Contractors have been given more time to prepare bids for the contract to build new infrastructure for the $33bn Al-Maktoum International airport expansion project in Dubai.

The tender closing date is now 6 November. The previous deadline was 30 October.

The works 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 work for the entire 36 square kilometre site.

Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) is the project client. 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.