Local developer Deyaar has awarded the local Belhasa Engineering & Contracting Company the AED600m ($163m) main construction contract for two districts at its Midtown development in Dubai.

The 29-month contract covers the Afnan and Dania districts, and involves building 1,238 units. Afnan District features 659 apartments while Dania District has 579 apartments. Deyaar says it is aiming to complete 15 to 20 per cent of the project by the end of this year, and complete the superstructure by the end of 2018.

The Midtown project is located in Dubai Production City near Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. The overall development has 27 buildings with a built-up area of about 500,000 square metres.

In January, Deyaar signed an agreement to build a mixed-use project at the Dubai South development near to Al-Maktoum International airport.

The project will be built on an area of 118,000 square metres. The memorandum of understanding says it will be 50 per cent owned by Dubai South and 50 percent owned by Deyaar. It will feature residential units, shops, retail outlets and hospitality facilities.