All remaining construction work at the Dh7 billion Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) project – including four beach clubs – will be completed by mid-2009, it was announced yesterday.
And the developer is working closely with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) to solve the problem of water shortage to keep the area green.
"One of the main challenges for us has been the availability of water for gardening," said Mohamed Binbrek, CEO of Dubai Properties, the company behind the development.
"It is not economically viable for us to build a sewage treatment plant for a development of this size. Therefore we are working with Dewa to solve the problem and very soon the facility will be made available."
When asked about the inadequate road network leading to the project, he said: "Before we started we did a traffic impact study and are proceeding on the basis of the findings.
"We are working with the Roads and Transport Authority and three bridges are being completed that will eventually carry traffic flowing towards the JBR. And, with another small bridge near the Grosvenor House hotel the problem should be taken care of."
Traffic will not be blocked by cars parked on roads as each of the 36 residential towers has three floors dedicated to parking and storage
Construction of a 500-bay open-air car park between the Hilton and Sheraton hotels opposite the JBR residential blocks angered residents. Several complained the site was originally earmarked for a beach park with pools and grassed areas.
One said: "When we purchased the property the whole place between the two hotels was meant to be a beach park. Now the land has been levelled and a car park is being built." But Dubai Properties said the car park would cover only 18 per cent of the area originally set aside for the beach clubs and had become essential to provide parking facilities for retail units and their customers.
"There are more than 400 retail units within the JBR and it would not be fair if no parking facilities were created for them and their customers," added Binbrek. "With most of the residential units complete and handed over we are now concentrating on building the beach clubs. The existing sales centre will be renovated to create one of the clubs and three others will be built."
The first of the clubs is scheduled to open by the end of the year and will be managed by a world-class operator. Binbrek said the two gyms at the development would offer free access to all residents and would be located at the Rimal and Bahar sectors of the development. "With the clubs now poised to take shape we have moved one step closer to moulding JBR into a fully-integrated residential community. We have tried to create self-sustaining residential units. JBR is the first and only freehold development to be built on Dubai's natural beach."
Dubai Properties, a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group and a member of Dubai Holding, last week announced that three global hospitality brands – Rotana, Accor and Movenpick – were going to open hotels at Jumeirah Beach Residence.
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