BAHRAIN
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 and 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 the kingdom, close to the Saudi causeway.
Status: With bids having been submitted earlier, a contract award was expected last month. Construction work is expected to take 30 months to complete.

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, two storeys each, at the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Port at Hidd with the port covering an area of 1.1 million sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation and that an award is expected towards the end of the year.  Construction work is scheduled to start early next year and is estimated to take at least two years to complete.

Bella Vista Tower
Owner: Al-Marzooq Group
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 34-storey luxury residential tower comprising 113 apartments, four parking levels, multi-purpose hall and a cinema in a total built-up area in excess of 10,000 sq m. The tower is the first high-rise to be built in the Mahooz area on the outskirts of Manama close to Tubli Bay.
Status: Sources indicate that the client has still to decide on the appropriate bidding strategy.  The options are either to issue tender documents for competitive bidding this month or select a contractor directly.

Marine Slipway at Hidd Shipbuilding and Repair Facility
Owner: Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Company (Asry)
Budget: Estimated $300 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the construction of a new marine slipway at the Asry shipbuilding and repairing yard in Hidd. The scope of work includes two vertically curved slipways for docking up to 5,000 dwt vessels. They will have track supports on a reinforced concrete beam and two rail systems with an 8-m gauge.
Status: Sources indicate bids were submitted in August with an award expected towards the end of the year.  ACE Almoayed is acting as the consultant on this project.

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 with a total built-up area of 24,000 sq m. The development will have 10 storeys for each tower comprising 68 fully furnished apartments in total, a ground and first floor parking, a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, squash courts and gymnasium.
Status: Sources indicate that Daylami Consultant Engineering has completed the design work. Tender documents for the main contract are expected by early this month.

KUWAIT

Ahmadi Hospital
Owner: Kuwait Oil Company
Budget: Estimated $240 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a six new buildings for a 300-bed hospital in Ahmadi.  The hospital will have outpatient and support facilities and nurses accommodation with a total built-up area of 82,200 sq m. The development will also include electrical, water and diesel storage tanks, diesel fire pumps, access and internal roads, a helipad, an underground car park and staff accommodation consisting of 150 residential units with a total build-up area of 5,300 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that seven local contractors have submitted bids for the main construction contract of the Ahmadi Hospital in June with an award expected at the end of last month.

College of Basic Education for Boys at Ardiya Campus
Owner: Public Authority For Applied Education And Training (PAAET)
Budget: Estimated $130 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of fifteen buildings, each of three-storeys high, which will comprise educational buildings, learning resources, an administration building, recreational facilities and car-park for the Ardiya campus boys school in Kuwait. The total built-up area of the buildings will be 45,000 sq m and will accommodate 6,165 students and 720 staff in total.
Status: Sources indicate that three companies have submitted bids for the main contract with the low bidder being Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons. The main contract award is expected this month.

Legal Advice & Legislation (LAL) Headquarters Building
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works
Budget: Estimated $90 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 15-storey office complex located in the Sharq district on a built-up area of 30,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that bids were submitted in May. The low bidder for the 24-month main construction contract is the Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting (KCPC) with the contract award expected this month.

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 20-storey hotel in Kuwait City, which will have 400 rooms as well as a conference centre, wedding hall, presidential suites, two ballrooms and restaurants.
Status: Sources indicate that the main contractor was expected to have been appointed by the end of last month. Piling work has not started yet on the development.

Avenue Shopping Mall expansion, Phase II
Owner: Mabani Company
Budget: Estimated $93 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the expansion of the Avenue Mall complex near Shuwaikh industrial area that will add an additional 250,000 sq m to the earlier development and will include a new lake and outdoor general entertainment area.
Status: Sources indicate that Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting Company has been appointed as the main contractor. Construction work is expected to take 22 months to be completed.

OMAN

Project Name: 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: It is understood that six companies have submitted bids and a contract award was expected last month.

Refurbishment of Al-Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat
Owner: Oman Ministry of Tourism
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the refurbishment of the Al-Bustan Palace Hotel, which will include landscaping components, chalets and related utilities. The nine-storey hotel comprises 250 luxurious rooms and suites as well as a swimming pool, health club with gymnasium and six restaurants.
Status: The Oman Ministry of Tourism has invited contractors to submit bids by early this month for the project with construction work expected to take 11 months to complete.

