Baker McKenzie assists Aldar on its partnership with IHG

Baker McKenzie has acted as legal counsel to Aldar Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Aldar, the leading real estate developer, manager and investor in the UAE, on its partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts (“IHG”) in respect of the Yas Plaza Hotels in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, as part of Aldar’s AED1.5 billion hospitality portfolio transformation in the UAE.

Under the partnership, Aldar is revising its entire masterplan to turn the six-hotel Yas Plaza complex into a fully integrated resort that will operate under IHG’s ‘Vignette Collection’ brand and be renamed Straylight Yas. For the first time, the resort will have access to a private beach and Aldar will add beachfront suites to provide even more choices for guests. Once completed, the Yas Plaza Hotels will be the largest Vignette Collection resort in the world.

Commenting on this landmark deal, Keri Watkins, Aldar relationship partner and co-head of Baker McKenzie’s Real Estate and Hospitality Practice Group in the Middle East, said, “We are thrilled to assist Aldar on its strategic partnership with IHG on the Yas Plaza Hotels as part of its major hospitality transformation and investment programme.”

The Baker McKenzie team was led by Real Estate and Hospitality partner Keri Watkins, with support from senior associate Amir Ali and associates Tessa Crawford and Jana Al-Afoo.