Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed with deputy ruler H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Al Qassimi, to manage its first hotel in the UAE state of Sharjah.

Located on Al Muntazah Beach in the north of the emirate, the new 343-room Sheraton Sharjah is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2013. Facilities will include an all-day dining restaurant, a seafood restaurant, a Persian speciality restaurant, and a pool/beach grill on a private beach.

Also available will be a 950sq m (10,225sq ft) spa, the brand's signature Sheraton Fitness by Core Performance offer, six meeting rooms, and two ballrooms, one of the latter - at 850sq m (9,150sq ft) - being the largest hotel ballroom in the emirate. A second debut for Starwood will see the opening of its first Aloft hotel in Miami, US in December this year.

The 160-room, 14-storey Aloft Miami-Brickell is to be owned and managed under a joint venture agreement with Sunview Companies and HES Group. Amenities will include an indoor pool, w xyz bar, re:mix lounge, 24-hour gym and nearly 3,000sq ft (279sq m) of meeting space.