Prospective bidders include:

The local Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises with Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East), local/South African, and Japan's Takenaka Corporation;

Nasa Multiplex, local/Australian, with the local Associated Construction & Investments (Ascon);

Bel Hasa Six Construct, local/Belgian, with South Korea's Samsung Corporationand the local Arab Technical Construction Company (Arabtec);

Al-Naboodah Laing O' Rourke, local/UK, with Hong Kong-based Hip Hing;

Dutco Balfour Beatty, local/UK, with Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC);

Grocon of Australia,with the local Dubai Civil Engineering (DCE); and

Taisei Corporation of Japan, with Lebanon's Arabian Construction Company (ACC) and IJM of Malaysia.

The main contract on the landmark development calls for the construction of a 705-metre-high tower, a podium, aquatic features, pedestrian boulevards and car parks.

A team of Germany's Bauer and the local Middle East Foundationsis carrying out the pilings package under an estimated AED 60 million ($16 million) contract (MEED 5:3:04). Bids are also due to be submitted by 14 March for another package, covering the construction of a 3.7-metre raft foundation (MEED 27:2:04).

The US' Skidmore Owings & Merrill is the architectural design consultant; the project manager is Turner International, also of the US. The client is the local Emaar Properties.