AMMAN -- Global consulting and engineering giant Arup is bidding for design and architecture works for three major tansportation development projects in the Kingdom, according to company directors.
Philip Dilley, the chairman of the London-headquartered firm, said in an interview with The Jordan Times that Arup is among the qualified bidders for the new Port of Aqaba as part of a consortium designer with a French company and the Jordanian firm Consolidated Consultants (CC).
In August this year, the Aqaba Development Corporation announced that Aqaba Gateway Group is the highest ranking qualified bidder whereas the Ayla New Port Consortium, which Arup is part of, was notified as the second ranking bidder.
The head of the company, which designed the bubble-shaped Opera House in Sydney and the Bird Nest Stadium for Beijing Olympics, is also bidding for design plans for the new commercial project at Amman Civil Airport in Marka.
During a three-day visit to the country, Dilley signed a memorandum of understanding with CC to work on projects in Jordan and the Middle East and North Africa region.
"Combination of foreign and local expertise is very important for the sustainability of big ventures and we can bring international sustainable design thinking to Jordan," he indicated.
Said Gharbieh, the company's director for UK and the Middle East, pointed out that Arup is also among three companies which have been shortlisted to tender for the JD800 million Amman Rail Transit.
Noting that the Dead Sea convention centre was designed by Arup, Gharbieh, a British of Jordanian origin, said that Jordan is an interesting market for the company which have been taking part in development projects in the Kingdom for over 20 years.
Dilley said it is likely for the firm to have an office in Amman besides Qatar and the UAE.
By Omar Obeidat
© Jordan Times 2009
