City of Dreams launches in Colombo: South Asia’s first integrated luxury resort
City of Dreams, spread over 4.5 million sq ft, comprises 800 rooms and suites (a 687-room luxury hotel ‘Cinnamon Life’ and a 113-room, ultra-luxury hotel under Melco’s ‘Nüwa’ brand)
Luxury has got a new name and address in Colombo: City of Dreams. Located in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital and overlooking the Indian Ocean, it comprises a world-class casino, two luxurious hotels, a premium shopping mall, and more, redefining the city’s place not only on the South Asian but also on the global tourism map.
A joint venture between Sri Lanka’s biggest conglomerate, John Keells Holdings PLC and Melco Resorts & Entertainment, the over $1.2 billion development is South Asia’s first fully integrated resort and the country’s largest private sector investment in luxury lifestyle to date. The resort brings together world-class hospitality, upscale retail, immersive entertainment, and cutting-edge MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) infrastructure in one destination.
Unveiled on Saturday, City of Dreams, spread over 4.5 million sq ft, comprises 800 rooms and suites (a 687-room luxury hotel ‘Cinnamon Life’ and a 113-room, ultra-luxury hotel under Melco’s ‘Nüwa’ brand), facilities designed to host business events and conventions, a state-of-the-art casino and entertainment zone operated by Melco, a premium shopping and lifestyle promenade, curated dining experiences, and spaces for international performances and cultural showcase.
Premier destination
In his speech, Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the over 150-year-old John Keells Group, said, “This is not just about buildings. It is about building confidence. It is about rewriting narratives – that Sri Lanka is a place of opportunity. It is about showing the world – and ourselves – that we can compete, we can lead, and we can dream big again… The scale of this development sends a strong message to global investors – Sri Lanka is open, stable, and investable.”
Designed by James Balmond, Creative Director of Balmond Studio, City of Dreams capitalises on Sri Lanka’s location and growing tourism demand. It is positioned to drive a surge in international arrivals, particularly from South Asia, establishing Colombo as a premier MICE destination. Once fully operational, it will serve as a catalyst for economic growth, enhance foreign exchange earnings and generate over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. It is also expected to have a cascading effect on demand for local products, services, and supply chains.
Expected to boost tourism
Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, said, “Sri Lanka is perfectly positioned as a gateway to key feeder markets, including India, China and Russia, with India in particular showing tremendous growth in its affluent middle and upper classes. Sri Lanka has the chance to be to India what Macau is to China. By leveraging our global network of properties and expertise, we aim to attract high-value international travellers seeking world-class experiences.”
Melco’s businesses include the flagship integrated entertainment resort City of Dreams in Macau, home to ultra luxury hotel Morpheus, the world’s largest water-based show House of Dancing Water, the cinematically themed resort Studio City, the Forbes 5-star luxury hotel Altira Macau, and Mocha Clubs, which house the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. Melco also operates the City of Dreams Manila in the Philippines and the City of Dreams Mediterranean in the Republic of Cyprus, the largest integrated casino resort in Europe.
City of Dreams to spark luxury lifestyle movement
City of Dreams is more than a resort; it aims to drive a lifestyle movement, setting benchmarks for luxury, sustainability and community engagement, redefining Sri Lanka’s tourism narrative. As Krishan Balendra said in his speech, “City of Dreams is not just for this generation – but for the next.”
Published on August 2, 2025
