Dubai: Bawadi, a member of Tatweer, yesterday announced that it will double its investment in its mammoth ten-kilometre tourism strip under construction on the outskirts of Dubai to Dh200 billion.

With the increased investment, the number of hotels in the project will increase from 31 to 51, more than doubling the number of hotel rooms from 29,000 to 60,000, according to Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman of Tatweer.

Tatweer, a part of Dubai Holding - an investment arm of Dubai government - said in a statement yesterday that Bawadi is increasing the investments as a result of a directive from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"The Bawadi expansion is in line with Dubai's strategic plan 2015, with the tourism sector set to contribute 11 per cent in annual growth to achieve a GDP of $108 billion by 2015," said Mohammad Al Gergawi, executive chairman of Dubai Holding, in a statement.

The decision comes close on the heels of the recent launch of the world's largest shopping area, with more than 40 million square feet of gross leaseable area within the mega-project.

"Doubling the investment will secure Bawadi's position as a must-visit destination for tourists. The increase in both hotels and rooms will ensure that Dubai's hospitality industry can meet the projected demand," said Gergawi.

When completed, Bawadi will have the highest concentration of hotels linked with the biggest shopping area in the world.

Bawadi is also part of Dubai's multi-billion dirham tourism project, Dubailand, which will have a number of Las Vegas-style hotels and Disneyland-type theme parks, including the recently announced Universal Studios.

Bawadi, launched in May 2006, is the world's largest hospitality and leisure development that will include the world's biggest shopping area and the world's biggest hotel, Asia Asia.

As the centrepiece of Bawadi, the hotel will provide 6,500 rooms, combining 5,100 four star and an additional 1,400 five star rooms.

Asia-Asia will be a part of the first phase of development, which includes spending of Dh12 billion by Tatweer in hotel and infrastructure, and will be completed by 2010.