Consultant Mouchel has taken a 拢15m hit on bad debt in Dubai, pushing it 拢13.5m into the red for the year ended 31 July 2009

A company statement said: 鈥淲e have been adversely impacted by the deteriorating economic environment in the region. Currently, there is minimal demand for infrastructure development, particularly in Dubai.鈥

Turnover increased 13% from 拢657m to 拢741m but chief executive Richard Cuthbert described the year as 鈥渄ifficult and disappointing鈥.

During the period, the company also failed to make the cut on Network Rail鈥檚 civil engineering framework and said it had now completed its withdrawal from the rail sector.

Its order book stood at 拢1.9bn at the year end.