Dubai Expo infrastructure moves forward

28 June 2016

Contractors are competing for two deals

Development at Dubai’s Expo 2020 site is moving from the design phase into the construction phase as contractors submit bids for the first infrastructure packages on the project.

The Expo 2020 Bureau received bids from contractors on 19 June for infrastructure work at the Expo site. It is understood the contract involves general infrastructure work such as roads and drainage. The consultant is US-based Parsons International.

Firms are also preparing to submit offers of 11 July for an infrastructure deal connected to the Expo Village project that is being developed by Dubai World Trade Centre. The consultant is Parsons.

Grading works at the Expo site are understood to be nearing completion. The contractor is the local Al-Naboodah Contracting.

Architects were selected to design the main pavilions at the site earlier this year. The UAE’s National Media Council (NMC) selected Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava’s falcon-inspired design for the UAE pavilion.

In March, Dubai appointed the UK’s Foster+Partners and Grimshaw Architects, and Denmark’s Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to design three of the Expo 2020 pavilions.

A rapidly approaching deadline leads to concerns about what follows Expo

UAE expo pavilion

UAE expo pavilion

UAE expo pavilion

Ever since Dubai secured the rights to host the 2020 Expo in December 2013 the emirate’s construction market has been eagerly waiting to be inundated with tendering and contract awards.

After a disappointing 2015, the total value of awards made during the first quarter of 2016 suggests that the anticipated flurry in construction activity has now arrived. The market returned to positive growth after recording its second-best performing quarter since 2008 with $6.6bn of new contract awards.

With awards being made, the question that construction companies are now asking is how long can the emirate keep awarding new contracts? Read More

 

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.