What Ishraq Hospitality does

Ishraq Hospitality Dubai LLC (formerly Abjar Hospitality, re-established under the Ishraq brand in 2007) is a Dubai-based hotel management company and the hospitality asset-management arm of the Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group. It operates eight IHG-franchised hotels in Dubai (1,320 rooms) under Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites brands, with a further six hotels (3,100 rooms) in the development pipeline. Its service offering spans the full hospitality investment lifecycle: Development Advisory (feasibility and ROI studies), Technical & Design Advisory, Hotel Operator Selection, Pre-Opening Advisory, Asset Management & Hotel Management, and ongoing performance and budget reviews and audits. Revenue is generated primarily through management and incentive fees on IHG-branded hotels managed on behalf of property owners, supplemented by asset-management fees for advisory and performance optimization work. The customer base is bilateral: on one side, hotel property owners and developers (including private investors, government-linked entities, and real estate developers) seeking third-party management and IHG branding; on the other, end guests — business, leisure, and extended-stay travelers — sourced through IHG's global reservation system, IHG One Rewards, OTAs, the company's own booking engine, and a dedicated MICE-focused corporate sales team.

Geographically, the company is expanding beyond the UAE under a January 2020 IHG Master Development Agreement covering eight Holiday Inn Express hotels across the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt (with additional visibility into Pakistan and Saudi Arabia) and via a July 2023 Hospitality Management Agreement with Rekan Group covering two properties (390 rooms) in Batumi, Georgia — its first European entry. Leadership was refreshed in January 2023 with the appointment of Richard Haddad as CEO, alongside the addition of senior roles including a COO and CFO. Underpinning the operating platform is IHG's cloud-based Aruba Central WiFi program deployed as a pilot across select properties, alongside an ESG/sustainability program that has secured multiple Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp certifications (including Platinum recognition).

The company is privately held and does not disclose external funding; capital is provided by its parent Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group. Public data is sparse — no consolidated revenue is disclosed — and the analysis therefore relies on pipeline disclosures, headcount indications, and operating-portfolio size as proxies.

Name

Ishraq Hospitality

Legal name

Ishraq Hospitality Dubai LLC

Website

https://ishraqhospitality.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ishraq Hospitality is a Dubai-based IHG franchisee operating 8 branded hotels (1,320 rooms) plus 6 in the MEA pipeline, providing third-party asset management and hotel operations services to property owners under Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, and Staybridge Suites brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hotel Management Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Accommodation (721), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Business & Corporate Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Extended-Stay Hotels (THAGAEAA), Hotel & Resort Banqueting (In-House Catering) (THAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Hotel management services
• Hospitality asset management
• Hotel franchise operations
• Hospitality development advisory
• Hotel operator selection

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hotel Management Fees: Ishraq Hospitality earns management fees by operating IHG-branded hotels (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites) on behalf of property owners. The company also earns asset management fees providing advisory, financial monitoring, and performance optimization services for hotel investors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ishraq Hospitality is a third-party hotel management company that operates a portfolio of 8 IHG-franchised hotels (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites brands) across Dubai, totaling 1,320 rooms, with a further 6 hotels in development pipeline. The company delivers end-to-end hospitality services to property owners and investors, including development advisory, technical and design advisory, hotel operator selection, pre-opening support, ongoing asset management, and operational performance audits. It also generates ancillary consumer-room revenue through direct bookings and IHG's global distribution network.

