Project Watch
01 April 2007
Bahrain
Marina West Resort
Owner: AA Janahi Holdings Company
Budget: $320 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of 11 residential towers comprising of 18, 24 or 30 storeys each. The development will provide 1,280 luxury apartments in total as well as restaurants, a luxury hotel and a marina. The resort will cover an area of approximately 345,000 sq m and will be located on the west coast of the Kingdom, near the Saudi Arabian causeway.
Update: Sources indicate that the joint venture of Poullaides Construction Company (PCC) and Terna S.A. has been appointed as main contractor to design-and-build Marina West Resort. Construction work is scheduled to start in May.
Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) – Phase II – Diamond Tower, Sourthern Residential Complex, Harbour Row, Dhow Harbour and Hotel
Owner: Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company (BFH)
Budget: $300 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of Diamond Tower, Southern Residential Complex, Harbour Row, Dhow Harbour and Hotel on the reclaimed area of the second phase.
Update: Sources indicate that construction work has just started on Dhow Harbour and will complete by the end of 2007.
Sitra Causeway Bridges
Owner: Bahrain Ministry of Works and Housing
Budget: $190 million
Scope: The cope of work includes the replacement of the existing causeway bridges and construction of marine bridges with lengths of 200m and 400m, associated embankment works with 2,400 m length and construction of flyovers at both ends of the causeway and on Nabih Saleh Island. The embankment and bridges will carry a dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction, together with extensive services. Flyovers will connect Umm Al Hassam and North Sitra located at the northern and southern ends of the causeway and also Nabih Saleh Island in the middle section of the causeway.
Update: Sources indicate that Gamuda Berhad is low bidder at ($159.5 million), followed by a team of Six Construct with Haji Hassan Group at ($196.6 million) for the retendered contract to expand the Sitra Causeway.
Rotana Hotel
Owner: Al Bander Hotel Company
Budget: $150 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a 37-storey four-star hotel in the heart of Manama. The hotel will include 270 rooms, 140 furnished apartments, suites and leisure and entertainment facilities.
Update: Design work is scheduled to complete in October 2007.
Riffa Views – First Residential Package
Owner: Riffa Golf and Residential Development Company
Budget: $106 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of 326 luxury villas at the Riffa Views residential development.
Update: A joint venture of Poullaides Construction Company (PCC) and Terna SA has been appointed as the main contractor. The construction work will take 22 months to complete.
Diplomat Trade Center
Owner: Al Safar Group Holding
Budget: $50 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a 26-storey commercial building in the Diplomatic area of Manama. The development will include six
storeys for car parking space, three storeys for common facilities and 17-storeys for offices.
Update: The Al Safar Group Holding is acquiring license for the development. Tender is scheduled to be issued within next two months for the main contract.
Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) – Phase II – Dhow Harbour
Owner: Bahrain Financial Harbour Holding Company (BFH)
Budget: $20 million
Scope: The project calls for dredging and reclamation of a 44,000 sq m area in Al Fardhah area in Manama. The development will also include the construction of a 628 m long and 10 m deep quay wall. The capacity of the harbour is for 73 dhows.
Update: Ahmed Mansoor Al A’Ali Company has just started construction work and will complete by the end of 2007.
Marvida Tower in Juffair
Owner: Landmark Properties
Budget: $16 million
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of a 20-storey residential building in Juffair with built-up area of 4,830 sq m. The development will include three storeys of car parking, 86 luxury apartments, fitness centre, recreational club with cafÈ and a play area for children, business centre and swimming pool.
Update: Al Namal Group of Companies is carrying out construction work and is scheduled to compete in September 2008.
Real Suites in Um Al-Hassam
Owner: RealCapita
Budget: $12 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of two 12-storey residential towers in Um Al-Hassam. The development will have 10 storeys for each tower, parking at ground and first floors, 68 fully furnished apartments in total, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, squash courts and gymnasium. The total built-up area is 12,000 sq m.
Update: Sources indicate that the Al Hedayah Contracting Company has been appointed as the main contractor to build Real Suites. Construction work is scheduled to complete in the second quarter of 2008.
Park Tower
Owner: United Engineering Company
Budget: $10 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of an 18-storey office building in the Diplomatic Area in Bahrain. The development will include three storeys for car parking space and 15-storeys for office.
