Majid al-Futtaim (MAF) has announced it had received bids from contractors for the contract to build its Al-Zahia mall development in Sharjah. The bidders were: i) Al-Naboodah Contracting Company (local) / Laing O’Rourke (UK); ii) Arabian Construction Company (Lebanon); iii) Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC); iv) Habtoor Leighton Group (local/Australia); v) Khansaheb Civil Engineering (local)/Alec (local); vi) Six Construct (Belgium); and vii) TAV (Turkey). The 30-month deal involves building a three-level mall, known as Al-Zahia City Centre, on a 183,505 sqm plot, to accommodate 400 outlets. The retail area, which will include anchor tenants and department stores, also includes entertainment areas, and food outlets, bringing the total built-up area of the mall to 248,300 sqm. The work will also involve building a three-level car park with a total built-up area of 135,000 sqm and spaces for 5,200 cars. Al-Zahia is a gated residential community being developed by a joint venture of MAF and the Sharjah government. (MEED)