UAE-based Al Fara'a General Contracting Company has started work on a new national archives building in Abu Dhabi.

Work on the Dh90 million building for the Centre for Documentation and Research (National Archives) at the Presidential Office began in June and the project is expected to be completed in Feb 2004.

The work is currently at piling stage, the company said.

The five-storey building has been designed in the shape of the letter C. Special attention has been given to the design which fuses traditional Arab and modern architectural styles.

The building will be located next to the centre's existing premises in Al Bateen. It will have three theatres, including a large one with a 750-seat capacity, conference rooms, an exhibition centre and big car park.

A virtual reality facility will also be created where people will be able to view the land as it was in the 16th century. A sophisticated electronic library will also be set up.

Both the virtual reality room and the library will be located at the top level under a dome that will cover the building.

Dr Abdullah Mohammad Abdul Kareem El Reyes, director-general of the National Archives, said the centre has been using latest information technology.

"We are digitalising all archival material and the new electronic library will have more than a million titles."

He said an exhibition and a seminar area is also a basic requirement which will be fulfilled in the new building.

The centre has a vast collection of rare items, including maps, documents, handicraft, specimens of the UAE's minerals and photographs.

Al Fara'a and its group of companies are executing the entire project with Al Fara'a Contracting responsible for sub structure and superstructure; Al Sabbah for electro mechanical works; Belgium Aluminium & Glass Industries for supply of aluminium, steel and glass; Al Fara'a Joinery handling joinery work and Unibeton Readymix providing the concrete.

Operating from Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, Al Fara'a General Contracting Company is the flagship of the umbrella organisation of Al Fara'a and Al Sabbah group of companies. The umbrella organisation is involved in the entire spectrum of construction and allied activities. It has two major divisions - Al Fara'a and Al Sabbah Group.