Two major contractors - Nasa Multiplex and Ascon - jointly undertook construction of the prestigious Taj Palace hotel.

"In keeping with the current trend, an ambitious timeframe of 20 months was set for the main contract works on Taj Palace, which began in September 1999 and was completed in April 2001, says Nasa Multiplex project manager Paul Hoban.

He continues: "The circumstances for executing the works were made more challenging as a result of the hotel's location in the heart of residential Deira, surrounded on all sides by apartment buildings. Due consideration had to be given at all times to the environmental impact of construction activity on the neighbourhood to ensure minimal inconvenience to residents. This inevitably led to restricted working hours, particularly during the traditionally more intrusive sub and super-structure construction phase. Detailed planning and material procurement coupled with close co-operation and co-ordination of the construction team was, therefore, paramount.

"The client-consultant team adopted an extremely proactive and positive approach which allowed a cohesive client-consultant-contractor team to be forged, without which it would not have been possible to have successfully complete the project on time and within budget.

"Conically-glazed curtain walling beneath a reinforced concrete vierendeel structure forming the central atrium of the hotel lobby was but one of several striking architectural features of the building which, whilst adding to the complexity of the project, also resulted in an aesthetically-pleasing end-product.

"The fitout of the hotel was executed by Leader Furniture and Joinery - on the heels of completion of wet trade work - in an impressively short six-month time period to the high standard expected of a five-star establishment.

"It was a pleasure to have been involved in the successful realisation of this project and we hope Juma Al Majid Abdullah will have every success in this exciting new property venture."

Nasa Multiplex is a partnership between Multiplex Constructions and Naseer Lootah.

"Multiplex Constructions is an international construction company which has expanded across countries and the globe since its inception in 1962 in Perth, Australia," says Hoban. "It is Australia's largest private construction and development company with more than AS$2 billion ($1.01 billion) annual revenue. The company has established an excellent reputation for completing projects varying in both size and complexity, within the scheduled time and budget cost."

The company has executed a diverse range of projects such as high-rise towers, office buildings, shopping centres, hospitals, educational facilities, water and sewerage treatment plants, roads and bridges, resource projects, hotels, industrial facilities, entertainment centres, sporting arenas and grandstands.

Other major projects that Nasa Multiplex has been involved with in the UAE include two impressive Dubai skyscrapers: The Tower (a 250-m-high residential complex currently nearing completion) and the Emirates Towers (350-m-high office tower and hotel).

It also provides specialised contracting services such as design and construct, turnkey, boot (build-own-operate-transfer) schemes, construction management and project management, all tailored to suit individual client needs.

Dubai-based ETA-Ascon was established in 1973 as a joint venture between the Al Ghurair Group and Amana Investments Limited of Hong Kong.

The group network encompasses more than 25 branches and associated offices all over the globe with interests ranging from civil construction to electromechanical and elevator engineering, from power projects to manufacturing, trading, shipping and consumer retailing. The turnover of the group is in excess of $1 billion and employee strength of over 13,000.

Ascon (Associated Construction & Investments) was established for undertaking civil projects in Dubai and has grown into a leading contracting firm with branches all over the UAE and a host of activities ranging from civil construction to structural steel fabrication, marbles and granite and wood joinery interiors.

The ISO-certified company's project list includes luxury villas, residential/commercial buildings, shopping malls, educational and sports facilities. Its expertise in industrial projects includes petrochemical plants, cement plants, flour mills and substations. Ascon has completed projects worth more than Dh3 billion and is presently handling projects worth more than Dh350 million.

The company has the capability to execute civil, asphalt works, swimming pool/leisure works, electrical, air-conditioning, plumbing, elevators and wood joinery through its associated companies which are leaders in the respective specialised fields of engineering and construction.

Ascon is able to offer turnkey execution of projects as well as undertake joint ventures with other international companies to execute challenging projects and complete and handover the same on time along with quality, speed as well as safety, says T Murugappan, deputy general manager with Ascon.