Abu Dhabi projects worth $103bn
More than Dh380 billion ($103 billion) worth of projects are under various stages of development in Abu Dhabi, according to a report.

The major projects include Yas Island development valued at Dh146 billion, Saadiyat Island (Dh99 billion), Al Raha Beach (Dh54 billion), Danet Abu Dhabi (Dh34 billion), Najmat Abu Dhabi (Dh29.36 billion), Shams Abu Dhabi (Dh9.1 billion) and Capital Centre (Dh8 billion).
Most of these projects will be highlighted at the Abu Dhabi Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS 2007), scheduled to take place between March 21 and 24 at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre.

Naboodah to develop infrastructure
Al Barari Development Company has appointed Al Naboodah Engineering Services to undertake the infrastructure works for the initial phase of its prestigious 300-villa development at the Nad Al Sheba enclave in Dubai over 9.2 million sq ft of land.
Al Naboodah is to provide the roads, the high-voltage electrical network, irrigation, drainage and sewerage network, as well as the waterways and lakes for the Dh6.6 billion ($1.8 billion) project.
Only 18 per cent of the development will be built up. with the remaining 82 per cent earmarked for gardens, lakes, waterways and walkways. The tree-shaped development will have 30 ‘leaves’ (clusters), in the first phase consisting of between nine and 12 villas per leaf.

Palm Jumeirah trunk is redesigned
Nakheel has revised the design for the trunk of The Palm Jumeirah masterplan incorporating major waterfront leisure facilities, including marinas, beachfront hotels and shoreline clubhouses.
A landscaped 7.8-hectare park will now become the focal point at the centre of the trunk, offering a wide range of facilities including a large water element, with pools and fountains being key features. The park will also be an experiential feature, creating attractive, useable space.

Belbadi gets Business Bay project
Omniyat Properties has awarded Emirates Belbadi Contracting (Belbadi) a Dh200 million ($54.5 million) construction contract for its One Business Bay (left), following completion of preliminary enabling works by Dutco Balfour Beatty on the firm’s debut project. 
The Dh507 million One Business Bay tower will rise from Plot Number One of the Business Bay District and offer Grade A freehold office space. It will be completed by the second quarter of 2008.

Park Lane Tower goes up
Construction is under way for Park Lane Tower, a mixed-use commercial-residential-retail building located in Business Bay, Dubai.
“We are delighted with the success of this project, as we were able to achieve the maximum within a short period of time. The success of the 340-unit Park Lane Tower is certainly a testimony to our commitment towards offering world-class properties in the region,” said KM Holding chief operating officer Sanjeet Joher.
The tower comprises 29 floors offering commercial office space, residential apartments and retail units. It is thought to be the first three-way, mixed-use configuration in one building launched in the region.
Designed by Carlos Ott, Park Lane Tower is destined to be a landmark building due to its aerodynamic form and artistic lighting, which will make it look spectacular and different by day and night.

Tenders issued for Acacia villas
Kuwait’s Abyaar Real Estate has issued a tender for the main works of its exclusive freehold villas at Acacia Avenues, Jumeirah, in Dubai.
With an investment value of $550 million, the contemporary and feature-filled villas include gardens and extensive leisure and retail facilities.
Over 60 per cent of the 50, five- and six-bedroom exclusive villas, and the ‘Olgana’ tower – comprising 137 freehold, one, two and three bedroom apartments – were sold within the launch month, the company said.
Wade Adams is responsible for all infrastructure works for the 94,000 sq m Acacia Avenues.

$272m revenue targeted
Danube Building Materials has reported a 50 per cent growth in revenue for 2006 and expects to continue its strong growth over the next year in a bid to cross Dh1 billion ($272 million) in revenues by 2008. 
“Our growth, especially in the last 10 years, has been phenomenal, which is reflected by our revenues which have risen consistently by around 30 per cent since 1996,” says chairman Rizwan Sajan.
Danube distributes over 10,000 products ranging from MDF, plywood, boards, timber, veneer, laminates, PVC, doors, parquet, ceilings and sanitary ware.

Tower to honour late Ruler
A 61-storey tower is to be built in Dubai to honour the memory of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late President of the UAE.
Al Hekma Tower, which means The Wisdom Tower, will be built by the Abu Dhabi-based Pearl Properties near the First Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road, and will display an image of the late ruler which will crown the top of the building at a height of 50 m.
When completed in 2008, this will be the largest portrait of a single individual to be seen on any tower in the Middle East.

District cooling market worth billions
Investments in the Middle East district-cooling sector will range from $10 billion to $30 billion over the next 10 years, according to the US-based International District Energy Association (IDEA), which also estimates that the rapid rate of Middle East construction will generate demand for cooling services of more than 10 to 20 million tons of refrigeration (TR).
Speaking at the International District Cooling Conference in Abu Dhabi, IDEA president Rob Thornton said: “Development of the Middle East district cooling sector will outpace North America’s by a ratio of 2:1 and the region will maintain its world-leading position spurred by IDEA members.”
The conference also marked the launch of IDEA’s Middle East chapter, headquartered in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Tabreed won two awards at the event. The company received IDEA’s Global Partner honour while its CEO Dany Safi scooped the Global Pioneer accolade.

L&T opens cement plant
India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) hopes to meet the growing demand for ready-mix concrete in the UAE with the unveiling of its new plant in Jebel Ali.
The $13 million project will have a capacity to produce 240 cu m of ready-mix concrete per hour.
In India L&T manufactures and supplies about three million cu m of L&T concrete per annum through 60 plants spread across the country.
In the Middle East, the company proposes to expand in other emirates, specifically in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, and also in Sohar and Muscat in Oman.

Six new factories for Abu Dhabi
The Abu-Dhabi-based Arkan Building Materials and Saudi Arabia’s Construction Production Company (CPC) have signed an agreement to establish six factories for producing building materials and one logistic support cargo company in the UAE capital. The total cost of the projects will be Dh750 million ($204 million). Arkan will supervise the work on all engineering and architectural designs, and follow up with the execution of the project.

West Wharf foundation laid
The foundation stone for the West Wharf residential development in Dubai’s Business Bay has been laid. Scheduled for completion in December 2008, West Wharf comprises 18 floors offering a range of contemporary loft, townhouse and apartment living including duplexes and penthouses with private swimming pools. Hazel Wong has designed the West Wharf building.

Champion contractor to be named
Memon Group will shortly appoint a contractor for its debut project, the Dh75 million ($20 million) Champions Tower I, within Dubai Sports City (DSC).
The Memon Group plans to invest Dh1 billion in various property projects in the UAE by the end of 2008.

Emicool awards Motor City contracts
Emirates District Cooling Company (Emicool) will provide 100,000 tons of refrigeration to the Motor City Project by building two plant rooms, each able to accommodate 46,000 tons of refrigeration. Construction of the plant rooms has been awarded to Drake & Scull and Thermo for Dh333 million ($90.7 million). For the piping network, Emicool has signed up CAT Company for Dh73.5 million.
Work on the piping is expected to be completed by the end of 2007 along with the first phase of the first plant room.

New exhibition centre opens
Phase 1 of the new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre opened to host Idex 2007, one of the world’s largest defence exhibitions, last month.