DUBAI — The arrival of the first The Langham hotel in the Middle East will be a major hit with people across the GCC — especially those in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait — who have fond memories from trips to stay at the famous London location. Since it was announced, Omniyat, the developers of The Langham Downtown Dubai, has registered a significant amount of interest from the GCC, China and other countries in the Far East. Although The Langham brand is synonymous with the iconic London hotel that has been a favorite of A-list celebrities for over 100 years, the holding company Langham Hospitality Group is based in Hong Kong and has multiple developments in the Far East. Mohammed Hmeid, general manager of sales and marketing at Omniyat, said: “We knew that bringing The Langham brand to Dubai would be first and foremost a game changer in terms of absolute quality and heritage. What is fascinating is the impact the brand has in China and the Far East — the esteem in which it is held is incredible. “In the GCC markets — such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — there is the recognition of The Langham from regular visitors to London and so again you have the brand name truly meaning something special to people. “The tradition of afternoon tea at The Langham is one that has been experienced by generations of GCC nationals when they have visited London and it is the little touch points such as that which make the narrative of The Langham coming to Dubai so strong.” The Langham Downtown Dubai and The Langham Place Residences will be situated in the heart of the Marasi development on the banks of Dubai Canal, with stunning views of the new marina on one side and the Burj Khalifa on the other. It will be a 167-room hotel with 239 fully-serviced five-star residences, ranging from one, two and three bedroom suites to duplex penthouses. It is expected to finish late in the third quarter of 2020. On its opening in 1865, The Langham Hotel was regarded as Europe’s first Grand Hotel and pioneered use of hydraulic lifts and air conditioning. On opening the building the Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VII, famously said that the hotel had ‘everything a man, woman or child could desire under one roof’. The Langham Hotel London was frequented by many of history’s most famous names, including Sir Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Napoleon III, Princess Diana and Wallis Simpson. Omniyat is a rapidly expanding Dubai-based property developer. Since its launch in 2005, the company has built a development portfolio worth over $6.2 billion and in the next five years plans to roll out further ambitious residential and hospitality developments. Some of the company’s impressive luxury projects include: The Opus, One Palm, The Sterling, The Pad and ANWA. Omniyat opened its first sales offices in Kuwait at the end of 2017 in response to the growing interest in the company’s developments. Omniyat Group is a Dubai-based, privately-held property development group that is committed to Dubai's vision of leading by design. It builds unique projects, at vantage locations within master communities and employs a consistent, bespoke approach in its project development, design and delivery. Omniyat specializes in creating large-scale collaborations with globally acclaimed architects, designers, artists and firms, to deliver its high value and desirable projects.  — SG