Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) is in talks with selected contractors to build the Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island.

The selected contractors, which were the three shortlisted bidders after offers were submitted in December 2013, are:

• El-Seif Engineering Contracting (Saudi Arabia)/San Jose (Spain)
• Six Construct Abu Dhabi (local/Belgium)/Dhabi Contracting (local)

It is understood that the three groups are negotiating with TDIC to reach a target price.

The main construction contract includes the concrete superstructure, structural steelwork and specialist cladding, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and the interior fit-out.

The project, which was originally unveiled as part of the Saadiyat Island masterplan in 2006, has been delayed for most of this decade following a strategic review of future projects by Abu Dhabi government in 2011.

In 2010, Italy’s Swissboring completed the enabling works, the local NSCC completed the piling, and a joint venture of the local/Australian Habtoor Leighton Group and South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors completed the substructure.

Construction work is in the final stages for the nearby Louvre museum. The main construction contract was awarded to a joint venture of Arabtec, San Jose and Oger Abu Dhabi. At the time the targeted completion date was the end of 2015.