DUBAI, UAE – The University Hospital, the 400-bed hospital in Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center in Dubai Healthcare City–a member of Tatweer–and an affiliated hospital of Harvard Medical School Dubai Center, signed on Saturday, March 1, the AED 2.1bn hospital construction commencement agreement under the Project Partnering Contract. The hospital is scheduled to open in February 2011. The Project Partnering Contract is the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates where it integrates the duties and responsibilities of the entire Project Team under a single multiparty contract.
Pictured are the signatories of the agreement, from left to right:

• Rowan Dickson, Area Manager, Confluence Project Management Pte Ltd
• Neil Taylor, Director, Davis Langdon LLP
• Rick Lincicome, CEO, Ellerbe Becket
• Ziad Baker, Manager, BK Gulf
• Ahmad Sharaf, SVP Energy and Healthcare - Tatweer
• Manaf Afyouni, COO, University Hospital
• Norman Haste, COO, ANLOR
• Phillip Biggs, Manager, GHD

About DHCC
Dubai Healthcare City was conceived with the objective of creating a regional center of excellence for medical services, medical education, and life science research and development in the Middle East. It is the world’s first healthcare free zone and was created using a phased approach.

About Ellerbe Becket
Ellerbe Becket is the designer of University Hospital. An innovator since its founding, Ellerbe Becket is a leader in architecture, engineering, interiors and the construction industry, with office locations worldwide.

Contact: news@ellerbebecket.com