Construction work has started on a 206-room five-star hotel at the $600-million (RO230 million) Saraya Bandar Jissah, an integrated tourism complex being developed on the outskirts of Muscat, Oman.

Leighton Middle East Contracting, the local arm of Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG), one of the leading diversified international contractors in the region, has been appointed to undertake the construction of the RO30-million ($78 million) hotel project.

HLG will be responsible for carrying out all civil works, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) work and finishes. This will also include infrastructure preparation and landscaping.

The resort hotel will feature world-class facilities and services such as a beachfront ballroom for weddings and events, spa, sports activities including a dive centre, and specialty restaurants offering various international cuisines.

The hotel project is part of Phase One of the development, which will also include a 110-room boutique hotel. The two five-star hotels, which will be managed by the Jumeirah Group, the luxury hotels and resorts operator, will together form the major leisure components of Saraya Bandar Jissah.

The scheduled delivery of the first phase of the project, which includes the hotels, the recreational facilities and three residential zones, is 2017.

Atkins is the supervisory consultant which will manage the progress of the construction work on site. The second phase, which consists of two residential zones, will be completed in 2020.

Saraya Bandar Jissah development, spread over 2.2 sq km, will also be home to 398 exclusive residential units, including spacious hilltop villas, stylish townhouses and luxury apartments.