A Dh20 million astronomical observatory will be built in Dubai by the second half of 2016, Dubai Municipality said on Monday.

The project, named Thuraya, has been initiated on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Work on the project, which will be based in Mushrif Park, will start in July. It will not only allow visitors to observe heavenly bodies and phenomena but also serve as a learning and training platform for those interested in astronomy, said Hussain Lootah, Dubai Municipality's Director-General.

The observatory will be 100 per cent compliant with green building standards and will be regarded as a major tourism and educational project, Lootah added.

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who is the chairman of the municipality, has approved the Dh20 million tender for the project.

The project consists of a main building with two upper floors. The ground floor will include a lobby, galleries, a multipurpose hall, cafeteria, and shops. The first floor will house exhibition halls, an open auditorium and management offices. The second floor will support the telescope and the moving dome.