The three prequalifiers are Dubai-based Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises in a joint venture with Australia's Gulf Leighton, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) and Spain's OHL.

Located at Education City on the outskirts of Doha, the complex will include a nine-storey hospital and accommodation for 350 nurses. The hospital, due to open in 2010, will have about 380 beds.

It will also serve as the primary teaching hospital of Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar, a branch of the New York-based medical school. The scheme will be supported by a $7,900 million endowment from

the foundation.

US-based Cesar Pelli & Associates is the architect. Ellerbe Becket, also of the US, is the design consultant. The project manager on Education City is the local office of KEO International Consultants. Project construction is being handled by Qatar Petroleum on behalf of the client, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development (MEED 1:6:07).

CCC and Leighton began projects at Education City in 2006. With its local joint venture partner Teyseer Contracting Company, CCC is building Carnegie Mellon's college of business and computer science, while Leighton has started work on the Al-Shaqab equestrian academy (MEED 13:10:06).