February 23, 2012

HLG secures US$515 million Habtoor Palace contract

Dubai’s oldest hotel, the Metropolitan, will be demolished next month

Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to build the largest integrates hotel complex in the region. HLG, which is also working on Dubai Pearl has completed developments such as Emerald Palace, Saadiyat Link, Madinat Jumeirah and Burj al Arab, will build the new development on the plot of the soon to be demolished … [Read more...]

Bids received for Business Bay cooling plants

Empower CEO Ahmed Bin Shafar

The design competition for Empower's two new cooling towers at Business Bay, Dubai, has received 18 bids from local and international companies, and CEO Ahmed Bin Shafar says local companies will be favoured over international. Already producing more than 360,000 refrigeration tonnes for developments across Dubai, the two new towers will increase … [Read more...]

Oman to receive US$500m investment

Rashid Al Balooshi

Abu Dhabi’s Ghantoot Group is to invest US$500 million in the power, water and hospitality sectors in Oman. This year, the group will establish two power plants and three hotels, and invest in water desalination, transmission and distribution plants, as well as oil and gas projects. The new ventures will create 2000 jobs for Omani … [Read more...]

Opening date announced for Fujairah’s first mall

Khansaheb CE recorded  2.5 million accident-free hours

Fujairah’s first integrated retail, leisure and entertainment mall is on track to open on April 4. Developed by Majid Al Futtaim Properties, the mall is also due to receive the anticipated LEED accreditation. The US$108.9m project began in 2010 and was construction in partnership with the government-owned Fujairah Investment Establishment and Khansaheb … [Read more...]

Yas Island masterplan approved

An overview of Yas Islands residential complex

A new 680 hectare waterfront community for up to 55,000 residents has been approved by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC). Designed by Broadway Malyan for Aldar PJSC, the project will be located on the Emirate’s Yas Island, home to Ferrari World. “The approval of the masterplan is a major milestone in the creation of this major new … [Read more...]

Al Sufouh tramway completion announced

View of Al Sufouh Road by Sebastian Opitz, December 2011

Dubai’s Al Sufouh tramway project will begin commercial services in 2014, following an announcement from Dubai’s government owned RTA. Maintenance contracts for the next 13 years have been awarded to a consortium between Alstom and Cofely Besix FM, a group that operates under an ongoing partnership with Dubai’s Belhasa Contracting. The … [Read more...]

Dubai Mall to expand in line with “evolution in expectations”

Dubai Mall already has more than 1200 shops and 160 F&B outlets

Dubai Mall – the world’s largest when it opened in November 2008 – is to expand by 1 million sq feet, according to developer and owner, Emaar Properties. Part of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Downtown development, Dubai Mall already covers 12 million sq feet and welcomed more the 54 million visitors last year. “The record footfall achieved 2011 … [Read more...]

Oman’s multi-billion dollar construction industry to boost tourism

Salalah port will soon have a $1b tourism development

Oman’s active construction projects, including aUS$1 billion tourist resort in Salalah and a US$1 billion Oman Conference and Exhibition Centre in Muscat, are forecast to substantially boost the country’s tourism industry. Eyeing a potential 20 million visitors by 2020, the country’s construction industry has been growing at a rate of 8.7% since … [Read more...]

Pathfinder project

Adrian Creed joins Clyde and Co with a specific remit to aid the firm in its continuing expansion throughout the Middle East, Africa and India

With a strong background in the finance and regulatory aspects of power, utility and infrastructure projects, Adrian Creed joins Clyde and Co with a specific remit to aid the firm in its continuing expansion throughout the Middle East, Africa and India. Already the largest law firm in the MENA region, new offices in India and Africa, are only the first … [Read more...]

Rising to a corporate challenge

Nick Hayes, head of sustainability, EC Harris

EC Harris head of sustainability Nick Hayes and head of property Paul Foster analyse the sustainability challenge facing corporations Across the Middle East region sustainability is rising up the corporate agenda driven not only by a desire to be more environmentally friendly but also by more pragmatic, economic influences. With some commentators now … [Read more...]