The UAE’s Presidential Affairs Ministry has invited selected construction firms to prequalify for a contract to build a presidential palace in Abu Dhabi.

The winning contractor will build the palace in the Ras al-Akhdar area of Abu Dhabi Island, between the existing presidential palace and the Emirates Palace Hotel.

The complex will include a main palace and several smaller palaces, as well as villas for visiting dignitaries (MEED 14:8:09).

The government uses the existing palace to host cabinet meetings and other federal government functions.

UAE-based contractor Dutch Foundation has started work on the enabling works package for the new palace. US-based RW Armstrong is the project manager. The architect is the local Ewan Architectural & Engineering Consultancy. The engineer is UK-based WSP and the cost consultant is Bahrain-based Haj Gulf.