Meraas to award Pearl Jumeirah contracts

* United Arab Emirates: 1 hour, 3 minutes ago

Meraas Development, a member of the Dubai government-owned Meraas Holding, is set to award infrastructure contracts for the Pearl Jumeirah island development project as early as December, Gulf News has reported. "We've issued contracts for the reclamation work and the usual activities associated with island development like hydraulic studies, environmental studies and coastal protection," Meraas chief business development officer Sina Al Kazim told the daily. Future contracts include the building of roads and other infrastructure and the power sub-station, he added. Pearl Jumeirah, earlier labelled East Bay, is a component of the Jumeirah Gardens master development that Meraas unveiled in 2008 and later modified.

if a thread exists please merge them.

http://www.ameinfo.com/242818.html

R

By Edward Attwood | Monday, 4 October 2010 12:01 PM

Reclamation work on the Jumeirah Pearl, a mixed-use luxury development based offshore Dubai’s Jumeirah district, is almost complete, an official connected to the project has said.

“Island reclamation work has gone extremely well and is almost finished, but infrastructure still needs to go in,” Morne Fourie, Meeras Development’s director for urban planning architecture, told Arabian Business at the Cityscape Global exhibition in Dubai.

“The infrastructure distribution network was planned for August 2010, and the full island will be ready for delivery by 18 months past that time at the latest. You could in theory potentially start building on your plot earlier than that, but the island will be fully ready in terms of infrastructure by that date.”

Meeras Development will award infrastructure contracts for the island in November.

Jumeirah Pearl will incorporate residential plots with mosques, retail space and a luxury hotel on its northern beach. The Meeras Development executive declined to reveal which firm would be running the hotel.

Fourie said that investor interest in the project had been ‘substantial’ although he was unable to provide details.

“Buyers are mainly very wealthy individuals that buy multiple plots to consolidate them and build palaces,” he stated.

The intial plan for the island and the Jumeirah Garden City project was drawn up in 2008. But Meeras Development was forced to reconsider the masterplan due to the economic crisis.

“The density is substantially lower. Although we had a lot of villas on the island, we also had a few mixed-use, mixed-rise buildings,” said Fourie.

“Now we’ve taken all that off, so density is lower. We believe that as development is now taking part as per the 2020 plan mandated by Dubai Municipality, it’s the responsible thing to do.”

Arabian Business (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/jumeirah-pearl-reclamation-work-almost-complete-354657.html)

Where exactly is this?

The picture is fairly old, but I believe this is what they are talking about: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=pl&geocode=&q=dubai&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.467317,86.835938&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Dubaj+-+Zjednoczone+Emiraty+Arabskie&ll=25.213794,55.233979&spn=0.025509,0.0424&t=h&z=15

^^

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/cityscape-2010-1.691876!image/1984465817.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_640/1984465817.jpg
Visitors look at a model of the Pearl Jumeriah — Meraas development on the first day of Cityscape 2010 on Monday.


from cityscape via the gn via parisian girl. :P

R

The picture is fairly old, but I believe this is what they are talking about: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=pl&geocode=&q=dubai&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.467317,86.835938&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Dubaj+-+Zjednoczone+Emiraty+Arabskie&ll=25.213794,55.233979&spn=0.025509,0.0424&t=h&z=15

no it is actually a peninsula being built in this location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=pl&geocode=&q=dubai&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.467317,86.835938&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Dubaj+-+Zjednoczone+Emiraty+Arabskie&ll=25.213794,55.233979&spn=0.025509,0.0424&t=h&z=15

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/incoming/article355006.ece/ALTERNATES/gallerySize/cityscape2010i.jpg
>> Arabian Business (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/behind-scenes-at-cityscape-global-2010-355023.html?img=0)

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/incoming/article355006.ece/ALTERNATES/gallerySize/cityscape2010i.jpg
>> Arabian Business (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/behind-scenes-at-cityscape-global-2010-355023.html?img=0)
^^Imre posted this aerial in September 2009, claiming this was the reclaimed island.
http://i55.tinypic.com/160vnf6.jpg

Meraas plans Pearl Jumeirah land handover later this year

* United Arab Emirates: 55 minutes ago

Dubai property firm Meraas Development, which two years ago put its $95bn Jumeirah Gardens development on hold, has said the land from the project's redesigned first phase is set for handover to investors later this year, Reuters has reported. The company, which provides infrastructure and sells land for the re-named Pearl Jumeirah project, a man-made island off the coast of Dubai, has already sold 45% of the sellable land for investors to build on, Sina al-Kazim, Meraas' chief business development officer said. Land will be handed over to the investors by the end of November while the infrastructure - electricity, roads, water and sewage - will be completed by the first quarter of 2012, he told the news service at this year's Dubai Cityscape.

http://www.ameinfo.com/244191.html

R

Dubai's Meraas eyes late 2010 Pearl Jumeirah land handover
By Reuters

* Tuesday, 5 October 2010 7:29 PM

LAND HANDOVER: Meraas Development will hand over Pearl Jumeirah land to investors by November 2010. (ITP Images)

Dubai property firm Meraas Development, which two years ago put its $95 billion flagship development on hold, is set to handover land from the project's redesigned first phase to investors later this year, an executive said on Tuesday.

