Design District work progresses

Foundation works have started on the Dh1-billion ($272 million) second phase of the Dubai Design District (d3) being developed by Tecom Group.

A new freezone business park, d3 is being built in three phases. Phase One, which was completed in 2015, boasts 1.2 million sq ft of offices, studios, ateliers, showrooms, and over 200,000 sq ft of retail space.

The second phase will house a range of design industry workshops, studios and showrooms. This phase is due for completion in 2017.

The third phase will focus on d3’s 2-km-long creekside promenade which will feature hotels, food and beverage offerings and hospitality and leisure facilities.

This phase is due for completion in 2018.

Aldar awards Yas Acres contract

Aldar has awarded an early works package worth Dh155 million ($42 million) for its flagship golf and waterfront development, Yas Acres in Abu Dhabi, to German construction group Bauer Geotechnical Specialized Foundation.

The award of this contract comes within six months of the Aldar launching the Dh6-billion ($1.63 billion) development at Abu Dhabi’s Cityscape.

Property sector nets $15bn

The property sector in Dubai still remains robust despite the oil slump with the city attracting billions of dollars in real estate investments this year.

According to data released by Dubai Land Department (DLD), more than 26,000 investors have pumped in Dh57 billion ($15.5 billion) into Dubai’s real estate sector during the first half of the year. 

Of this, Gulf nationals accounted for Dh22 billion ($5.98 billion), while the rest of the investments in the residential, commercial and mixed-used real estate came from Pakistan, US, UK, Europe and Turkey.

Madinat Zayed project on track

Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) has launched Packages Three and Four of infrastructure works at the Emirati neighbourhood in Madinat Zayed area of the capital.

The Dh2.4-billion ($653 million) Madinat Zayed infrastructure project consists of five packages including roads and infrastructure works, of which three are in the Emirati neighbourhood.

“The work is in full swing on Packages Three and Four. Preparations are currently under way to consecutively launch all the project works, with completion periods ranging between 14 and 45 months, as the expected completion date will be end of 2019,” said Ali Al Haj Al Mehairbi, Musanada’s acting executive director (building construction management division).

RAK Ceramics reveals new identity

RAK Ceramics has launched a new corporate brand identity which is designed to unify all its global subsidiaries. The roll out will be effective immediately in the UAE, with subsidiaries expected to adopt the new brand identity throughout 2017.

“The unveiling of our new brand identity is part of our Value Creation plan which was launched in 2014 and designed to improve integration across the business; streamline our distribution networks and unify our brand globally,” Abdallah Massaad, RAK Ceramics’ Group chief executive said

RAK Ceramics is a specialist in gres porcelain wall and floor tiles, tableware, sanitary ware and faucets.

Expo 2020 work in progress

Work is well under way at the site of Dubai Expo 2020,  where 4.7 million cu m of earth has been recycled and moved in preparation for the construction phase at the 4.38-sq-km area in Dubai South.

More than 8,000 local and international companies have registered on the expo’s procurement portal and the total value of all contracts and purchase orders to date is around Dh1.95 billion ($530 million).

Main construction work is scheduled to start in 2017, when participants will also build their pavilions.

$272m ‘green’ homes for Ajman

The UAE government is set to build a Dh1-billion ($272 million) residential complex featuring over 700 eco-friendly housing units in the emirate of Ajman under the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.

The 729-unit project, which will come up over a 950,000-sq-m area, is the largest residential complex the programme has carried out since its inception in 1999, said the news agency Wam citing the country’s infrastructure development minister.

The new complex will take into account all major factors including sustainability, safety, eco-friendliness and energy efficiency during its design stage.

Top green rating for Zulekha Hospital

Zulekha Hospital in Sharjah has achieved Platinum rating under the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (Leed Ebom) rating system, awarded for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings.

Taher Shams, managing director of Zulekha Hospitals, said: “We made an initial survey during the construction phase of the building and numerous innovative sustainable features were integrated into the facility to create a highly sustainable building that reflects our commitment to the environment.”

Empower sets Bluewaters target

UAE-based Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) said it plans to complete the district cooling infrastructure network at Bluewaters Island, a Dh6-billion ($1.63 billion) mixed-use project being developed by Meraas Holding in Dubai, in record time.

Advanced technologies are being used to build an underground piping network with 3-km-long trenches, which includes microtunnelling under the seabed, said Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.

He said the first phase of construction is expected to be completed by February 2017 while the second, which covers the area outside the island, will be finished by June 2017.

Carriageway work under way

Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) has started work on the Dh377-million ($103 million) Al Faya-Razeen-Al Quaa carriageway project.

The project involves construction of roundabouts, pavements, lay-bys, lighting systems, stormwater network and fences. The work also includes the upgrade of the 140-km road that connects Abu Dhabi city to the southern parts of the emirate. In the two-part carriageway project, the first part extends 88 km from Al Faya to Razeen at Mafrouda Interchange, while the 52-km second part will end at Al Quaa.

