PCFC plans $177m maritime city
Dubai: A Dh650 million ($177 million) Maritime City - described as the world's largest - is to be built by Dubai Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) in a year's time.

The city will be developed on a 25 million sq ft man-made peninsula between Port Rashid and Dubai Dry Dock and connected to the land by a causeway.
The state-of-the-art facility will provide the infrastructure for key marine-related industries, bridging maritime services between East and West. It would be able to house all kinds of vessels, especially large ships.

Knowledge Village extension begins
Dubai: Al Basti & Muktha has been awarded a contract to build the Dh80 million ($21.7 million) extension of the Dubai Knowledge Village on Shaikh Zayed Road within the Tecom area in Dubai.
The client, Dubai Technology, E-Commerce & Media Free Zone Authority (Tecom), has decided to award the deal to the same contractor and consultant, Design and Architecture Bureau (DAR) because it delivered the original project as per schedule and budget.
The extension will have a built-up area of 1.5 million sq ft. Construction was due to start last month and is scheduled to be completed by June 2004.

Al Hashmi lands $14.1m project
Dubai: Al Hashimi has been awarded the consultancy job to build a Dh52 million ($14.1 million) residential apartment in Oud Metha, Dubai.
The 10-storey building comprises 78 residential apartments including 18 one-bedroom flats, 28 two-bedroom flats and 32 apartments with three or more bedrooms and six showrooms at a total area of 3,000-sq ft and stores.
It will have a basement, ground floor, and 10 upper storeys. The total built-up area will be 313,000 sq ft while the plot area is over 56,000 sq ft. In addition, a large car park for 160 cars will be provided.
Bu Haleeba Contracting is the client and the contractor.

Government urged for observatory
Dubai: The UAE government has been urged to go ahead with a space-monitoring station planned for Jebel Hafit district of Al Ain, emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The observatory, once completed, is expected to provide greater accuracy in the sighting of the moon and in making astronomical calculations.
Officials of the Al Ain Economic Development and Tourism Promotion Authority have also extended their support towards the setting up the project.
The space-monitoring station is expected to have the same standards as US observatories in Phoenix (Arizona), Florida and California.