The council will announce a shortlist of prequalified contractors in late December.

Tenders will be due for submission in early January.

An award is expected in late January. It will be a fixed-price lump sum contract.

The UK-based consultancy team is comprised of Faulkner Browns as the architect, Arup as the engineer and Davis Langdon as the cost consultant.

The emirate won the bid to host the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships in 2006.

The races will be held in a 10-lane, 25-metre pool. The event is held every two years.

In 2008, the contest will be held in the UK city of Manchester.