The agreement, which is expected to be worth more than $210m over five years, will result in Aecom managing a number of Abu Dhabi's largest building projects.

The plans for the island include the Sheikh Zayed National Museum designed by Norman Foster, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum designed by Frank Gehry, the Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel, a performing arts centre by Zaha Hadid and a maritime museum by Tadao Ando.

TDIC is also in talks with the local Alec to form a joint venture contracting company. If the deal goes ahead, a company will be set up to build TDIC projects in Abu Dhabi.

It is expected to operate in a similar way to a joint venture of TDIC and Australia's Gulf Leighton, which was formed in early December 2007 (MEED 26:9:08).