Contractors are preparing to submit bids by 19 June for the estimated AED850m ($232m) deal to build the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai.

It is understood local and international firms are preparing prices.

The consultancies working on the project are the local Architectural Consulting Group (ACG) and the UAE office of the US’ Miro. The project owner is Dubai Municipality.

Dubai announced plans to develop a $272m library in the Al-Jadaf area near the Dubai Creek in February.

The 92,903-square-metre scheme, which is set to be the biggest public library in the Middle East, will also include a 500-seat theatre.

It will house more than 4.5 million books and include several areas for interaction, events, activities, and educational and cultural festivals.

Dubai Municipality is also developing an AED1.8bn ($490m) arena in the Al-Jadaf area. Earlier in May, it appointed consultancies for the scheme, which is known as the Dubai Conference Centre (Arena).

The local OBE is the architectural design consultancy. The local office of KEO International Consultants is the infrastructure and structural design consultancy, and Jordan’s NEA is the cost consultancy.

The arena will overlook Dubai Creek and is part of the municipality’s plans for Expo 2020.

The main elements of the project are a 17,651-sq-m conference hall capable of seating 10,000 people. The 30-metre-high hall will be divided into three levels.