R Hotels, the hospitality management division of the Ajman-based R Holding, has said it plans to develop a new 182-key hotel in Ajman.

Construction on the $41m project is expected to start in the third quarter of this year with completion expected in the first quarter of 2017.

The new hotel will be located next to the Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, which is also owned and managed by R Hotels.

In May, MEED reported that the UAE’s Public Works Ministry is focusing on connecting fast-growing, but smaller emirates such as Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman and Fujairah, which have lagged behind Abu Dhabi and Dubai for economic growth.

Tens of billions of dirhams are being invested in bringing the northern emirates up to speed with the already-developed urban areas.