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29 March 2024

Construction sector cements UAE growth

Burj Dubai has already crossed several world records (CRAIG SCARR)

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By VM Sathish
The UAE's rapid economic development has been fuelling an unprecedented construction boom and infrastructure development in all the Emirates that attracted investors from around the world to the UAE.

Even though the bearish mood reflects the economic slowdown all over the world, the UAE seems to be committed to develop several projects in housing, tourism, industrial and commercial facilities, education and healthcare amenities, transportation, utilities, communications, ports and airports which are poised to change the face of urban landscape in the years to come.

Despite the gloomy mood elsewhere, the colourful and lightening openings of the Atlantis, Palm, shortly after the grand opening of Dubai Mall show UAE's firm determination to swim against the tide.

The UAE Government officials including His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, have reiterated that the country's economy is not affected by the global financial crisis and that various projects are progressing as per schedule.

Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital is already a world-class city, thanks to the high oil revenue and the government's commitment for development. The government has committed investment of more than $100 billion (Dh367bn) over the next four to five years on infrastructure projects. In addition to major investment in energy and industry, plans include the new airport, new world-scale port and industrial zone in Taweelah, port and industrial zone at Mussafah, the 11,000-unit Showayba City at Mussaffah, Mohammed bin Zayed City, the completion of several projects at Shahama, Khalifa Cities A and B, and the building of massive mixed-use communities on Saadiyat Island, Reem Island, Lulu Island and at Al Raha Beach. Many of these projects are planned to meet the growing infrastructural needs of a rapidly increasing and urbanised population. Ronald Stephen Barrott, advisor, Aldar Properties, said the company has assignments worth more than $72bn and some of the most highly anticipated developments in the world.

Aldar Properties, a major company from Abu Dhabi is developing real estate projects across its portfolio estimated to be more than $72bn in terms of value with the entire portfolio slated to be completed and delivered over a period of seven to 10 years. The Yas Island, being developed by Aldar, features attractions like the Yas Marina Master s signature hotels, the Ferrari theme park, Warner Brothers theme park, water park, parkland golf courses, marinas, polo clubs, apartments, villas and numerous retail outlets that will create a unique international tourist destination. The unique Yas Marina Hotel is the jewel in the Yas Marina Circuit crown. It is the first hotel in the World that spans the racetrack providing a world-class VVIP guest experience. The Saadiyat Island project, the largest single mixed-use development in the Gulf will transform the 27-square-kilometre natural island, just 500 metres offshore to the north-east of Abu Dhabi City, into a premier international tourist destination with spectacular beachfront. This is also an integrated residential community with a full complement of commercial, leisureand tourism facilities, as well as civic and cultural amenities.

Massive infrastructural development has been taking place in Dubai. Huge mixed-use complexes and industrial, educational and medical cluster developments are under construction throughout the emirate, manyof them, such as Dubai Waterfront and Dubai World Central, of gigantic proportions. The date- palm-shaped, man-made islands The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali and The Palm Deira, and the islands of 'The World' have significantly added to the landmass of Dubai Emirate. Emaar Properties, one of the world's largest property developers, has a global portfolio in the key global markets – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Canada, India and Pakistan. Emaar has presented projects of over Dh367bn in development value at the premier property expo to be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre from October 6 to 9. With its strong development portfolio across 36 key markets internationally, Emaar currently leads the region in terms of international projects. In all its markets, Emaar adopts its integrated neighbourhood development approach of building holistic communities featuring educational institutions, retail outlets, community centres, healthcare centres and hospitality and leisure projects. It is developing globally renowned projects like Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, and completed The Dubai Mall, Emaar. According to Ahmad Al Matrooshi, MD, UAE, Emaar: "As the pioneer of master-planned communities in Dubai, Emaar Properties has been at the forefront in shaping the property sector dynamic of the UAE. In less than 10 years, Emaar has established itself as the thought-leader in property development, and is today, sharing its expertise with global markets."

The Dubai Mall, centrally located in the Downtown Burj Dubai development, is open now. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said, : "The Dubai Mall is Dubai's tribute to the world of retail and leisure. With the mall, we have set a strong platform for growth for the retail sector, one that reflects Dubai's forward-looking model of creating robust business opportunities for enterprises from around the world. The Dubai Mall is, indeed, a confident affirmation of the strong economic fundamentals of the Dubai economy.

"We are thankful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, for encouraging us to stretch our business model, and create a shopping destination that is among the elite malls of the world. The Dubai Mall will address the world-class shopping needs of a population of over two billion people in the catchment markets of the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe."

Burj Dubai, the iconic tower being developed by Emaar Properties PJSC, has crossed several world records –the latest being its height of 688 metres. The tower is the world's tallest after surpassing North Dakota, USA's KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in April 2008. Currently at over 160 storey's, the tower also has the largest number of floors in any building. When completed, Burj Dubai will meet all four criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which classifies the world's tallest structures. CTBUH measures the height of buildings to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the top of the roof and the tip of the spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.

