Abu Dhabi Awards Contract For New Road Project

Abu Dhabi General Services, also known as Musanada, has signed deals with contractors to build a new road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which is estimated to cost Dhs2.1 billion.

Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting Establishment has been awarded a Dhs1.2 billion contract to build the first phase, which includes a 34 kilometres long road and three key junctions.

The contract for the second phase, which is worth Dhs840 million, has been awarded to Tristar Engineering & Construction.

The road measuring 62 kilometres long, is an extension to Mohammad bin Zayed Street, from the Saih Shuaib area, through Al Maha Forest to Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). It will eventually merge with the Sweihan Road (E20), Musanada said.

The new Abu Dhabi-Dubai road, which will run parallel to the existing highway, will consist of four lanes in each direction with the possibility of it expanding to six in the future. It is expected to be completed within 30 months and will be built in phases.

Mohammad Khalifa Al Fahed Al Muhairi, CEO of Musanada, said that the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road project is one of the biggest and most important projects in the capital.

He also said that it is in line with Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 and the surface master transport plan which aims at upgrading the infrastructure of Abu Dhabi’s transportation network.

Abu Dhabi has been investing billions of dollars in infrastructure, industry and tourism to diversify its economy from oil. Recently the government announced it had allocated Dhs7.4 billion to develop roads linking the emirate with Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Reports also suggest that Abu Dhabi is likely to benefit from Dubai’s Expo 2020 win. According to a recent Barclays report, proximity of the Expo 2020 site to Abu Dhabi’s outskirts would likely see a flow of tourists and visitors with a potential increase in demand for services, notably during the Expo period.