Passenger terminal at  New Sohar Airport
Owner: Oman Ministry of Transport & Communications
Budget: Estimated $300 million
Scope of work: The project involves the construction of a passenger terminal with a footfall of around 500,000 people per year along with a  100,000 tonne air cargo terminal in the Wilayat region of Sohar. The scope of work also includes a paved runway, taxiway and aprons, air traffic control tower, fire station, fuel tanks, lighting and drainage systems and security facilities.
Status: Hamza Associates has been awarded a contract to provide consultancy services linked to the design and construction of the Sohar Airport and will be preparing a detailed master plan layout.

Residential Township in Sohar
Owner: Saud Bahwan Group
Budget: Estimated $120 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of nine residential buildings and 149 villas near the Lulu Hypermarket in Sohar. While the residential buildings will comprise 228 two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, the villas will include 76 three-bedroom and 73 four- bedroom units.
Status: Sources indicate that Larsen & Toubro Limited has been appointed as the main contractor on this project and has just started the mobilisation work. Construction work is scheduled for completion by mid-2008.

Fishing Harbour at Seeb
Owner: Oman Ministry of Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries
Budget: Estimated $50 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of two breakwaters with lengths of 659 m and 950 m respectively, a 100 m-long concrete block quay wall, a boat ramp and roads and pavements. The development, located at Seeb, will also include dredging of 290,000 cu m of material, reclamation work and electrical components. 
Status: Sources indicate that prices opened early last month with a main contractor to be chosen this month. Construction work is expected to start next month and will be completed within 15 months.

Marine works at Duqm Port
Owner: Oman Ministry of National Economy
Budget: Estimated $150 million
Scope of work: The project scope calls for the design and construction of two breakwaters with a combined length of 4 to 5 km, along with dredging and reclamation work as well as the construction of quay walls.
Status: Tender documents for the main marine package have been issued. The original bid submission date was set for this October has been extended to December this year. It is estimated that construction work will take three years to complete.

QATAR

24-storey residential buildings – Pearl Qatar Island Development – Porto Arabia 
Owner: Global Investment House
Budget: Estimated $120 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 24-storey high-rise residential tower building in the Porto Arabia district covering a total development area of 5,640 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that at least two companies submitted bids and that the main contractor was expected to be appointed by the end of last month.

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.  The development will have four 21-storey office towers and four 10-storey residential buildings on a total built-up area of 220,000 sq m.
Status: Tender documents for the main contract were expected to be by the end of last month with the main contract expected to be awarded in February next year.

Ashghal school development project – First phase
Owner: Qatar Public Works Authority
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 and will accommodate 750 students each.
Status: Bids have been submitted during October with the main contractor expected to have been chosen by the end of last month.

Ashghal school development project – Second Phase
Owner: Qatar Public Works Authority
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: Phase II of the development calls for the design and construction of another seven new schools in Doha and the surrounding villages. As in Phase I, 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 and will accommodate 750 students each.
Status: Bids were submitted during October and the main contractor will be appointed by the middle of this month.

Energy City – Phase One
Owner: Qatar Government
Budget: Estimated $1,600 million
Scope of work: The project located at Lusail Real Estate Development, calls for design and construction of various centres for education and training, intellectual and technology, shipping and trading, service industry, infrastructure and downstream, information, press and associations as well as for oil and gas producers. It will also host the Gulf mercantile exchange. Investment opportunities in hotels, shopping malls and exhibition halls will also be part of the next phases.
Status: MZ & Partners, the lead architect for Energy City, has signed agreements with Associated Consultants Engineers as subconsultant for the infrastructure works and with Parsons International as a design sub-consultant to carry out the traffic impact study for the Energy City. It is also understood that the Gulf’s first energy business centre will start operations early next year with the first buildings scheduled for completion by mid 2009.

