At least three companies have submitted bids for the estimated AED 1,500 million ($409 million) main construction contract at Exhibition City. The bidders include the local Alec, South Africa's Group Five, and South Korea's Samsung Corporation. The contract involves sub and superstructure work, including the construction of 250,000 square metres of exhibition space. Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) is the consultant on the scheme. Selected companies have also been invited to express interest in the first phase of the AED 16,000 million ($4,358 million) redevelopment of the Dubai World Trade Centre district. The proposal includes a convention centre, office and residential towers, hotels and hotel apartments, shopping facilities, and the Landmark Tower to be built next to Emirates Towers. The project will be developed over seven to 10 years. Phase 1 will be split into six construction packages. They will cover the construction of 242,000 square metres of offices, a five-star hotel and apartments covering 150,000 square metres, a 35,000-square metre four-star hotel, a 22,000 square metre three-star hotel, a 450,000-square metre basement, 20,000 square metres of retail space, and landscaping and infrastructure works. The first two packages to be tendered will be for the piling and basement works. Piling work is expected to start in January. Tender documents are expected in November for the 18-month basement contract. The local Khansaheb Civil Engineering is working on the excavation. UK-based Mace International is the project manager. The UK-based consultancy team is led by Hopkins Architects, with WSP as the engineer (MEED 16:2:07). www.meed.com/construction