Oman-based developer The Wave expects to tender the contract to build the new Kempinski hotel on its Wave development near Muscat by the end of this year.

 “The project is currently in the prequalification stage and we expect to tender contract by the end of the year,” said Michael Lenarduzzi, chief executive officer, The Wave.

The Kempinski will have 350 rooms with suites and business and leisure facilities. The development is expected to open in the first quarter of 2013.

The mixed-use Wave project is being developed through a joint venture of UAE-based Majid al-Futtaim (MAF) and the Omani government.

This $3bn scheme, located on the coast at Muscat, covers an area of 2.2 million square metres and includes 4,000 residential properties, four hotels, a 400-berth marina and retail facilities. The development will also include an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman.

The Kempinski project is one of a number of hotels the sultanate is planning to build as part of its strategy to diversify its economy and expand its tourism sector

On 16 August the Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) received bids from 15 groups for the contract to build the new Crowne Plaza Hotel resort in Duqm. (MEED 26:8:10)

Spanish contractor Assignia Infraestructuras submitted the lowest bid with a price of RO16.4m ($42.7m).

This is 1.8 per cent lower than the OR16.7m price submitted by the local Galfar Engineering & Contracting Company, the second lowest bidder. The Indian firm Larsen & Toubro submitted the third lowest bid with a price of RO16.8m.

The resort, which will be built on the sultanate’s Arabian Sea coastline, will have 228 rooms, including 11 executive suites and six smaller suites.