Dubai-based Majid al-Futtaim (MAF) has appointed the local Sarooj Construction as the contractor for enabling and highways works for its Mall of Oman project on the outskirts of Muscat.

The works include bulk excavations, retaining walls, utility diversions followed by major road and bridge construction around interchange number 6 of the Muscat Expressway.

Work on the mall’s main construction contract is due in early 2017. MAF received bids from at least five groups for the estimated $715m contract in September. The bidders include:

• · Consolidated Contractors Company (Lebanon)/Shapoorji Pallonji (India)
• · Habtoor Leighton Group (UAE)/Galfar Engineering (local)
• · Larsen & Toubro (India)
• · Six Construction (Belgium)/Al-Turki (local)
• · TAV (Turkey)

MAF has also received proposals from local and regional banks to lead a finance deal for the project. The financing is expected to include an Omani riyal tranche.

Scheduled to open in 2020, the mall will have 350 outlets with 137,000 square metres of retail space.