For option 1 - a four-lane carriageway - Al-Muhairy's offer of AED 341 million ($93 million) is some 46 per cent lower than the next quote of AED 499 million ($136 million) offered by a joint venture of the local Wade Adams Contracting and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC).

Al-Muhairy is the low bidder for the other two options - covering a six-lane and an eight-lane dual-carriageway - offering prices of AED 384 million ($104 million) and AED 409 million ($111 million) respectively. The contract period is 28 months. Contract 1 is not only the biggest package on the project, but also the most technically difficult, passing through mountain terrain.

The Fujairah freeway project is being built in three phases and calls for the construction of a total of about 80 kilometres of motorway.

Bids are under evaluation from local contractors for contract 2, which covers the construction of a 37-kilometre stretch of motorway. Wade Adams has submitted a low bid of AED 36 million ($10 million) for the four-lane option, AED 91 million ($25 million) for six lanes and AED 114 million ($31 million) for eight lanes.

The two other bidders are Bin Hafeez General Contracting & Transport Establishment and Darwish Engineering Company, both local. For phase 3, which covers the construction of 10 kilometres of freeway, bids are due to be returned by 22 September.

The consultant is the local Al-Turath Consultants with the US' Wilbur Smith & Associates.