Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open the first W Hotel in the UAE. The company signed an agreement with UAE-based Belbadi to open the 350-room hotel in the UAE capital in 2013. Located on the waterfront of Al Bateen Wharf, W Abu Dhabi will be part of a multi-component development, including high-end retail stores, restaurants and residences. Starwood currently operates close to 50 hotels throughout the Middle East under seven of its nine brands, including more than 20 hotels in the UAE. W Abu Dhabi will be the W brand's third hotel in the Middle East, following the openings of W Doha Hotel & Residences (opened in 2009) and W Amman, scheduled to open in 2012.