Project Watch
01 June 2010
Project in the Gulf.
BAHRAIN
Bahrain Science and Technology Park
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: $1 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 2-million-sq-m science and technology park in the south of Bahrain to provide information, services, studies and research that deals with learning, training and environmental issues.
Update: The project is still in the early stages of study.
Diyar Al Muharraq – Phase One – 1,200 Residential Units
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: $600 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 1,200 residential units that will form part of Diyar Al Muharraq development in Bahrain. The project will also include the associated facilities.
Update: Tenders are still to be issued for the main contract.
North Bahrain New Town (NBNT) – Phase One
Owner: Bahrain’s Ministry of Works
Budget: $500 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 1,500 housing units of a total of 15,000 housing units to be built at North Bahrain New Town (NBNT) development.
Update: Construction work is expected to start this month.
Diyar Al Muharraq – Phase One – Infrastructure
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: $400 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of water, electricity and sewerage networks and internal roads and bridges for the 6-sq-km first phase of the Diyar Al Muharraq mixed-use development.
Update: Tenders are still to be issued for the main contract.
Energy Tower
Owner: Bahrain National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga)
Budget: $378 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 50-storey tower that will be the headquarters for Bahrain National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga). The tower, which will occupy an 11,000 sq m plot, will use solar technology to generate power.
Update: The project is still under design. Construction work is expected to start in September.
Bahrain Financial Harbour – Northern Residential Complex
Owner: Omniyat Properties – Investate Realty JV
Budget: $300 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of Northern Residential Complex located at Bahrain Financial Harbour in Manama. The project will include residential and commercial facilities.
Update: Sources indicate that Omniyat Properties and Investate Realty have launched the Northern Residential Complex in Bahrain Financial Harbour.
Diyar Al Muharraq – Phase One – Dredging & Reclamation – Stage One
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: $203 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the dredging and placement of 35 million cu m of marine borrow material to reclaim 6 million sq m of the mixed-use Diyar Al Muharraq development. The project will be located north of Bahrain airport in Muharraq.
Update: About 95 per cent of construction work is complete.
Diyar Al Muharraq – Phase One – Dredging & Reclamation – Stage Two
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: $190 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the dredging and placement of 45 million cu m of marine borrow material to reclaim 6 million sq m of the mixed-use Diyar Al Muharraq development. The project will be located north of Bahrain airport in the Muharraq.
Update: About 45 per cent of the reclamation work is complete.
Isa Town Interchange Upgrade
Owner: Bahrain Ministry of Works
Budget: $135 million
Scope of work: The project calls for upgrading Isa Town Gate Roundabout to an 1.8-km three-level interchange with a traffic light under the flyover and on top of the underpass.
Update: Nass Contracting was awarded the contract after a deal with Sungwon was cancelled.
King Hamad General Hospital
Owner: Ministry of Works and Housing – Ministry of Health
Budget: $130 million
Scope of work: The project involves the design and construction of a 312-bed hospital in Muharraq. It comprises three interconnected, four-storey blocks and a car-parking space that will be able to accommodate 950 vehicles. The hospital will cover an area of 227,000 sq m.
Update: About 98.5 per cent of construction work is complete.
KUWAIT
Kuwait Metro
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Communications
Budget: $11.3 billion
Scope of work: Kuwait metro will be built across the inner city of Kuwait and will be linked to the new Kuwait rail network. It involves the construction of a 165-km metro network. It will consist of four lines: Line One of the Kuwait Metropolitan RTS will be 23.7-km long with 19 stations; Line Two will be 21-km long with 27 stations; Line Three will be 24 km with 15 stations; and Line Four will be 22.7-km long. An extension of 57.3 km will be made on Line One and another one of 16.4 km on Line Two. About 65 per cent of the network will have to be underground.
Update: A tender for the 135-km line that will link to the GCC rail is expected to be issued by the middle of this year following completion of a review of technical and commercial documents.
Bubiyan Island Development – Phase Three (Seaport) – 36 Berths
Owner: Mega Projects Agency (MPA)
Budget: $11 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for expanding the seaport on Bubiyan Island by 36 new berths (from 24 to 60).
