Keppel Al-Numu Development has extended the deadline for bids to build the SR2bn ($533m) Al-Mada Towers in Jeddah. Contractors now have until 7 August to submit bids for the scheme.

The contract is now expected to be awarded in December … nine contracting groups have prequalified

The original bid deadline was 15 July, but this has been extended to allow contracting groups more time to finalise submissions for the 82-storey tower. The contract is now expected to be awarded in December (MEED 28:5:10).

At least nine contracting groups have already prequalified for the multi-tower project. They include:

• Al-Rajhi Group (local), Al-Habtoor Leighton (UAE/Australia)
• Arabtec Construction (UAE)
• China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China)
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Samsung Corporation (South Korea)
• Saudi Arabian Construction Company (ACC) (Lebanon)
• Saudi Binladin Group (Saudi Arabia)
• Saudi Oger(Saudi Arabia)
• Ssangyong Corporation (South Korea)

Designed by the local Saudi Diyar, the 425,000-square-metre project includes an 82-storey tower, with eight floors of shared space and two 74-storey towers. The towers include 1,000 apartments, helipads on the roofs and separate technical floors for mechanical, electrical and engineering equipment.

The common areas will include a basement, five-storey podium, car park, two-storey clubhouse and healthcare spa. The podium terrace will also feature an amphitheatre, tennis courts, swimming pools and landscaped family areas. 

The completion date on the project has also been extended to the second quarter of 2014. Al-Mada Towers was first scheduled to begin in mid-2009 and finish in 2013, but the project was delayed due to financial concerns.

Keppel Al-Numu Development was created in 2008 and is a joint venture of Singapore’s Keppel Land Limited and the local Saudi Economic and Development Company (Sedco).