Focus on mega projects in the region.

Bahrain

Ain Adhari National Park
Owner: Kuwait Commercial Market Complex Company – Al Khaleej Development Company

Budget: Estimated $32 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a roller-coaster, water-park, children’s play area, a mini-golf course, bowling arena, a game arcade and dining areas with development area of 165.320 sq m. A public park will be featuring restaurants, stores, a zoo, an amphitheatre and hotel. The development is located at Al Hunayniyah valley in Riffa.
Status: Sources indicate that construction work is scheduled to complete in mid-2007. The budget has been increased to $31.8 million.

Diar Al Muharraq – First Phase – Infrastructure Work
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: Estimated $500 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of water, electricity and sewerage networks and internal roads and bridges for the 12 sq km first phase of the Diar Al Muharraq mixed-used development. The project is located at Amwaj Island off the coast of Muharraq.
Status: Prequalification applications for the detailed infrastructure design contract have been submitted. The prequalifiers are Atkins, Hyder Consulting, Jacobs Gibb and Cowi.

Fontana Towers in Juffair
Owner: The Developers Company
Budget: $364 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a waterfront residential tower complex in Juffair. The development will include four interconnected towers with 35 storeys each. All will be housing 498 apartments and four luxury duplex penthouses. The project also includes an exclusive health club for women with a well-equipped and modern gymnasium, an indoor swimming pool and children’s water park, an outdoor swimming pool and 600 covered car parking spaces. The apartments will consist of a range of studio, one, two and three bedroom units.
Status: Piling work is expected to start and will take three months to complete.

Science and Technology Park
Owner: Kuwait Finance House (KFH)
Budget: $1 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 2 million sq m Science and Technology Park in Bahrain near Durrat Al Bahrain to provide information, services, studies and research, which deal with learning, training and environmental aspects. It will include learning, training, scientific research units, residential buildings and infrastructure work.
Status: The client has still to approve the plan for the development work that will take four years to complete.

Kuwait
Kuwait International Tennis Centre
Owner: Kuwait Public Authority for Youth and Sport
Budget: $300 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a covered, air-conditioned stadium for 5,000 spectators, an open-air 1,500-spectator-capacity stadium, eight covered air-conditioned tennis courts with a rest/service area, 11 tennis courts with a tennis academy, tennis club, a commercial mall, a shopping pedestrian street and a 120-room hotel with underground and ground-level car parking facilities. The development, located in south Surra, will cover an area of more than 52,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that bids are under evaluation.

Legal Advice and Legislation Headquarters Building
Owner: Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (KPW)
Budget: $93 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 15-storey office complex located in the Sharq district with a built-up area of 30,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that main contractor was scheduled to be appointment in January.

Mahaboola Development – Gardens
Owner: Commercial Real Estate Company (CRC)
Budget: $28 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of two, 12-storey residential towers, a car park, shops, gymnasiums and health clubs covering a total development area of 7,950 sq m. and offering a built-up area of 25,000 sq m. The project will form part of the Mahaboola development scheme in Kuwait.
Status: The main contractor was scheduled for appointment and January with expected take two years to complete.

Mahaboola Development – Green Hills
Owner: Commercial Real Estate Company (CRC)
Budget: $22 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 19-storey building that will comprise residential apartments, shops, gymnasiums, a health club and a car-park. The project will cover a development area of 5,373 sq m and have a built-up area of 15,000 sq m within the Mahaboola area in Kuwait.
Status: Tender documents for the main contract are expected to be issued imminently.

Saad Al Abdullah Township – Third Package
Owner: Kuwait Public Authority For Housing Welfare
Budget: $114 million.
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of 443 villas, public buildings such as mosques, schools, roads and sanitation systems in Saad Al Abdullah township on the outskirts of Kuwait City.
Status: Bids have been opened with the low bidder being Ghassan Ahmed Saud Al Khaled & Partners Company at $114 million, followed by Combined Group at $116 million and Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting (KCPC) at $133 million.

Oman
Air Base Expansion at Al Musanaah
Owner: Oman Ministry of Defence
Budget: $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: Sources indicate that the main contractor was scheduled for appointment in January.

Duqm Port – Land Infrastructure Work
Owner: Oman Ministry of National Economy
Budget: $50 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of 1.163 million sq m of infrastructure for the Duqm port development. The infrastructure also covers the marine sides and the ship repair yard (the dry dock).
Status: Three consultant companies have submitted bids for the project management consultancy services for the Duqm development. The bidders are Parsons Brinckerhoff International, Dar Al Handasah and Pacific Consultants International.

Duqm Port – Marine Works
Owner: Oman Ministry of National Economy
Budget: $150 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of two breakwaters with a combined length of 4 to 5 km, dredging and reclamation works and construction of quay walls.
Status: Bid submission date for the marine works contract was extended to February 5. Three consultant companies have submitted bids for the project management consultancy services. One of the bidders is Parsons Brinckerhoff International.

Duqm Port – Ship Repair Yard (Dry Dockyard)
Owner: Oman Ministry of National Economy
Budget: $200 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of two docks and one floating dock to repair and maintain oil and gas tankers of 100,000-tonne capacity at the Duqm port. The dry dock will cover 1.1 million sq m.
Status: Three consultant companies have submitted bids for the project management consultancy services for the Duqm development. The bidders are Parsons Brinckerhoff International, Dar Al Handasah and Pacific Consultants International.

Fishing Harbour at Seeb
Owner: Oman Ministry of Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries
Budget: $25 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, 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: Bids have been opened and the main contractor is expected to be appointed shortly.

Qatar
Ain Khalid Commercial Development in Msemeer Area
Owner: Barwa Real Estate Company
Budget: $972 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new commercial development in Msemeer area starting from the crossroad of Msemeer road and Industrial Road and extends for 11 km along the Msemeer Road to the Eastern Road in the Industrial area. The development will include administrative buildings, malls, housing apartments, retail outlets, exhibition halls, restaurants and other related facilities.
Status: Sources indicate that tender documents for the master plan consultant contract have been issued. A consultant is expected to be selected shortly.

Al Sadd Development
Owner: Qatar Real Estate Investment Company (QREIC)
Budget: $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 is 220,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that tender documents for the main contract were expected to be issued last month.

Al Waab City
Owner: Nasser Bin Khaled and Sons Group (NBKS)
Budget: $1.374 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of the 1.4 million sq m Al Waab City, comprising 639 villas, seven-storey apartments, 88,000 sq m of retail space, a world-class 300-room hotel and a 300,000 sq m car parking area. The development is located along Salwa and Al Bustan Road, 10 km from the Corniche.
Status: Arab Technical Construction Company (Arabtec) has been appointed as main contractor for the project.

Barwa Tower at West Bay
Owner: Barwa Real Estate Company
Budget:  $300 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 100-storey mixed-use tower in the West Bay district in Doha.
Status: Sources indicate that the development is in the final stage of design work. Tender documents for the main contract should be issued in March.

Football Stadium Complex in Al Thumama Area
Owner: Sports City Committee
Budget: $15 million
Scope of work: The project calls for design and construction of new football stadium with capacity for 10,000 spectators at Al Thumama area of Doha, off the E ring road. The complex will also include a football pitch, basement parking, a VIP stand, staff accommodation and press facilities.
Status: Contractors were expected to submit bids last month.

Saudi Arabia
Batha to Shayba and Umm Al Zumour Dual Carriageway
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Transport
Budget: $800 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 570 km, two-lane dual carriageway linking Batha to Shayba and Umm Al Zumour on the Omani border in the Eastern Province.
Status: Bids are being evaluated. The low bidder is Abdul Aali Al Ajmi Company.

Dar Al Qeblah Project in Madinah
Owner: Munshaat Real Estate Projects Company
Budget: $150 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the development of an area of approximately 8,173 sq m and a total built-up area of 125,000 sq m and will include the construction of two low-rise buildings. Each of the buildings will be 10 storeys high and have hotel facilities and furnished residential suites. The project will provide 700 residential suites, 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 project will also feature restaurants within the top two floors of each building, a medical centre and a Hajj and Omrah service centre. Situated a few steps away from the Holy Masjid, the development will be engineered with an architectural concept matching the environment of Madinah.
Status: Sources indicate that Munshaat Real Estate Projects Company is in final negotiating with Saudi Binladin group for the main contract. Construction work was scheduled to start in January.

Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Railway
Owner: Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Secretariat General (GCC)
Budget: $10 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for connecting the GCC countries with a railway transportation system, which will run 3,000 km along the coast of the Arabian Gulf. The two ends are in Muscat in Oman and Kuwait city in Kuwait passing through Saudi Arabia and UAE with an option for Saudi Arabia to Manama in Bahrain and 110 km from Saudi Arabia to Doha in Qatar.
Status: Sources indicate that a consortium of Systra, Khatib & Alami and Canrail is low bidder for feasibility study. Other bidders are consortium of DE-Consult with Dar Al Handasah and consortium of Parsons Brinckerhoff with SaudConsult.

General Hospital in Riyadh (Sharq Al Riyadh)
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health
Budget: $70 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 300-bed general hospital in Riyadh. The hospital will comprise a five-storey building with associated facilities.
Status: Construction work has started and will take three years to complete.

Jeddah City Development – Jeddah Gate
Owner: Emaar Middle East
Budget: $150million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of three 21 storey residential towers at the Jeddah Old Airport redevelopment programme. The three towers will have a total built up area of 100,000 sq m and will be connected on a common podium. The project also includes landscaping and infrastructure works.
Status: Sources indicate that bids for the main contract were submitted in December. The main contractor was to have been awarded in late January this year.

