hospitality group AccorHotels has announced Dubai as the first Middle East location for its Mama Shelter hotel brand.

French designer Philippe Starck will craft the interiors of the hotel, following the brand’s “trendy, boutique” image. It is set to open before 2020.

AccorHotels announced Mama Shelter’s regional arrival during a panel at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference at the Madinat Jumeirah centre last month.

“The idea is to create something new and different, about welcoming people around an F&B experience,” said Olivier Granet, managing director and COO of the company’s Middle East operations.

“It’s something which is simple but at the same time authentic. You’ll find different generations and social categories – it’s really about the experience.”

Other Mama Shelters have been opened in Los Angeles, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Prague and Rio de Janeiro – the brand’s first South American property. Starck has worked on restaurants, rooms and public areas in all them.