Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada) has invited contractors to bid by 11 October for a contract to build a 20,000-seat football stadium at Baniyas City in Abu Dhabi.

The project’s masterplan includes a shopping centre, a tennis club, commercial buildings, and parking areas.

The architect is France’s Roger Tallibert. Musanada is handling the project on behalf of Baniyas Sports & Cultural Club. Its football team plays in the UAE Football League.

Baniyas City is halfway between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain.

Baniyas Investment & Development (BID), the investment arm of Baniyas Sports Club, is building a AED2.2bn ($600m) mixed-use development next to the stadium.

Known as Bawabat al-Sharq, the 1-square-kilometre development will include residential, retail and entertainment buildings.

In May 2007, BID awarded a contract worth AED610m to the local Target Engineering Construction Company to carry out works at Bawabat al-Sharq.

The works involves building a 100,000-square-metre community complex, an 87,000-square-metre shopping mall, residential apartment blocks and villas.

The consultant is Germany’s Weidleplan Consulting.

Abu Dhabi government-controlled investment vehicle Mubadala Development Company is developing a much larger football stadium known as Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium. Mubadala will build the 60,000-seat stadium in the Khalifa City area.

UK-based Mott MacDonald is the project manager.

Abu Dhabi is investing heavily in football. The emirate is hosting the Fifa Club World Cup in December and has bought two teams playing in the English Premier League.

In September 2008, Abu Dhabi-based Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Limited, which is controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, bought English Premiership side Manchester City Football Club.

In August this year, Abu Dhabi-based businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim finalised the purchase of Portsmouth Football Club.