Abu Dhabi, Jul. 2, 2007 (WAM) -- ALDAR Properties PJSC has awarded a contract to ALDAR/Laing O'Rourke Company for a major infrastructural package at its 500 hectare mixed use waterfront project,Al Raha Beach, the Abu Dhabi leading developer announced today.

ALDAR/Laing O'Rourke has commenced work on Interchangesfour, five & six, which will provide access to the mixed use developmentfrom the adjacent Abu Dhabi - Dubai highway.

The three major interchanges comprise of 20 post tensioned box girderbridges, spanning 270 metres long and up to 35 metres wide and six kilometresof associated carriageway construction, which includes half a millioncubic metres of embankment fill and utility diversions. The work willbe carried out over the existing Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road and willbe completed within the next 24 months.

"The formation of the ALDAR/Laing O'Rourke Joint Venture Company and theaward of the contract for this major interchange demonstrates ALDAR'scommitment to build the essential infrastructure to any development tomeet announced project deliveries. This is a clear demonstration of thecommitment of all the teams to the timely and cost efficient completionof the whole development," said Ahmad Al Sayegh, Chairman, ALDAR.

"The award of this contract enables ALDAR to demonstrate the benefitsof this collective approach to construction procurement, by bringing designers,contractors, subcontractors and suppliers together as a single integratedteam in co-located project offices. This will undoubtedly encourage moreeffective communication as well as creating the environment for openness,trust and innovative solutions for the benefit of the whole project,"concluded Ronald Barrott, CEO, ALDAR.

"The new Joint Venture company has worked in conjunction with the masterplanners ESQUISSE, the infrastructural team, Cansult/Maunsell and thebridge architects, RFR to ensure the seamless and timely delivery of thiscrucial project," explained Michael Cox, Director, Al Raha Beach Development.

"We are excited to be an integral part of ALDAR's vision to achieve astep change improvement in construction delivery by challenging the 'businessas usual' processes and attitudes, which will propel the property developmentindustry in the U.A.E. forward," added Christopher Wilkinson, ManagingDirector, ALDAR Laing O'Rourke.

The AED 54 billion development has been designed to accommodate a populationof 120,000 in some of the most spectacular buildings, marinas and waterfeatures seen in the U.A.E. developments which will start to be completedby end of 2009.