THE developer that turned a desert outpost into a glittering city may join the £500m Middlehaven project, in Middlesbrough.

Emaar has also hired consultants to evaluate investment options elsewhere in the Tees Valley, with the £300m North Shore scheme, in Stockton, a strong contender.

Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, the lead agency for both schemes, said: "We have a great deal of world class developers interested in Middlehaven and North Shore.

"Emaar has expressed an interest and we would be delighted if they followed that up."

Emaar is known to be keen on building near water, making the riverside developments on Teesside an attractive proposition for the company.

The head of the company, His Excellency Mohamed Ali Alabbar, came to Teesside on a fact-finding mission last September.

The visit was brought about by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon.

Mayor Mallon, who made a second goodwill trip to Dubai in February, said: "The visit by Emaar to the Tees Valley was extremely beneficial.

"It allowed us to showcase a number of sites to these world-class developers and, just as importantly, the surrounding publicity brought this area to the attention of several other developers, who subsequently also expressed interest.

"Discussions are currently ongoing with a number of developers. However, it is important we do not jump the gun and at this stage it is too early to say what, if anything, might result. What I can say is, that I am delighted with the interest that has been shown in developing a number of sites within the Tees Valley."

Emaar is famous for developments in Dubai, including the Burj al Arab hotel, built in the shape of the sail of an Arab dhow.

Middlehaven will see wasteland around Middlesbrough FC's Riverside stadium become 800,000sq ft of office development and up to 2,400 homes.

Six developers have been shortlisted - Urban Splash, Urban Catalyst working with Carillion, Placemakers, KUD, Taylor Woodrow and LNER Estates.

The Northern Echo has learnt that one of them intends to bring in Emaar for part of the site.

The bidders will make their final presentations next week, with the winner to be announced before the end of the month.

Emaar is also thought to be keen on the £300m North Shore project, a similar scheme to revitalise 56 acres of former industrial land in Stockton.

Yesterday, Emaar Properties posted record net profits of more than £189m for the first quarter of the year, a rise of 537 per cent on the same period last year.

It followed record annual profits last year of more than £241m.