Hughes moves to larger premises
HUGHES Middle East has moved into larger premises in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (Saif-Zone) in the UAE, to enable the company to meet increased orders across the Middle East.
The supplier of emergency safety showers and eyebaths will now have additional warehouse space and office accommodation to handle an increased demand for its products while providing facilities for local assembly and servicing.
“This investment in new premises is part of our continuing expansion in the region,” said Tony Hughes, managing director of the company that saw sales in the region increase by more than 50 per cent last year.

Al Marjan reaches new milestone
LEADING property developer and masterplanner Rakeen said it has completed 80 per cent of infrastructure work on Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Marjan Island, which is on track for its scheduled completion in 2012.
Rakeen further revealed that infrastructure services such as potable water, irrigation, storm water, rising main and vacuum systems will be ready by the time the first development projects on the island are completed.
Phase One of the infrastructure work, consisting of Peninsula Island One and Two, was awarded to Kumho Industrial from South Korea, which started construction work in September 2008. Phase Two, consisting of Peninsula Island Three and Four, was awarded to Italian contractor Rizzani De Eccher, which commenced work last November.

Concrete construction in focus
LATEST developments in concrete construction and design were discussed at a seminar at Alhosn University, Abu Dhabi, last month.
The seminar entitled ‘Advances in Concrete Design’ was presented by the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) UAE Chapter and covered topics such as trends in sustainable concrete construction, energy-efficient building designs with renewable energy, durability and its impact on concrete construction in the UAE and concrete elasto-plastic shortening.

Wates wins $17m school project
LEADING UK firm Wates Construction International will develop a new extension and upgrade existing facilities at the British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi, marking its first construction project since recently establishing an office in the emirate.
Wates has been granted the contract to build the Dh65-million ($17-million) extension in a joint venture with its UAE construction partner Al Fara’a General Contracting. Building and demolition work is expected to begin this month (July) for the project that will take a two years to complete, with the extension planned to be built in two phases.

Victory Heights ... progressing well.

Victory Heights hits 500-villa mark
DUBAI’S Victory Heights has handed over more than 50 per cent of its luxury Phase One villas to homeowners with the 500th villa owner having moved into the 961-unit golfing residential community.
The news of the successful delivery follows the developer’s announcement that construction had been completed on 81 per cent of the community’s phase-one homes. The 500th villa handover means that 63 per cent of all sold villas in Victory Heights are now in the possession of homeowners. Building work has also recently commenced on the project’s first community centre.

Wade Adams takes up DIC job
DUBAI Industrial City (DIC) has appointed Wade Adams as the contractor to finalise the second phase of infrastructure work on the project that is expected to be completed in October 2011. The scope of the contract includes the completion of all sewage, water and irrigation work and remaining road works as well as the construction of telecom networks and Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) electrical ducts to serve all facilities and active developments. The project will be managed by Tecom’s specialised project management entity Tamdeen.

Tool safety awareness day held
AN interactive industrial tool awareness day was held last month at the Dutco Labour camp in Dubai to improve health and safety at construction sites.
It was jointly organised by Dewalt, a leading manufacturer of industrial power tools, and  Dutco Balfour Beatty, one of the UAE’s largest construction companies. Dewalt demonstrated some of its tools and their safety features as part of the fun-filled programme.