UK-based Laing O’Rourke has been selected as the preferred bidder for a retail and hospitality project being developed jointly by Emaar Properties and Dubai World Trade Centre, as part of the Dubai South masterplan.

Construction will begin later this year on the project which will boast a 216,340-sq-m shopping mall with car parking and two hotels, said a statement from Laing O’Rourke.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2019, ahead of Expo 2020, which is being hosted in the Dubai South complex.

Mark Andrews, the managing director for Laing O’Rourke’s Middle East business, said: "It’s very exciting to be named the preferred bidder for the new retail and hospitality development as it will be one of the main lifestyle hubs in the heart of one of the largest developments in the Middle East."

"The masterplan for Dubai South is impressive and we look forward to working alongside the client and all stakeholders to ensure this project is delivered to the highest quality," stated Andrews.

Laing O’Rourke said it has been appointed to work collaboratively with the project team to deliver this fast-track project.

Dubai South, formerly known as Dubai World Central, was originally launched in 2006 and once complete, it will be a 145-sq-km city with a population of one million, and home to what will be the world’s largest airport once complete, the Al Maktoum International Airport.

Once completed, the development will serve the 25 million visitors expected for Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the Dubai South community in the long run.-TradeArabia News Service