The local Baniyas Investment & Development Company (BID) has awarded the local Royal International Construction a $52m construction contract for work on the second phase of its Bawabat al-Sharq project in Abu Dhabi.

The second phase of the real-estate development will involve the construction of 129 villas and 14 apartment blocks.

Germany’s Bauer has already commenced works on the enabling and piling works for the second phase.

The $820m Bawabat al-Sharq project will cover a total area of 108 hectares in Baniyas City, and will contain residential, retail and sporting facilities when completed.

Baniyas City is located in Abu Dhabi emirate between Abu Dhabi city and Al-Ain.

In May 2007, BID awarded a contract worth AED610m to the local Target Engineering Construction Company for work at Bawabat al-Sharq. The contract was for the construction of a 100,000-square-metre community complex, a 87,000-sq-m shopping mall, residential apartment blocks and villas (MEED 31:12:07).