The local/UK Al-Futtaim Carillion has won the estimated AED200m ($54m) contract to build the extension to the Meridien hotel in the the Garhoud area close to Dubai International airport.

The project involves building an eight-storey, five-star hotel with a built-up area of 26,000 square metres. The contract duration is 450 days (MEED 12:10:11).

The extension work involves building two basement floors, a ground floor and five upper floors. The extension will cover a total area of 36,000 square metres and increase the capacity of the hotel by 163 rooms, to bring the total number of rooms to 301. The works will also add 10 private dining rooms to the complex.

The local Arch Group Consultants is the consultant for the scheme. The client is the local Wasl Asset Management.

The contract is the latest to be secured by Al-Futtaim Carillion in Dubai. In December 2011, it was appointed by local developer Meraas as the contractor for the first phase of its The Avenue project in Dubai.

The three-phase retail development will be spread over 1.1 kilometres and will be built on the crossroads of Al-Wasl road and Safa road. The consultant for the scheme is the local Dewan Architects & Engineers.

Two months earlier in October, Al-Futtaim Carillion won the estimated $183m contract to build the second phase of the 200-bed Al-Jalila Children’s Speciality Hospital in Dubai (MEED 31:10:11).

The children’s hospital will be located adjacent to the Al-Wasl Hospital, close to Dubai Creek and Garhoud Bridge on Oud Metha road. The client is Dubai Health Authority.