Prospective bidders are: Lebanon's Arabian Construction Company; Belgium's Six Construct, with the local Midmac Contracting; Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC); Cyprus-based Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P); the UK's John Laing International, with the local Al-Huda Engineering Works; Kuwait's Mohamed Abdulmohsin Kharafi & Sons; South Africa's Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East); a Turkish group of Tekfenand Gama; and United Engineers (Malaysia).

The contract was initially costed at about $50 million. However, as the client has informed bidders that the pre-cast materials package will be tendered separately, the final contract value is expected to be worth significantly less.

The project involves the refurbishment of the existing west stand to include new tiers for about 18,000 seats, corporate boxes, VIP lounges, administration areas and athlete facilities. A new 10,000-square-metre tensile roof structure will be erected above the west stand, along with a steel lighting arch above the east stand. The consultant is Australia's GHD.

Bids for the second package on the Khalifa Sports City programme are due to be submitted on 30 April. About seven international contractors are prequalified to bid for the estimated $100 million contract, which involves the construction of a multi-purpose sports hall.