New Jumeirah luxury golf and polo resort was signed in Marrakech and is located seven kilometres to the south of the city, in the lee of the Atlas Mountains.

Jumeirah Group has signed an agreement with SGTM Immobilier, a subsidiary of Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM), to manage the resort.

Scheduled to open in three stages from January 2013, Jumeirah Marrakech Golf & Polo Resort will include: a five star deluxe golf hotel and 18 hole golf course, complete with clubhouse and academy; a five star polo hotel with two polo fields and one practice course; and a third five star hotel, spa, souk and residential villas.

The golf hotel will be comprised of 230 rooms and suites as well as 50 luxury villas. The boutique polo hotel will offer 100 rooms, while the largest of the hotels will offer approximately 300 uniquely-designed rooms and suites.

This mixed-use development will cover 177 hectares of land and in addition to the facilities listed above, will also offer a variety of restaurants, bars and lounges (some located in a purpose built souk), a 2,500 square metre Talise spa, and ballroom conference facilities for up to 900 people.

"We are delighted to announce the signing of this unique development; Jumeirah Marrakech Golf & Polo Resort is a welcome addition to Jumeirah Group's diverse portfolio as we continue to expand around the world," commented Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group.

"Marrakech is truly the heartbeat of Morocco and possesses a rich and varied cultural inheritance. Jumeirah Group is proud to have our roots in the Arabian culture and we look forward to offering our guests a unique and authentic, world class, luxury experience within Morocco."

Ahmed Kabbaj, CEO of SGTM Immobilier added: "Marrakech is the jewel of our Kingdom and as such, we felt duty-bound to associate a world leading operator to our project. We are therefore honoured to be working in partnership with Jumeirah on this one-of-a-kind resort. With their world class expertise and knowledge of Middle Eastern culture, Jumeirah will ensure that our guests get the best out of the Red City's magic."