PLANS are under way for the start of construction on the $1.8 billion Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) project. Infrastructure work (roads, lighting, pipes and drainage) at the 4.1 million sq ft site near the Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Dubai Creek is expected to start next month, according to DHCC officials.

Dubai is pressing ahead with the Phase II expansion of its international airport, having already increased the outlay earmarked for the ambitious project to $4.2 billion from the $2.5 billion announced early last year.

A twin-cage Alimak Scando Super 28/37C passenger and materials hoist has played a key role in helping the main joint-venture contractor, Al Habtoor Engineering and Murray & Roberts, meet critical construction targets in 'topping out' the Shangri-La Hotel project in Dubai.

A totaL of 10 Liebherr tower cranes are currently operating on the Al Murooj Complex, a Dh350 million ($95.4 million) multi-purpose development in Dubai.

Dubai-based Al Sagha Trading, an architectural product specialist, has supplied a number of landmark projects in the region through its association with Sharjah-based Aluminium and Light Industries Company (Alico), a leading curtain-walling firm.

The massive Dh1.4 billion ($381 million) BurJuman expansion project has entered its final construction phase with the extensive retail, commercial, leisure and residential development set to bring about a dramatic transformation to the landscape of Bur Dubai.

Work is nearing completion on Phase I of the Knowledge Village project, a one million sq ft-plus learning and innovation centre off Sheikh Zayed Road within the 400-hectare Dubai Technology, Electronic, Commerce and Media Free Zone (Tecom) which was formerly known as Dubai Internet City (DIC) and Dubai Media City (DMC).

Consort Architectural Hardware, which has been active in the Middle East for more than five decades, says it is one of the most competitive suppliers of architectural hardware throughout the region. The UK-based company set up an office and warehouse in Dubai in March 2001 to enable it to better serve the Gulf region.

Crestahead Power has recently introduced new management and monitoring software which is said to enhance interoperability of building control systems by enabling facilities managers to access and control both new and inherited building systems - regardless of manufacture, platform or communication standard - via a web browser.

Following the success of Doka formwork on Phase 1B (north and south parts) of the prestigious Dubai Marina project, contractors have placed orders for the systems for the next phases of the ambitious development. Three hi-rises which comprise the south part of Phase 1B of the project, were recently topped-out on schedule.

Emirates Ceramic Factory, a leading UAE-based manufacturer of tiles under the Fujairah Ceramics brand name, plans to continue expanding its global markets in line with rising demand for its products.

Dubai is to get a Dh3 billion ($816 million) downtown multipurpose centre that will be sited over an area extending from the heart of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone to The Palm Island. Plans for Dubai Pearl were announced last month by the developer Omnix Group and the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone.

Considerable progress has been made on the first Dh6 billion ($1.63 billion) phase of the Dubai Festival City mixed-use project since it was announced last year, with work currently well under way on its 18-hole championship golf course.

Dubai-based Flowcrete Middle East is well-poised for continued expansion across the Middle East, bolstered by the acquisition of two high-technology manufacturers, Perstorp Construction Chemicals and Atako Systems.

Landscape architect Green3D reports that its first year in the Gulf has been highly successful. Following the good response it received at the Big 5, Hotel Show and Cityscape, the company formed an alliance with Dubai multi-disciplinary practice PHB.

Since its establishment in 1981, Haroon Company has supplied door hardware and electronic security solutions to some of the most prestigious and well-known projects in Dubai.

Leading aluminium systems manufacturer Installux Aluminium completed its first project in Dubai in 1998. Since then, the firm, which is part of the French Installux Group, has seen tremendous growth in the emirate.

Work on Dubai's Fourth Interchange on the Sheikh Zayed Road is progressing on schedule with the main contractor Bin Ladin Contracting (BLC) having mobilised a large fleet of Dynapac compaction rollers and Atlas Copco portable air compressors on the $28 million project.

Mammut Building Systems FZE, the largest manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings (PEBs) in the UAE, has started manufacturing type I polyurethane-injected sandwich panels and expects to launch production of type II panels later this year.

Dubai Marina, a visionary master-planned community from Emaar Properties, marks one of the Gulf's biggest building projects. Upon completion, this 50 million sq ft project will house luxury residential and leisure facilities covering 700 acres, says Emaar.

Product certification schemes are intended to provide end-users with confidence of a product or a service. The Cares scheme has successfully controlled the quality of steel used in the reinforcement of concrete to BS4449 and associated products since it was established in 1983.

DUBAI'S construction industry continues to boom in the face of a global economic slowdown and regional instability. Just over a year ago, economists had forecast that growth would level out as the demand for real estate eases.

Wandsworth of the UK has been designing and producing hand-finished architectural wiring accessories for nearly 100 years, offering a fusion of classic and contemporary designs. The ranges include individually hand-finished polished brass, authentic antique effects, and the striking textured Profile range.

Dubai Marina has been designed to offer its residents all the resources of a well-planned residential district and world-class resort.

Reclamation work on the The Palm, Jumeirah - one of the two giant manmade islands being created just 5 km off Dubai's shores - is expected to be completed towards the end of this year with 83 per cent of the rock and sand already in place. Reclamation is also progressing well on the second of the twin islands, The Palm, Jebel Ali.