Concreting begins on Emal potroom
Concrete work was started on Emirates Aluminium (Emal)’s potroom, a critical part of the production facility, at Taweelah, Abu Dhabi.

By the end of Phase One in 2010, 700,000 tonnes of aluminium will be produced annually using Emirati-developed technology, says a spokesman for the smelter.
The first concrete at the potroom was initiated by Emal vice chairman and Dubal CEO, Abdulla Kalban and Emal board member and Mubadala COO, Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi.

Al Shafar wins Al Furjan villa deal
Nakheel has signed a Dh600 million ($163.33 million) contract with Al Shafar Transport and Contracting Company, a subsidiary of Al Shafar Group, to build 300 villas and terrace homes at its Al Furjan development.
Construction work on the project is expected to start over the next couple of months with the handover of the first residences expected to be in the third quarter of 2010.
Al Furjan captures the principles of traditional neighbourhood living, combining spacious villas and terraced housing with abundant open spaces and a multitude of amenities. Set in 540 hectares south of Ibn Battuta Mall and adjacent to Discovery Gardens and The Gardens, Al Furjan will boast more than 4,000 homes. Combined with apartments, hotels and commercial and mixed-use plots in the developments surrounding Al Furjan, this will result in a daytime population of approximately 90,000 people.

Punj Lloyd bags Abu Dhabi orders
Indian construction and engineering firm Punj Lloyd has won a $108 million contract from Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas to carry out mechanical works for a project in Abu Dhabi.
The contract at Abu Dhabi Polymers Company involves piping fabrication, steel and equipment erection and will involve work on two off-site projects and a utilities project.
Abu Dhabi Polymers Company is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Vienna-based Borealis.

Work starts on Oberoi Centre
Al Naboodah Contracting has begun mobilisation works for the Oberoi Centre project that is coming up in Dubai’s Business Bay, following the completion of the project’s enabling works.
Al Naboodah Contracting was awarded the contract by Rani International Development, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Aujan Group, to undertake the construction works of the Oberoi Centre.
Once completed, the project, which comprises an office tower and the world-class Oberoi Hotel, will be an architectural landmark at the main entrance of Business Bay, says a spokesman for the developer.
“We are very excited with the award of the Oberoi Centre main construction works contract,” says Maher Al Aujan, managing director of Rani International Development. “We have engaged the services of a world-class design team. The construction works will take 24 months and we are confident that Al Naboodah Contracting will deliver our vision for this project as we have planned it.”

Zetas wins Damac Heights contract
Zetas ATS Foundation Technology has started enabling works on Damac Properties’ Damac Heights project, set to come up in Dubai Marina.
The works are scheduled for completion in June 2009.
Damac has awarded nine contracts worth over Dh1.14 billion, to date this year, and many more are to follow, says a spokesman for the developer.
The 98-storey residential tower located in Dubai Marina is Damac’s first self-branded tower. Overlooking the Palm Jumeirah, Damac Heights will house penthouses, duplexes, and three-, two- and one- bedroom apartments.

Atlantis reaches cool milestone
Palm Utilities (PU), the water and district cooling utility service provider established by government-owned investment firm Istithmar, has announced the completion of the first phase of the various projects that will supply cooling to the Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah Crescent and Jumeirah Lake Towers.
The projects, being undertaken by Palm District Cooling (PDC), will eventually provide 120,000 tons of refrigeration (TR) to Palm Jumeirah Crescent and 140,000 TR to the Jumeirah Lake Towers.
To optimise the use of water, PDC will utilise treated sewage effluent (TSE) where possible for the operation of the district cooling plants, says a spokesman for the company.
The TSE used in the cooling process will be supplied by Palm Water and will be polished using purpose-designed polishing plants. This method reduces the requirement of potable water for the cooling process and also allows the blowdown to be further used for irrigation purpose.

