Contractors have submitted bids for the deal to build infrastructure for the $33bn Al-Maktoum International airport expansion project in Dubai.

The work involves building site offices, roads, drainage and sewerage lines, and other utilities that will be used by firms working on the expansion. Over the summer, the local Tristar was awarded the contract to complete the enabling works, which covers earthmoving works for the entire 36-square-kilometre site.

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) is the project owner. For consultants, Lebanon’s Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) has been appointed for the design and supervision of the passenger terminal building and other landside areas.

The ambitious upgrade to the airport will make it the biggest in the world by 2050, with the capacity to handle 255 million passengers a year. The planned construction work includes the new terminal building, six nodes or concourses connected to the terminal by people-movers, and new runways.

An expansion to the existing terminal at the airport is also under way. On 1 November, the Dubai government said it is aiming to raise an initial finance package of $3bn to fund its airport expansion plans.

Dubai Department of Finance, Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) will coordinate to raise finance jointly.

The UK’s HSBC is the financial adviser.

They will tap both conventional and Islamic sources.