IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality groups, has signed a management agreement with API Hotels & Resorts to introduce the first Kimpton hotel in the UAE. Scheduled to open in Q1 2026, Kimpton Dubai marks the brand’s debut in the emirate and strengthens IHG’s regional presence, which now includes more than 122 hotels and nearly 44,000 rooms across nine Middle Eastern countries.
Globally recognized for its distinctive design, warm hospitality, and immersive lifestyle experiences, Kimpton has established a strong footprint across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its entry into the UAE responds to rising demand for boutique, experience-driven accommodations in the region’s upscale hospitality sector.
Ideally located along the iconic Business Bay Canal just minutes from the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, Kimpton Dubai is poised to become a dynamic social hub. The area is already a magnet for both business and leisure travelers, drawing a diverse mix of residents, visitors, and professionals.
The hotel will offer 280 guest rooms, including a blend of standard rooms and suites, three signature dining venues, and seven adaptable meeting spaces, including a ballroom. Prioritizing wellness and leisure, the property will feature a rooftop pool, spa, fitness center, curated retail spaces, and ample parking. Staying true to Kimpton’s culinary roots, the hotel will spotlight innovative food and beverage experiences.
This development represents the second partnership between IHG and API Hotels & Resorts, following the launch of InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay in September 2024. It also builds on IHG’s regional growth strategy, which recently included a partnership with The King Abdullah Financial District Management and Development Company—an affiliate of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund—to bring the first Kimpton hotel to Riyadh.
Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts – India, Middle East & Africa, said: “The Kimpton brand continues to redefine luxury lifestyle hospitality, leading the way with individually designed boutique hotels and restaurants that focus on self-expression, world-class design, and genuinely warm service. We’re proud to introduce this brand to the UAE in partnership with our valued partners, API and to bring a fresh hospitality experience to Business Bay that resonates with both local and international travellers.
“Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants represent the avant-garde of luxury lifestyle hospitality. These properties are thoughtfully designed to inspire connection and creativity, often in collaboration with local talent – from artists and musicians to chefs and designers. We’re excited to bring that same energy and spirit to Dubai.”
A spokesperson from API Hotels & Resorts, added: “Our continued partnership with IHG reflects our shared commitment to bringing global luxury experiences to the region. The introduction of Kimpton to Dubai will offer a distinct alternative in the city’s hospitality landscape – one that blends elevated lifestyle elements with a boutique soul. We’re confident Kimpton Dubai will become a landmark destination for both residents and visitors.”
Each Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant is designed to open the door to human connections through unexpected, personal touches that create a meaningful and unscripted guest experience. Merging a culture of heartfelt hospitality and unique, design-forward hotels for all, every Kimpton property is designed to create genuine experiences where local communities and visitors mingle seamlessly.
IHG now has 9 of its core brands operating across the Middle East: Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, and Hotel Indigo in the luxury and lifestyle collections; Crowne Plaza and voco in the premium collections; Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express in essentials collections; and Staybridge Suites in the suites collections.
