Gulf Construction Online

UAE Focus

Update

01 October 2004

DLR project picks up speed
Dubai: The emirate’s plans for the construction of a two-line, 72-km light rail system for the city is gathering pace, as the project enters its second stage of tendering.

Tenders for major construction works of the Dubai light rail (DLR) project are expected to be issued by the Dubai Municipality this month, setting the stage for actual groundbreaking on the project as early as next April.
Once in full operation, the Dubai Metro System is projected to carry approximately 1.2 million passengers on an average day, and 355 million passengers per year.

SNC-Lavlin wins Dubal contract
Dubai: Dubai Aluminum Company Limited (Dubal) has awarded three contracts worth Dh44 million ($12 million) to SNC-Lavalin, which involves work on its Jebel Ali aluminum smelter in Dubai. The first contract is a feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the smelter’s first three series of electrolytic cells – potlines 1, 2 and 3. The other two contracts are to engineer and manage the construction of a seventh potline and to provide the construction management for a new cast house.

ALS to build Emirates cargo centre
Dubai: Germany-based Advanced Logistic Systems (ALS) has won a contract from the Emirates Airline to build a fully automated cargo-handling centre. The centre will have a capacity of 300,000 tonnes at the free zone logistics centre at Dubai International Airport.
The Free Zone Logistics Centre Air Cargo Terminal (FLC), which will reinforce Dubai’s stature as a major international cargo hub, will be ready by the end of 2005.
ALS will provide within the centre, two 20-footer fully automated ETVs (elevating transfer vehicles), truck dock interfaces to the land and air sides, fully automated ASRS (automatic storage and retrieval system) with a proven IT software and hardware system for material handling.

Lootah launches Ewan Phase Two
Dubai: Lootah Real Estate, has announced the launch of Phase Two of its pioneering Ewan Residences Development aimed at corporate investors in the UAE.
“A total of 27 buildings, offering up to 12 apartments in each block, are now available for sale to companies looking to provide their staff with quality housing and an enviable executive lifestyle in one of Dubai’s fastest growing districts,” says a spokesman.
“Investors have the opportunity to buy an entire block at Dh3 million, which is considerably less than other blocks for sale in the city. Each building has a mix of 10 two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments, and the 27 buildings within the Phase Two release will be ready for occupancy in September, 2005. Phase One will be completed and delivered in mid 2005, progressing on schedule. When complete, the Ewan Residences will have 75 apartment buildings in total.”

Unec lands $11m residential project
Dubai: The Real Estate Department of the Government of Dubai has awarded the Dh43.1 million ($11.7 million) residential building for the faculty of American College in Dubai to United Engineering Construction (Unec).
The project calls for the construction, completion and maintenance of a building near Al-Safoud second area in Dubai. Once complete, the structure will have a built-up area of 220,208 sq ft.
It consists of a basement for 66 cars, a mezzanine, a ground floor, 10-storey floors and a health club.
The building frame is cast in-situ-concrete resting on pile foundation. The concrete structural slabs are post-tensioned members.

Trident to tender Marina Scape
Dubai: Hong Kong-based Trident International Holdings will soon tender the piling and enabling package on the Dh440.7 million ($120 million) MarinaScape twin-tower residential project in Dubai Marina.
It occupies a premier site directly alongside the waterfront with spectacular views toward the mouth of the Marina.
The project calls for the construction of a 34-storey Oceanic Tower and a 26-storey Avant Tower offering about 200 residential units.
The project work will commence this December and is expected to complete by December 2006. Local Archon Engineering Consultants is the consultant.

Easa Saleh to fit 600 residences
Dubai: Better Life, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group’s specialist home appliance division, has won contracts to fit more than 5,000 built-in kitchen home appliances at nearly 600 residences in Dubai.
The residences are at Wafi Residences, the new BurJuman Centre extension, Le Meridian Apartments at Dubai Marina, and the Bu Haleeba Towers in Bur Dubai.
The appliances that will be fitted in the kitchens of the properties are cooking hobs, ovens, microwaves, washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators.

Architecture+ Awards in November
Dubai: Architecture+ Awards have will be held at Dubai Media City in the third week of November, according to the event organiser.
The award, which will seek to reward international architects, landscapers, urban designers and planners, and students for their thematic contributions to ‘Design for a New World’, has received entries from several countries around the globe. The multi-tier judging process is currently under way, and will conclude in a mega event to honour winners and bring industry chieftains together.

Dutch Foundation wins Saba Tower
Dubai: Abu Dhabi-based Dutch Foundation Company has been awarded the piling and foundation contract of Saba Twin Towers in Dubai.
Dubai-based Saba Group says that mobilisation at the work area is already at an advanced stage. The 36-storey project, Saba Tower 2 and 3, will come up at the Jumeirah Lake Towers Community, promoted by Nakheel. UK-based RMJM is the primary consultant.

Bu Haleeba strikes Fortune deal
Dubai: Ahmed Hashem Khoory Brothers & Investment has awarded the Dh167 million ($45.4 million) Fortune Tower contract to Bu Haleeba Contracting.
The project in Jumeirah Lakes, calls for the construction of a 34-storey commercial tower to be offered on a freehold basis, with an outright and permanent residential permit.

