Project Watch
01 November 2006
BAHRAIN
Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Port at Hidd – Port buildings
Owner: Bahrain Ministry of Works and Housing
Budget: Estimated $45 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a container terminal and eight buildings, comprising two storeys each, at the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Port at Hidd. The port will cover 1.1 million sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that the main contractor was scheduled to be appointment last month. Construction work is expected to start early next year. Bidders include the Bokhowa Group and Ahmed Mansoor Al A’Ali. The consultant on the project is Royal Haskoning while the Bahrain Ministry of Works and Housing is looking after project management components.
Real Suites in Um Al Hassam
Owner: RealCapita
Budget: Estimated $40 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of two 12-storey residential towers in Um Al Hassam. The development will have a ground and first floor parking, 10 storeys for each tower, 68 fully furnished apartments in total, a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, squash courts and gymnasium. The total built-up area is 24,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that design work should be completed by this month. Daylami Consultant Engineering is acting as the consultant on the project.
Ishbiliya Village Development in Manama
Owner: Al Enma’a House for Real Estate
Budget: Estimated $150 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 176,000 sq m village development in the heart of Manama, overlooking the Shaikh Khalifa Highway leading to the King Fahad Causeway. It will consist of over 300 beautiful villas, varying in size, including single detached villas and row houses. The development will also include a nursery and a shopping mall along with around 500 apartments.
Status: Sources indicate that a tender document for the main construction contract will be issued this month. Design work is expected to be completed by early next year with Gulf House Engineering acting as the design consultant on the project.
Bahrain Industrial Wharf in Hidd – infrastructure work
Owner: Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer)
Budget: Estimated $300 million.
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of an Industrial Wharf in Hidd, which will include electricity distribution, water distribution, sewerage network, road network and telecommunications on 1.7 million sq m area along the coast.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that the client invited nine companies to submit bids by September this year for the infrastructure design contract. A contract award was expected at the end of last month.
Marina West Resort
Owner: AA Janahi Holdings Company
Budget: Estimated $320 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 11 residential towers comprising 18, 24 or 30 storeys each. The development will provide 1,200 apartments in total as well as restaurants, a luxury hotel and a marina. The resort will cover an area of approximately 800,000 sq m and will be located on the west coast of Bahrain near the Saudi causeway.
Status: A main contractor was expected to be appointed last month. Ahmed Janahi Architects is acting as the consultant on the project.
KUWAIT
Police Academy in the Mubarikiya District
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works
Budget: Estimated $121 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 19 buildings comprising three storeys each to be located on a 300,000 sq m site in the Mubarikiya area. The new facility will provide state-of-the-art administrative and educational facilities for teaching of Police law, science and training. It will provide dormitory facilities for 1,200 students and extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities. The complex will also include state-of-the-art firing ranges and a combat village.
Status: Sources indicate that eight local contractors had been invited to submit bids for the main construction contract. The bid evaluation process will take four months. The contract will be awarded in the first quarter of next year. Prequalifiers include Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company, KCSC, Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company, Kuwait Arab Contractor Company, Boodai Construction Company, Combined Group Company for Trading and Contracting, Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction and Contracting, Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons and Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons Company. A joint venture of Gulf Consult and Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) is acting as the consultant and project manager on the development.
Infrastructure Work in South Surra District
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works
Budget: Estimated $76 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design, construction and maintenance of roads, mosques, streetlighting, storm water drainage and sewerage networks in the Al Siddiq block one and two area in the south Surra district of Kuwait City. The development will cover an area of approximately 600,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that 22 local contractors had been invited to bid in mid-October for the main infrastructure package in south Surra. The contract duration will be 33 months. Prequalifiers include Kuwait Arab Contractor, Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons, United Gulf Construction, Mushrif Trading & Contracting, Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons, Consolidated Contractors International, Combined Group Company for Trading and Contracting, Burhan International Contracting Company, Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading, KCSC and Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company.
