The scope of the piling contract has undergone some significant revisions during negotiations. The Villas that form part of the Wadi Walk will now sit on top of a cast raft foundation instead of piles. This means that the number of piles to be sunk has been reduced to 16,000 from the original 26,500.

The client, the local I&M Galadari Group, has also invited expressions of interest (EoIs) for the main construction contracts on the project. They are:

The Mall of Arabia, which will have a built-up area of about 520,000 square metres;

Restless Planet, a 90-metre-high translucent dome with a built-up area of 42,000 square metres;

Phase 1 of the Wadi Walk development, which will see construction of low-rise retail and residential buildings with a built-up area of 338,000 square metres.

Located off Emirates Road adjacent to Global Village, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2008. Hong Kong-based P&T Architects & Engineersis the engineering and design consultant. The US' Hill Internationalis the project manager.