Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport (DOT) has invited construction companies to bid by 3 October for a contract to build a series of bridges linking the Umlifaina islands to the Abu Dhabi mainland.

The estimated AED1bn ($272m) contract involves building two major bridges and three smaller crossings. The first main bridge will connect Abu Dhabi mainland to a smaller island and the second will link the smaller island to the main Umlifaina island.

Umlifaina islands are located near to Reem Island and Saadiyat Island – both of which are currently being developed.

The prospective bidders for the bridge contract include:

• Astaldi (Italy)
• Batco (Lebanon)
• China Harbour Engineering Corporation (China)
• China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China)
• Combined Group Contracting (Kuwait)
• Delma Engineering Projects (local)
• Emirates Road Contracting (local)
• Al-Fara’a General Contracting Company (local)
• Al-Geemi & Partners Contracting (local)
• Hilalco (Local)
• Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons (Kuwait)
• Kumho (South Korea)
• Larsen & Toubro (India)
• Al-Naboodah Contracting (local)
• Nurol Group (Turkey)
• Pizzarotti (Italy)
• Saif bin Darwish (local)
• Samsung C&T (South Korea)
• Six Construct Abu Dhabi (local/Belgium)
• Strabag (Austria)
• Taisei Corporation (Japan)

The consultant for the bridges project is the Abu Dhabi office of Aurecon.

The bridges will open up the Umlifaina islands for real estate development. Local developer Tasameem Real Estate has plans for the islands that include residential, leisure, hotel and commercial buildings. Other parts of the 5 square kilometre masterplan include a water park, shopping mall and other tourist attractions.

UK-based Atkins prepared the concept masterplan

Abu Dhabi is also tendering another major bridge contract. Government-owned Mubadala Development Company received bids in April for a contract to build a landmark bridge between Abu Dhabi island and Sowwah Island, which Mubadala is developing real estate on (MEED 29:4:10).

The bridge has been designed as a cable-stayed bridge with the bridge deck suspended from a 50-metre-high arch.

Last year the local Tourism & Development Investment Company (TDIC) awarded the joint venture of the local Overseas Ast and Switzerland’s VSL the contract to build a road bridge connecting the islands of Abu Dhabi and Hudayriat. The bridge will open up Hudayriat Island, to the southwest of Abu Dhabi Island, for development.