Underwater start

Dubai: Construction of Dubai's US$ 500 million underwater hotel is expected to get underway this month (February).

The hotel will be formed in two connected sections. The shallow section will be built on the seabed and surrounded by specially stocked fish tanks. The floating deep water section will be tethered to the seabed and guests will directly view the natural sea environment.

The hotel, which has been designed and developed by former German Aerospace administrator Joachim Hauser, is due for completion in late 2008.