The deadline for prequalified contractors to submit their offers for the main contract for the expansion of Bahrain International airport is due within two days.

The deadline has been moved several times this year, from 1 July to 13 September, and on 13 October.

Expanding the airport is a key priority for the government. Some 8.5 million passengers are understood to have passed through the airport in 2014, which is more than twice its current capacity.

The Transport Ministry has also revealed in recent reports that it has completed an initial study last year for a second airport, which will be built on a man-made island off Bahraini waters. The current airport only has one runway and future expansion is limited due to lack of land.

The contracting groups that have been invited to bid include:

• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC; Athens-based) /Shapoorji Pallonji (India)
• Ghantoot Group (UAE) / Acciona (Spain)
• GP Zachariades (local) / Al-Faraa (UAE) / Rizanni de Eccher (Italy)
• Habtoor Leighton Group (UAE/Australia) / Hochtief (Germany) / Nass Mechanical (local)
• Larsen & Toubro (India) / Gulf Asia Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
• Limak (Turkey)
• M10 (UAE) / Posco (South Korea)
• Nass Group (local) / Six Construct (Belgium)
• Saudi Binladin Group (Saudi Arabia)
• Shade Corporation (Saudi Arabia) / Astaldi (Italy) / Ictas (Turkey)
• TAV (Turkey) / Arabtec Construction (UAE)
• Trojan (UAE) / OHL (Spain)
• Vinci (France)

The project, which is being financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, involves the construction of a 170,000-square-metre terminal building, associated buildings and infrastructure such as car parks and aircraft parking areas.

It also involves managing nominated subcontractors working on specialist packages for baggage-handling systems, passenger loading bridges and information technology (IT) systems.

When completed, the new terminal is expected to increase the airport’s capacity to 13.5 million passengers a year.

The client, the Bahrain Airport Company, has also recently tendered design and supervision consultancy services for an airport hangar.