Dubai to get world’s largest wheel
Dubai: Dubailand and the Great Wheel Corporation have signed an agreement under which land has been allocated for the construction of the world's largest observation wheel at Dubailand.

It will open to the public in 2008.
The Great Dubai Wheel will be significantly larger than the London Eye, which was recently voted the best tourist attraction in the world.  Hollandia, the specialist Dutch engineering company that successfully built the London Eye, is set to construct the giant observation wheel.
“We are creating unique wonders in partnership with the private sector from across the world,” Dubailand chief executive officer Salem bin Dasmal said. “The Great Dubai Wheel is an example of this model co-operation and yet another addition of a world-class attraction to the skyline of Dubai.”
The visitors will be able to view distances of up to 50 km and will be able to see all the wonders of Dubai.

Ascon to build The Palladium
Dubai: Ascon Construction, a part of the ETA Ascon Group, has been awarded the Dh122 million ($33.2 million) construction contract for The Palladium, a proposed 34-storey office, retail and residential complex in the heart of Jumeirah Lake Towers.
According to the terms of the contract, Ascon will be responsible for building an ultra-modern high-rise mixed-use apartment complex offering over half a million sq ft of built-up area.
Construction work on the project – which is more than 90 per cent sold out – is expected to commence soon and is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2007.
“The Palladium has been conceptualised to capture the essence and charm of sophisticated lakeside living and is one of our most prestigious projects to date,” said ETA Star Properties executive director Abid Junaid.
The Palladium is located in the prestigious Jumeirah Lake district, close to the Mina Seyahi Beaches and next to the 50-storey state-of-the-art Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC). 
The mixed-use complex, designed by reputed architects DAR Consultants, features one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses with stunning views of the lake on one side and city vista on the other.
Residents can avail of state-of-the-art amenities including high-speed Internet access and digital/satellite connectivity as well as leisure facilities such as a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, heath club and 150 m indoor jogging track.  It also offers coffee shops and boutiques in the lobby, a separate retails area for convenience shopping and a spacious multi-purpose hall for roof-top parties.

CCC wins twin HQ complex deal
Abu Dhabi:  Aldar Properties has awarded the construction of a new office building in Al Muroor, Abu Dhabi, to Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC).
The new building will be the headquarters for Mubadala Development Company, the UAE Offsets Group, and ERWDA. The building is also pre-let to a number of other premier blue-chip tenants.
The building, designed by international architect Jung Brannen of Boston, will feature the latest in building technology, amenity and services for its tenants within a 60,000 sq m gross building area.  A key feature will be the impressive heritage-style entrance leading to a stunning atrium that will provide a dramatic sense of arrival and presence.
Construction will start next month on a fast-track programme and will be completed 21 months later.
The building, comprising 10 floors of open-plan office accommodation, will cater for the needs of its occupiers with the provision of raised flooring throughout a business and conference centre, a 150-seat auditorium, an ERWDA library, dining facilities, prayer rooms, a convenience shop and a crèche.
Adjacent to the office building will be a 25,000 sq m ancillary building that will provide dedicated car parking for occupiers, a health club and research facilities for ERWDA.

Stromeck wins Diamond deal
Dubai: Diamond Investments has awarded Stromeck with a comprehensive contract for the deep foundations, piling and shoring phases of all six of its buildings in the Marina Diamond series. 
Work has been launched on Marina Diamond III and IV, while that on buildings V and VI will begin in August and September.
With the six Marina Diamond projects currently under various stages of planning or construction, Diamond Investments is creating 1,300 new residential units in the Dubai Marina. The apartments have met with exceptional market response and availability is now limited to the most recently launched tower, Marina Diamond VI which is scheduled to be completed at the end of August 2007.

$34m sewerage contract awarded
Dubai: Dubai Municipality has recently awarded its largest sewerage network contract, worth Dh126 million ($34.3 million),  to Arabtec Construction's Drainage Division.
The contract provides for connecting nearly 3,000 residential plots in Mirdiff to the sewerage collection network.  It also includes providing surface water drainage network, house connections, inspection chambers, road crossings and connection of the new system to the existing system.

Aconex to manage Raffles Hotel
Dubai: Aconex, a leading global provider of information management solutions to the construction industry, has been selected by Wafi Group to manage all project information for the landmark $140 million Raffles Hotel development in Dubai.
The Dubai-based business conglomerate Wafi Group is developing the hotel and retail complex, which will be operated and managed by Singapore-based hospitality chain Raffles International.
The 240-room Raffles Dubai, designed in a distinctive pyramid shape, will be a prominent landmark when completed in 2007.  The development, located at Wafi City, will include 188 guest rooms and 52 luxurious suites, nine food and beverage outlets, a grand ballroom, seven meeting rooms and high-end retail shopping.
Aconex will enable project participants - such as developers MKM Commercial Holdings, main contractor Khansaheb Civil Engineering, and architect Arif Bintoak - to track and manage every item of correspondence and documentation online throughout the entire project life cycle.
In Dubai, Aconex is being used by Multiplex for the construction of 19 residential towers at Burj Residences, and has also been adopted for major aspects of the Dubai International Airport expansion.

Airshow to move to Jebel Ali airport
Dubai: Dubai Airshow will be moved to the new Jebel Ali Airport City when the new complex is completed in 2009, Shaikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation, and chairman of Emirates Group, said.
The new Jebel Ali airport will occupy an area of 137 sq km and will include in its first phase six runways with the capacity to handle 18 million passengers per year. The complex, which will also include a five-star hotel, is expected to be completed by 2015, said the report.

US Chiller works on Emaar project
Dubai: U.S. Chiller Services (USCS), the region's leading company in large tonnage chiller services and energy solutions, has started the commissioning of three McQuay 1,300 tonne  centrifugal chillers for Emaar's Gold and Diamond Park Phase-II  in Al Quoz, Dubai.
Phase-II plans include the provision of the 154 additional manufacturing units in two blocks, 30 retail outlets, three office blocks housing 112 office units and nine showrooms, visitors' retail centre, underground and above ground parking.
'The fact that an organisation of Emaar's stature has chosen US Chiller Services as their preferred partner for another of their developments is proof of our continued high level of service.' Dan Mizesko, managing partner U.S. Chiller Services said.