Dubai International Capital (DIC) is the latest suitor believed to be courting budget hotel chain Travelodge as its owner, private equity group Permira, ponders its future.
DIC, the international investment arm of Dubai Holding and HSBC Bank, bought the Madame Tussaud's business in London last year for £800m ($1.5b).
It is one of a handful of companies thought to have made informal approaches to Travelodge while Permira and investment bank UBS review a number of options for the hotel chain.
They include a sale, flotation, a management buyout or refinancing.
Other interested parties include private equity company BC Partners, Starwood Capital of the USA and rival hotel operators Accor and
Whitbread.