New projects launched at DSO
Gulf General Investment Company (GGICO), one of Dubai’s leading diversified group of companies, has launched the second phase of the Axis Residences in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).

The Dh1.3 billion ($354 million) project will include seven towers, one of which is expected to be completed later this year.
In a separate development, Deyaar, a leading real estate company, has launched three prominent residential offerings at DSO, namely Coral, Jade and Ruby Residences.
Deyaar’s new offerings will be in close proximity of green parks, play area zones, exclusive shopping malls, restaurants and cafes, a community centre, and many academic institutions including Sheikh Zayed University, says a spokesman for the developer.
Voltas in cool Empower deal
Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, has awarded Indian air-conditioning specialist Voltas, a Dh260 million ($70.8 million) contract for the construction of a cooling plant in the North District of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Under the contract, Voltas will complete civil as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works, in addition to the construction of the 66,000 refrigeration ton (RT) district cooling plant.
The project is expected to be completed in 15 months.
Multiplex to build Omniyat’s Opus
Omniyat Properties, a leading property developer, has awarded the main construction contract for The Opus, its much-anticipated commercial and retail development in Dubai’s Business Bay, to Multiplex (trading in Dubai as Nasa Multiplex), one of the leading commercial construction contractors in the Middle East region.
Conceptualised as a cube with a central fluid form ‘void’, The Opus has been designed with Omniyat’s proprietary Oyster approach which provides distinctive features, such as a tranquility zone, a beach deck, a reflective pool, media zone and spa. The development will comprise three towers with three floors dedicated to retail outlets and restaurants.
Nakheel launches Emirates precinct
Nakheel, one of the leading property developers globally, has launched Emirates, the 10th and final precinct to be added to the existing nine precincts that make up the Residential District of International City.
Construction on the Emirates Precinct began earlier this year, with completion scheduled for the third quarter of 2009. Emirates will feature 856 studios and 756 one-bedroom units. In addition to the residential units, 52 units will be handed over for commercial use.
Multiforms’ facades for DHC
Multiforms, an architectural façade specialist, has been awarded the contract to design, supply and install the external façade to the Dubai Healthcare City (DHC) Hotel and Apartment Towers.
Valued at Dh75 million ($20.4 million), the contract was awarded directly by Morganti International who is the project manager for the development.
Façade works are due for completion by the end of 2009.
The scope of work includes the design, engineering, fabrication and installation of aluminium facades, unitised punched window systems, tension assembly skylights, spaceframe glazed skylights, point-fixed glazed canopies and automated retractable shading devices along with other related works.
Executive Towers near completion
Dubai Properties, a leading master real estate developer, has said that its Dh3 billion ($817.4 million) Executive Towers, which are markedly visible from Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, is nearing completion.
The towers are expected to be handed over during the fourth quarter of this year.
Work is proceeding simultaneously on all 11 buildings of the Executive Towers, which include nine residential units, the Aspect Tower, and the Business Bay Hotel. The development’s outdoor component, the Bay Avenue, is also on its way to deliver 175,000 sq ft of retail space as well as waterfront terraces.
With a two-level shopping mall, clinics, health clubs and other facilities, the Executive Towers will boast a contemporary design and architectural theme reflecting Dubai’s progressive outlook.
Al Habtoor Engineering is the main contractor for The Executive Towers, while Halcrow Engineering has been handling the Business Bay infrastructure.
Balqis set to rise on the Crescent
IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) officially broke ground on its Balqis Residence project in the Kingdom of Sheba resort, located on the Crescent of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The Kingdom of Sheba, which occupies 141,500 sq m of prime land, is IFA HR’s largest project on the island and is certain to become a significant landmark, says a spokesman for the developer.
Spotlight on Metro challenges
The challenges faced in the construction of Dubai’s $4.5 billion metro – the most ambitious transportation project in the Middle East – came under the spotlight at a special one-day conference held last month.
The Engineering Challenges 2008 conference, which took place at the Higher Colleges of Technology Dubai Men’s College campus, examined the engineering challenges shaping the sustainable future of Dubai and the UAE.
The impact of the stations on local utilities as well as how the routing was successfully agreed with appropriate authorities were examined in the presentation along with sustainable design elements of the project.
Long elevated sections of the initial two metro lines – the Red and Green Lines – are clearly visible across the city. Service on the 52 km Red Line is scheduled to begin in September next year with the 22 km Green Line following in March 2010.
Steelwork is now being erected for the elevated stations on the Red Line with nearly 25,000 tonnes of steel required. The 24 stations will be elliptical in shape with the principal design philosophy being to wrap the station around the tracks. The stations, walkways and footbridges will all be air-conditioned, with dedicated car-parks and integrated links taking passengers to buses, taxis and water taxis.
Famco Dubai bags Volvo award
Famco (Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company), Al Futtaim Group’s market-leading distributor of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses, has said that its Dubai branch has been awarded the Middle East Branch of The Year award from Volvo CE.
The award recognises Volvo CE’s strongest performing branch in terms of sales structure and key account management. In addition, the Dubai branch of Famco Construction Equipment was also recognised for selling the highest number of units across the Middle East, a spokesman for the company said.
$4.4bn projects for Northern Emirates
UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the allocation of Dh16 billion ($4.4 billion) for infrastructure projects in the Northern Emirates in a move to boost economic growth and prosperity, according to a Wam report.
The amount will be used to fund the construction of roads networks, new housing communities, drainage network and other projects that are deemed as necessary for sustainable economic growth.
Nakheel mulls 1,200-m-high tower
Dubai-based Nakheel has announced plans to build a 1,200-m-high tower in the city.
The tower, commonly referred to as Al Burj or the Tall Tower, will surpass Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world at present, said a report.
The source at Australian architects Woods Bagot, which was recently awarded a contract for the project, said the tower is to be located on the Arabian Canal, a $61 billion project being developed by Limitless.
RTA allocates $14bn for projects
Dubai will spend about Dh52.5 billion ($14.3 billion) over the next five years building roads, bridges and a metro network as the emirate’s population growth surges.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has already committed to projects worth Dh26 billion in the Gulf’s tourism and trade hub, which is seeking to achieve economic growth of 11 per cent per year to 2015. “We are to spend Dh10.5 billion a year for the coming five years,” RTA chairman Mattar Al Tayer said. “Last June, the authority planned to invest at least Dh75 billion over the next five years on transport infrastructure to help meet demand as Dubai’s population is expected to double to more than 2 million by 2015.”
Among the RTA’s plans is an urban rail system including at least four lines, the first two of which will cover 76 km and carry about 200 million passengers per year. The RTA would fund the projects from Dubai’s government and its own operations and had no plans to borrow, Al Tayer said.