Leading contractor Drake & Scull said it has won a Dh198-million ($54 million) mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contract for a major hotel and serviced apartment complex in Dubai, UAE.  

A regional market leader in the integrated design, engineering and construction disciplines of general contracting, MEP, water and power, rail, and oil and gas, Drake & Scull said the contract was awarded to its engineering subsidiary.

The package forms a significant part of the iconic project conceived as a mixed-used development which embraces the unique aspects of its prestigious location. Construction work on the hotel complex has commenced and completion is targeted for 2017, it stated.

As per the deal, Drake & Scull Engineering will deliver its MEP services for five hospitality buildings ranging between 15 and 19 floors, featuring a hotel and serviced apartments, a ballroom and an attached café; a marina, including four foot bridges and one vehicular bridge; and hard and soft landscaping works.

The development aims to transform the location into a vibrant urban centre and a prominent landmark in the heart of Dubai. The project will set a benchmark for future developments and it will be one of the much sought-after addresses in Dubai, it added.

Khaldoun Tabari, the CEO and vice chairman, said the prominent hotel project award is of great significance to Drake & Scull International (DSI) as it gives the group a promising start to 2015.

"This new award signifies the trust shown to Drake & Scull by prominent clients over the years for the delivery of high-end hospitality projects. It complements our excellent portfolio of landmark developments and further cements our position as one of the leading engineering solutions providers in the region,” he noted.

Ahmad Al Nasser, the managing director of Drake & Scull Engineering, said: "We are delighted to start 2015 on a very positive note, after a highly successful 2014 where we picked up nearly Dh5.5 billion ($1.49 billion) worth of projects across Mena (Middle East and North Africa) and Asia region."

"We are committed to playing a key role in the ongoing preparations for World Expo 2020 through our involvement in several iconic additions to Dubai’s landmarks. The hotel complex is an ambitious and fresh project that will enable us to showcase exceptional engineering expertise and help augment Dubai’s hospitality and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference and event) portfolio," stated Al Nasser.

"The UAE represents one of our biggest markets and so we anticipate further growth in our backlog here," he added.-TradeArabia News Service