Local developer Aabar Properties has invited selected companies to express interest in bidding for a contract to build a five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The project is located at the Saraya development on Abu Dhabi Island’s corniche. It involves building a hotel with five basement levels, four podium levels, 32 floors and four levels of services. The project manager is Australia’s Confluence.

In May, China State Construction Engineering Corporation signed an agreement with Aabar to develop $2bn of real estate projects in Abu Dhabi. Although the details of the projects were not disclosed, the Beijing-based contractor said funding for the projects will be provided by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Aabar is developing other major projects in the UAE capital. In late April, it awarded the local Arabtec Construction an estimated AED222m ($60m) contract to build a residential development on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island.

Aabar’s hotel project is the latest to be tendered in Abu Dhabi. In July, the local National Investment Corporation (NIC) invited companies to bid by 16 September for the contract to build its Fairmont hotel development next to the existing Marina Mall.

Known as the Fairmont Hotel and Serviced Apartments, the scheme involves building a 39-storey tower that includes 563 guest rooms, 144 serviced apartment units, 105 other apartments, 13 food and beverage outlets, a ballroom and conference rooms, a swimming pool and sports facilities. There will be underground and ground-level parking for 1,300 vehicles. The total built-up area of the project will be 160,000 square metres.