The local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton Group has won the estimated AED400m ($109m) sub-structure contract on the Jewel of the Creek development in Dubai.

The project client, the local Dubai International Real Estate, selected Al-Habtoor Leighton after it received bids from contractors for the package in November last year.

The works involve the construction of a four-level basement for the development, which is located on the banks of the creek in the Port Saeed area next to Al-Maktoum bridge.

Another contract will be awarded for the building works.

The overall scheme is a mixed-use development, with 17 main buildings surrounding a marina. The buildings include:

• A convention centre with ballroom and recreation centre
• A 17-storey luxury hotel
• A 17-storey four-star hotel and serviced apartment building
• Eight 19-storey apartment buildings
• Three 17-storey office towers
• Four 19-storey serviced apartment buildings

The piling works were completed by the local APCC. Germany’s Kling Consult is the consultant for the architectural design, structural engineering, landscape design and quantity surveying.

Dubai was planning several creekside projects before the property crash of late 2008. In March 2008, the emirate unveiled plans to build a cultural district on the banks of the emirate’s creek. The Khor Dubai project will stretch 20 kilometres starting in the Shindagha area and running through Business Bay to the new Creek extension. The plans included 10 museums, nine libraries, 14 theatres, an opera house, 11 galleries, seven arts and culture institutes and workshops for artists (MEED 27:3:08).