A consortium based around subsidiaries of Australian HOCHTIEF Group, Leighton Holdings Ltd, has signed a letter of intent to build a casino called ‘City of Dreams’ in Macau, China. The work, which has already begun, is being executed by a joint venture comprising Leighton Asia, the John Holland Group and China State Construction Engineering. The project is expected to cost €1bn and be completed for Melco PBL Entertainment by December 2008.

The ‘City of Dreams’ represents another milestone on the way to creating what some are calling the ‘ Las Vegas of the East’ in Macau. The casino complex will consist of four, luxury high-rise hotels, with between 28 and 35 floors and casino rooms, an apartment building, upmarket retail outlets and international restaurants.

Leighton Asia and China State recently completed the construction of another casino in Macau for Wynn Resorts.