FOUR weeks after the announcement that Dubai is to have a billion-dollar new racecourse in time for the 2010 World Cup, construction will begin in earnest tomorrow on Meydan, the replacement for Nad Al Sheba.
Contracts for piling have been awarded to two local companies, and foundation work on the kilometre-long, state-of-the-art grandstand is expected to take six months.
Preparation work on the 76 million square feet racecourse site, which will also include two new tracks, stabling and car parking for 10,000 vehicles, as well as commercial, residential and retail accommodation, began 48 hours after last month's World Cup fixture.
Project chairman Saeed H Al Tayer said yesterday: “We revealed Meydan to the world on the eve of the Dubai World Cup, which showshow fast this incredibly exciting venture is moving.
Future contract announcements are to be made soon, and we have received inquiries from many renowned international and local leading contractors.”
Other early contracts include packages for the grandstand main building and a canal, which will link the site to Dubai Creek.
