AltinD
December 19th, 2010, 08:42 PM
^^ The "abandoned" parts are those you have never visited or passed anywhere nearby both times you've been in town.
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View Full Version : Projects Gossip: Proposals for the UAE AltinD December 19th, 2010, 08:42 PM ^^ The "abandoned" parts are those you have never visited or passed anywhere nearby both times you've been in town. firoz bharmal December 25th, 2010, 10:15 AM DP World sells 76 pc of Australian operating arm 2010-12-24 00:10:00 64 Port SwitchesAds by GoogleBuild a Better Network w/ Juniper. Full Suite of Products & Services. Juniper.net/in/en/dm/switchoffer Dubai, Dec 23 (IANS/WAM) Dubai-based DP World, the world's major port operator, has inked a deal to sell 75 percent of its Australian operating arm to Citi Infrastructure Investors for $1.5 billion. The state-backed firm has said that proceeds will go to reducing net debt. DP World will continue to provide management services at the five terminals in Australia under the terms of the deal, which is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2011. 'This strategic partnership provides a great opportunity for DP World to remain actively involved in Australia whilst delivering on our strategy to monetise assets as part of DP World's ongoing goal to reduce leverage and focus on higher margin markets,' said DP World chief financial officer Yuvraj Narayan. --IANS/WAM kv SEARCH Dubaiiscool:) January 4th, 2011, 07:36 AM Jen Thomas January 4, 2011 Dubai could soon receive a much-needed comprehensive cancer treatment centre, a first of its kind for the emirate. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has commissioned a study to explore the possibility of opening a hospital for cancer treatment. The hospital would complement facilities already in place at the public Dubai Hospital and the private American Hospital Dubai. Qhadi al Murooshid, the director general of the DHA, said he would "lead a team of top-notch experts to conduct the scientific study in a way that caters to severity and prevention" of the disease, according to a report released by WAM yesterday. Cancer is the third-leading cause of death in the UAE, after heart disease and road accidents. Instances of cancer are on the rise, experts say, and a comprehensive facility that would offer services in oncology, pathology and radiology — along with treatment options — would be essential for Dubai, experts say. Breast cancer is the biggest killer of women in the UAE, accounting for 22.8 per cent of all cancer cases. About 412 people died of cancer in Abu Dhabi in 2008, 14 per cent of all deaths. The 2008 Ministry of Health annual report, however, says that in 2007 there were only 674 cancer deaths across the whole country. jthomas@thenational.ae http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/health/cancer-treatment-centre-study-ordered Parisian Girl January 5th, 2011, 12:07 AM Kevin Brass | Last Updated: Jan 4, 2011 Arabtec has won contracts to build projects in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah valued at Dh623 million (US$169.62m). The Dubai construction company, the largest in the region, has signed on to build two residential towers in the capital. One tower will be 45 storeys, the other 40 storeys, and the total project will cover 900,000 square metres, the company said. Arabtec will handle "all the enabling and structural works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing works and all fit-out works, as well as external landscaping" for the project, it said. The company did not disclose further details of the project, which is valued at Dh552m. Company officials did not return calls seeking comment. The deal is relatively small for a company the size of Arabtec. But any projects are good news for the company, said Majed Azzam, an analyst with Alembic HC Securities. "Activity did slow down significantly, but there are projects going on," Mr Azzam said. He added that it was difficult to gauge the impact of the contract without knowing more details, including whether it is a government or private project. Several of Arabtec's announced projects in Dubai have not materialised, he noted. "Abu Dhabi is definitely safer than Dubai, but there is still some risk," he said. Arabtec will also build a 16-storey, 14,000-square-metre "staff accommodation" building in Ishwais, Fujairah, the company said. That contract is valued at Dh71m. In recent months Arabtec has been diversifying its portfolio away from Dubai, launching projects in Syria, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In October, 44 per cent of its projects in development were in Dubai, according to a research report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Only 10 per cent of its portfolio was government projects, considered the most reliable development deals. Arabtec's stock surged 9 per cent early last month on speculation that it would benefit from Qatar's successful bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In June the company was awarded a $143m contract to build the World Trade Center in Qatar. Arabtec closed unchanged at Dh2.04 yesterday. http://www.thenational.ae/events/areas/dubai/arabtec-wins-contracts-worth-dh623-million I wonder which 2 towers in Abu Dhabi they are referring to??? Dubaiiscool:) January 17th, 2011, 08:47 AM Rebecca Bundhun and Brad Reagan January 17, 2011 The Al Habtoor Group is exploring plans to build the biggest hotel in the UAE, on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Khalaf al Habtoor, the group's chairman, said the project would comprise about 2,000 rooms and suites, considerably larger than the 1,539 rooms offered at the Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, the largest hotel operating in the country today. Mr al Habtoor said he was optimistic about the hotel industry in the UAE despite the broader economic challenges in the region. "Hotels are doing well. There is improvement - 2010 was good, and 2011 will be even better," he said. Mr al Habtoor said the company was not seeking a partner either for funding the hotel or managing it, and declined to elaborate. "I hate partnerships," he said. Al Habtoor Group includes a number of businesses across sectors including cars and civil engineering. Mr al Habtoor said last week his company was still owed more than Dh4 billion (US1.08bn) for projects long since completed. In Dubai, the company owns the Habtoor Grand Resort Spa and three Metropolitan hotels. Al Habtoor also owns two hotels in Beirut. If the new Dubai hotel materialises, it will join a burgeoning supply of rooms in the emirate. This year, 10,000 rooms are scheduled to come online, according to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The number of hotel rooms and hotel apartment rooms increased during the first three quarters of last year to 68,654 rooms from 59,372 in the same period a year earlier. Such increases are producing an challenging environment for hotel operators. But more competitive rates have also helped to attract tourists who may have previously considered Dubai too expensive. The emirate's tourism industry is also turning to new markets such as China and India in an effort to fill hotels in Dubai. Occupancy levels are down from their pre-crisis peaks but despite the rise in supply, the emirate is still attracting relatively healthy levels of business compared with other global destinations, analysts say. Other major hotel developments in progress on Sheikh Zayed Road include the Gloria Hotel, located in Dubai Media City. The hotel last year opened about 450 of its rooms, about 25 per cent of expected capacity once it is fully completed. Emirates Group, meanwhile, is building a Dh1.8bn 1,614 room twin-tower hotel project on Sheikh Zayed Road, adjacent to Business Bay, which is due to be managed by Marriott. breagan@thenational.ae rbundhun@thenational.ae http://www.thenational.ae/events/categories/hotels/al-habtoor-weighs-plan-to-build-biggest-hotel-in-uae Parisian Girl January 17th, 2011, 06:07 PM With 12,515 rooms across its properties, the hospitality brand expects a nine per cent occupancy rate growth in 2011 By Staff | Published Monday, January 17, 2011 http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.343426.1295265817!/image/3319099447.jpg Digital images of the projects, City Center Rotana, Capital Centre Rotana and Centro Capital Centre. (SUPPLIED) Abu Dhabi-based Rotana has announced six new hotels for the UAE in 2011, bringing its total to 33 properties in the country. With a planned $800 million investment across Middle East and Africa, Rotana will add 12, 515 rooms to the region, anticipating a nine per cent occupancy rate growth for the year. The group also has eyes on Qatar with one new hotel opening, ahead of the Fifa World Cup in 2022. “The last few months have seen the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa registering positive growth. We see that momentum being sustained as general business conditions improve across the board,” said Selim El Zyr, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rotana. Latest figures from STR Global show that occupancy in the Middle East and Africa region was 69.8 per cent in November 2010, an increase of 2.4 per cent as compared to the previous year with Abu Dhabi experiencing the largest occupancy increase, rising 33.6 per cent to 76 per cent. Rotana recorded an average occupancy rate of 74 per cent in 2010, a result obtained by its heavy investments on marketing initiatives last year and by pursuing new feeder markets in Eastern Europe, South America, and the Far East, such as China, Malaysia and Hong Kong. “All our properties across all destinations performed well, with some meeting their targets and others surpassing theirs. However, Lebanon was the best performing country considering the tourism boom that the country has experienced, due to its current stability and commitment to renovation and progression,” continued El Zyr. He added: “…We are currently addressing is the mid-tier market, for which we developed the Centro Hotels by Rotana brand.” The group’s strategic aim is to have a property located in every key city of the Middle East and Africa. “Location is our main focus when it comes to deciding on managing a property. We see a lot of potential in Iraq, where the infrastructure build up is seeing a surge in the influx of international firms taking advantage of the construction boom. Lebanon is also in our radar, because of a booming tourism sector spawned be reforms. Plus, Qatar’s triumphant World Cup 2022 bid offers plenty of opportunities that we are keen on taking advantage of,” El Zyr said. http://www.emirates247.com/business/economy-finance/rotana-plans-six-new-hotels-in-uae-2011-01-17-1.343418 Parisian Girl February 1st, 2011, 02:32 PM by Orlando Crowcroft on Feb 1, 2011 A design for a 75-storey office and hotel tower in Dubai’s Business Bay has won an award at a European property show. The Cluster Complex, designed by Denton Corker Marshall, is a mixed-use development made up of four stacks of individual office buildings clustered vertically up a dramatic 225m atrium. The firm will receive the international award at the MIPIM property market in March 2011. The award recognises unbuilt or future projects in the tall buildings sector. http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-10929-dubais-cluster-complex-wins-at-euro-property-show/ Face81 February 1st, 2011, 04:09 PM ^^ What project is it? Hydra Towers? