Glass lines win $76m orders in H1

Glass, the first glass holding company in the Middle East and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Investments (DI), has announced that its coating lines have won projects exceeding Dh280 million ($76.2 million) in the first six months of 2015.

The coating lines comprise subsidiaries Emirates Glass (EGL) and Saudi American Glass (SAG).

New orders during the period include projects worth Dh150 million ($40.82 million) in the UAE, Dh75 million ($20.41 million) in Saudi Arabia, and Dh45 million in Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait.

Glass  subsidiaries also boast of strong order books for projects in the GCC, which include 250,000 sq m of Solite coated glass for ‘Akoya by Damac’ Apartments and Villas, 80,000 sq m of E-Lite Blue glass for Dubai Design District, 40,000 sq m each for Viceroy Hotel in Dubai, Abdel Wahab Tower in Doha and Heart of Doha projects, and 25,000 sq m for Warsan development in Dubai, among others.

City Mall in $17m expansion

The City Mall in Madinat Zayed, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, is undergoing an expansion worth Dh65 million ($17.69 million).

The expansion will span 16,400 sq m and include more than 100 stores, including several commercial and service activities. Several international and local commercial establishments will open branches in the City Mall. Mohammed Al Falahi, chairman of the Al Falahi Group Company, said: “Currently more than 50 per cent of the mall space is already reserved, with negotiations under way with well-known brands.”

Museum of Future a step closer

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has given a go-ahead for the establishment of the emirate’s Museum of the Future.

A law was issued to set up the Dubai Foundation, which will oversee the establishment of several research centres in addition to the Museum of the Future, set to be a key attraction for researchers. The museum will cost Dh500 million ($136 million) and will be built close to Emirates Towers near Sheikh Zayed Road. It is set to open in 2017.

Desal plant for Ras Al Khaimah

Construction work is to start this month (September) on a desalination plant in Ras Al Khaimah, planned by a joint venture of Utico Middle East and Spanish energy giant Grupo Cobra.

The joint venture, Al Hamra Water Company, will oversee the development of the Dh719-million ($195.74 million) water desalination plant in the Al Hamra Jazeerah area of Ras Al Khaimah.