JV closes in on Dubai Mall

01 October 2004
The joint venture of the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty (DBB) and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC)was on the verge of being awarded the main package on the Dubai Mall development in late September. Sources close to the project, which is part of the Burj Dubai development, said on 30 September that a letter of intent was being prepared by the client, Dubai-based Emaar Properties, in the venture's favour. The contract's value is expected to be about $700 million, although the final figure will be determined by provisional sums, which make up about 60 per cent of the total contract (MEED 28:5:04).

About five international companies were competing for the main contract on the mall, which will be the world's largest shopping centre. It will have a mall with 600,000 square metres of retail space and 700,000 square metres of car parking. The successful bidder will also build a major aquarium, a district cooling plant, external works and services. The mall is due to open in the fourth quarter of 2006 . The US' Turner Internationalis the project manager.

The award of the Dubai Mall contract is expected to be followed, possibly before the start of Ramadan in mid-October, by the selection of a main contractor on the Burj Dubai tower project. Bidders submitted a third round of clarifications in late September for the estimated $800 million main contract, which involves the construction of a tower approximately 700 metres high.

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