Thermo will be assisted on the SAS element of the contract by France's Alcateland the US' Arinc. Specialist subcontractors have been taken on for six MEP subpackages, while the Hong Kong office of the UK's Amecwill provide engineering project management services.

The 28-month package involves MEP and SAS services for: terminal 3, an underground structure covering a total area of 532,000 square metres; the open-air car park structure, which will have a built-up area of 257,000 square metres; and the 670,000-square-metre concourse 2.

Two other groups were competing for the contract, which for tendering purposes was known as AX 324. They were: the local/UK BK Gulf, with the local Emirates Trading Agency (ETA); and Kuwait's Kharafi National, with India's Voltas International.

The MEP package is the largest subcontract to be assigned by the client to the Al-Habtoor/M&R/Takenaka venture, which was awarded the AED 3,600 million ($981 million) main package in mid-December. Other packages to be assigned cover fit-out and ceiling works. The consultant on the Dubai airport expansion is the joint venture of Lebanon's Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners)and Aeroports de Paris.

The airport contract is the first of three major MEP contracts due to be awarded in Dubai. A contractor is expected to be selected in the first half of January for the $300 million-plus MEP package on the Dubai Mall project, for which the joint venture of the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beattyand Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC)is the main contractor. It will be followed by the award of the MEP package on the Burj Dubai development, for which the South Korean/Belgian/local jv of Samsung Corporation, Besixand Arabtec Constructionwas awarded the $875 million main contract in early December. The client on both Dubai Mall and Burj Dubai is the local Emaar Properties(MEED 10:12:04).

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