Dubai-based Emaar Properties awarded in early December the three-strong joint venture, led by South Korea’s Samsung Corporation, the main contract on Burj Dubai, set to be the world’s tallest building.

The award of the estimated $875 million contract to the venture, which also includes the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct and the local Arabtec Construction, leaves the way open for work to begin on the tower in early 2005 (MEED 3:12:04).

The selection ended nine months of intense bidding for the landmark contract, which attracted bids from about seven international groups. In the end, competition was narrowed down to the Samsung venture and a consortium made up of the local/South African venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East), Japan’s Takenaka Corporation, and Malaysia’s WCT.

The main contract, which will take 47 months from 1 January, will involve the construction of a 705-metre-tall high-rise. With Emaar intent on constructing the world’s tallest structure, there is a possibility that the building will go even higher if rival projects emerge. Burj Dubai will house retail, offices, apartments and a hotel.

A team of Germany’s Bauer and the local Middle East Foundations was awarded in April the pilings package for Burj Dubai, while the local Nasa Multiplex was the contractor for the raft foundations package.

The US’ Turner Construction International is the project manager; the design consultant is Skidmore Owings & Merrill, also of the US.

The tower will be the centrepiece of the Burj Dubai development, which also takes in Dubai Mall and the old town development. A joint venture of the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) was awarded in October the estimated $730 million contract to build Dubai Mall, while bidding is under way for several packages on the old town complex (MEED 26:11:04; 22:10:04).