For the design and build airport operations facilities package, El-Seif has bid QR 351 million ($96 million), 40 per cent cheaper than the quote of the next lowest bidder, Cyprus' Joannou & Paraskevaides(J&P), which offered QR 493 million ($135 million). The only other bidder is Turkey's Bayturat QR 613 million ($168 million).

Other packages, for which design and build bids have been submitted are:

Air control tower and support facilities. An award is expected in November after prices were opened in mid-September. The low bidder is Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC)at QR 299 million ($82 million);

Airline support facilities package. The package has been reissued for bid to the four original bidders, after a major element, the maintenance hangar, was removed from the scope. Bids are due back in the second half of November from Turkey's Enka; a joint venture of Greece's Aktor, the local Darwish Engineering, Bahrain's Cebarcoand Italy's Cimolai; J&P; and CCC;

Utility package. Revised prices are due to be submitted in November after the original bids came in well above budget. The bidders are a joint venture of Aktor and the UAE's ETA Engineering & Contracting, and Japan's Marubeni Corporation.

Other design and build packages out to bid include:

Passenger terminal complex. Bids are due on 21 November for what is the largest single package on the phase 1 development. Out of the 11 original prequalifiers, four-five groups are preparing to bid;

Emiri terminal. Bids are due on 13 November, although an extension is widely expected. Fourteen groups are prequalified, but several have already declined;

Fuel systems. Bids are scheduled to be submitted on 15 November. Seven groups are prequalified;

Airline engineering offices and airline operating facilities. Six companies and groups are prequalified to bid.