Aleph Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, has taken over management of the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan in Dubai effective 1 July 2026. The deal brings the company's Dubai portfolio to three properties and deepens its relationship with owner West F5 Investments LLC.

The Al Garhoud hotel joins two Aleph-managed properties in the Jewel of the Creek complex: the Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek and the Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences. Aleph has operated that complex for the past two years, and its performance there drove the owner's decision to extend the mandate.

"Over the past two years, Aleph Hospitality has proven itself a trusted and capable partner in operating our Jewel of the Creek complex, consistently delivering strong performance across both hotels," said Naresh Kumar Bhawani, Chairman of West F5 Investments. "This track record gave us full confidence in extending our partnership to the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan. Aleph Hospitality's regional expertise and operational discipline make them the natural choice to help us maximise the value of our assets across Dubai."

The agreement is Aleph's third with the same ownership group. The company said it will identify and leverage synergies across all three properties to unlock operational efficiencies and drive commercial results for the owner — a management-led logic that underpins its independent operator model, in which it takes on contracts typically reserved for branded chains.

The Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan has operated for nearly three decades and remains one of the most recognisable hotels in the Al Garhoud district, anchored by extensive meeting and events space and a diverse dining offering that has built a loyal following among travellers and locals. In recent years, the property has undergone a significant renovation programme, with rooms and public areas refreshed while preserving its blend of contemporary comfort and Arabian hospitality.

For Aleph, the takeover marks a deliberate acceleration in Dubai. Founder and Co-CEO Bani Haddad framed the expansion against the emirate's state-backed growth targets.

"We are very excited about this milestone, and our role in this new chapter in the storied history of the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan," Haddad said. "We look forward to working with the owner and the existing team to drive further success for this landmark property. Our expansion in Dubai reflects our alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). We remain committed to providing hotel owners with the flexibility, operational agility and commercial strength needed to capitalise on the growth of Dubai and the UAE."

The Mövenpick branding sits within Accor's portfolio, making the arrangement a franchise-style structure in which Aleph manages the asset while the brand remains on the door. Aleph will work with the existing hotel team under the new mandate.

With three properties now under management for one ownership group across two Dubai submarkets, Aleph is positioned to pursue further third-party management contracts as owners across the region weigh the trade-offs between chain-operated and independent operators.