Reem Developers has awarded China Harbour Engineering a Dh201 million ($54.74 million) contract for its Najmat Abu Dhabi on Reem Island.

Makaseb Holding will shortly launch Quattro West in Dubai, which is similar to the Quattro Hotel and Business Park. Featuring symmetrical towers and mirrored designs, both projects are predicted to become landmarks in the region.

RTA builds new HQ The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded Dutch firm Zwarts & Jansma Architects a contract to design its headquarters in Al Garhoud, Dubai, at the intersection of Marrakesh and Al Rabat Street. The 22-storey building will be characterised by changing facades according to the angle of visibility.

Fatima International, a leading developer of commercial office towers, has awarded the construction contract worth Dh125 million ($30 million) for its freehold commercial office tower, “IT Plaza” at Dubai Silicon Oasis to Sobha Contracting, a leading construction firm in India and the Middle East.

Drake and Scull International (DSI), a leading mechanical and electrical engineering contracting company in the region, has won contracts totalling Dh325 million ($88.5 million) for complete mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) work on first-class projects in Dubai's prime residential and leisure districts.

Sorouh, Abu Dhabi's leading real estate developer, has recently handed over the construction site of the Sky Tower and its sister tower to major contractor Arabian Contracting Company (ACC). Sky Tower is part of the Gate District and will be built at Sorouh's flagship project, Shams Abu Dhabi on Reem Island.

Sorouh Real Estate has awarded the Shams Abu Dhabi Marina and seawall project to Athena, a Greek contractor specialised in marine-related construction industry. The scope of the Dh62.95 million ($17.

Dubai would soon have its first easyHotel.com property, following the recent launch of work on the first of the series of six such hotels at Al Karama. Expected to open in early 2008, following a construction period of only eight months, the hotel, will offer 195 rooms in a six-storey structure.

In a move to cater to the growth in demand for processed architectural flat glass products in the UAE and the region, the Dubai-based Select Glass Industries (SGI), a part of the Select Group, set up a state-of-the-art Dh88 million ($24 million) manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah.

International Rubber Company (IRC), a subsidiary of M'Sharie, the private equity arm of Dubai Investments, has been awarded a contract to supply curtain wall gaskets for Singapore’s tallest condominium, a new six-star waterfront project under construction at the Marina Bay.

Metito, the international desalination, water, and waste water treatment company, has signed a turnkey project for financing, constructing, and operating a temporary waste water treatment plant (WWTP) at International City in Dubai. The plant with a capacity of 5,000 cu m per day is set for delivery to the owner, Palm Water, by June.

New entrant into the pre-engineered steel buildings (PEB) market, Mabani Steel, which commenced production in February, has published a manual containing comprehensive technical information on PEBs.

The cornerstone for the new 63-storey Rolex Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road was laid last month by Patrick Heiniger, chief executive officer of Rolex. “Much like the brand name it proudly carries, the Rolex Tower will be an embodiment of perfection, setting new standards in taste, elegance and functionality,” said a spokesman for the developer.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe), a leader in construction machinery industries, has invested in a new comprehensive warehouse for machines, spares and training in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza).

Leading European fire-protection specialist Promat has recently been bagged the contract to supply fire-protection boards for the Palm Jumeirah development. Promat's Promatect-H boards are being used to line a 1.4 km underwater tunnel on the development in Dubai.

The official ground breaking ceremony to start work on a permanent new headquarters in Dubai for the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE (ATCUAE), was held recently.

Damac Properties has appointed International Foundation Group (IFG), Dubai's foremost deep foundation specialists, as the enabling works contractor for Smart Heights project at Tecom. Smart Heights is designed by Archon Engineering Consultants.

The UAE emirate of Ajman is poised for a total facelift worth hundreds of millions of dollars, says a top official.

ETA Star, a leading freehold property developer in the UAE, has awarded a Dh19.7 million ($5.36 million) contract to Dutch Foundation and Concrete Processing Company to carry out enabling work on The Summit, a 38-storey commercial and office tower located between Dubai Media City and Dubai Marina on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Danube Building Materials, a leading player in the construction industry, has announced 50 per cent growth in revenue for 2006 and expects to continue its strong growth over this year in a bid to cross Dh1 billion ($272 million) in revenues by 2008.