Update: Foundation work has just started and will complete shortly. United Engineering has signed contract with the Al Namal Group of Companies to build Park Tower in the Diplomatic Area. Construction work will complete in June 2008.
Kuwait
Arifjan Residential Project (Sabah Al Ahmad Township) – Masterplan
Owner: Kuwait Public Authority for Housing Welfare
Budget: $27.6 billion
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a residential development in Southern Kuwait with covering area of 40 sq km and will comprise of a total of 11,000 residential units. The development will include high-rise towers for employee housing, 150 different types of villas, 45 schools, 70 mosques, 15 hospitals and clinics, a football stadium and an extensive road and sewerage network. The development will house more than 110,000 people.
Update: Sources indicate that Al-Dowailah Engineering Consulting and Office has been appointed as design consultant for the development. Tenders are due to be issued in two years, once the design work is complete.
New Kuwait International Airport Terminal Building
Owner: Kuwait Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Budget: $1.75 billion
Scope: The scope of work includes the engineering, procurement and construction of a new terminal building to increase passenger capacity to 20 million at the Kuwait International Airport. The new 85,000 sq m terminal will be located to the south of the existing terminal. The development also includes construction of a runway, aprons, roads and utilities.
Update: Sources indicate that five international consultants were invited to submit proposals last month for the design contract. An award is expected by the end of May 2007.
Capital Tower
Owner: Al Dar National Real Estate
Budget: $310 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a mixed-use development in Sharq area with a built-up area of 170,000 sq m. The development will include two attached buildings: a 64-storey office building and another 18-storeys building, where the first five storeys will be a shopping mall and the remaining will be 230 rooms and furnished apartments. The development has three levels of basement car-parking space.
Update: Excavation and earthwork is ongoing. Design work is scheduled to complete within three months. Tender documents for the main contract will be issued in July. The entire development is expected to complete by 2010.
KMPW – Eighth Ring-Road
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW)
Budget: $200 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a new 60 km-long eight-lane expressway running from west to east beyond the Seventh Ring road.
Update: The design contract is yet to be awarded.
Second and Third Ring-Road Upgrade
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW)
Budget: $103 million
Scope: The project consists of upgrading the existing roads to expressway status and to improve traffic capacity at various junctions, including those with Cairo and Damascus streets. The scheme will also involve a study to incorporate new tunnels and bridges to improve traffic flow.
Update: The design contract is yet to be awarded.
Crystal Tower in Sharq area
Owner: Arab Real Estate Company
Budget: $100 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a 52-storey office tower in the Sharq area in Kuwait city. The scope of work will include piling works,
shelling and fitting out. The plot size of the development is 3,000 sq m.
Update: Sources indicate that a tender has been issued for the main contract, with contractors invited to submit bids this month (April).
KMPW – Fifth Ring Road Upgrade
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW)
Budget: $100 million
Scope: The project calls for upgrading 14 km of the Fifth Ring Road to expressway status.
Update: A team of Pacific Consultants International (PCI) and Al-Dowailah Engineering Consulting and Office has been appointed as the design consultant for the Fifth Ring Road. Design work will take 18 months to complete.
Qatar
Barwa Residential City
Owner: Barwa Real Estate Company
Budget: $1 Billion
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a residential development at Al-Dhahiya, situated southwest of Doha. The development will include 120
residential buildings with 6000 apartments.
Update: Sources indicate that the Barwa Real Estate Company has received bids for the main contract. The bidders are Alpine Bau Deutschland AG, Bilfinger Berger and Salini Constructtori.
Al Dafnah Residential Towers Complex
Owner: Thani Bin Abdullah Housing Group
Budget: $275 million
Scope: The project in West Bay calls for design and construction of a four-tower complex, three of which are 32 floors high while the fourth is 36 floors, containing more than
1,200 flats, leisure facilities, including a recreation club with multi-purpose hall, and swimming pool, and car parking areas for 1,620 cars with the total complex covering an area of 326,700 sq m.
Update: Construction work is scheduled to complete shortly.
New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Project – Phase 1 – Cross Taxiway and Connecting Tunnels Package
Owner New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Steering Committee
Budget: $211 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a cross taxiway and connecting tunnels for the first phase of New Doha International Airport (NDIA)
Update: Sources indicate that prices have been opened for cross taxiway and connecting tunnels package. Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) is the lowest bidder at $211 million followed by Sembcorp Engineers and Contractors at $266 million.
