Arabtec Construction, a subsidiary of engineering and construction group Arabtec Holding PJSC, has been selected to undertake an AED5.7bn (US$1.55bn, €1.13bn, £930m) contract for construction of the Red Sea Astrarium, a themed entertainment resort in Aqaba, Jordan.

Developed by Red Sea Astrarium LP, the resort will be home to four leading international luxury hotels offering more than 2,000 rooms. These include a themed boutique hotel, a 5-star hotel, a family leisure hotel, and a hotel specialising in meetings and conferences.

The entertainment park will feature authentic and modern retail, dining and entertainment waterfronts overlooking a man-made lagoon and constituting the cultural and social hearts of the project.

The waterfronts will offer a range of attractions including a 4D cinema, Adventure Centre, Theatre, Water Park and a signature Star Trek immersive experience, the latter created in collaboration with Paramount Parks & Resorts and CBS Consumer Products.

Other elements of the park will include the 'Hijazi' and 'Hanging Gardens'; a water feature; and an centrepiece 'Summit' building, which will house eight different entertainment attractions.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2014, with the third quarter of 2017 targeted as the soft opening date.

Arabtec is currently working on two projects in Jordan: the St. Regis Amman hotel and phase one of Saraya Aqaba development. The latter project includes four international hotels managed by Jumeirah International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, as well as Souk Saraya, a beach club, offices, a convention centre and Wild Wadi water park.