Airport Expo facilities to double
Dubai: Facilities at the Airport Expo, the permanent home of the biennial Dubai air show, are to be doubled to cope with increasing demand.

Announcing the expansion, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, said the expanded facilities will be ready by Dubai 2005, which will run from November 20-24, 2005.
The Airport Expo Dubai was constructed in 1999 specifically for the Dubai air show. It has been hailed by the international aerospace industry as a world-class venue.

LG to target Dubai properties
Dubai: The Gulf division of LG Electronics will focus on Dubai’s mega projects, including huge free-hold properties this year, announced company president  PC Choi. He said that the division aims to be the leading supplier of air-conditioners across all sectors in the Middle East by 2005.
“During 2003 our focus was on residential, schools, mosques and villa projects and this has given huge dividends,” said Choi.
LG Electronics Gulf FZE entered the Middle East’s CAC market just two years ago and has backed up its products with customer-orientated marketing, including an enhanced focus on its distribution network, he said. LG also organised a technical seminar at the recent Big 5 show.

MEsteel.com registers100,000 hits
Dubai: After three years of operation, MEsteel, the B2B portal for Middle East steel companies, says it has been attracting more than 100,000 visitors per month, from all over the world. The portal provides local steel news, lots of technical information about steel and above all, provides an ‘open-to-all’ database of steel buyers and sellers in the Middle East.
Found easily through all major search engines (Google, Yahoo and MSN) as well as on most steel-related and Middle East-based websites, MEsteel acts as a common advertising panel for steel-related companies in the Middle East, says a spokesman for the portal.
At the same time, with already 1,500 members on board, and about 40 new companies joining every month, this Middle East steel community has established itself as one of the best-organised e-commerce portals in its field, he adds.

Avanti appoints new manager
Dubai: Avanti Systems, the UK’s largest independent producer of office partitioning systems, has appointed a Middle East manager, based in Dubai, to direct operations in the region. Avanti Systems is currently setting up stockists in the region to enable speedy customer deliveries.

Siemens wins automation works
Dubai: Siemens Dematic (Middle East) has won two major airport automation contracts as part of the $4.1 billion Dubai airport expansion programme.
The agreements were signed by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Department of Civil Aviation and chairman of Emirates Group, and Guenter Behrend, general manager of SD (Middle East) (Siemens Dematic).
The Department of Civil Aviation Dubai has awarded two contracts: the AX 064 an automated cargo handling system for the Cargo Mega Terminal, and: AX 104 an automated baggage handling system for Terminal 3, at  the Dubai International Airport.
Siemens Dematic will also install a proven IT software and hardware system for the entire material handling system with an easy-to-operate, state-of-the-art man-machine interface.
When completed in 2007, the multi-storey Dubai Cargo Mega Terminal will reinforce Dubai’s stature as a major international cargo hub, capable of handling 1.2 million tonnes per year in cargo throughput.

Work under way on $95m market
Abu Dhabi: Preparations are under way for the construction of the new Dh350 million ($95.29 million) central market in Abu Dhabi, which is expected to be completed in 18 months.
A report stated that the Abu Dhabi Municipality Town Planning Department has drawn up plans to replace the central suq with a new landmark, reflecting traditional Arab and Islamic design in line with the country’s urban development.
The department has notified shopkeepers to vacate and move to the nearby fruit and vegetable market by March. The report added that the 60,000 sq m market will have 241 shops and basement parking for 1,200 cars.
There will be administration offices, mosques, banks, cafeterias and play areas for children.

DCCI explores new opportunities
Dubai: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) is hosting networking meetings between German engineers and architects and their counterparts from Dubai to explore the opportunities that are on offer.
The delegation, which was received by the DCCI deputy director-general Ahmed Al Banna, is part of a programme called ‘Professionals in Dialogue’, and is headed by Dr Jurgen Friedrich, the head of the German Commercial office in Dubai, and Dr Cornelius, the president of the Federation of Engineers and architects.
‘Professionals in Dialogue’ is an initiative supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and labour that aims to introduce the abilities of German engineers and architects to the UAE.

DCC to build ADCB headquarters
Abu Dhabi: Dubai Contracting Company (DCC) has won the Dh133 million ($36.2 million) contract to construct Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank’s (ADCB) new headquarters.
The project calls for the demolition of the old headquarters and the construction of a new 24-storey structure on the existing site at the corner of Salam and Zayed II (Electra) streets in Abu Dhabi. The total development area is 41,590 sq m.
The new headquarters will house the bank’s main branch and will have 19 floors dedicated for office spaces, one floor for technical systems and the 21st floor will feature a multifunctional reception hall and auditorium conference facility. The building will have three basement parking and service levels.
Key players on the development including the project manager Turner Construction, Chilean architects Burja Hudobro and Architecture and Planning Group, the consultant. The project  is expected to be completed in 24 months from the start date.

Hansgrohe, Mega Prop ink deal
Dubai: Hansgrohe of Germany and Mega Properties have signed a supplier agreement for the latter's projects in the UAE.
Hansgrohe is the manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of bathroom products and is considered a world market leader in shower systems and lifestyle bathroom fittings.
Julian Henco, managing director, Hansgrohe Middle East, said: “The strong business relationship we have established with Mega Properties will continue to grow as we strategically find ways to improve our customer services and quality through this agreement.”
Mega Properties is currently managing Marina Sail, a 164-apartment facility costing more than Dh100 million ($27.2 million). Spread over 36,401 sq ft on the waterfront of Dubai Marina, the 22-storey project is due to be completed by May 2005. It is one of the first freehold properties to be launched in Dubai, as well as one of the most luxurious in the region.