Update: The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is evaluating technical bids and expects to award Stage One of the seaport (four berths) this month. The MPW is also in talks with the Ministry of Energy to secure power for the seaport on Bubiyan Island.
Kuwait Railway
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Communications
Budget: $10.5 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the establishment of a rapid transit network within Kuwait on a design, build and operate (DBO) basis. The network will be linked to the national rail system with two new lines. The first track will run from the port city of Umm Qasr in Iraq on the northern border to Qasr on the border with Saudi Arabia in the south. The second line will run west from Kuwait City to the Saudi border at Salemy. A series of spur lines from these tracks will link the ports of Shuwaikh and Shuaiba, while a further branch will connect to Bubiyan Island. The project aims to link the GCC states to Europe.
Update: Tenders for the 135-km line that will link to the GCC rail are expected to be issued in the middle of the year following the completion of a review of the technical and commercial documents.
Bubiyan Island Development – Phase One – Stage Two (Seaport) – 12 Berths
Owner: Mega Projects Agency (MPA)
Budget: $3.6 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for expanding the seaport on Bubiyan Island by 12 new berths (from four to 16).
Update: The Ministry of Public Works is evaluating technical bids and expects to award Stage One of the seaport (four berths) this month. The ministry is also in talks with the Ministry of Energy to secure power for the seaport on Bubiyan Island.
Kuwait Railway – GCC Link
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Communications
Budget: $3.5 billion
Scope of work: The build, operate and transfer (BOT) project calls for a 135-km rail between Sulaibiya and Nuwaiseeb at the Saudi border. The line will connect the Kuwait national rail network to the GCC rail network.
Update: Tenders for the 135-km line that will link to the GCC rail is expected to be issued in the middle of the year following the completion of a review of the technical and commercial documents.
Bubiyan Island Development – Phase Two (Seaport) – 8 Berths
Owner: Mega Projects Agency (MPA)
Budget: $2.4 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for expanding the seaport on Bubiyan Island by eight new berths (from 16 to 24).
Update: The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is evaluating technical bids and expects to award Stage One of the seaport (four berths) this month. The MPW is also in talks with the Ministry of Energy to secure power for the seaport on Bubiyan Island.
Bubiyan Island Development – Phase One – Stage Two (Seaport) – 4 Berths
Owner: Mega Projects Agency (MPA)
Budget: $1.2 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a container terminal, four berths and a quay wall as part of the Bubiyan Island Development. The development also includes port buildings and utilities, digging and soil improvement works and site levelling.
Update: The Ministry of Public Works is evaluating technical bids and expects to award the contract this month. It is also in talks with the Ministry of Energy to secure power for the seaport on Bubiyan Island.
New University City in Shadadiyah (Sabah Al Salem University) – Infrastructure
Owner: Kuwait University
Budget: $690 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of campus infrastructure over an area of 6 million sq m, which will include a 15-km ring road, 6 km of tunnels, landscaping components and earthworks.
Update: Heisco has been awarded an $18-million contract as the starting package of the infrastructure. The contract is 24 months.
Shuaiba Port Expansion
Owner: Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA)
Budget: $500 million
Scope of work: The project calls for expanding Shuaiba port with the construction of new berths and increasing the depth and length of existing berths. The scope has two alternatives. Alternative A includes increasing depths of berth Six from 10.5 m to 18 m and berths Seven and Eight from 12.5 m to 18 m; increasing depths of berths Four and Five from 7.5 m to 18 m with 5 m extension seaward; increasing the depths of berths Nine and 10 from 14 m to 18 m; construction of new berths on the opposite side of berths 12, 13 and 14 seawards; and increasing the length of berth 20 by 120 m and depth to 18 m. Alternative B includes increasing depths of berths Seven and Eight from 12.5 m to 18 m; construction of new 18-m-deep berths of parallel to berths Six, Seven and Eight seawards; and construction of new berths of 18-m depth parallel to berths 12, 13 and 14 seawards.
Update: It is understood that the Ministry of Finance is pre-qualifying consultants.