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/altind/HydraTowers1.jpg THE DUBAI GUYS February 1st, 2011, 07:33 PM No its not hydra towers as those arent 75 floors high. It looks like this: http://i56.tinypic.com/j9bv3n.jpg Cluster Complex - Dubai, UAE A landmark 75 storey commercial tower and mixed use complex. An innovative design for a commercial office tower utilising a unique ‘office cluster’ concept. Each ‘office cluster’ forms a self contained office building of varying height with access to individual high speed shuttle lifts. Sky lobbies provide entry to the office clusters and accommodate restaurant and recreational activities. A dramatic atrium runs 255 metres high through the centre of the tower to the uppermost sky lobby http://www.dentoncorkermarshall.com/projects.aspx?timestamp=2919&p=0&projectID=991&catID=21&f1=location&f2=rest+of+the+world&pg=1 R Face81 February 2nd, 2011, 12:02 PM ^^ Very nice! Shame it will not be built for a very long time :( barrak February 8th, 2011, 02:48 AM Located on the waterfront on processional boulevard Abu Dhabi Corniche, the striking facility will be visible for miles across the water shared by six of the seven Emirates. A vast dome dubbed the ‘flower of the desert’ forms the key focus of the New Parliament Building Complex at 100m in diameter. At nightfall this arching structure will be lit from the inside, creating a shining beacon to the neighbouring Emirates as it reflects across the water. During the day, the shelter will form its own shaded micro-climate, casting Islamic patterns of dappled light onto the white marble Assembly Hall. Flanking this dome are multiple Parliamentary buildings which house the bulk of the office and administrative services, meeting halls and visitors’ programme, richly toned in hues inspired by the surrounding natural elements – namely the desert sand. Ehrlich Architects’ Design Principal, Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, RIBA explains: “The New Parliament Building Complex will balance Islamic Heritage with U.A.E.’s global contemporary aspirations, where modernity and tradition are in harmonious balance. The architecture for the FNC’s new home will communicate its increasingly vital role in the lives of all United Arab Emirates citizens.” http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1093/158031ehrlich201.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/i/158031ehrlich201.jpg/) http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/7536/158032ehrlich202.jpg (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/158032ehrlich202.jpg/) http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/5548/158033ehrlich203.jpg (http://img703.imageshack.us/i/158033ehrlich203.jpg/) http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4016/158034ehrlich204.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/158034ehrlich204.jpg/) http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/135/158035ehrlich205.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/158035ehrlich205.jpg/) Parisian Girl February 9th, 2011, 11:57 PM http://i53.tinypic.com/1042k9g.jpg The artificial islands, each with a surface area of 0.25km2, will facilitate oil and gas exploration. by CW Staff on Feb 9, 2011 Dredging International and MEDCO have been awarded a $260million contract for mixed dredging and civil engineering works to construct two artificial energy islands, including service harbours. The project is aimed at providing Abu Dhabi with energy based on facilities for oil drilling from the previously untapped offshore Satah al-Razboot (SARB) field. The artificial islands, each with a surface area of 0.25km2, will facilitate oil and gas exploration at the Satah al-Razboot offshore oil field. Dredging International is part of the Belgian dredging, environmental and hydraulic engineering group DEME. The contract was awarded by a unit of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Zwijndrecht, DEME said in a statement. http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-11014-deme-medco-win-260m-abu-dhabi-island-contract/ THE DUBAI GUYS February 10th, 2011, 10:55 AM Meydan Hotels mulls new Dubai beachfront property By Ed Attwood * Thursday, 10 February 2011 10:42 AM Meydan Hotels, the newly created entity that operates the Bab Al Shams and Meydan luxury hotels in Dubai, may open a third hotel in the emirate, this time located on the beach. Meydan Hotels, a division of master developer Meydan, is also mulling overseas expansion plans, although its focus, at least for its first year, will remain on running its existing properties. “If we don’t aim for more hotels, then we are in the wrong business,” company vice president Abdin Nasralla told Arabian Business. “My task now is to deliver. Once we have proved to the owning company we are delivering, they will trust us, and we will either build or run more hotels.” Nasralla added that a beachfront property would make sense, given that Meydan Hotels already runs a hotel near Downtown Dubai and one in the desert. “Our next move will be beach,” Nasralla added. “I cannot confirm it, but I can say that is our thought. I hope that our thoughts will be transferred to reality as we did with Meydan itself.” With regard to international expansion, the official indicated that there were several opportunities being considered, although, again, no firm decision had been made. However, he specified China and India as possible regions for growth. Parent company Meydan is currently helping to build an ‘equine city’ in the Chinese city of Tianjin. The developer also has close links with Chinese firms via contractor Guangsha, which won a contract to build the first phase of Meydan’s Metropolis Business Park last year. Nasralla said that his firm would not be automatically selected to run the other hotels in the Meydan masterplan, which will consist of three main phases after the completion of the racecourse last year. “We don’t want to be a monopoly business, we want to be a good standard associated business - if we are going to say Meydan will run every hotel here, no investor or developer will come,” he said. “If the opportunity is there we will bid for it, but Meydan as a group will go with whoever has the best bid.” http://www.arabianbusiness.com/meydan-hotels-mulls-new-dubai-beachfront-property-379828.html R Face81 February 10th, 2011, 03:48 PM ^^ Maybe Palm Jumeirah? Or Jumeirah Pearl? :dunno: Parisian Girl February 13th, 2011, 12:48 AM by Elizabeth Broomhall on Feb 10, 2011 Abu Dhabi is planning to build solar-powered, Egyptian-style pyramids to power 250 homes and generate 3,500MWh a year. The Lunar Cubit project, which won the UAE’s Land Art Generator Initiative (Lagi) competition over 200 other contenders from around the world last month, will include as many as nine energy-generating structures to support nearby Masdar City in its efforts to save energy. Equally, the pyramids will serve as iconic structures, adding value to the city for their ability to enhance the skyline and attract tourism. http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-11037-abu-dhabi-planning-solar-generating-pyramids/ Face81 February 17th, 2011, 01:38 PM No surprise that Jumeirah is taking on this property. I am sure there was a thread for this hotel already..... Jumeirah and Dubai Duty Free sign pact to manage new Dubai hotel http://www.blogcdn.com/www.luxist.com/media/2006/03/aviationclub.jpg The new hotel will be located at Dubai's Aviation Club By Southall Travel -Thursday, February 17, 2011 09:54 AM A new five-star hotel close to Dubai's airport is to be launched. Ideal for those taking flights to Dubai, the venture between the state's leading luxury hotel company Jumeirah and Dubai Duty Freewill create a new resort at the Aviation Club to the north of the international airport. The hotel will offer guests the choice of 239-rooms, two restaurants, two bars and two lounges as well as a spa and health club. Business travellers could also be tempted by the hotel's conference and banqueting facilities. Gerald Lawless, executive chairman of Jumeirah Group, said: "We are honoured to have been invited by Dubai Duty Free to operate this exceptional luxury business hotel. "It gives Jumeirah additional presence in the heart of Dubai and we look forward to delivering our promise of 'stay different' at the property when it opens." The Jumeirah Group, founded in 1997, is planning to open a further six hotels in 2011, including Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai, Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai, Jumeirah Dhevanafushi and Jumeirah Vitavelli in the Maldives, Jumeirah Frankfurt. Written by Nicholas Scott. Source (http://www.southalltravel.co.uk/news/Dubai/800410753/Jumeirah-and-Dubai-Duty-Free-to-develop-Dubai-hotel.html) THE DUBAI GUYS March 21st, 2011, 11:49 AM Dubai’s H&H in talks to launch beachfront hotel By Shane McGinley * Monday, 21 March 2011 9:20 AM Dubai's coastline is dotted with five-star hotels. CEO of H&H Shahab Lufti said hospitality is a viable business strategy for Dubai Dubai’s H&H Investment and Development, the company behind the 014 tower in Business Bay, is in talks to launch a five-star hotel in Dubai, its CEO said. The developer is negotiating with hotel operators to open a beachside property in the emirate, Shahab Lufti told Arabian Business. “We haven’t announced it yet and we should break ground soon... We are pitching for a few hotel [operators],” Lufti said at the launch of the $81m O14 commercial tower. “I think hospitality is a good business and a viable strategy for Dubai. Hotels in the long–term will benefit.” Real estate consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle said last week the emirate’s hotel market would be one of the first to see a rise in property prices in 2011, driven by a rise in the budget sector. “[The sector] will see a departure from the grandiosity of previous projects, often driven by publicity and ego, and a return to fundamentals,” the consultancy said. Dubai will see 30,000 additional hotel rooms added over the next five years to the current supply of about 50,0000, Deloitte said in December. The number of visitors would need to rise to about 12 million annually from 9.5 million now to fill the hotels, the auditing company said. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-s-h-h-in-talks-launch-beachfront-hotel-389054.html R Face81 March 21st, 2011, 01:00 PM ^^ I wonder where this will be? bizzybonita March 21st, 2011, 05:05 PM let me guess Dubai Marina :D Imre March 21st, 2011, 05:11 PM let me guess Dubai Marina :D If its in Dubai Marina , either next to the Jumeirah Towers or next to Habtoor Grand Hotel, those plots available with hotel permission. bizzybonita March 21st, 2011, 05:20 PM Damn, let's hope for panoramic views of DEWA area...plots there are very cheap :D THE DUBAI GUYS March 21st, 2011, 05:42 PM Damn, let's hope for panoramic views of DEWA area...plots there are very cheap :D HA! :D R Face81 March 21st, 2011, 05:44 PM It could be anywhere! Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali, Pearl Jumeirah, Jumeirah, Culture Village, Festival City, who knows? :dunno: Julito-dubai March 22nd, 2011, 07:02 PM http://www.h-h.ae/jart/prj3/hh/index.html maybe this one? Face81 March 23rd, 2011, 11:37 AM http://www.h-h.ae/jart/prj3/hh/index.html maybe this one? Which one? http://i54.tinypic.com/otddu9.jpg Palm palace? Aeon tower was meant to be built along SZR, so I guess it must be a Palm Jumeirah project... Imre March 23rd, 2011, 11:53 AM Which one? http://i54.tinypic.com/otddu9.jpg Palm palace? Aeon tower was meant to be built along SZR, so I guess it must be a Palm Jumeirah project... They have Marsa 1 , Marsa 2 , Marsa 3 Marsa 3 location is between the Lootah Complex and Panoramic so wrong .. Marsa 1 is next to the KG Tower , its possible but that one is not a beachfront :) Marsa 2 , no idea :lol: Dubaiiscool:) March 26th, 2011, 09:10 AM I know that it is already under construction because I have seen a photo of it, but can find it now. I don't know what section I should use to open a thread for it so I have decided to come and post it here. http://www.alhudaiba.com/pr/19.jpg 2B+G+M+4 BUILDING AT AL KARAMA, DUBAI PLOT NO.318-864 CLIENT: M/S. DUBAI REAL STATE CENTER CONSULTANT: M/S. DESIGN CENTER http://www.alhudaiba.com/32_32.htm Face81 March 26th, 2011, 10:37 AM I know that it is already under construction because I have seen a photo of it, but can find it now. I don't know what section I should use to open a thread for it so I have decided to come and post it here. http://www.alhudaiba.com/pr/19.jpg 2B+G+M+4 BUILDING AT AL KARAMA, DUBAI PLOT NO.318-864 CLIENT: M/S. DUBAI REAL STATE CENTER CONSULTANT: M/S. DESIGN CENTER http://www.alhudaiba.com/32_32.htm See the mid/low-rise thread in the Metro Development Section :) Dubaiiscool:) March 26th, 2011, 10:48 AM ^^ Thanks:) THE DUBAI GUYS April 2nd, 2011, 11:40 AM whats this??? http://i52.tinypic.com/20av9.jpg http://www.gigapan.org/gigapans/69403/ R Face81 April 3rd, 2011, 08:24 PM ^^I think it's someone's palace or villa :) AltinD April 8th, 2011, 12:54 AM ^^ I've seen the project board, and I don't think it's anything like that. I think it was some sport club or something similar. AltinD April 8th, 2011, 12:56 AM I know that it is already under construction because I have seen a photo of it, but can find it now. I don't know what section I should use to open a thread for it so I have decided to come and post it here. http://www.alhudaiba.com/pr/19.jpg 2B+G+M+4 BUILDING AT AL KARAMA, DUBAI PLOT NO.318-864 CLIENT: M/S. DUBAI REAL STATE CENTER CONSULTANT: M/S. DESIGN CENTER http://www.alhudaiba.com/32_32.htm Where Strand Cinema used to be ... it's almost topped out btw. AltinD April 8th, 2011, 12:58 AM I noticed the other day that Thunder Bowl has been completely demolished. I remember I've bowled there in 2000. Face81 April 8th, 2011, 01:09 PM I noticed the other day that Thunder Bowl has been completely demolished. I remember I've bowled there in 2000. They annonced that it was being demolished ages ago..... The RTA need the land to complete the tunnels and roads to support the ongoing road expansion work for the road running parallel to SZR, just behind all the towers on the North side of SZR :) Parisian Girl April 8th, 2011, 03:57 PM by Elizabeth Broomhall on April 7, 2011 The world’s first extreme sports parks are to be built in the UAE and Qatar, targeting the highest sustainability rating of LEED Platinum. As the first USGBC LEED certified theme parks ever, the two projects, conceived by iMCC GREEN (based in Abu Dhabi) and Thelma & Boom LLC (USA), will rely on a large number of eco-friendly technologies and materials. According to the developer, who has asked to remain anonymous, tenders will be open to contractors later this year, with construction scheduled for 2012 and the park openings planned for 2013. http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-11765-worlds-first-extreme-sports-parks-to-open-in-2013/ Imre April 23rd, 2011, 10:37 AM Dhahi, Al Tayer inspect work progress in new residential complex of Dubai Police The project comprises construction of 322 villas costing AED390m Al Tayer: Project completion clocks 30%, delivery in October 2012 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zfUQZYMXBfs/TbKOo2tSe5I/AAAAAAAAyQo/HtWPoGeJij0/s400/%25D8%25B6%25D8%25A7%25D8%25AD%25D9%258A%2B%25D9%2588%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B7%25D8%25A7%25D9%258A%25D8%25B1%2B%25D9%2588%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D9%2585%25D8%25B2%25D9%258A%25D9%2586%25D8%25A9%2B%25D8%25AE%25D9%2584%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%2B%25D8%25AA%25D9%2581%25D9%2582%25D8%25AF%2B%25D8%25B3%25D9%258A%25D8%25B1%2B%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B9%25D9%2585%25D9%2584%2B%25D9%2581%25D9%258A%2B%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D9%2585%25D8%25B4%25D8%25B1%25D9%2588%25D8%25B9%2B1.JPGhttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ze3htY2ggY/TbKOo4YJeOI/AAAAAAAAyQw/er-xuUXNsIY/s400/%25D8%25B6%25D8%25A7%25D8%25AD%25D9%258A%2B%25D9%2588%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B7%25D8%25A7%25D9%258A%25D8%25B1%2B%25D9%2588%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D9%2585%25D8%25B2%25D9%258A%25D9%2586%25D8%25A9%2B%25D8%25AE%25D9%2584%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%2B%25D8%25AA%25D9%2581%25D9%2582%25D8%25AF%2B%25D8%25B3%25D9%258A%25D8%25B1%2B%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B9%25D9%2585%25D9%2584%2B%25D9%2581%25D9%258A%2B%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D9%2585%25D8%25B4%25D8%25B1%25D9%2588%25D8%25B9%2B2.JPG Roads & transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji: His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief, and H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in the presence of H.E. Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, inspected the work progress in the new residential compound of the Dubai Police, constructed by the RTA in coordination with the Dubai Police General HQ. The project comprises the construction of 322 villas at Oud Matina, costing 390 million dirham spanning an area of 177 thousand square meters. The project is being constructed in compensation of the old police quarters at Al Qusais, on the site of which the Dubai Metro Green Line’s Depot was constructed. Commenting on the work progress, H.E. Al Tayer said that project completion rate had exceeded 30% and all project works were set for completion on 30 October 2012. “Each villa occupies an area of 322 square meters and the total built area of the project is 103 thousand square meters. The villas have a unique structural pattern featuring four designs of different colours inspired by the local environment,” he elaborated. More info: http://imresolt.blogspot.com/2011/04/dhahi-al-tayer-inspect-work-progress-in.html Face81 May 3rd, 2011, 05:25 PM Where is this going to be? :dunno: Bavaria Hotels to open new Dubai hotel and expands footprint in MENA United Arab Emirates: Monday, May 02 - 2011 at 09:56 Bavaria Hotels International (BHI) based in Munich, is an established international German hotel company driven by the vision to become one of the leading specialists for the profitable planning, development and management of hotels worldwide. Bavaria Hotels is pleased to announce that it will be launching a new hotel - the Bavaria Creek Hotel - which will be opened in October 2011 in Dubai. Bavaria Creek Hotel is located in Deira in the very heart of old Dubai close to the creek and a short walk from the open air markets and traditional 'Souks'.The hotel will offer its visitors traditional Arabic hospitality and warm personal service with the latest technology features. The hotel will have spacious Deluxe Rooms and Executive Suites providing over 160 comfortable beds, which will be tastefully designed and stylishly furnished making the Bavaria Creek Hotel one of the preferred hotels in the heart of old Dubai for business individuals and vacationers wishing to experience the true Dubai spirit. Commenting on the new opening in Dubai the CEO of Bavaria Hotels International - Thomas Gertz - said "Naturally we are again delighted to be awarded with a new hotel opening in the Mena region, which will further stengthen our foothold in this market. Bavaria is unlike any other international or regional branded hotel management company, as it exemplifies German traditional values of quality and reliability, offering international standards of hotel management for owners and investors at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. Gertz continued giving the reasons for the groups continuing growth "All hotel operators offer hotel owners management agreements, but at Bavaria we offer dynamic management agreements based on low overheads with an underlying minimum performance guarantee". Bavaria Hotels has recently announced the opening of an Africa Regional Office and further new hotels on the African Continet are shortly to be released. Source (http://www.ameinfo.com/263768.html) Face81 May 3rd, 2011, 05:34 PM And another one..... no location specified though.... Mina Seyahi beach? :dunno: First Spanish hotel planned for Dubai by Sol Meliá Traditional Spanish hotel and resort company Sol Meliá today announced plans for its first regional complex in Dubai, due to open on 12th October 2011. With a budget of AED200m, the five-star resort will host no less than five restaurants, a full service YHI SPA, rooftop terrace with swimming pool and a Spanish-style tapas bar. Dubai was selected by the company as it was thought that Sol Meliá’s traditional Spanish hospitality could ‘offer a new dimension to customers in the region’. Andre Gerondeua, Executive Vice President in the Hotel Division at Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts stated: “This is our first property in the Arabian Gulf and the first step to realising our expansion plans for the region. We are currently negotiating with potential partners in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and we hope to make further announcements in the near future.” Source (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.showbriefdetail&newsid=1129) Face81 May 5th, 2011, 04:51 PM More hotels........... Millennium & Copthorne plans Dubai Biltmore hotel May 5, 2011 Millennium & Copthorne is set to announce a Biltmore-branded property for Dubai soon, revealed president and CEO Middle East and North Africa Ali Lakhraim at ATM. The company introduced the luxury brand – made famous by the Millennium Biltmore in Los Angeles, a favourite celebrity haunt – on May 1 with the announcement of a property in Abu Dhabi due to open in 2014. http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/pictures/gallery/People/310x213/Ali-Lakhraim.jpg Ali Lakhraim was speaking to Hotelier at ATM Exansion of the brand is now expected across the group, according to Lakhraim. “We signed our first contract in Abu Dhabi, we will announce our first Biltmore in Dubai soon,” Lakhraim told Hotelier. “We are going to refurbish one of our London hotels to be the Biltmore London. We will own our own Biltmore Singapore as well. “There is a lot of action behind the Biltmore, which is a brand that has more history than any other brand, and we have decided to bring it outside America,” he said. The company also plans to take the brand to Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah and Riyadh identified as key locations for a Biltmore, said Lakhraim. “We are bringing Hollywood here to the Middle East,” he explained. “It will be the hotel where actors, actresses, famous celebrities will stay.” The introduction of Biltmore to the Middle East is part of Millennium & Copthorne’s aggressive growth strategy. The firm currently has 12 hotels operating and 40 in the pipeline, all of which are underway, said Lakhraim. Source (http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/11210-millennium-copthorne-plans-dubai-biltmore-hotel/) Imre May 6th, 2011, 01:42 PM Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has signed an agreement with Abdulsalam Alrafi Group LLC to open a new Sheraton hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Scheduled to open beginning of 2014, the hotel will be part of a three-tower mixed-use project located in the heart of Dubai’s commercial district. The new Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road Hotel is part of the Sheraton brand’s global strategic expansion plan that includes adding more than 60 new hotels and over 20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years. "We are delighted to be working with the Abdulsalam Alrafi Group as we open our newest Sheraton hotel in Dubai, a destination that continues to see growing demand from both business and leisure travellers,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & the Middle East. “Starwood is established as the sector leader in the Middle East and we are dedicated to continued growth and expansion in the region. This market continues to be integral to our overall development strategy.” http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article54598New_Sheraton_Dubai_Sheikh_Zayed_Road_Hotel_to_Debut_Early_____.html This is the Burj Al Salam Face81 May 6th, 2011, 04:15 PM So we know that the 8-tower development behind the Four Points belongs to Meraas and is now on hold.... BUT, what are they doing on this massive plot on the edge of Satwa? http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/11aad5916e.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/) Face81 May 9th, 2011, 01:12 PM After all this time, some news on Dubailand......................... :D Dubailand developers must deliver DPG committed to the multi-billion dollar project: CEO ......... The master developer has also commenced talks with a number of international companies to launch new theme-based projects in Dubailand. “We are negotiation with a lot of customers since last year. It is taking a bit of time since they are big in size and each project will cover an area of five million plus square feet of land. Besides, we want to ensure that our rights and demands are met versus their rights and demands and hence, it is taking time,” he said. “Each of the projects will have a theme component along with a real estate component. And we are hoping to announce some of them this year.” Tatweer Parks, another subsidiary of Dubai Holding, is currently reviewing all the theme park projects previously announced, Al Malik said, adding, “The projects were not terminated… they were put under study due to the economic conditions.” In 2008, Universal Studios, Dreamworks, Six Flags and Merlin Entertainments Group announced plans to launch theme parks in Dubailand. Full article (http://www.emirates247.com/property/real-estate/developers-need-to-deliver-on-dubailand-2011-05-03-1.388369) Imre May 10th, 2011, 12:34 PM First Spanish hotel in GCC to open in Dubai Premier Spanish hotels and resorts company Sol Meliá to open five-star ‘urban resort’ in Dubai with AED200 million Khamas Group investment – plans for Qatar, KSA & Jordan http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnLHZ1iZRiU/TckT-FrefxI/AAAAAAAAzA0/EAQujpAyfa8/s400/Mock%2Bup%2Broom.JPG One of the largest hotels and resorts companies in the world, Sol Meliá has announced that it is to open its first regional hotel in Dubai. The Meliá Dubai, a five-star 164 bedroom ‘urban resort’ will open on 12th October 2011, to coincide with national day in Spain. “This is our first property in the Arabian Gulf and the first step to realising our expansion plans for the region. We are currently negotiating with potential partners in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and we hope to make further announcements in the near future,” commented Andre Gerondeau, Executive VP, Hotels Division at Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts. The number of visitors to Dubai from Spain has been increasing steadily. Emirates opened their first daily flight to Madrid last summer and combined with Iberia’s existing four weekly flights to Dubai, should improve on the 30,000 plus visitors Dubai received from Spain in 2010. More here: http://imresolt.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-spanish-hotel-in-gcc-to-open-in.html bizzybonita May 11th, 2011, 07:54 AM New Projects http://alasri-consult.com Imre May 19th, 2011, 10:54 AM Dubailand to have Universal, Legoland for now Tatweer Parks says it is not actively pursuing other theme parks By Parag DeulgaonkarPublished Thursday, May 19, 2011 Tatweer Parks, a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, is currently in talks with Universal Studios and Merlin Entertainments Group for theme parks in Dubailand and not actively pursuing any other venture, Emirates 24/7 can reveal. “Tatweer Parks continue to work with Universal to develop a world class theme park in Dubai on line with market demand. Specific dates will be announced nearer to the time of opening and when agreed with Universal,” the company said in an emailed statement. “Similarly Legoland forms an important part of this strategy and we continue to work with them.” http://www.emirates247.com/property/dubailand-to-have-universal-legoland-for-now-2011-05-19-1.394403 Face81 May 19th, 2011, 04:34 PM ^^ You forgot to post it in the World forums. :tongue2: Imre May 19th, 2011, 07:14 PM ^^ You forgot to post it in the World forums. :tongue2: DONE :) http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=424779&page=7 Dubaiiscool:) May 20th, 2011, 02:42 PM 20 May 2011 Fashion TV signs agreement with the Al Habtoor Group to build in Dubai the world's first Fashion Hotel. Fashion TV, this week at the Cannes Film Festival, announced plans, in collaboration with the Al Habtoor Group, to launch the world's first ever Fashion Hotel, in Dubai. On Friday May 20, Michel Adam, President of Fashion TV global network, signed an agreement with Mohammed Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Al Habtoor Group, to establish the hotel at the 'Most Liked Model Awards' ceremony at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes. The unique five-star establishment, to be located in the heart of Dubai, will be owned and operated by the Al Habtoor Group. It will have 30-storeys and the exterior will display a projection using the world's largest 100 metre LED screen, broadcasting the latest Fashion TV highlights, around the clock. Its 200 rooms will be equipped with the most sophisticated climate control, lighting and audio-video technologies and will make extensive use of the latest 3D equipment. They have access too to Fashion TV's 30 channels, as well as the biggest Fashion DVD library in the world, offering 50,000 DVDs on the history of fashion. With a wide variety of restaurants, bars, lounges, nightclubs, spas and cinemas, as well as fashion-themed rooms 'Fashion Hotel' promises to become the number one destination for fashion and beauty in the region. "For years, we have wanted to create the ultimate fashion-themed hotel, aimed at providing Fashion TV viewers, models and businessmen and women with a memorable fashion experience," said Michel Adam, President of Fashion TV. "It's a great pleasure to sign an agreement with Mohammed Al Habtoor, to share this vision and make this fantastic, global project a reality. Hotel experiences will no longer be the same." "It's an exceptional project and one which is likely to have a massive impact on Dubai, making it the future fashion capital of the world. The city will certainly never be the same again." The Fashion Hotel looks set to be the first of many. The Al Habtoor Group and Fashion TV plan to make it the first of a chain of Fashion Hotels in key fashion locations around the world, each offering sophisticated accommodation in an elegant setting and providing the very best of service. The hotels are likely to appeal, not only to the ever growing global fashion community, but to sophisticated urban professionals and tourists. They will also be designed to cater for large-scale fashion industry and promotional events, as well as fashion shows, VIP parties, photo and movie shoots. They will be an ideal location in which to hold celebrity interviews, as well as a host of other social engagements. http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110520095121 Dubaiiscool:) May 20th, 2011, 02:43 PM JszX6ibc-gw;hd=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JszX6ibc-gw;hd=1 Dubaiiscool:) May 29th, 2011, 06:40 AM H&H Investment to develop 25-villa project; focus on non-freehold areas Parag Deulgaonkar Sunday, May 29, 2011 http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.398535.1306635372!