Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has received bids for the structural package on its Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum, which is planned for Saadiyat Island.

TDIC received bids from contractors on 20 March.

The Guggenheim museum will cover a total area of 30,000 square metres and will be larger than the existing Guggenheim museums in New York, Venice, Bilbao, Berlin and Las Vegas.

The museum was designed by US-based architect Frank Gehry and will be built in the 18 square kilometre Saadiyat Island Cultural District, which will also include the Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi museum.

TDIC has shortlisted Australia’s Multiplex and a joint venture of the local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton Group with South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East) for the main construction package on its $1bn Louvre museum project.

TDIC received bids from at least five groups for the 24,000 sq m museum in November 2010. The client is still evaluating bids for the substructure package. Piling work on the museum has been completed by Germany’s Bauer (MEED 10:12:10).

TDIC originally planned to build the museum under a design and build contract for the entire scheme, but subsequently decided to issue tenders for a series of lump-sum construction packages, including the substructure, piling, loading bays and the main construction works.

The cultural district on Saadiyat island will also contain the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, a maritime museum and a performing arts centre. The Sheikh Zayed National Museum has been designed by Norman Foster and Zaha Hadid has provided designs for the performing arts centre.