On Reem island, the local Pal Company has been awarded the estimated AED 100 million ($27 million) dredging contract. The package calls for the dredging of 3.5 million cubic metres of material, plus rock works. The UK's Maunsell Consultancy Services is the consultant (MEED 4:11:05).

Boston-based CRGA has been appointed for the design of the Central Park district on Shams Abu Dhabi, following an international design competition in March. Covering an area of 8.5 hectares, the park will feature choreographed fountains equipped with live water displays. It will also have restaurants, retail outlets, recreational, cultural and sports facilities.

Sorouh is also evaluating bids for the piling package on its Sky Tower project. The 379-metre-high tower will be the tallest in Abu Dhabi when it is completed in 2009, and together with six other buildings, forms the Gate at the entrance to Reem island. US-based Arquitectonica is the consultant for the Gate project. The US' Hill International, with 3D/I+PI, made up of US-based 3D/I, Bahrain's Projacs International and the local Al-Qudra Holding, is the project manager for Shams Abu Dhabi.

Sorouh has also released further details of its Lulu island project. The masterplan calls for a low-density development made up of beaches and park space to create a leisure destination for Abu Dhabi. The project will involve the construction of 10 hotels and resorts, a conference and exhibition centre, and residential villas. The island will be linked to Abu Dhabi by bridges or a tunnel. Boston-based Sasaki Associates prepared the preliminary masterplan. Discussions are under way with consultants for the second phase of the masterplan (MEED 10:2:06).

Sorouh is also preparing plans for two smaller projects. The first is a hotel at Jebel Naqfa in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi. The project will be built next to Sorouh's already complete Al-Oyoon Village development that consists of about 150 villas. The second is a gated community made up of 400 housing units next to Abu Dhabi golf course. The design is 60 per cent complete and tenders are expected in June. A company identified as Hotak is the architect for both schemes.