Giorgetti collection enters Dubai
Dubai: The new Giorgetti collection is now on display at The Arcada showroom on Za’abeel Road, Dubai.
Arcada furniture trading and interior design company is the sole distributor for seven famous European companies: Giorgetti Poliform, Tresserra, Cor, Montis, Banci and Cabas.
Giorgetti is one of Italy’s famous furniture manufacturers and by collaborating with architects, it has brought innovative designs to the finest furniture.
Aesthetically beautiful and sensual to the touch, only the finest materials are used to create a piece of Giorgetti furniture, says a spokesman for the design house.

Green buildings save on energy
Dubai: Residents and commercial establishments in Dubai could save Dh388 million ($106 million) annually in energy costs if the buildings they occupy were truly “green”, says energy expert Sougata Nandi, also manager of Energy and Resource Reduction of ServeU under the Union Properties Group.
This is equivalent to one fifth of the annual energy consumption, worth Dh1.94 billion, by commercial and residential sectors in the emirate.
He said green buildings would cost up to 6.5 per cent more than conventional buildings, but the benefits would far outstrip the investment.

Montgomerie clubhouse by 2005
Dubai: The Montgomerie Dubai has begun the construction of a state-of-the-art clubhouse, which will include 19 deluxe rooms in a number of configurations, including suites and interconnecting rooms. The project will set a new trend of golfing facilities and will be the region’s first state-of-the-art boutique clubhouse and hotel.
In addition to the deluxe rooms, there will be several fully furnished and serviced villas and maisonettes adjacent to the clubhouse for short-term stay. Slated to be completed in 2005, the course will boast among the finest golf amenities in the Middle East.
Another outstanding development from Emaar Properties, The Montgomerie is an 18-hole par 72 Championship Golf Course designed by Colin Montgomerie in association with Desmond Muirhead and managed by Troon Golf.
Covering over 200 acres of landscaped setting, this spectacular course features 79 bunkers, water features and some exclusive characteristics including the world’s largest green.

Big 5 show turns crowd puller
Dubai: More than 1,500 exhibitors participated in the 24th Big 5 show, which concluded in Dubai recently.
The annual construction industry event, organised by dmg world media, occupied all eight halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) and reported a 20 per cent increase in floor space compared to the previous year.
The Big 5, one of the largest and most comprehensive events of its kind in the Middle East, combined seven major exhibitions under one roof.
The show covered sectors such as building and construction; water technology and environment; air conditioning and refrigeration; cleaning and maintenance; bathrooms and ceramics; glass and metal and marble and machinery.
Some 27,000 industry professionals from more than 50 countries gathered at the venue to participate in the region’s largest construction trade show.

$8m coastal work for Dubai
Dubai: The coastline of Dubai is set to be the focus of maintenance projects costing Dh30 million ($8.17 million), ranging from waterbus stations to breakwaters.
Five waterbus, or ‘abra’, stations will be created along the creek at a cost of Dh11.6 million. Three of these will be in front of the old suq and the Sabkha area in Deira, while the other two will be in front of the British Council and the Sheraton Hotel in Bur Dubai.
Groundwork and planning started in early August and is expected to be ready in March 2005. Designs alone cost the municipality more than Dh2 million.
A maintenance project at the creek, running concurrently with the new construction work, is costing Dh3 million and will be ready in August.
Money has also been spent on surveys for the work. The survey, which began last August, includes all coastal facilities stretching from the northern breakwaters off Jebel Ali Port to Al Mamzar Lagoon, as well as Dubai Creek. The total cost of the survey is Dh697,000 and nearly a third of the work has already been done.
The facilities that are surveyed include the 6.5 km breakwaters, the 13 km rock reinforcement for the coasts, the 4.7 km supplementary cement walls, a number of small ports and several other small buildings off the coast. Other areas covered by the survey include Deira Corniche, Jumeirah open beach, Jumeirah Corniche, Umm Suqeim and its port, Jumeirah Port, and Mina Al Seyahi.

New image for Wrenn Associates
Dubai: London-based interior design practice Wrenn Associates and its Dubai office, will now sport a new logo and a name as part of its overall strategy for growth. Wrenn associates will now be called wa international, says Mark J Young, general manager for the practice.
The change coincides with Wrenn’s double birthday celebration – 25 years of interior design excellence in London and 10 years in Dubai, he said.
“We are expanding and diversifying and we wanted the image of the company to reflect that. We’ve also just signed up an associate office in Sydney (Australia) so, with a presence across three continents, we are an international company.
“Business is booming at the moment. We are currently working on a diverse range of interior design projects in a variety of sectors, from hospitality to retail, healthcare to corporate office, throughout the region. Our clients know that no matter where the project is, be it Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Jeddah, Makkah, Cairo or Karachi, we offer the same high standards of quality, innovation and design.
“Exciting times are ahead for both wa international and Dubai,” Young adds.