Product overview

Ishraq Hospitality is a hotel management company operating a portfolio of 8 IHG-franchised hotels across Dubai plus 6 properties in development pipeline. The portfolio includes two Crowne Plaza properties (Jumeirah and Deira), five Holiday Inn Express properties (Airport, Internet City, Jumeirah, and Safa Park), one Holiday Inn property (Al-Maktoum Airport), and one Staybridge Suites property (Al-Maktoum Airport). The company also provides hospitality management services including Development Advisory, Technical & Design Advisory, Hotel Operator Selection, Pre-Opening Advisory, Asset Management, and Performance Audits. A new dining concept, Goose & Gander pub, is being launched in partnership with McGettigan Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah A 252-room five-star hotel located in Jumeirah 1, Dubai, featuring technology-driven guest rooms with USB outlets, Chromecast TVs, and IHG Sleep Advantage. Offers four dining concepts including The Plaza, Cuisines, Ginger (Pan-Asian), and The Docks British pub. Targeted at upscale business and leisure travelers.
• Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira The only IHG hotel in Deira, located 300m from Reef shopping mall and 8km from Dubai International Airport. Features Spice Island buffet restaurant, Italian Brioso, Harry's sports bar, rooftop pool, and 8 flexible meeting rooms with a pillar-free ballroom. Targeted at business travelers and events.
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport Located opposite Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport with a free shuttle service. Features 5 rooftop meeting rooms accommodating up to 171 delegates, The Brick Wall Sports Bar, and a 24-hour Fitness Centre with airport views. Targeted at airport travelers and small meetings.
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai Jumeirah
• Holiday Inn Express Dubai Safa Park City-central 171-room hotel overlooking Dubai Water Canal on Sheikh Zayed Road near Dubai Mall. Features the Muchachas Mexican restaurant, a 65-sq-metre meeting room for 50 delegates, and a complimentary shuttle to Jumeirah Beach and Burj Khalifa. Houses Ishraq Hospitality's headquarters on the 5th floor.
• Holiday Inn Dubai Al-Maktoum Airport Upscale 344-room hotel near Expo City and Al Maktoum International Airport. Features a 300-pax pillarless ballroom, South Central lounge/kitchen/bar/terrace concept, spa, 24/7 gym, and family-friendly amenities with kids eat/stay free under 12. Awarded Best Airport Hotel 2023 by World Travel Awards and Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp Silver Tier.
• Staybridge Suites Dubai Al Maktoum Airport 262-room residential-style hotel near Dubai South and Al Maktoum Airport. Offers studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, extended-stay amenities, and The Den for informal meetings. Flexible meeting space accommodates up to 600 guests. Targeted at extended-stay guests, families, and project teams.
• Development Advisory Feasibility and ROI studies for hotel and mixed-use projects, market demand studies, and preparation of bankable financial feasibility reports. Targeted at hotel property owners, investors, and developers.
• Technical & Design Advisory Hotel facilities design, layout review, F&B facilities configuration, coordination with interior designers, and systems and equipment specification. Targeted at hotel developers during pre-construction phases.
• Hotel Operator Selection Optimal hotel brand, franchise, and operator selection for assets, operator assessment, management contract negotiations, and LOI/contract review. Targeted at hotel property owners and investors.
• Pre-Opening Advisory Support with contractual matters, pre-opening budget review and approval, selection of General Manager and Financial Controller, manning guide review, and financial advisory. Targeted at hotel owners preparing for openings.
• Asset Management & Hotel Management Hands-on reporting, owner representation in negotiations, investment performance monitoring, and comprehensive services to maximize profitability and minimize risk across hotel marketing, sales, revenue management, and operations. Targeted at hotel property owners and investors.
• Budget, Financial and Operations Performance Reviews & Audits Continuous monitoring and evaluation of Finance & Accounting, Housekeeping, Maintenance & Engineering, HR, Revenue, Sales & Marketing, and Food & Beverage operations with comprehensive liaison service. Targeted at hotel owners seeking ongoing operational oversight.
• Goose & Gander Pub London-style pub concept at Holiday Inn Express Internet City operated in partnership with McGettigan Group. Features exposed walls, modern furniture, cozy seating, outdoor terrace, elevated pub classics, live entertainment, and themed events. Targeted at hotel guests and Dubai diners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Holiday Inn Dubai Al-Maktoum Airport achieved 40% waste reduction and 30-point surge in Green Procurement Index
