Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) recently officially announced that it has awarded the development contract for the first phase of its Dubai Trade Center District (DTCD) to Al-Jaber L.E.G.T. Engineering & Contracting (ALEC) in a deal valued at AED3.35 billion. The contract will see ALEC take on the responsibility for the construction of Phase One of the integrated commercial destination, which will include over 240,000 square meters of Grade A office space, along with a premium range of meeting, retail and hospitality facilities. Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, DWTC, said: “We are designing DTCD to be a world-class urban destination at the core of Dubai's commercial district, offering a blend of high-end office and retail space complemented by luxury lifestyle offerings. Delivering a consistent standard of excellence across every aspect of the project requires that we leverage the professionalism and expertise of the best in the industry. In awarding ALEC the contract for the first phase of development, we believe we have selected the right firm to enable the highest quality result.” DWTC's other partners on the DTCD project include world renowned companies including Hopkins Architects to the WSP Group for structural engineering, and the Mace Group for project management. DTCD is one of the most significant redevelopment projects currently being undertaken in the region, transforming the entire area surrounding the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center (DICEC) in the commercial heart of Dubai into a business quarter of unsurpassed quality. Kez Taylor, managing director, ALEC, said: “As a leading contractor, we have experience with a number of the region's most iconic projects, and fully understand the enormous responsibility of delivering them on schedule and to the highest possible standard. DTCD is a truly remarkable project that will create a bold new business landmark at the heart of the UAE, and we are very proud to be involved in its development.” A major factor in awarding the contract was the focus upon providing the highest standard of sustainable development within the construction plan. DWTC a pioneering company in the region to base its development strategies on sustainability principles, aiming to meet highest LEED environmental standards, in line with the directive of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. As well as finalizing the construction contract, DWTC has also signed agreements with four major hotel operators to provide 1,150 rooms and 500 serviced apartments within the district in phase one. Earlier this month, DWTC named Amanresorts and GHM as operators of a prestigious signature destination that will anchor the hospitality offering within DTCD, as well as finalizing a management agreement with Accor Hospitality for a new Ibis Hotel in the district. __
