The Dubai-based luxury hotel group Jumeirah is planning to have at least 10 hotels in China in the next three years, local Gulf News paper reported on Wednesday.

Jumeirah's development plans in China are part of its expansion strategy in Asia to create a geographically balanced portfolio, according to the report. The group currently manages 10 hotels in Dubai, London and New York.

"We are looking all over Asia for new developments but China is a key market. Two-thirds of our 16 hotels in Asia will be in China," the group's vice-president for sales Tricia Warwick was quoted as saying.

Jumeirah has so far three confirmed projects in China's Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The 338-room Han Tang Shanghai is scheduled to open in mid-2008.

The group is also looking to open new hotels in Indonesia, Japan and India and will open a regional office in Singapore in March 2008 to oversee its development in the region.

Jumeirah is part of Dubai Holding, which is owned by Dubai Government. Its portfolio includes the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, the world's tallest all-suite hotel.