Five groups submitted bids in early September for the main package on the Park Place residential tower project in Dubai. The award of the estimated $75 million-80 million contract is expected by October (MEED 25:6:04).

The bidders are: a joint venture of Lebanon's Arabian Construction Company (ACC) and the UK's Higgs & Hill; the local/Australian Nasa Multiplex; the local/South African joint venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprisesand Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East); the local Al-Hamed Development & Construction; and Australia's Grocon, with Dubai Civil Engineering.

The contract covers sub- and superstructure works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and finishes for the tower, which will have a gross floor area of about 75,000 square metres, and an associated multi-storey car park.

The project manager on the development is Australia's Clifton Coney Stevensand the design architect is Cox Architecture, also of Australia. The client is a local investor.