The three-year PMC contract awarded by Al-Mal went to the local Projacs. The firm beat off competition from three other companies - the US' Turner Construction International, the local Engineering Systems Group( ESG)and the UK's DG Jones- for the contract, which calls for the supervision of both the detailed design and construction stages of the KD 40 million ($138 million) tourist resort, to be called Ikaros.

Al-Mal is in negotiation with consultants over the detailed design and engineering package, and is expected to announce the successful bidder by the end of November. The first of five construction packages is expected to be tendered in the second quarter next year, with the remaining tenders issued by the end of the third quarter.

Dizart has invited shortlisted bidders to submit offers for the main development packages. Fifteen companies and groups are prequalified to bid on the programme, which calls for the construction of tourism infrastructure on the 43-square-kilometre island, including hotels, chalets and leisure and entertainment facilities (MEED 24:9:04).