Kempinski Hotels continues its growth in the Middle East & Africa region, signing its first property in the Kingdom of Bahrain with MAF Hospitality LLC.

Kempinski will manage a five star luxury hotel located in the Bahrain City Centre development, one of Bahrain's largest in recent years, opening during 2008.

The Bahrain City Centre development in the Seef district of Manama city includes two hotels, the five star luxury Kempinski hotel and a second, four star hotel, Bahrain's largest shopping mall covering 150,000 m2, a Carrefour hypermarket and some 40 restaurants and cafés. The highlights are a massive indoor air-conditioned Water Recreation Park which will be the largest in the region and one of the world's largest once completed, a 20-screen cinema and a Magic Planet family entertainment park. The Kempinski hotel will have 196 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites plus a city spa, fitness centre and restaurants.

Ulrich Eckhardt, Senior Vice President Middle East & Africa, is very pleased with the latest addition to Kempinski's portfolio in his region, ‘Kempinski continues to focus its expansion in the Middle East region as the market potential here is huge. Our brand is enjoying success in the region and we are renowned for our commitment to superior service and quality standards. Bahrain's economy is one of the fastest growing in the Gulf and its excellent infrastructure make the country an attractive choice for the many multinational companies who have set up operations there.'

With this newest project announced, Kempinski will open 7 hotels in addition to the 10 currently open in the Middle East & Africa, bringing its portfolio in the region to 17 by end 2009. The next opening scheduled in the region is the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, a 337-room five star luxury hotel and conference centre, which is set to open this November in Djibouti city.

Kempinski Hotels' prestigious portfolio comprises luxurious properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia. Each offers superior standards of service combined with a distinctive style reflecting the individuality of the property and its location.

MAF Hospitality LLC, a Majid Al Futtaim Group Company, develops mainly branded new hotels located throughout the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA); the hotels are managed by globally recognised hotel companies. The present portfolio of MAF Hospitality comprises the Sofitel City Centre Hotel and Residence located at Deira City Centre Mall and the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates both in Dubai, U.A.E. Multiple hotels are presently under development in Dubai, UAE and Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.