The contract covers the dredging of 360 million cubic metres of sand and the placing of 12 cubic million tonnes of rock covering an area of 2,300 hectares over a six-year period. The work on the first island of the development will be executed mainly by trailer suction hopper dredgers that will collect sand from an offshore area about 20 kilometres away and ferry it to the waterfront area where it will be dumped or jetted into the reclamation area.

Dubai Waterfront is also evaluating bids for the project's first earthmoving package, which involves cutting and filling about 160 million cubic metres of material.

Launched in late 2004, the project will be built on the last remaining stretch of coastline before the Abu Dhabi border. The overall development comprises 10 districts covering an area of 170 square miles, almost three times the size of Washington DC. One of the project's main attractions is Al-Burj, which will be one of the world's tallest buildings and is being designed by US-based Pei Partnership (MEED 16:6:06).

Jan De Nul is working on the reclamation contract for Palm Jebel Ali, which is now part of the Dubai Waterfront development. Completion is scheduled for March 2007. Dubai Waterfront, a subsidiary of local real estate developer Nakheel, is the client.

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