Danube unveils $5m expansion plan
DANUBE Building Materials has announced a Dh20-million ($5.44 million) expansion plan for its retail complex chain Danube Buildmart, with new branches expected to open in two leading shopping malls in Dubai – Ibn Battuta Mall and Dubai Festival City.
The stores will offer a wide range of reasonably-priced interior fixtures to cater to the requirements of individual homeowners and designers. The Ibn Battuta Mall and Dubai Festival City branches will be inaugurated by September and December, respectively.
Speaking on the expansion, Rizwan Sajan, chairman, Danube Building Materials, says: “Merely a month after the launch of the first two independent Buildmart boutique branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we are proud to announce that we are gearing up for the opening of our first in-mall stores within two of the most prominent shopping destinations in the UAE.”

Al Mazaya to deliver villas
AL MAZAYA Holding has finished the major stages of development and construction on its The Villa project located in Dubailand.
The Villa comprises 700 residential villas with state-of-the-art designs that cater to the needs of residents and investors alike. Over 75 per cent of development work has been finished on 400 villas, while the remaining 300 villas are currently 50 per cent complete.
The units will be delivered to owners in three stages. Stage one plots (104 villas) will be delivered in July; stage two plots (150 villas) in October; while stage three plots (446 villas) will be handed over in March next year.
The Dh1-billion ($272 million) residential project is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, and boasts various entertainment areas, mosques, healthcare centres, and more. In addition, world-renowned décor designer Perla Lichi has provided the project with innovative interior designs, and each villa has been fitted with elegant, state-of-the-art interiors and furniture.

Demand for platforms remains high
ALTHOUGH there is a slowdown in new projects in Dubai, there is still a big demand for Alimak HEK mastclimbing workplatforms and transport platforms, according to UAE dealer, Al Laith Scaffolding.
Already well established, HEK workplatforms and transport platforms are now opening up greater interest because of the greater use modules which allow for more efficient use of components and better integration between work platforms, transport platforms and hoists which can share common masts. The benefits are fast erection time, few components and lower costs, it says.
“We have HEK platforms working on many projects and demand is still very high. There is particular interest in the new modular systems which introduce greater versatility, more productivity and reduces costs,” says Tony Nobbs, managing director, Al Laith Scaffolding.

RAK Ceramics voted a ‘superbrand’
UAE-based RAK Ceramics has been voted by the Superbrands Council, the world’s largest independent brand arbiter, as one of the UAE’s superbrands for 2009.
The large ceramic tiles and sanitary-ware manufacturing company was presented an award during the Superbrand tribute held in June. It will also be featured in an exclusive publication that will include all superbrands of 2009. With its latest distinction, the company joins the elite ranks of iconic brands such as IBM and Starbucks, which have all been conferred superbrand status in the UAE.
RAK Ceramics has been recognised for being one of the world’s leading producers of a comprehensive line of premium-quality ceramic products.
The company offers one of the industry’s widest selections of colours, textures and finishes as well as an extensive array of coordinating trim and angle pieces, in line with its core values of excellence, fashion and trend-setting designs.

Al Jassmy wins $23m tower deal
DUBAI-based Memon Investments, a leading Dubai-based property developer and part of the Memon Group of Companies, has awarded a Dh84.5 million ($23 million) contract to Al Jassmy Contracting Company for construction of the Champions Tower IV, a 20-storey residential tower worth Dh450 million ($122 million) in Dubai Sports City.
The announcement follows the commencement of the tower’s raft works, with the main contractor committing to complete the project within a period of 22 months. Prior to awarding the main contract, the developer awarded a Dh1.8-million ($489,000) contract to Stromek Emirates Foundation to undertake the shoring and excavation, while Eta Melco has been chosen to install high-speed elevator within the tower.
Designed by Eng Adnan Saffarini Office, Champions Tower IV will house 266 units comprising of 114 studios, 133 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments.

Zabeel hands over project on Palm
ABU Dhabi Holding (ADH) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a European technology partner to assess the establishment of a production plant for non-woven fibre fabrics in Abu Dhabi Polymers Park. Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (Adbic) will be cooperating in the project.
Commenting on the new initiative, Otaiba Said Al Otaiba, chairman of ADH, says: “This MoU is in line with ADH’s strategy to pursue industrial investments, with a focus on downstream petrochemical industries. We are honoured to work with Adbic in the selection of good investment opportunities and toward the development of Abu Dhabi’s plastics conversion industry. Abu Dhabi Polymers Park is a unique concept for the Emirate’s cluster-based industrial development and we hope to seize other similar opportunities in the future.”

