Almasah awards Jumeirah projects
DUBAI-BASED Almasah International Real Estate has appointed a consortium of contractors to complete the design and build of three of its residential projects in Jumeirah Village – Cadi 4, Jouri 5 and Judi Palace – which are worth a total of Dh295 million ($80.38 million).
The consortium comprises a joint venture between Axis Identity Group, Markizz and Al Ghaith, which will work as the projects’ main contractor to construct the buildings as well as to oversee and design the interiors.
“Our main objective is to move ahead with our projects to ensure they are delivered to our investors within the agreed time frame,” says Dr Abou Taleb Talebi, Almasah chairman. “The appointment of this consortium secures the different aspects of construction under one agreement so the projects can move forth uninhibited.”
Foundation work will be completed during the second half of this year, at which stage the main construction will begin, and final delivery for the projects will be in the second and third quarters of next year. Almasah presently has a total of 19 projects under construction with a total value of Dh3.7 billion.

Zabeel hands over project on Palm
ZABEEL Properties has handed over its first development to its owners at Tiara Residence located on the main trunk of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
Constructed by Arabtec, the development comprises of seven 15-storey towers with 644 resort-style residences, ranging from one bedroom apartments at 1,309 sq ft to 5,500 sq ft penthouses at the top of each building.
In addition to the residential homes, handover of the first phase of the development of Tiara Residence includes a health club with a gym and a kids club, a restaurant, an infinity swimming pool and access to a private beach.
Owners will soon be able to enjoy world-class dining and facilities with the opening of the hotel and village in 2010, as part of the development’s second phase.

Alec wins Saadiyat contract
UAE hospitality group Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) has awarded Al Jaber Engineering and Contracting (Alec), a contract to build the luxury Park Hyatt Hotel and Villas Abu Dhabi at Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
The 75,000 sq m luxury resort is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2011. It will have 316 rooms, suites and villas in addition to four signature restaurants and dedicated facilities for conferences, banqueting and recreation.
Alec will be the main contractor for this world-class development and will be responsible for all construction, building and finishing works for the hotel, its facilities and villas.

Work on Marina Bay kicks off
ENABLING works is due to start shortly at Damac Properties’ Marina Bay development at Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, following the award of a Dh7.5 million contract to National Dewatering and Drainage Services (an offshoot of National Piling).
The enabling works are scheduled to last for around four months and will include dewatering, shoring, excavation, piling and pile testing on site.
Marina Bay is a mixed-use development which will feature a 25-storey tower of one, two and three bedroom apartments, in addition to retail and commercial space with shops and restaurant outlets along the ground and mezzanine levels.
The project won two awards at the prestigious 2008 CNBC awards – one for the Best High-rise Architecture and a second for Best Marina Development.

Infrastructure framework on way
ABU DHABI’s Urban Planning Council (UPC), the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban regional environments, has initiated the process of formulating a comprehensive infrastructure framework plan for the emirate.
The plan is primarily aimed at safeguarding infrastructure sites and corridors from various developments and ensuring that future projects are not unduly constrained by a network of corridors that may become redundant.

Estidama to design urban plan
ABU DHABI'S Urban Planning Council (UPC) has commissioned an international consultant team of green development experts to develop a series of leading-edge sustainability rating tools for all future development in the Emirate.
The Estidama Pearls Design System (EPDS) is programmed to include both design guides and sustainability rating system for new communities (NC) and new buildings (NB) in support of Abu Dhabi’s Plan 2030 efforts to reach towards Estidama (Arabic for Sustainability). Both NB and NC tools are to be finalised by October with a variety of other tools being delivered in the near future.