The tender for the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Masjid at the $10bn Marsa Zayed Development in Aqaba, Jordan’s largest mixed-use development project, has been awarded to Amman-based Central Contracting Est.
The contract which is for a 16-month period, was signed in Amman by Yousef Al Nowais, managing director of master developer Al Maabar, and Ali Maher Jarrar, general manager of Central Contracting Est.
Marsa Zayed is named in memory of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the  mosque has a capacity for 2,000 worshippers. It is part of the development’s first phase, along with the Al Raha Village.
Commenting on the deal, Al Nowais said: “Sheikh Zayed Masjid in Aqaba is truly symbolic of Al Maabar’s vision and commitment to driving projects that fulfill a real economic, social and cultural need to the local community.
“The ceremony marks a key project milestone as we begin laying the foundation stone for the Sheikh Zayed Masjid in the upcoming months. We are blessed to start with the Masjid as the first stepping-stone in the life of Marsa Zayed construction. We believe that this as good omen with a lot of positive connotations.”
The 3,890m2 mosque will include separate prayer halls for men and women, additional prayer rooms for Eid and other religious celebrations, a centre for culture and humanities and a learning centre for the reciting of the Holy Quran.
Gardens and decorated water basins will surround the exterior of the mosque to enhance the sense of serenity.
Ali Maher Jarrar, general manager of Central Contracting Est., said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Al Maabar on the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Masjid, which reflects the company’s dedication to building strong partnerships with local business partners that will bring significant long-term benefits to both countries.”
Additional phases will be dependent on market demand and supply, and the handover of port land, but the development will also include a 2km waterfront, high rise residential towers, retail, recreational, entertainment, business and financial districts and eight branded hotels. At least 350 marina berths will be built for yachts and boats along with a cruise terminal.
In January last year, final concept designs for Sheikh Zayed Masjid were confirmed by Dar Al Omran, while Arabtech Jardaneh carried out infrastructure preparatory works during the second quarter. Arabtech was also awarded the infrastructure supervision services tender in February of the same year for 24 months.
At Al Raha, the infrastructure, earthworks and site grading tender was given to local contractor Ahmad Yousef Al Tarawneh in February 2011 and were completed in January this year.
Primary infrastructure works for phase one are being carried out by Hussein Atieh & Sons and are expected to be finished by late 2013 or early 2014.
Final exterior designs for the village were done in April this year by Maisam Architects and Engineers, and the primary superstructure works will start by the end of this year and take two years to complete.
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