Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) signed an agreement with Bermuda-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to manage a new resort on Saadiyat Island.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences is scheduled to open in 2013 and will have 160 guest rooms, 35 serviced apartments and 50 other residences.

The hotel’s facilities will include a spa, six restaurants and bars, meeting and banqueting rooms, a private beach club, gym and swimming pool.

The resort will be built adjacent to the Saadiyat Beach Golf Course.

In August 2009, a joint venture of South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East) and the local Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises started work on the AED1.8bn ($490m) St Regis resort on Saadiyat Island (MEED 26:7:09).