The local Al-Faraa General Contracting Company has been awarded the main construction contract for work on a residential scheme at Emaar’s Dubai Hills project.

The contractor has started mobilising work on the project, which will be made up of two residential buildings, comprising of approximately 470 apartment units.

The Dubai Hills scheme covers an area of 11 million square metres and includes gated villa communities, a commercial centre and high-end retail centres, as well as low-rise and mid-rise residences, hotels and serviced hotel apartments.

There will also be schools, clinics, mosques and an 18-hole golf course.

Canada’s EllisDon is the programme manager for the development.

Emaar Properties recently received bids from contractors for the development’s main retail centre. It also awarded India’s Shapoorji Pallonji an estimated $150m deal to build the business park at Dubai Hills.

Other contractors are already working on the scheme. The local Engineering Contracting Company (ECC) is working on the Mulberry Heights residential buildings, and the local Al-Basti Muktha is building villas at the development.