Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open three new properties in the Middle East: The Fairmont Cairo, Nile City; The Fairmont Palm Hotel & Resort in Dubai and The Fairmont Abu Dhabi Resort & Villas.

All three sites are scheduled to open in 2006.

The Fairmont Cairo is a luxury, 553-bedroom hotel in the Nile City complex overlooking the River Nile and just 30 minutes from the Pyramids at Giza.

The hotel will include four restaurants, four bars and lounges, a business centre and meeting space.

The 24th floor will house a swimming pool, whirlpool, outdoor function area and one of the restaurants.

Concept design was prepared by Atelier d-Art Urbain while architectural co-ordination will be directed by Dar Al-Handasah.

The luxury Fairmont Palm Hotel & Resort will boast 330 bedrooms and 460 vacation ownership residences situated on the southwest side of The Palm development in Jumeirah, Dubai.

The resort will offer meeting space, a beach club and restaurant, pool complex, children’s activity centre, a 1,400sq ft Willow Stream spa and a selection of internationally themed dining facilities.

It will also boast more than 460m of beachfront.

The Fairmont Abu Dhabi Resort & Villas will be situated on the breakwater island development, which also features a marina and the Marina Mall.

Designed to resemble an Arabian palace, the city resort will offer 265 bedrooms including Fairmont’s ‘hotel within a hotel’ brand, Fairmont Gold.

Facilities will include indoor and outdoor function space, seven restaurants and bars – with a further 12 restaurants and cafes in the adjacent Fairmont Restaurant Promenade – a 930sq m swimming pool complex, a FIFA regulation football pitch and a private beach in a secluded cove.

It will also boast a 21,000sq ft Willow Stream Spa with 15 treatment rooms.

The amenities will be connected by a series of canals with specially designed Arabic boats called shashas to ferry guests around.

The plans also include a scheme to build 50 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas at the resort.

The scheme is being led by Abu Dhabi-based Dewan architects and engineers.

Fairmont operates 43 properties throughout six countries. Details: www.fairmont.com