Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has awarded the local Dhabi Contracting a AED670m ($182.4m) contract to build the first phase of the Saadiyat Beach apartments on Saadiyat island.

The work involves the construction of six apartment buildings on the beach district of Saadiyat island, close to St Regis Resort and the Saadiyat Beach Residences. The development will contain 495 rooms in total and the construction work is expected to take 21 months to complete.

The work involves the construction of six apartment buildings on the beach district of Saadiyat Island

TDIC has appointed the French group Soletanche Bachy to carry out the piling and excavation works. This work is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2010. 

The beach apartment scheme has been designed by US-based architects JZMK and AN Design.

When completed the Saadiyat Beach Apartment development will contain 14 apartment buildings and will be divided into three different neighbourhoods. Each neighbourhood will also contain a swimming pool and sports facilities.

In August last year, TDIC awarded an estimated AED1bn contract to build 295 villas at Saadiyat Beach Residences to the local Al-Jaber Group(MEED 27:8:09).

The $27.2bn Saadiyat Island project is one of the largest real estate schemes in the UAE. It includes hotels, villas, golf courses and a cultural district.

This district includes the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum, a performing arts centre and a maritime museum.

In October 2009, TDIC opened the $191m Saadiyat Bridge. The causeway connects Saadiyat Island to Abu Dhabi island and the nearby Yas Island, which is being developed by the local Aldar Properties (MEED 29:11:09) .