Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada) has taken over the management of the Shamkha South development, located on the emirate’s mainland about 50km south of Abu Dhabi island.

The project was previously managed by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Housing & Service Facilities Developments (ADCHS). The government decided in May to dissolve ADCHS and transfer ownership of their projects, including Shamkha South, to the state-owned Musanada.

“By decree, Musanada has taken over Abu Dhabi Housing Centre, so all of Abu Dhabi Housing Centre projects have been transferred to Musanada. Shamkha South is part of this process,” says a source involved with the project.

Infrastructure packages that ADCHS previously received bids for are not going to be retendered, adds the source.

In April, ADCHS received bids for four infrastructure packages on the Shamkha South development. According to sources involved in the process, about 20 groups have submitted bids for the contracts, which have an estimated total value of about AED9bn ($2.4bn).

The contract involves the construction of 80 kilometres of main roads, 270km of minor roads, as well as street lighting, stormwater drainage, sewage systems and electrical distribution networks (MEED 25:4:10).

The Shamkha South development, covering a total area of 40 square kilometres, is expected to house up to 200,000 residents in 43 neighbourhoods. It will feature parks, shops, mosques, hospitals, shopping and retail facilities, clinics, health clubs, schools, playgrounds and entertainment areas. The infrastructure also has a green belt connecting the parks with the city centre.

The masterplan consultant is the Abu Dhabi office of KEO International Consultants.

The local developer Sorouh Real Estate is also planning to develop a large residential project at Shamkha. The AED15bn development will contain 6,453 residential units, 14 local and grand mosques, nine schools, offices, four health clinics and community centres.

The project will cover a total area of 12 million sq m.

The local office of KEO is currently working on the masterplan for the development. The designs are expected to be completed by the end of the year (MEED 23:4:10).