Dubai, July 2 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates-based hotel management company Landmark Hotel Management LLC plans to launch ten Shariah compliant hotels and serviced apartments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia by the end of 2010, WAM news agency reported Wednesday. The move would cater to the increasing demand for Shariah-compliant hotels in the Middle East.

Six of the planned hotels would be launched in Dubai, two in Abu Dhabi and one each in in Fujairah and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All the hotels would be alcohol-free, serve halal food and provide a percentage of the profit to charity.

“The growth in the number of Arab and Muslim tourists has boosted the demand for Shariah compliant hotels in the Middle East. We expect a further surge in Arab tourist inflow and rise in demand for hotels that operate on Islamic principles,” said Landmark Hotel Group managing director S.M. Sadique.

“The general perception is that such hotels are only meant for Muslims. But there are several non-Muslims, especially those with families, who enjoy the quieter and cleaner ambience offered in these hotels,” he added.

According to the World Tourism Organisation, travellers from the Gulf region spend more than $12 billion annually on leisure travel.