Rotana has signed a hotel management contract with the Mauritanian Investment Group to manage a hotel in the capital of Nouakchott.

The 5-star hotel will be located within the Ribat Al Bahar project, and will open under Rotana's "Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana" brand. The signing ceremony for the new hotel took place in Abu Dhabi in the presence of senior management from both parties.

"Since its inception, Rotana has grown to become the largest hospitality management company in the region – a brand not only widely recognized, but much admired. Rotana's strategic development is orchestrated by a team of professionals, who have exceptional international experience and a fundamental understanding of the cultures and communities of the Middle East and Africa," said Makram El Zyr, Corporate Vice President - Development, Rotana. (Image right)

El Zyr continued "The impressive growth in the number of Rotana properties is powered by a consistency in ‘getting it right' first time, every time. The company's strategy is geared towards having nothing less than one property located in every country in the region."

"This contract agreement represents an important achievement for Rotana, and a major milestone in our strategy to expand in the African and Maghreb markets. The new "Rayhaan" hotel is our first property in Mauritania and Africa. Mauritania which is a growing business and tourism market with a strong demand for 5-star hotels that offers world-class hospitality. This sea-front hotel will represent an impressive addition to the city's hospitality offering for both leisure and business guests," El Zyr concluded.

Khaled Al Aboudi, Chairman, Al Majmoua Almouritania pour l'Investissement (MMI) (Image left) underscored the significance of this partnership between Rotana and the Mauritanian Investment Group, saying Rotana was not just chosen as a partner for being a hospitality pioneer in the Middle East and Africa, but also for its deep understanding of Arabic and Islamic culture and values, evident in the development of its "Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana" brand – a ready a proven success in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The hotel is intended to be established on the southern sea-front of the mixed-use Ribat al Bahar project and will include more than 230 rooms, specialized restaurants, meeting rooms, swimming pools, and a gym, in addition to all the services expected of a world-class 5-star hotel. The hotel is slated to open in late 2014. Rotana and the Mauritanian Investment Group are working rapidly on the design process to ensure the speedy progress of the project.