Emaar Properties Plans Luxury Hotels in Zimbabwe as Global Tourism Ambitions Gather Pace

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Zimbabwe might soon experience a notable change in its hospitality history after the Burj Khalifa developers announced a potential, significant investment in premium hospitality. Developer Mohamed Alabbar met President Mnangagwa, and an executive team from his company is expected to visit Zimbabwe later on this month. They will evaluate sites and finalize the project. According to the President, the planned development will include luxury hotels and could create thousands of jobs. The investment comes at a time when Zimbabwe is reporting increased interest in tourism and improvements in the country’s tourism infrastructure. For travellers, the planned projects will soon provide new, quality accommodations and improved services to attract longer stays in the country.

A Dubai Property Giant Eyes Zimbabwe

The proposed investment places Zimbabwe on the radar of one of the world’s most recognisable property developers. Emaar Properties has built a global portfolio spanning real estate, hospitality, retail and leisure. Its best-known landmark is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

President Mnangagwa disclosed the latest development following his meeting with Mohamed Alabbar. The President said the discussions had produced plans for premium hospitality projects and world-class luxury hotels in Zimbabwe.

The next step is particularly important. An Emaar executive delegation is expected to arrive later in September for site inspections. The visit should provide greater clarity about locations, project scale and development timelines.

At this stage, however, Zimbabwe has not announced confirmed hotel locations, room numbers or opening dates. Those details matter to travellers and investors. They will determine whether the investment becomes a single flagship property or a broader hospitality portfolio.

The distinction is important because a project can generate headlines long before construction begins. For Zimbabwe, the immediate significance lies in the calibre of the investor and the potential scale of the proposed hospitality programme.

Emaar says its international business covers more than 18 countries. Its chairman and founder, Mohamed Alabbar, has led the company’s expansion across property, hospitality and leisure.

Zimbabwe Tourism Is Gathering Momentum

The proposed investment arrives against a more encouraging tourism backdrop. Zimbabwe recorded 1,777,569 international arrivals in 2025, according to information presented by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in March 2026.

That represented a 10 per cent increase from the previous year. The country’s tourism authorities linked the improvement to stronger destination confidence, infrastructure upgrades and community-led tourism initiatives.

The wider government development narrative also shows substantial growth. Official planning documents say international tourist arrivals increased from roughly 1 million in 2022 to 1.6 million in 2024.

That represented a 60 per cent increase during the first National Development Strategy period. The government has subsequently placed tourism infrastructure among the sectors capable of supporting broader economic diversification.

The trend is significant for hotel investors. Rising arrivals create the demand base required for new rooms, conference facilities, restaurants and premium leisure products.

It also strengthens Zimbabwe’s case for attracting internationally recognised hospitality brands. Higher visitor volumes can support more sophisticated accommodation categories beyond conventional safari lodges and independent hotels.

ZIMSTAT also reported that accommodation and food services expanded by 12.8 per cent in 2025. That was among the stronger-performing industries in the country’s economy.

The numbers therefore point towards an important convergence. Visitor demand is improving while hospitality activity is expanding.

Why Luxury Hotels Matter to Travellers

The proposed hotels could change Zimbabwe’s tourism proposition in ways that extend beyond room supply. International luxury properties normally create wider ecosystems around accommodation, dining, meetings, wellness and leisure.

For travellers, that can make a destination more competitive against established African tourism centres. It can also encourage visitors to combine safari, city breaks, business travel and leisure within one itinerary.

Zimbabwe already possesses globally recognised attractions. Victoria Falls remains its international tourism flagship, while Hwange National Park, Mana Pools and the Matobo landscape broaden the country’s appeal.

The challenge is converting those attractions into longer and higher-value stays. Premium accommodation can help achieve that objective when combined with reliable transport, connectivity and quality visitor services.

A luxury hotel in Harare could strengthen business and conference tourism. A property near Victoria Falls could capture high-spending leisure travellers. Developments around other tourism corridors could encourage longer regional itineraries.

The final locations will therefore be crucial.

Zimbabwe’s national tourism planning has identified investment opportunities in hotels, catering, safari operations, conferencing and conventions, alongside other tourism products.

Victoria Falls Could Be a Major Beneficiary

Victoria Falls offers perhaps the strongest natural case for international hospitality investment. The destination combines a globally recognised attraction with safari, adventure tourism and growing conference potential.

However, luxury accommodation alone cannot transform a destination. The supporting infrastructure must keep pace.

Zimbabwe’s 2024–2034 Zambezi–Victoria Falls National Parks management plan identifies upgraded tourism products as a strategic priority. It also emphasises coordinated development and clearer management of tourism zones.

That approach is relevant to any major hotel proposal. New properties need to complement protected landscapes rather than overwhelm them.

For travellers, the best outcome would be a stronger range of accommodation without weakening the environmental character that makes Victoria Falls distinctive.

The same principle applies to Hwange and other wildlife destinations. Premium tourism can generate higher spending per visitor, but conservation and community participation remain essential.

Emaar Brings a Powerful Global Benchmark

Emaar’s significance extends beyond the size of its property portfolio. The company has experience creating destinations where hotels sit alongside retail, entertainment, residential development and public spaces.

That model has helped shape Dubai’s international visitor economy.

Emaar’s latest corporate results also demonstrate its current financial scale. In the first half of 2026, Emaar Development reported AED22.4 billion in property sales and AED6.7 billion in net profit. Its development land bank spans hundreds of millions of square feet.

