Global Village gets off the ground
Dubai: Dubailand, part of Dubai Government's investment arm Dubai Holding, has begun construction of the Dh900 million ($245 million) Phase 1 of the Global Village.

Once completed, the phased development of Global Village will see the construction of about 50 exhibition halls (to house national pavilions), restaurants, a food court, large car parking facility, accommodation facilities for participants and workers, hotels, warehouses, lakes, permanent walkaways and boulevards as part of a landscaped masterplan that is groomed to be one of Dubai's main attractions.
The complex will complement the overall attractions to Dubailand, Dubai’s Disneyland-type development.

Rapid progress on Palm, Deira
Dubai: Nakheel, a major Dubai real estate developer, has revealed that the creation of The Palm, Deira is progressing rapidly with a staggering 50 million cu m of sand already reclaimed.
Marwan Al Qamzi, head of procurement and contracts, Nakheel, said: “The progress of land reclamation is remarkable. We have already placed more than half the total material used to create the land mass of The Palm, Jumeirah. We expect to connect the reclaimed land to the Dubai shoreline shortly. This really is a monumental development and a true feat of engineering.”

DSO to get new housing project
Dubai: The UAE-based Bin Zayed Group has launched a Dh250 million ($68.1 million) residential project in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).
Construction work on the project, named the Springs at the Oasis, is expected to begin by the end of the year and will finish in 2007, group chairman Shaikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan said.
DSO, which will have one million sq ft of built-up area, has a low population density and less traffic, which will make it more relaxing for residents, he said.
Some of the special features of the residential project include a 30,000 sq ft elevated garden and private swimming pools for some of the apartments.
Meanwhile, DSO’s Nad Al Sheba area headquarters will be ready by the end of 2006, according to a senior official.The firms currently operating at the temporary site of DSO will shift to the new headquarters.
The excavation works to construct the main icon and side towers of the project started in June with the next stage in progress.  The project is expected put Dubai on the map of the major technology-industry nations with a number of hi-tech firms operating there
The project will include the headquarters, staff residence, industrial and educational areas. A 560-villa project is expected to be completed by early February 2006.

Taisei to build Almas Tower
Dubai: Japan’s Taisei Corp has won the contract to build the Almas Tower, a purpose-built building for the diamond industry.
Dubai Metals and Commodities Centre (DMCC) and Nakheel, which has been named project manager for Almas Tower, announced the decision.
The 65-storey tower will house the Dubai Diamond Exchange, the only diamond exchange in the region.
It will accommodate offices of leading banks, insurance companies, security companies, major international auction houses and educational institutes.

Logistics hub to take shape at DIC
Dubai: Dubai Industrial City (DIC) has launched TransPark Dubai, a project within the city offering a comprehensive range of leading-edge services catering to the logistical needs of companies.
The 50 million sq ft project will be located within the Industrial City's Logistics and Services Zone and will cater to both tenants within the complex and elsewhere in Dubai.

Trane to cool Palm, Jumeirah villas
Dubai: Trane, a division American Standard Companies, will supply 45,000 tons of air-conditioning equipment to villas on The Palm, Jumeirah.
“We are pleased to be working with Trane, one of the market leaders in the sector,” said Nakheel CEO James Wilson.
Trane worked closely with its UAE distributor Juma Al Majid to meet the stringent requirements of the job outlining the unique features of the Trane units, which have a proven track record globally.
Trane's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems were evaluated to ensure reliability, durability and optimum cooling performance in the luxury villas spread over The Palm fronds.
Trane will provide ducted split systems and fresh air handling units using US-built Trane-patented 100 per cent aluminum spine fin coils and condensing units that were designed and built to stand up to the elements and to extreme temperatures.
Trane has mobilised its resources worldwide to meet Nakheel’s challenging delivery schedule.

Ofis lays out The Gate’s offices
Dubai: Ofis (Office Furniture Interior Solutions) has completed a Dh1.3 million ($354,000) project furnishing the offices of The Gate on the 14th floor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The furniture, flooring and interior solutions business of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg group, supplied and installed top international furniture brands to create an ergonomic working environment. The 44 rooms were furnished using Unifor desks and boardroom tables and Wilkhahn were chosen for office seating.

KCT expansion nears completion
Sharjah: Khorfakkan Container Terminal’s (KCT) expansion will be completed by the year-end, enabling the Sharjah port to receive ultra-large new-generation container ships, officials said.
The first phase involves the building of a 400-m quay with a draught of 16 m, equipped with four super post-panamax gantry cranes and the latest rubber-tyred gantry cranes.
Peter Richards, operations manager of Gulftainer, which manages KCT on behalf of Sharjah Ports Authority, said the mega-ships capable of carrying more than 8,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent units) will start scheduled weekly calls at KCT beginning next January.
In phase two expansion, the new berth will be extended by an additional 400 m with four more super post-panamax cranes.

Saudi Oger to build diabetes centre
Abu Dhabi: Aldar Properties has awarded Saudi Oger Emirates a principal construction contract for the new state-of-the-art Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in the UAE capital.
Located next to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Military Hospital, the 5,800 sq m centre will comprise a treatment unit, state-of-the-art medical services and a research institute in a specially-built facility. Upon completion, it will be managed by the Imperial College of London, one of the world’s leading medical and academic institutions and can cater to up to 200 patients per day.
The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi is on a fast-track construction programme that will be operational in early 2006.

Tanqia wins wastewater deal
Fujairah: The Government of Fujairah has granted an exclusive 33-year concession to Tanqia to design, build, finance, own, operate, and expand a Dh550.9 million ($150 million) wastewater treatment system for the city of Fujairah, Qidfa and Mirbah, and a number of hamlets within the concession area.
The key elements of the project are a wastewater treatment plant with an initial capacity of 16,000 cu m per day, consisting of two separate treatment trains, administration facilities and a sea outfall, a wastewater collection network comprising 150 km of primary and secondary network and 32 pumping stations plus a digester for the treatment of sludge.
A consortium of Bilfinger Berger and Passavant Roediger of Germany will undertake construction under a fixed lump sum turnkey contract. Supervision of construction is by Fichtner of Germany.
The project will be constructed in two phases – the first  by April 2007 and the second by April 2008.