/image/985060827.jpg Shahab Lutfi, Chief Executive Officer, H&H Investment & Development. H&H Investment & Development, a Dubai-based property management and development company, is betting high on the non-freehold areas in Dubai and is currently working on developing a villa community in Jumeirah. “We are working on a residential villa community project in Jumeriah. There will be around 20 to 25 high-end villas along with some retail components. The project is in the design stage,” Shahab Lutfi, Chief Executive Officer, H&H Investment & Development, told Emirates 24|7. “There are a number of landlords who own land for 20 years now… their cost of land is minimum. And so if you can actually convince them and design a villa that actually commands a price… we believe they will be able to achieve decent returns in today’s market.” Real estate experts say villas in Jumeirah have been in great demand mostly from GCC nationals. With the unrest in the Middle East region, the demand has soared recently and average rents now range between Dh200,000 and Dh350,000. According to Lutfi, his company has stopped doing or developing projects in freehold area. “We actually stopped investing in projects a while back… we are only doing management services and are concentrating on non-freehold areas such as Bur Dubai or Deira… these locations are still very lucrative and you can almost get an occupancy rate of 80 to 85 per cent after completion.” New project on The World H&H Investment is also currently working on the design of a residential project close to the D51 island on The World, Lutfi revealed. “We are working on one now… a residential project for an island close to D51.” The project is a third party project and the company will be overseeing the development of the project if the owners of the island decide to go ahead with the project. Asked if it makes sense to launch a project now, he added: “It all depends your target market. You have to study thoroughly and have to structure it properly… if you have the right structure it could work and so we are assessing the project now.” “One of the problems of The World is that most of the buyers have not completed their payments and so we are only dealing with people who have paid in full.” Lutfi did not reveal more details of the project, but said his company plans to reuse some of old designs for the new project. dxb-lab Architecture, a sister concern of H&H Investment, was working on Venture Capital Bank’s D51 project. The project was 70 to 75 per cent completed in terms of design and had the initial approval from the conerned authorities. “The project was worth Dh500 million and in today’s market it is not easy to do a project worth that investment. And so we decided it does not make any sense now because of the funding purposes and not because the project is not going to be nice,” he added. http://www.emirates247.com/property/new-villa-community-to-come-up-in-jumeirah-2011-05-29-1.398534 THE DUBAI GUYS June 1st, 2011, 11:34 AM An excerpt from: Big Spender As the founder and president of the dubai-based conglomerate and retail giant BinHendi Enterprises, Mohi-Din BinHendi has been responsible for bringing some of the most exciting British and American brands to the region, and for meeting the consumerist needs of the UAE’s biggest spenders. So when it came to addressing the audience at the 4th Arabian Business Forum, BinHendi certainly had a lot to say. Amidst praise for Dubai due to its successful diversification away from energy and into tourism, the businessman said that the emirate was missing out on something vital. In short, it was a Gulf version of DisneyWorld. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise; the big theme parks that have opened in the region have generally performed well; the Aquaventure water park at the Atlantis resort in Dubai has pulled in locals and tourists alike. But BinHendi is advocating pushing the envelope by providing a much larger kind of destination. “We need an entertainment anchor for the family, something like Disney but not Disney,” he said. “If we have a project like this in Dubai, we have an anchor for the whole of the world. There is a big gap between Euro Disney and Tokyo Disney. There is a craving for an entertainment anchor.” Easier said than done — as BinHendi himself knows. He spent five years working on a similar project in Dubai, only for the deal to be canned near to launch due to financing issues. Not surprisingly, he’s not too fond of the banking profession at the moment. “Bankers say this is not a viable project,” he said. “But bankers are not business people. We are the business people. The vision doesn’t stand with bankers it is with people taking a calculated risk. I don’t believe in taking a blind risk, but a calculated risk is always needed.” The theme park he envisioned, was named ‘The Magic World of Dubai’, which would have had a monorail running from the airport to the site itself. As a globally recognised brand, he believes it would have brought a large number of tourists to the region. “Today we attract a lot of tourists who come here to enjoy the sun, the beaches and the hotels, but we are not an exotic destination. We are not like Fiji or Hawaii. This is what is missing in Dubai. If I had the finance I would do this project as one of the leading projects in this part of the world.” http://www.arabianbusiness.com/big-spender-402229.html R THE DUBAI GUYS June 1st, 2011, 11:46 AM I am sure that we had seen some images from this "Magic World of Dubai" on SSC. Anywho, here are some links I found http://www.exlinedesign.com/entertainment/portfolio/theme/magiworl.htm http://www.markhickson.com/resume/?p=109 R Face81 June 1st, 2011, 12:39 PM ^^ good find. I wonder whatever happened to this plan? :( AltinD June 1st, 2011, 03:01 PM So, what are they doing to the parking lot of DWTC, that runs alongside SZR? They removed all the trees, boarded it all up, dug it all up and already erected 2 hammer-head cranes. THE DUBAI GUYS June 1st, 2011, 03:40 PM So, what are they doing to the parking lot of DWTC, that runs alongside SZR? They removed all the trees, boarded it all up, dug it all up and already erected 2 hammer-head cranes. really...hmm...I wonder if part of the DWTC district project is back? but why not finish work on the other stuff...and is the the one marked in red? http://i54.tinypic.com/1zdpwea.jpg R AltinD June 1st, 2011, 04:50 PM Yes that part, but I doubt is part of the DWTC District, maybe some kind of repair or improvements ... maybe even a permanents structure for the US Consulate Visa application center that had a cabin there where people were pre-screened, queued and waited before being allowed in batches inside the tower, where the consulate actually is. THE DUBAI GUYS June 1st, 2011, 05:59 PM arent they moving to that new HEINOUS thing on the creek/seef st? R Face81 June 2nd, 2011, 12:24 PM Yes that part, but I doubt is part of the DWTC District, maybe some kind of repair or improvements ... maybe even a permanents structure for the US Consulate Visa application center that had a cabin there where people were pre-screened, queued and waited before being allowed in batches inside the tower, where the consulate actually is. arent they moving to that new HEINOUS thing on the creek/seef st? R The new US consulate will be on Seef St, so I doubt they would waste money on that here. It could be part of the DWTC redevelopment. If I remember correctly, a giant lake was to be created around the DWTC tower, so this could be it? Or perhaps it's the new bowl shaped library that is/was part of the redevelopment plans? Let's see! :cheers: bizzybonita June 5th, 2011, 07:00 PM Abjar Hotels International scheduled to open 252-room Ramada Jumeirah in July 2011 http://static.amefiles.com/images/news/large/4/1216864-work-ramadastreetview.jpg Today Ramada Jumeirah, a new four-star hotel with 252 rooms is scheduled to be completed and opened in July 2011 by Abjar Hotels International LLC, with the hotel now in the final stages of completion. Ramada Jumeirah Dubai will cater to business travelers and discerning holiday-makers alike who will be drawn to its unique location and value services. This stylish and modern hotel is centrally located on Dubai's Al Mina Road, near some of the city's main access points including Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Beach and Port Rashid (Dry Docks & Dubai Maritime City). The Ramada Jumeirah is a mere five-minute drive from the Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, the city's premier business hubs. Several of the city's key corporate districts and shopping malls are also just minutes away. This new hotel is also just a 20 minute drive from Dubai International Airport, making it easily accessible for international travelers Mr. Alain Rigazzi - General Manager,Ramada Jumeirah Dubai commented, "It is with great excitement that Abjar Hotels International LLC and Wyndham Hotel Group international are launching the Ramada Jumeirah, a unique project by Abjar Hotels International LLC. The addition of this newest hotel not only helps to further anchor our presence in Dubai, but also ideally complements our growing portfolio. He added: "We are committed to deliver excellent services exceeding 4 stars standards." All 252 deluxe rooms and suites are stylishly appointed and are equipped state-of-art amenities and high speed wired and wireless internet connectivity. Business travelers will benefit from a host of corporate facilities that will meet all of their business requirements. Whether it is for business meetings or gatherings, any of our contemporary fully operational boardrooms and meeting rooms are suitably outfitted. A large onsite business centre ideally complements these facilities. Ramada Jumeirah will also feature five food and beverage outlets including a lobby lounge, an all-day-dining restaurant, an Asian fusion restaurant, a pub and a night club. It will also feature a rooftop outdoor swimming pool, a health club with spa facilities and a fully equipped fitness center. Spacious parking, concierge services and a regular bus shuttle to Jumeirah Beach and shopping malls will offer additional convenience for its guests. Ramada Jumeirah is owned by Mohamed & Obaid Almulla LLC and will be managed by Abjar Hotels International LLC under a licensed franchise agreement with Ramada Worldwide, a subsidiary of Wyndham Hotel Group. http://www.ameinfo.com/267178.html THE DUBAI GUYS June 8th, 2011, 01:02 PM where will this be??? http://i54.tinypic.com/2m51094.jpg http://www.radissonblu.com/upcoming-hotels R Face81 June 8th, 2011, 01:23 PM where will this be??? http://i54.tinypic.com/2m51094.jpg http://www.radissonblu.com/upcoming-hotels R Maybe in the Towers@DIC area? :dunno: Parisian Girl June 13th, 2011, 11:36 PM By Andy Sambidge | Monday, 13 June 2011 7:18 PM http://www.arabianbusiness.com/incoming/article405020.ece/ALTERNATES/g3l/AD_volvorace.jpg An artist's impression of Destination Village on Abu Dhabi Corniche A specially-designed 'Destination Village' is being built on the Abu Dhabi Corniche breakwater in preparation of the city hosting the Volvo Ocean Race in January. Thousands of fans are expected to descend on the UAE capital when the city welcomes the flotilla in early 2012. Plans for the special village have been unveiled by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) which has appointed Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) to manage development of the site. ADTA chiefs said on Monday that the site was being designed to serve as a sailing centre once the Volvo Ocean Race fleet sails out of the UAE capital next year. TDIC will dredge a section of the Corniche lagoon to allow entry of the 4.5 metre keeled state-of-the-art race yachts and build permanent yacht pontoons. Infrastructure work is due for completion this September and more than 130 Volvo Ocean Race team gear, hospitality and equipment containers will be installed in December. The Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 begins in Alicante, Spain, in October 2011 and ends in Galway, Ireland next summer. The race sees professional athletes on board the Volvo Open 70 racing yachts sail around the world with the prevailing winds. "This will ensure that our hosting leaves a lasting legacy for the emirate and will also boost our long-term ambitions to be recognised as a compelling winter sailing and watersports destination," said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, ADTA, and managing director, TDIC. The 'Destination Village' - which will be around the size of eight football pitches - will open free-of-charge to the public daily from December 30 to January 14, during which more than 100,000 visitors are expected. The highly interactive village, which will leverage the maritime theme, will be packed with exhibitions, shows, simulators, hospitality, game zones, food & beverage outlets and merchandise shops. ADTA said it is working with international tour operators, hotels, airlines and other stakeholders to develop compelling New Year-Volvo Ocean Race packages to the emirate. "It will be the place to be at the beginning of 2012 and will be marked by a sensational New Year's Eve celebration," said Al Muhairi. A special area dedicated to ADTA's Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR), the 11-strong race team which has made history as the first Arab entry in the race, will also be developed. