The Al Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG), in joint venture with Murray and Roberts, has been awarded an AED2.2 billion (US$600 million) contract for the construction of Al Mafraq Hospital for SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.

The project, located in Al Mafraq, Abu Dhabi, will commence immediately and is due for completion in 2014. The 739-bed general hospital will be one of the leading trauma/surgery hospitals in the region, and will provide a cost-effective alternative for patients who previously had to seek specialised care overseas for neurosurgery, orthopaedics, acute rehabilitation and plastic surgery.

The joint venture’s scope of works includes construction of two-storey basement including service accommodation, labs, CSSD, dining and parking, three-storey outpatient building including clinics and auditorium facilities, three-storey podium building including diagnostics, operating theatres, ER, rehab, ICU and maternity and two nine-storey and two 11-storey inpatient towers.

HLG CEO and Managing Director Laurie Voyer said the new project underlined HLG’s healthcare credentials.

“Al Mafraq Hospital adds to the Group’s already strong track record in the construction of hospitals and healthcare facilities in both the UAE and abroad,” he said.

“We look forward to working with SEHA to developing one of the leading trauma and surgery hospitals in this region.”

This is the second major healthcare project HLG has been awarded in Abu Dhabi in the past 12 months following the Arzanah Medical Complex the Group secured in April 2010.