Dubai’s Emaar Properties has announced it is planning to build a cultural district next to its Burj Khalifa development in the Downtown Dubai area.

The cultural area will contain a modern art museum, an opera house and other cultural facilities. The Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District will also contain two hotels, studios and leisure facilities.

Emaar Properties developed the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building, and the adjacent Dubai Mall.

The cultural district is part of Dubai’s efforts to expand its cultural infrastructure. In addition to Emaar’s plans, the emirate is also planning a AED50m expansion of the Alserkal Avenue in the Al-Quoz area of the city. The planned expansion will involve building another 62 units to add to the Alserkal Avenue’s existing 39 units, half of which are currently used for cultural purposes.

Neighbouring emirate Abu Dhabi is planning to build five museums at the cultural district on its $27bn Saadiyat Island development. The 2.4 million square-metre cultural district will contain five museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, a performing arts centre and a maritime museum.