Dubai's Limitless invites Arabian Canal phase 2 bids

Dubai-goernment owned developer Limitless said on Tuesday it is inviting construction firms to bid for the second phase of earthworks on Arabian Canal, its $11 billion waterway.

The contract will involve the excavation of around 300 million cubic metres of earth along an 8.5 kilometre stretch of the Canal’s route, the company said in a statement.

It follows the appointment last month of Abu Dhabi-based Tristar for phase one, where 100,000 cubic metres of earth is being moved each day and more than 200 million cubic metres will be excavated in total.

"This is the second of around 10 packages that will be awarded for the excavation of our 75km waterway," Ian Raine, Project Director, Arabian Canal, was quoted as saying.

"Work is well underway on phase one, with 200 of the world’s biggest bulldozers, dump trucks and compacting machines on site. The excavated earth will be re-used to form new landscapes in the form of hills and valleys alongside the Canal, where we are master planning a $50 billion, 12,500 hectare city for 2.5 million people," he added.

Limitless said it expects to name the contractor for phase two of the earthworks in early 2009.