Dubai’s hospitality sector is racing towards the finish line ahead of the Expo 2020 in Dubai, seeking to accommodate the expected influx of visitors, The National reported.

Approximately 183 projects and 54,000 rooms are currently being constructed in the UAE, The National reported, quoting a research company in Germany.

Next year, 56 hotels are projected to open, while 58 additional hotels are expected to be ready in 2018, the company said.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi control the lion’s share of such properties among all emirates, with Dubai presenting 131 hotels, expected to include 41,133 rooms, while Abu Dhabi has 24 hotels that include 6,486 rooms. Sharjah follows with six projects consisting of 959 rooms, while Ras Al Khaimah has launched five projects to include 1,847 rooms.

Additionally, Dubai is taking a leap through the establishment of mid-scale hotels by abolishing municipality taxes, with a view obtaining construction permits for these by December 2018.

A staggering AED 120 billion is expected to go for new developments in Dubai’s hospitality and retail sectors as well as the airport, according to Euromonitor International.