Chinese in front to build world’s tallest tower in Dubai

20 February, 2018 | By COLIN FOREMAN

Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation is the frontrunner for the contract to build the world’s tallest man-made structure in Dubai.

Local developer Emaar received bids from two groups for the estimated AED5.5bn ($1.5bn) contract to build The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour in mid-January. The bidders are China State and a joint venture of the local/Belgium Belhasa Six Construct and the US’ Tishman.

It is understood that the China State bid has the lowest price, and accepts different contractual conditions than the Belhasa Six Construct/Tishman bid.

The superstructure comprises three key elements. They are: a concrete core, a steel frame structure on top of the concrete core, and cables descending down from the tower to the ground.

In late 2016, Dubai officially confirmed the tower will be the world’s tallest man-made structure when it is completed. The final height has not been disclosed. To become the world’s tallest tower, it will have to be more than 1,008 metres in height, which is the planned final height of the under-construction Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia.

The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour has been tendered before. Emaar received prices from contractors in 2017, and it is understood that those offers were not within Emaar’s budget.

Companies are already working on the project. Belhasa Six Construct is working on the raft foundations. France’s Soletanche Bachy is the piling contractor for the project.

Spanish/Swiss architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava Valls is the main consultant on the project with the local office of Aurecon, which is supported by UK’s RMJM and Dubai-based DEC, acting as local engineer and architect of record.

The project manager for the tower is US-based Parsons.

The tower is the centrepiece of the 6-square-kilometre Dubai Creek Harbour development. It is located in the Ras al-Khor area on the banks of Dubai Creek and is being developed by a joint venture of Emaar and Dubai Holding.

Buildings being constructed in the new King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh

Riyadh’s super contractor plans reflect the demands of Vision 2030

Economic transformation requires a backbone of physical infrastructure that has to be delivered It has been a tough three years for construction companies in Saudi Arabia. As oil prices started to ...

Construction faces a step change under Industry 4.0

Construction must look to the manufacturing sector for lessons on digitalisation and automation as the focus shifts from bricks to bots The ‘fourth industrial revolution’ or Industry 4.0, and technologies such as ...

IMF expects UAE’s non-oil GDP growth to accelerate in 2020

Expo and stimulus spending could lift non-oil GDP growth to 3 per cent in 2020 The Washington-based IMF has said the UAE’s non-oil GDP growth could accelerate to 3 per cent ...

Middle East contract awards: September 2018

Egypt leads value of deals signed Egypt helped the Middle East record the highest value of deals let to date in 2018, with the country’s $7.8bn of contracts signed forming the ...

IMF says Qatar has mitigated project delays

Doha has found alternative suppliers of construction materials and equipment The Washington-based IMF says Qatar has mitigated delays to key infrastructure projects caused by the trade embargo that was introduced by ...

Oversupply continues to challenge Dubai office market

Supply and demand imbalance is resulting in less office space being built and property owners offering tenants generous incentives Dubai’s office market continues to be oversupplied, resulting in less office space ...

Dubai sets July deadline for Al-Maktoum airport bids

The substructure package is the largest contract to be tendered for the expansion of Al-Maktoum International airport Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) has given selected bidders an end of July deadline ...

Construction sector grows as project spending peaks

Contract awards on Bahrain’s airport and aluminium smelter drove a record performance in 2016 While the construction market in the rest of the GCC flounders as government spending dips, Bahrain has managed ...

Unlocking Saudi Arabia’s potential as a logistics hub

Rayan Mustafa Qutub, CEO of Ports Development Company, explains the role of King Abdullah Port in the kingdom’s plans to expand its logistics sector The recent signing of a memorandum of ...

Dubai retenders two road construction contracts

Contracts cover work on the Al-Ain Road and a bridge taking Al-Khail Road over a new canal The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has retendered two road construction contracts in Dubai. The ...

Riyadh’s super contractor plans reflect the demands of