IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed two Garner hotels with Nooa Holdings in the United Arab Emirates, bringing the midscale brand to the Middle East for the first time. The planned properties in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah will add a combined 285 rooms when they open.
Both hotels are expected to welcome guests in 2026. Garner Hotel Ras Al Khaimah Downtown will have 204 rooms, while Garner Hotel Dubai Al Jaddaf will offer 81. Their locations target travellers who want a branded stay near transport links, business areas and leisure attractions.
The dual signing broadens IHG’s accommodation range in the UAE. It also gives visitors another option between basic lodging and the country’s extensive luxury hotel offering.
Ras Al Khaimah Hotel Targets Business and Leisure
The larger property will open beside the creek in Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Nakheel area. Garner Hotel Ras Al Khaimah Downtown will sit near Al Naeem Mall and approximately 15 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.
That position could serve guests visiting the city for work alongside travellers using it as a base for a longer stay in the northern emirate. Its downtown setting puts everyday services within reach while leaving visitors able to explore beyond the hotel.
The 204-room property will result from a hotel conversion. Garner’s adaptable design approach allows an existing building to enter IHG’s branded portfolio without following the timeline of an entirely new development.
For Ras Al Khaimah, the opening will add midscale capacity to a hospitality market that serves different visitor needs. Travellers comparing places to stay will have another internationally recognised option in the city centre.
Dubai Al Jaddaf Adds a Creekside Stay
In Dubai, the 81-room Garner Hotel Dubai Al Jaddaf will open near Al Jaddaf Waterfront. The location sits between Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport, giving guests access to commercial areas and leisure destinations.
A rooftop pool overlooking Dubai Creek will add a place to unwind after sightseeing or meetings. The planned hotel pairs that feature with the brand’s emphasis on convenient, comfortable stays.
Al Jaddaf’s position may appeal to visitors who want to move between different parts of Dubai during a short trip. Airport access matters for passengers arriving late, departing early or connecting a city stay with another journey.
The hotel is also close to cultural and waterfront areas, allowing leisure guests to shape a stay around more than one district. Its smaller room count gives the Dubai property a different scale from the Ras Al Khaimah development.
Garner Focuses on Practical Travel Needs
IHG designed Garner for travellers seeking dependable accommodation at an accessible price point. The brand concentrates on a convenient location, a good night’s sleep and breakfast, while allowing individual hotels to retain some local character.
That approach fits trips where visitors plan to spend much of their day outside the property. Business guests need a reliable place to prepare and rest; leisure travellers may prioritise location and value when choosing a base.
For Nooa Holdings, the conversion model offers a way to develop both properties with IHG’s operating systems and brand standards. The hotels will also connect with IHG One Rewards, giving eligible members access to the company’s loyalty programme.
These features may help the properties reach travellers already familiar with IHG. For guests, the essential question will be how each hotel delivers comfort, service and value once it opens.
UAE Signing Marks a Regional Expansion
IHG’s partnership with Nooa Holdings gives Garner an entry point in two distinct UAE destinations at once. Dubai offers a major international visitor market, while Ras Al Khaimah brings the brand to a growing northern emirate.
IHG executive Haitham Mattar described the UAE as a fitting launch market for a midscale brand aimed at travellers seeking quality at an accessible price. Nooa Holdings founder and chief executive Amit Basnet said the partners would also explore further opportunities together.
IHG currently operates 39 hotels across eight brands in the UAE. The two Garner properties will extend that range when they open, while adding accommodation suited to short stays, business travel and leisure visits.
For now, the announcement confirms the signings and expected 2026 openings. Travellers considering either property should check its opening status and available facilities before making plans.
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