The UAE-based Belhoul Group and the leading international French group Accor will build and manage the region's first wellness and thalassotherapy resort to be located on The Palm, Jumeirah.

The five-star 400-room resort will be located on the second plot of The Palm's trunk and will occupy a site of 20,000 sq m.

Belhoul and Accor executives stressed the synergy between the two groups and their complementary skills and resources.

Faisal Belhoul, CEO of Belhoul cited Accor's vast experience and its network of hotels and travel agencies, while Christophe Landais, Accor's regional director highlighted Belhoul's position as one of the leading health/wellness providers in the UAE.

Ground breaking for the multi-million dollar resort is planned for the third quarter of this year and it is due to open by the end of 2005.