State owned Meraas launched its Jumeirah Gardens project in October 2008 but, just two months later, announced it was reviewing the project's phasing and rollout as a result of the global financial crisis.

Meraas, which provides infrastructure and sells land for the renamed Pearl Jumeirah project, a man made island off the coast of Dubai, has already sold 45 percent of the sellable land for investors to build on, Sina al Kazim, the firm's chief business development officer told Reuters in an interview at this year's Dubai Cityscape.

Land will be handed over to the investors by the end of November while the infrastructure - electricity, roads, water and sewage - will be completed by the first quarter of 2012.

"Yes, it was part of Jumeirah Gardens but we re-masterplanned that particular section to bring ourselves in line with what the market required," Kazim said, adding that 90 percent of the land had so far been reclaimed.

He said: "Jumeirah Gardens initially had a different type of phasing strategy ... the first phase today we believe is this, the next phase we'll see what the market requires," he said adding that the landbank from the original project remained the same.

Kazim declined to give a revised value for the whole Jumeirah Gardens project or Pearl Jumeirah.

Meraas sold 45 percent of the sellable land around the time it began land reclamation, Kazim said, adding that 35 percent of the 10 million square foot island was for sale, with the rest set aside for landscaping, public facilities and infrastructure.

The offshore development had orginally been called East Bay when the project was first launched two years ago and was to be made up of high rise buildings, but will now be home to residential villas, a five star hotel and a retail area.

Dubai's once booming property market was hit particularly hard as a result of the downturn with billions of dollars put on hold or cancelled while financing for real estate projects all but dried up.

Developers across the Gulf region have had to rethink ambitious real estate developments to make them more viable in such difficult times.

Land buyers for Pearl Jumeirah were predominantly UAE nationals, but also included Indian nationals.

Kazim said: "We've also got very strong interest from Iranian nationals as well as from China and Taiwan."

"We've got very strong feedback (from potential buyers) in Cityscape. We know what the market is like. Gone are the days of queuing outside and selling the product in two days," he added.

Meraas is also developing an industrial project called Nadd al Hamar in Dubai, he said. (Reuters)

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-s-meraas-eyes-late-2010-pearl-jumeirah-land-handover-355134.html

R

^^Imre posted this aerial in September 2009, claiming this was the reclaimed island.
http://i55.tinypic.com/160vnf6.jpg

Yes, this certainly looks like the right location alright. We could do with a recent photo update on that one for sure.

225 villas I believe.

^^ no it is not the island in the foreground. You can see the Pearl Jumeirah in the far background, in front of Port Rashid. The island in the foreground belongs to JG too but it is a different one. Check the google maps link I posted before.

^^ Yes, of course. :cheers: I think I need more sleep? I was looking at the photos all backwards. :laugh:

04/10/10

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6420/pearljumeirah41010.png

Source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41769552

Hm, that place is not that appealing for having a villa. Right next to a port? Not sure that is much of an offshore refuge.

You'd be surprised. I live in an area where people pay a lot of money to live and it's right near a port.

Hm, that place is not that appealing for having a villa. Right next to a port? Not sure that is much of an offshore refuge.
^^I had the the same thought at first, but then I put the size of this development into perspective. Most of the people having a villa there will face away from the port, also port Rachid is less active then Jebel Ali and might be of even lesser importance in the future . Also, it is a great way to have a sea front villa close to the downtown area. So there are pluses and minuses to this.

Sure, but this is Dubai. You can have a villa on Palm Jumeirah or Porto Dubai, and both have a much better neighborhood I would believe. The development as a whole may of course be not that affected by this proximity, but I can't imagine owning a villa 50 metres from an industrial quay - like on the Port Rashid facing side - as a enjoyable experience. Unless you are a sailor, maybe.

