Four teams are understood to be in the running for the contract. They are: the local AA Nass, with South Africa's Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East); the local Cebarco,with Australia's Multiplex; Cyprus-based GP Zachariades (GPZ - Overseas),with France's Bouygues; and the local Charilaos Apostolides, with an unidentified Korean company. Construction is officially scheduled to begin on 1 May, but this deadline appears ambitious as the designs have not been completed. The UK's WS Atkinsis the project manager.

The new project joins a number of hotel developments and expansions planned in the kingdom. Gulf Hotel and the Radisson Diplomat both recently announced extension plans. Ossis Property Developers, the company behind Amwaj Islands, is in negotiations with a number of local and international operators to manage luxury hotels on the resort (MEED 9:1:04).