US-based JZMK has been awarded the contract to prepare the schematic designs for the Samarah Rift element of the project and another US firm, F+A Architects together with Turkey’s Koray Insaat, will provide pre-construction services.

Samarah Rift is a one of four elements of the JD354m ($500m) Samarah Dead Sea Resort planned by The Dead Sea Touristic and Real Estate Company, a venture made up of Emaar International Jordan’s Dubai-based parent company Emaar Properties and a group of regional and Jordanian investors.

The Samarah Rift has two zones - the North Rift Area featuring the King Hussein Convention Centre, a business hotel and villas; and the South Rift Area with a mixed-use retail village and apartments (MEED 5:4:07).