Omniyat Properties, the real estate development arm of Almasa Holdings, has launched its first two projects – worth Dh850 million ($231.6 million) – since it made its debut at the end of last year.

Ducab, a leading manufacturer of high-quality power cables in the Middle East, is setting up a copper rod casting plant at its Abu Dhabi factory at a cost of Dh125 million ($34.03 million).

Kuwait-based Al Amaz Holding has awarded Mushrif Trading and Contracting Company (MTCC) of Kuwait the Dh27.9 million ($7.6 million) main construction packages for a new diamond factory in Ras Al Khaimah. The project calls for the construction of a two-storey factory building with one basement and an associated office space.

Nakheel has announced the successful completion of a sub-sea tunnel at The Palm Jumeirah. Located 30 m below seabed level, the tunnel is the first of such depth to be constructed in the UAE.

Site investigations for the Dubai Metro project – including trial pit holes for the locations of the railway viaduct – have started and are reported to be progressing well.

Masterplan for auto zoneDubai: A master plan of the Dh2 billion ($544.5 million) Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ) will be ready by the third quarter of 2006, following which the plots will be allocated to those registered in the zone. The zone work is due to be completed by the end of 2007.

Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) has awarded orders worth around $237.03 million to Alstom for the turnkey construction of a 430 MW gas-fired combined-cycle power plant and the supply of fume treatment systems for its aluminium smelter in Dubai.

Al Jaber Group said its Dh300 million ($81.67 million) ‘Media One’ project, currently under construction, had reached its fifth floor and will be completed by March next year.

Falcon City of Wonders, a Dh5.5 billion ($1.49 billion) mega project in progress within Dubailand, has signed an agreement with the leading consultancy firm Hyder Consulting Middle East to carry out infrastructure design for the project.

Groundwork on the Dh4 billion ($1 billion) City of Arabia project at Dubailand has been completed recently, according to I&M Galadari Group.

Dubai Properties has launched a landmark skyscraper – The Vision Tower – that will stand 51-storeys tall at the entrance of the Business Bay in Dubai. “The Vision Tower will be Dubai Properties’ first stand-alone office tower," said Dubai Properties chief executive officer Hashim Al Dabal.

Work on the Dubai Lagoon, a Dh3 billion ($816 million) upmarket residential apartment community project located at the Dubai Investment Park – has just started, following the award of the cut and fill contract to Bagheri Road Contracting.

Dubai Municipality is currently finalising designs for a new premises for the Dubai Central Library which will come up on the banks of Al Mamzar Lagoons.

Construction of a new exhibition hall for the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICC) – part of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) complex –  has just been launched and will be completed in  eight months.

Two contractors working for the US Navy and Sultan Qaboos of Oman have appointed Septech to complete marina installations in the UAE and Oman.

The Al Futtaim Group, a leading UAE business house and developer of Dubai Festival City has signed a $130 million 12-year facility agreement to part finance the construction of its flagship residential tower for the all-encompassing destination’s recently-announced Dh6 billion ($1.63 billion) Marsa Al Khor (Harbour of the Creek) neighbourhood.