Work is well under way on a Dh1.4 billion ($381 million) project to expand the BurJuman Centre, an up-market shopping mall in Dubai, UAE.

A contract is expected to be awarded shortly for vertical transportation at the New BurJuman expansion. The project comprises 125 units of escalators and elevators, making it the largest tender package of its kind in the UAE, according to its developer.

Bids are also being evaluated for the building management system as well as the curtain-walling and stone cladding packages of the project.

Work is currently at the second level of the expansion and structural completion is expected by the end of this year.

The expansion - which entails a mixed use of 800,000 sq ft retail area over three levels to the existing mall and the building of an office tower, two residential towers, and a multiplex cinema is set for completion in late next year, after which it will be called the New BurJuman.

The New BurJuman is a development of the Saif Al Ghurair Group of Companies. The expansion, which is scheduled to open in September 2003 will comprise modern leisure, residential and commercial premises.

It will offer 800,000 sq ft of retail space, 400,000 sq ft of commercial space and 163 furnished and semi-furnished condominiums, specialty restaurants and a health club. The expanded area will be in an oasis of lush greenery and spectacular water features. It will also have five levels of parking with a total of 3,200 car parking spaces.

Project contractor Skanska executed the below ground level construction, which includes four levels of basement parking - the deepest activity of its kind in the Middle East.

Construction of the Dh275 million above-ground level structure and shell is being executed by Al Habtoor-Murray & Roberts, a UAE-South African joint venture, Kharafi National is to undertake a Dh207 million MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) contract for the project, while Higg & Hill have been awarded the contract for finishing of the basement parking.

The completion is planned in three stages. Phase one will see the completion of the new mall in July 2003, followed by the finishing of one of the residential towers, while the third stage will see the second residential and commercial towers completed by December 2003.