Aldar launches two new developments
Aldar Properties has launched the second phase of two office developments, the Al Mamoura and Baniyas Towers, which will collectively provide an additional 62,000 sq m of office space in the heart of Abu Dhabi.

Al Mamoura A will offer 37,000 sq m while Al Mamoura B, which is due for completion soon, will add another 20,000 sq m of office space.
In addition, Baniyas Towers will provide another 42,000 sq m of grade A office accommodation in two buildings and is scheduled for completion in January next year.
In a separate development, Aldar Properties has announced plans to launch a double-storey shopping centre in the industrial city of Al Ruwais.
Aconex’s solutions for $80m hotel
Khansaheb Civil Engineering has contracted Aconex to provide online collaboration system to the Dh300 million ($80 million) East Hotel development in Dubai, UAE.
Aconex provides a web-based system for managing project information such as drawings, documents and correspondence. The system will be used to reduce the use of paper documents and streamline communication between Khansaheb, the head contractor, and its project partners, says a spokesman for the contractor.
“Aconex enables all project participants to view, track and share their information at any time and from any location,” says Martyn Moore, East Hotel project coordinator at Khansaheb Civil Engineering.
Located at the Mall of the Emirates development in Dubai, the East Hotel development will be a 25-storey, four-star resort that will include 500 rooms and a two-storey retail complex. It will also feature restaurants, a business centre, meeting rooms and a leisure deck.
Abyaar, Mada’in launch two projects
A joint venture of boutique property developer Abyaar and Dubai-based Mada’in Properties has announced two new projects worth a total of Dh3 billion ($816.81 million) in Dubai.
The first project will be located in Dubai Marina and comprise 107 exclusive units, along with townhouses. Construction of the tower is scheduled to commence in the second half of this year.
The second project, located in the Meydan master development, near Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, will offer combined plots with a total built-up area of 884,815 sq ft in a mixed-use development that will include residential, commercial and retail components. The design and conceptual work has begun, and construction work is slated to kick off in the first quarter of next year.
Rubber World invests in new facility
As part of its expansion plans, Rubber World Industries (RWI), a leading manufacturer of closed-cell rubber insulation ‘Gulf-O-flex’ in the Gulf and South East Asia has invested Dh30 million ($8.167 million) in the construction of a new production facility.
The new plant is expected to triple the manufacturer’s production capacity within a five-year period to address the surging demand for rubber insulation products amidst the current construction boom in the region.
At present, the manufacturer holds an 80 per cent share of the Middle East rubber insulation market and has recorded over Dh10 million in sales revenues last year. The company is also currently supplying 75 per cent of the region’s requirements for rubber insulation pipes and sheets, and other rubber-derived products. By reinforcing its current production capacity, RWI is gearing up to address the rapid growth in demand for rubber products, a company spokesman said.
The Residence to rise at Jumeirah
Al-Duaa Holdings and A&A Investments, a regional leader in investment services, have launched The Residence, a Dh240 million ($65.4 million) freehold residential project located in Jumeirah Village, Dubai.
The 10-storey project will offer 277,929 sq ft of premium quality residential and retail space with ample parking and access to all the major hotspots in Dubai such as the Dubai Marina, Dubai Internet City (DIC) and Dubai Sports City. The Residence is also in close proximity to Dubai’s three main transportation arteries:  Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road and Emirates Road.
The project, which was designed by Dimension Engineering Consultants, consists of 146 units with 23 studios, 95 one-bedroom apartments, 21 two-bedroom apartments and seven lofts. It incorporates many amenities including a gym, steam room, sauna and swimming pool with Jacuzzi. The Loft apartments on the top floors of the project have their own private rooftop swimming pool.
Rakeen launches Dana Island
Rakeen has recently launched the Dana Island project in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). Being developed to accommodate several world-class hotels, and commercial and residential complexes, Dana Island extends 7 km into the sea, and is expected to create an estimated 53 km of new shoreline in RAK.
Dana Island’s design consists of a main stem in three parts and 10 leaf-shaped islands.
The project will be developed in two phases, and upon completion, will create an estimated 6.8 million sq m of land. The sand required for the construction will be sourced offshore, while rock materials will be sourced from various quarries in RAK.
