Al Habtoor in Lebanon landmark
Dubai: The UAE-based Al Habtoor Group, which owns the Metropolitan chain of hotels, plans to begin construction of a new tower in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Metropolitan City Centre will be the tallest tower in Lebanon and is to be built on a 14,500 sq m site next to the existing 193-room Metropolitan Palace Hotel in Beirut.The two buildings will be linked by a footbridge.
The City Centre will feature 200 luxurious guestrooms including suites, presidential suites and penthouses, seven restaurants, a shopping mall, housing, 60 line shops and three anchor fashion outlets, and a banquet and conference room.
The project is due for completion by the end of next year.
$41 million contract sealed
Dubai: Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises has won an estimated Dh150 million ($41 million) contract to build a 48-storey residential tower in the Dubai Marina Development.
The construction firm has already completed the infrastructure and preparatory works on the Al Seef Tower.
Al Seef Tower's luxury apartments will overlook the Emirates Golf Course and the Palm Island. The client is Global Real Estate Development Company, a unit of the Dubai Islamic Bank, which is offering long-term home finance schemes for buyers.
Architects to be honoured
Abu Dhabi: A new award for architects has been instituted by the UAE's Engineers Association in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Shaikh Khalifa Award for Architecture will recognise construction works of value and contribute to preserving the architectural heritage of the country. The awards have three categories: distinct architectural project, preservation of architectural tradition, and research on architectural tradition.
Consultancy contract awarded
Abu Dhabi: The Arab Engineering Bureau has been awarded the consultancy job for the construction of 100 luxury villas in the Abu Dhabi breakwater.
The Dh135 million ($37 million) project is a part of a massive development plan in Abu Dhabi breakwater area, comprising a luxury hotel, chalets and extension of the marina mall.
Backfilling in the breakwater area to outline the development is under final stages of completion. The piling works for the villas are now complete and the platform is ready to commence the construction of the villas, clubhouse, lighthouse and associated services buildings.
Tabreed setting up in Qatar
Dubai: The UAE's National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) is setting up a district cooling company in Qatar under a joint venture with Doha-based United Development Company (UDC).
The joint venture firm - named Qatar Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) and generally known as Qatar Cool - will have an initial authorised capital of QR30 million ($8.24 million).
Tabreed is also setting up a joint venture in Saudi Arabia.
Dewa in $11 million project
Dubai: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is to carry out a Dh41 million ($11.2 million) project to install a 20.5 km pipeline from Ras Al Khour to the Mushref area of Dubai.
The 20-month contract is part of the authority's water network masterplan.
The new 1,200 mm line will enhance the water transmission capacity to Al Mushref reservoir, which has seen its capacity increase from 60 million gallons to 180 million gallons.
The contract will cover excavation, pipe supply, testing, commissioning, backfilling and levelling of pipelines.
$650 million housing plan approved
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has approved Dh2.4 billion ($653.4 million) for the construction of houses for UAE nationals in Abu Dhabi. Approximately 2,170 nationals will benefit from the allocation.
New look for Cityspace
Dubai: Cityspace, the Dubai-based interior design consultancy, has marked 10 years of operations in the UAE with a new brand identity.
The consultancy has transformed its complex illustrative logo into a bold concept design for the 21st century.
Abu Dhabi plan awaits go-ahead
Abu Dhabi: The 20-year Master Transportation Plan (MTP) for Abu Dhabi roads is awaiting final approval, according to reports.
Abu Dhabi Municipality, Abu Dhabi Public Works Department and the Al Ain Municipality have embarked on huge projects relating to roads, bridges and tunnels as per the plan.
The maintenance costs are shared by the three bodies, whereas development of new projects are undertaken individually by each body, said a Gulf News report, quoting Abdullah Saleem Al Khazma Al Kathairi, chairman of Road Department, Abu Dhabi Municipality.
Designs complete for The Belvedere
Dubai: Dubai-based ETA-Ascon has completed designs on a new apartment block it is developing at the Dubai Marina.
Work on The Belvedere is expected to begin next month with completion set for July next year.
The project has a site area of 47,692 sq ft, and a built-up area of 139,515 sq ft. The building has two basements, a ground level and six upper floors.
Prospective buyers are offered 60 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on a freehold basis. The building will have private and common gardens as well as a host of modern amenities.
Al Ain intersection nearly ready
Al Ain: Al Ain's third major traffic intersection is nearing completion in Al Sarooj district. It is being built at one of the city's busiest crossroads connecting Sanaiya (Industrial Area), Mazyed district, Al Ain City Centre and surrounding areas.
