UAE-based contractor Drake & Scull International (DSI) has a won a AED465 ($126.6m) contract to provide mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services for the Nile Corniche project in Cairo, Egypt.

DSI will commence work on the project immediately, and the development is estimated for completion in 2014. This is the first project that DSI has won in Egypt.

The Nile Corniche project is a mixed-use development, which will involve the construction of a hotel and serviced apartments. The development is located in downtown Cairo.

The development will consist of two towers, an eight-level podium and a four-level underground car park. The first 37-storey tower will contain 102 apartments with four penthouse apartments. The second 38-storey tower will contain a hotel with 226 standard rooms, 60 suites and 98 serviced apartments.

Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) is the main contractor for the development. The client is the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

The project is part of DSI’s strategy to diversify into other regional markets. DSI was recently selected by state oil major Saudi Aramco to build the commercial buildings for the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies Research Centre (Kapsarc) in Riyadh (MEED 21:1:11).