Rakeen unveils $400m expo centre
Rakeen, one of the leading property developers and masterplanners, has unveiled its $400 million RAK Convention and Exhibition Centre at last month’s Arabian Travel Market 2008 (ATM) .

The ground-breaking, mixed-use project will combine an iconic look with a superior high-tech finish, using technologically advanced ceramics that have been developed by RAK Ceramics, said a top company official.
The RAK Convention and Exhibition Centre will comprise 50,000 sq m of rentable area, five exhibition halls, each with between 400 and 600 seating capacity. Hall One can be transformed into a 4,000-seat congress hall, with three parking levels beneath.
Besides, it will have three hotels, each with 750 keys and with a green park located in between The Tower (five-star) – 62 levels, The Oasis (four-star) – 12 levels, The Expo (three-star) – 12 levels, and a shopping mall consisting of three floors, seven cinema screens, a food court, restaurants and cafes.
Dubai to get five more supertowers
Five more 100-storey-plus skyscrapers will be built in Dubai, according to a report.
The new supertowers will be part of a cluster of 11 projects worth Dh25 billion ($7 billion) to be built in a major master-planned development that will be announced in October.
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects is designing the projects, it said.
All five supertowers will be about 600 m tall and incorporate the latest building technologies, Adrian Smith, who designed Burj Dubai, said in the report.
Planet plans $272m hotel complex
Planet Group, one of the leading service-based conglomerates, has announced plans to start the construction of a Dh1 billion ($272 million) hotel and apartment complex, in the Danat area of Abu Dhabi.
The Dubai-based group presently operates and manages the award-winning Arabian Courtyard Hotel and Spa, the Orient Guest House, the Galaxy Plaza Hotel and entertainment complex under its large portfolio of diverse companies.
It has now roped in Architectural and Engineering Consultants Offices (AEC), the master developer of Al Qudra Holding for Danat Abu Dhabi, as its design consultants.
The new hotel will have 400 rooms and a convention centre along with a 400-unit, 23-floor apartment complex. The property will be operational by 2010.
DMC to set up maritime campus
Dubai Maritime City (DMC), the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre and a member of the Dubai World group of companies, is to set up a first-of-its-kind maritime campus, which will strengthen Dubai’s claim as a global powerhouse in the maritime sector.
Set for completion in 2010, the Dubai Maritime City Campus (DMCC) will accommodate more than 1,300 students and offer both short-term courses as well as degrees in various fields of maritime science through several world-renowned universities and maritime institutes.
DMC is currently undergoing the third and final phase of construction, which primarily involves infrastructure development. Aside from the DMCC, the other distinct districts of DMC are the harbour offices, harbour residences, maritime centre, marina district and the industrial quarter managed by Dubai Drydocks.
Al Habtoor wins Damac contract
Damac Properties has awarded Al Habtoor Enterprises a Dh13.5 million ($3.6 million) contract for enabling works at its Park Central and Capital Bay Tower projects at Business Bay, the nerve centre of business in Dubai.
Park Central and Capital Bay are commercial towers, comprising state-of-the-art office spaces as well as exquisite retail and recreational facilities. Park Central is a 17-storey office tower within a serene landscape. The design and layout of the offices provide lake views from three sides of the tower and offers a varied range of facilities and amenities.
Complementing Park Central, Capital Bay is a 19-storey office tower that provides boutique retail space on the ground level with parking at four levels. The towers offer a well-designed workplace with innovative state-of-the-art facilities like swipe access, hi-speed internet, business lounge, reception desk and 24-hour security with security cameras.
Damac launches Harbour Heights
Damac Properties, the luxury lifestyle provider and Middle East’s largest private sector master developer, has launched Harbour Heights, an iconic residential development at Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi.
Harbour Heights, to be built as part of Eshraq project within Al Reem Island, is an impressive master development, offering a vast array of luxury amenities and world-class infrastructure unmatched anywhere in the globe.
A 40-storey tower, Harbour Heights will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments with penthouses and duplexes on the higher levels. The apartments will be equipped with state-of-the-art accessories, thoughtfully-planned space and utilities and elegantly designed interiors.