Oasis boosts compressor fleet
Oasis Construction Equipment Rental has taken delivery of a further 10 Atlas Copco XATS 800 portable air compressors taking its Abu Dhabi and Sharjah rental fleets to 65 units since its introduction late last year.
Oasis Construction Equipment Rental, part of the Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar group of companies, is considered to be the leading energy rental company in the Middle East.
Recently redesigned by Atlas Copco as the XATS 800, the latest model incorporates the Caterpillar C7 Acert diesel engine – a single axis model occupying 30 per cent less space and 40 per cent less weight, according to a spokesman for the manufacturer.
The compressor is the first model to introduce a 774 cfm (21.9 cu m/min) free air delivery on a two-wheel, single-axle chassis, he adds.

Korean firm wins RTA contract
Sang Wang Company of South Korea has clinched the contract for the fifth phase of Parallel Roads Project (parallel to Shaikh Zayed Road) being constructed at a cost of Dh1.7 billion ($463 million).
Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said the road sector extends 108 km from Shaikh Rashid Road in the north and ends on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
The project also includes construction of 30 bridges, two underpasses and 10 surface roads, he said.

Dredging begins on Adnec marina
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec) has commenced the dredging of a 2.4 km marina zone to enhance its state-of-the-art exhibition facilities.
The National Marine Dredging Company’s 14,000 hp heavy-duty cutter suction dredger, Al Kattouf, currently located in the Adnec channel opposite the exhibition centre, will increase the channel depth to 6 m to improve access by excavating approximately 1.5 cu m of seabed. The dredging operations will provide safe access for vessels from the Al Bateen Channel to the new marina facilities.

DCC in Kingdom of Sheba deal
IFA Hotels and Resorts (IFA HR) has appointed Dubai Contracting Company (DCC) as the main contractor for the first phase of its Kingdom of Sheba resort project.
Located on the crescent of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, the Kingdom of Sheba is modelled on classic Arabian architecture and will consist of five separate and unique elements.
The contract worth over Dh1 billion ($273 million) will involve construction of a residential component, Balqis Residence, and the Private Residence Club, Fairmont Heritage Place in the first phase.

Amana wins $9m cooling plant deal
SNC-Lavalin Gulf Contractors has awarded Amana Contracting and Steel Buildings a $9 million contract to construct a cooling plant building for Tabreed in Dubai. The building, which is part of the Dubai Metro project, is expected to be completed by next April and will be spread across over 800 sq m of land at Al Rigga in Dubai.
SNC-Lavalin Gulf Contractors is a part of SNC-Lavalin Group, a leading engineering and construction company and a key player in facilities and operations management.
“The cooling plant has two levels in the basement due to height restrictions in the area,” says Mohammed Al Qarout, general manager at Amana Special Projects.
The building for the Dubai Metro plant is a prestigious project for the company, he says.
“Moreover, it is a challenging project considering that Al Rigga is a very congested area and most of the construction will be carried out at night,” Al Qarout adds.

German firm lands Sharjah hotel deal
Germany-based Gustav Pegel & Sohn has been selected as the general contractor for the 300-room hotel being built by Air Arabia at Sharjah Airport, which is due for completion in January 2010.
The project follows a management agreement signed last year between Air Arabia and Rotana Hotels, to manage the property under its innovative Centro by Rotana brand, offering affordable, superior-class accommodation and hospitality.
The property, which will include both standard rooms and suites, will offer comfort and convenience for travellers passing through one of the region’s fastest-growing airports as well as for visitors to the emirate.

Adac to develop Al Bateen airport
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) has announced plans to establish the Middle East’s first dedicated executive airport at Al Bateen military airbase, about 10 km from Abu Dhabi city centre.
The Bateen facility, which until now has been a military airbase, will be developed as an exclusive corporate jet facility at an investment of over Dh200 million ($54.4 million) with additional facilities.
Adac will build a one-stop-shop business jet facility, offering VVIP and VIP passenger terminals, airport services, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), fuel, handling and all other fixed-base operational services, said a top Adac official.
Adac’s initial investment will see upgrades to the airfield infrastructure, including runway surfacing, lighting and electrical power, and operational equipment, as well as enhancing terminal facilities and adding stands.