Tecom Investments is preparing to tender the construction of more mixed-use space at its Dubai Design District (D3) development.

Contractors submitted prequalification documents for the tender earlier this year.

It is understood that the works involve building office and retail space next to the existing buildings at D3. The consultants working on the scheme include the UK’s Foster + Partners, Canada’s WSP PB, and the local office of Rider Levett Bucknall.

The overall D3 development covers a total area of 21 million square feet, close to Mohammed bin Rashid City and adjacent to Dubai’s Business Bay.

It has been designed primarily as a business zone, with office space for more than 10,000 workers in the design, fashion and luxury sectors, but also as a retail and entertainment district.

It will have a 1.8 kilometre-long waterfront with retail, hotels, entertainment and residential.

There will be more than 2.5 million square feet of shopping space, as well as luxury, four-star and boutique hotels and furnished apartments with more than 4,000 rooms.

Phase one of the project was opened during the first half of 2015.