Abu Dhabi tenders Louvre for a third time

09 July 2012

Contractors have been invited to submit bids in September

Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has invited contractors to bid by 16 September for the contract to build the estimated $1bn Louvre museum on Saadiyat Island.

TDIC received prequalification documents from contractors in April.

The landmark project, which is one of the most high-profile projects planned for Abu Dhabi, has been tendered twice since it was first launched in 2007 as part of a wide-ranging cultural accord signed by Abu Dhabi and France. It was first tendered in 2009 as a design and build scheme, and then tendered again in 2010 as a traditional construction contract. That tender was cancelled after TDIC shortlisted two contractors in early 2011

Regional contractors hope that that the contract will be awarded this time after the Abu Dhabi Executive Council approved the museum’s planned expenditure in January. The re-opening of the tender has raised doubts among contractors regarding whether construction work will now commence before the end of 2012.

Louvre prequalifiers

  • Arabian Construction Company (local/Lebanon)/Acciona (Spain)
  • Arabtec Construction (local)
  • Al-Futtaim Carillion (local/UK)
  • Consolidated Contractors Company (Athens-based)
  • Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)/China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China)/Dhabi Contracting (local)
  • Posco (South Korea)/National Projects Construction (local)
  • Samsung C&T (South Korea)
  • Six Construct Abu Dhabi (local/Belgium)

Source: MEED

The main package will involve the concrete structure and superstructure works, structural steel works, cladding and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of the capital’s 18-square-kilometre Saadiyat Island Cultural District. Piling work on the Louvre project has been completed by Germany’s Bauer.

Optimism in Abu Dhabi has improved in recent weeks following the 27 June signing of the estimated $2.87bn contract to build the midfield terminal building at Abu Dhabi International airport. Abu Dhabi Airports Company awarded the contract to the consortium of Turkey’s TAV, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and the local Arabtec Construction. Like the Louvre, the airport project was approved by the Executive Council in January.

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