Nakheel’s Marina Residences development on The Palm Jumeirah is now 20 per cent complete, and the developer expects the project to be handed over by the end of next year.

Groundwork commenced on Marina Residences’ six towers, located at the tip of The Palm Jumeirah’s trunk, in September last year.
With foundation works completed, the six structures have emerged from the ground and mechanical, electrical and plumbing works in each tower have commenced, says a spokesman for the developer.
Once complete, the development will boast 940 two- and three- bedroom apartments and penthouses and a further 40 townhouses. Residents will be able to enjoy panoramic views of the Arabian coast and access to a wealth of attractions and facilities on The Palm Jumeirah, such as the QE2, Atlantis, the luxury marinas and the purpose-built theatre for Cirque Du Soleil.
Meanwhile, Nakheel and SMRT Engineering (SMRTE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SMRT Corporation has also entered a partnership to commence preparation for the operation of The Palm Jumeirah’s Dh1.4 billion ($381 million) monorail. The mobilisation contract will see SMRTE evaluating and defining the operational procedures as well as recruiting and training staff for the smooth and efficient operation of The Palm Monorail, including the day-to-day running of the service, ticketing, on-going maintenance, and operation of the monorail’s four stations.
SMRTE was awarded the contract through a competitive tender called by Nakheel. There were a total of four international submissions, which were reviewed by Nakheel’s Monorail team, assisted by third-party consultants over a three-month period.
The Palm Monorail is the first monorail to be constructed in the Middle East, and was developed by a consortium of international companies led by the Marubeni Corporation. The monorail is a Hitachi-based system with 5.45 km fully-elevated, double-tracked system with four stations. As of July this year, Nakheel has laid more than 90 per cent of the track. Construction work, which began in March last year, is scheduled for completion in November next year to coincide with the opening of Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah.