Al Habtoor denies links to Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises

Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group, has clarified that none of its divisions, including Habtoor Hospitality has any links with Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises (HTE).

A major UAE conglomerate, Al Habtoor Group has interests in several sectors including the hotel, automotive, real estate, education, insurance and publishing industries.

The clarification comes following news in major Indian and Middle Eastern media about a potential acquisition of the Leela Group of Hotels in India (Hotel Leela venture) by Rashid Al Habtoor, the founder and owner of Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises.

In an official statement, released to the media, the Al Habtoor Group reiterated that none of its units, including Habtoor Hospitality (AKA Habtoor Hotels) has any link or relationship with either HTE or its owner Rashid Al Habtoor.  

Habtoor Hospitality owns and operates 14 world-class hotels; seven locally in the UAE and seven abroad. The portfolio includes:

In Dubai

*Habtoor Grand Resort, in Dubai Marina
*Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
*Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts in Dubai, UAE
*V Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton in Dubai UAE
*Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, UAE
*Al Habtoor Polo Resort, in Dubai, UAE
*Metropolitan Hotel Dubai in the UAE

Overseas
*Ritz-Carlton Budapest, Hungary
*InterContinental Budapest, Hungary
*Hotel Imperial, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna in Austria
*Hilton London Wembley, in the United Kingdom
*The President Abraham Lincoln Springfield – A Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, in the United States of America.
*Hilton Beirut Habtoor Grand in Lebanon
*Hilton Beirut Metropolitan Palace in Lebanon

A spokesperson for Al Habtoor Group said: “We feel obligated to clarify that Al Habtoor Group in all its divisions and Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises are two separate entities. Habtoor Hospitality, commonly known as Habtoor Hotels, is owned solely by Al Habtoor Group in the UAE and overseas.”

“We want to clarify to anyone that might have the impression that the two entities are linked, that they are not in any way connected," stated the spokesperson.

"Any actions or business decisions taken by Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises or any of their associates are their sole responsibility, and Al Habtoor Group is not liable under any circumstance for any damages or liabilities arising directly or indirectly from Al Habtoor Trading Enterprises business ventures," he added.

The Al Habtoor Group, founded in 1970 by the Chairman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, is one of the UAE's most respected and successful businesses, said a statement from the company.

It operates in the UAE and international markets, proudly waving the Emirati flag in many cities around the globe including London, Vienna, Budapest, Beirut and Springfield, Illinois. It employs thousands of highly-qualified, experienced professionals.-TradeArabia News Service