The award came 16 months after seven local companies submitted bids for the contract. Nael & Bin Harmal was the low bidder at AED 98.8 million ($27 million), some 4 per cent cheaper than the next price of AED 102.8 million ($28 million) offered by Al-Faraa General Contracting Company (MEED 17:5:02).

The project comprises four elements. They are:

Landfill site. The main objective is to construct a landfill with associated infrastructure and related facilities to meet the anticipated demand for waste disposal in Al-Ain and surrounding areas for an initial five-year period;

Transfer stations. Four are to be built at Al-Hayer, Sweihan, Al-Khazna and Al-Wagan. Each station will comprise construction of a transfer platform, staff offices, roads and ramps, concrete aprons, paving works, landscaping and related works. The package also includes civil, electrical and mechanical works;

Sorting station. The package includes the construction of a sorting station for the separation of domestic non-organic and organic waste materials. The waste matter will be transferred by conveyors to an existing compost plant;

Waste incinerator. The package calls for the supply and installation of an incineration plant and the construction of a clinical waste incinerator and associated facilities.

The facilities will take 24-26 months to build. The UK's Entec Europe has carried out the basic designs for the project. The client is Al-Ain Municipality.