CONSTRUCTION work on Phase Three of Bawabat Al Sharq project, a Dh3-billion ($817-million) mixed-use development located close to the Abu Dhabi International Airport, will start by the end of this year, according to the project developer Baniyas Investment and Development Company (BID).

The company had announced the third phase comprising 153 Andalusian villas earlier this year. “We are waiting for the necessary approvals and as soon as we receive them, we shall start construction work,” says Wael Tawil, CEO of BID.
 “As part of our commitment to cater to the diverse needs of our clients, we have designed five distinctive types of Andalusian villas. They consist of three, four and five-bedroom spacious homes, ranging from 271 sq m to 542 sq m in area, in addition to various amenities which include elevators, dumb waiters, separate men and women’s majlis as well as pools and private parking spaces. Residents of these villas will also be able to enjoy easy and convenient access to the landscaped areas through private garden entrances,” says Tawil.

The third phase of Bawabat Al Sharq comes in response to the increase in demand for units, with all the villas in the second phase of the project having been sold out, he says.

“Our latest villa offering is very much customer-centric and comes after understanding the ever-changing needs and tastes of our market. We are launching Phase Three villas with several unit sizes with different architectural interpretations of the Andalusian theme,” he adds.

Phase Three of the development will also feature exquisite landscaping, pedestrian walkways and bike roads, in addition to scenic public areas and parks.

Described by the developers as one of the path-breaking projects in Abu Dhabi, Bawabat Al Sharq is a master community near the Abu Dhabi International Airport on the road to Al Ain. Extending across 108 hectares of land, it is the first luxury mixed-use development of its kind in Bani Yas, one of the main suburban regions of Abu Dhabi, known for its rich history and culture.

Bawabat Al Sharq includes residential, commercial, retail and entertainment offerings in addition to a vast array of amenities, namely an educational institution, a medical centre, a health club and specialty training clubs. Additional leisure facilities in the development include a gymnasium, swimming pools, a community clubhouse, multipurpose halls, children’s play areas, barbecue areas, tennis courts and football fields.

In cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Government and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Bawabat Al Sharq will also house a state-of-the-art international Fifa-standard sporting stadium designed by Roger Tallibert, a name behind projects such as Parc Des Princes in Paris, France, and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. This stadium – currently under construction – will be the first of its kind in the region, with a seating capacity of 20,000 and accommodating five outdoor football fields, in addition to several training areas and a number of indoor multi-purpose courts.

The mall ... scheduled to open this year.

Once completed, the stadium will be the official home of the Baniyas Sports Club.

Another important feature of the project is Bawabat Al Sharq mall, which will include 339 retail outlets of fashion wear, electronics, neighbourhood services, accessory outlets and jewellers to choose from. Scheduled to open this year, the mall is currently in the finishing stage. It is spread across two floors, offering 70,000 sq m of gross leasable area and boasting 2,245 parking spaces as well as 22 food outlets inclusive of restaurants and cafes, in addition to banks and pharmacies.

Phase One of the project has been completed and delivered to investors. It comprises residential offerings consisting of three-, four- and five-bedroom, detached and semi-detached villas in addition to an assortment of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The apartment blocks consist of three low-rise buildings strategically located around the shopping mall, providing easy access to residents. In total, Phase One incorporates 164 well-designed apartments and 56 luxurious villas.

Thirty-four Garden Homes are located on the ground floors of the apartments being built in Phase Two.

Phase Two of the project, currently under construction, consists of 129 deluxe three-, four- and five-bedroom villas, with private gardens as well as swimming pools. In addition, the Phase Two apartments, which represent a blend of tradition and modernism, include a total of 500 units, spread across 14 buildings within six different blocks. Set in well-landscaped surroundings with water views, the apartments include a mix of deluxe suites, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as exclusive penthouses with terraces and Jacuzzis.

Royal International Construction, the main contractor for the Phase Two, will be handing over the project by the end of this year, under a Dh190-million ($51.8 million) contract.

Al Jaber Group is working on the infrastructure works for all three phases of the project under a contract valued at Dh205 million ($55.8 million), awarded last year for completion in June 2012. It includes road embankments, storm water and sewage networks, street-lighting and the mall external parking area. The infrastructure of Phase One has been completed, while the backfilling works of Phase Two has also been completed.

Bawabat Al Sharq ... the masterplan.

Founded in 2005, BID, a majority-owned subsidiary of the Baniyas Sports Club, has been an active contributor to the dynamic transformation of Abu Dhabi. As the investment and development arm of the Baniyas Sports Club, the company’s core competencies are in the areas of investment, development and management of real estate projects.

“With integrity at the heart of our corporate philosophy, and with the aim of supporting the collective vision of Abu Dhabi 2030, we at BID are driven by a desire to enrich the quality of people’s living, working and leisure environments. BID works on developing luxurious and cosmopolitan urban structures, communities, and surroundings that are environmentally, culturally and socially balanced while creating an atmosphere that inspires future generations,” says Tawil.

Other projects being developed by BID include one in Egypt and two in the pipeline – one project each in Iraq and Lebanon. It also plans to launch a tower in Sowwah Island, Abu Dhabi.