The contract involves the construction and commissioning of a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 50,000 cubic metres-a-day.

Prospective bidders include Concorde-Corodex Group, Eagle Electro Mechanical, Metito and Septech Emirates, all local, Spain's Cadagua, Degremont and Veolia, both of France, South Korea's Samsung Engineering Company, Singapore's Sembawang Engineers & Contractors (MEED 19:10:07).

Building work could start on Palm Deira this year after Nakheel approached contractors to bid for the first building package in April. The first project involves the construction of six buildings on an island facing the mainland. Three of the buildings will be 17-floor residential blocks, two will be 20-floor office structures, and the sixth will be a 24-floor office tower. It also involves the construction of a restaurant on a small offshore island.

Nakheel released details of the redesigned island in May last year. The new design of the project is understood to have dramatically reduced the cost of building the palm, in part due to a shortening of its length from more than 14km to 12.5km. The islands will be linked to the mainland by a series of road bridges, as well as a metro rail link.

The local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct is working on the bridge that will provide access onto the island from the mainland. Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority is the client.