The local GR Sowwah Retail has received prequalification documents from contractors for construction work on its Al-Maryah Central development in Abu Dhabi.

The retail centre will be built on Al-Maryah Island, which was formerly known as Sowwah Island. It will have 140,000 square metres of leasable area of five levels. It will have two department stores and 400 other retail outlets together with food and beverage outlets and basement parking.

The project management consultant is US-based Aecom. The cost consultant is the UK’s Faithful + Gould.

GR Sowwah Retail is a special purpose vehicle created by Gulf Related, which is a joint venture of Saudi Arabia’s Gulf Capital and US-based Related Companies.

Gulf Related developed the $60m Galleria at Sowwah Square. The contractor for Sowwah Square was Oger Abu Dhabi, which is the local affiliate of Saudi Oger.