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Dubai-based real estate developer Nakheel, which is now part of local developer Dubai Holding, has issued a tender for constructing about 550 more villas on fronds A, B, C, D, E and F of Palm Jebel Ali, an artificial island located south of Jebel Ali Freezone.

MEED understands the tender was issued in February. The deadline for bids is 24 March, which will likely be extended.

It is understood that several local firms, including Shapoorji Pallonji, United Engineering Construction (Unec) and Ginco General Contracting, have been invited to bid.

US-headquartered Turner International is the project management consultant. Dubai-based Omnium International is the cost consultant.

The tender for more construction work at Palm Jebel Ali follows Nakheel’s award of three contracts worth AED5bn ($1.3bn) in October last year for the construction of 723 villas on fronds K, L, M, N, O and P.

The contracts were awarded to local firms including Ginco General Contracting, Shapoorji Pallonji and Unec.

According to an official statement, Ginco will deliver 197 villas on fronds O and P.

Shapoorji Pallonji will construct 275 villas on fronds M and N.

Unec will undertake the construction of 251 villas on fronds K and L.

The construction of villas is expected to be completed by 2026.

These contract awards followed the AED810m ($220m) contract awarded in August last year to complete the reclamation works for the project.

The contract was awarded to Belgium’s Jan de Nul and the scope includes dredging, land reclamation, beach profiling and sand placement supporting the construction of villas on all fronds.

Nakheel released details of the new masterplan for Palm Jebel Ali in June 2023. Twice the size of Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali will have 110 kilometres of shoreline and extensive green spaces. The development will feature more than 80 hotels and resorts, along with a range of entertainment and leisure facilities.

It includes seven connected islands that will cater to approximately 35,000 families. The development also emphasises sustainability, with 30% of public facilities powered by renewable energy.

Dubai’s heightened real estate activity is in line with GlobalData’s forecast that the construction industry will register annual growth of 3.9% in 2025-27, supported by investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, oil and gas, housing, industrial and tourism projects. 

The residential construction sector is expected to record an annual average growth rate of 2.7% in 2025-28, supported by private investments in the residential housing sector, along with government initiatives to meet rising housing demand.

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Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the March 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes: