The second phase will involve an almost twofold expansion of the under-construction healthcare facility, increasing its capacity from 100 to 180 beds. Kevin Duffy, KCH Dubai’s construction manager, told Construction Week that the development of Phase 2 is expected to begin in either 2019 or 2020. Phase 1 of the $200m (AED734m) facility, which is located in Dubai Hills Estate, is due to complete in August 2018. “We’re [currently] building a 100-bed facility, and we already have an outline design to conduct a second phase,” Duffy explained. “Phase 2 will include the addition of 80 beds, plus [supplementary] diagnostic centres. “We have a preliminary timeline [for the expansion]: development will most likely begin between now and 2020,” Duffy revealed. “I’m talking about the commencement of construction activities, not completion. [We expect] to commence the expansion in either 2019 or 2020, depending on the success of the initial facility.” KCH Dubai is being developed by KCH Healthcare LLC, a partnership between Ashmore Group, Al Tayer Group, and KCH London. Shapoorji Pallonji was awarded the main contract for Phase 1 of the project in December 2016, and construction commenced in January of this year. KCH Dubai was designed by Perkins+Will, the project’s lead consultant and design custodian. Faithful+Gould was enlisted as the project management consultant, and WME Consultants was appointed as the engineering consultant. Implementation of the hospital’s medical equipment is scheduled to begin in Q2 2018, according to Duffy. KCH Dubai’s Phase 1 construction works are scheduled to complete in August 2018, and KCH Healthcare plans to open the facility to the public on 1 January, 2019.