$626m Palazzo Versace on track
EMIRATES Sunland Group has confirmed that its Dh2.3 billion ($626 million) Palazzo Versace Dubai, one of the UAE’s highly anticipated five-star hotels and high-end residences, is well under way with its construction.
The development’s 130,000 sq m concrete frame is almost complete. Palazzo Versace Dubai, which will provide 169 private residences and 217 hotel suites, is well advanced and is fast becoming a recognisable landmark along the Dubai Creek foreshore.
The building’s design reflects world-famous palace layouts with the central area allocated for the hotel facilities and the left and right wings for the private condominiums. Throughout the central section, the floor slabs have now been completed up to level nine, with the final level  to be completed by this month.

Bids invited for light tram system
abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport (DoT) has invited local and international consulting firms to submit bids to carry out detailed planning of a light-rail tram (LRT) system which will be operational by 2014.
“The 340-km tram system is part of an ambitious and far-reaching Surface Transport Master Plan that will meet the people's and economy's mobility needs as part of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030,” the DoT said in a statement.
The Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 also includes a 580-km high-speed railway network, linking the capital to Dubai, Al Ain and Saudi Arabia, and a metro system.
The tram system will link the airport with the central business district and other important areas. It will also link to a metro system, first phase of which will be 42.5km long and operational by 2015, according to a report in the Gulf News.

Hill wins $14m management deal
HILL International has received a contract to manage the design and building of 14 mixed-use and residential developments in Abu Dhabi.
The four-year contract, from Aabar Investments, is valued at about $14.2 million, says a spokesman for the Marlton-based construction-management firm.
The 14 projects include a mixed-use building on Reem Island (25 storeys), six buildings on Raha Beach (10 storeys each), five buildings in Rawdat Abu Dhabi (10 storeys each), one residential building in Saraya (45 storeys) and one hotel building in Saraya (23 storeys).

Burj Dubai ‘to open on December 2’
THE world’s tallest tower, the Burj Dubai, will officially on December 2, to coincide with the UAE’s Naitonal Day, according to a report.
The Armani hotel, which is located within the skyscraper – which rises more than 800 m high – will also open to guests on the same day, Arabian Business reported.

Hotel staff accommodation opened
A PROJECT buildings meant to accommodate staff up to the management level was recently completed and inaugurated at Dubai Silicon Oasis by executives of five-star hotels.
Designed by renowned local architects Architectural & Engineering Innovations Bureau (AEIB) and constructed by Al Futtaim Carillion and Al Futtaim Engineering, the new buildings – three in all – consists of 414 apartments comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Employees of the InterContinental Hotels Group Dubai Festival City have moved into the new accommodation. Amenities include an all day dining room, a hair salon, and prayer rooms alongside recreational facilities consisting of three swimming pools, a fully equipped gymnasium, television, internet and games rooms. The building will be managed by Al Futtaim Real Estate.

Mazda showroom gets new look
SUMMERTOWN Interiors, the international corporate turnkey design and fit-out contractor, is giving the Galadari Automobiles’ 450-sq-m Mazda showroom a fresh, new look.
The company’s experts in design and planning have developed a showroom concept that integrates functional practicality with subtle luxury. This not only creates a sophisticated, fresh showroom highlighting Mazda cars, but also caters to visiting clientele.
“Large wall photos with a hint of bold and elegant background colors allowed us to keep the focus on the cars. Lighting was important to create the feel of clean simplicity, and pillars gave depths to the showroom. As experts in design, planning and integrating flexible office solutions, we not only develop turnkey concepts, but also keep within our client’s budget,” says Arthur Villaneuva, senior interior designer at Summertown.

Estidama launches design contest
ESTIDAMA, the sustainability initiative developed by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), has launched the first Estidama Fareej Design Contest for university students in the UAE.
The contest will engage university students in architecture, urban planning, engineering and related disciplines to learn and apply the lessons of sustainable design and construction for the design of a sustainable Emirati villa integrated in the local traditional neighbourhood – Al Fareej. Participating teams must submit a computer-based model on two-storey, multi-family, residential villa that will include living areas and an indoor space for meetings and gatherings. The design must incorporate high energy efficiency standards and include sustainable design elements in the Estidama categories of Living Systems and Liveable City, Liveable Buildings, Precious Water, Resourceful Energy and Stewarding Materials.
University teams must register for the contest by September 24.