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/abu-dhabi-reveals-volvo-ocean-race-tourism-plan-405021.html AltinD June 14th, 2011, 04:44 PM where will this be??? http://i54.tinypic.com/2m51094.jpg http://www.radissonblu.com/upcoming-hotels R Doesn't that look like that tower opposite the entrance of Palm Jumeirah? It has been empty for years, and perhaps now they are converting it into a hotel. :dunno: Imre June 14th, 2011, 05:23 PM Doesn't that look like that tower opposite the entrance of Palm Jumeirah? It has been empty for years, and perhaps now they are converting it into a hotel. :dunno: When have you been there last time?:) That tower is already opened and many offices there:) http://www.concordtower.net/ :cheers: Mini showroom also there: http://www.ameinfo.com/267868.html AltinD June 15th, 2011, 03:18 PM Right, right ... I remember now that I've seen the MINI showroom there. Then maybe one of the towers of Acacia Avenue? Parisian Girl June 17th, 2011, 12:46 AM To be used by departing merchant ships, port is set to open in August By Staff | Published Thursday, June 16, 2011 http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.403163.1308235302!/image/3749653984.jpg Dubai Creek has currently a single port for the clearance of arriving and departing ships (SUPPLIED) Dubai Municipality is building a new port for merchant ships and a marine terminal at Deira Creek which is expected to open in August this year, a press statement said on Thursday. The new port will be used by departing ships and is expected to relieve pressure on the existing port of Bur Dubai Creek. Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said the project is the first of certain vital projects that currently run by the municipality. The project aims to increase the capacity of marine docks in the emirate, development of facilities and services of Dubai Creek. Dubai Municipality has been assigned the task of cleanliness and maintenance of supporting wall and all facilities, including ports, marinas and terminals of Dubai Creek. “Dubai Creek has currently a single port for the clearance of arriving and departing ships. The number of these ships exceeds 22,000 merchant ships annually. It leads to rush and delay of procedures for the workers entry and exit and inspections of ships, especially as the creek is a main port for traditional ships coming to the Emirate,” Lootah said. “The new port to be built in a strategic location at the entrance of Dubai Creek Deira side would relieve the pressure on the current port in the entrance of Bur Dubai Creek. On completion of the project, the old port will be assigned to arriving ships, while the new port will be allocated to departing ships. This will increase the efficiency and maritime safety in the creek,” he added. Eng. Alia Rahim Harmoudi, Head of Coastal Zone Management and Waterways Section of Environment Department, said that the project cost is estimated at Dh15.8 million. It included the establishment of a new marine terminal of 213 meters length, equipped with all facilities necessary to accommodate anchoring of four traditional large size merchant ships at same time, in addition to an integrated services building allocated to government departments and institutions involved in ship procedures. “The project also includes scraping the bottom of the creek at the entrance to enable the docking of large ships laden with goods,” she said. “The project is progressing at a rapid pace and through an intensive work programme to ensure the completion of the project on time by the end of August. The Coastal Zone Management and Waterways Section has met all engineering and environmental requirements of the project in terms of the initial site studies, seabed surveying, soil tests and study of pavement traffic, in addition to the completion of structural designs of the project facilities internally,” she added. It is noteworthy that the Dubai Creek of 14 km has been formed since the beginning of last century, as a centre of shipping in the region and a fundamental pillar for the growth of economic activity in the emirate. Its strategic location in the ancient trade route between Europe and India was the nucleus for the transformation of Dubai into a key place for the supply of commercial vessels, subsequently to the prominent financial and economic hub in the region and the world. http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/dubai-builds-new-port-at-deira-creek-2011-06-16-1.403162 Face81 June 17th, 2011, 12:01 PM ^^ Here's the thread ;) http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=79786536#post79786536 Parisian Girl June 17th, 2011, 07:18 PM ^^ Nice one! @Mods: Could you please delete posts #5067, #5068 and #5069 as they serve little purpose now. Thanks in advance. :cheers: AltinD June 17th, 2011, 11:12 PM No need, no harm done THE DUBAI GUYS June 19th, 2011, 08:58 AM 'Pillar of salt' could be city's new icon Colin Simpson Jun 19, 2011 An architect's dream of a 170m pillar of salt rising out of Zabeel Park is, by his own admission, far-fetched - but if there were ever a city to embrace Thom Faulders's wild originality, then that city would surely be Dubai. Colin Simpson explains DUBAI // A gleaming white tower rises from the grasslands of Zabeel Park. Punctuated by weird, organic-looking holes, the surface is rough, somehow living. And as the years pass it changes, its translucent skin hardening to crystalline white. For now, the 170m tower is no more than an idea dreamt up by a firm of American architects. But the ideas it embodies are very real. The GEOtube starts with a double-layered steel lattice support structure. The inner layer would be covered with a polymer mesh with large holes cut into it, while the outer layer would carry an elaborate network of pipes and nozzles, providing the mesh with a continual mist of seawater drawn from the Gulf. As the water evaporates - which rarely takes long, especially with a little help from the shamal wind - salt would gradually build up on the mesh. Over time, it would form thick walls. Some could even be harvested. The building was conceived as an icon for the city that would attract birds and other wildlife, as well as international attention. The plans have been drawn up by San Francisco's Faulders Studio to show how the process would work. But the architect Thom Faulders, head of the firm, is hopeful that eventually a building will be constructed using this method. "It is far-fetched as a building proposal - it is a provocation," he said. "And yet, the processes involved are quite robust and simple, and therefore I can certainly imagine further analysis and testing leading to a construction of this kind, even if at a much smaller scale. "While we have put many hours into the building system, it remains, at this point, a proposal. We would be thrilled to move forward." He believes the technique could even be used to create buildings in which people could live. "The salt skin on the GEOtube tower provides an open-air mesh. Any enclosed building space would require a secondary building skin that would provide waterproofing and environmental controls." The key is the combination of Dubai's climate and the fact that the Gulf, along with the Red Sea, has the most saline oceanic waters in the world. That water would reach the building from the sea through a dedicated 4.6km pipeline, running under the northern section of Jumeirah Beach Road before turning right and heading up to Zabeel Park, following the route of Al Diyafah Street and passing beneath the Trade Centre Roundabout. It would pour into a large open-air distillation pond at the foot of the building, with some of it evaporating to make what remained more saline still. The water would then be pumped up to a huge cistern at the top of the structure, from which gravity would provide the pressure required to deliver a constant mist of salty water to the walls below - a method Faulders Studio calls a vertical salt deposit growth system. On top of the cistern would be a cafe and viewing platform. Birds would be able to fly in and out of the structure through large holes in the mesh, and Mr Faulders believes wildlife would thrive. He points out that many birds and other wildlife flourish in the harsh, high salt and mineral environment of Dubai's coastal salt flats, known as sabkha. The practice says the GEOtube "is entirely grown rather than constructed; is in continual formation rather than fully completed; and is created locally rather than imported. As the water evaporates and salt mineral deposits aggregate over time, the tower's appearance transforms from a transparent veil to a vibrant white vertical plane. "GEOtube extends Zabeel Park skyward, and broadcasts Dubai's innovative integration with the natural environment globally." The salt walls could even have health benefits, it says. "Salt crystals produce air saturated with healthy negative ions. Research has proven the therapeutic values of salt caves and their positive influence in the treatment of respiratory diseases read the rest here: http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/technology/pillar-of-salt-could-be-citys-new-icon R Face81 June 20th, 2011, 10:43 AM ^^ An odd, but interesting idea! I bet Coit Tower in San Francisco was the inspiration! http://www.staysf.com/upload/attraction/20080519180345_san%20francisco%20coit%20tower.jpg Josau June 20th, 2011, 12:14 PM wrong thread Face81 June 20th, 2011, 01:37 PM So here's the Geo Tube thing on Faulders' website...... http://i55.tinypic.com/wi09wl.jpg AltinD June 21st, 2011, 08:30 PM Not this sh*t again .... who the hell supply the brain cells to these bozos? :wallbash: Face81 June 22nd, 2011, 11:19 AM ^^ Seriously! It's so obvious that Coit Tower in SFO was the inspiration behind this mental idea! :nuts: THE DUBAI GUYS June 22nd, 2011, 11:45 AM I know rite...why in the WORLD would u even suggest something LIKE this! idiots! R VCollaborator July 11th, 2011, 04:20 PM All renders have been uploaded by Flickr User liang_design (http://www.flickr.com/photos/liangdesign/) http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6137/5925607661_60c7f86a92_z.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/liangdesign/5925607661/ http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5925608987_69ecbbd265_z.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/liangdesign/5925608987/ http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6008/5926169564_bfc916f9f6_z.