EXCLUSIVE Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has selected Multiplex for the contract to build the AED450m ($122m) Westin Hotel at Abu Dhabi Golf Course.

Once the contract is awarded the Australian contractor will build a 148-room hotel with a conference centre overlooking Abu Dhabi Golf Course, which the hosts the annual Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Another Australian contractor was expected to build the hotel in 2008. The contracting joint venture established by TDIC and Gulf Leighton was preparing to build the hotel, but TDIC chose to dissolve that joint venture and tender the project in late 2008.

UK-based Turner & Townsend is the project manager. The architect is Chicago-based GREC Architects (MEED 4:12:08).

In August Multiplex won the AED1bn contract to build the Eastern Mangrove resort for TDIC. That project involves the construction of a 223-room resort, which also has a five-star hotel with conference facilities, shops and 129 apartments (MEED 7:8:09).

The development also includes a marina and quayside promenade with shopping areas and restaurants. Singapore’s Angsana Hotels & Resorts will manage the resort.

TDIC has appointed contractors for three hotel construction contracts this year. In May, the joint venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East) won the AED2bn ($545m) contract to build the St Regis resort.