Dubai, the city-state that’s now a global brand, is literally going places. The ongoing transformation is incredible and the billions of dollars that are being poured into shifting sand to raise iconic structures and cities within cities is making this emirate one of the most sought-after investment hubs across the globe.
Dubai World Central, one of the largest of the multi-billion-dollar mega developments under way in the Gulf, has already moved into first gear with work on the first runway at Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) on target for completion in the last quarter of this year.
Studies to evaluate the most efficient and cost-effective solution to combat the growing traffic congestion, commissioned by the Dubai government 10 years ago, have now resulted in one of the most visible construction projects in Dubai, and yet another pioneering project in the Gulf – the Dubai Metro.
The Red LineThe Red Line runs elevated from Rashidiya to Al Garhoud through Dubai International Airport terminals. After serving Deira City Center and adjoining areas in Port Saeed, the line runs along Al Rigga Street to reach the transfer station at Union Square.
The Roads and Trans-port Authority (RTA) will be embarking on a groundbreaking property development, which will bring Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) to the region, when its planned Dubai MetroCities is taken off the drawing boards “sometime soon”. According to an RTA source, no fixed date has been marked for the start of construction.
Infrastructure works for Dubai Sports City, the world’s first purpose-built sports city that’s set on 50 million sq ft within the Dubailand development, is fast nearing completion.
Business Bay, a Dh150 billion ($40.87 billion) creekside master development that is now under way, is being positioned as the region’s business capital. Developed along the lines of Manhattan of New York or the Ginza of Tokyo, and Canary Wharf, it is expected that 220 high-rise towers will brace the Business Bay skyline by 2012.
Work is well under way on the first phase of Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion) mixed-use development that aims to maximise the waterfront potential of the Creek while preserving Dubai’s maritime roots.
MotorCity, a multi-million-dollar, multi-facility futuristic development by Union Properties, is in the very early stages of construction with work on the buildings having started recently.
Urban planners are increasingly placing importance on micro-cities – master-planned environments within cities that encompass all the facets of modern living – and one project that has it all is Downtown Burj Dubai.
More than Dh20 billion ($5.44 billion) worth of residential projects will be constructed in Dubai Investments Park (DIP), bringing the total value of investments in the Park to almost Dh21 billion.
Recreating the mythical lost city of Atlantis in a desert belt is no mean task, but this is exactly what leading planning and landscape architecture firm EDSA has been challenged to do at Atlantis The Palm, the crowning jewel and focal point of The Palm Jumeirah.
A 5,500 sq m diaphragm wall was recently installed in record time at the Sheikh Isa bin Zayed Tower in Dubai using a new Casagrande FD90 Hydromill, which was utilised to excavate, desand and create the joints between the primary and secondary panels of the wall.
Dorma Gulf Door Controls – subsidiary of Germany-based Dorma, a globally-active manufacturer of door technology systems and allied products – has embarked on an expansion drive that has brought its various facilities under one roof in a purpose-built facility in Dubai. The new 5,500 sq m facility, built at a cost of Dh10 million ($2.
Global structural fittings manufacturer Kee Klamp Limited has opened a dedicated subsidiary company, Kee Klamp FZE in Dubai, to serve the region’s booming construction industry.
Dubai World Central will have a dedicated Executive Jet Centre that will be among the industry’s best, competing with Van Nuys in California, Teterboro in New York, Le Bourget in France and Farnborough in the UK. The facility is being designed as a one-stop centre for the entire spectrum of business jet operations.
Dubai Investments Real Estate Company (DIRC), the real estate arm of Dubai Investments, has awarded the construction, maintenance and engineering work of the Dh800 million ($218 million) Ritaj development to Robust Contracting Company of Dubai.
