Only two ventures - the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourkeand the local/South African team of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East)- submitted bids for the contract, which is valued at up to $800 million.

The submission came just hours after a major accident on package AX 058 left five labourers dead at the airport. The client is the Department of Civil Aviation (see page 16).

AX 059 covers all the architectural finishes and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works for: terminal 3, an underground structure covering a total area of 532,000 square metres; the open air car park structure, which will have a built-up area of 257,000 square metres; and the 670,000-square-metre concourse 2.

Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke is carrying out the AX 058 package, which covers the structural works for terminal 3, concourse 2 and the car park.

The consultants on the expansion programme are Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners)and Aeroports de Paris(MEED 21:5:04).