InterBuild India doubles in sizeNew Delhi: With over 60 per cent of the exhibition being occupied by international exhibitors, InterBuild India 2005 – India’s International Trade Exhibition for Building Construction and Interiors – has doubled in size, claim the organisers.

The Bahrain Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEB) in association with the Nuernberg Global Fairs of Germany will host the third Water Middle East conference at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre from November 14 to 16.

Paris, Lyon and Warsaw will compete head-on with London to woo regional investors at Cityscape 2005, the Middle East’s Premier International Property Investment and Development Event. Despite being one of the most expensive property locations, London still remains a favoured destination for overseas businesses and workers.

Concrete and its applications will be discussed at Saie Concrete – the International building show organised by BolognaFiere in conjunction with Consulta de Calcesfruzzo – at Bologna from October 12 to 16.

Work on Oman's largest real estate project, the $15 billion Al Madina Al Zarqa – The Blue City, will start this October.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has allocated $1.25 billion for the expansion work at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Abdullah ordered that the expansion work started at the holy place be completed at a cost of SR4.7 billion.The work includes the construction of courtyards, roads, car parks and tunnels.

Emaar Properties has announced the signing of its Dh14.5 billion ($4 billion) Cairo Heights development – the group’s first large-scale project in Egypt. Construction of the seven communities that will make up the new district will begin shortly and is expected to reshape the face and lifestyle of the Egyptian capital.

Tenders for the construction of 390 villas in the first phase of Durrat Al Bahrain will be out soon. The villas will be built on the first and second Atoll Islands and first Petal Island, said Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company chief executive officer Jassim Al Jowder.Work is expected to be completed by early 2007.

Bahrain is likely to award the contract for the new Khalifa bin Salman Port infrastructure works shortly. Recently, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) extended a BD22.6 million ($60 million) loan to help build the port.Seven Bahrain-based contractors have submitted tenders for the project in January 2005.

The Sitra Mall, the kingdom’s first waterfront shopping destination, is due to open later this year. Overlooking the bayside of Sitra Island, the development has a gross area of 29,000 sq m spread across three levels, and can offer a selection of 118 retails shops with various international and local brands.

Total operating efficiency. These three words take on a new meaning in TCM’s advanced lift trucks, says a TCM spokesman. “Aside from upgrading performance, TCM has brought their forklifts into more productive balance. That means higher power, speed and reliability without sacrificing fuel economy.

Reclamation works for Phase III of the $1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) project is all set to commence with the awarding of the BD4.8 million contract to Bahrain-based Ahmed Mansoor Al Al’ali Co (AMA).

A BD604 million ($1.6 billion) industrial complex will be built in Hidd, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The project – to be built by the Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer) – will cover an area of 170 hectares of land and include small and medium-sized industries as well as transport and storage facilities.

A BD120 million ($319 million) project consisting of 11 residential towers will be built to the southwest of Budaiya village in Bahrain. The Marina West project in the Northern Governorate is being developed by AAJ Holdings Company.

Work on the Banyan Tree Spa and Resort, being developed by the Al Areen Holding Company in Bahrain, is moving on a fast track and the project will be completed before the scheduled date, says a spokesman.

The Government of Oman has awarded Consolidated Contractors Company two major infrastructure projects with a combined value of RO144.5 million ($375.34 million). The contracts relate to the construction of two container berths and a breakwater at Salalah Port, valued at RO100.6 million, and the dualisation of Sohar-Buraimi road, valued at RO43.

Saudi Railway Organisation (SRO) has extended the date for receiving prequalification applications from international consortia participating in the multibillion-riyal landbridge project.

Bahrain’s Central Informatics Organisation (CIO) has just completed the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) project for the Isa Town area which will allow developers to find out and resolve underground obstacles, such as pipelines, or boundary problems instantly.

Construction work is set to commence on German Group Feuring's exclusive boutique hotel in the first half of 2006. Opening of the hotel, to come up in Kuwait City, is expected in 2008. The facade of the hotel tower will adapt the ocean theme and reflect it in form of corals.

Private construction projects in Bahrain are being delayed because of problems mainly related to financing, planning and labour, according to a study.