Sayed Tayoun, Cluster General Manager
of InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, on leading one of Abu Dhabi’s most historically powerful properties.

Sayed Tayoun, Cluster General Manager of InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterConti- nental Residences Abu Dhabi, is unfazed by the rapid expansion of Abu Dhabi’s hospitality market.

With Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030 targets 40 million visitors annually, aiming to raise the sector’s contribution to GDP to AED90 billion (US$24.5 billion) by 2030, competition is intensifying. This goal is supported by more than 170 hotel establishments across the capital, many recording strong average occupancy rates of between 80% and 90%. Yet amid this increasingly crowded landscape, Tayoun remains confident that the properties he leads carry an intrinsic value that extends far beyond hospitality.

“The hotel was opened by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to host the first GCC Summit in 1981, it occupies a rare place in the UAE nation’s collective memory,” Tayoun says. “The UAE is a young country, a lot of people have seen this country being made, and they are very emotionally attached to the foundations of the country.”

Located in the affluent Al Bateen district, InterContinental Abu Dhabi holds a strategic position at the heart of the capital’s political and commercial life. Alongside its 390 rooms and suites, the property expanded in 2023 with the opening of InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, adding 130 serviced apartments and jointly offering hotel accommodation, residences, award-winning dining, and extensive event facilities. “For decades, InterContinental Abu Dhabi has been the hotel of choice for government delegations, celebrities, and major conferences in the capital and across the region,” Tayoun says. “It has also long been a gathering place for residents and visitors alike—where people came to swim, dine, and socialize. Generations of families have marked their lives here, like different generations of one family would get married here, so there’s a lot of emotional family attachment. “We have a lot of plans to bring back this icon at the center of Abu Dhabi’s tourism scene.”

Yet, the heritage value of the property will remain central to its appeal, regardless of future enhancements, Tayoun underlines. “To honor the legacy of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, we have preserved furniture from the original meeting days,” he says. “The table used during the very first GCC conference remains here to this day. This is our intrinsic value—the collective memory that people in the UAE continue to carry.”

Tayoun is well positioned to restore the hotel’s stature, drawing on more than two decades of hospitality leadership and a deeply rooted understanding of the industry. A Lebanese native and graduate of Notre Dame University–Louaize, he brings a distinctly people-led approach to leadership. “I’m a people person and that has shaped my career from the very beginning,” he says. “Hospitality is about making people happy, and that has been deeply rewarding. What drew me in even more was watching the industry evolve—from a simple trade into a multi-bil- lion-dollar global business.”

His journey with IHG began in 2005 at InterContinental Doha, marking the start of a steady rise through the group’s leadership ranks. By 2010, he had assumed the role of Director of Sales and Marketing at InterContinental Abu Dhabi, before going on to oversee commercial operations for IHG Hotels in Abu Dhabi in 2012. In 2016, he expanded his remit further, joining IHG Hotels at Dubai Festival City in a senior leadership capacity.

Most recently, he served as General Manager at Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park, leading an exemplary pre-opening phase that positioned the hotel as a vibrant, community-centric destination. Prior to this, he held the role of Cluster Hotel Manager at InterContinental Dubai Festival City Hotels, where he oversaw a large-scale, multi-brand hospitality complex encompassing more than 1,598 rooms, 10,000 square metres of event space, and 11 award-winning dining venues. In 2024, Tayoun earned a distinguished place on Hotelier Middle East’s GM Power List, was celebrated as a TOP 40 Hospitality Heavyweight 2024, and was shortlisted for the inaugural GM of the Year Award at the 2024 Hotelier Middle East Awards.

Taking the helm at InterContinental Abu Dhabi marks the pinnacle of his career to date—one shaped not only by professional achievement, but by deep personal connection. “I’m emotionally attached to this hotel—its legacy, its history, and its impact on the community and the people of Abu Dhabi. And having a plus-one in the form of our beautiful InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, only strengthens that bond,” he says.

“This area is private, luxury, and high-end. It’s where decision- making happens—where power sits. While much of Abu Dhabi’s financial activity has shifted toward ADGM, this is where governance remains: the palace, the ministries, ADNOC.”

The hotel is also known for its seven signature dining venues, including Fishmarket, the Michelin-selected Byblos Sur Mer, and Belgian Café. “Fishmarket is one of the oldest restaurants in Abu Dhabi. It has remained in the same location, under the same name, for 35 years—and for 28 of those years, it has been led by the same chef,” Tayoun says.

It is the loyalty of both employees and guests that Tayoun is most proud of. “When you’ve been in the market for a long time, guests come back year after year— some staying with us more than 200 nights annually,” he says. “ Others have been coming here for 30 or even 40 years. These guests are emotionally connected to the hotel; they know our team members.”

As he sets out to reinforce the position of InterContinental Abu Dhabi as one of Abu Dhabi’s leading hospitality institutions, Tayoun points to his most powerful asset—not bricks or branding, but people. “Understanding your team is everything. Being a General Manager is all about talent,” he concludes. “You cannot be an expert in every single thing. It’s massive. You manage a city, a complex system. So you need to have the ability to get the right people at the right place. In hospitality, people matter most. Social skills and emotional intelligence are what ultimately define success.”