Work on one of Dubai’s biggest office and hotel projects is set to continue after Al Futtaim Carillion was awarded a Dh721 million contract to build a second phase of the Dubai Trade Centre District.
The developer, Dubai World Trade Centre, said yesterday that it had awarded AFC “the main construction contract” to build offices and shops between the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Work on the two new blocks of eight and 12 storeys, with a gross floor area of 94,000 square metres, has already started. It is due for completion in the third quarter of 2017, DWTC said.
Plans for the Dubai World Trade Centre District were drawn up by Hopkins Architects and WSP in 2006 comprising two hotels, 2,000 apartments and 250,000 sq metres of office space with shops and car parks. The overall development will have a gross floor area of 535,000 sq metres, DWTC said.
Al Jaber Engineering and Contracting was awarded the Dh3.4 billion contract to build the project in 2008 but was told to down tools the next year.
In 2008, the Dubai World Trade Centre owner launched an international design competition for the second phase of the business district, including plans for a so-called Landmark Tower. However, progress on this was also halted during the financial crisis.
Last year DWTC awarded the UK’s Carillion the £75 million (Dh423.7m) contract to build the 146,000 sq metre first phase comprising an eight-storey office building and a 588-room Ibis hotel which is under construction.
“Coupled with the location’s newly established free zone status under the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, we are well placed to deliver a business-conducive and professionally managed destination that serves as a strong incentive for global, regional and local multinationals to headquarter their regional bases in Dubai,” said Gurjit Singh, senior vice president for real estate at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Together, the two phases, will consist of 84,000 sq metres of net leasable office space and 6,400 sq metres of retail, DWTC said.
lbarnard@thenational.ae
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