Big build for Carillion

Al Futtaim-Carillion, Carillion’s joint venture business in the Middle East, has been appointed preferred bidder and framework contractor for a number of major projects in the Middle East and North Africa.

The total value to Wolverhampton-headquartered Carillion of the preferred bidder contracts is £192m, while the work to be negotiated under framework agreements has a potential value of up to £2.6bn over seven years.

The work includes being named preferred bidder for the first phase of construction of the Cairo Festival City project in Egypt. The project, estimated as being worth £2bn by partner Al Futtaim, begins with the construction of a £220m retail shopping mall in January 2008, scheduled for completion in October 2010.

In Abu Dhabi a Carillion joint venture has been appointed preferred bidder for a three-year £250m contract with Aldar, the emirates premier developer.

Al Futtaim-Carillion will also undertake 2.9 million square metres of construction work in Dubai at Festival City, said to be worth £3.5bn over six years, under a new framework agreement.

Carillion’s chief executive, John McDonough, said: ‘The progress we are making in the Middle East represents a further major step towards delivering Carillion’s previously announced strategic objective of more than doubling revenue from this region over the next five years through extending our existing operations in Dubai and Oman into new territories.’

Carillion now has £2.1bn in probable orders from the Middle East with the potential for substantial increases as the developments progress.