Millennium Hotels & Resorts has opened the Millennium Atria Business Bay.

The property, which becomes the 40th in the region, will serve a growing hospitality and tourism sector.

The first phase of the opening will cover 156 apartments out of the hotel’s total 347 units, which comprise studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Other facilities, such as the Laguna Restaurant, Grab & Go, Podium Terrace and Kids Club, as well as the fitness centre and the infinity pool on 25th floor will be available for guests during their stay.

Developed by Deyaar Development, the Millennium Atria Business Bay features studios, apartments and penthouses, as well as duplex apartments designed by YOO Studio, the interior design company founded by John Hitchcox and Philippe Starck.

The 30-storey Millennium Atria Business Bay hotel apartment tower, will be managed by Millennium Hotels & Resorts Middle East & Africa and is the first property in Deyaar’s hospitality portfolio.

Kevork Deldelian, chief operating officer of Millennium Hotels & Resorts Middle East & Africa, said: “The opening of the Millennium Atria Business Bay reflects our strong and long-term commitment to the UAE’s hospitality sector, where we are expanding our footprint very fast.”

Dubai was named as the seventh most-visited city in the world in 2018, ranked by Euromonitor International.

According to the local tourism authorities, the sector was worth Dh109 billion in 2017.

“We are proud to see Deyaar’s first hospitality project commence its operations,” added Selim El Zein, assistant vice president, hospitality at Deyaar.

“This opening shows commitment to our vision to diversify our real estate portfolio, as well as the returns for our investors, to complement the value-added services Deyaar offers.

“Millennium Atria Business Bay will be a landmark in Dubai’s strong hospitality sector.”

In the first half of 2018, Dubai received 8.1 million tourists, with India, Saudi Arabia and the UK remaining the top markets.

The city’s hotel inventory stood at 111,317 rooms in the first half of 2018, up seven per cent on the same period last year.

Occupied rooms nights increased from 14.53 million to 14.97 million.

Christian Palacin, general manager of the Millennium Atria Business Bay, concluded: “Business Bay is a very popular place for people to live and work and our property enjoys the ideal location for business as well as for leisure clients.

“Millennium Atria Business Bay offers the largest apartments in the area with a unique design and all the modern technology. 

“Besides, its opening could not have come at a more appropriate time – ready to serve the increased number of tourists ahead of the Expo 2020.”