Hotel group Mandarin Oriental is to manage a new luxury resort and branded residences on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The property, which is being developed by Abu Dhabi-based Tourism Development & Investment Company, is scheduled to open in 2013 and will be Mandarin Oriental's first foray into the Middle East. Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi will feature 160 guestrooms and suites, plus 35 serviced apartments and 50 branded Residences at Mandarin Oriental.

_ Facilities will include a Spa at Mandarin Oriental, six restaurants and bars and meeting and banqueting rooms. Also on offer will be a private beach club, a fitness centre, an outdoor swimming pool and preferred access to an 18-hole championship, Gary Player-designed golf course, which will wrap around the resort. Saadiyat Island is 500m (547yds) offshore Abu Dhabi city and will eventually comprise 19km (11.8 miles) of white sand beaches, two championship golf courses and a marina. In addition, the island is planned to become home to what is claimed to be the world's largest concentration of cultural institutions, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum, all of which are scheduled to open in 2013.

Mandarin Oriental now operates, or has under development, 42 hotels representing over 10,000 rooms in 26 countries, with 17 hotels in Asia, 14 in the Americas and 11 in Europe and North Africa. In addition, the group operates, or has under development, 14 Residences at Mandarin Oriental, which are connected to the group's properties.