, the 351-room resort features an exclusive collection of rooms, suites and villas and chalets.”

Where is Ras Al Khaimah?

Ras Al Khaimah is a 60-minute taxi ride (about £40-50) from Dubai. Whilst there is very little going on in Ras – it’s not the place for a shopping holiday – the beach resorts are of a very high quality and substantially cheaper than Dubai.

Past HfP hotel reviews have included:

• Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah (2016, but I’ve returned twice since)
• The Ritz Carlton Al Hamra Beach Resort
• The Ritz Carlton Al Wadi Desert Resort

We also covered the launch of the world’s biggest Hampton by Hilton in Ras a couple of months ago.

I don’t know anything more about the new InterContinental beyond what is written here, but it is worth keeping an eye on. The hotel website is here.

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