It's shutters down for Ramada, Bur Dubai

Dubai - The hotel will give way to five star hotel, high-end residential apartments and a shopping complex

One of the oldest hotels in the city, Ramada, will shut down this year, with demolition planned for October. The hotel, built in 1983, will be history, especially the 41-metre tall world record-breaking stained glass pillar in the hotel which will be sold to the highest bidder.
Abdellah Essonni, CEO of Abjar Hotels International which owns the hotel said it was a tough and emotional and decision. "But we are renovating it. The idea is to give something more beautiful to the people. There will be a 180 room five star hotel, around 120 high-end residential apartments, and an 8,000-square metre shopping complex with a supermarket and retail outlets."
By the end of August, the hotel will cease operations and then it will be bulldozed in the October. Construction will start soon after that and the new towers will get ready by 2019.
"Ramada is one of the most popular properties for many prominent business people and for the people living in this area," said Essonni. We organised an event for our frequent customers recently to announce the news. Many of them came forward to share their memories. They reminisced how they have seen the building for 20-30 years, and the area is known as Ramada roundabout.
People Speak
Vikas who has been living in that area for more than five years feels nostalgic about bidding adieu to the hotel. "This place is very close to my heart as I have so many precious memories attached. I am going to miss it," he said.
"I used to frequent its Indian restaurant Tamarind for dinners and most of the staff is familiar with me now. We cannot do anything about it but I feel something important is parting," said Dipti, another resident of the area.
ankita@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE