The work is part of the expansion of the industrial zone and includes building a 2.5 kilometre inland water channel to provide direct water access to the park. The channel will be dredged to a depth of 7 metres. Work is expected to be completed within two years.

The client is the government of Ras Al-Khaimah. The UK’s Halcrow is the consultant.

It is one of a number of projects that the Chinese company has been bidding for in the region.

The most contentious is the scheme to build a ship repair and drydock complex at Oman’s Duqm port.

China Harbour is engaged in a legal challenge after it was not awarded the contract, despite having submitted the lowest bid for the work.

Oman’s National Economy Ministry gave the contract to South Korea’s Daewoo Engineering & Construction (MEED 1:2:08).