Local developer Emaar Properties has invited firms to bid by 23 October for the contract to build what could be the world’s tallest tower at its Dubai Creek Harbour development.

The contractors that have been invited to bid are understood to include:

• Arabian Construction Company (ACC; Lebanon)
• Dutco Balfour Beatty (local/UK)
• Six Construct (Belgium)
• Tishman (US)

The fast-track project is scheduled to be awarded by the end of December.

The tower is the most high-profile building scheme Dubai has launched ahead of the 2020 Expo, and could be the world’s tallest if its height exceeds the under-construction Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which is planned to be 1,008 metres tall.

In an interview with US news agency CNN in early June, Alabbar said the tower would be 100 metres taller than the world’s tallest building as of now, Burj Khalifa, which has a total height of 828 metres.

Alabbar also said it will cost about $1bn to construct and will be completed in time for the 2020 Expo.

The consultants working on the tower scheme are Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava Valls and the local office of consultancy Aurecon, which is being supported by the UK’s RMJM. The project manager is the US’ Parsons.