Bubiyan Island Development – Phase One – Stage One (Infrastructure)
Owner: Mega Projects Agency (MPA)
Budget: $440 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 34-km-long road from the planned port’s location on the east side of Bubiyan to Khor Subiya in the west. The scope of work also includes a 1.4-km-long, three-lane road and land bridge from Subiya to Bubiyan, about 4 million cu m of landfill, soil treatment works and railway embankment.
Update: The Ministry of Public Works is in talks with the Ministry of Energy to secure power for the seaport on Bubiyan Island.
OMAN
Muscat International Airport Expansion (Seeb) – Phase One – Civil Works Package
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: $1.67 billion
Scope of work: The expansion will involve the construction of a 4.3-km runway, several taxiways, an apron, and seven bridges and roads. Muscat airport will cater for the more populated northern Oman region and the capital Muscat. The airport will have a capacity of 12 million passengers a year.
Update: Completion has been delayed to 2014 due to a change in the scope of works.
The Wave Development – Phase Two
Owner: The Wave
Budget: $1 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of mixed-use facilities including four hotels, beach-front villas, condominium towers, retail components, restaurants and conference centre. The development will cover an area of 2.5 million sq m.
Update: The project is in the design stage.
Muscat International Airport Expansion (Seeb) – Phase One – Passenger Terminal Package
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: $900 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new passenger terminal with a total floor area of 290,000 sq m and associated utilities at Muscat International Airport in Seeb.
Update: Bids have been submitted for the main contract.
The Wave Development – Phase Two – Fairmont Hotel
Owner: The Wave
Budget: $300 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 300-room five-star hotel over an area of 45,000 sq m at The Wave development in Muscat.
Update: The client is preparing the tenders for the main contract.
The Wave Development – Phase Two – Kempinski Hotel
Owner: The Wave
Budget: $300 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 300-room five-star hotel at The Wave development in Muscat.
Update: The client is preparing the tenders for the main contract.
Ras Al Hadd Airport – Phase Three – Passenger Terminal
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: $125 million
Scope of work: Phase Three covers the construction of a 20,000-sq-m passenger terminal building, the concourse and the air traffic control (ATC) tower, the boarding bridges, the baggage handling and security systems and the fire-fighting facilities at Ras Al Hadd Airport.
Update: The tenders for the main contract are expected next year.
Ras Al Hadd Airport – Phase Two – Airside Infrastructure
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: $105 million
Scope of work: Phase Two covers the airside facilities, construction of the 4-km-long, 75-m-wide runway, the taxiway, the apron and the car-parking area at Ras Al Hadd Airport.
Update: Construction work has not started yet. Phase Two will take two years to complete.
The Wave Development – Phase One – Infrastructure
Owner: The Wave
Budget: $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of the underground utilities and above-ground civil work including water and sewerage systems, district cooling, drainage, causeways, road construction, power supply and distribution components.
Update: The construction work is in progress on the development.
Muscat International Airport Expansion (Seeb) – Phase One – Air Traffic Control Tower
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: $60 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 100-m-high air traffic control tower, an air traffic management centre, a data centre and other utilities to support the passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport.
Update: The main contract is still to be awarded.
The Wave Development – Golf Course
Owner: The Wave
Budget: $30 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of an 18-hole golf course, a country club equipped with sports, banquet and conference facilities, a golf academy and a driving range which will cover an area of 750,000 sq m.
Update: The nine-hole golf course is scheduled to complete by the year-end. The opening of the entire course is expected next year.
QATAR
New Doha Port – Phase One
Owner: Higher Committee for the Co-ordination & Pursuance Executive Council
Budget: $4.2 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of a 20-sq-km New Doha Port located on offshore land, approximately 5 km east of the new international airport. It includes five general cargo terminals and berths, four container terminals and berths.
Update: Bids have been submitted for the project.
Al Waab City
Owner: Al Waab Development Company
Budget: $3.2 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 1.25-million-sq-m of Al Waab City located along Salwa and Al Bustan Road, 10 km from the corniche. It will comprise 639 villas, seven-storey apartments, 88,000 sq m of retail space, a world-class 225-room hotel, 30 serviced apartments and a 300,000-sq-m car-parking area.