Monarch Hotel
Owner: Al Sawaf Real Estate Company – Efad Holding
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new 400-room hotel consisting of 20 storeys. It will have a conference centre, wedding hall, presidential suites, two ballrooms and restaurants. The hotel will be located in Kuwait City.
Status: A main contractor was scheduled for appointed last month. Piling work has not yet started. Gulf Consult is acting as the consultant on the project with Mace Limited as project manager on the development.
College of Basic Education for Boys at Ardiya Campus
Owner: Public Authority For Applied Education And Training
Budget: Estimated $30 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of educational buildings, learning resources, an administration building, recreational facilities and car-parking facilities for the boys school at the Ardiya campus. The total built-up area of the buildings, including boys and girls colleges, will cover 90,000 sq m. and will accommodate 12,331 students and 1,341 staff in total.
Status: Bid submission date was early last month for the main construction package. Prequalifiers include Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading, KCSC, Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting, Burhan International Contracting, Combined Group Company for Trading and Contracting, Consolidated Contractors International Company, Kuwait Company For Process Plant Construction & Contracting, Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons, Mushrif Trading & Contracting, United Gulf Construction, and Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons Company. Turner Projacs is acting as the project manager on the development with Pan Arab Consulting Engineers acting as the consultant on the project.
Gate of Kuwait Tower
Owner: Al Shaya Group
Budget: Estimated $172 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 270-m-high, 70-storey mixed-use tower. The building will comprise a five-star hotel, offices, conference centre and car-park that will be able to accommodate 1,600 vehicles. The project will cover a built-up area of 127,000 sq m and will provide 5,000 sq m of retail space.
Status: It is understood that a tender for the main construction package was expected to be issued last month with bid submission expected three months after the bid invitation date. A joint venture of GlH Partnership and KEO International Consultants is acting as the consultant on the project with the Al Shaya Group handling project management components in-house.
OMAN
Salalah-Thumrait dual road project
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: Estimated $80 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 74-km segment of the highway, stretching from Thumarait to Salalah.
Status: Sources indicate that the client and Al Shanfari Trading & Contracting Company are in negotiations for the main contract. The contract award was expected last month. Bidders include Consolidated Contractors International Company, Abu Hatim Company, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Al Shanfari Trading & Contracting Company, Strabag, Oman Gulf Company, Shanfari & Partners and Hassan bin Juma bin Baker Trading & Contracting. Nespak is acting as the consultant on the project.
Air base expansion at Al Musanaah
Owner: Oman Ministry of Defence
Budget: Estimated $70 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of aprons, a 4.5 km runway, bulk paving, earthworks, runway lighting and associated works to expand the air base at Al Musanaah on the Batinah coast.
Status: A main contractor was expected to have been appointed last month. Bahwan Engineering Group is the low bidder for the main contract. Other bidders include Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Consolidated Contractors International Company, Larsen & Toubro, Strabag and National Trading & Contracting Company. The consultant on the project is Burns & McDonnell.
The Wave development – Quay wall package
Owner: The Wave
Budget: Estimated $30 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of quay wall that will consist of several thousand 40 to 60-tonne blocks. The quay wall is part of the Wave resort development situated just off the Oman coast near Muscat.
Status: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation for the main construction package and a main contractor is expected to be selected this month. Bidders include Interbeton, Carillion Alawi, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Bahwan Engineering Group, and joint ventures of Al Mashrikia and Travo, Fujian and Oman Concrete Products and of United Precast Concrete and Hani Archirodon. Atkins is acting as the architect on the project, OBM International Limited as consultant while Turner Construction International is the project manager on the development.
Sohar port and industrial area development – Sohar Bulk Liquid Terminal
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: Estimated $13 million
Scope of work: The scope of work includes the design and construction of a loading berth, mooring dolphins with catwalks, fender piles, approach and pipe trestles, pile bents and bank seats.
Status: Construction work was scheduled for completion last month. STFA is acting as the main contractor on the development with a joint venture of Halcrow International Partnership and Ibn Khaldun Consulting Engineers as the consultant on the project.
