Kuwait’s M A Kharafi Group has won two key construction contracts at Dubai World Central (DWC), the 140 sq km urban aviation community being built in Jebel Ali. M A Kharafi & Sons has been awarded the turnkey construction of DWC’s Dh1.

Tebyan Real Estate Development has launched the first phase of its Dh2 billion ($544 million) Europa Greens project in Dubai.

Abyaar Real Estate has named Dubai’s Modern Executive Systems Contracting (MESC) as the main works contractor for its Dubai Marina towers Pier 24 and Pier 8. The contract, worth $80 million, was awarded to MESC because of its expertise in delivering multi-service construction works across the region.

Mizin, the real estate development company of Tatweer, has completed the roadworks at Majan, Downtown Dubailand, the 16.5 million sq ft freehold mixed-use development located next to the Emirates Road. Investors are now entitled to commence work on their respective plots with immediate effect, said an official spokesman.

Abu Dhabi projects worth $103bnMore than Dh380 billion ($103 billion) worth of projects are under various stages of development in Abu Dhabi, according to a report.

Construction is nearly complete on the luxury Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. The first phase of the complex is expected to open in the second quarter of 2007, the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, has announced.

Desert Group has been awarded the construction of two golf courses. A partner of Emirates Investment and Development Company, Desert Group will be the subcontractor to Khansaheb Civil Engineering in the construction of the two Fire and Earth Greg Norman-designed golf courses, which form part of the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Jotun Paints has been awarded the first Workplace Safety Award 2006 by Dubai Municipality. The award, by the municipality’s Public Health Department was in recognition of Jotun’s commitment to safety and health in the workplace for its employees.

The Dh2.7 billion ($762 million) Ajman 1 project is on track with the awarding of the contract for all enabling work to the UAE-based Piling Tech, by Aqaar, the real-estate and property development company headquartered in the Ajman. Work on the 72,000 sq m mixed-use development was scheduled to start in January.

Borouge has awarded a contract worth $1.3 billion to consortium of Linde Engineering and CCC for the construction of a new ethylene cracker, which is considered the largest grassroots gas cracker in the world with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum.

Burj Dubai has joined the league of only six super-tall buildings in the world that are 100 or more storeys high. On its way to becoming the world’s tallest tower, the iconic tower being built by Emaar Properties, stood 347.3 m high in January and is one of only 38 structures in the world that exceed 300 m or more in height.

Reem Developers will build three world-class marinas that will form the cornerstone of its Najmat Abu Dhabi project. The Abu Dhabi-based developer is currently evaluating bids submitted by contractors for marine works including the construction of the three marinas. The marine works is part of the overall infrastructure package worth Dh2.

India’s Darvesh Group is to build the world’s biggest aluminium processing plant in Dubai. Spread over an area of 1 million sq ft at Dubai Industrial City, the Dh3 billion ($816 million) plant will have a capacity of 135,000 tonnes per year when fully completed in 2010, Darvesh Group director Ahsan Hassan Darvesh said.

P&T Architects and Engineers, a Hong Kong-based international company which will design the First Abu Dhabi – Shams on Reem Island has opened a branch in Abu Dhabi to coincide with the award of the project. The development enjoys a central location within the Dh9.

ETA Star has awarded contracts worth a total of Dh1.05 billion ($285.87 million) for three projects.

Crane manufacturer Wolffkran has entered into a joint venture with the UAE’s Kanoo Machinery to sell and hire out high-quality cranes in the UAE. The new venture called Wolffkran Arabia began operations early this year from a sales office in the capital, Abu Dhabi and already has plans to expand and open further offices in the emirates.

Four of the world’s most renowned architects – Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid – have presented designs commissioned by Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) for iconic museums and a performing arts centre within Saadiyat Island, which lies just offshore the emirate.

A new $200 million skyscraper being built on Sheikh Zayed Road is rising at the rate of one floor every five days with the help of formwork from Meva Schalungs-Systeme of Germany, which is being used non-stop on the project.