JRA to publish industry guide
Dubai: James Rammal Advertising (JRA) is to publish a user-friendly reference manual for the construction industry.

According to JRA, the Guide for Building and Construction Services 2005 will be UAE’s first annual business – to – business guide related to the construction industry. Its aim is to complete the circle of information by providing links within the industry and to bring together all the sectors on one common platform, enabling all to easily locate contact sources. All entries will be alphabetically arranged and product-wise segmented to facilitate the search.
The full-colour guide will be launched in January 2005 and will be distributed to all the professionals in the construction industry and government agencies.

Work on EFC's plant near complete
Dubai: A $20 million Emirates Flight Catering (EFC) frozen meal factory – work on which begun this April – will be completed by the year-end.
The new facility will have an annual capacity to prepare more than 20 million meals.
The expansion and investment is to cope with the continuing growth of Emirates Airline and of Dubai International Airport. The new Emirates-dedicated flight catering facility will have a capacity to handle 90,000 meals per day and off-site food production facility and off-site industrial laundry facility.

German firm to design four stadia
Dubai: Germany’s Von Gerkan, Marg & Partner (GMP) has been awarded the design contract for the Dh2.7 billion ($759.6 million) four-stadia project at Dubai Sports City (DSC).
It comprises a cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000 to 30,000, a multi-purpose stadium with athletics track, rugby and soccer field for 25,000 to 30,000 spectators, a hockey stadium with 10,000 seats and a closed arena for various sporting events as well as concerts for up to 10,000 spectators.
The stadia,  part of the DSC, will be complete in 2006. Located on the upper west side of Dubailand, the $2.5 billion development will also include the construction of: training academies; an 18-hole championship golf course and residential complex; a dedicated sports free zone;  track fields for running and bicycle competitions; shopping malls;  cinemas and stores; medical clinic;  hotel facilities; and other services.

Belleli wins $33m storage job ...
Dubai: Emoil Petroleum Storage has laid the foundation for a new $33 million gasoline storage and blending facility at the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ).
The contract to construct the facility has been awarded to Belleli Energy and the project is expected to be completed in 16 months.
The project will include the erection of nine products storage tanks of various capacities in an area covering 47,000 sq m.
The tanks, with a total capacity of 203,000 cu m, will serve the purpose for blending and storing high quality gasoline products.
The new gasoline blending and storage facilities will have access to three oil berths in Jebel Ali Harbour and pipelines linking it with the existing Emarat Terminal in the free zone to achieve maximum operational flexibility.

... and chooses Danway
Dubai: Danway Electrical and Mechanical Engineering has won two major contracts with Belleli Energy.
The first involves the detailed engineering, procurement, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the electrical and  instrumentation works for the Emoil Petroleum Storage Facility.
Danway’s scope of work involves a very high level of terminal automation and is scheduled to be completed in two phases. Phase 1 is expected to be commissioned by next August and Phase II will be commissioned by November 2005.
The second is for the detailed engineering, procurement, supply installation, testing and commissioning of the electrical and instrumentation works of Enoc’s Doraleh Tank Terminal in the Republic of Djibouti. This project has marked the company’s foray into the international arena beyond GCC frontiers and is expected to be completed by April 2005.

GE scouts partners for test facility
Dubai: General Electric International (GE) is seeking the services of internationally-recognised and qualified contractors for the construction and commission of a Dh73.4 million ($20 million) engine test cell facility.
The scope of work includes the construction of the test facility that will be capable of testing a large spectrum of turbofan engines up to 150,000 lb (667 kN) thrust and wide array of auxiliary power units.
Construction of the 13-m cross-section test facility is scheduled to commence this year with an expected completion date for the fourth quarter of 2006.
GE and Emirates have reached an agreement for the construction of an advanced turbofan engine and auxiliary power unit test and preparation facility for the airline.

