Gulf Construction Online

UAE Focus

Update

01 April 2016

Aldar inks mall revamp contract

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties has awarded a Dh318-million ($86.5 million) contract to refurbish and expand Al Jimi Mall to Pivot Construction.

The project will add an additional retail space of 33,000 sq m, bringing the total to 76,000 sq m.

It will include an expansion to the mall’s west wing, adding 51 new units over three levels. An expansion to the north side’s ‘retail park’ will consist of three huge retail boxes with sizes range from 1,500 sq m to 6,500 sq m designed to accommodate different requirements, family dining and coffee shops, an event plaza and front-door parking for more than 1,000 cars.

The project includes a refurbishment of the mall.

Dubai club set for big pool expansion

Dubai’s Zero Gravity beach club and restaurant will undergo a massive 2,000-sq-m pool expansion in a bid to become the world’s biggest entertainment venue.

The scope of work includes a 39-m glass-fronted infinity swimming pool, an 800-sq-ft stage and one of the world’s first permanent installations of the L-Acoustics K2, X Series and Arcs Wide entertainment system.

The system, which is complemented by Clay Paky lighting, Kvant lasers, Universal Effects and more than 100 speakers, represents the highest quality audio-visual equipment available across the globe.

Cofely Besix lands school FM contract

Cofely Besix Facility Management (CBFM) has been awarded a three-year contract by Aldar Academies, a division of Aldar Properties, to provide integrated facility management (FM) services at its five schools located across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

CBFM has been commissioned to provide full hard and soft facility management services including operations and maintenance of electrical systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems, fire and life systems, BMS (building management systems), 24-hour MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) services, as well as managing the building structure.

Sustainable sports park on way

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has signed a deal with the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) to set up the region’s first sustainable smart sports park for women.

The Al Saada park at Dubai Ladies Club is a scale model of a smart sustainable activity park that uses sports to promote sustainability.

The recreational innovative equipment in the park transforms kinetic energy into electricity and stores it in special units for use in charging phones and smart devices, lighting, cooling water, or other devices.

DP breaks ground on luxury tower

Dubai Properties (DP) has started work at its flagship project, 1/JBR, a luxurious residential beachfront tower that is set for completion in 2019.

Located at the entrance of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), the tower will offer unparalleled luxury with every apartment offering panoramic sea views, the developer said.

Work began in January this year with site mobilising and enabling works. The final design has been completed and it is in the last stages of approval.

Encompassing two- to four-bedroom apartments and five-bedroom penthouses with exquisitely crafted interiors, 1/JBR is a 46-floor tower with 153 units.

Empower awards $12m contracts

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has awarded contracts valued at Dh45 million ($12.2 million) since the beginning of 2016.

These deals will pave the way for a series of new contracts during the year, said CEO Ahmad Bin Shafar.

The contracts serve Empower’s endeavours to extend its district cooling network, building associated infrastructure, and installing individual flow-meters for users at various key projects in Dubai.

Some of these projects are located in Business Bay, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC).

Gulf Asia to build residential tower

Gulf Asia Contracting Company has won a Dh450- million ($123 million) contract for the construction of a mid-rise residential building in Dubai.

The contract for the ground plus 19-storey project in Al Barsha was awarded by Geepas, a flagship brand of Western International Group, reported the Gulf News.

With a built-up area of 1.5 million sq ft, the building will have as many as 640 units and a 700-bay car park. The project is due to be completed in March 2018.

Emiroll to set up aluminium coil plant

Emirates Aluminium Rolling (Emiroll), a joint venture between Dubai Holding, Dubai Investments and Singapore-based Mars, is to build a plant in Abu Dhabi at an investment of Dh440 million ($120 million).

The facility will come up on a 900,000-sq-ft area in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad).

The new plant is expected to go on stream by the third quarter of 2017. Emiroll will manufacture 65,000 tonnes of aluminium coils per annum, including 45,000 tonnes of cold-rolled and 20,000 tonnes of hot-rolled aluminium for applications in downstream industries, such as automotive body parts, roller shutters, garage castings, container trays, cans and aerosols.

Meydan gets $476m financing

Dubai’s Meydan Group has won $476 million of financing from Qatar National Bank (QNB) and QNB’s UAE affiliate Commercial Bank International.

The funds would support investment in new Meydan projects – a sign that the emirate is pushing ahead with big infrastructure plans despite a regional slowdown due to low oil prices, reports said.

St Regis Beach Club on way

Master developer Nakheel will introduce a St Regis branded Beach Club to Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah island.

The club will be part of the St Regis Dubai – The Palm, a luxury hotel located in the 52-storey Palm Tower hotel and residential complex. It will offer dining and leisure venues, an infinity pool stretching almost 100 m along the seafront, and a state-of-the-art gymnasium. Guests of the hotel will enjoy access to the beach club, while those living in The Palm Tower Residences will benefit from preferential membership deals.

Penspen wins Adma-Opco job

Penspen has been appointed as project management consultant to Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco) for ongoing work on Das Island.

Under the four-year contract, which went live in January 2016, Penspen will advise on: the upgrade or replacement of pipeline networks; studies to be conducted on an oil spill response hub; a major overhaul of crude oil storage tanks; and installation of three COL pumps and associated modification.

Emaar to launch residential tower

Emaar is set to launch its The Address Residences Dubai Opera Tower II in Downtown Dubai.

Located close to the Dubai Opera, the development will boast spacious residences with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, all with terraces and balconies, according to real estate brokers Coldwell Banker.

The Address Residences Dubai Opera consists of two towers – a 65-storey residential tower and a 55-storey hotel/serviced apartment tower. The towers have a completion date of 2020, according to reports.

Dubai to review energy laws

Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy is planning new laws and standards for green buildings, the rehabilitation of existing buildings, energy efficiency and reuse of wastewater as part of a strategy to organise the emirate’s district-cooling sector. The council is working towards implementing its ‘demand side management strategy’, which features nine programmes that contribute to sustainable development.