Accor is to launch 18 new hotels in the Middle East over the next three years, adding 4,850 rooms to its portfolio in the region.

The French hotel group will open 11 new hotels in the United Arab Emirates, two in Bahrain, two in Saudi Arabia and three in Syria.

Accor will also launch its new hotel brand, Adagio, with the opening of the first Adagio City Aparthotel Abu Dhabi, UAE, in late 2011 or early 2012.

The expansion will increase Accor’s Middle East portfolio to 54 hotels (12,497 rooms) by 2014.