The complex will house the 30,000 labourers who will work on the AED100bn ($27.7bn) Saadiyat island project.

Labour accommodation is a growing concern in Abu Dhabi, and developers are keen to avoid any unwanted criticism from human rights campaigners by providing good quality accommodation for those labourers working on their projects.

TDIC Leighton was formed last year by the Tourism Development & Investment Company and Australia's Leighton International to undertake various contracts on TDIC developments, including the 6.5-kilometre Saadiyat Link road, the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and the new TDIC headquarters being built adjacent to Maqta Bridge.