ARADA awards contract to Jacobs Engineering

ARADA has awarded an AED 1.2bn infrastructure design contract to professional services firm Jacobs Engineering Group Inc for its major mixed-use project Aljada.

ARADA has awarded an infrastructure design contract to professional services firm Jacobs Engineering Group for its major mixed-use mega project in Sharjah.

The contract forms part of the overall AED 1.2bn ($326.7mn) infrastructure package for Aljada, with Jacobs to manage all aspects of infrastructure delivery including roads, water, power and drainage, ensuring full integration with the overall masterplan.

A master-planned destination with a sales value of AED 24bn, Aljada was unveiled in September 2017.

“This is a significant milestone for Aljada, as we continue to work towards breaking ground on this megaproject by the end of Q1, said HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, chairman of ARADA and Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Jacobs, a company with an excellent track record in delivering world-class projects around the world.”

Neil Stevens, project director with Jacobs, said: “We are extremely happy to be working closely with ARADA on the development of Aljada, a landmark project both for Sharjah and the UAE.

“We are looking forward to bringing our expertise and skills to this inspiring project and help deliver innovative, yet sustainable infrastructure, for this exciting development.”

In early January, ARADA announced that it had secured a AED 1bn Islamic financing facility with two major UAE banks, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank, to help fund the development of Aljada.

Delivered in phases starting in 2019, construction on Aljada will begin in Q1 2018 and the entire project is expected to be completed by 2025.