The Conference Palace Hotel is tipped to become the biggest hotel conference centre in the Middle East when it is completed in 2004, say its architects and designers.

The hotel, which will be completed in time to host the GCC summit in Abu Dhabi, is created by London-based architects and designers Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) in association with the international offices of KEOIC and Turner International.

WATG's senior vice president, John Elliott, said the landmark design is "culturally sensitive to the styles and traditions that reflect its Abu Dhabi location" and "the highest quality conference hotel ever built".

The result will be a spectacular guest palace with residential accommodation for 22 heads of state, 300 luxurious guestrooms and suites, the region's largest conference facilities, as well as support facilities for 1,200 delegates, 10-12 restaurants, a sports facility, spa, business centre and a range of entertainment options.

Set in an 84-hectare beachfront park on the north-western tip of Abu Dhabi island, the Conference Palace Hotel is the first example of grand civic building in the UAE.

"It is particularly fitting that such a centre should be located in the green city of Abu Dhabi and inspired by its well-respected leader, Shaikh Zayed," said Elliott.

The design of the Conference Palace Hotel blends traditional materials and motifs with the latest technology. Modern techniques of etching and casting allow traditional patterns to become an integral part of the facade design.

In a region where dust is a continual maintenance problem, the building's exterior of marble, granite and stone includes self-cleaning coated glass spandrels and balcony fronts. Similarly, the building's spectacular central rotunda, surmounted by a 40-m dome, is of very high-grade corrosion-proof stainless steel, which also has a chemically bonded self-cleaning coating.

WATG project architect Jeremy Heyes, underscores the technical sophistication employed throughout the project, both inside and out.

"Whether in the audio visual facilities, the ventilation and cooling, public safety and security, we are using the best quality equipment from around the world," he said.

Since opening its London office in 1990, WATG's design influence has spread throughout Europe and the Middle East, offering an alternative approach to 'modern' architecture based on cultural heritage and local identity.