Grading work on the second phase of Dubai World Central (DWC) – a massive 140 sq km, multi-phase urban aviation community, centered around the world’s largest international airport in Jebel Ali – has moved ahead of schedule.

Over 40 per cent of Phase 2 grading is complete, with some 10 million cu m of earth having been moved in the past four months, and the total target of 28 million cu m well in sight by October this year.
“The Phase 1 grading works, carried out by Dubai-based Trident Transport Company, saw over 43 million cu m of earth removed and finished ahead of schedule. We are highly encouraged with the progress regarding the handling of Phase 2 and look forward to finishing significantly earlier than originally planned,” says Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai’s Department of Civil Aviation.
The scope of Phase 1 grading work included Dubai Logistics City (DLC), comprising parcelled plots which will eventually encompass the construction of common facilities and infrastructure, including shared forwarder warehouses, a dedicated, modern labour village as well as peripheral roads and utilities. Phase 2 grading work includes DWC International Airport and DWC Residential City in addition to DLC.
“On completion of phase 2, tenants who want to build their own facilities in this new area will get access to their sites in the fourth quarter of this year,” adds Al Maktoum.
Fencing work will also commence with the first phase of the customs-bonded area, before being expanded to ultimately include JXB, and the connecting bridge to Jebel Ali Free Zone and Port. DLC, together with DWC and the Jebel Ali Free Zone and port, provide a single customs-bonded free zone environment and the world’s first truly integrated, multi-modal logistics platform, which will be operational by the end of next year.
DWC is currently in the process of awarding tendering contracts for the construction of DLC’s headquarters, an office park with amenities, specialised warehouses, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) cabling works and a police facility.
While the focus up to now has been on DWC International Airport and the DLC, the DWC Residential City will roll out its unique offering later this year. The 7.16 million sq m component, which will eventually house 250,000 people in the massive aviation community, will offer prime, low-cost, freehold real estate plots to developers and investors when Phase 1 commences in October. In accordance with the master plan guidelines, the pioneering development will see land earmarked for construction of extensive low-cost housing selling cheaper than designated commercial space.
“In Residential City, we will be offering a minimum of 25 hectares in Phase 1 for developers and investors to build on who have 100 per cent ownership of their own land,” says Khalid Bin Harib, real estate director of DWC. “This is a strategic step for the Dubai real estate industry and will help meet the pent-up demand for low-cost housing in the emirate, as well as providing homes for the DWC workforce.
“The low-cost housing amounts to 14 per cent of DWC Residential City’s total area, or 245,000 sq m of land area. Low-cost projects will be limited to seven-storeys and we project this will equate to a built-up area of 1,023,000 sq m, or low-cost accommodation for 36,000 people – all in line with Dubai Municipality regulatory standards,” he continues.
Over 250 freehold land plots will be sold on the open market when Phase 1 launches with the opportunity available for investors to purchase zones that must consist of a minimum of 40 plots. Phase I infrastructure completion is expected to be achieved by March 2008.