SAUDI ARABIA

Two Hotels in Madinah
Owner: General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI)
Budget: Estimated $53 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of two, 14-storey, 250-room hotels in Madinah. The development will also include restaurants, shopping outlets, car-park and other associated facilities. The two hotels are located in different areas in the centre of Madinah with the first hotel having a total built-up area of approximately 36,000 sq m while the second hotel will have a total built-up area of about 32,000 sq m.
Status: Tender documents for the main construction contract will be issued by the end of this month.

Jubail Hospital Expansion
Owner: The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu
Budget: Estimated $3.65 billion
Scope of work: The expansion calls for the design and construction of a three-storey building, which will house clinics and other related facilities as part of the Jubail hospital.  The expansion will add an additional 10,219 sq m to the existing facilities.
Status: Rakan Trading & Contracting Company has been appointed as the main contractor for the Jubail hospital expansion. Construction work was scheduled to begin last month and will take approximately 21 months to complete.

Runway and taxiway at Prince Sultan Military Airbase, Al Kharj
Owner: Royal Saudi Air Force
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: Almabani General Contractors was appointed as the main contractor early last month  with the contract expected to be signed soon.

King Abdullah street redevelopment in Riyadh
Owner: Arriyadh Development Authority
Budget: Estimated $350 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design, construction and redevelopment of the King Abdullah Street in Riyadh. The scope of work will include a freeway with three underpasses, a 1.7 km tunnel, major landscaping components and associated work.
Status:  Bids were submitted in early September and Saudi Oger was the low bidder, followed by a joint venture of Fahd Trading Industrial and Contracting and Yuksel.  An award is expected within this month.

Barracks expansion in Taif and Jeddah
Owner: Saudi Arabian National Guard Presidency
Budget: Estimated $67 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of an expansion to the existing barracks in Taif and Jeddah, which will comprise 143 low-rise buildings one and two storeys in height. The total built-up area of the expansion is 60,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that Al Saad General Contracting is the low bidder for the main contract. An award is expected by the end of this month.

Medical Tower in King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health
Budget: Estimated $10 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 400 bed, 10-storey medical tower at the King Fahd Specialist Hospital at Buraydah.  The building will have a built-up area of 7,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that bids have been submitted and that the main contract was expected to have been awarded by the end of last month.

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 barracks for three new battalions in Riyadh. The scope of work will include 60 low-rise buildings with one or two floors in a development area of approximately 2 million sq m.
Status: It is understood that Al Saad General Contracting is the low bidder for the main contract. An award is expected by the end of this month.

Dar Al-Qeblah Project in Madinah
Owner: Munshaat Real Estate Projects Company
Budget: Estimated $150 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the development of an area of approximately 8,173 sq m on a total built-up area of 125,000 sq m and will include the construction of two low-rise buildings. Each of the 10 storey buildings will have hotel facilities and furnished residential suites. The project will provide 700 residential suites in total, a five-storey car-park basement that will accommodate 600 vehicles.  There will also be a two-storey grand commercial centre comprising offices and retail outlets. The buildings will also offer restaurants within the top two floors of each building. In addition, the development will also provide a medical centre and a Hajj and Omrah service centre and is situated close to the Holy Mosque and will be imitate the architectural concept of Madinah.
Status: Bids are currently under evaluation. The main contract was expected to be awarded last month.

Ministry of Health Headquarters in Riyadh
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health
Budget: Estimated $80 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new headquarters for the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health in Riyadh on a built-up area of 140,000 sq m. The project includes the 10-storey main building and a five storied car park building.
Status: Al Jabreen Contracting Establishment is the low bidder followed by Abdullah AM Al Khodari & Sons Company. The contract is expected to be awarded this month.

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 for 35 million books. The development will be located on King Fadh Street in downtown Riyadh.
Status: Sources indicate that two local contractors submitted bids in early October for the main construction contract. An award is expected this month with construction work to be completed in three years.

Al Rajhi Headquarters in Riyadh
Owner: Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corporation
Budget: Estimated $ 200 million
Scope of work: The scope of work includes the design and construction of a 33-storey office building, 250 m in height 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 approximately 66,000 sq m.
Status: Buro Happold has been appointed as the engineering consultant.  The principal contractor will only be appointed early next year.

