Abu Dhabi-based master developer Modon Properties awarded first phase infrastructure contracts for work on the southern side of its Dh1.53 billion Riyadh City project, the company said on Sunday.
The project, which is being carried out in co-operation with Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, covers a full range of facilities, including parks, schools, shops, mosques, health care and community centres. On Wednesday last week it announced it had launched a tender for a retail strip mall on the north side of the new city, which is being built at south Shamkha.
“Riyadh City is a major housing project that will advance the housing sector of Abu Dhabi. Through providing a comprehensive set of service facilities, the community infrastructure will meet the needs of UAE citizens,” Basheer Khalfan Al Mehairbi, acting director-general of Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, said in a statement.
The contract was awarded to three companies: Nael & Bin Harmal Hydroexport Establishment, National Projects & Construction and Al Jimi & Partners Contracting Company.
The infrastructure works will begin next month, and will cover 8.4 million square metres. The first phase of the project comprises more than 3,300 residential plots, seven schools, two kindergartens, two health care centres, 18 mosques, 14 commercial plots, a civil defence centre, a number of petrol stations and five plots designated for government buildings.
The awarding of this project follows the completion of the preliminary infrastructure works covering 4,000 hectares, equivalent to 40 per cent of the land area of Abu Dhabi Island.
“The government of Abu Dhabi is developing residential communities which provide communities with a good quality of life. Part of developing a community is the construction of the high quality infrastructure for the future residents of Riyadh City,” Mr Al Mehairbi added.
Infrastructure work in the southern part of Riyadh City will span five phases, with the remaining portion expected to start next year, serving a total of 13,000 plots, the statement said.
Abu Dhabi's largest housing development was named Riyadh City in recognition of the UAE's "long-standing ties" with Saudi Arabia. The project is located between southern Shamkha and North Al Wathba, some 30 kilometres from Abu Dhabi's city centre.
The residential development will span 8,000 hectares and is expected to house 200,000 people once complete.
State-owned Modon Properties was recently transferred to Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company, along with a number of other companies.