King Abdulaziz International Airport Expansion Project – Terminal Facilities Upgrade
Owner: Saudi Arabia General Authority Of Civil Aviation (GACA)
Budget: $200 million
Scope of work: 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 a 13,000 sq m departure area and a 4,000 sq m arrival area. The northern terminal expansion will add 7,100 sq m of departure and arrival areas. Each terminal will have five gates – three 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 an area of 1,400 sq m. and another new building for special flights that will cover an area of 3,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that Saudi Binladin group will carry out upgrade of terminal facilities at King Abdulaziz International Airport.

King Abdullah Economic City – seven towers in Red Sea Village
Owner: Emaar Economic City Company
Budget: $195 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of seven residential buildings in the Red Sea Village district in Rabigh. Each building has six storeys with a  built-up area of 30,000 sq m.
Status: Bids have been submitted for the main construction contract.

Madin Saleh Airport Upgrade
Owner: Saudi Arabia General Authority Of Civil Aviation (GACA)
Budget: $40 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 4,000 m runway capable of handling Boeing 747s, an apron, airfield lighting systems and other airside infrastructure. The airport is located in the Madin Saleh area between Tabuk, Yanbu, and Riyadh. The total built-up area of the development will cover 7,000 sq m.
Status: The client has still to finalize the budget for the airport.

Mitco Headquarters
Owner: Modern Investment and Trading Company (Mitco)
Budget: $67 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a 16-storey office building in Jeddah with a total built-up area of 32,000 sq m and a six-level car park with an area of 35,000 sq m.
Status: Sources indicate that client has still to receive a construction licence from Jeddah Municipality. Tender documents for the main contract should be issued in April this year. Construction work will take two years to complete.

Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Road in Riyadh
Owner: Saudi Arabia Ministry of Transport
Budget: $20 million
Scope of work: 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, called Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, will be about 15 km long and 60 m wide and have three lanes in each direction.
Status: A contract has been signed, with construction work expected to start this month.

RSAF – Runway and Taxiway at Prince Sultan Military Airbase in Al Kharj
Owner: Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF)
Budget: $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: Construction work was expected to start last month for completion in 18 months.

Sredco – Residential Tower on North Jeddah Corniche
Owner: Saudi Real Estate Development Company (Sredco)
Budget: $50 million
Scope of work: The project calls for the design and construction of a new 50-storey luxury residential tower with total built-up area of 85,600 sq m, at the north Jeddah Corniche. The development will includes 88 apartments, a 360-slot basement car-park, swimming pools, and health clubs and retails facilities.
Status: Saudi Diyar Consultants has been appointed as design consultant. Design work will take two months to complete.

United Arab Emirates
Al-Raha Beach Complex, Abu Dhabi – Masterplan
Owner: Aldar Properties
Budget: $13.47 billion
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of another mixed-use hospitality development within Abu Dhabi. Spread over a built-up area of 12 million sq m, the development will involve 6.8 million sq m of reclaimed land and will include 50 high-rise and a number of low-rise buildings that will house approximately 120,000 people. Water-taxis will provide access to Abu Dhabi city centre and Saadiyat island.
Status: Sources indicate that, the client has invited firms to express their interest in pre-qualifying for construction work on the development.

Burj Dubai Tower, Dubai
Owner: Emaar Properties
Budget: $875 million
Scope of work: The project involves the construction of a 705-m-high, 189-storey tower building, the world’s tallest, which will offer residential apartments, offices and a hotel. Hotel facilities will occupy the first 37 floors, residential apartments will be located from floor 45 to 100 while office facilities will occupy floors 112 to 189. The Giorgio Armani hotel, which will be located within the main tower building, will cover a built-up area of 40,000 sq m and will comprise 175 rooms, suites as well as 160 luxury apartments, restaurants and a spa.
Status: Sources indicate that, the tower has used 235,000 cu m of reinforced concrete and 44,200 tonnes of reinforcing steel, to date, and has reached a height of 329 m.

Dubai World Central Project – Phase 1 – DLC Headquarters
Owner: Dubai Department of Civil Aviation
Budget: $409 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a headquarters complex for the Dubai Logistics City (DLC) within the Dubai World Central (formerly known as Jebel Ali Airport City Project) development scheme. It will include the construction of the three-storey DLC headquarters building with a built-up area of approximately 25,700 sq m as well as an additional 10 buildings forming an office park with a total built-up area of about 255,000 sq m. The development will also include a basement car-park and buildings housing other amenities over an area of 2,000 sq m.
Status: It is understood that Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons has been awarded an estimated $409 million contract for the design and construction of the project, for completion in 26 months.

