Dubai supervises 25,124 buildings

The Buildings Department of Dubai Municipality is undertaking engineering supervision of 25,124 buildings under construction in various areas of Dubai.

The engineering supervision process includes inspection and control of all construction works.

Building permits were issued for various types of multi-storey buildings, general and industrial buildings, private villas and investment villas as well as additions, amendments and decoration works.

Zoo invites EOI for major resort

Al Ain Zoo and Aquarium Public Institution has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from construction companies for the development and operation of a resort and hotel in the city.

The move comes as part of a plan to transform the existing facility into a new learning destination and a tourist attraction called the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort, which will be dedicated to conserving wildlife.

The government entity has also sought prequalification bids from these companies for the resort.

Deyaar starts work on hotel

Deyaar Development has begun work on a hotel complex close to the Mall of Emirates in Dubai.

The hotel and serviced apartments are expected to be completed by December 2017. The hotel will have 299 rooms, of which 15 will be suites, in addition to 109 serviced apartments – a mix of 93 one-bedroom, and 16 two-bedroom units. The complex will have a host of facilities for leisure and business travellers including restaurants, a business centre, meeting room, swimming pools and a spa, a gym and children’s play area.

Wholesale City open for leases

Dubai Wholesale City, coming up on a 500-million-sq-ft area in Jebel Ali at an estimated cost of Dh30 billion ($8.16 billion), has started accepting applications from companies and traders interested in long-term leases at the development. The first phase of construction is expected to take three to four years and the entire project around 15 years, according to reports.

Al Thuriah unveils new tower

Al Thuriah Properties has launched Sahara Tower 6, a two-block residential tower within its master development Sahara Complex in Sharjah.

Sahara Tower 6 will be the final jewel in the crown of the complex, which boasts a built-up area of 3.1 million sq ft and includes 1,348 apartments.

Foundations of the two-block tower, which will have 376 residences, have been laid and development continues apace with handover of the apartments set for December 2019.

One Palm work progressing well

Construction of Omniyat’s flagship One Palm project on The Palm Jumeirah is making rapid progress, according to the developer.

The project has reached level three of its cores, with first level slabs now completed at 16 m above ground level. Slabs are expected to be completed up to level 15 by the end of 2016, and the tower will be 100 m high when complete, and the tallest on the island.

The 910,000-sq-ft development has just 90 residences including Dubai’s “most expensive” residence, a 43,000-sq-ft penthouse priced at Dh200 million ($54 million).

The property is due for completion in 2018.

Al Houdh interchange set to open

Work on the Al Houdh Interchange on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Dubai is 80 per cent complete and is expected to open next month (November), the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said.

The project comprises transforming Al Houdh roundabout from a signallised junction to a flyover. It covers the construction of four east-west bridges along the stretch of Al Yalayis Road, comprising three lanes in each direction with a total length of 600 m.

Fujairah homes almost complete

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MOID) has completed 95 per cent of a housing project for citizens in the Al Taween area of Fujairah, which will be handed over this month (October). Each of the two-storey houses has three bedrooms, two sitting rooms, a guest bedroom, housemaid’s room, laundry room, storeroom, three bathrooms, and an extra kitchen.

Work is also halfway through on a cultural centre in Fujairah, which will be ready in March 2017.

Ibn Battuta Mall linked to metro

A new link has opened between Nakheel’s Ibn Battuta Mall and the Dubai Metro station. The two-storey, 210-m walkway enables passengers using the metro or bus services to directly access the mall. Mirroring the design of the main mall, the metro connection features 90 retail and dining outlets due to open later this year.

The mall-metro connection is a vital element of an ongoing Ibn Battuta expansion that will transform the existing complex into a mega retail, entertainment and leisure destination spanning seven million sq ft.

289 schools spruced up

Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) has announced the completion of preventive and corrective maintenance of 289 schools across Abu Dhabi.

The work was part of the action plan to raise readiness of schools for the start of the new academic year. 

NBC launches new townhouses

National Bonds Corporation (NBC), through its real estate arm, National Properties, has launched the second phase of Green Community MotorCity project in Dubai.

CEO Mohammed Qassim Al Ali said the Green Community’s Phase Two will consist of luxury Casa Familia townhouses, which are designed with high standards while maintaining the functionality.

Alef Residences on schedule

The structure of The Alef Residences on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai has topped out and is on track for handover in the second quarter of 2017.

Developed by Saudi Arabia’s Al Sharq Investment, the residences are located on a 46,840-sq-m plot of land and will be serviced by W Dubai - The Palm. The 104 homes located across eight mansions feature their own dedicated lobbies and private elevators, shared by only two apartments on each floor.

TDIC signs up marina operator

Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has signed up Art Marine to operate its marinas located at the Eastern Mangroves complex and at Marsa Al Bateen in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The Eastern Mangroves marina features 30 berths that can house boats and yachts from 8 to 33 m long, while Marsa Al Bateen has two marinas that can dock a total of 372 vessels from 10 to 30 m in length. It also features the GCC’s first commercial dry stack that can house up to 138 boats that are as long as 9 m.