Hira breaks ground in RAK
Hira Holding Company has broken ground on its new facilities in Ras Al Khaimah's Al Ghayl Industrial Area, which is managed by Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia).
The new facilities, which will cover a 30,000 sq m plot, will include manufacturing facilities for its umbrella companies Hira Industries and Aeroduct Industries.
The move is designed to expand its existing companies into Ras Al Khaimah and help them to lower their long-term operating costs.
The project will be completed by June 2009.
Hira Industries will relocate its rubber manufacturing factory to Al Ghayl where it will manufacture all rubber-moulded and extruded products, which are sold all over the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Aeroduct Industries will expand primarily its range of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) ducting accessories manufactured in the UAE for all major construction projects in the Middle East.
Al Raha Beach crosses LTI milestone
Al Jaber, together with Aldar and Cansult Maunsell, marked the accomplishment of 3 million man-hours without lost time incident (LTI) for the landfill works on the Al Raha Beach development project in Abu Dhabi.
As part of the event, Cansult Maunsell presented awards to Al Jaber, Aldar and the joint venture of Aldar Laing O’Rourke in recognition of this significant milestone in site safety.
Built along 11 km of natural beach front, Al Raha Beach development provides a unique lifestyle through its world-class residential, commercial, cultural, entertainment and public facilities, which will house up to 120,000 residents.
Daman in local art push
Daman Investments has commissioned Emirati and Middle Eastern artists to create a number of artworks for its prestigious ‘The Buildings by Daman’ project at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).  
The commissioned artworks will be installed in public spaces within the Dh1.6 billion ($435.6 million) development that is set to be a new iconic addition to the DIFC skyline.
“We believe art can stimulate new ideas and perspectives in business,” said Dr Omar bin Sulaiman, governor of DIFC and managing director of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. “Our larger vision for strengthening the role of art in society includes the development of Dubai into a regional and international centre for art and culture.
‘The Buildings by Daman’ will offer more than 1.6 million sq ft of built-up area including freehold apartments, offices, a luxury hotel and retail spaces. US architectural firm Perkins and Will is the design architect for the project.
NEB to design Azizi’s Palm projects
Dubai-based multi-national property developer, Azizi Investments has appointed National Engineering Bureau (NEB) to design two of the company’s proposed projects on Crest A and Crest E of the Palm Jebel Ali.
NEB is expected to reveal plans of these developments soon. The announcement follows the confirmation last month that Azizi Investments has purchased an additional 617,847 sq ft of plots on both Crest A and Crest E at the Palm Jebel Ali. These plots will be developed into a number of luxury properties.
Azizi Investments now has an estimated Dh3 billion ($817.4 million) project value for future developments this showpiece Nakheel development. These acquisitions will contribute to Azizi’s target total of 15 million sq ft of land and 50 projects under planning and development by the end of 2008.
DIC labour villages on track
Construction of five labour villages within the Dubai Industrial City (DIC) development is on track, according to the project’s developers.
“We are investing more than Dh1 billion ($272.25 million) in this project and have so far completed 40 per cent of the construction work across all five villages,” said Rashed Al Ansari, vice president of DIC, the third largest non-real estate project in Dubai and is a member of Tatweer.
“Two will be ready by the year end, while the remaining three will be operational by the first quarter of 2009. Each village will have 26 residential buildings that can accommodate 12,500 people,” he said.
Once complete, the five villages will accommodate 62,500 supervisors and labourers, offering investors in the city and across Dubai the chance to provide their employees with better accommodation. A total of 230 buildings will be constructed across the five villages offering comprehensive facilities and services.
Emirates firm wins AAC supply deal
Emirates Thermostone has secured contracts worth Dh12.8 million ($3.485 million) to supply autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) construction materials for four major projects in Dubai. These include: a police foundation project in Al Quoz, a labour accommodation project in Dubai Industrial City, a hotel project in Al Barsha and mixed residential and commercial project in Jumeirah Lakes.
The contracts are the latest in a string of high-value projects bagged by the company following the launch of a second production line for the groundbreaking AAC technology in April last year.
Emirates Thermostone operates one of the largest and most technologically advanced AAC production plants in the Middle East, providing the region’s premier developments with an annual supply of up to 15 million specially designed blocks, slabs and panels.