Dubai Municipality has awarded a AED29m ($7.8m) contract for the construction of the Hatta Heritage Inn and Market project. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, has approved the project, which was awarded to a multinational company in Dubai.

Construction will start in early April and is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2015. 

Dubai Municipality will oversee the project, located on the main road between Hatta and Oman spanning an area of about 9,500 square metres.

The ground floor consists of 46 stores and three main restaurants in addition to prayer rooms and an administration office.

A multi-purpose exhibition hall and 32-room hotel are also included in the plans, with half of the hotel’s rooms overlooking the area’s wadi. From many of the hotel rooms, visitors can enjoy a view of the whole market through corridors that open directly to the market on the ground floor. Space for 100 cars will be provided around the market and a further special parking area is allocated for tourist buses.

The project also aims to develop a commercial complex for entertainment featuring a range of professions and traditional activities with a modern approach to reflect the spirit of the past and present, as well as creating a heritage landmark and prominent tourist attraction in Hatta.