Bauer steps up work on Burj Dubai
Dubai: Bauer Spezialtiefbau and Middle East Foundations have stepped up work on the foundations for Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world.
Bauer Spezialtiefbau was awarded the foundation contract together with Middle East Foundations, a local foundation contractor also operating Bauer drilling rigs.
The first task to carry out was a series of large-scale pile load tests, being followed by the installation of 200 piles of 1.5 m diameter to a depth of up to 50 m and 650 piles of 900 mm diameter to depths of up to 36 m.
The tower is due for completion by 2006.
• Spectacular views and a line-up of special aquatic attractions are in store for visitors to The Dubai Mall Aquarium, which will be the world’s largest indoor marine mammal pavilion.
The sheer size and magnitude of the aquatic offering will be a fitting complement to the world’s largest shopping mall by Emaar, which is part of the company’s prestigious Burj Dubai District which will boast The Burj Dubai, the tallest residential building in the world.
The 50-m long aquarium, located strategically in the centre of the mall, will be flanked by two glass tunnels at varying levels offering windows into the incredible diversity of marine life.
 
L&T wins $52m EPC contract
Abu Dhabi: Bunduq Company Limited has awarded India’s Larsen & Toubro a Dh192.8 million ($52.5 million) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a process platform in the Al Bunduq field, offshore of Abu Dhabi.
The scope of work includes installation of a composite single deck gas injection platform jacket, a deck, a bridge linking the deck to the existing gas-sweetening facilities, and associated works.
The 1900-tonne platform will house all the equipment, such as the associated gas and acid gas compressor modules, glycol dehydration package, instrument air and nitrogen package, pedestal crane, switchgear and control rooms and other miscellaneous facilities for maintenance and operation of the plant and equipment.
The platform, with facilities for compressing and injecting gas, will be completed in 18 months.

Danat Resort ready for opening
Abu Dhabi: A 109-room five-star Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna is ready for an opening this autumn.
The resort, at Jebel Dhanna, situated 240 km west of Abu Dhabi citywill fearure a pristine sand beach stretching for a kilometre plus a full range of beach and water sports, as well as two floodlit tennis courts, a par-36 nine hole sand golf course and a driving range, children’s club, extensive banqueting, among other facilities.

DIC launches yachting project
Dubai: The Dubai International Capital (DIC) has launched the Dubai Yachting project to position the emirate as a premier yachting destination.
The project will involve the construction of a state-of-the-art marina for yachts and will also involve the purchase of 50 yachts.
The marina will come up on the last remaining in-city beaches of the Dh5.2 billion ($1.4 billion) Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).

Ajman city centre expanded
Dubai: The final phase of expansion of the Ajman City Centre’s has been completed with the the addition of nine storeys to the already extensive mix of leisure, entertainment and retail outlets.
The six-month expansion project started with the opening of nine new stores and a series of renovations this April.
The complex now boasts a cinema, hypermarket, food court and over 60 family, fashion and electronic stores.

Al Rossais Tower nears completion
Dubai: The Al Rossais Tower in Dubai is currently nearing completion and is expected to start taking in tenants by the end of the month.
The 19-storey commercial building offers first-class corporate offices, overlooking the sea and consists of four showroom spaces, ranging between 13 sq m and 59 sq m.
Parking spaces, with 60 reserved slots and additional ones for visitors, takes up the first, second, third and fourth floors. Floors five to 17 have a total of 39 offices ranging in size from 94 sq m to 117.5 sq m.
Central Estate Agency (CEA) Company is managing the property, which measures 70.8 m in height and is owned by a group of GCC investors.

Emaar launches design contest
Dubai: Emaar has announced the launch of what it claims to be the first-ever design competition offering architecture students from the UAE and the GCC an opportunity to explore innovative design concepts and develop their creative potential in designing town homes.
The competition design brief asks participants to provide standard block combinations to achieve variant unit areas, optimum use of the view, community park with tennis court, swimming pool and landscaped areas, covered parking areas to accommodate one car for small units and two for the larger unit and sufficient uncovered parking areas to accommodate visitors and extra cars. Three student architects will stand to win a total prize money of Dh30,000.
Design submissions have to be completed and handed over to Emaar by October 30.