A joint venture of Australia’s Roberts Constructions and Italy’s Pizzarotti has started work on the construction of the Dorchester Collection project for local developer Omniyat in the Marasi district of Dubai’s Business Bay.

The project involves the construction of two connecting towers of about 25-30 storeys in height. The towers include hotel rooms, serviced apartments as well as food and beverage outlets, retail space and parking.

The UK’s Foster + Partners is the architect for the project.

Last year, Omniyat has signed a AED500m ($136m) financing agreement with Ajman Bank for the development of a mixed-use project at Dubai Water Canal in Business Bay.

Without naming the project, it said in a statement at the time that the total project cost is AED1.34bn and it will be launched during the first quarter of 2018, with completion scheduled for 2020.

Developers have been busy launching projects on the Dubai Water Canal, which was completed in 2016.

The project involved extending the waterway in Business Bay out the Gulf. The construction work comprised of excavation, quay walls, and bridges taking Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Beach Road, and Al-Wasl Road over the new waterway.