Update: Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has been appointed as operator for Oberoi hotel in Al Waab City. Construction work will complete in 2014.
The Pearl-Qatar – Viva Bahriya – Seven Towers
Owner: The Land Investment & Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $600 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of seven 26-storey residential towers at Viva Bahriya on the Pearl Qatar Island development.
Update: Construction work is in progress and is expected to be completed in December.
Energy City – Business Park – Qatar Petroleum Complex
Owner: Qatar Petroleum (QP)
Budget: $300 million
Scope of work: The complex includes a main office tower and connected mid-rise office buildings as well as a medical centre, training facilities, data and telecommunication centres, multi-storey car parks, leisure and entertainment facilities and a stadium. The development will have a total built-up area of 540,000 sq m and 300,000 sq m of landscaping. In Phase One, the scope calls for enabling works including site fence, access roads, lighting, and access gates and construction of car-parks and site offices. Two parking structures, each with two basements and four levels, will have a total area of 180,000 sq m to accommodate 4,400 vehicles. The 3,500-sq-m of site offices will accommodate 150 people and will include a car park for 180 vehicles.
Update: Bids have been received for the car-park buildings and site offices.
The Pearl-Qatar – Viva Bahriya – Residential Tower
Owner: United Development Company
Budget: $155 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new 20-storey residential tower at the Viva Bahriyah district of The Pearl-Qatar. The tower will include two-level podium, a five-storey apartment building and tower.
Update: Construction work is on track and completion is scheduled for later this year.
Qatar Airways – Doha Airport – Oryx Rotana Doha
Owner: Qatar Airways
Budget: $103 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of a four-star, 400-room airport hotel located near the existing Doha Airport. It will consists of a basement, ground and first floor plus two six-storey towers.
Update: Construction work on Oryx Rotana Doha is in the finishing stages.
Qatar Petroleum Complex
Owner: Qatar Petroleum (QP)
Budget: $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for construction of three office buildings for Qatar Petroleum in Ras Laffan.
Update: The tender has been cancelled due to commercial issues.
SAUDI ARABIA
King Abdullah Economic City
Owner: Emaar Economic City Company
Budget: $92.912 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for building an integrated city covering an area of 168 million sq m along the Red Sea between Jeddah and Rabigh. The development includes: a seaport over 13 million sq m with a capacity to handle 300,000 pilgrims; an industrial district over 63 million sq m (Phase One covers 6.24 million sq m); a financial island over 3.8 million sq m; resorts over 3.5 million sq m; a residential area over 51 million sq m, which will include 150,000 apartments; and an educational zone including a multi-university campus to accommodate 18,000 students.
Update: About 50 km of road in King Abdullah Economic City has been completed.
King Abdullah Financial District – 28 Buildings
Owner: Public Pension Agency (PPC)
Budget: $2.91 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 28 buildings that will form part of King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.
Update: Construction work has commenced and is on schedule.
Makkah-Madinah Railway – Civil Package
Owner: Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO)
Budget: $1.8 billion
Scope of work: The package entails all civil works for the 444-km-long railway between the holy cities.
Update: The Scott Wilson Group has been appointed to provide project management support for the Haramain Railway project.
King Khalid University (KKU) City in Abha – Faculty Accommodation
Owner: King Khalid University (KKU)
Budget: $1 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of faculty accommodation buildings as part of King Khalid University (KKU) City in Abha. The project will include 172 buildings ranging from six to seven storeys.
Update: The main construction contract is still to be awarded.
King Khalid University (KKU) City in Abha – Phase Two – Medical Complex for Men
Owner: King Khalid University (KKU)
Budget: $800 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a medical complex for men which will have nine buildings ranging from four to five storeys high and a six-storey 400-bed student hospital building as part of the King Khalid University (KKU) City in Abha. The complex will include medical, dentistry and pharmacy colleges, and a library.
Update: Zuhair Fayez Partnership Consultants has been appointed as project management.
Dannat Resort
Owner: Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer/Inovest)
Budget: $667 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 1-million-sq-m new resort at Half Moon Bay. It will include villas, apartments, marina, commercial areas and a hotel.
Update: Design work is in the completion stage.
