The local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty is to take over from the local/UK Al-Futtaim Carillion (AFC) as the contractor on Meraas’ $349m Dubai Creek Waterfront scheme.

Carillion issued a statement on 1 April saying it “has since agreed with Meraas that given this development has become highly dependent on an associated major marine works contract. AFC will not proceed with the waterfront development, which will now be delivered by the marine works contractor.”

Dutco Balfour Beatty is the marine works contractor.

Al-Futtaim Carillion said it had been awarded the contract to build the mixed-use development on the Dubai Creek Waterfront in February. The contract involves the construction of retail buildings, car parks, three hotels, a mosque, museums and a market.

Al-Futtaim Carillion says it will continue working on the other contract that it secured from Meraas in February, which covers the construction of the La Mer development. The contract involves the building of several retail units and public buildings for the project.

Covering an area of about 950,000 square metres of existing and reclaimed land near to Dubai Drydocks, the La Mer development has four zones: a beach, a leisure and entertainment hub, North Island, and South Island. These zones will have commercial, leisure, residential and hospitality buildings. On North Island and South Island, there will be residential buildings with a total of 688 apartments and villas, as well as a 160-room hotel.