Abu Dhabi and Qatar funds front-runners to acquire 42 Marriott hotels for $1 billion

Abu Dhabi and Qatar Sovereign wealth funds are front-runners to acquire 42 U.K.-based Marriott hotels for around $1 billion USD - the Wall Street Journal is reporting.

Press reports Sunday said the Qatar Investment Authority, which is working on a deal with Blue Coast, an Indian hotels chain, had outbid the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, but that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority believed it could execute the deal more quickly. The auction, which has been running for several months, is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

Qatar Investment Authority is listed in the Middle East Investors Directory with the code BD44. ADIA is listed with the code BD43.