Alfardan Towers
Owner: Alfardan Real Estate Company
Budget: $85 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of two towers: a 26-storey office building and a 40-storey apartment block. Each tower has two basement levels for car parking areas. The total built-up area is 110,116 sq m.
Update: Construction work is scheduled to complete by the end of April 2007.
New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Project – Phase 1 – Concourse C Foundations Package
Owner: New Doha International Airport (NDIA) Steering Committee
Budget: $45 million
Scope: The project calls for sinking piles with the associated installation of pile caps and beams. It will involve the foundation work for the concourse C and terminal building.
Update: Sources indicate that bids have been opened. The lowest bidder is Midmac Contracting at $42 million. The main contractor is scheduled to be appointed within next three weeks.
Al Jassim Tower at Corniche
Owner: Private investor
Budget: $20 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction a 14-storey office tower at the Corniche near the Movenpick Hotel. The development will include two basements, a ground floor and 14 typical floors.
Update: Sources indicate that the Al Khayarin Group Trading & Contacting Company has been appointed as the main contractor. Construction work will complete in 14 months.
Saudi Arabia
King Abdullah Economic City
Owner: Emaar Economic City Company
Budget: $52 billion
Scope: The project calls for building an integrated city with a development area of 168 sq m at the Red Sea between Jeddah and Rabigh. The development includes the following components: 1. Seaport: 13.8 million sq m area with a capacity to handle 300,000 pilgrims. 2. Industrial district: 63 million sq m area. Phase 1 is 6.24 million sq m. 3. Financial Island: 500,000 sq m class A offices, 60,000 sq m convention centres and hotels, 125-storey tower and 1,200 hotel rooms. 4. Resorts: 4.05 million sq m resort property, an 18-hole golf course, 3,000 tourist units, up to 150-room boutique hotels, up to 400-room holiday hotels and up to 600-room resort hotels. 5. Residential: 750,000 residents, 350,000 sq m of shopping outlets and a 540 boat mooring marina. 6. Educational Zone. 7. International airport.
Update: According to sources close to the project, Emaar Economic City is in direct negotiations with three port operators and hopes to sign an agreement in two months.
Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mousaed Economic City
Owner: Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mousaed Economic City
Budget: $32.6 billion
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mousaed Economic City on 156 million sq m in Hail, 750 km northwest of Riyadh for 140,000 people. The development is divided into: 1) Logistic Center for 75,000 tonnes per year of cargo. 2) Airport on 8,740,000 sq m for 3.1 million passengers and 130,000 tonnes of cargo; 3) Dry Port on 210,000 sq m for 1.5 million tonnes of cargo. 4) Passenger terminal for 3.2 million passengers. 5) Agricultural Center. 6) Entertainment Zone for 700,000 tourists per year; 7) Mining City; 8) Petrochemical Zone. 9) Business Centre. 10) Educational Zone on more than 10 sq km for 40,000 students; 11) Residential Zone of 3,000 commercial units and 30,000 residential units for 80,000 residents. 12) Infrastructure: power, water, drainage and 3,300 km roads.
Update: According to sources close to the project, investments in Hail economic city will be in three phases: 1) $1.7 billion in infrastructure, $8.3 billion in other sectors in the next 7 years. 2) $2.7 billion in infrastructure, $13.3 billion in other sectors. 3) $6.6 billion
PIF – North South Railway (NSR)
Owner: Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Budget: $5 billion
Scope: The project calls for design, build and 50 years of operation and transfer (DBOT) of nearly 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. It will transfer bauxite from the Zabira mines to the Maaden complex at Ras Al Zour. Phase B is also for mineral purposes. It 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. It 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. Passenger and freight railway will travel at 160 km per hour (km/h). The scope of work involves 83 million cu m earthwork, 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.
Update: According to sources close to the project, Binladin is a strong frontrunner for the project and China Railway First Group is the second lowest bidder. An award is expected to be announced shortly.
Riyadh View Development – Masterplan
Owner: Dar Al-Arkan Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $1.6 billion
Scope: This project involves the construction of a new residential district with 8,000 residential units in the north of Riyadh. The development will include five villages with a development area of 5,000,000 sq m.
