Leighton has been awarded a series of new projects worth a total of USD 435 million for the Tourism Development & Investment Company, the tourism asset development arm of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
The new contracts are the first of a series of major projects that TDIC is developing as part of its aim to turn Abu Dhabi into a world class tourism destination. Details of the new projects are as follows
1) Saadiyat Construction Village
TDIC Leighton is responsible for engineering, procurement and construction of a 20,000 man labor village on Saadiyat Island, complete with accommodation, kitchen, dining, recreation, mosque, shops, etc. The village will be produced in four clusters and there will be room for further expansion.
2) Abu Dhabi Golf Course Hotel
TDIC Leighton is responsible for the construction of a 5 star 35,500 square meter hotel, including leisure facilities comprising, spa, pool, gymnasium and tennis academy. The site is located adjacent to the existing golf course facility at Abu Dhabi National Golf Course. In addition there will be residential accommodation provided around the existing golf course containing 66 villas, 32 townhouses and 144 apartments.
3) Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Resort
TDIC Leighton is constructing the Eastern Mangrove Angsana Hotel and Resort, consisting of 223 bedrooms, 79 chandlery apartments, 91 marina apartments, and 51 luxury apartments.
4) Gary Player Golf Course
TDIC Leighton will construct an eighteen hole championship golf course and nursery, including shaping, grassing, cart paths, irrigation, landscaping, toilets, refreshment kiosks, etc. An academy and maintenance building will be built in the next phase and a golf clubhouse in the phase thereafter.
5) ADTA & TDIC Headquarters
TDIC Leighton is responsible for the construction of a 122,000m2 eight-storey office block. Piling and basement excavation works, including dewatering. The main building works are to be LEED Gold Award certified.
6) Desert Islands Resort and Spa
TDIC Leighton is refurbishing the Desert Islands Resort and Spa, an existing 64 room hotel located on the northern part of Sir Baniyas Island. It is acting as project manager for the hotel works and main contractor for the chalets and ancillary buildings. The company is also main contractor for the construction of three staff accommodation buildings and temporary accommodation including all necessary infrastructure works.
TDIC and Leighton entered into a JV agreement in December 2007, creating a major new force on the UAE capital's construction scene. The 51:49 JV, TDIC Leighton Contracting LLC, was formed to undertake contracting for civil engineering and infrastructure, building, and mechanical and electrical projects, project and construction management and facilities management services for TDIC.
In 2007, TDIC awarded TDIC Leighton the USD 550 million 6.5 kilometer long Saadiyat Link, which will connect Abu Dhabi's Shahama district to Saadiyat Island, the 27 square kilometer island lying offshore Abu Dhabi city and which is being transformed into a signature leisure, cultural and residential destination. The Saadiyat Link roads will transverse the island and connect to the 10-lane Saadiyat Bridge, which is already under construction from Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed area. The Saadiyat Link, which includes 5 lanes in each direction, is due for completion in 2009.