QATAR
Al Sadd Development
Owner: Qatar Real Estate Investment Company
Budget: Estimated $200 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 30,000 sq m mixed-use development in the Al Sadd area of Doha, which includes four 21-storey office towers and four 10-storey residential buildings. The total built-up area of the development will cover 220,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that tender documents for the main contract were expected to be issued last month. Arab Engineering Bureau is acting as the consultant on the project with KEO International Consultants as project manager on the development.
La Cigale Hotel
Owner: Borge Trading & Contracting Establishment
Budget: Estimated $50 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 100-m-high, five-star hotel, which will comprise 180 rooms with a total built-up area of 45,000 sq m to be situated in downtown Doha. The project will use 60,000 cu m of concrete.
Status: Sources indicate that construction work is scheduled for completion this month. Arabian Construction Company is acting as the main contractor on the project with Khatib & Alami as the consultant on the development.
Hamad Medical City Project – Hospital buildings structure package
Owner: Qatar Public Works Authority (PWA) (Ashghal)
Budget: Estimated $104 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a number of towers forming part of a medical complex that will host the pediatrics, orthopedics, rehabilitation and nursing divisions. Each of the buildings will consist of seven storeys. The project will cover a total built-up area of approximately 300,000 sq m. This package will focus on the structural component of three medical towers.
Status: Construction work was scheduled for completion by the end of last month. The Joannou & Paraskevaides Group (J&P) is acting as the main contractor on the project, Hill International as project manager while Fedcon is acting as the consultant on the development.
Ashghal School Development Project – First Phase
Owner: Qatar Public Works Authority (PWA) (Ashghal)
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of seven new schools in Doha and the surrounding villages. Each school will comprise a two-storey building, 25 classrooms, laboratories, a language room, administrative blocks, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, cafeteria, auditorium and library. The total built-up area of each school will be 10,000 sq m with each school accommodating 750 students.
Status: Bids are under evaluation for the main construction contract and a main contractor is expected to be selected by mid November. No consultant has been appointed yet. Qatar Public Works Authority (PWA) (Ashghal) is handling project management components in-house.
SAUDI ARABIA
Runway and taxiway at Prince Sultan Military Airbase in Al Kharj
Owner: Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF)
Budget: Estimated $40 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 4 km runway with a width of 60 m, taxiway and associated facilities at the Prince Sultan Military Airbase in Al Kharj, about 100 km from Riyadh.
Status: The main contract was expected to be awarded by the end of last month. Bidders include the Saudi Binladin Group and Almabani General Contractors. The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is handling consultancy components in-house.
Al Rajhi headquarters in Riyadh
Owner: Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corp.
Budget: Estimated $200 million
Scope of work: The scope of work includes the design and construction of a 250-m-high 33-storey office building with an atrium on the ground floor. The building will be located between King Fahd Road and Olayya Street. The built-up area of the building will be 66,000 sq m.
Status: Bids have been submitted for the main construction package, and the contract award is expected early this month. Construction work is also scheduled to start towards the end of this year. Bidders include Saudi Oger, Freyssinet Saudi Arabia, Saudi Constructioners Establishment and the Saudi Binladin Group that is a joint venture of Samwhan Corporation and El Seif Engineering Contracting and a joint venture of Al Yamama group of companies and Sino State Construction Engineering Corporation. A joint venture of Mohamed Harasani Architects & Skidmore Owings & Merrill is acting as the design consultant with Buro Happold as the engineering consultant on the project.
