OMAN - The delayed construction of an international convention and exhibition centre near Muscat International Airport is gathering momentum with 16 construction firms submitting bids for the first round of site preparation and enabling works.
Al Alawazi International Company emerged victorious with a bid amount of OMR2.45m (US$6.4m), followed by Desert Line Projects and Ali and Company Trading and Contracting with OMR 2.88m and OMR2.9m bid prices respectively, according to The Times of Oman.
The completion of the first round of building work will pave the way for the main civil construction work.
Oman Tourism Development Company is overseeing the development of the project, initially proposed three years ago, which the Sultanate of Oman hopes will help to position it as an emerging regional destination for exhibitions, meetings and conferences.
The centre will have 30,000sqm of exhibition space, a conference hall with a capacity of 5,500-6,000 seats, a sports centre, hotels in five-, four- and three-star categories, as well as 20 meeting rooms and a business park covering approximately 70,000sqm.
Restaurants, cafes, a press centre, a shopping mall and recreation facilities complete the offering.
