Al Futtaim Carillion, a joint venture between Dubai-based Al Futtaim and a leading British integrated support services company Carillion, has been awarded a contract worth Dh721 million ($196.2 million) by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for the development of the second phase of its integrated mixed-use real estate project coming up in Dubai, UAE.

Spread over a 535,000 sq m of gross floor area, the Dubai Trade Centre District (DTCD) is located between the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Jumeirah Emirates Towers in the heart of the city’s Central Business District.

It is being designed to best-in-class quality standards by the DWTC and has already achieved Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold pre-certification from the US Green Building Council - the industry benchmark for green building performance covering design, construction, operations and maintenance.

DWTC has broken ground on the Phase Two of the project, which is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2017.

The second phase comprises two Grade A office properties of eight and 12 storeys, designed by the firms Hopkins Architects and WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff, with a total gross floor area of 96,000 sq m.

Located in one of the Emirate’s key business districts and adjacent to the landmark Dubai World Trade Centre complex, the strategically located DTCD will have access to the Dubai Metro and seamless connectivity with the existing integrated convention and exhibition facilities and amenities.

At present, Al Futtaim Carillion is nearing completion of the first phase of the DTCD development, which comprises an eight-storey office building and a 588-room business hotel operated by the Accor Group under the Ibis flag.

This latest award takes the overall value of Al Futtaim Carillion’s work at the DTCD development to around Dh1.2 billion ($326 million).

Speaking at the ground breaking, Gurjit Singh, senior VP (Real Estate) at DWTC, said: "The addition of international standard Grade A office properties in the heart of Dubai’s highly sought-after business and commercial corridor, allows us to provide well-appointed, high-quality, flexible spaces, delivering a market driven commercial offering in Dubai’s central business district."

“Coupled with the location’s newly established free zone status under the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, we are well placed to deliver a business-conducive and professionally managed destination that serves as a strong incentive for global, regional and local multinationals to headquarter their regional bases in Dubai,” he added.

The three new office properties being developed will provide a net leasable area of 84,000 sq m, together with approximately 6,400 sq m of net leasable mult- format retail space, served by 2,150 parking bays in a four-level basement.

On the contract win, Carillion CEO Richard Howson, said: "We are delighted to have been selected for the second phase of this major development in Dubai, where we continue to see more opportunities coming to UAE market for which our capabilities and reputation for delivering to high standards of quality, safety and reliability are important to customers."

"We look forward to continuing our close relationship with Dubai World Trade Centre to deliver this important development," he added.-TradeArabia News Service