North-South Railway (NSR)
Owner: Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Budget: Estimated $9 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for an approximate 2,400 km long railway, divided into four major packages or construction phases. Phase A is 650 km long and is dedicated for mineral transport and will transfer bauxite from the Zabira mines to the Maaden complex at Ras Al Zour. Phase B is also for mineral purposes and will cover 782 km from the Jalamid phosphate mines to Ras Al Zour, through the Zabira junction. Packages A and B are also called the mineral railway, which will travel at 80 km per hour when loaded and 100 km per hour when unloaded. Package C is the passenger line. It will cover about 530 km from the King Khalid Airport in Riyadh to the Zabira junction, through Buraidah. Package D is a 438 km extension from the Jalamid junction to Qurayyat and Basayta on the Jordanian borders. The passenger and freight railway will travel at 160 km per hour. The scope of work involves 83 million cu m of earth work, construction of 250 concrete bridges, supply of 1,000 culverts and 4.5 million concrete sleepers, installation of 4,800 km rail and 6 million cu m of rock ballasting. The scope of work also includes earthwork at Hail and Jouf in the Nufud region. Both involve 180 million cu m of filling and 90 million cu m of material.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that the client extended the bidding deadline to late last month for the main construction contracts of the three civil and track work packages. Developer-prequalified consortiums include China Railway First Group company with Al Mobty; China Railway Engineering Corporation with Saudi Tampane; Obrascon Huarte Lain with El Seif Engineering Contracting, China Communication Construction Group and Yapi Mekezi; M Al Hokair & Sons Group with Pizzarotti; Sojitz Corporation with Arab Supply and Trading (Astra) and Al Araab Contracting; China Railway 18th Bureau (Group) Company with Al Shuwaiket Trading & Construction Company; the Saudi Binladin Group; China Railway Construction Corporation with Rozan International Group; Shibh Al Jazira Contracting company with China Railway Engineering Corporation; Philipp Holzmann with Al Shoula, Younglim, KR Network, Ssangyong, Zhong Xing, Sambo and Seojin; Barclay Mowlem (BMCL) with Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company and Mitsui Company; Daelim Industrial with Kuedo Kongyung and Taemyung Industrial; Saudi Oger with Sapac; China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Ircon International, CPCS Transcom and John Holland Rail; the CITIC Group with China Railway Wuju Group Corporation, China Railway 22 Bureau Group Company; Russian Railways; Orascom Construction Industries with Saudi Archirodon, Saudi Condreco and TSO and Gamuda Berhad with DRB-Hicom Berhad. A group of Berger, Systra, Canarail and Khatib & Alami is acting as the consultant & project manager on the development.
King Fahd National Library Renovation
Owner: Arriyadh Development Authority
Budget: Estimated $67 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new public library and renovation and rehabilitation of an existing library. The new library will have a built-up area of 85,000 sq m with storage capacity of 35 million books. The development will be located on King Fadh Street in downtown Riyadh.
Status: Sources indicate that contractors have been invited to submit bids by early last month for the main construction contract. The main contract will be awarded by the end of this year. A joint venture of Saudi Consulting Services (SaudConsult) and Gerber Architects is acting as the consultant on the project.
King Abdulaziz International Airport expansion project – Haji terminal upgrade
Owner: Saudi Arabia General Authority Of Civil Aviation
Budget: Estimated $56 million
Scope of work: The project calls for upgrading the 500,000 sq m terminal and creating permanent structures to replace the existing structures.
Status: Sources indicate that the bid submission date was extended to last month for nine consortiums to submit technical and commercial proposals for the build-operate-transfer contract. Prequalifiers include a joint venture of ACWA Power and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad; the Dallah Albaraka group; a joint venture of El Seif Engineering Contracting and Azizia; the Omar Kassem Alesayi group; Orix Aviation Systems; the Saudi Binladin Group; Saudi Oger; a joint venture of TAV Gulf and Bugshan and a joint venture of Zuhair Fayez & Partnership, Bin Jarallah Establishment Trading & General Contracting and EWAA. The consultant on the project is the Netherlands Airport Consultants.
Sredco – Residential Tower on North Jeddah Corniche
Owner: Saudi Real Estate Development Company (Sredco)
Budget: Estimated $50 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new 50-storey residential tower at the North Jeddah Corniche with a built-up area of 80,000 sq m. The tower will also include retail and recreational facilities.
