Called Burj al-Bahr, the development's main component will be a luxury 40-storey, 400-room hotel. The scheme also includes a 25-storey residential tower and an 18-storey commercial tower along with a shopping arcade, a convention centre, a cinema, 11 restaurants and a bowling alley. The complex will cover an area of more than 25,000 square metres (MEED 22:4:05).

Besix was one of six international bidders for the main construction package when offers were submitted last year. However, bids came in considerably above budget and the client with its consultants has carried out substantial value engineering to bring costs down. 'Besix were not the lowest bidders, but with a project of this size it was important to have a company with the best capabilities,' says a source close to the scheme. 'The fact that Besix has an office in Libya is an added advantage as setting up a base here can take up to a year.'

The development has been designed by Canada's Arcop Associates. The Singapore office of Australia's Meinhardt is the project manager. Germany's H&B will carry out the interior design work, while Bauer, also of Germany, is carrying out the piling works. Hashoo-owned Pearl Continental will manage the hotel (MEED 19:8:05).

www.meed.com/construction