Dubai South tenders for Expo 2020 sites to spur sales of affordable homes

The rendering of a Danube Group development expected to come up close to Dubai South. More than 40 property developers are waiting to start work in the Residential District. Courtesy Danube Group

Thousands of affordable homes next to the Dubai Expo 2020 site are likely to go on sale in October, after the government-owned master planner Dubai South awarded Dh1 billion worth of design and infrastructure contracts for the high-profile Residential District.

Atkins Global, Studio International Architects and RNL Design have won contracts to oversee the master plan for the district, which will comprise about 10,000 middle-income homes by 2020, housing about 35,000 residents.

A first phase, which will encompass 6,000 homes including apartments, villas and town houses, is due to be completed in 2019. The project will also have schools, community facilities, entertainment, retail and hospitality options.

Parsons and Kele Constructions have been awarded contracts to build the first phase of the project’s Sakany Staff Village, which is expected to accommodate 20,000 residents by 2020.

Dubai South, which was previously known as Dubai World Central, said the contractor Al Nasr had already started work on completing infrastructure at the first phase of the site, which is scheduled to be finish by the fourth quarter this year. Tristar Engineering and Construction has also been awarded a contract to complete the remaining infrastructure for the first phase of the project, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.

According to Dubai South, more than 40 property developers are waiting in the wings to start construction work at the Residential District once infrastructure work is complete.

Al Nasr has also won a contract to build infrastructure in Dubai South’s Logistics District. And UAE-based City Diamond Contracting was also awarded a contract to build a multipurpose aerospace supply-chain facility in Dubai South’s Aviation District.

“Our investments will take us closer to realising Dubai’s vision of becoming a city of happy, creative, and empowered people,” said Ahmed Al Ansari, the acting chief executive of Dubai South.

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