Local developer Arada has awarded the US’ Jacobs the infrastructure design contract for its Aljada development in Sharjah.

The consultancy contract is for work on the AED1.2bn ($327m) infrastructure that is planned for Aljada. Jacobs will manage all aspects of infrastructure delivery for the project, including roads, water, power and drainage, ensuring full integration with the overall masterplan.

Aljada is a 2 square kilometre residential community that Arada says has a sales value of AED24bn. Construction work is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2018 and the entire project is expected to be completed by 2025. The first units will be delivered in 2019.

In early January, Arada announced that it had secured a AED1bn Islamic financing facility with two major UAE banks, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank, to help fund the development of Aljada.