Gulf Construction Online

UAE Focus

At the signing ceremony ... Sheikh Khalid with Alabbar.

In brief

01 January 2017

Emaar enters Al Marjan Island

DubaI’S Emaar Properties has signed an agreement with Al Marjan Island (AMI) to develop two-million-sq-ft mixed-use projects including high-end residential, hospitality and retail components at Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.

The $1.8-billion Al Marjan Island consists of four artificial islands with 1,500 hotel rooms and more than 2,000 residential units.

Emaar will pilot the first phase of its project, which will feature a five-star luxury hotel and serviced residences and a world-class retail precinct.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Khalid bin Saud Al Qasimi, chairman of Al Marjan Island, and Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties.

Wellness homes on way

MAG Property Development (MAG PD) has partnered with wellness real estate and technology firm Delos to introduce wellness-inspired homes to the UAE over the next five years.

The first project will be the residences at MAG of Life Creek Resort at Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) Phase Two.

The project will see MAG PD work with Delos to incorporate health and wellness elements into residences. The partnership also marks the introduction of Delos’s wellness technologies and solutions into the single family home market in the Middle East.

Emaar starts work on tower

Emaar Properties has started work on The Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa, an iconic new development which is set to become the tallest tower at Jumeirah Beach Walk in Dubai.

The move comes following the appointment of Middle East Foundation Group as the enabling works contractor for the Jumeirah resort development with a built-up area of 255,000 sq m, said Hamptons International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties.

The Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa is essentially a single tower, arranged in a split formation to maximise daylight and ensure sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina. This gives the tower the impression of two towers.

Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway opens

Abu Dhabi has opened a new 62-km highway linking the UAE capital to Dubai.

The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road was inaugurated by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in late November.

It was one of the biggest infrastructure projects implemented under Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan (Capital 2030), an initiative of Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC).

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Highway connects with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed highway, The project, launched in the first quarter of 2014, was completed one month ahead of schedule.

Mubadala invites landscaping bids

Mubadala Development Company has invited expressions of interest (EOIs) for key landscaping works as part of the Al Maryah Island Promenade Extension project.

The scope of work includes hard and soft landscaping such as paving, irrigation, planting, way-finding and utility provisions for a 2-km-long promenade extension to the existing Al Maryah public realm, said Mubadala.

Once the extension is complete, the promenade will encircle the entire southern half of the island, adding a further 2.06 km of walkway.

Tenders invited for Dubai marinas

Leading regional developer Nakheel has floated tenders for the design and construction of six marinas at its Deira Islands development in Dubai.

These new marinas will boast more than 600 berths catering to all types of vessels - from small pleasure craft to large superyachts.

One of the six new marinas will be used to serve the upcoming Deira Islands Night Souk which is due for completion in 2018 (see Tenders).

Crocodile Park launch delayed

Dubai has postponed the launch of its ambitious crocodile park, a 20,000-sq-m development coming up in Mirdif area of the emirate, to the end of 2017.

The announcement comes from Dubai Municipality at a time when only 43 per cent of the work has been completed, reported The National.

Considered to be the first of its kind in the Middle East, the Dubai Crocodile Park will be built on the lines of the one in France. The park will be home to hundreds of crocodiles as well as Nile crocodiles, the largest species that live in fresh water.

The project is 10 km from the airport with easy access from several areas, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road, Emirates Road, Tripoli Street and Khawaneej Road.

Financial closure for coal plant

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has reached financial closure for the 2,400 MW Hassyan clean coal power project.

The total investment of the project is $3.4 billion through Hassyan Energy Company, which is a joint-venture between Dewa (51 per cent) and a consortium comprising Acwa Power, Harbin Electric, and the Silk Road Fund (49 per cent). The project is supported by a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the consortium led by Acwa Power.

The project consists of four 600 MW power units. They will be operational in March 2020, March 2021, March 2022, and March 2023 respectively.

Solar park on track

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has said that 80 per cent of the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is complete, as of mid-December.

The world’s largest single-site solar park based on the independent power producer (IPP) model, the Al Maktoum Solar Park will be developed at a total investment of Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion).

Phase Two will eventually generate 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity by April 2017. To date, 75 per cent of the 2.2 million photovoltaic panels have been installed. During the installation, no injuries were recorded, with over 1 million safe man hours logged, said a top official.