Nakheel invites bidders for QE2 residential towers contract

04 July 2008
Local developer Nakheel has invited five contractors to bid for a contract to build a real estate development next to the QE2 cruise ship, which is due to be moored permanently alongside the Palm Jumeirah.

Companies invited include three locals, Alec, Arabtec Construction and Khansaheb Civil Engineering, the local/South African joint venture of Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray & Roberts Contractors (Middle East), and Japan’s Taisei Corporation.

The deadline for bids, which is the first part of a two-stage tender process, is 13 July. The contract is worth AED2bn ($545m) in total.

The project is located close to the Trump International hotel
and tower, and involves the construction of two 18-floor residential towers, a four-floor luxury apartment building and underground parking.

The built-up area of the residential buildings is 80,000 square metres and a further 80,000 sq m is planned for car parking.

The consultant is UK-based Holfords. The architect is Australia’s PTW. The Al-Habtoor Murray & Roberts joint venture was awarded the AED2.9bn contract for the Trump tower project in June (MEED 4:6:08).

Nakheel bought the QE2 from UK-based Cunard Line in 2007 for $100m. It will arrive in Dubai, where it will be used as a floating hotel and museum, in November.

Also on the Palm Jumeirah, Kuwait-based developer IFA Hotels & Resorts has awarded the local Dubai Contracting Company the AED1bn contract to build the first phase of the Kingdom of Sheba resort.

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