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Dubai Municipality has appointed transaction advisers for its Dubai strategic sewerage tunnels project, which is expected to require an investment of up to $22bn.

According to industry sources, Abu Dhabi-headquartered Tribe Infrastructure Group has been appointed as the client's financial adviser, while UK-based Ashurst has been appointed as legal adviser.

Dubai Municipality recently reissued a request inviting firms to express interest in the contract to provide project management consultancy for the project.

Interested companies are expected to submit prequalification forms by 26 October.

MEED previously reported that firms were asked to express interest by 11 August for the deep tunnels and sewage treatment plants across the emirate of Dubai.

Known as the Deep Tunnels Portfolio, the scheme will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative and will involve developing assets across the city of Dubai and Hatta.

It involves the construction of two sets of deep tunnels terminating at two terminal pump stations located at sewerage treatment plants (STPs) in Warsan and Jebel Ali. A conventional sewage and drainage collection system and STPs will be built in Hatta.

The scheme also includes recycled water distribution systems connected to the STPs.

Dubai’s Executive Council approved the project in June and said it would require an investment of about AED80bn ($22bn). It added that the project has been designed to serve the needs of the Dubai population for the next 100 years in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Urban Plan 2040.