Mada'in Properties has invited tenders for the construction of their Dh1.2 billion Marina Arcade project at Dubai Marina. The contract will be awarded by the end of next month.
The initial tender documents for the main construction package were released in March this year.
According to BNC Networks, the tenders might be awarded by October 2008.
The project is expected to be completed by June 2011.
According to a senior industry expert, work has to start by this year if the 2011 deadline is to be maintained. "Initially when the project was announced in October 2007, it included a hotel, which is no longer a part of the plan. The plans for studio flats have also been cancelled," said the official.
Arc International is the design architect for the project, which is a 60-storey tower, connected to a glass-roofed shopping arcade. Spread across 950,125.68 square feet, the project also includes seven town houses.
Quantity surveyors from Mott MacDonald's Dubai office have been working with Mada'in Properties and providing cost management consultancy services on the project. International Project Management have been appointed as the project managers, while Arc International Engineering consultants are the lead consultants for the architectural works.
Gemac Engineering Consultant is the MEP consultant, while RJ Crocker and Partners have been appointed as the civil engineering consultant.
Dutch Foundation Group is the piling contractor.
The soil testing was completed in December last year. Shoring and piling work is in progress and is expected to be complete by the first week of September.
The Marina Arcade is the first of the four projects likely to be launched this year with a value of Dh3bn.