Dubai World Trade Centre has awarded a Dh725-million ($197 million) contract to Al Futtaim Carillion (AFC) for delivering Phase 1A6 of One Central, a major integrated real estate development located between the current Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Emirates Towers in the heart of the city’s central business district.

This latest phase of One Central has a built-up area of 182,500 sq m and comprises two Grade A office buildings of 12 and 8 storeys.

The contract will begin this month and is scheduled for full completion by the end of 2018.

AFC has already completed an earlier Phase 1A2 of this development, which is currently being leased and is currently delivering the contact for Phase 1A5, which was awarded in October 2015.

This latest award takes the overall value of AFC’s contracts for the One Central development to Dh1.8 billion ($489 million).

On the contract win, Carillion chief executive Richard Howson said: "We are delighted to have been selected for Phase 1A6 which is the third phase of the One Central development, where we continue to see good opportunities coming to 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.

Gurjit Singh, the senior vice president (real estate), DWTC, said: "We are pleased to continue working with AFC, which has successfully delivered the Phase 1 Offices that are now operational and almost fully leased. Our ongoing relationship with the company will establish Grade A office properties of a world-class standard in Dubai's commercial corridor."

"These high quality, flexible commercial offerings provide a compelling value proposition in Dubai's central business district," he stated.

One Central is being designed to best-in-class quality standards and this phase will comprise international Grade A quality offices, which has achieved Leed Gold precertification from the US Green Building Council – the industry benchmark for green building performance covering design, construction, operations and maintenance.

The technology solutions and infrastructure being planned are aligned with the Dubai Government's Smart City strategic agenda, which was launched by Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

"Through One Central's free zone status under Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, we are uniquely positioned to propose a professionally-managed destination that is conducive to business," remarked Singh.

"As demonstrated by the resounding success of the leasing of our Phase 1 Offices, One Central serves as a strong incentive for blue-chip multinationals to headquarter their regional bases in Dubai," he added.-TradeArabia News Service