Local developer Dubai South has awarded a $82m infrastructure contract to a local firm for work on its Dubai South real estate scheme near Al-Maktoum Airport.

The contract, which was awarded to Abu Dhabi’s Tristar Engineering and Construction, will see the firm complete all infrastructure work for the first two phases of the residential district by the final quarter of 2017.

The scope of the work includes 2.2 square kilometres and covers all associated infrastructure work, including roads and potable water, sewerage, and district cooling networks. It also includes all electrical and telecommunication works, road lighting and gas networks.

The client said in September last year that it was developing a luxurious freehold residential cluster at Dubai South with a budget of AED25bn ($6.8bn).

The first cluster will feature 6,000 residential units, with construction set to start in 2016. The first dwellers should move in by 2019.

Earlier this month, local developer Mag 5 Property Development awarded the local Fujairah National Construction Company an estimated $191m contract to build its Boulevard project at Dubai South.

The project is a medium-income housing community located close to the Expo 2020 site and Dubai Parks. It includes villas, townhouses, apartments, schools and public areas.