The Leela Group to manage Taj Resort in Dubai

Leading Indian hotel chain The Leela Group has been selected to manage the upcoming Taj Arabia Palace Resort, which is being developed as a wedding destination here.

Dubai-based Link Global Group, which will complete building the resort as a replica of the Taj Mahal by 2015, made the announcement yesterday."We are pleased with this recent development and we are confident that Link Global Group and The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts share a common passion and synergy to bring this ambitious project into fruition," said Salem Al Moosa, Chairman & CEO of Falconcity.

Being developed as a wedding destination in UAE, the resort forms the main attraction of the Land of India project covering 2.3 million square feet built up area."We're all set to build this magnificent architectural wonder with a target completion in phased manner by 2015, said Link Global Group company director Arun Mehra."We are currently in negotiation with construction companies and we are confident of the success of Taj Arabia Resort as a preferred top destination for celebrations, weddings and major events," he added.

The 400-plus keys five-star resort proposes to have 300 service apartments, wedding boutiques, a gold jewelry souk and banquet halls - all as part of it being envisioned as a wedding destination.