The scope of works includes construction of a 20,000-square-metre shopping mall, 800 luxury flats and 220 retail and restaurant outlets along the strip. Located on the palm's trunk, the project will overlook a 1.5-kilometre canal-side corniche and will be linked to the palm monorail. Abu Dhabi-based NSCC in joint venture (JV) with France's Soletanche Bachy carried out the foundations, enabling and piling package. Plans call for the project to be completed in late 2007. South Africa's DSA Architects International is the architect and consultant. A JV of the local Nakheel and Kuwait-based IFA Hotels & Resorts is the developer.

Tenders were due to be submitted in mid-February for the estimated $200 million main package on the Fairmont hotel and residences project, also located on the Palm. The prospective bidders are ALEC and Arabtec Construction, both local. The residences are being developed by IFA and the hotel element is being developed by a JV of IFA and Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Hotel Investments. Work on both projects is due to be completed by 2008. The UK's Mace International is the project manager (MEED 13:1:06).