Qatari state-owned company Manateq has awarded a QR1.69bn ($465m) contract to a joint venture of Spain’s Sacyr and local Urbacon Trading & Contracting (UCC).

The contract is for the design and construction of civil works for Qatar Economic Zone 1 (QEZ-1) in Ras Bufontas.

The Ras Bufontas section will cover 4.1 square kilometres and be a logistics and hi-tech centre.

The contract is due for completion in 2017.

UCC has already carried out enabling works for QEZ1, which will cover 38 square kilometres in total. It is next to the new Hamad Port project, the first phase of which was completed earlier this year, ahead of schedule.

Japan’s Mitsubishi is to develop an independent power and water project in the economic zone. It will have capacity of 2,280-2,520MW and 123.5-136.5 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD) of water.

Qatar has awarded several major contracts in early July. A joint venture of Italy’s Salini Impregilo and local Bin Omran won a $335m contract to build roads and infrastructure in Northern Qatar

A joint venture of Salini Impregilo, local Galfar Engineering and Italy’s Cimolai also won the $850m contract from the local Aspire Zone to build the Al-Bayt stadium in Al-Khor.