Abu Dhabi-based Al-Maabar has awarded the contract to build the Sheikh Zayed mosque at its Marsa Zayed development in Jordan to the local Central Contracting.

The 16-month contract involves building a mosque for the estimated $10bn Marsa Zayed scheme, which is the largest project in Jordan’s history.

It will be completed in two phases. The first phase includes preparing two million square metres of the site and developing 300,000 sq m of mixed-use buildings.

The second phase includes developing the final 1.2 million sq m and will not commence until the land around Aqaba Port is handed over to Al-Maabar in 2017. The estimated completion date for the entire Marsa Zayed project is 2035.

Al-Maabar is also planning to build a St Regis hotel development in Amman. It received bids from contractors for the main construction contract in July.

The first tower will be the five-star hotel, while the second will be a residential tower called The Residences. The total built-up area is 86,000 sq m. The site covers an area of 18,000 sq m. Al-Maabar expects the project to be completed in mid-2014.

Al-Maabar was established in 2007 as a joint venture between six Abu Dhabi-based real estate companies: Mubadala, Aldar Properties, Sorouh Real Estate, Reem Investments, Reem International and Al-Qudra Holdings.