Zimbabwe is unlikely to replicate Dubai’s model wholesale. Its competitive advantage lies elsewhere.

Wildlife, Victoria Falls, heritage, landscapes and relatively underdeveloped tourism corridors offer a different proposition. The opportunity is to combine those assets with stronger international hospitality standards.

That could raise expectations across the wider hotel market.

Competitors may respond through renovations, new brands, improved service standards and additional investment. Local suppliers could also benefit from larger procurement networks and higher operational requirements.

What The Investment Could Unlock

The most immediate economic benefit could come through construction. Major hotel projects require architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers and skilled workers.

The longer-term impact could be broader. Hotels employ chefs, managers, reception teams, housekeeping staff, guides, drivers and maintenance specialists.

They also create indirect demand for farmers, food producers, laundry operators, transport companies and tourism intermediaries.

President Mnangagwa said the proposed investment could create thousands of jobs and stimulate local businesses.

That ambition fits Zimbabwe’s broader investment policy. Official tax guidance states that investment incentives aim to encourage employment creation, skills transfer, income generation and capital inflows.

Investment Incentives Could Support Expansion

Zimbabwe already uses fiscal measures to encourage investment in selected tourism areas. ZIMRA states that operators of tourist facilities in approved tourism development zones can qualify for specific tax treatment.

Its published tax information provides a zero per cent income-tax rate during the first five years for operators of qualifying tourist facilities in approved tourism development zones. The rate then rises to 25 per cent.

Zimbabwe also provides other investment incentives. These include provisions involving licensed investors and approved build-operate-transfer arrangements.

For major hotel projects, however, the commercial environment extends beyond tax.

Investors need predictable regulations, reliable utilities, efficient border procedures, transport access, digital connectivity and a strong pipeline of trained workers.

Travellers ultimately experience the outcome of those conditions.

A luxury hotel cannot deliver a premium destination experience if airport transfers remain difficult or regional connectivity is weak. Equally, better aviation links can make new hotels commercially viable by expanding their potential catchment area.

Connectivity Will Decide The Next Stage

Hotel development and aviation growth must advance together. Zimbabwe’s tourism strategy recognises the importance of improving connectivity between international source markets and major tourism destinations.

Government planning documents specifically identify improved connectivity as an important component of tourism development. They also call for continued attention to branding and visa arrangements.

This creates a clear priority for the industry.

More hotel rooms require more visitors. More visitors require convenient air access, efficient ground transport and competitive travel costs.

For international travellers, the most attractive scenario would combine premium accommodation with easier access to Victoria Falls, Harare and major safari areas.

Regional connectivity is equally important. Zimbabwe sits within a tourism ecosystem that includes Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

Multi-country itineraries are particularly valuable for long-haul visitors. Better connections could therefore allow Zimbabwe to capture a larger share of regional safari and adventure travel.

What Travellers Should Expect Now

Travellers should not interpret the announcement as confirmation that new Emaar hotels are already operating. The projects remain at the planning and site-inspection stage, based on the information currently available.

There are no confirmed public opening dates or final locations yet.

Visitors planning Zimbabwe trips should therefore continue to book existing accommodation based on their itinerary. Victoria Falls, Hwange and other destinations already have established hotels, lodges and park accommodation.

ZimParks also operates an online reservation system for selected lodges, chalets, campsites and picnic facilities. International visitors can search availability and pay through the official booking platform.

For self-drive visitors, Zimbabwe also provides a temporary import permit system for qualifying foreign-registered vehicles. Travellers must comply with the relevant conditions and export the vehicle when required.

These practical details remain more immediately relevant to travellers than the proposed hotel projects.

The Bigger Tourism Investment Picture

The Emaar announcement fits a broader effort to move Zimbabwe’s tourism economy towards higher-value products. Government planning has repeatedly identified hotels, conferencing, safari operations and other visitor services as investment opportunities.

The country now has a stronger demand story to present to investors.

International arrivals have recovered. Accommodation and food services are expanding. Major attractions retain strong global recognition.

The next challenge is converting that momentum into sustained investment.

That means improving infrastructure while protecting Zimbabwe’s environmental and cultural assets. It also means ensuring that local communities participate in the value created by tourism.

The proposed Emaar investment could become an important test of that strategy.

If the projects progress from site inspections to construction, Zimbabwe could gain more than luxury rooms. It could strengthen its position within Africa’s premium tourism market and create a new benchmark for hospitality development.

A Potential New Era for Zimbabwe Hospitality

The Zimbabwean tourism sector is at an interesting point in its development and maturity. Increasing arrivals, growing hospitality services, and an accommodating government are leading factors for investment. Awareness on Emaar’s proposed Zimbabwean tourism projects is growing due to the upcoming site inspections in September. The site inspections will demonstrate if Emaar intends to operate in a single tourist destination or if Emaar intends to develop a tourism portfolio in several destinations.

For the tourist, Emaar’s plans are exciting, as potential increased investments in hotels will result in an increased supply of quality hotels and services for the tourism sector.

Though challenging, the real test will be how well the country mixes the sectors through effective coordinated investments. If the country is able to invest in all of these sectors, the country will have the opportunity to reap more benefits from its natural endowments. Emaar’s planned investments could be a positive sign and a stepping stone for the country in Africa’s growing tourism sector.