Work has commenced on three major towers being built by Omniyat Properties and Dubai Investment Properties (DIP) in Dubai’s Business Bay district.

Omniyat Properties has awarded China State Construction Engineering Corpora-tion (CSCEC) the construction contract for its Dh345 million ($92 million) Bayswater commercial tower.
Construction on the 25-storey tower, which will rise on a prime waterfront location in Business Bay, has now entered its second phase with the completion of enabling work by Al Dhafra Piling Contracting Company (APCC). Currently, 25 per cent of the main construction and 33 per cent of the overall development have been completed, with the slab reaching the ground floor.
“Work is progressing as planned and we are now entering into the second phase, which will allow us to complete all work by the third-quarter of 2008, as Omniyat Properties ensures timely delivery to a very high standard. CSCEC is one of the world’s largest and most successful international contractors,” says Omniyat Properties president and CEO Mehdi Amjad.
The announcement of the contract comes close on the heels of the developer confirming that the first phase construction work on its freehold commercial tower was concluded.
Designed by leading Dubai-based architects Dubarch, its unique shape is an optical illusion that makes it appear to consist of two slim towers side by side, forming the shape of the letter X. The project is targeted at a market segment comprising predominantly medium-sized companies that want competitively priced Grade-A office space.
The futuristic tower will feature Omniyat Properties’ hi-tech features as well as multiple access points and one of the highest ratios of parking to office space, with 825 parking bays spread over two basement and four podium floors.
The building will have two penthouse office floors, one podium with terrace and a limited number of waterfront loft-style offices.
Meanwhile, also at the Business Bay, Omniyat Properties has broken ground on its $136 million technologically-advanced apartment tower — The Pad.
Designed by James Law Cybertecture International, The Pad is set to be a world leader in technologically-advanced residential buildings when it will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.
“The Pad is expected to set new standards of design for the Middle East and beyond,” said Amjad, who led the ground breaking ceremony together with Hashim Al Dabal, chairman of Dubai Properties, Business Bay’s master developer.
The Pad will have 231 ‘intelligent’ apartments ranging from studios to one and two-bedroom units as well as a range of ‘loft’ homes. The podium of the tower includes a clubhouse space for the exclusive use of residents. This ‘iClub’ is designed around the theme of digital water, real water and digital projections that create a stunning setting for this complex of communal facilities. It will feature a state-of-the-art gym, running track, half basketball court, a swimming pool fitted with an underwater audio system and a Media Jacuzzi equipped with waterproof touch-screens.
Enabling works contractor on The Pad is the Dutch Foundation and Concrete Processing Company, which expects to complete the foundation phase within three months at a cost of $2.2 million.
In another development, Dubai Contracting Company (DCC) was awarded a contract to construct an office tower for DIP in the Business Bay .
The Dh200 million ($54.5 million)-plus project to develop a luxurious commercial tower with a detached 14-floor car park and two basements on Sheikh Zayed Road, will offer prime office space in the heart of Dubai’s central business district.
The 45-storey commercial tower will cover a total area of 70,172 sq m, and will be equipped with the latest high-tech features for a business environment with supreme functionality, without compromising on aesthetics and elegance.
“The DIP tower is a great addition to our portfolio of projects, providing technology-ready office space solutions with premium quality finishing,” says Wissam Otaky, investment and marketing manager at DCC.
DCC will be working with Arkiteknik International Consulting Engineers — architects of the Grand Hyatt Dubai, Flora Creek and Twin Towers Deira.
The tower is at its preliminary stages of construction and is slated for completion in 2009.