Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has set a tender closing date of 29 April for the contract to build the convention centre, known as package 3, at its convention and exhibition centre development near Muscat International airport.

The scope of work entails building the main auditorium, which will have a seating capacity of 3,100, a secondary auditorium with 450 seats, two ballrooms, a food court, 20 meeting rooms, roads and car parks. 

The 13 groups that have prequalified to bid are:

• Oman Shapoorji Pallonji (India)
• Alec (UAE)/Services & Trade (local)
• Douglas OHI (local)/Obayashi (Japan)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (Athens-based)
• Taylor Woodrow (UK)/Towell Construction & Company (local)
• Ssangyong Engineering & Construction (South Korea)/Al-Watanyiah United Engineering Construction Company (local)
• Carillion Alawi (local/UK)
• Al-Habtoor Leighton Group (UAE/Australia)/Dawood Contracting Company (local)
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)/Galfar Engineering & Contracting (local)
• Bahwan Engineering Group (local)/Murray & Roberts (South Africa)
• OHL (Spain)
• Larsen & Toubro (India)/Bahwan Construction Company (local)
• Six Construct (Belgium)/Al-Hajiry Trading (local)

Contractors are also preparing to submit bids for two hotels, packages 4 and 7, at the development. The closing date for package 4 is 4 March. The closing date for package 7 is 10 March.

In June 2013, Omran awarded a $202m contract to the local/UK Carillion Alawi for the second construction package on the project. Carillion Alawi will be responsible for the construction of 13 buildings, including exhibition halls with a gross floor area of 45,000 square metres, an energy centre, ancillary buildings for security, taxi services, maintenance, waste management facilities and electrical substations, and car parks for 4,200 vehicles.

In April 2010, UK-based RMJM was awarded the main consultancy contract, which involves design and engineering work for the project. Canada’s Hanscomb & Company is the quantity surveyor. US-based WATG is masterplanning the development.