UAE

Ittihad Road Upgrade Scheme – Phase 1
Owner: Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Budget: Estimated $191 million
Scope of work: The project will include improvements to the existing Ittihad Road between Dubai and Sharjah. The work will include the widening of a 5.3 km stretch of highway from Shoala junction to the Sharjah border. Ittihad Road will be converted into an eight-lane expressway with additional lanes on either side. A total of 13 to 17 lanes will run in each direction in different locations on the route.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that three contractors submitted bids. An award is expected early this month.

Road in Al Muhaisnah 1 and Al Mizhar 1 in Dubai
Owner: Dubai Roads & Transport Authority
Budget: Estimated $50 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of roads in the Al Muhaisnah 1 and Al Mizhar 1 areas off the Emirates Road (R832) in Dubai.  The total area of the new road will be 190,000 sq m.
Status: Al Muhairy General Contracting Company has signed the contract with Dubai Roads & Transport Authority to execute the project.  The road works will be completed by the end of next year.

Al-Raha Beach Complex and Gardens Community – road network
Owner: Aldar Properties
Budget: Estimated $19 million
Scope of work: The package will involve the construction of an 8-km, three-lane dual carriageway network to form the main collector/distributor road for the development and will link to Khalifa City. It also includes 6 km of single carriageway road providing local access to the gated communities; the supporting infrastructure to the road network; a positive storm water drainage system; street lighting; road marking; signage and associated utility work. The development will cater to the Al Raha Gardens scheme.
Status: It is understood that the construction work by the main contractor has started.

Al-Durrah Tower Development in  Dubai
Owner: Private Investor
Budget: Estimated $157 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a 47-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 120,000 sq m, the building will comprise 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: It is understood that the local Dubai Contracting Company has been awarded the main construction package on the development with contract duration of 24 months. Furthermore, the local NSCC has completed the foundation package.

La Ville Contemporaire Development at Business Bay – One Business Bay Tower
Owner: Omniyat Properties
Budget: Estimated $60 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a 31-storey high-rise building that will form part of the Business Bay development scheme. The building that will comprise commercial and office facilities will be situated to the south of the main entrance towards Sheikh Zayed Road, on plot 1.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that the local Emirates Belbadi Contracting Company has been awarded main construction package on the development with a contract duration of 22 months. Furthermore, Dutco Balfour Beatty has completed the enabling works package.

The Lagoon Club in Abu Dhabi
Owner: Private Investor
Budget: Estimated $100 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the construction of a mix-use resort in Abu Dhabi, which includes a five-star hotel with 350 rooms and 150 serviced apartments, an office tower with a build-up area of 45,000 sq m, a three-level basement car park, a 2,500 sq m health club and a shopping mall with a build up area of 2,000 sq m.
Status: It is understood that the client has invited companies to pre-qualify for the main construction package on the development.  An award is expected during the second quarter of next year.

Dubai World Central Project – Phase 1 – Cargo Terminal
Owner: Dubai Department of Civil Aviation
Budget: Estimated $74 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a cargo terminal that will form part of the first phase of the Dubai World Central formerly known as Jebel Ali Airport City project. It will comprise the construction of a steel frame building on a built-up area of approximately 41,129 sq m.
Status: It is understood that the construction by the main contractor has started.

Al-Reem Island Development – 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 within the Abu Shuoom Island Development in the Emirates Pearl, 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, three companies have been invited to submit bids.  The bid submission date was extended to late last month with an award expected early next year.

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Development – Dubai
Owner: Daman Asset Management
Budget: Estimated $450 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a mixed-use complex providing residential apartments, offices, a 100-room five-star hotel and other retail facilities. The development will cover a built-up area of 1.6 million sq ft and will form part of the DIFC development. The project will include the construction of two buildings on a plot area of 220, 000 sq ft. The first building will consist of 14 storeys and will provide office facilities while the second building will reach 58 storeys and will offer residential apartments and hotel facilities.
Status: Sources indicate that the bids for the main construction package were submitted during early November.  An award is expected by the end of this month.

Landmark Tower Project 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 corniche in Abu Dhabi. The building will also include a five-level basement and will provide mixed-use facilities.
Status: It is understood that a number of companies were pre-qualified to bid for this project.  Tender documents have been issued with the bid submission by late month. An award is expected early next year.