Dubai: US hotel chain Starwood has signed an agreement with property developer Dubai Properties to open four new hotels in Dubai under its Aloft and Elements brands, according to a statement on Tuesday.

The hotels, which are set to open in 2018, will feature 816 rooms altogether.

Starwood has announced 11 mid-range hotel deals year to date, representing roughly 50 per cent of its Middle East pipeline.

Dubai is focusing on the development of mid-scale hotels ahead of Expo 2020, a six-month trade fair that is expected to attract 25 million visitors.