City of Arabia, a landmark development at the heart of Dubailand, has awarded Dhabi Contracting the main package for the Mall of Arabia (Phase 1).

The retail project which is already ahead of schedule on the infrastructure side, will move into a fast track phase with completion of the structure due 21 months from the start of construction.

Mustafa Galadari, vice chairman and managing director of Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group, said: “The appointment of Dhabi Contracting moves us forward to the construction phase of the Mall. We have worked hard to select the right people for the job and Dhabi Contracting have a reputation as a company who can deliver projects based on the right skill mix and equipment resources.”

Dhabi Contracting, a local company with 30 years experience in the region, will be working directly on the main structure of the giant mall.  Forming a key element of the City of Arabia development, the mall will have direct and exclusive access to the world class Restless Planet dinosaur theme park on Level 2, and will be linked to the rest of the complex -- a mix of hotels, commercial and residential real estate plus boutique restaurants and shops -- by small electrically powered boats on the ‘wadi’ and an automotive people mover.

Sami Edward, general manager, Dhabi Contracting, commented: “City of Arabia is one of the best known projects in the Middle East and we are extremely pleased to be working on the mall development. Unique in design terms, the Mall of Arabia presents a major logistical challenge which will involve more than 4,000 labourers, 120 engineers  and 21 tower cranes.  It is a challenge that Dhabi Contracting are well prepared to meet, proving that local contracting companies are well able to achieve the high standards required by mega projects such as this one.”

The $2 billion City of Arabia project on 20 million sq ft of land in Downtown Dubailand includes the largest shopping mall in the region, the Mall of Arabia; the Restless Planet, a dinosaur theme park with over 100 animatronic dinosaurs; a 10 km long Wadi Walk with Mediterranean-style apartments, cafes and shops beside a flowing canal; and 34 tower blocks for mixed commercial, hotel and residential use. The project will, when completed, provide accommodation for around 35,000 residents. – TradeArabia News Service