Abu Dhabi to build giant stadium
ABU DHABI has invited bids to build the largest sports stadium in the UAE. International construction companies have until December 12 to submit preliminary bids to build the stadium that will have approximately 65,000 seats and feature a retractable roof, according to a copy of the tender notice.

Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality, part of the Abu Dhabi-owned investment company Mubadala, is developing the giant stadium project, which eventually will be the new home of the UAE’s soccer team.

Companies interested in winning the contract to build the arena must have had a minimum annual turnover from construction activities of Dh4.5 billion ($1.22 billion) in each of the last three years.


NMDC wins $408m canal deal
ABU Dhabi’s National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) has won a Dh1.5 billion ($408.4 million) contract from Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s to build a canal in the UAE’s capital, the official Wam news agency reported.
The 63.5-km-long Mussafah canal is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2010, NMDC’s chairman Mohammed Thani Murshid Al Rumaithi said.


Princess Tower on schedule
TAMEER Holding Investment said the work on its flagship 107-floor Princess Tower was progressing as per schedule.

The highest residential skyscraper located in Dubai Marina, Princess Tower has reached its 65th floor level and core level 75.

Commenting on the progress, Federico Tauber, president of Tameer Holding Investment, said: “We are dedicated and extremely focused on developing projects that meet the highest level of expectations and offer the best in luxury and comfort to our customers. The Princess Tower, once complete, will be a significant landmark in the Dubai Marina area and the UAE, and we are committed to ensuring the success and timely delivery of this project.”


Hi-tech Pad is ‘behind schedule’
The Pad, a 24-storey hi-tech tower being built by Omniyat Properties at Business Bay in Dubai, is behind schedule, according to a local report.

The building will house 231 ‘intelligent apartments’, boasting state-of-the-art technology covering everything from communications and entertainment to monitoring residents’ health.

However, its designer told Arabian Business that he believes that the development is behind schedule. “The work  is continuing at a much slower pace,” James Law, chairman and founder of James Law Cybertecture International, said.  “It was due to be completed 2010 and there will probably be some delay on that now.”


Hydra Avenue work on track
ABU Dhabi-based Hydra Properties has said the construction of its flagship six-tower development Hydra Avenue on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi is steaming ahead as the podium has been completed ahead of schedule. Hydra Properties CEO Ali Bin Sulayem confirmed the development was on track for the next milestone – the 50 per cent structural completion of towers C4, C5 and C6 by April next year.

The future milestones and timelines include the 50 per cent structural completion, topping out of final floor structure, commencement of façade and commencement of testing and commissioning. The entire development is on track for completion as scheduled in Q4 of 2011.


BASF opens new branch
BASF Construction Chemicals, which is celebrating 20 years of manufacturing construction chemicals in the UAE, has opened a full service branch in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, in order to cater to a strong and growing customer base in the emirate.

John Sarkis, general manager for BASF Construction Chemicals in the Gulf, says: “Our new warehouse facility at the Abu Dhabi business hub will enable us to provide improved logistics, so better servicing our many new and established customers in the emirate. We will also aim to strengthen our ties with clients, consultants, contractors and applicators by providing an industry-leading level of technical sales support.”

Sanctuary Falls swings ahead
SHAIKH Holdings is on target to hand over its award-winning golf development, Sanctuary Falls. The developer says it has achieved significant milestones over the past 18 months, and has been working diligently to build the 99-villa community and deliver on its commitment to its residents.

Sanctuary Falls overlooks the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. With the villas now at various stages of construction, from main concrete works to internal finishing, the streetscape of Sanctuary Falls has started to take shape. The current workforce stands at 1,800 with an additional 200 workers expected by year-end.
The final finishes are currently being applied to the first show villa, which will be fully completed and unveiled shortly, while the remaining villas are on schedule for completion starting early next year.

Damac completes another structure

DAMAC Properties has achieved structural completion of six of its projects this year, the latest being the Tuscan Residences, a Mediterranean-style development at Jumeirah Village in Dubai, which is due for completion next summer.

Damac has also completed structures this year at its XL Tower and Business Tower developments at Business Bay, Smart Heights at Tecom and Lago Vista at IMPZ.


Rimal launches website
RIMAL Engineering Products (Rimal), a leading agent for construction and building materials in the UAE, is celebrating two decades of trading with the launch of a new website. ­

The website will be another source of information for the increasingly web-wise construction industry, says head of business development Ahmal El Solh. “We also expect the website to be a first port of call for construction and building material companies looking for agents to launch their brands in the UAE,” he says.

 
University wins design contest
AJMAN University of Science and Technology (AUST) has been declared winner of the Estidama Fareej Design contest, which primarily involves a challenge to design a sustainable Emirati house integrated in the local traditional neighbourhood concept.

AUST’s winning project the ‘Wind Catcher’ was entered as a modern interpretation of a local design element, the ‘Wind-Tower’, wherein the team studied the cooling effects of the wind-tower and adapted the research to propose an innovative ‘Wind Wall’.

Masdar to test CPV technologies
MASDAR and the Instituto De Sistemas Fotovoltaicos de Concentracion  (ISFOC) of Spain have signed an agreement to test and study concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technologies under Abu Dhabi’s environmental conditions.

The  study will examine the effects of dust, ambient temperature and haze on the energy output and reliability of CPV technologies from a variety of manufacturers. A key aim will be to determine whether CPV technologies can be a competitive and reliable renewable energy technology for Abu Dhabi and the region.

The test site will be located at Masdar City, the world’s first carbon neutral community that is currently under construction on the outskirts of the UAE capital.