Master developer Nakheel and Spains RIU Hotels & Resorts have signed a contract worth AED385mn for the construction of their 800-room, joint venture beachfront resort and water park at Deira Islands in Dubai.
Set for delivery in 2019, the resort, which has a total investment value of AED670mn, will be built by Bin Ladin Contracting Group Dubai, chosen from a shortlist of 10 contractors who bid for the project. Construction will be completed in two years.
Nakheel has now awarded almost AED8bn worth of infrastructure and construction contracts at Deira Islands, with more on the way.
Under the joint venture, Nakheel and RIU Hotels & Resorts will deliver a new hospitality concept for Dubai, offering mid-scale, family-orientated, all-inclusive beachfront accommodation. The resort, RIUs first in the Middle East, will be one of Dubais biggest in terms of hotel rooms.
Nakheel chairman, Ali Rashid Lootah, said: Today marks a key milestone for the Nakheel Hospitality, Deira Islands and Dubai. Our first international joint venture will bring a new dimension to Dubais hospitality offering by providing a new concept in accommodation and attracting a new market segment to the emirate. The RIU resort at Deira Islands is a shining example of our commitment to delivering a diverse range of tourism-related projects that will help the government achieve it’s 2020 tourism targets, and I look forward to seeing this exciting resort come to fruition.
Joan Trian, RIUs financial director, said: Today we are a step closer to the opening of our first hotel in Dubai. We are sure that our loyal clients will want to explore the new offerings of the city with us, and we look forward to attracting new customers to our joint venture hotel, too. Nakheel has proven to be the best partner for our entry into the Middle East market, and we hope it is the first of other projects to come. In fact, this is a great step forward in our long-term expansion strategy in the Middle East and South East Asia.
Located on a prime beachfront plot at Nakheels new, 15.3 sq km Deira Islands coastal city, the resort features seven food and beverage outlets, three swimming pools, a fitness complex, childrens club and water park. Deira Islands, which is expected to have a population of 250,000 and to create 80,000 jobs, will add 40km of coastline to Dubai.