Arabtec Construction wins Dh2.590 billion contract for development of Abu Dhabi's Reem Island

Arabtec Holding PJSC, a leading engineering and construction Group specialising in complex projects in the Middle East and North Africa region, announced yesterday that its subsidiary, Arabtec Construction, has been awarded Dh2.59 billion contract for the construction of a mixed-use development in Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. The project, to be constructed on a plot area of 32,000 m2 as part of Al Reem Island, and a built up area of around 350,000 square meters, will house a 61-storey residential tower, featuring 613 furnished apartments and another 15 storey C-shaped tower that will host a five star hotel offering 400 guest rooms and 200 serviced apartments. The two towers will be connected by a ballroom and retail block extending 4,600 sq.m in area. The development will also have 3,275 sq.m food and beverage space and 3,795 sq.m function space. Commenting on the deal, Hasan Abdullah Ismaik, Managing Director and CEO of Arabtec Holding, said: "We are proud to continue our long-time contribution to the urban development of Abu Dhabi. Arabtec has been actively involved in delivering a host of infrastructural, tourist and cultural projects that constitute some of the major components of Abu Dhabi's urban evolution as envisaged in Plan Abu Dhabi 2030." He added, "This is the first glad tidings of the new year. And there are many on the way. These will be announced in due course. We are confident that 2014 will be a special year not only in terms of new awards but also with regard to the progress of implementation of our growth strategy and the striking of more local and international partnerships to take Arabtec to higher levels of success." With the new contract award, Arabtec 's 2013 backlog in 2013 crosses the Dh 33 billion limit, catapulting to unprecedented levels and exceeding the historical records in the company's 38 year history. Construction work on the project, designed by the Architecture and Planning Group, is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014 and will take 36 months to complete. The project will be a valuable addition to the versatile offering of the Reem Island, the largest development in Abu Dhabi and the first of its kind in the region to be developed on a natural island. It offers the unique combination of a vibrant, urban metropolis and a relaxing getaway only minutes away from Abu Dhabi's Central Business District. Spread across 6.5 million square meters, less than a kilometre away from downtown Abu Dhabi and only 20 minutes from the capital's international airport, Reem Island is a world-class, waterfront, lifestyle development that will enhance Abu Dhabi's role as the country's capital and a tourist destination. Besides the Marina Square, a cluster of high quality waterfront residential towers, Reem Island also features Shams Abu Dhabi, a thriving new community which will accommodate 45,000 residents when completed and will also feature high-quality retail and commercial space. - Emirates News Agency, WAM