Authorities in Abu Dhabi are replacing the 30-year-old present suq with a modern but oriental museum-like bazaar, according to reports. The three million sq m project will start taking shape early next year after the existing gutted market is demolished.

Dubai's The Palm will develop an expansive 'Dive Experience' at the project off Jumeirah, according to reports. Divers will have the choice of four key themed areas including 'Snorklers' Cove', 'The Lost City', 'Dives of The World' and a Spear Fishing area.

Dubai shopping mall BurJuman has entered its final construction phase with the retail section set to open by mid-December this year. The mall is displaying artist impressions and a model of its proposed Dh1.4 billion ($341.5 million) expansion project to the public.

A consortium of Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation and Toshiba has begun work on the phase 1 of the Jebel Ali L power station project. The plant will have a capacity of 650 MW and 70 million gallons per day of water. The client, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has awarded four engineering, procurement and construction contracts.

Construction work on the first buildings of the $1.8 billion Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is due to begin in August. The first buildings, set for completion in the summer of 2004, will include out-patient clinics, diagnostic centres, medical offices and pharmaceutical company offices. Work on the 4.

Mega maritime city on cards Dubai: Dubai's Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) is developing a Dh650 million ($177 million) project, slated to be the world's largest maritime development. The Dubai Maritime City is to be built on 25 million sq ft man-made peninsula between Port Rashid and Dubai DryDock, media reports said.

Germany-based international developers Inn-pro has selected Robert Mathew Johnson-Marshall (RMJM) from the 11 shortlisted architects to design the village centres of Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Jumeirah under construction off Dubai's coast.

Tender documents have been issued for four packages on China Town, a major Dh930 million ($253 million ) mixed-use development at Al Warsan in Dubai. Nakheel Corporation is the developer.

The Palm recently revealed the entire concept for the second of The Palm islands known as The Palm, Jebel Ali. With a considerable number of new elements added to this island, including six marinas, a 'Sea Village' and 1,060 Water Homes built on stilts, it is set to become a major global destination.

Nakheel Corporation recently unveiled concept plans to construct another offshore island development just off the coast of Dubai called 'The World', a series of 200 islands positioned to form the shape of the world map. The 60 million sq ft development will be 5 km off the coast of Dubai and will be 5.5 km long and wide.

Sharjah to get sewage system boost Sharjah: Sharjah will have the capacity to treat 139,300 cu m of sewage per day following the completion of Phase Six of the Sharjah sewerage project, according to reports. This phase, under way at a cost of Dh95 million ($25.

Dubai-based Emaar Properties has named a Chicago-based firm to draw up the designs for what is planned to be the world's tallest tower in the emirate. The developer said Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the architectural design consultant on the project, drew inspiration from a desert flower with six petals that is native to the region.

WS Atkins has been appointed by Dubai Municipality as the lead consultant for the Dh610 million ($166 million) new Dubai Zoo project. The 560-hectare zoo will be adjacent to the Al Mushrif National Park. A veterinary care centre for zoo and privately-owned animals will also be provided.