The Saraya Aqaba project will see the construction of: six five-star hotels with more than 1,400 rooms; an aquarium; a 4,000-square-metre convention centre for 1,200 delegates; luxury residences and townhouses; two souks; a health club; restaurants; and related facilities. The development will have a total built-up area of 648,000 square metres and will also involve the construction of a man-made lagoon on the site at the Gulf of Aqaba.

On-site construction work is scheduled to start in November and is due to be completed in January 2009. California-based Phil Hettema & Associatesis the architect and masterplanner; the local 2K Project Architectswill assist in design development.

Masar is also involved in the construction of a $40 million four-star, 300-room hotel on the Tala Bay project being developed by Amman-based Zara Investment Holding Company (Zara- MEED 11:11:05).