CSHK to build Badriya Tower
Dubai: A Dubai developer has awarded CSHK Dubai Contracting, the local affiliate of China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong), a Dh1.9 billion ($517 million) contract to build the Badriya Tower on Dubai's Shaikh Zayed Highway, next to Fairmont Hotel.

The project calls for the construction of a 415-m-high residential tower with 95 storeys, plus a ground floor. The development has a built-up area of 5.4 million sq ft and will include leisure, entertainment and business facilities.
The tower is expected to be completed in 30 months time and work will commence this month.
The architect of the project is Houston-based Architectural Services International.
This project is the first for CSHK in the Gulf.

$245m facility for women planned
Dubai: Al Muntaser Holding will develop Dh899.7 million ($245 million) Lemnos, a luxury facility dedicated to women and the latest project to join the star attractions of Dubailand.
The scheme has been named Lemnos after the legendary Greek city of Lemnos, where women ruled as queens.
The project will occupy 1.65 million-sq ft in Dubailand.
It will have a five-star luxury hotel operated by an international brand.
The complex will have cinemas, art and dance centres, sports facilities, spa, fashion shows and banqueting facilities.
It will also host fashion events, as well as cosmetic care, including plastic surgery clinics, a luxury shopping mall dedicated to promoting fashion, and a water park solely for women.

Drake & Scull to cool DFC
Dubai: Drake & Scull International has won a turnkey contract to design and construct a 50,000-tonne district cooling scheme at Dubai Festival City.
A separate eight-year operation and maintenance contract for the system was also awarded to the mechanical and electrical engineering contractor.
The scope of work on the district cooling project includes a chilled water generation plant, 20 km of network piping, energy transfer stations plus metering and monitoring systems for all buildings in the initial phase of the Dubai Festival City project.
The design encompasses acoustic study, thermal degradation, stress analysis, hydraulics, structural and architectural works.
The district cooling plant will be designed, built and commissioned in a modular fashion so that its capacity matches the load demand as and when new buildings will be commissioned and brought into operation from mid-2005 onwards.

Emaar launches Una Riverside
Dubai: Emaar Properties has launched Una Riverside Residence, a mid-rise apartment building crafted in Mediterranean style.
The eight-storey building is located between The Greens community shopping centre and the Golf Towers next to the Emirates Golf Club.
The concept development – part of The Views community – overlooks the waterway and comprises two-bedroom residential suites.
The building also has a commercial component – the existing supermarket, 10 retail outlets and five casual dining outlets.
A few of the facilities offered by Una Riverside Residence include: high speed visual technology for internet, television and communications, tiled floor finishes, stone countertops and designer cabinetry, built-in kitchen appliances. Most apartments enjoy spectacular views of the waterway.

Hong Kong student gets top award
Dubai: The Architecture+ Awards 2004 has gone to Yu Ka Sing of the University of Hong Kong.
He received the award at a ceremony in the Dubai Media City amphitheatre attended by 300 architects and officials.

Clipsal launches Titanium range
Dubai: Clipsal Middle East has announced the launch of Clipsal Titanium – expected to set a new benchmark for structured cabling products in the data communications market.
Clipsal Datacomm Division, a major player in the data and communication equipment industry, unveiled the new range in the regional market recently.
Clipsal said the new product range resulted from Clipsal Datacomms’ effort in providing cost-effective and feature-rich structured cabling solutions.
Backed by Clipsal’s lifetime warranty assurance, Titanium Patch Panels and Modular Jacksis feature aesthetic contemporary design and improved performance.
Clipsal Middle East has its bases in Jebel Ali Free Zone and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone.

Honda showroom built at DFC
Dubai: A state-of-the-art Honda showroom is being built at Dubai Festival City (DFC).
The 5,250 sq m Honda flagship purpose-built showroom will feature an Internet-cafe as the centrepiece of the Japanese-style double-storey display area, said a top official.
“The new Honda showroom concept is focussed on the buying experience and will offer an exciting alternative to the way customers currently make a buying decision on Honda products,” said DFC CEO Omar Al Futtaim.

EIIC builds factories for $77m
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi-based Emirates International Investment Company (EIIC) is building two factories in the city with a combined investment outlay of Dh283 million ($77 million).
The first factory will be the biggest in the region to produce coloured fibre threads that will be used in making carpets and similar products. The production capacity of the Dh100 million-factory is about 50 tonnes per day of coloured fibre.
The second factory will melt copper and convert it into rods. Production capacity is pegged at 100,000 tonnes per year in the first phase and the investment outlay is Dh183 million. Production will start in August 2005. It will produce mainly 8mm copper rods to cater to the electro cable industry in this region that is growing rapidly. Copper arch is the main material in electro cable. Demand for this is growing by about 40 tonnes per year in the GCC market. The rods are multipurpose, however, and are used widely in computers and in construction.
Both factories are currently under construction.

Al Badia's golf resort opens
Dubai: The 18-hole championship Al Badia Golf Resort at Dubai Festival City will open for invitational VIP play this month.
Just three months ago, the Al Futtaim Group, developer of the 1,600-acre Dubai Festival City project, signed a letter of intent with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to manage a luxury waterfront hotel at the destination and oversee the Al Badia Golf Resort's clubhouse and associated amenities.

Danube plans new branch in Al Ain
Al Ain: Danube Building Materials is opening a full-fledged branch in the Sanaiya area in Al Ain.
Covering an area of almost 15,000 sq ft, the new Al Ain branch will stock an extensive variety of building materials. The portfolio includes MDF (medium density fibreboard), wood, veneers, laminates, block and chip boards.
The branch will also carry a huge stock of gypsum ceiling tiles, boards and accessories for ceiling works. In addition it will have ready stock of a large variety of hardware, which includes materials from Europe, Far East and China.
“This is going to be a real boon to the many carpentry and woodwork factories located in Al Ain. They can now easily source their requirements and the ready stock will save time,” said Rizwan Sajan, chairman of the Danube group.
The Al Ain Branch is our most important location for the coming years and in addition to our regular products, we will be offering a complete range of sanitary ware as well, he said.