Update: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation for the design consultancy contract for infrastructure work. An award is expected imminently. Design work will take six months to complete.
Lamar Towers
Owner: Cayan – Zahran
Budget: $556 million
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of two high-rise residential towers in the northern of Jeddah corniche. The two towers consist of 58 and 65 storeys. The development also will include a three-storey shopping mall, health club, play outs, swimming pools, gyms and other related facilities.
Update: Zahran Real Estate Investment Company and Cayan Property Developers have officially announced the Lamar Towers. Design work is scheduled to complete in September. Construction work is expected to complete by the end of 2010.
Benaa City
Owner: Benaa al-Kawaed Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $533 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a five-storey shopping mall with 2,000 retail outlets, exhibition centre, a covered 900-m-long
concourse, an office tower, car parking space with space for12,000 vehicles, and a 22-storey five-star hotel covering a total area of 380,000 sq m and a built-up area of 700,000 sq m.
Update: Sources indicate that the design work is in final stage. Benaa al-Kawaed Real Estate Development Company is still waiting to get its license approved from Arriyadh Development Authority.
King Abdullah Street Redevelopment
Owner: Arriyadh Development Authority
Budget: $350 million
Scope: The project calls for the design, construction and redevelopment of King Abdullah Street in Riyadh. The scope of work will include a freeway with three underpasses on the sides, a 1.7-km tunnel, major landscaping components and associated work. The tunnel will be replaced with two underpasses with a total length of 600 m. The project aims to ease traffic congestion at the intersection of King Fahd Streets and Olaya Street.
Update: Sources indicate that design work for the development has been changed. Main contractor will be announced shortly.
Al Qasr Project in Riyadh – Nine Residential Blocks
Owner: Dar Al-Arkan Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $200 million
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of nine residential blocks. Each block will include 13 buildings with five-storey each and 2925 apartments in total. The development is located at Suwaidi, south of Riyadh.
Update: Sources indicate that Saudi Lebanese Modern Construction Company is carrying out the construction work.
Al Qasr Project in Riyadh – Shopping Mall
Owner: Dar Al-Arkan Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $200 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of three-storey shopping mall in Al Qasr Development at Suwaidi, situated to the south of Riyadh. The total built-up area of the shopping mall is 210,000 sq m.
Update: Sources indicate that the design work is scheduled to complete in May 2007 for the shopping mall package.
King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Expansion Project – Terminal Facilities Upgrade
Owner: Saudi Arabia General Authority Of Civil Aviation (GACA)
Budget: $200 million
Scope: The project calls for the expansion of the southern and northern terminals at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The southern terminal expansion will add 13,000 sq m of departure area and 4,000 sq m of arrival area. The northern terminal expansion will add 7,100 sq m of departure and arrival areas. Each terminal will have five gates, three gates for airplanes and two for buses. There will also be 54 counters for passengers in both terminals. The project also includes a new transit building that will cover a development area of 1,400 sq m and another new building for special flights that will cover an area of 3,000 sq m/
Update: Sources indicate that the Saudi Binladin Group has started the design work.
Al Qasr Project in Riyadh – Six residential Commercial Blocks
Owner: Dar Al-Arkan Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $134 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of six residential commercial blocks. Each block will include 13 buildings with five-storeys each. The development is located at Suwaidi, situated to the south of Riyadh.
Update: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation for the main contract. Main contractor will be announced shortly.
Al-Tilal Residential Development in Madinah – Packages 3, 4 and 5
Owner: Dar Al-Arkan Real Estate Development Company
Budget: $120 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of 500 villas over an area of 2.2 million sq m in Madinah. The project is located to the south of Madinah and 7 km from the Holy Mosque. Packages 3, 4 and 5 will involve the construction of 350 traditional Arabian-style villas.
Update: Sources indicate that the Azmeel Contracting & Construction Corporation is carrying out the construction work for the development.
Jeddah Riviera Center
Owner: Segmat
Budget: $110 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a new mall in the Red Sea coast city on Prince Sultan Street covering an area of 82,000 sq m. The scope of work will include 200 shopping outlets and 3000 car parking lots.
Update: Design work will be completed in July, after which tender document for the project management services (PMS) contract will be issued.
