Licence issued for 60-storey tower
Dubai: Dubai Municipality has recently issued a licence to build a Dh180 million ($49 million) 60-storey tower in the Trade Centre 2 area on Sheikh Zayed Road, the latest addition to the growing property sector of the emirate.

The proposed tower would comprise a hotel, 32 offices with a total area of 25,000 sq ft, 172 residential apartments including 48 one-bedroom flats and a same number of two-bedroom flats, four shops with a total area of 4,684 sq ft in addition to a large car-park for 445 cars.
The building will have a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and 60 upper storeys. The total built-up area will be 624,000 sq ft while the plot area is over 12,500 sq ft.

More counters for FIA
Fujairah: Fujairah International Airport’s passenger check-in counters are being increased to 12 from the current three under a major expansion project, said a report.
The expansion project will boost the airport’s new facilities and services, increase cargo and passenger traffic and establish it as a major staging point between East and West.
A senior official said that the expansion project was necessary to allow the airport to cope with the remarkable increase in traffic.
Two big annexes are being built on both sides of the main airport building to increase passenger handling capacity.
“The new airport will be able to receive around 8,000 passengers against the current 600. VIP and business-class passengers will also be received at a new and bigger hall and to be provided with the best services,” he said.

Investors eye DIFC's project
Dubai: About 100 investors have shown interest in the land development projects announced by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a report said.
Quoting Lawrence Elms, chief executive officer of Land Company, the land development arm of the centre, the Gulf News said possible bidders include investors from the region as well as from the US, Switzerland and Monaco.
The development plan envisages the creation of state-of-the-art infrastructure and scores of high-rise buildings on the 110-acre DIFC site within six and a half years, it said.
The land earmarked for DIFC is divided into eight districts. The gate, where the DIFC will have its offices, and the six buildings around it will be developed by the centre itself and are expected to be completed with 18 months.

$163m sewage plant designed
Dubai: The design for the Dh600 million ($163.3 million) new sewage treatment plant in Jebel Ali has been completed last month and construction is expected to start next year.
The plant, which is expected to complete by 2008, will cater to the needs of the various projects in the region such as Emirates Hills, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and other residential and commercial complexes.

Tekla launches innovative software
Dubai: Tekla, a leading supplier of model-based operational software for the construction and energy sectors, has launched its innovative product family, Tekla Structures, in the Middle East.
Tekla’s innovative software enables construction companies to deploy 3D modelling techniques in their design process, creating a digital real-world building, containing all of the project’s geometrical and structural information.
The new product family includes Tekla Structures for Steel and Tekla Structures for Engineering, the rebranded and updated version of company’s industry-leading software.
Tekla is also introducing ‘Tekla Structures for Concrete’, the first software modelling and detailing product designed especially for the concrete sector.

$1.1m criminal lab breaks ground
Dubai: A new Dh3.8-million ($1.1 million) criminal laboratory broke ground next to the new premises of the emirate’s police department at the entrance to Ras Al Khaimah on the Ras Al Khaimah-Dubai highway. According to the emirate’s branch of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the contractors will complete work on the lab around November this year.
The contracting company will spend a month preparing the land before starting the construction. The building will include four labs and three examination rooms, offices, a meeting hall, and a services section.

Taiba plans largest showroom
Dubai: Taiba for Gold and Jewels – one of the largest gold production companies in the Middle East, has signed a contract with East Magic Engineering Consultants and Imagepoint Interiors to build the largest wholesale gold and jewellery showroom in the Middle East at Gold Land in Dubai.
The Taiba showroom will occupy 10,000 sq ft on one entire half of the mezzanine floor of Gold Land, Dubai’s principal wholesale jewellery market. The showroom, which has been designed by the acclaimed Lebanese interior designer Jean Claude Malhame, aims to completely transform the wholesale gold business into a more fashionable and enjoyable one.

Emaar launches Residences
Dubai: Emaar Properties is to add another architectural landmark to Dubai’s rapidly growing skyline with the launch of ‘The Residences’ at Burj Dubai.
Emaar’s new residential project, offering six exclusive towers on the shores of a spectacular man-made lake, is an integral part of the company’s ambitious Burj Dubai development on Shaikh Zayed Road.
The Burj Dubai development, spanning over 400 acres, features the world’s tallest tower – Burj Dubai; and the world’s largest shopping mall – The Dubai Mall.
‘The Residences’ comprises one, two and three-bedroomed luxury apartments, with breathtaking views of the Burj Dubai Tower and the surrounding skyline.
Construction has already started on the six towers.
•Emaar Properties, the developer of The Dubai Mall, has announced details of The Grand Drive and its four distinct entrances providing access to the world’s largest shopping mall. The Galleria Entrance, Palm Boulevard Entrance, Gold Souk Entrance and Carnival Walk Entrance each provide direct access to mall and feature beautifully crafted designs, lattice works and gold domes for a memorable shopping experience.

Dubai Mall to get biggest Gold Suq
Dubai: Emaar has announced that the Dubai Mall will house the world’s largest indoor gold suq, replete with hundreds of stalls, meandering walkways and traditional architecture.
The Gold Suq, which will feature the largest collection of indoor gold retailers under one roof over a total area of 25,331 sq m.
The Dubai Mall – construction work on which which begins this year – nestles in the shadow of Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower and is pivotal to plans to make Dubai a global shopping capital.

The Palm reclamation full steam
Dubai: Reclamation work on The Palm, Jebel Ali is moving ahead rapidly with the latest satellite image showing the emergence of the trunk out of the sea.
“A team more than 300 workers, 14 barges, 11 tug boats, four dredgers and 10 other vessels are working around-the-clock to ensure the strict deadline for the construction of the island is maintained,” said Wahid Attalla, director of operations for Nakheel.
The island development, off the coast of Jebel Ali in Dubai, is now 25 per cent reclaimed with a forecast completion towards the end of next year.
In total 30,000 million cu m of sand and 2,000 million cu m of rock have been put in place on the island which will be 50 per cent larger than the first palm. Once completed, the trunk of The Palm, JebelAli will measure 2.4 km in length and 450 m in width and feature a ‘Sea Village’ theme.