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/liangdesign/5926169564/ Imre July 11th, 2011, 04:29 PM ^^ Looks like minimum 650-700 m high. :cheers: Face81 July 11th, 2011, 04:47 PM ^^^^^^^^ OMG! :eek2: THE DUBAI GUYS July 11th, 2011, 09:02 PM ^^^^^^ :omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg::omg: R germantower July 11th, 2011, 09:15 PM Tall but fucking ugly. I hope if they build something that tall, that it will have class. It are basically boxes in different heights put together. The former Anara Tower design was awesome, this is rather MEH². noir-dresses July 11th, 2011, 09:30 PM Looks very high, but is it me, or does the design look very flimsy on top ??? I also like the old design, this is going to take getting use to. AltinD July 12th, 2011, 11:53 AM It IS Anara tower. As for the design, unless they screw up with cladding, it will be fantastic. Face81 August 2nd, 2011, 11:54 AM Hiring to take place in next few months By Waheed Abbas Published Tuesday, August 02, 2011 Dubai-based Jumeirah Group is hiring 400 hoteliers for its hotel to be opened in Dubai over the next couple of months. The hotel is in the process of hiring around 400 people for its Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Garhoud (Dubai) to be opened in the fall of 2011, a hotel spokesperson told Emirates 24l7. The group has just completed recruitment of 900 hoteliers for its Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi which will take reservations as of November 1. “We’ve had two open recruitment days (for Etihad Towers) in Dubai in April which were very successful and another recruitment day (on invitation for pre-screened candidates) is took place on July 25 in Dubai. We are planning to open the hotel with about 900 colleagues,” the spokeswoman said, adding that “we will open the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in Garhoud (Dubai) in the fall of 2011, employing around 400 colleagues. (But) no recruitment fair is scheduled (for Creedside Hotel). Our Development team is always looking at potential partnerships with owners/developers in the region and around the world.” The group, according to the website, will open six new properties around the world during this year. Frankfurt Jumeirah, Germany, is the latest addition to its global brand network. Three new hotels have already been opened in the first fourth months of 2011. Recently, Jumeirah said it recorded better occupancy during the first four months of 2011, averaging out at 85 per cent over with RevPAR rising by over seven per cent compared to the same period in 2010. Robust growth in business hotels in Dubai, New York and London. ^^ Which one is this? Can't be the DHCC one as that is no where near being ready and it's not in Garhoud.... THE DUBAI GUYS August 2nd, 2011, 12:47 PM maybe the aviation club hotel perhaps R Face81 August 2nd, 2011, 01:15 PM ^^ Yeah, possibly. Did not realise it was so close to being finished! gevorika78 August 17th, 2011, 02:19 AM They annonced that it was being demolished ages ago..... The RTA need the land to complete the tunnels and roads to support the ongoing road expansion work for the road running parallel to SZR, just behind all the towers on the North side of SZR :) Thats not why it was demolished Face81 August 17th, 2011, 10:13 AM They annonced that it was being demolished ages ago..... The RTA need the land to complete the tunnels and roads to support the ongoing road expansion work for the road running parallel to SZR, just behind all the towers on the North side of SZR :) Thats not why it was demolished Four months after my post, you reply - Even I did not remember what you were talking about! :lol: So why did they demolish it then?? DesignBuild Source September 6th, 2011, 09:02 AM Graft Lab Vertical Village- Vertical Village Reaches New Heights http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1255150346-vertical4-528x331.jpg http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1255150343-vertical2-528x341.jpg http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1255150348-vertical7-528x296.jpg http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1255150347-vertical6-528x302.jpg http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1255150347-vertical5-528x306.jpg http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1255150342-vertical-528x380.jpg Architecture firm Graft Lab are making waves in the industry with their pioneering designs that emulate the best in green building practices, as well as contextualising their work. Their current design “Vertical Village” is a prime example of these two initiatives coming together in order to create an architecture achievement that ticks all of the right boxes. As such, upon its completion the development is expected to take out the great honour of achieving LEED gold certification... Read full article at http://designbuildsource.com.au/vertical-village-reaches-new-heights THE DUBAI GUYS September 9th, 2011, 03:45 PM while watching the Green line openining...the guy from the DM...i forgot whom...they sad that now with the green line...they can focus on areas such as hor al anz to put in green areas and make it MORE walkable and to add moder ammenities. R THE DUBAI GUYS September 9th, 2011, 06:34 PM he also said that areas like hor al anz where its G+2, they can now go up in areas around the station so that more ppl live close by... R VCollaborator September 17th, 2011, 04:59 PM Ahmad Khalid Hammad, Al Ahli CEO, has revealed the club are "more than 50 per cent" of the way with their plans to build a new stadium to replace their current 18,000 seat home in Dubai. MB_C4z_vzaQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB_C4z_vzaQ THE DUBAI GUYS October 9th, 2011, 02:45 PM this webiste used to be a source for many threads on this site...i recently rediscovered it... http://www.emiratestenders.com/CategoryResult.asp?CategoryId=40 R Face81 October 10th, 2011, 09:54 AM ^^ Thanks :) Face81 October 11th, 2011, 11:24 AM Designed by a renowned yacht designer, promoters claim the ’Ome meets master developer Nakheel’s design standards By Vicky KapurPublished Tuesday, October 11, 2011 http://i51.tinypic.com/jkhbag.jpg A Dubai-based joint venture claims to have the answer to the need of a home for some of the “frustrated owners” of the 300-odd islands that form part of the emirate’s The World project – a floating villa, or ’Ome, as its designer-developer are calling it. The JV between Palmerstone and Donald Starkey Designs has developed the ’Ome, a floating villa on a monocoque type structure, which can be manoeuvred between Dubai’s coast and The World, the company said in a statement. The 32m in-diameter floating villa was apparently designed in response to the demands of a UAE resident; however the design team had bigger plans. The ’Ome villa design is projected to change the state of The World – the luxurious Dubai archipelago – by providing a self-sustaining floating villa to aid maintenance and irrigation for island owners. http://i54.tinypic.com/16gbqlu.jpg When queried by Emirates 24/7 on the pricing front, the company did not answer specifically on how much a standard ’Ome would cost. “When it comes to the cost of building an ’Ome,” said Graham Henderson, owner of Palmerstone and the developer of the ‘Ome, “while we have a starting budget in mind, we can’t really gauge how much the cost to build will be, as that will depend on the clients’ overall specifications.” However, speaking at the 2011 Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) recently, ’Ome designer Donald Starkey, a world-renowned yacht designer, said that the floating villa was estimated at anything between €17 million and €20 million (between Dh85m and Dh100m). “We’re still investigating that [price of an ’Ome] but indications are it will be in the region of 17 to 20 million euros,” Starkey said in an interview to Superyachts.com during the 2011 MYS. A number of buyers on the Nakheel-backed chain of islands have failed to begin work in the wake of plummeting prices in Dubai’s real estate market. Now, when the Dubai property market is showing sure signs of a revival, the ’Ome offers hope to at-sea owners of the islands where construction had earlier ground to a virtual standstill in the wake of the economic downturn. “The unique prospect of owning an island on The World brings its own set of challenges, and we believe we have created something that will deal with all the considerations that island owners have to deal with when it comes to developing their island,” said Starkey. The ’Ome can be built on land, and then can be floated to one of the islands on The World, and will have enough energy-generation capacity to provide for the infrastructure for the entire island as well as irrigation for growing vegetation, without the need to break ground. Building on the mainland will therefore avoid the logistical problem that building on an island entail, the promoters of the ’Ome maintain. It is planned that ’Omes will be built on the Dubai mainland, but the design is applicable to almost any coastal location, and the company is considering the potential for builds in destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Qatar and other island or remote beach locations around the globe. Featuring five bedrooms, large open planning living areas and a central 10m diameter seawater pool encompassing more than 1,400 m² of usable living space, the first available ’Ome will in a 32m diameter form, comprising an upper and lower deck configuration. “The layout can be adjusted to suit each owner’s requirements. The design is intended to align with maritime law, as well as meeting the design standards of The World’s developer, Nakheel,” the statement said. Henderson added that smaller models were also being considered, which could be used to form clusters for use by hospitality providers such as for a hotel or short-term lease option with services provided. “It is estimated that each ’Ome will take around 22 months to complete,” he said in the statement. “Costs are anticipated to be less than building a yacht of comparable size, but the option of an ’Ome means you are not required to purchase a mooring as you own one already, and so can use the ‘Ome as a conventional home, with your own choice of sea front views having created your own personal beach,” he added. “There are also the possibilities that a family or small communities can be created by having more than one per island and the fact that the ’Ome is self-sustainable, each will contribute to the overall maintenance of the island’s landscaping thus ensuring The World is alive and very well,” Henderson said. Each ‘Ome will be self-sustainable, with power, water and waste management included as part of the overall design. The ‘Ome will also include photovoltaic cells on its roof, which will enable the property to be completely self-powered; it’s estimated that each ’Ome would be capable of producing enough energy to power six large households, approximately 30,000 kW of pure renewable energy, which will reduce running costs for owners, as well as reducing their carbon footprint. Service and towing support