neeringhasbeen awarded the contract to carry out the shopping mall and the west car park package on the proposed Mall of the Emirates retail development in Dubai (MEED 19:9:03; 25:7:03).

Estimated to be worth AED 550 million ($150 million), the two-year contract covers the construction of a two-storey complex offering leisure and entertainment facilities, providing 2.4 million square feet of retail facilities.

A second major award is pending on the project, previously known as Souk al-Nakheel. For the snow centre and east car park package, five companies submitted bids by the end-September deadline. They are: the local/South African joint venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises,with Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East); the local/Australian Nasa Multiplex; the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct,with the local Arab Technical Construction Company (Arabtec);the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing; and Khansaheb. The client is expected to shortlist three companies for further talks.

The contract, worth AED 200 million-250 million ($54 million-68 million), covers the construction of: a 1,500-capacity ski resort; five ski runs, including a 400-metre-long ski slope; chiller units with capacity of 6,000 tonnes of snow; and related works.

The project manager is the UK's Mace; the structural engineering consultant is Mott MacDonald, also of the UK. The client is the local Majid al-Futtaim Group of Companies.