School and hospital will be a first for Atkins, which usually focuses on office, leisure and residential schemes in the Middle East.

The Scottish operation of Atkins has won two major contracts to design and supervise the construction of a school and private hospital in Dubai.

The six-storey Al Zahra Hospital will cover 40,000m2 and feature 200 beds. It will have separate staff accommodation and cater for the local and international residents in the Jumeirah area of Dubai.

Atkins will also design and oversee construction of a 1,700m2 private school for families of foreign workers. The Jumeirah English Speaking School will be three-storeys high and feature a Performing Arts Centre, a central amphitheatre space, sports hall, music facility, two grassed football pitches and two swimming pools.

The campus will also feature a new primary school for 340 pupils and a secondary school with Sixth Form Centre for 720 pupils.

The contract wins represent a branching out for the Scottish consultancy as until now its focus has been on office, leisure and residential developments in the Middle East.