Chinese authorities are planning to construct a “seven-star hotel” in western Beijing’s Mentougou district, about 30 kilometers from the Chinese capital center, in a $1.3 billion joint project with Saudi Arabia.

The new hotel will be modeled on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, a report on Thursday by state-run Beijing Morning Post said quoting a local parliamentary meeting.

An AFP report also cited an unnamed district official confirming the project and its price tag.

The hotel building’s design will be modeled on the 828-meter Burj Khalifa’s slender, tapering design, the paper said, but did not indicate how tall the structure will be.

Saudi Arabia will bear the entire expenses of construction.

There are a handful of luxury hotels around the world that use the ‘seven-star ’ classification although it is not recognized internationally as all formal body awards ratings only up to five stars. Only Burj Al Arab in Dubai and Pangu 7 Star Hotel near the Olympic stadium in Beijing claim this rating.

The Mentougou project has been announced at a time when China is striving hard to crack down on high-end land development and use more land for affordable housing even as Chinese are discontented over soaring property prices.

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