Pearl Jumeirah Island is reviewed by http://www.2daydubai.com/ who in a section entitled “Island Overdose” argue that the Dubai coastline doesn’t need any more man made islands (Pearl Jumeirah Island is one of the seven islands planned in the original Jumeirah Gardens scheme (on hold) and the only one constructed so far):

“The exciting architecture - spectacular waterways and landscaping - and the inspirational green objectives of the new scheme - should not obscure one serious fault in the current Masterplan.
A fatal feature of the Satwa redevelopment plan is the inclusion of a set of man made islands just off the Jumeirah coastline between the two outflows of the proposed Business Bay and Satwa Dubai Creek extensions.
Because these proposed islands are so close to the Dubai coastline – less than a kilometre away at their closest point – they are also going to threaten the ecological integrity of the Jumeirah beaches – and greatly diminish the maritime ambience of the sea expanse just off Jumeirah Beach – where there is no sight more exhilarating than seeing a fleet of Dhows furiously racing down the open gulf coastline on a sunny weekend afternoon.
This part of the beach will become a lagoon beach rather than an ocean beach – which will radically alter its original coastline character.
And where will the ocean dhows race when the islands take over?” http://www.2daydubai.com/pages/pearl-jumeirah-island.php#F

The 2daydubai Pearl Jumeirah Island profile has a brief investment summary - and contrasts this project, sometimes unfavourably, with Palm Jumeirah and Porto Dubai (which I assume is also on hold now).

“The major investment feature in the project – besides the attraction of creating your own spectacular architectural specification - is the central location of the new island project.
Unquestionably the Pearl Jumeirah Island is better located than both Palm Jumeirah and Porto Dubai – its closest Dubai real estate comparisons
Whilst this project does not have Palm Jumeirah's beachfronts – or Porto Dubai’s exclusive tiered ocean views – or Emirates Hills greenery and golf courses – or Al Barari’s exquisite gardens and spectacular Arabic revival architecture - both long term residents and short term tourists alike will be attracted to the unrivalled convenience of the central city seaside villa locale of Pearl Jumeirah Island – and so in turn will future Dubai property investors.”
http://www.2daydubai.com/pages/pearl-jumeirah-island.php

Sure, but this is Dubai. You can have a villa on Palm Jumeirah or Porto Dubai, and both have a much better neighborhood I would believe. The development as a whole may of course be not that affected by this proximity, but I can't imagine owning a villa 50 metres from an industrial quay - like on the Port Rashid facing side - as a enjoyable experience. Unless you are a sailor, maybe.

Port Rashid may not be industrial for much longer.
When redeveloped it will only be taking tourist cruise ships and most of the existing area will be redeveloped into residential and tourist retail if the Mina Rashid project eventually proceeds, which I'm sure in 10 years or so it will, as many seafront cities (e.g.Capetown- Melbourne-London)have successfully redeveloped their old industrial port areas into thriving tourist retail and luxury housing zones.
So if Mina Rashid does proceed Pearl Jumeirah Island will have a very convenient city seaside location next door to a smart new inner city luxury residential zone.

25/10/10
it does not look like there has been made any progress in the last month.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2316/pearljumeirah251010.png

COWI - the main reclamation contractor on the Pearl Jumeriah Island project – has been working on the design and the site work since August 2009 – and are due to complete the reclamation works by the end of 2010.

http://www.2daydubai.com/pearlj/temp_clip_image011.jpg

An early photo of the Pearl Jumeriah Island project reclamation works – which in October 2010 the developer declared 90% completed.

The scope of the reclamation works includes:

The hydraulic design,
The marine design,
Various geotechnical services
And overall site supervision. The latter consists of “approximately 10,000,000 m3 of dredging and reclamation, 1,600,000 tonnes of rockworks for revetments and groynes, ground improvement to the reclaimed material and final grading.”
In addition, Meraas appointed COWI to complete an additional study to establish a coastal planning criteria for the seven island projects – and this was carried out concurrently with the Pearl Jumeriah Island project work and is now also complete.

Using the finalized recently completed design - COWI has continued with the site supervision of the island reclamation works.

Meraas - will continue to modify the overall Jumeirah Gardens master plan - to meet the needs of market.

Pearl Jumeriah Island – primarily consists of villa building plots for sale. Delivery is set for early 2012 – and the developer plans to award Pearl Jumeriah Island infrastructure contracts by December 2010 or early 2011.

"We've issued contracts for the reclamation work and the usual activities associated with island development — like hydraulic studies, environmental studies and coastal protection. Future contracts include the building of roads and other infrastructure and the power sub-station," confirmed Meraas Chief Business Development Officer Mr. Sina Al Kazim.

Source

http://www.2daydubai.com/pages/pearl-jumeirah-island.php

Jumeirah Pearl Island is the far right island – of the 7 islands – shown in this original Masterplan of the Jumeirah Gardens project – and is the only component [since re-configured] of this original mega urban renewal - reclamation project that has survived the international credit crisis and the consequent contraction of the Dubai property Sector.

http://www.2daydubai.com/pearlj/temp_clip_image021.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningronald/5381252137/sizes/o/in/photostream/

from earlier this month

any news here? Meraas website is completely gone...