Drake & Scull International (DSI) has been awarded a Dh226 million ($61.5 million) Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) contract for the Kingdom of Sheba development on Palm Jumeirah.

This brings the total value of its contracts on the Palm Jumeirah to over Dh1.4 billion, said a top company official.

DSI vice chairman and chief executive officer Khaldoun Tabari said his company was in a unique position at the moment.

"With this contract, DSI is now working on six separate projects, covering a total built up area of 1.2 million sq m, on the Palm Jumeirah, making it the largest MEP contractor on the island."

Kingdom of Sheba is a mixed-use residential and leisure luxury resort located on the crescent of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. It is the largest resort IFA Hotels & Resorts is developing, Tabari stated.

DSI has been awarded the contract for the first phase of the development which consist of the residential component (Balqis Residence) and the Private Residence Club (Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba). This is the fourth project win for DSI from the IFA Hotels & Resorts.

“There are still a lot of opportunities in the construction industry in the UAE, and DSI is well equipped and has the capabilities and resources to take on mega projects, and deliver as per the client’s requirements of time, cost and quality,” Tabari pointed out.

“The expertise we gained in the UAE in over 40 years as a specialist MEP contracting company, combined with our cash rich position ensures we will continue to meet all our projects’ requirements,” he added.

In the second quarter of 2008, DSI became the largest MEP contractor on the Palm Jumeirah after winning contracts for Fairmont Palm Hotel and Resort, an IFA Hotel and Resort project, and Royal Amwaj Resort and Spa.

DSI’s contract with Kingdom of Sheba incorporates the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of complete MEP works including: air conditioning, ventilation, plumbing and drainage, building management system, fire fighting, power, telephone and data, fire alarm system, intercom system, central emergency lighting, CCTV, access control security systems, PA/BGM system & lighting control system.-TradeArabia News Service