The prospective bidders include Halcrow Group, Maunsell Consultancy Services, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, Mott MacDonald and Hyder Consulting, all of the UK, the UK/Dutch Posford Haskoningand Louis Berger International of the US.

In mid-May, plans were unveiled to build DMC - a major mixed-use offshore facility to serve the maritime industry. The project calls for the construction of facilities for the design, manufacture and repair of vessels, research centres for management, marketing, education and recreation, related maritime services and administrative buildings. Project costs are estimated to be AED 650 million ($177 million).

The facilities, to be located at a site between Port Rashid and Dubai Dry Docks, will be built as a peninsula over 25 million square feet. DMC will be connected to the mainland by a causeway.

The development will also serve as the new site for the Jadaf shipyard, which is planned to be relocated from Dubai creek. Halcrow Group is carrying out a study for the proposed relocation (MEED 26:4:02).

Ballast Ham Dredgingof the Netherlands is carrying out land reclamation works at Port Rashid for the proposed DMC under a $40 million contract awarded in April (MEED 11:4:03).

The work involves the dredging and reclamation of 30 million cubic metres of sand and the development of an outer breakwater. The contract is due to be completed by mid-2005. The project manager is the US' Hill International; the client is Dubai-based Nakheel.