DSWP wins sewerage job

DRAKE & Scull Water and Power  (DSWP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Drake & Scull International (DSI), a market leader in integrated design, engineering and construction disciplines of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), civil contracting, and water and power, has won a Dh75 million ($20.4 million) contract for a sewerage project in Al Ain.

The contract includes the supply, erection, installation, testing and commissioning of MEP works for two treated sewerage effluent pumping stations and one bypass station in addition to associated infrastructure work, for completion in November 2012. 

DSI expects to close 2011 with Dh2.5 billion ($680.6 million) in revenues which represents a 35 per cent increase in comparison to fiscal 2010.

CE certificate for Gulf Extrusions

GULF Extrusions, one of the largest aluminium extrusion plants in the Gulf, has been awarded the CE certificate for factory production control, which establishes that its products conform to European standards.

The German team from TUV Rheinland LGA Bautechnik revealed that Gulf Extrusions complied with the EN 15088:2006 standard during a tour and inspection of its facilities. It also validated Gulf Extrusions’ quality management system, which complies with EN ISO 9001:2008.

The CE certification also establishes that Gulf Extrusions has ensured that there are no emissions of substances hazardous to health and to the environment in excess of the legally permitted level.

214 villas handed over

RAK Properties, Ras Al Khaimah’s leading property developer, has handed over 214 beachfront villas at the Precinct Five of its Mina Al Arab development. 

Mina Al Arab is situated on Ras Al Khaimah’s coastline, covering an area of 3.25 million sq m.

With panoramic views of pristine beaches,  the development provides a world-class living environment with jogging tracks, swimming pools, tennis courts, children’s play area and ample open spaces.

Metro properties ‘in hot demand’

PROPERTY rentals close to Dubai Metro stations are commanding rates from 10 to 20 per cent more than similar properties elsewhere, says Asteco, the property services company.

“The metro has added a whole new market dynamic and as the network is rolled out across the emirate, the rental disparity will become even more pronounced than it is already,” said Asteco CEO Elaine Jones.

Last month, Dubai Metro inaugurated operations on its Green Line, which serves the city centre, spans 24 km and comprises 16 stations.

The main 52-km city line, called the Red Line, opened in September 2009.

Council holds two seminars

EMIRATES Green Building Council (Emirates GBC) last month organised two key seminars including a focus titled ‘Leed Training: Green Building Core Concepts’ and an Energy Saving seminar.

The seminars were part of a new initiative to facilitate customised seminars and workshops for corporate organisations to drive sustainable practices within their projects and operations.

“Active engagement within the whole supply chain is critical,” says Andrew Jackson, director at SAS International. “And sharing ideas and best practice is important, and something that we very much support. It is also very important if the decision that a unified building code is to be adopted by all GCC countries.”

First Champion on way

MEMON Investments, a leading Dubai-based property developer and part of the Shaikhani Group, said that Champions Tower I (CTI), the first of its four Champions Towers, will be delivered to its customers in the first quarter of 2012.

The developer has completed CTI’s structure and blocking works and is now currently working on the first floor windows and tiling works. Memon is on track to meet deadlines for the other Champions Towers and Frankfurt Sports Tower (FST). The expected dates of completion include CTII in December 2012, CTIII in June 2012, CTIV in December 2013 and FST in June 2013.

With a total built-up area of 105,133 sq ft, CTI is a 15-storey tower which will include 135 apartments.

Mansoor ... worked on major projects.

dwp names new UAE manager

ARCHITECTURE and interior design firm dwp has appointed Qasim Mansoor as its new general manager to its UAE office. The appointment comes amid significant changes to dwp’s operations in the Middle East. With more than 100 team members in the region and some major projects under way, dwp’s focus will lean towards Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Africa, and on shoring up designs that continue to win awards.

Mansoor has been involved in some outstanding projects, including Dulles International Airport and the Maryland National Defense University in the US; Sidra Hospital and the Qatar Petroleum’s headquarters campus in Doha, Qatar; Zayed University for Women and the University Hospital in Dubai, UAE; and Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel in Kuwait.
dwp has a total of 12 offices worldwide, including Australia, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE and Vietnam.

Mapei names latest reseller

MAPEI, a leading global manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and chemical products for buildings, has appointed Emirates Ceramic as its fifth and the newest reseller in the UAE.

The appointment is part of Mapei’s aggressive expansion campaign in key niche markets and underlines its growing reputation as a building material of choice in the country. Emirates Ceramic, a member of Al Jaber Group in Abu Dhabi, is a major supplier of ceramic and sanitary ware in the UAE. The company is also aiming at having the best selection of Leed-rated building materials in the market, thus complementing Mapei’s solid track record as a leading provider of eco-friendly building materials.

Ramada Jumeirah opens doors

RAMADA Jumeirah, a new four-star super-deluxe hotel located on Al Mina Road in Dubai, has opened its doors to business and leisure guests. Managed by Abjar Hotels International, the hospitality arm of AlMulla Group, the hotel caters to business travellers and holiday-makers with stylishly-appointed 252 rooms and state-of-the-art amenities including five food and beverage outlets.

Dubai Cranes gets UK partner

DUBAI Cranes and Technical Services, a subsidiary of Dubai Investments, has partnered with Street Crane, a leading UK-based manufacturer of volume overhead cranes and hoist equipment, to leverage the growing demand and undertake more complex infrastructure projects in the region.

Under the partnership, Dubai Cranes will have access to Street Crane’s key components and technology that will enable it to locally fabricate crane beams, gantries and other structural crane parts up to 300-tonne capacity. Components including hoists, controls, carriages and electrical equipment will be built and supplied for the Middle East markets by Street Crane in the UK.

Transguard wins three contracts

THE Transguard Group, an Emirates Group company, is targeting new potential business within the retail sector through its facilities management (FM) division, after a raft of new contract wins awarded to its cleaning and hospitality teams. 

The pick of the new contract wins is a three-year agreement with Emaar-owned Dubai Marina Mall, where a 40-strong team will provide full-service cleaning throughout the 36,000 sq m of leasable retail space.

Other significant wins include the Middlesex University campus in Dubai’s Knowledge Village and deployment of a team of 20 housekeepers to the recently-opened five-star Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah.