Dubai-based master developer Nakheel has released construction tenders for new hotels at Dragon City and Ibn Battuta Mall, adding another 670 rooms to its rapidly-growing hospitality portfolio.

Nakheel will build a 295-room hotel at Dragon City, home of the world-famous Dragon Mart retail and trading hub, featuring the one-million-sq-ft Dragon Mart 2 shopping, dining and entertainment complex, which opened in February.

The developer will also create a 15-storey, 375-room hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall, where a 300,000-sq-ft extension opened in May.

The three-star hotels – due for completion in 2017 – complement existing hotels at the two retail hubs, where further major expansions continue.  Nakheel opened a 251-room Accor-operated ibis Styles hotel at Dragon Mart 2 in February, while its 372-room Premier Inn at Ibn Battuta will open in Q4 this year.

With a built-up area of over 180,000 sq ft, the new Dragon City hotel will feature a restaurant, coffee shop and gym, while the 280,000-sq-ft establishment at Ibn Battuta, located by the Metro entrance, will have an all-day restaurant, gym and pool deck.

The Dragon City expansion comprises a 2.2 million sq ft retail component, two residential towers containing 1,120 apartments and a multi-story car park with 6,200 spaces. Once complete, it will bring the size of Dragon City to more than 11 million sq ft.

Ibn Battuta’s 4.7 million sq ft expansion features a one million sq ft mall with glass-covered courtyard, a new cinema complex and a 7,000-space multi-storey car park.

Nakheel also has hotels under development at Palm Jumeirah and Deira Islands, with more in the pipeline.

Nakheel’s master developments include Palm Jumeirah, The World, Deira Islands, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Heights, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Warsan Village, Dragon City, International City, Jebel Ali Gardens and Nad Al Sheba Community.

Together, these span more than 15,000 hectares and currently provide homes for over 270,000 people. Nakheel has nearly 21,000 residential units under construction or in the pipeline.

Nakheel’s current and future retail project portfolio covers more than 15 million sq ft of leasable space. Retail destination developments include Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart 1 and 2, Nakheel Mall, The Pointe, The Golden Mile, Deira Mall, Deira Islands Night Souk, Warsan Souk, Al Khail Avenue, The Circle Mall and major extensions to Dragon Mart (renamed Dragon City) and Ibn Battuta Mall. Nakheel also has several neighbourhood community centres in operation or under development. – TradeArabia News Service