Taif University – Faculty Accommodation
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education
Budget: $600 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of faculty accommodation buildings as part of the Taif University.
Update: Site mobilisation and site surveying is being conducted by the main contractor.
King Khalid University (KKU) City in Abha – 16 Colleges for Women
Owner: King Khalid University (KKU)
Budget: $525 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new university city in Abha which includes 16 colleges for girls with total built-up area of 480,000 sq m. The development also includes administration buildings and faculty buildings.
Update: Sources indicate that tenders have not been issued for the main construction package yet.
King Abdullah Financial District – Six Towers – Package Two
Owner: Public Pension Agency (PPC)
Budget: $428 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of six residential and commercial towers of different heights that will form part of King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. The scope of work also includes a mosque.
Update: The project is progressing as per schedule.
King Abdullah Financial District – GCC Central Bank Tower
Owner: Public Pension Agency (PPC)
Budget: $400 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 240-m GCC Central Bank Tower that will form part of King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.
Update: Construction work has commenced and is on schedule.
UAE
United Square – Abu Dhabi
Owner: International Capital Trading (ICT)
Budget: $2 billion
Scope of work: The mixed-use development located at Al Khalidiya in Abu Dhabi will comprise three towers ranging from 22 to 30 storeys and associated facilities.
Update: International Capital Trading has announced plans to develop United Square, a mixed-use development in Abu Dhabi.
Gianfranco Ferre Stresa – Dubai
Owner: Galadari Investment Office (GIO) – Gianfranco Ferré JV
Budget: $1.2 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of mixed-use development in Dubai comprising a commercial, residential and hospitality area with associated facilities.
Update: The project is still in the study phase.
Al Raha Beach Complex – Al Raha Gardens Community – Town Centre
Owner: Aldar Properties
Budget: $680 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a town centre located at Al Raha Gardens Community on Al Raha Beach development.
Update: The project is still in the design stage.
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Centre
Owner: Dubai Development & Investment Authority (DDIA)
Budget: $572 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 400-bed teaching hospital, which will form a part of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) scheme.
Update: Construction work is running at a slow pace.
Dubai Marina Development – Pentominium Tower
Owner: Trident International Holdings
Budget: $400 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a 512-m-high, 120-storey residential tower that will form part of the Dubai Marina development. It will comprise residential apartments and penthouses and offer a total built-up area of 171,500 sq m.
Update: Steel piles supporting the excavation corners are being removed.
Saadiyat Island Development – Cultural District – Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum
Owner: Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC)
Budget: $272 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the construction of a dome-shaped building that will cover an area of 24,000 sq m and include 6,000 sq m of permanent galleries. It will be located on the Saadiyat Island.
Update: Piling work is being carried out by Bauer International. Award of the main construction contract is imminent.
Capital Centre – Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Expansion Project – Capital Gate (Feature Tower)
Owner: Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)
Budget: $264 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 160-m-high, 35-storey mixed-use tower, which will form part of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Expansion scheme. It will include a luxury hotel ‘Hyatt Hotels and Resorts’ with 189 rooms (162 guestrooms and 27 suites) and 20,000 sq m of office and retail space.
Update: The hotel is set to open early next year.
Parallel Roads Project – Phase 3B – Dubai
Owner: Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA)
Budget: $259 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of roads running through Al Barsha around the rear of Emaar Properties’ Springs Meadows and Emirates Hills developments, and past Nakheel’s Ibn Battuta mall, the Gardens residential development.
Update: Finishing work is in progress and handover is expected shortly.
Eastern Ring Road Interchanges – Abu Dhabi
Owner: Abu Dhabi Municipality
Budget: $217 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of two interchanges on the Eastern Ring road that leads onto Salam Street from the Maqta Bridge area.
Update: Construction, which is in progress, is to be completed by the first quarter of next year.
Business Bay Development – Oberoi Centre
Owner: Rani International
Budget: $205 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of two, 30-storey towers, which will form part of the Business Bay scheme development. One of the towers will be a world-class hotel consisting of 250 rooms and 40 apartments while the second tower will be offered for corporate offices.
Update: Ground floor structural work is in progress.