Dubailand, Dubai – Al Ruwaya Golf Community
Owner: Tatweer
Budget: $2.35 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for a construction of a 25.3 million sq ft golf community as part of the Dubailand scheme. The development will comprise a golf course, designed by Tiger Woods, a golf academy, a 60,000 sq ft clubhouse, a boutique hotel, 300 luxury villas, 20 mansions and a shopping centre.
Status: Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holdings, is planning to build the first-ever course designed by Tiger Woods. The completion is scheduled for 2009.

Dubailand, Dubai – Tijara Town
Owner: Dubai Properties
Budget: $1.63 billion
Scope of work: The project involves the construction of 51 mixed-use units targeting small and medium enterprises with an area of 77,000 sq ft within Dubailand. It includes offices, showrooms, warehouses, and apartments in low to medium-rise buildings as well as two four-star hotels, a 24-hour coffee shop and restaurants.
Status: Dubai Properties has launched the $1.63 billion mixed-used development, which will be carried out in multi phases. Phase 1 construction is due to be completed by 2008.

International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), Dubai – Dana Residential Towers
Owner: Dana Property Development
Budget: $572 million
Scope of work: The project involves the construction of 11 residential towers situated in the Media Production Zone.
Status: Construction work is expected to start in the first quarter of this year and will be completed by mid-2009.

Jumeirah Village Development, Dubai – Plaza Mayor
Owner: Makaseb Holding – Ta’sees – Ishraqah
Budget: $818 million
Scope of work: The project involves the construction of four towers with European and Arabic cultural influences situated at the Jumeirah Village Development. Each tower will have a four-level five-star hotel and 45 storeys dedicated office space. The project will have a total built-up area of 300,000 sq m.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that Dimensions Engineering Consultants (DEC) has been officially appointed as the consultant on the project.

La Ville Contemporaire Development – Lagoons Project – Dubai Towers
Owner: Sama Dubai
Budget: $1.8 billion
Scope of work: The project involves the construction of four residential, commercial, retail and hospitality towers, ranging from 57 to 94 storeys located at the Lagoons development, a mixed-use freehold development being built along the Dubai Creek.
Status: According to sources close to the project, it is understood that Hill International is no longer involved with the project.

Reef Villas Development – Abu Dhabi
Owner: Manazel Real Estate Company
Budget: $409 million
Scope of work: The project calls for a construction of 2,500 villas located next to Abu Dhabi airport.
Status: Fibrex Company is the main contractor on the development while Crown Engineering Consultants is the consultant.

Saraya Abu Dhabi
Owner: Sorouh Real Estate Company
Budget: $954 million
Scope of work: The project calls for construction of a mixed-use development on Abu Dhabi Island, located on the eastern stretch of the Corniche Hospital, overlooking Lulu Island. It will involve the construction of 30 commercial and residential towers with heights ranging from 10 to 40 storeys. The development area is around 125,000 sq m.
Status: The project will be implemented in three phases. The first phase, which has a duration of 18 months, will include the infrastructure support for the community, including roads and sewerage facilities.

The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – Kingdom of Sheba
Owner: International Financial Advisors (IFA) Hotels and Resorts
Budget: $1 billion
Scope of work: The project calls for a construction of a 141,500 sq m development that will include residences, a hotel and retail area. The residential package will comprise 300 villas, townhouses, penthouses and apartments. The hotel will have 550 rooms as well as extensive conference facilities, a private beach, pool complex and sports club.
Status: International Financial Advisors (IFA) Hotels and Resorts has launched the project on Palm Jumeirah. Creative Kingdom (CKI), EDSA, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo are the design consultants.

UAE University Campus Development, Al Ain – Masterplan
Owner: Al Hikma Development Company
Budget: $410 million
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a new university in Al Ain that will be able to accommodate 19,000 students and will be developed on a build-own-operate-transfer (boot) basis. The development, with a built-up area of 290,000 sq m, will include educational buildings, sport and recreational facilities as well as residential accommodation for students. The campus will be situated on an 800,000 sq m area in the Al Maqam area in Al Ain.
Status: The university will be built over four years, with the first phase due to be ready by mid-2008.

Umm Al Quwain Marina Project – Masterplan
Owner: Umm Al Quwain Government – Emaar Middle East
Budget: $3.3 billion
Scope of work: The project will involve the construction of a marina resort within the emirate of Umm Al Quwain that will cover an area of 1488 acres and will comprise approximately 9,100 residential units. The project will be situated alongside the extension of the Etihad International Highway, adjacent to the Emirates Road overlooking the Al Yufra Creek, on the shores of Khor Al Beidah. The residential units will involve the construction of about 2,600 villas and 6,500 apartments. The hotel facilities comprise approximately 1200 rooms. The development will include four marinas, six beachfront resorts, leisure facilities, parks, retail outlets, schools and community centres.
Status: The client has hired a company to conduct an environmental assessment study for the Umm Al Quwain Marina project.