Local developer Emaar Properties has invited contractors to bid for contracts covering enabling and foundations works for two pavilions at the Dubai Expo 2020 site.

The two tenders are for the Mobility and Sustainability pavilions.

The UK’s Laing O’Rourke is providing pre-construction services for both pavilions.

Architects won design competitions for the two pavilions last year. The UK’s Foster + Partners won the competition for the contract to design the mobility pavilion, while Grimshaw Architects, also of the UK, submitted the winning entry for the sustainability pavilion.

Emaar is also developing Project Star at the Expo site in joint venture with Dubai World Trade Centre. It received bids for the contract to build the retail centre at the end of May.

Contractors submitted bids for the contract to build the UAE Pavilion in February. The companies that have submitted offers are understood to include:

• Al-Shafar General Contracting (local)
• Arabtec Construction (local)
• HLG Contracting (local/Australia)
• Strabag / Ed Zuebin (local/European)

That pavilion is expected to cover up to 15,000 square metres and will include numerous exhibition areas, an auditorium, food and beverage outlets, and VIP lounges. It will be located facing Al-Wasl Plaza, which lies at the centre of the 2 million-sq-m exhibition zone.

The UAE’s National Media Council (NMC) selected Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava’s falcon-inspired design for the scheme in May last year. Masdar is the development manager for the UAE pavilion.

The Expo site is one of Dubai’s most high-profile projects. Dubai says it will award 47 construction contracts worth AED11bn ($3bn) in 2017.

In March the local/UK Al-Futtaim Carillion will be the main contractor for the AED2.2bn ($599m) deal to build the three Theme Districts.