DRAKE & Scull International Abu Dhabi has secured a Dh170-million ($46 million) contract for the complete mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works for the first all-digital hospital in Abu Dhabi.

The wholly owned subsidiary of Drake & Scull International (DSI) will undertake the work of the second and final package of Danat Al Emarat Women and Children’s Hospital for United Eastern Medical (UEMedical), Abu Dhabi’s leading private healthcare development and investment company.

The 11-storey, 150-bed hospital will provide critically needed maternity and neonatology services in the capital and will set a new standard in patient care delivery and will become a regional centre of excellence in women’s and children’s health, and a referral centre for high risk pregnancies, in addition to being specifically designed to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for its patients, staff and visitors.

Terna, the main contractor on the project, was awarded a Dh440-million ($119.7 million) contract for the second and final package of the hospital earlier in March. The total built-up area of Phase One is approximately 70,000 sq m, spread across 11 floors and two basement levels with the project scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Commenting on the project win, DSI’s CEO Khaldoun Tabari said: “We have successfully secured Dh3.4 billion ($925 million) worth of work since the beginning of the year, which clearly indicates the effective diversity of our service portfolio across the region and our commitment to maximising our shareholders value. We started Q3 with this prominent project win in Abu Dhabi, the second largest contributor to our backlog and a competitive and dynamic market.’’

Mark Andrews, managing director of DSI-MEP, said: “DSI has successfully completed a reputable project profile of hospitals of different size and complexities in the region such as the Mina hospital in Makkah, the Jizan hospital in Jizan and the Rashid hospital and American hospital expansion in Dubai among others. DSI’s proven technical and integrated services in the health care industry will enable it to apply its state of the art engineering capabilities and latest software technologies in this project.