Work to start on girls’ school

Work on the Shakhbout Girls School project, to be developed on a 50,192-sq-m area in Abu Dhabi, will start early this month (November) and is due for completion by mid-2018.

The three-storey building with a total built-up area of 22,716 sq m is being built by Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) at a cost of Dh129 million ($35 million).

Musanada said the Shakhbout Girls School marks the conclusion of Phase Four of the Future School construction initiative in the emirate.

Jogging tracks for labour camps

Plans are afoot to build jogging tracks and other key sports facilities at several labour camps across Dubai at an investment of Dh3.8 million ($1.03 million).

The Dubai Municipality recently issued work orders to complete the project of running tracks and sports facilities at Muhaisna and Jebel Ali labour camps, said Juma Khalifa Al Fuqae, the director of general maintenance department.

The project includes the development of a 1,500-m-long walking track at their residential complex in Muhaisnah and a 700-m-long track in Jebel Ali as per the standard specifications in order to offer labourers a healthy lifestyle.

EmiratesGBC marks 10 years

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) is celebrating 10 years of its success as an integral partner in achieving the ‘green vision’ of the UAE.

With over 150 members, EmiratesGBC has closely aligned itself with critical sustainability road maps of the UAE National Agenda 2021, the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy and Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030.

A ceremony was held at the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates to commemorate the occasion in the presence of co-founders Habiba Al Marashi and Dr Sadek Owainati, its chairman Saeed Al Abbar and other council members.

Interface launches workshops

Global modular flooring manufacturer Interface has kicked off a series of VIP workshops for architects and designers in Dubai, centred on the principles of biophilic design.

The DesignLab workshops are part of Interface’s drive to share knowledge amongst architects and designers, said the organisers.

The event was held at The Green Planet in Citywalk, Dubai, in partnership with OFIS, a member of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, the distributor of Interface in the UAE.

Penspen awarded energy deal

Penspen, a provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry, is to provide modification works at the Bab and Asab fields, located west of Abu Dhabi and owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations (Adco).

Earlier this year, Adco commissioned a project to upgrade the facilities at the fields. Penspen has been sub-contracted for the detailed engineering works by Matrix Construction, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.

RTA builds $68m bridges

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed work on Dubai Parks & Resorts bridges project in co-operation with Meraas Holding at a cost of Dh250 million ($68 million).

The project included constructing entry and exit points linking the Dubai Parks project with the Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in the vicinity of Seih Shoaib. It comprised the construction of a three-lane bridge stretching 1,500 m as a main entry on the Sheikh Zayed Road for vehicles coming from Dubai heading to Dubai Parks.

It also included the construction of a two-lane bridge stretching 1,000 m as a main exit on Sheikh Zayed Road from Dubai Parks in the direction of Abu Dhabi.

CPL set to launch new warehouse

Dubai-based Centre Point Logistics (CPL) is gearing to start operations of its new warehouse at Dubai Logistics Corridor in Dubai South.

About 90 per cent of the construction work has been completed, while the remaining work will be done by the year-end. The new facility has consolidated CPL foothold in the regional market. 

CPL also plans to build warehouse facilities over 3 million sq ft area in the UAE and Oman, at an investment of over Dh100 million ($27.2 million), as part of its regional expansion plans.

A380 gates to be expanded

Dubai Airports has commissioned work on a project that will expand the number of A380 contact stands at Dubai International’s (DXB) Concourse C to enable the facility to accommodate Emirates’ growing fleet of superjumbos.

The project is aimed at increasing the number of Code F gates (A380 gates) at Concourse C from three to 13, bringing the total number of A380 gates at DXB to 47, more than any other airport in the world.

Dubai Airports said the upgrade project, which commenced in the third quarter, is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Etihad Museum set to open

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) will be the sole manager and operator of Etihad Museum, a 21st century museum focusing on inspiring Emiratis and international visitors with the story of the founding of the UAE, following its inauguration on December 2, the UAE’s National Day.

The  museum is located next to Dar Al Etihad, the historic site where the UAE declaration was signed in 1971, under the iconic flagpole on Jumeirah Beach Road.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) designed and built the museum.

Residences for ambulance staff

Dubai plans to build a new residential complex for employees of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services in Warsan-3 area of the emirate at an investment of Dh128 million ($35 million).

The initiative is part of a joint co-operation between Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, reported state news agency Wam.

The residential complex will boast of five three-storey apartment buildings besides two swimming pools, two playgrounds, green patches and a children’s play area.

Of the five buildings, two units with a total of 48 apartments are for families, while the other three with a total of 284 residential units are for bachelors, the report added.