Dubai-based property developer and investment firm Armada Groupis evaluating bids for the contract to build the estimated AED 1,000 million ($272 million) Armada Towers project in the Jumeirah Lake Towers development.

Ten local companies and three international companies submitted proposals for the construction of three residential towers with a total of 1,200 apartments, three multi-storey car parks and leisure and retail facilities. The contract is due to be awarded by the end of September. The client may split the work between two companies. The local APCCbegan piling works on 1 September. Adnan Safarini, also local, is the consultant. Construction on the main package is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2005 with completion expected in 2007.

Armada has also appointed a team of Adnan Safarini and Canada's Crang & Boaketo prepare designs and a feasibility study for its estimated $2,600 million Chess City project (MEED 20:8:04).

Armada has also announced plans to build a new residential tower in Sharjah's Al-Khan district. Valued at around AED 100 million ($27 million), the 20-storey residential tower is due for completion by 2007.