New hotel for Oubaai

The M.A. Kharafi Group acquired the Oubaai site back in 2000. It is on 263 hectares of prime real estate with sea and mountain views, and the group's express purpose in making the acquisition was to develop a premier luxury golf and lifestyle estate. They clearly succeeded: in 2007 it was named the Best Resort in South Africa by International Property Awards, and it was also judged to be the best golf resort in the Southern Cape by Professional Management Review.

The M.A. Kharafi Group has invested more than R650m (US$86m) to date in the site and this will increase to over R920m (US$115m) upon completion of the hotel and retail complex, anticipated in 4th quarter of 2009.

Mohamed Fahmy, MD of MAK Hotel Holdings, said that the group's “commitment to luxury and its international presence has given us the initiative to take the group on board as the hotel of choice for Oubaai”.

The hotel will be part of the Oubaai Golf and Lifestyle Centre, a 128-hectare up-market residential and golf development on the Garden Route. Overlooking the Indian Ocean at Harold's Bay, the development will also feature Ernie Els' first 18-hole championship golf course in South Africa and a lifestyle centre and golf academy. The resort is just five minutes from George airport, in an area renowned for its pristine beaches, indigenous forests and nature reserves.

The development will also consist of residential villas and apartments and an upscale shopping centre.

The development's 18-hole links-style Els-designed golf course was completed two years ago and is now fully operational. The majority of the residential and individual plots located within the development are now sold and under construction.

A lifestyle centre provides a range of amenities such as a sport shop, tennis court, swimming pool and squash court.

Gebhard Rainer, MD of Hyatt Europe, Africa and the Middle East commented, said, “South Africa is one of the world's fastest-growing holiday and business destinations with endless opportunities for visitors of all interests”.