Contractors have until 29 October to submit their prequalification bids for the runway and apron expansion projects of the Fujairah International airport.

The scope includes extending the existing runway by 900 metres in addition to the construction of a new apron, terminal and car park, and the supply and installation of an air traffic control tower.

Contractors that have expressed an interest in the project and which are currently preparing prequalification responses include Hilalco, Darwish Engineering and Saif bin Darwish (SBD). All three contractors’ headquarters are located in Abu Dhabi, although the bulk of SBD’s aggregate crushing operations are located in Fujairah.

Other firms interested in the project, which could possibly include Habtoor Leighton and UK’s Laing O’Rourke, are understood to be preparing to prequalify for the project as well.

The client for the project is the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), which signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Fujairah International airport to create an airport development master plan in 2014.

The project aims to increase the emirate’s traffic volumes and support its economic expansion strategy.

General manager of Fujairah Municipality Mohamed al-Afkham told MEED in May that Fujairah was emerging as a major oil and transport hub, but its ability to expand was limited due to the shortage of land.

Mountains account for more than 80 per cent of the emirate’s 1,500 square kilometre land area and its airport is the only of the UAE’s five international airports to be located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman.