Abu Dhabi-based National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCTH) plans to invest nearly Dh35 million ($9.52 million) into key projects including the development of the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi and a Lebanese restaurant and spa.

NCTH said the expansions would be completed in the fourth quarter and would largely contribute to upgrading services for visitors from the UAE, the other GCC countries, and the whole world.

“The NCTH has already completed some key projects to add five-star entertainment facilities to the Intercontinental Hotel to match the tourism boom in the emirate,” remarked its chairman Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Sheikh Hamdan said the projects include a high-standard spa, a family beach and the premises for the planned Lebanese restaurant overlooking the Marina.

“We are committed to supporting hospitality services in Abu Dhabi and the whole UAE…these projects are intended to cater for the growing tourism services in the emirate,” he added.

Another NCTH official said the Lebanese restaurant will be named Byblos Sur Mer and it will be inaugurated in the last quarter of this year.

“This restaurant will serve traditional Lebanese food which will be prepared by the best chefs from Lebanon,” said Walid Nicolas Harouni, the director of Hotels Division at NCTH.

He noted that originally Byblos was the commercial capital of the Phoenician coast and that it has lots of history. "A historic name like Byblos Sur Mer projects into the mind of the consumer the roots of Phoenicians and Lebanese food," remarked Harouni.

The restaurant includes four main areas: The Stayha - ground floor (outdoor terrace dining), the Sofra (inside dining), the Narghileh - the first floor Shisha area and the Dekeneh – shops at the entrance. It will also have a parking space of 166 cars and 4 VIP parking at the entrance for 4 cars.

“Byblos Sur Mer celebrates both tradition and modernity in its design & atmosphere…on entering the clients walk past a Dekeneh (retail specialty shops)….the Stayha (outdoor ground floor terrace) overlooks the water,” he added.

"Stahya will be able to accommodate 80 persons, while 150 persons can be seated in the Sofra and 50 in the Nargileh," he added.-TradeArabia News Service