The award involves building a boutique hotel and 47 luxury villas on a reclaimed island off the Dubai coast at Umm Suqeim beach, near Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

When dredging work started in March last year, fencing was installed along the beach that blocked entry to what is one of the few remaining public beaches in the emirate. Following a public outcry, ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum ordered the removal of the fencing and an end to works on the beach (MEED 11:3:07).

Although the fencing was taken down, reclamation work has continued over the past year and the man-made island and connecting causeway are now well advanced.

The work awarded to Arabtec also involves building up the reclaimed island to create a man-made hill on which the villas and hotel will be built, along with marine works and all associated infrastructure.

Arabtec is expected to use Abu Dhabi-based Target Engineering Construction for the marine works, following its purchase of a 60 per cent stake in Target last year.

Netherlands-based Royal Boskalis Westminster is working on reclamation for the project. This involves dredging 3 million cubic metres of material. Local developer Nakheel is handling the dredging works.