Local developer Nakheel and Spanish hospitality company Riu Hotels and Resorts have appointed Lebanon’s Dar al-Handasah to oversee the design, engineering and construction supervision of a AED900m ($245m) project in Dubai.

The contract will see Dar al-Handasah work on a four-star hotel, which will have 800 rooms and a waterpark. The scheme will be close to the Deira mall and Deira Islands Night Souq.

Building work started on Deira Islands last year. In October, Nakheel awarded a AED1.17bn deal to the local United Engineering Construction (UNEC) for the Night Souq and Boardwalk.

The souq will stretch almost 2 kilometres along Deira Islands’ waterfront, and feature 5,300 shops and nearly 100 quayside cafes and restaurants.

In June 2015, Nakheel awarded Van Oord of the Netherlands a two-year AED387m contract to deliver 23.5km of coastline and breakwaters at Deira Islands.