Leighton arm wins construction deal

Leighton Holdings, Australia's largest construction company has won a US$2 billion contract to build a third concourse at Dubai airport.

The contract was awarded to the Al Habtoor arm of the Leighton Group by Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation.

At 645 metres long, the concourse will connect two major public levels of Terminal 3, via an automated people mover.

It will accommodate 20 aircraft stands and the development is expected to be complete by April 2011.

Terminal 3 at Dubai international airport opened in October, 2008.

The win comes after Leighton said work on the $1.2 billion Trump Tower in Dubai had been suspended by its partner Nakheel, because of a downturn in market conditions.

Leighton's CEO, Wal King told Sky News that the Middle East will need to make some adjustments to weather the current credit crisis: "I don't believe the Emirates will collapse. You will see some significant adjustments," King said.

"You will see some projects put on hold, you will see some projects being cancelled as the industry adjusts to the realities of this new world."

The 45% Leighton-owned Al Habtoor firm also recently announced it has won a $3.7 billion contract to build the world's largest building, the 73-storey tower, Dubai Pearl, which will be located on The Palm.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM