Dubai Gov't Plans $60B in Hotel, Airport Strategy

DUBAI-Government-owned Tatweer, a unit of Dubai Holding, has announced plans for a AED100-billion ($27.2-billion) hotel development project, named Bawadi, that officials say will become the largest hotel-strip construction in the world. The project will double the emirate’s hotel capacity and spearhead its drive to become a global tourism hub.

Bawadi, which will cover 10 km in the desert outskirts of Dubai, will comprise 31 hotels, including the world’s largest, to be known as Asia Asia. This will total 6,500 rooms, along with 11 other hotels offering a further 16,750 rooms. The entire project will create an extra 29,200 rooms.

Tatweer will manage the project and provide 40% of the AED100 billion ($27.2 billion) investment capital. The government hopes to raise the rest from regional and international investors.