Dubai-based Kleindienst has appointed the local JK Bauen Building Contracting, China’s Wuchang Ship Building Industry Group Company and theChina’s Sino Great Wall International Engineering Company for work on The Heart of Europe on Dubai’s World islands.

Kleindienst says this formalises the awarding of construction projects worth AED4.8bn ($1.3bn), adding that engineering staff from the companies have been working on the projects following the signing of an earlier memorandum of understanding.

The companies will build all the hotels located on the The Heart of Europe’s main hub, Main Europe Island, villas on Germany Island, buildings and resort facilities on St Petersburg Island, as well as the buildings and infrastructure on the other three islands in the project.

Kleindienst said in 2010 that it had appointed Dubai-based City Diamond Contracting for the construction of the first luxury holiday villas on The World islands. Construction of the first luxury villa was scheduled for completion in late 2010. It also said at the time that the Germany Island will be handed over in 2011.

In 2014, Kleindienst said that contractors had started work on the project adding at the time that construction is expected to be completed in late 2016.