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad Residential City in Saihat
Owner: Saihat Society for Social Services
Budget: $100 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a shopping mall on a 40,000 sq m area, a wedding hall on a 10,000 sq m area, kindergartens complex on 17,000 sq m, five-storey residential and commercial buildings, three storey commercial buildings and two-storey residential buildings. The project will cover a total area of 300,000 sq m in Saihat city.
Update: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahad has approved the masterplan for the development. The development is in early stage of design.
Durrat Buraidah
Owner: Naser Mohammad Al Mukairish Real Estate Investment Company
Budget: $85 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a 1.2 million sq m area residential development in the northern Buraidah. The development will include 600 housing units and other related facilities.
Update: Naser Mohammad Al Mukairish Real Estate Investment Company has announced Durrat Buraidah. The development is in its early stage of study.
New Headquarters for Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health in Riyadh
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health
Budget: $83 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a new headquarters for the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health in Riyadh. The building will have a built-up area
of 140,000 sq m. The project includes a 10-storey main building and a five-storey car park building.
Update: Contractors are still waiting a feed back from Ministry of Health.
New Criminal court complex near Salem Park
Owner: Arriyadh Development Authority
Budget: $75 million
Scope: The project involves the construction of 75 m high, 15-storey building in Riyadh. The building will have a built-up area of approximately 45,000 sq m and will serve as a criminal court. It will include car parking and landscaping components.
Update: Arriyadh Development Authority has approved the budget for the development.
Dar Al Hanan Schools
Owner: Princess Lulwa Al Faisal
Budget: $50 million
Scope: The school development will consist of separate buildings for kindergarten, elementary, preparatory and high school. The school campus will also have buildings for laboratories and workshops and a library building. Administration building will also be built separately. Additionally, there will be buildings with halls and facilities with covering area of 10,500 sq m/ The school development is located in Zahra area at north Jeddah.
Update: Construction work is scheduled for completion in July.
Jeddah Islamic Seaport Expansion – Dredging Work
Owner: Saudi Trade & Export Development Company (Tusdeer)
Budget: $50 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and dredging of a 5-km channel, 400 m wide and 16.5 m deep and dredging the port terminal to 18.5
m. The material will be used to reclaim 500,000 sq m of land at the Jeddah Islamic Port.
Update: Sources indicate that Halcrow has been appointed as the engineering and design consultant. Tender documents for the main contract are expected to be issued in May 2007.
King Fahd Centre in King Saud University in Riyadh
Owner: King Saud University
Budget: $50 million
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of a new centre for heart surgery in King Saud University in Riyadh. It will comprise a five-storey building with a built-up area of 8,000 sq m, one-level basement for car parking and 160 beds.
Update: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation for the main contract.
Jizan Mega Mall
Owner: Abdul Rahman Saad Al Rashid & Sons (Artar)
Budget: $48 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a four-storey shopping mall in Jizan with a total built-up area of 105,000 sq m. The development will include an indoor amusement park, hypermarket, retail, food facilities, an ice-rink and car park. The mall is located at the junction between King Fahd Road and Prince Sultan Road in Jizan.
Update: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation. The contractor for steel structure work will be appointed shortly and construction work is scheduled to start this month
Al Faisaliah General Hospital
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health
Budget: $35 million
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of a 200-bed general hospital in Hofuf in Al Ahsa region.
Update: Sources indicate that tender document for the main contract will be issued shortly. Construction work will take 36 months to complete.
Theme Park at National Al Ahsa Park
Owner: Al Ahsa Amusement & Development Company (Ahsana)
Budget: $28 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a 150,000 sq m theme park at National Al Ahsa park. The development will include an aqua park, food complex, car parking space and other related facilities.
Update: Al Ahsa Amusement & Development Company (Ahsana) has signed a contract with Sanergy Investment for master plan work, which will take 10 weeks to complete. Infrastructure work is scheduled to complete in one year.
Six School Complexes
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education
Budget: $25 million
Scope: The project calls for design and construction of new six school complexes in different areas of Riyadh.
Update: Sources indicate that Al-Karank Trading and Contracting Establishment has been appointed as main contractor.
Mahail Highway
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Transport
Budget: $20 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a 60 km dual-carriageway linking Al Mahail city with the Western coastline in the Asir region. The project also includes interchanges and associated road works.
