DSC kicks off stadia plans

16 September 2005
At least 12 international and local groups have been invited to bid by 15 October for the contract to build the first of four stadia planned at the Dubai Sports City (DSC) development. The tender, covering the construction of a 25,000-seat cricket stadium, is the first in a series due to be issued (MEED 1:7:05).

Tenders are due imminently for the construction of a multi-purpose outdoor stadium. DSC recently opted to increase its capacity to 60,000 seats from 25,000 enabling it to stage major international sporting events. The local Middle East Foundations (MEF)is carrying out the piling works for both the cricket and multi-purpose outdoor stadia.

In total, DSC will have four stadia including a 10,000-seat indoor arena and a 10,000-seat hockey stadium. The two smaller stadia tenders are due out by late September. DSC is looking to award a separate contract for the steel and membrane roof works on the four stadia, which will then be assigned to the main contractor.

Australia's Clifton Coney Group is the project manager for the stadia. Germany's Architekten von Gerkan, Marg & Partners (GMP)is the architect and designer. The structural subconsultant for the roofing is Stuttgart-based Schlaich, Bergermann & Partner, while Kuk, Kress & Kiefer, also of Germany, has the sub-consultancy for the stadiums' bowl structures. The local Ian Banham is the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) consultant. The stadia are set to open in 2007.

Work on DSC's infrastructure is also pressing ahead, after the local Wade Adams Contracting completed the advanced grading works package. Fifteen companies have been invited to bid by mid-October for the main infrastructure package on the 5.5 million-square-metre development. The scope of works includes the construction of internal roads, telecommunications infrastructure, potable water, sanitary and drainage systems. The bid deadline has been extended to 26 September for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract on the 25,000-cubic-metre-a-day sewage treatment plant serving DSC. The infrastructure consultant is Lebanon's Khatib & Alami.

Six local and international companies have been invited to submit bids by 21 September for the main construction package of the Victory Heights golf course, the Dunes. The bidders are Orient Irrigation Services, Wade Adams Contracting, Al-Naboodah Contracting Company, all local, US-based Formostand the Australian/local joint venture of Turnpointwith Septech Emirates. An award is expected to be made in early October.

The 18-hole course was designed by Ernie Els Design; US-based Troon Golfwill manage the facility. The client is Victory Heights Golf Residential Development, a consortium made up of Bahrain-based Arcapitaand US-based East West Partners. The UK's Mace Internationalis the project manager. Spanning an area of 2.5 million square metres, the estimated $500 million Victory Heights project covers half of DSC. The local Diar Consultis the design consultant for the villas.

Several companies have also signed up to operate academies within Victory Heights including Manchester United Football Club, The Butch Harmon School of Golf, David Lloyd Tennis Academies and the International Cricket Council (ICC). The UK's Godwin, Austen & Johnstonhas been selected to design the academies.

Completion of the entire DSC project is due by 2010. Total project costs are now estimated at about $2,800 million. Located in the 2,500 million-square-foot Dubailand development, DSC is being promoted by a group of local investors - Abdul Rahim al-Zarooni, Abdul Rahman Fal

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