DWTC awards Al-Futtaim carillion contract for Dubai trade

Dubai World Trade Centre, DWTC, has awarded Al Futtaim Carillion the main contract for Phase 1 delivery of the Dubai Trade Centre District, DTCD. DTCD is a 146,000 square metre development between the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Emirates Towers in the heart of the city's Central Business District (CBD). The initial phase, which includes an eight storey office building and business/tourism hotel, will see work begin April 2014, with a scheduled completion during Q3 2015. The contract is valued at approximately AED375 million. The appointment of Al Futtaim Carillion, a joint venture company between the UK's Carillion and U.A.E.-based Al Futtaim Limited, was made after competitive tenders. An operator for the hotel will also be announced in the coming weeks. "The Dubai World Trade Centre has always been a core enabler of business tourism for Dubai. The District development justly complements this current proposition, offering a premium destination that will serve as a networking and commercial hub for the international business community," said Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre. Carillion Chief Executive, Richard Howson, also welcomed the appointment, citing the emirate as a core market for the firm's expansion plans in the region. "We are delighted to have been selected for the first phase of this major development in Dubai, where we continue to see more opportunities coming to market for which our capabilities and reputation for delivering high standards of quality, safety and reliability are important to customers. We look forward to working with Dubai World Trade Centre to deliver this important development," added Howson.