The local Al-Qabdah Building Contracting has begun mobilising for an estimated $190m contract to build a 106-storey residential tower in Dubai Marina.

The main contract was awarded in December last year, and is the first construction deal for a 100-storey-plus tower to be awarded in Dubai for more than six years. The project is the latest demonstration of the confidence that has returned to the emirate’s real estate and construction sectors.

The local Middle East Foundations is completing the shoring and piling works before work on the main construction contract can start. The local National Engineering Bureau (NEB) is the consultant. The client is the local GGICO Properties.

There are two other 100-storey-plus towers in the design stage in Dubai. The tallest is the 660-metre-tall, 115-storey Burj 2020. The project client, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), expects construction work on the Burj 2020 tower project to start in 2015. The tower has been designed to be the world’s tallest commercial tower.

The other planned tower is the 520-metre-tall, 110-storey Entisar tower. The mixed-use skyscraper, which was first revealed in 2012 and will have a hotel and freehold residential units, including apartments, sky villas and penthouses, featuring private sky gardens and balconies. The architect for the tower is US-based Ae7.

Before the end of 2008, there were three contract awards on 100-storey-plus towers in the UAE. The largest and most high-profile awards was in December 2004, when Dubai-based Emaar Properties awarded the $875m construction contract for the 828-metre, 163-storey Burj Khalifa. The winning contractor was a joint venture of South Korea’s Samsung C&T, the local/Belgian Belhasa Six Construct and the local Arabtec Construction. The tower was completed in 2010.

In 2006, local developer Tameer awarded Lebanon’s Arabian Construction Company (ACC) a $188m contract for the construction of the 413-metre, 101-storey Princess Tower at Dubai Marina. The project was completed in 2012.

Construction work on the 432-metre, 101-storey Marina 101 tower, which is now known as Dream Dubai Marina, restarted in 2012 and is expected to finish this year. Turkey’s TAV was awarded the $218m main construction contract in 2007.