Global hospitality leader Accor has signed a strategic agreement with United Hospitality Management (UHM) and owner Dubai Duty Free to reposition and manage one of the city’s iconic hotels, the Creekside Hotel in Al Garhoud.
Under the deal, the Creekside Hotel will join the Accor network under a white-label franchise agreement, and after a substantial renovation it will be fully repositioned as part of Accor’s MGallery Collection brand.
Situated near Dubai International Airport and overlooking the historic Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, the hotel is well-placed both for business-travel guests and leisure visitors. Its integration with the Aviation Club — home of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships — lends the property a distinctive sporting and lifestyle dimension.
The property features 292 rooms and suites, each offering modern comforts and creek or city views. An art-rich environment is a key part of the repositioning: approximately 482 commissioned artworks by 52 artists are displayed across public areas, rooms and custom-furniture, reflecting MGallery’s focus on unique storytelling and local cultural depth.
Leisure and wellness facilities will include two outdoor pools with a rooftop deck overlooking the atrium, a 14-treatment-room spa (Akaru Spa) with sauna and steam rooms, and access to the Aviation Club Fitness Centre with gym, indoor squash, and outdoor tennis and paddle courts.
Jean-Baptiste Recher, Chief Development Officer for Luxury Brands Middle East, Africa & Türkiye at Accor, commented: “We are proud to expand our partnership with UHM and Dubai Duty Free through the repositioning of this iconic property … the perfect fit to elevate its legacy.”
For UHM, COO Klaus Assmann noted that the Creekside Hotel “holds a special place in Dubai’s history … we are privileged to be working with Dubai Duty Free and Accor to curate its next chapter”.
From the perspective of Dubai Duty Free, Ramesh Cidambi emphasised the hotel’s dual appeal to business and leisure markets and underlined the commitment to “refreshing the property with a bold new vision” in partnership with Accor and UHM.
This deal marks a major milestone in UHM’s global growth strategy, while reinforcing Accor’s dominant position in Dubai’s luxury hospitality sector — the group already operates more than 85 hotels in the UAE. With the repositioning of Creekside Hotel underway, the property is poised to become a compelling destination for discerning travellers seeking luxury, culture and sport-inspired hospitality in Dubai.
