The Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has invited companies to prequalify for four construction packages worth a total of OR100m ($260m) to build a convention centre and other facilities on the outskirts of Muscat.

Contractors have until 30 November to submit prequalification documents for the four separate construction packages.

The first package is for the construction of the 6,000 capacity convention centre, and the second is for a 30,000-square metre exhibition hall, car parking and energy centre. The third package is for the construction of a five-star hotel and the fourth is for infrastructure work. This will include the construction of site roads and the provision of utilities.

Omran has awarded the local Al-Awazi International a OR2.7m contract for the site preparation and enabling works package for the convention and exhibition centres. The local contractor was awarded the contract in October after submitting the lowest price out of 16 bidders.

Earlier in the year, UK-based RMJM was awarded the main consultancy contract, which involves design and engineering work for the project. Canada’s Hanscomb & Company saw off competition from eight other consultants to win the quantity surveying contract for the development.

US-based WATG is master-planning the development, which will be built four kilometres from Muscat International Airport.

WATG is also working on another major project in the Muscat area, the House of Musical Arts. The firm was appointed as the architectural consultant for the opera building, and is also involved with the design work on the landscape garden (MEED 16:7:10).