Award approaches on Dubai Mall main contract

20 August 2004
The local Emaar Propertiesis expected to select by the end of August the main contractor on the Dubai Mall project, after holding clarification meetings in mid-August with four of the groups competing for the estimated $750 million contract. The client is also due to hold clarification meetings in the last week of August with the bidders for the main contract on the neighbouring Burj Dubai tower project (MEED 23:7:04; 28:5:04).

Bidders still in contention for the mall contract are understood to include: the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty, with Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC); Australia's Grocon, with Dubai Civil Engineering (DCE); the local/South African joint venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprisesand Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East), with the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Constructand Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries; and the local/Australian Nasa Multiplex, with the local/UK Al-Futtaim Carillion.

Pressure for a swift selection is building given that Emaar is aiming to have the new mall, set to be the largest in the world, open by November 2006. The contract calls for construction of a shopping mall with 600,000 square metres of retail space and 700,000 square metres of car parking. The project manager is the US' Turner International.

The award of the Burj Dubai main contract is expected to follow two-four weeks after the announcement for Dubai Mall. About seven international groups are competing for the estimated $800 million contract, which calls for the construction of the world's highest building at just over 700 metres. Turner is also the project manager on the tower (MEED 23:7:04).

Two more construction packages are currently being tendered by Emaar on the development. About three contractors have submitted bids for the first construction package on the Old Town residential area, while bids are due on 20 September for the second package. The Old Town project manager is the UK's Mace International; the architect is South Africa's DSA Architectural International(MEED 6:8:04).

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