Dubai’s Nakheel awards $50m construction contract for Avani Ibn Battuta hotel

Dubai real estate developer Nakheel has awarded an Dhs184.5m ($50.2m) construction contract for a hotel at its Ibn Battuta Mall.

The company said it had selected Dubai-based Parkway International Contracting to construct the 375-room property, which will by Thailand’s Minor Hotels under the Avani brand.

Read: Dubai’s Nakheel signs deal for Avani hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall

The Dhs240m hotel will feature an all-day restaurant, pool, gym and car park.

It will be the second Nakheel hotel directly connected to the mall after the opening of the 372-room Premier Inn last year.

Read: Nakheel opens first hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall

Nakheel completed the first phase of an expansion to Ibn Battuta in 2016 with the opening of a 300,000-square-foot-extension and metro link.

A second phase is now underway to add to the mall’s 400 shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets.

The Avani hotel will be adjacent to the new metro link.

Read: Asia’s hospitality king: Minor Hotels CEO William Heinecke

Nakheel has 16 other hotels and serviced apartment complexes planned over the coming years including a Premier Inn at Dragon City, St Regis property at the Palm Tower, Palm 360, Doubletree hotel at Jumeirah Village Triangle, RIU beachfront resort at Deira Islands and Centara beachfront resort and waterpark at Deira Islands.