The low bidder is the local Darwish Contracting with a price of AED610m ($167m). The other bidders are the local Admak at AED679m ($186m), Turkey’s Yuksel at AED699m ($192m), and Italy’s Costruttori at AED875m ($239m).

The project is one of three road schemes planned for Al-Ain. In July bids were submitted for two contracts that will upgrade the highway leading to the Dubai border. Admak is the low bidder for both contracts.

Another scheme involves the upgrade of 34 kilometres of road between the Hilli roundabout and Nahil City. The works will turn the existing single carriageway road into a two-lane dual-carriageway. US-based Hill International is the project manager for all three projects.

A number of major developments are planned to the north of Al-Ain including a AED 40bn ($10.9bn) mixed-use development that will cover an area of 10-square kilometres (MEED 31:8:07).