Status: Sredco had invited contractors to submit pre-qualification bids in June for the substructure, superstructure and mechanical, electrical and plumbing contracts on the 50-storey residential tower in north Jeddah. Tenders for all the packages are expected to have been issued by the end of last month. Khalil Hussein Architects is acting as the consultant on the project.
Barracks for three new battalions in Riyadh
Owner: Saudi Arabian National Guard Presidency (SANG)
Budget: Estimated $60 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a barracks for three new battalions in Riyadh. The scope of work will include 60 low-rise buildings, each consisting of one to two storeys. The project will cover a development area of approximately 2 million sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that a main contractor will be appointed by early November. Bidders include Al Saad Contracting and Trading, Al Muhaidib Contracting, Saudi ABV General Contractors and Al Kifah Contracting with SANG as the executing consultancy components in-house.
UAE
Al-Durrah Tower Development at Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai
Owner: Private investor
Budget: Estimated $80 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a 50-storey mixed-use tower building that will be situated adjacent to the Fairmont Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. Covering a total built-up area of 90,000 sq m, the building will consist of three floors of office space, 450 residential apartments (each consisting of one to three bedrooms) as well as leisure, entertainment and car parking facilities. The building will have architectural cladding features that will stretch 29 m beyond roof level and will comprise changing trapezoidal floor plates.
Status: The main construction package was expected to be awarded last month. Bidders include Arab Technical Construction Company (Arabtec), Dubai Contracting Company (DCC) and Beijing Construction Engineering Group. Atkins is acting as the consultant on the project with Hill International as project managers on the development.
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) – Five-star hotel and apartment buildings
Owner: Dubai Properties
Budget: Estimated $235 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of two buildings that will comprise hotel facilities and residential apartments forming part of the DHCC development. Located in the Oud Metha area, behind Wafi City (along the northeastern edge of DHCC – Phase 1), the first building will comprise 439 hotel rooms (five-star hotel) while the other building will provide 406 residential apartments, each consisting of one to three bedrooms. The project will also include banqueting halls, business and conference facilities, restaurants, spas, swimming pools and a car-park that will be able to accommodate approximately 1,200 vehicles. The development will be connected to the Harvard Medical School Dubai by an air-conditioned tunnel.
Status: According to sources close to the project, the client is still negotiating with the bidders and no company has been awarded the main construction package yet. RMJM is acting as the consultant on the project with Dutch Foundation Company responsible for the piling components on the development.
Dubai Silicon Oasis Development – Phase 1 – Silicon Boulevard
Owner: Madison Holdings
Budget: Estimated $38 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a mixed-use complex that will be situated within the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) development. The project will include the ‘Park Terrace’ building (consisting of approximately 15 storeys) that will comprise 120 one to three bedroom residential apartments as well as the ‘Park Avenue’ building (consisting of approximately 12 storeys) that will provide commercial facilities. The buildings will form part of the first phase development at DSO and will also offer some retail components. Leisure and entertainment facilities will include a health club, swimming pool, lounge and children’s play area.
Status: Sources indicate that the client has not appointed a main contractor on the development. National Engineering Bureau is acting as the consultant on the project.
Saadiyat Island Development in Abu Dhabi – dredging and reclamation package
Owner: Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC)
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the dredging and reclamation of 40 million cu m of material on the Saadiyat island in Abu Dhabi.
Status: A contract award was expected last month with dredging work. Pre-qualifiers include National Marine Dredging Company, Van Oord, Archirodon Construction (Overseas) Company, Jan de Nul, Dredging International and Royal Boskalis Westminster. The consultant on the project is Parsons Corporation.
Al Reem Island Development –Emirates Pearl – Shams – The Gate (1st plot development) – Phase 1 – Sky Tower
Owner: Sorouh Real Estate Company
Budget: Estimated $200 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a 379-m-high, 83-storey tower building that will form part of the Gate development within the Shams scheme on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. The building will provide residential, commercial and retail facilities and once completed will be the tallest building in Abu Dhabi.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that the bid submission date was mid October for the main construction package. Pre-qualifiers include Arabian Construction Company, Murray & Roberts and Samsung Engineering & Construction. A joint venture of Hill International and 3D/I+PI is acting as the project managers on the development while Arquitectonica is the consultants on the project.