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIshraq Hospitality operates as an IHG franchisee managing 8 hotels under Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, and Staybridge Suites brands. In January 2020, a Master Development Agreement (MDA) was signed for 8 new Holiday Inn Express hotels across UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt. IHG provides global brand platform, reservation system, and IHG One Rewards loyalty program.
• Rekan GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn July 2023, Ishraq Hospitality signed a Hospitality Management Agreement (HMA) with Rekan Group to manage Crowne Plaza Batumi Beach Hotel (150 rooms, opening 2025) and Batumi View Hotel Apartments (240 rooms, opening 2025) in Batumi, Georgia. Rekan Group is a regional investment company bringing local market expertise.
• McGettigan GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn August 2024, Ishraq Hospitality signed a partnership with McGettigan Group to open Goose & Gander, a London pub-style venue at Holiday Inn Express Internet City in Dubai. McGettigan Group brings hospitality expertise, crafted menus, and entertainment offerings. The partnership was officially signed on 29th August 2024.
• Tree-NationminorOthersIshraq Hospitality partners with Tree-Nation for its sustainability initiative, having planted 2,700 trees through the platform as part of its ESG commitment to plant 5,000 trees by end of 2023 (later updated).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dur Hospitality: Saudi-listed hotel investment and management company operating owned and managed properties across the Kingdom. Comparable as a MEA-headquartered hotel operator and asset manager, with overlap in the corporate and religious-travel segments that Ishraq's planned Saudi expansion targets.
• Habtoor Hospitality: Dubai-based hospitality division of the Habtoor Group, operating owned and managed hotels in the UAE and wider MEA region. Directly comparable as a UAE conglomerate-owned hotel operator with a similar Dubai-rooted, multi-brand strategy.
• IFA Hotels & Resorts: Kuwait-headquartered hospitality investment and management company with a portfolio across MEA and select international leisure destinations. Comparable as a Gulf-rooted, multi-brand operator pursuing third-party management and mixed-use hospitality mandates.
• Jannah Hotels & Resorts: UAE-based hotel management and operating company focused on luxury and upscale properties in the Gulf. Ishraq's current CEO Richard Haddad previously led Jannah, and the two companies operate similar boutique-to-mid-scale Gulf hospitality portfolios under third-party management contracts.
• Emaar Hospitality: Hospitality arm of Emaar Properties, one of the UAE's largest real estate developers, operating luxury and upscale hotels in Dubai and internationally. Comparable as a UAE-based, developer-affiliated hotel operator with significant MEA presence and a similar asset-management-plus-operations offering.
• Rotana Hotel Management Corporation: UAE-headquartered hotel management company operating owned, franchised, and managed properties across the MEA region. Highly comparable to Ishraq as a third-party operator with a regional, multi-brand MEA portfolio and similar asset-light management-fee model.
• Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH): Dubai-headquartered hotel management company operating multiple regional brands (e.g., Coral, Arabian Plaza, Ewa) across the MEA region. Direct competitor for third-party management contracts in the same mid-scale Gulf segment Ishraq targets.

Broad incumbents

• Marriott International (Middle East & Africa): Global major hotel group with a large MEA franchised and managed footprint. Comparable as a competing global brand platform competing for the same regional owners and developers, and providing the alternative franchise system that hotel investors benchmark against IHG.
• Hilton (Middle East & Africa): Global major hotel group with an extensive MEA franchised and managed portfolio. Relevant as the parent brand of a competing franchise system that competes with IHG for owners and developers in Dubai and the wider region, indirectly shaping Ishraq's growth environment.

Regional players

• Millennium Hotels and Resorts: Dubai-headquartered global hotel operator with a strong MEA footprint under the Millennium, Copthorne, and M Hotels brands. Comparable as a MEA-rooted, asset-light operator pursuing third-party management contracts in the same regional markets where Ishraq is expanding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IshraqHospitality

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ishraq Hospitality