Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Al Jaber Establishment and Tourism Development and Investment Company, Abu Dhabi to manage the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, opening February 2007.

This is the second such management agreement between the two groups; the first was for the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai.

The 21-acre property, including the luxury hotel, serviced apartments and deluxe villas, complemented by dining, entertainment, retail and recreational facilities, will be the first development of its kind in Abu Dhabi.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, designed by Northpoint Architect of Johannesburg, South Africa, faces a 1,000-meter-long private beach. The luxury hotel is 10 minutes from the airport; 15 minutes from the Abu Dhabi Corniche and five minutes from the new Convention Centre.

Meeting and banqueting facilities will consist of a 300-square-meter ballroom; two 30 square-metre (295 square foot) boardrooms and two 45-square-meter meeting rooms. In order to serve the needs of business travellers, there will be a fully equipped business centre.

"We selected Shangri-La to manage this special property due to its longstanding reputation in Asia Pacific, and the sterling reputation it has quickly established among its existing Middle East properties," said Mr. Obeid Al Jaber, chairman of Al Jaber Group.