During the opening of Atlantis, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World and Executive Chairman of Nakheel, said: "This is yet another proud moment for us at Nakheel and in Dubai, where our friends from the world over join us to celebrate the launch of this extra-ordinary resort on this iconic island. This partnership between Nakheel and Kerzner is testament to our belief in Dubai having become one of the world's top destinations. World class destinations host the most spectacular developments and this is translated in what we are seeing and experiencing tonight. Atlantis has come to the right place, and we invite all of Dubai's visitors to revel in the magnificent entertainment, service and hospitality it has to offer."

Projects in Dubailand include leisure and entertainment facilities, theme parks, shopping malls, hotels and resorts, restaurants and residential units. Several developments in Dubailand are in operation including The Autodrome and the first phase of the Equestrian and Polo Club project. Others under construction include the Dh4bn City of Arabia, which will have a high-tech dinosaur theme park, The Restless Planet, and the massive shopping centre, Mall of Arabia, both due to open in the spring of 2008. Groundwork has also commenced on the Snowdome, the Dh3.67bn winter wonderland project, and the first of five overlapped phases of development for Falcon City of Wonders. This Dh5.5 billion development is shaped to represent a falcon, emblematic of the UAE's heritage. Reclamation work on The Palm Jebel Ali commenced in October 2002 and a completion date for infrastructure is set for 2011. This Palm, 50 per cent larger than its Jumeirah equivalent, will be managed by Dubai Waterfront, an even larger development project taking place in the surrounding area). Much groundwork has also been done on The Palm Deira, the largest of the three. About 90 per cent of reclamation work for the cluster of 303 man-made islands comprising 'The World', costing in the region ofDh3.67bn, has been completed.

The emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are all in the throes of developing and expanding their infrastructure to facilitate an escalation in commercial, residential and tourist development. In addition, the Federal Government continues to invest money on infrastructure projects in the Northern Emirates, especially roads, housing, electricity and telecommunications. New residential areas in the suburbs of Sharjah are being developed to meet the increasing demand for more homes. About 4,000 to 5,000 plots are being developed for UAE nationals in Rahmania and Seouh suburban areas, and a new satellite town for expatriates at Al Juwaiza will include 2000 plots for villas, and low-rise residential and commercial buildings. Work at Al Juwaiza, being financed by the government, commenced in 2006. The first phase of Emirates Industrial City, one of the largest industrial projects in Sharjah, was completed in 2006. Located in the Saja'a district along the Dubai Ring Road on an area of 7.7 million square metres, Industrial City will have eight sectors accommodating over 3,000 medium and light industries, as well as commercial enterprises and residential areas. Al Hanoo Holding Company is also working on the Dh18bn Nujoom Islands project, a residential, commercial and tourist venture on 5.58 million square metres near Hamriyah village on the north-eastern coast of Sharjah Sharjah has embarked on the first phase of an ambitious Dh2.1bn new road scheme. This will not be completed until 2010.

In mid-2006, the Ajman government launched Emirates City, a Dh15bn mixed-use development, featuring 72 residential and commercial towers.

Located on the Emirates Road with easy access to the other emirates, the first phase will focus on the construction of 25 towers, while the downtown area will be developed at a later phase. Umm Al Qaiwain's new marina development will be a vast master planned waterfront community of villa s and apartments located on the shores of Khor Al Beidah.

Mina Al Arab, launched in 2006 spread along a three-kilometre beach, the Dh10bn project is scheduled for completion in 2011 and will include a selection of five-star resort hotels, including two eco- tourism resorts, 3500 residential units, a cluster of 386 villas and six gated communities.

RAK Properties is also involved in another landmark master development, Mangrove Islands, at the heart of Ras Al Khaimah near Manar Mall.

The Dh850m Wow Rak theme park project on 120 acres in the Khor Qurm region Work on the infrastructure for the Dh2bn Fujairah Paradise project, a concentration of villas, five-star hotel and shopping mall, commenced in 2006.

Also under way is the Fujairah Dana (Pearl) development, a complex of villas and hotels being built on a peninsula and group of small islands being reclaimed off the coast near Al Aqah. Projects in the planning stage include a large residential community in one of the more secluded valleys close to the coast, and a smaller community at Ghurfa, just south of Fujairah City.

The Ministry of public works has signed contracts for road-building in the Northern Emirates. The projects will link three centres in Fujairah with Ras Al Khaimah Plans for the more remote regions also include other basic infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, mosques, residential complexes, as well as police and civil defence centres.


A mall with a diffrence

Sprawling over 12 million square feet – equivalent in size to more than 50 soccer pitches – with an internal floor area of 5.9 million sq ft and a gross leasable area of 3.77 million sq ft, The Dubai Mall is the flagship development of Emaar Malls Group, the shopping malls subsidiary of Emaar Properties.

When fully operational, The Dubai Mall will have over 1,200 stores of which nearly 165 retailers – equaling 1.1 million sq ft, or 30 per cent of the total gross leasable area of the mall – are either new to the region, or opening standalone or flagship stores for the very first time in Dubai. The retail mix includes two anchor department stores – Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale's, both opening their first store in the Middle East at The Dubai Mall; 220 gold and jewellery outlets; 160 food and beverage outlets including Dubai's largest food court with 40 outlets; a supermarket and an organic food mart.