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UAE selects two contractors for West Link

11 June 2025

 

The UAE has engaged two contracting groups on an early contractor involvement (ECI) basis for the 40-kilometre-long West Link project, which connects the Abu Dhabi mainland to islands in the Gulf near Qatar.

The two contracting groups that have been selected are Greece’s Archirodon with the local Western Bainoona Group and Hewson Consulting as the design firm, and Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Corporation with the local NMDC and Subana Jurong as the design firm.

The project involves constructing a 40km road link with two lanes in each direction. The road is planned to start near Ras Ghumais in the Western Region and extend to a ferry terminal on Makasib Island, which will then connect to Qatar.

The ECI process requires selected contractors to submit methodologies for the project and a design proposal during the initial stages of procurement. It is understood that the conceptual design and social, economic and business case studies commenced early last year.

The project is being overseen by the UAE’s Etihad Rail.

Previous plans

In 2005, Abu Dhabi and Doha were reported to have been setting up a joint company to oversee the implementation of a proposed UAE-Qatar causeway.

The crossing would have significantly cut journey times. At present, traffic between Qatar and the UAE has to pass through 125km of Saudi Arabian territory.

Back then, the causeway was planned to start near Sila in Abu Dhabi and extend to the south of Doha.

The scheme ultimately stalled. Problems included difficulties with the route, which infringed on Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters.

In June 2017, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, preventing any potential joint infrastructure projects.

In January 2021, the Al-Ula Declaration restored diplomatic ties and economic cooperation has gradually resumed.

READ MORE: UAE-Qatar causeway could face a geopolitical challenge

READ THE JUNE 2025 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

Gulf accelerates AI and data centre strategy; Baghdad keeps up project spending, but fiscal clouds gather; Banking stocks rise despite lower global oil prices

Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the June 2025 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

> GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf projects index leaps 4.3%
To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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Colin Foreman

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