The international applicants are Turkey’s Alsim Alarko, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Company and Samwhan Corporation, both of South Korea and India’s Larsen & Toubro. They are joined by five local firms, Strabag Oman, Desert Line Projects, Bahwan Contracting Company, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, and Al-Shanfri Trading Company.

The client, the Transport & Communications Ministry, is expected to issue invitation to bid documents soon, once prequalification evaluation is complete.

Bids were submitted in March for the first construction package at the airport, which includes the civil engineering works. Desert Line Projects is the low bidder with a price of $23.2m.

Ras al-Hadd is a popular but remote tourist destination on the eastern tip of Oman. The airport will allow visitors to avoid a long road journey from Muscat (MEED 25:3:08).

Oman is developing six airports. Others are planned at Sohar, Adam, Haima and Shaleem.