The contract involves levelling a 820,000-square-metre site, after which villa construction is expected to start.

The UK's Hyder ACLA has been named the masterplanner and the UK's Hyder Consulting as the infrastructure consultant.

De Leeuw Middle East, part of the South African De Leeuw Group, is the quantity surveyor. The US' Hill International is the project manager and the local AJ Design is the architect.

Launched in January, Escape is located off the Emirates Road on the Ajman-Sharjah border. The equestrian-themed residential development offers villas, low-rise apartments, a boutique hotel and equestrian facilities. Completion is expected in 2010 (MEED 19:2:08).