Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) has invited consultants to submit design proposals and fees by 4 December for the new air traffic control tower at Al-Maktoum International airport.

The tender is open to consultancy companies that earlier expressed interest to join the design competition. These include:

• Aecom (US)
• Aeroports de Paris Ingenierie (ADPI; France)
• Arup (UK)
• Dar al-Handasah (Lebanon)
• HOK (US)
• Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF; US)

DAEP intends to “enter into an agreement” with the successful competitor.

It is understood the successful competitor will be able to modify its design concept but not the fees if it proceeds with the contract agreement.

The jury for the competition will include DAEP’s CEO Suzanne al-Anani, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) Khalifa al-Zaffin, DAEP’s senior director of development and masterplanning, and senior representatives from stakeholders as well as representatives from the industry.

The formal presentation is expected to be held between 11 and 18 December.

The scope of work for the consultancy that wins the design competition will include developing an attractive facility that complies with stringent air traffic control requirements. The design is also expected to adopt the latest technologies in order to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The scope includes design services associated with architecture, structure, and mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP) services, together with tender preparation and site supervision.

The scope does not include the design of navigational aids (Navaids), but the consultants are requested to make provision for coordination with the Navaids specialist designer “as required”.

The $32bn expansion of Al-Maktoum International will be delivered in two phases.

The air traffic control tower is part of the first phase of the expansion, to be completed in 2025. The other facilities to be built in this phase include:

• West terminal building, car park and public road links
• One satellite concourse
• Three parallel code F runways
• Cargo terminal

Upon completion of the final phase in 2045, the airport will feature:

• Five parallel code F runways
• Two terminals (east and west)
• Four satellite concourses featuring an innovative triple-plus layout encompassing three nodes. Each concourse is envisaged to have 100 contact stands to cater for 65 million passengers. This would bring total airport capacity to 225 million passengers a year
• Cargo facility (south)

The concept design for the West terminal has been completed by a team of Lebanon’s Dar al-Handasah and France’s ADPI. In March 2015, the UK’s Leslie Jones Architecture was appointed to carry out the commercial design work for the airport.

Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) is the frontrunner for the design consultancy contract for the West terminal and concourse building.