Baghdad  - A Kuwaiti company will build a 40 million-dollar tourist hotel in the Iraqi southern province of Dhi Qar, according to the province's investment authority Wednesday.

Ismail al-Aboudi, director of the investment authority, told the Voices of Iraq news agency that the Kuwaiti firm "received a permit to set up a five-star hotel of international standards during a ceremony held at the Businessmen's Union Hall".

The six-story hotel, to be established on an area of 14,000 square metres, is expected to be finished after 30 months. dpa