Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts is opening Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates this month.

The 20-storey hotel, a joint venture between Le Méridien and Emirates Airline, will offer 218 rooms of at least 48sq m, the largest free-form swimming pool in UAE, a Penguin Village with pool for children, a Wellness Centre featuring the Cleopatra Beauty Rooms, tennis and squash courts, watersports and dive centre and 250m of private beach.

The resort also has the east coast's largest ballroom - holding 400 people - as well as meeting rooms, a business centre, three Royal Club executive floors and area available outside for 1000-capacity events.

Le Méridien also announced recently that it has signed a lease agreement with K&K Vastgoed BV for the Hotel Des Indes in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The company will begin a programme of renovations at the hotel costing in excess of EUR15m, next year.

All 76 bedrooms will be refurbished and 16 more added. A new top floor will be built and a 335sq m health spa created in the basement.

The hotel will reopen as Le Méridien Des Indes. Details: www.lemeridien.com