The Dubai International Real Estate (DIRE) has awarded a Dh480 million contract to Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) for the construction package No.7 of the Jewel of the Creek development in Port Saeed, Dubai, UAE. HLG\'s contract involves the construction and completion of the substructure works for four basement levels and ground floor slabs on the waterside site between Al Maktoum Bridge, Baniyas Road and the Floating Bridge. The plot area is 123,955 square metres. Package No.7 forms part of the Dh3 billion Jewel of the Creek development. When complete it will be a multi-use development which includes four and five star hotels, furnished service apartments, a convention centre, a ballroom, office buildings, residential buildings, a marina and landscaping. The site has already been fully excavated and piled and HLG\'s scope of work includes: construction of all rafts and four-level basement slabs; construction of the project\'s ground floor slab; embedded MEP works (first fix); miscellaneous earthworks, re-anchoring of diaphragm walls, pile cutting and trimming, waterproofing works and reinforced concrete works. Article continues below The signing of the project was attended by Khalil Al Sayegh of DIRE, Riad T. Sadik and Laurie Voyer of HLG, and representatives of the Kling Consult and Kieferle Partnership (KCKP). Khalil Al Sayegh stated that the project will set a benchmark for future DIRE developments and that it will be one of the much sought after addresses in Dubai. Construction works on Package No. 7 have already begun and completion is expected in August 2013. HLG Chairman Riad T. Sadik welcomed the new project to HLG\'s project portfolio and said, \"We are confident that this landmark development will be a great success.\" New research states that 2012 will see $15.068 billion worth of contracts awarded in the Emirates - an increase of 26.57 per cent from last year. HLG CEO and Managing Director Laurie Voyer commented on the signing saying, \"The award of the project demonstrates that HLG has an established reputation and is a preferred contractor by major clients in the Dubai market.\" Jewel of the Creek is a mixed-used development at Port Saeed area, in the centre of Dubai. It occupies a strategic location at the north shore of Dubai Creek. The project incorporates a mix of residential, commercial, hospitality and recreational uses. The objective of the client is to transform this location into a vibrant urban centre and a prominent landmark at the heart of Dubai. The vision is to create a project of strong identification, a complex as a unit unparalleled along the Creek with functions linked to each other yet each part of the development with its own expression and values. The project and its on-site infrastructure are designed by the joint venture partnership of Kieferle & Partner and Kling Consult. Lead Consultant for the project with responsibility for all specialist sub-consultants is the Dubai branch of Kling Consult GmbH.