Winning consortium awarded AED 3.3 billion contract to complete the network’s 266km Western Region route by 2014

Etihad Rail – the master developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network – has awarded the Civil and Track Works contract for the first stage of the network, that will link the Western Region cities of Habshan and Ruwais by 2013 and then Shah and Habshan by 2014. The contract was awarded to a consortium comprising Italy’s Saipem S.p.A, Tecnimont S.p.A and UAE-based Dodsal Engineering and Construction PTE. Limited.

The successful joint venture was selected by way of a competitive tendering process, following an international-standard process of prequalification, short listing and tendering, which commenced in the last quarter of 2010. The AED 3.3 billion Civil and Track Works contract comprises the design, procurement and construction of the railway infrastructure, in addition to the testing and commissioning (on a design and build basis) of all assets relating to the completion of the first phase of the project. In addition to that, the contract includes the earth works and track’s site grading, bridge structures, communication systems, and the development of the depot at Mirfa.

This contract award follows the official signing by H.E. Nasser Al Sowaidi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Etihad Rail, earlier this week of the company’s agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the transportation of up to seven million tonnes of granulated sulphur annually.  This agreement – along with the Civil and Track Works contract award – will see the commencement of construction of the first phase of the network.