New Hotel – next to the Aviation Club in Garhoud in Dubai
Owner: Aviation Club Dubai – Dubai Duty Free
Budget: Estimated $68 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a new hotel that will be situated next to the Aviation Club in Garhoud, Dubai. The five-star hotel will comprise approximately 247 rooms with a total built-up area of 60,000 sq m, overlooking the Dubai Creek. The nine-storey building will also include the associated leisure and entertainment facilities.
Status: Evaluation of bids currently in progress and a contract award is imminent. RMJM is acting as the consultant on the project.
Milestone Residential Project in Al Barsha Area in Dubai
Owner: Al Seef Investments
Budget: Estimated $30 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of two low-rise buildings that will be situated in the Al Barsha area in Dubai. The first building will consist of eight storeys while the second will reach five storeys. The development will provide residential apartments as well as the associated facilities.
Status: Sources indicate that the bids have been submitted in September for the main construction package with an award expected late last month. Dimensions Engineering Consultants are acting as the consultant on the project.
Landmark Tower in Abu Dhabi
Owner: Abu Dhabi Department of Presidential Affairs
Budget: Estimated $80 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of an estimated 330-m-high, 70-storey tower building that will be situated on the Abu Dhabi corniche. The building will also include a five level basement and will provide mixed-use facilities.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that a joint venture of Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray & Roberts Contractors, Nasa Multiplex, a joint venture of Arabian Construction Company & Grocon, a joint venture of Samsung Corporation and Arab Technical Construction Company (Arabtec) and Bel Hasa Six Construct prequalified for the main construction package with bids due to be submitted this month. EC Harris is acting as the project manager on the development, Buro Happold as structural engineering consultant with Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects as architect on the project.
Fraser Suites Dubai Internet City – Dubai
Owner: Fraser Serviced Residences – Ali & Sons Company
Budget: Estimated $54 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a 44-storey high-rise tower building forming part of Dubai Internet City situated on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. The building will provide mixed-use facilities including 22 floors of office and retail space as well as 22 floors of residential space. The residential component will offer 158 apartments and penthouses. Leisure facilities will include a swimming pool, fitness centre and games courts.
Status: It is understood that bids for the main construction package were due to be submitted last tmonth. RSP Architects Planners & Engineers is acting as the consultant on the project with Zetas Zemin Teknolojisi responsible for excavation and piling components on the development.
Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (Dubiotech) – Building Package 1 – Laboratory complex
Owner: Dubiotech
Budget: Estimated $60 million
Scope of work: The package will involve the construction of a four-storey laboratory complex that will form part of the Dubiotech development scheme, involving a built-up area of approximately 32,500 sq m.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that the client has not appointed a main contractor yet with an award expected in mid-November. The architect is a joint venture of CUH2A Architects & Consultants with Parsons Corporation acting as the design consultant on the project.
Sheikh Zayed Road expansion and upgrade – Interchange 1/Defence Roundabout reconstruction and upgrade
Owner: Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Budget: Estimated $188 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the reconstruction and upgrade of Interchange 1/Defence Roundabout and will include the construction of an 850-m-long tunnel to link the service road behind the Mazaya Centre with the service road behind the Shangri-La Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road. It will also provide access to the Burj Dubai and Dubai International Financial Centre developments. The project will also include the construction of a three level interchange (free flowing junction) with associated work. The total length of bridges and ramps (which will form part of the intersection) will cover more than three km.
Status: Construction by the main contractor was expected last month and is expected to take 30 months to complete. This follows the appointment of Salini Costruttori as the main contractor on the development. De Leuw Cather International as the consultant on the project. The Joannou & Paraskevaides Group also participated in the bidding process for the contract.
