Abu Dhabi, Nov 17, 2008 (ABN Newswire) - Leighton International Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Limited (ASX:LEI) announced that the Al Habtoor - Murray and Roberts Joint Venture has been awarded an AED 3 billion contract for the design and construction of the new Zayed University campus in Abu Dhabi for Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala). The Al Habtoor Leighton Group’s share is AED 1.5 billion.

The project involves the design and construction of a new university campus on a plot of approximately 75 hectares and a built-up area of 200,000 square meters to provide educational facilities for 6000 students as well as related faculty and support staff.

The new campus will be located in New Khalifa City, near to Abu Dhabi International Airport, and will be part of the Capital District, one of the major strategic initiatives of the "Plan Abu Dhabi 2030" Urban Structure Framework Plan. The Capital District concentrates the government, academic and knowledge-based sectors, accommodating departmental offices and embassies, as well as national health and educational institutions.

Work on the project will commence immediately, and will be completed in July 2011.

This is Al Habtoor - Murray and Roberts' second university project for Mubadala after the joint venture secured the Paris Sorbonne University in May this year.

Managing Director of the Al Habtoor Leighton Group, David Savage, said he was delighted to be awarded another project by Mubadala.

He said the project illustrated the type of opportunities still available in the Middle East, and Abu Dhabi in particular.

"Quality developers will continue to roll out major projects such as this," he said.

Zayed University was established in 1998 by the federal government of the United Arab Emirates to educate U.A.E. national women. It now educates both male and female students. It has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and offers similar programs on both campuses.

Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) is a Public Joint Stock Company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. The company manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of local, regional, and international investments, projects and initiatives in sectors such as energy, aerospace, real estate, healthcare, technology, services and infrastructure. Through its investment and development projects, Mubadala is both a catalyst for, and a reflection of, the drive for economic diversification of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Mubadala's sole shareholder is the Abu Dhabi Government.

About the Al Habtoor Leighton Group

The Al Habtoor Leighton Group was established in September 2007 following the merger of Al Habtoor Engineering with the Arabian Gulf operations of Leighton International. The new entity immediately became the UAE's largest construction group, with revenue of over AED 6 billion in 2007. The Group comprises four key operating divisions: Al Habtoor Engineering Dubai; Al Habtoor Engineering Abu Dhabi; Al Habtoor Engineering Qatar; and Gulf Leighton. Leighton International owns a 45% stake in the Group.

Leighton International is part of the Leighton Group, Australia's largest project development and contracting group with annual revenues exceeding US$10 billion.

For further information on:

Al Habtoor Engineering, please visit: http://www.habtoorengg.ae
Leighton International, please visit: http://www.leightonint.com
Leighton Group, please visit: http://www.leighton.com.au
Mubadala, please visit: http://www.mubadala.ae
Zayed University, please visit: http://www.zu.ac.ae