Update: Sources indicate that the design work has been complete. Saudi Arabia Ministry of Transport has still to issue tenders for the main contract.
Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Road
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Transport
Budget: $20 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a road extending from Amariyah junction in north Riyadh on Riyadh Qasim highway to the west side of King Khalid International Airport. The road will be called Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and will be about 15 Km long and 60 m wide with three lanes in each direction.
Update: Construction work has started and will take three years to complete.
Kayan Petrochemicals Company Headquarters in Jubail
Owner: Al Kayan petrochemical Company (Kayan)
Budget: $15 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a six-storey headquarters building for Kayan Petrochemicals Company in Jubail with a built-up area of 6,000 sq m.
Update: Sources indicate that the budget has been approved for the development. Detail design work will complete by the end of April.
UAE
Mafraq-Ghuweifat Road Scheme Project – Abu Dhabi
Owner: Abu Dhabi Works Department
Budget: $600 million
Scope: The project calls for the design and construction of a bridge in the direction of Dubai and Ghuwaifat, two bridges: one from Abu Dhabi to Shahama and one from Al Ain to the western emirates. Also 18 km of interchange roads will be built along Abu Dhabi Al Ain road to improve connections with northern and western emirates.
Update: Hyder Consulting has completed all the study and design works for the development. Tender documents for the main contract has been issued. Construction work will take 24 months to complete.
Yas Island Development – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Owner: Aldar Properties
Budget: $300 million
Scope: The project, located in Yas Island, calls for the design and construction of the Abu Dhabi Track which is a 5.5 km street circuit. The development will be divided into two sections. The first 3 km will be open to general traffic while the second section is 2.5 km will be reserved exclusively for Formula 1.
Update: A joint venture of WCT Engineering Berhad and Cebarco Bahrain has been awarded the main contract to build the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix track on Yas Island. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Extension of the Creek from Business Bay to the Gulf
Owner: Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Budget: $200 million
Scope: The project calls for an extension of the creek from Dubai’s Business Bay to the Gulf. It will start at the limit of the Business Bay creek extension to the southeast of the Sheikh Zayed Road and will cross the highway to the northeast of the Metropolitan hotel. It will then run through the Safa Park and the Al Wasel before entering the Gulf. The project is expected to be one of the most challenging projects in Dubai while crossing three of the Dubai’s main roads.
Update: According to sources, tender for the main contract will be issued shortly.
Gulf Hotel Waterfront Resort
Owner: Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company (ADNH)
Budget: $200 million
Scope: The project will involve the construction of a new waterfront resort that will be situated on the existing Gulf Hotel site, next to the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. It will include a five-star hotel comprising of approximately 350 rooms as well as 105 chalets, each consisting of one to three bedrooms. The hotel will consist of several interconnected towers and will also provide banqueting facilities and underground parking. The development will include a waterfront, marina, beach club, spa, retail facilities, restaurants, canals and waterways built according to Venetian themes.
Update: According to sources close to the project, the bidding deadline of Abu Dhabi National hotels was extended to the end of last month.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Development – The Gate Village
Owner: Dubai Government
Budget: $100 million
Scope: The project will involve the construction of 10 four to 10 storey office buildings as well as three car parks that will form part of the Dubai International
Financial Centre (DIFC) development and that will have a built-up area of 270,000 sq m.
Update: It is understood that the project has not been completed yet.
La Ville Contemporaire Development – Business Bay – Bayswater Tower
Owner: Omniyat Properties
Budget: $92 million
Scope: The project will involve the construction of a 29 storey tower building will form part of the Business Bay scheme within the La Ville Contemporaire development in Dubai. The building will comprise two basements, a ground floor, four podium levels, a podium roof and 24 floors providing office facilities. It will also offer retail components and car parking facilities that will be able to accommodate approximately 1000 vehicles. The building will be constructed on a 58,235 sq ft plot (plot 006) at the entrance to Business Bay from Sheikh Zayed Road.
Update: According to sources close to the project, Omniyat Properties has awarded China State Construction & Engineering Corp. the main contract.
Residential Building 3 – Opposite The Greens – Sheikh Zayed Road
Owner: Private Investor
Budget: $25 million
Scope: The project will involve the construction of a 14 storey residential building that will
