Work is under way to transform the foothills of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain into a tourist resort.

The area will have a Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet hotel, a golf course, and a planetarium. The Mercure is run by the Accor hotel chain and had a soft opening on July 15 with 30 rooms and two executive suites.

When it is fully operational, the hotel will have 115 double rooms and nine suites. Each double room is connected with a twin room. The Jebel Hafeet hotel, the first Mercure in the UAE, has five outlets and conference facilities to seat 250 people.

The main project, handled by the Al Ain Economic Development and Tourism Authority, calls for the construction of the resort and golf club with related facilities.

The golf club will have an 18-hole course and nine-hole short course. The surrounding Wadi Al Mubazzarah area will feature facilities such as mineral springs, rock pools, cable-way and a conference and media centre.