Dubai-based Nakheel has announced that it has awarded three contracts worth a total of AED563m ($152m) for construction work at its Al-Furjan and International City communities in Dubai.

Two contracts are for the construction of 401 villas and terraced houses at the Al-Furjan community. The first, covering 249 homes and valued at AED310.6m, was awarded to local Ginco General Contracting, while local United Engineering Construction won the second contract for 152 homes, valued at AED215.4m.

The duration of both contracts is 18 months.

Nakheel also awarded an AED36.8m contract to Abu Dhabi-based Metac General Contracting Company to build a new community retail centre at International City. Construction of the 79,000-square-foot shopping and dining facility is scheduled to take 12 months.

Since 2011, Nakheel has re-established itself as one of the most important clients for construction companies working in Dubai. The firm plans to tender construction contracts totalling more than AED6bn during 2014, as it continues to move forward with new projects.

The developer has recently launched several new schemes on Palm Jumeirah, including the Nakheell Mall, The Pointe, The Boardwalk and Palm West Beach.

Last month, the local Actco General Contracting submitted a low bid of AED1.18bn for the contract to build the Nakheel Mall, which will be located at the northern end of the trunk of Palm Jumeirah.