This intersection has a dual carriage underpass and an overhead roundabout, connecting several roads without traffic interruption. The roads and bridges section of Al Ain Municipality and Town Planning Department has opened two other major intersections on Khalifa bin Zayed Street that links Al Ain with Abu Dhabi. These are the Al Jebel Intersection and another in the Al Muwaiji district.
$39 million spent in northern UAE
Fujairah: Development projects worth Dh143 million ($38.9 million) were completed in the UAE's northern region last year and the first quarter of this year, local press reported.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing says the projects were related mainly to infrastructure and essential services. Construction and maintenance projects implemented last year cost more than Dh66 million; construction projects for the Ministry of Education and Youth touched Dh54 million; and those for the Ministry of Health cost Dh2.5 million.
Seven parks to be built
Dubai: Dubai Municipality's General Projects Department is building seven parks in the city at a total cost of Dh4 million ($1.3 million), said the director general Abdul Rahman Al Sharid.
The parks are being constructed in Al Jafiliyah, Al Satwa, Al Garhoud, Hor Al Anz, Al Mutainah and Al Quoz residential areas. Construction is expected to start in November.
The Al Jafiliyah park will cover 21 hectares and will include two volleyball, football and basketball areas. The park will have two entrances and ample space for people to rest. The Al Garhoud Park will have 28 hectares divided in two parts. Of this 18 hectares will be used for football along with a skating area. The Al Satwa park will have 15 hectares and Al Quoz 13 hectares.
Beach resort expanded
Dubai: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina is expanding its resort on Jumeira Beach in Dubai to include landscaping of garden areas, an additional shaded children's pool, a 25m-lap pool and a large infinity pool.
There will also be facilities to house a new restaurant and bar.
Work on the project has started and is expected to be completed by August, according to reports.
Fujairah contract awarded
Fujairah: Union Water and Electricity Company has selected Sogex Oman for an operations and maintenance contract on its Fujairah power and desalination plant.
The five-year contract was valued at Dh137.28 million ($37.39 million). Other bidders were Belgium's Tractabel Electricity and Gas International with Germany's Babcock Borsig Power, UK's Innogy with Thames Water Overseas, and the US' CMS Energy.
The deal involves the operation and maintenance of a 656 MW power unit and a 100 million gallons per day (mgpd) water desalination plant under construction in Qidfa and the 179 km dual pipeline, which can pump up to 180 mgpd of water to Sweihan.
Cityscape bookings going well
Dubai: Cityscape 2003, the region's major commercial architecture, property investment and development event, finds 80 per cent of its space booked, according to a report. The event is to open on October 18 at the Grand Hyatt Dubai and will run until October 20.
Among those who have booked space already are Emaar Properties, Al Oula Real Estate, Atkins, Fusion, Tabreed, Cassia Associates, KEO International, Phillips Lighting, Ian Banham Associates, Rikaz, Hyder Consulting, Behnisch Behnisch & Partner, RMJM, Dewan, Architecture, The PHB Group, Amlaki FZ, Aqar Holdings and the Dubai Development and Investment Authority, the report said.
Terminal project attracts interest
Dubai: Expressions of interest have been invited from consulting firms to plan, design and supervise the construction of a new container terminal in Dubai.
The container terminal is expected to begin operations by 2007. Shortlisted firms will be later invited to make presentations on their proposals. Subsequently, a Terms of Reference (TOR) will be elaborated and made available to the selected firms. The client is the Dubai Ports Authority.
Dutch firm wins reclamation order
Dubai: Top Dutch construction company Koninklijke BAM Group has said its dredging unit Ballast HAM Dredging (BHD) had won a land reclamation order in Dubai worth about 40 million euros ($42 million).
The project in Port Rashid was awarded by Dubai Palm Developers and will take about a year to complete, BAM said.
Sharjah committee set up
Sharjah: Sharjah Municipality has set up a committee to assess which old buildings in the emirate need to be demolished. The permanent committee will draw up guidelines on whether buildings should be maintained or demolished. Owners of buildings that have to be demolished will be notified. They have to contact the municipality within two weeks. If the owner fails to do so, the municipality will demolish the building and claim demolition expenses from the owner.
New fish museum nears completion
Dubai: Work on a new fish museum, Fisherman's House, in the Deira Fish Market in Dubai, is nearing completion.
Humaid Saeed Al Marri, director of the markets and abattoirs department, said the museum will provide information on the varieties of fish available in the UAE waters. The museum is being set up by Dubai Municipality. Only the decoration work remains to be completed, a report said.