IHG Signs Garner Hotel Ras Al Khaimah Downtown, Bringing Brand to Northern Emirates

• 2027 — Key year
• 30% — Notable rate
• 150 — Volume / scale

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement to rebrand an existing 150-room property in Ras Al Khaimah's Al Nakheel district as Garner Hotel Ras Al Khaimah Downtown, the first Garner-branded hotel in the Northern Emirates. The conversion, slated for completion in Q2 2027, is part of a two-hotel deal with local developer Bin Dalmouk Group that also includes a 135-key Garner Hotel in Ajman. Garner, IHG's mid-scale conversion-friendly brand launched globally in 2023, targets the "reliable essentials" segment with flexible public spaces, 24/7 grab-and-go dining, and a streamlined service model designed for 30% lower operating costs than traditional full-service hotels. IHG's Middle East & Africa CEO Haitham Mattar said RAK's growing domestic tourism base — driven by Jebel Jais adventure attractions and weekend staycation demand from Dubai and Sharjah — creates a natural fit for the brand's value proposition. The downtown location places guests within 10 minutes of the RAK Mall, the National Museum, and the new RAK Central mixed-use development. Bin Dalmouk Group Chairman Salem Bin Dalmouk estimated the conversion capex at AED 45 million, with projected RevPAR of AED 280-320 in the stabilised third year. IHG now operates or has signed five hotels in Ras Al Khaimah across InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and Garner brands, totalling approximately 1,100 keys.