Capital City to host university campus

02 December 2009

Aldar Properties in line for management contract for Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research

Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research (Kustar) is to build a campus at the Capital City District development in Abu Dhabi, one source close to the project tells MEED.

The campus project is still in the early planning stages but Kustar has selected local developer Aldar Properties to manage the development following a bid round in November last year, the source says. An award is expected in the coming weeks.

Covering 400,000 square metres, the site will become the main campus for the university, which was launched by UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan in early 2007. It currently uses facilities on Abu Dhabi Island and in the emirate of Sharjah.

The Capital City District development is one of the largest on-going real estate projects in the city of Abu Dhabi. The 49-square-kilometre district, located close to Khalifa City, lies between Abu Dhabi International airport and Mohammed bin Zayed City.

It will comprise government and commercial offices, residential tower blocks and low-density neighbourhoods for UAE nationals. It will serve as a new downtown area for Abu Dhabi and will accommodate 370,000 residents.

Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council awarded a project management contract to oversee the development of the district to US engineering and architectural practice Aecom on 1 December.

One of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, Mubadala Development Company, is building three other universities at major real estate developments in Abu Dhabi.

A joint venture of the local Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East) is building two of the universities on Reem Island. Mubadala is also planning to tender the contract to build a campus on Saadiyat Island for New York University Abu Dhabi before the end of December.

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