The building boom that has made Dubai the cynosure of the world continues to head northwards in the UAE, with most of the once-sleepy Northern Emirates now abuzz with multi-million-dollar real estate and other projects.
Design work is currently in progress on the RAK Gateway City in Ras Al Khaimah, which is expected to house around 250,000 people upon completion. The project will feature an exhibition and convention centre, business hotels with a total of 3,000 to 4,000 rooms, a 50,000-sq m shopping mall, office complexes and apartment buildings.
Work has been launched on the construction of the villas that form the first phase of Umm Al Quwain Marina, a $3.3 billion joint venture between the government of Umm Al Quwain and Emaar Middle East. The first phase – known as Mistral Community – comprises single-family detached villas in Spanish and Portuguese architectural styles.
Construction work has started on the first phase of the Dh2.7 billion ($736 million) Ajman One, which is being developed by Aqaar, an Ajman-based real-estate and property development company. Piling work, being carried out by Piling-tech, is currently under way while the UAE-based Sino Construction Group has been awarded the Dh1.
Reclamation work is well under way on the Al Marjan Islands, an ambitious $1.8 billion man-made island development off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah, according to its developer Rakeen.
Work is due to start on site early next year on the Ajman Marina, a 26-hectare master-planned project located on the Ajman waterfront, 20 km from Dubai, according to its masterplanner, the global architectural firm HOK. The masterplan for the project focuses on the regeneration of a marina to transform into the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Ajman.
Construction work is well under way on the Diftah-Shis tunnel and highway project in the UAE, thanks to equipment from Sandvik, Komatsu and Hitachi, which continues to set the pace for work through a virtually impenetrable mountain range featuring one of the region’s hardest rocks.
Mabani Steel has already been contracted for 64 pre-engineered steel building (PEB) projects within six months of having launched commercial production and is eagerly waiting to get its expansion projects on stream to cater to the growing demand for its products.
Al Wasit Machinery Trading Establishment is witnessing high demand for its construction machinery, thanks to the construction boom in the Middle East. “The demand for the products we offer is such that they are sometimes even booked in advance before the stock arrives,” says Younis Khalil, assistant general manager-sales, Al Wasit Machinery.
