Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has invited companies to prequalify for the contract to build the Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat Island.

The main construction contract includes the concrete superstructure, structural steelwork and specialist cladding, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and the interior fit-out.

The project has been delayed following a strategic review of future projects by Abu Dhabi government in 2011.

In 2010, TDIC has told companies that it will now procure contractors the estimated $1bn project using a series of traditional lumpsum contracts. The developer had originally planned to build the museum using a design and build contract.

Italy’s Swissboring completed the enabling works, the local NSCC completed the piling, and a joint venture of the local/Australian Habtoor Leighton Group and South Africa’s Murray & Roberts Contractors completed the substructure.

In January, TDIC awarded the main construction contract to build the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum on Saadiyat Island to a joint venture of the local Arabtec, Spain’s Constructora San Jose and Oger Abu Dhabi.