Work is reported to have started on the second phase of Dubai Media City in the UAE. This follows the tremendous interest shown by companies to operate out of the recently-inaugurated city, said Mohammed Al Gergawi, director-general of the Dubai Technology, E-Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority.

Dubai Media City, set on 200 hectares near the heart of Dubai, has 96 per cent occupancy and over 900 people from 50 companies will start working there beginning March 1, he says.

Al Gergawi said the work on the second phase will take 12 months to complete. He added that Dubai Media City already has a waiting list of 65 companies planning to move into the new facilities.

The second phase includes construction of new buildings equipped with state-of-the art infrastructure and technology, providing more than 300,000 sq m of space.

The third phase of the project will be a full media development featuring every facility required by the modern media industry. The construction and technical work on this third phase will commence in April and be completed in June 2002, he said.