Contractors in Dubai are waiting for local developer Wasl to issue tender documents for the contract to build its planned high-rise tower Sheikh Zayed Road.

Wasl informed contractors during workshops in September last year that the construction contract would be tendered in early 2016.

The firms that involved in talks with the developer were understood to be:

• Alec (local)
• Arabian Construction Company (ACC; Lebanon)
• Arabtec Construction (local)
• Bel Hasa Six Construct (local/Belgium)
• Brookfield Multiplex (Canada)
• Samsung C+T (South Korea)

The completion date is set for 2019 ahead of the Dubai Expo in 2020.

The scheme was approved by UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum in February 2015.

The 60-storey tower will be about 300 metres tall and will feature the world’s tallest ceramic facade. It has been designed by sustainability expert Werner Sobek and architect Ben van Berkel.

One of the key features is the exterior self-lighting techniques that will be utilised to reflect various occasions and events held in the city.