The four main packages on the Jebel Ali housing project have been awarded to local contractors. The contracts, totalling an estimated AED 340 million ($92.6 million), involve the construction of some 4,000 housing units for low and middleincome families to be built north of the existing Jebel Ali village. In mid-July, the first package on the development was awarded to the local Bin Ladin for the construction of roads and infrastructure to service the apartments (MEED 21:4:00).

The building packages are valued at AED 70 million-95 million ($19 million26 million) each. The successful local contractors are Obaidullah Contracting, Saleh Contracting, Al-Sahel Contracting and Fujairah National Construction Company. The client is Jebel Ali Properties, part of the Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority.

The one-three-bedroom apartment units will be housed in 129 buildings, spread over 150 hectares. Each building will contain a ground floor plus two storeys and will be designed to one of six building combinations. The project is to be implemented on a fast-track basis with completion set for 12 months. Work has already begun on the project.

The project manager is Hill International and DMJM International, both of the US, and the architectural consultant is Lebanon's Khatib & Alami.