Times of Oman reported that the much delayed construction of a world class convention and exhibition centre near Muscat International Airport, Seeb started gathering momentum with 16 companies submitting bids for the first package of site preparation and enabling works.

Of the 16 major construction firms, Al Alawazi International Company came first with its lowest bid amount of OMR 2.45 million followed by Desert Line Projects and Ali & Company Trading & Contracting with their OMR 2.88 million and OMR 2.90 million bid prices respectively.

Other construction majors like Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Towell Construction, Carillion Alawi, Douglas OHI and Al Hajiry are also in the race. The completion of the first package will pave the way for the main civil construction work.

Oman Tourism Development Company is overseeing the development of the ambitious project which will help to position the Sultanate of Oman as an emerging regional destination for meetings, conferences and exhibition. The prestigious convention centre which was proposed more than three years ago will have world class amenities like a mega auditorium, several star hotels and retail facilities.

Planned on a large plot 4 kilometers from Muscat International Airport, the convention centre will have a major purpose-built conference hall with a huge capacity of 5,500 to 6,000 seats, 30,000 square meters exhibition and multi user sports centre, several hotels in 5, 4 and three-star categories, 20 meeting rooms a business park covering approximately 70,000 square meters, restaurants, cafes, press centre, shopping mall and recreation facilities.

(Sourced from Times of Oman)