Oman’s Ministry of Tourism and Rotana have announced that a new 5-star Rotana Resort will soon join the growing list of premium hospitality destinations in Salalah.

The development of the 444-key Salalah Rotana Resort is in line with the Ministry’s strategy to strengthen Oman’s reputation as a luxury hospitality destination.

Salalah Rotana Resort & Spa, owned by Orascom Hotels and Developments, will offer 399 rooms and suites, and 45 villas that are being built around ponds, water features and manmade lakes.

Scheduled to be inaugurated in December 2013, the resort features the groups signature Zen the Spa at Rotana as well as an outdoor pool and fitness centre.

Other facilities will include a lobby café/, all-day dining facility, a specialty restaurant, beach restaurant, pool bar, meeting rooms and a business centre.

Selim El Zyr, CEO of Rotana, said: “Oman has always been a key growth market for us and this is clearly reflected by our aggressive expansion plans in the country.

“Moreover, the 5-star Salalah Rotana Resort plays an important role in our growth strategy for the Middle East market, where we will be launching several new properties throughout the year to increase the total number of rooms under our management to over 14,500 by the end of the year.”