Four companies have been shortlisted for the estimated BD 30 million ($78.9 million) main construction contract on the planned Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI) Medical University of Bahrain at Muharraq. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2007.

Among the shortlisted bidders are Ahmed Mansour al-A'Aali and Nass Contracting, both local, and Cyprus-registered GP Zachariades. However, the race is understood to have narrowed to two, with negotiations ongoing and an award expected imminently.

The project covers construction of a new campus for the university, currently based in temporary premises in

Seef. The campus covers an

area of about 90,000 square metres. The scheme also includes a hotel and healthcare facilities.

Germany's Keller Grundbau completed the piling works. Ireland's Mercury is the project manager. RSCI is the client. The facilities will be built adjacent to the new King Hamad General Hospital, for which the main construction contract was awarded in early August (MEED 11:8:06).