Nakheel's Dragon set to open in December
Dubai: Dragon Mart, the largest trading hub for Chinese products outside China being developed by Nakheel, as part of International City, will open by the end of 2004. The 1.2 km long dragon-shaped structure is in the final stages of construction and will assemble the largest and most varied collection of Chinese products and services under one roof. Spread over an area of 150,000 sq m and extending to a length of 1.2 km, the Dragon-shaped building will have a head measuring 220 m in length and 210 m in width and 18 m in height and a body that is 980 m long, 110 m wide and 6.4 m high.

Work to start on Dubai Creek bridge
Dubai: Work on the bridge connecting Deira to Bur Dubai over the Dubai Creek is expected to begin by the end of 2004 and be completed by end-2006.
The municipality has finalised the plan for what is called the Ras Al Khor Project. It will not be just another bridge crossing the creek, but a road corridor stretching almost 15 km from the Airport tunnel under construction to the first interchange on Shaikh Zayed Road.
The project involves a 12-lane bridge on the creek and a total of five major interchanges, said Badr Y Al Gergawi, head of the municipality’s roads planning section.
With a height of 19 m, it will have a higher clearance larger than the Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Garhoud Bridge, and will not be an open-span bridge.
There will be interchanges at either end of the bridge allowing motorists to exit or join the expressway on the bridge. Starting from the First Interchange at Shaikh Zayed Road right up to the Airport tunnel, there are a number of junctions, but all allow free flow without any traffic lights and this will ensure smooth traffic flow.
Starting at the First Interchange on Shaikh Zayed Road, a part of the new road project connects with Al Khalil Road, while the other continues onwards interconnecting with Oud Metha Road and the Zabeel (2) Road through an interchange.
From the interchange at Zabeel (2) Road, an arm of the road network will connect to the existing interchange at Al Qatayat Road, while the main road will connect to Al Jaddaf before crossing over the creek towards Al Rabat Road and then join with the Airport Tunnel via the Nadd Al Hamar Road.
A major interchange will also be built on Shaikh Rashid Road before the Al Garhoud Bridge on the Bur Dubai side. Named Al Jaddaf Interchange will allow motorists to drive towards the new bridge on the creek. Another big interchange will be built on the crossroads of Nadd Al Hamar and Al Rabbat Roads to provide motorists free travel up to the airport tunnel.

CA kicks off Dubai operations
Dubai: Computer Associates International, the world’s largest management software company, has announced the launch of direct operations in the Arab region.
“CA’s direct presence – compared with its previous engagement solely through partners – signals a clear change in the company’s strategy towards Arab countries,” says a company spokesman. The company has established its regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City in the UAE, and is currently finalising the setup of offices at key locations throughout the region.
Gilbert Lacroix, the newly appointed vice president and general manager for CA operations in the Arab countries said: “While CA solutions are not new to the region, a direct CA presence brings with it a wealth of resources to benefit every customer, partner as well as the community as a whole.”
For the past 10 years, CA has worked through its partners in the region to help customers meet their IT management challenges. Some of the most complex technology infrastructures in the region now rely on CA’s security, storage and IT infrastructure management solutions. In an immediate show of its commitment to customers, CA has invested in resources that will allow regional users to start a direct dialogue with the company.

MPWH's new premises by end 2005
Dubai: Construction work on the new premises of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MPWH), in Dubai, will conclude in September 2005, according to the Emirates Contracting Association.
“The building will be ready in September 2005,” said Salim Ali Salih, deputy director of the Emirates Contracting Association, which is the MPWH new building contractor.
The cost of construction, which is around Dh40 million ($10.89 million), involves the construction of the building, a basement, ground floor and four storeys.
Salih said that the building has a modern design and includes an auditorium and a conference room. It also has a ‘domain management system’ to control power supply, air-conditioning and the security systems. Modern techniques are being used in the construction of the building.
The 4,451 sq m building, located in Al Ghusais Industrial Area No 1, also has a parking lot and service rooms. The new ministry premises is a combination of concrete and glass.
The building also has an atrium and internal bridges to connect the two parts of the building, which is entirely covered by a metallic covering that goes with the new architectural style.

Danube opens new showroom
Dubai: Danube Building Materials, a leading supplier to the construction industry, has opened the third showroom of its subsidiary Doors and Wardrobes, on Al Wahda Street, Sharjah.
‘Doors and Wardrobes’ specialises in doors, wardrobes, kitchens and sanitary fittings including Jacuzzis.
The other showrooms of the fast-growing chain are located on Salahuddin Road in Dubai and Wadi Al Kabir in Muscat, Oman.
“The Sharjah showroom would have a facility to design doors, wardrobes, kitchens and baths tailored to individual tastes of customers,” said Al Danube Building Materials chairman Rizwan Sajan.

ADU to issue tenders for expansion
Dubai: Abu Dhabi University (ADU) is planning to issue tenders for the main construction packages for its Dh202 million ($55 million) campus expansion plan at Khalifa City in mid-2005.
The project calls for the construction of two new colleges, auditoriums, laboratories and leisure facilities over four million sq ft. Three phases are planned, where each will cater for 5,000 students.
The UK’s Mace International is the project manager.
Bids for the overall masterplan contract are under evaluation with an award expected this month.
A separate tender for design consultants is also due to be issued with an award scheduled by November. The enabling work for project will start in April 2005.