Airplaco Equipment names dealer

Airplaco Equipment Company of the US has signed a deal with Ecotech Emirates to market its products throughout the UAE and the Middle East.

The Cincinnati-based company offers masonry grout pumps, gunite and shotcrete machines, concrete leveling pumps and void fill pumps as well as all of the parts, accessories and finishing tools.

Siemens BMS for giant theme park

Smart building technology from Siemens will be used at Dubai Parks and Resorts, the Middle East’s largest theme park, when it opens this month (October 31).

The Siemens Desigo CC building management system (BMS) will control day-to-day operations of buildings at the destination. The technology brings together key building functions into one system, monitoring and controlling technical infrastructure at Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park, in addition to Lapita Hotel. It is the first time that this technology is being used at a theme park in the region.

Group plans $272m project

Mohammad Oman Bin Haider Holding Group plans to develop an upscale mega project on Al Marjan Island (AMI) in Ras Al Khaimah at an investment of Dh1 billion ($272 million).

The development, spread over 1.4 million sq ft, will feature a five-star luxury hotel, luxurious residential apartments, commercial buildings cluster and retail area, said Hakam Khalil, the CEO of the group.

Danube evaluating bids for Starz

Danube Properties is evaluating bids for its fifth development, Starz, located in Dubai’s Al Fujran neighbourhood and is to announce the main contractor for the Dh300-million ($81.6 million) project soon.

Starz offers a total of 446 studio, one- and two-bedroom fully furnished apartments with an array of amenities including a health club, swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam and sauna room, jogging track and a party hall, among others.

BMT wins tower consultancy deal

UK-based BMT Fluid Mechanics has been appointed by engineering consultant Aurecon as the wind engineering consultant for ‘The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour’, an upcoming mixed-used project from Emaar Properties.

The innovative tower is being designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava who will also be looking after its engineering work. 

The tower’s striking design includes a distinctive net of steel cable stays that attach to a central reinforced concrete column that will reach into the skies.

Lootah breaks ground on The Waves

Lootah Real Estate Development has broken ground on The Waves, a state-of-the-art building at Al Barsha South in Dubai.

Lootah is working on projects worth over Dh550 million ($150 million) including upscale residential villas and apartments, studios and duplex apartments with high quality finishing at Al Barsha South.

wasl launches mixed-use project

wasl Asset Management Group has announced that work has been launched on its Port Views development in Bur Dubai and four major contracting companies are to undertake the main contracts.

Port Views comprises 1,477 residential units, in addition to retail stores and restaurants. Once completed, the project will also provide the market with three mid-range hotels, which will add more than 528 rooms and serviced apartments to the hospitality sector ahead of Expo 2020. The project will be handed over in  phases and is expected to be fully completed by 2020.

Iconic 2,000-seat Dubai Opera opens

The Dubai Opera in Downtown Dubai has opened its doors to the public. The iconic dhow-shaped building is a masterpiece of contemporary design, and a tribute to Dubai’s maritime history.

Designed by Janus Rostock, the venue can transform from a theatre into a concert hall, and into a ‘flat floor’ mode becoming a banquet hall. In theatre mode, the space is suitable for dramas, musicals, ballets, lectures and conferences, seating up to 2,000 people.

It also has a rooftop restaurant and sky garden with views of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.

Bluewaters Island bridges on track

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the work on the Bluewaters Island Access Bridges – opposite to the Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) – is 85 per cent complete.

The project, which is undertaken by the RTA in conjunction with Meraas Holding Group at a cost of Dh475 million ($129 million), is likely to be completed by December. Bridges providing access to the island comprise a main bridge of two lanes in each direction stretching 1,400 m in length and 25 m in width.

 The project includes the construction of ramps and a two-lane bridge from Dubai to the island, and a single-lane ramp from Al Khail Road to the island as well.

Secretariat International opens office

Secretariat International of the US has opened an office in Dubai as part of its Middle East expansion strategy. The Atlanta-based Secretariat offers clients a full suite of scheduling, cost, claim support and project management services and also construction expertise.

SSH expands office

SSH, a leading masterplanning, infrastructure, building design, construction supervision and project management firm in the Middle East, has announced its office expansion in Dubai Design District (d3) to accommodate its growth and future expansion plans.

This development will accommodate the increase in capacity required to meet its expanding portfolio of prestigious projects across all market sectors, it said.

TDIC releases more townhouses

Tourism Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC has released additional townhouses at the Saadiyat Lagoons District for sale.

In addition to the two- and three-bedroom units for sale, TDIC has now added four-bedroom units, all of which are designed as contemporary-style townhouses.Located within minutes from Abu Dhabi city, Saadiyat Lagoons District is a premium residential community.