to move the ’Ome will be provided by a facilities management company. While the concept has just been launched in Dubai and therefore the firm hasn’t received any orders yet, the developers told Emirates 24/7 that the ’Ome’s designs were received with excitement at the recent Boat Show in Monaco. The ‘Ome has already been nominated for the International Superyacht Society’s (ISS) ISS Fabien Cousteau Blue Award in recognition of its eco credentials. “There really is no limit to where we can build the ‘Ome, and considering the specific requirements of people looking to the ‘Ome as a solution, the interior design and fit out will also provide limitless options,” said Henderson. http://www.emirates247.com/property/dubai-s-the-world-owners-get-a-dh100m-floating-villa-option-2011-10-11-1.422985 Imre October 14th, 2011, 02:52 PM Finally something new :) 14/October/2011 Marina Hotel (next to Bay Central) http://i56.tinypic.com/r1lpw9.jpg http://i51.tinypic.com/2yzmsmh.jpg http://i52.tinypic.com/19wjk7.jpg http://i54.tinypic.com/6sxdas.jpg http://i56.tinypic.com/287niia.jpg Imre October 14th, 2011, 06:41 PM Not sure but at least something from Google:) 8 DD DUBAI MARINA LOCATION: DUBAI MARINA Client name: DHEERAJ & EAST COST PROJECT NO: DXB-325 AREA OF PLOT: 43756 SQ. FT. TOTAL BUA: 185000 SQ. FT. Status: DESIGN CONCEPT APPROVED Type: HOTEL No of floors: 3B+G+29 Total height: 108 meter Approximate estimated cost. 120 M AED http://www.dimensions-ec.com/Projects/8-DD.html http://i53.tinypic.com/16gbk83.jpg Imre October 14th, 2011, 07:20 PM More found from 2009 , anyway I doubt that the DEC will build anything now , also not clear why is the Emaar name there , maybe they just put the master developer name on the board ... Another one: http://i54.tinypic.com/2guw6py.jpg http://i51.tinypic.com/2ut2kgm.jpg THE DUBAI GUYS October 15th, 2011, 10:35 AM while driving past port rashid...i saw some project boards and construction work on what looked like a 10flr building...al habbai is the contractor and one floor is already DONE! will try and get pics... R THE DUBAI GUYS October 16th, 2011, 05:50 AM this may or may not have been what I saw... http://www.alhabbaicontracting.com/photo1.asp?id=18 R THE DUBAI GUYS October 18th, 2011, 07:32 AM didnt know where to put this... Dubai seeks to expand its cruise port facilities DTCM expects passengers to rise to 475,000 with 135 liners next year By Aya Lowe, Staff Reporter Published: 00:00 October 18, 2011 Dubai: Dubai is looking to expand its cruise terminal facilities in a bid to accommodate the increase in the number of cruise ships. "We have to expand our capacity. Our dock takes up to five ships. The numbers are going to increase and our cruise terminal is not enough. There are expansion plans for the future and we will announce them at that time," Hamad Mohammad Bin Mejren, executive director of Business Tourism at the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said on the sidelines of a press conference yesterday. "Port Rashid has become a favourite port of call for an increasing number of global cruise operators. We are confident that as a leading tourist destination, Dubai will continue to act as a catalyst for the development of the industry in the region as a whole," he added. According to DTCM, this year's cruise season, ending in late summer, is expected to bring 425,000 passengers on 120 cruise ships. DTCM expects cruise passengers to increase to 135 ships with 475,000 passengers next year, 150 ships with 525 passengers in 2013, 165 ships with 575,000 passengers in 2014 and 180 ships with 625,000 passengers in 2015. According to Mejren, Dubai's cruise tourism industry has quadrupled in the last five years. The cruise terminal, which was opened last year, is currently used by Royal Caribbean, Aida and Costa Cruises. "The range of brands from all segments of the cruise market now regard Dubai and this region as very important destinations," Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade, said. "We're starting to see particularly strong growth emerging from Europe and many of the brands committed to this market are European brands. It's now progressing at a pace which suggests that it will become a more important source market for cruise passengers globally and for this region," he added. Mejren said DTCM also has plans to extend the tourism season. "Dubai used to have seasonal tourism and through DTCM we want to turn that into year-round tourism through Dubai's summer festivals," he said. Dubai is hosting the Sea-trade Middle East Cruise Convention, which starts at the Meydan Hotel today and runs till Thursday. The convention has attracted 30 cruise lines which include Costa, Aida, Royal Caribbean International, MSC, TUI, Hapag Lloyd, Seabourn, Silversea, Holland America Line, Variety Cruises, Louis Cruises, Fred Olsen and Saga. http://gulfnews.com/business/tourism/dubai-seeks-to-expand-its-cruise-port-facilities-1.897701 R Face81 October 18th, 2011, 01:55 PM Seems a neat little cruise terminal zone is organically emerging at Port Rashid. Makes sense to leave the QE2 there and turn it in to a hotel and museum. Good call! THE DUBAI GUYS October 19th, 2011, 01:30 PM I knew this website would be useful! We all used to use it! and look what I found on it Name : Four Seasons Hotel Resort Project - Jumeirah Beach Road More... Description : Construction of five-star Four Seasons Hotel Resort comprising guestrooms, a ballroom, spa, fitness centre, main hotel restaurant and bar, a roof top bar and lounge, including recreational facilities such as tennis courts and swimming pools, retail facilities and other small cafes along with food and beverage outlets. Territory : Dubai Updated : October 11, 2011 Status : New Tender http://www.emiratestenders.com/CategoryResult.asp?CategoryId=40 R THE DUBAI GUYS October 19th, 2011, 01:40 PM more news on the four seasons jumeirah The project involves replacement of the existing Jumeirah Beach Club with the construction of Four Seasons Hotel. http://www.bncnetwork.net/pgs/display/ProjectDisplay.aspx?ProjectID=64957 R THE DUBAI GUYS October 22nd, 2011, 08:55 AM there is also this Name : Meridien Hotel Extension Project Description : Construction of an extension to the existing five-star Meridien Hotel. Territory : Dubai Updated : October 16, 2011 Status : Current Project http://www.emiratestenders.com/CategoryResult.asp?CategoryId=40 R AltinD October 22nd, 2011, 09:15 PM more news on the four seasons jumeirah The project involves replacement of the existing Jumeirah Beach Club with the construction of Four Seasons Hotel. http://www.bncnetwork.net/pgs/display/ProjectDisplay.aspx?ProjectID=64957 R I have always wonder what happened there. Last I heard was many years ago when they were saying the resort will close. When I first came here in November 1999, I was staying in Hilton Dubai World Trade Center Hotel (now demolished), so I went to beach there, since it was Hilton Beach Resort at the time. I remember there were some very nice beach villas. I also took out my watch and forgot it in the showers, and 5 - 10 minutes later was gone :ohno: Face81 October 26th, 2011, 05:25 PM Mohammad Bin Rashid endorses Dh2 billion tourism projects New projects are in line with the comprehensive vision of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid to enhance Dubai's position as a leading regional and international tourist destination By Saifur Rahman, Business Editor Published: 16:43 October 26, 2011 http://i43.tinypic.com/2zz4u9z.jpg Image Credit: Supplied Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday endorsed a collection of tourism projects to be built with a total cost of more than Dh2 billion by Wasl Asset Management Group (Wasl), a subsidiary of Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC). The announcement comes following his visit to the headquarters of Wasl. He was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of DREC. Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad said that these new projects are in line with the comprehensive vision of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid to enhance Dubai's position as a leading regional and international tourist destination as well as His Highness' directives to continue all development projects in accordance with the plans and strategies that are continuously reviewed to achieve best returns. "Stop is not part of the vocabulary in Dubai, and success is a continuous process that never stops," Shaikh Maktoum said. The new projects that were approved and endorsed by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid are expected to help meet the rapidly growing demand from the increasing number of visitors to Dubai, as they will provide a further 1,500 new rooms in different parts of the Emirate. One of the new projects is Al Maktoum Development, a cultural project that aims to convey pride in the UAE's tradition and culture by re-designing the area that hosted the first modern hospital in the Emirate, Maktoum Hospital. Hesham Al Qassim, Chief Executive Officer of Wasl emphasised the importance of tourism as one of the main non-oil drivers of Dubai's economic growth. "Since inception, Wasl's strategy has been focused on becoming a significant contributor to the success story and economy of Dubai. We are pleased to be able to continue to actively support the city's position as the leading business and tourism hub in the region by providing a growing number of quality commercial and residential properties," he said. The focal point of the themed mixed-use master development will be a museum that will present the evolution of health in Dubai by displaying original instruments and historical documents from the hospital. The development will also comprise a traditional Arabic souk with specially selected shops and restaurants and beautifully designed urban spaces which will help create a thriving multi-cultural environment. The development will be supported by a hotel, a serviced-apartments tower, as well as commercial and residential buildings. The development aims to attract both tourists and residents looking for a unique community in which to live. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid has also viewed the plans for Jumeirah Beach Club Development. The beach-front club on Jumeirah Beach Road combines exclusivity and proximity to the heart of the City. Designed to be one of the top beach clubs in the world, the project includes an exclusive beach club where members can enjoy a range of premium services and world-class facilities, including a private beach, renowned spa, themed swimming pools as well as sports and recreation facilities. It will also include a luxurious boutique hotel with 78 signature rooms, 12 executive suites with terraces and private jacuzzis, five royal villas with private infinity pools overlooking the Arabian Gulf, and seven water villas that are each built on a private pier which has a small marina as well as exclusive features such as outdoor fireplaces and private butler services. Other projects presented to Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid during his visit to wasl included; the new expansion plans for Le Meridien Airport hotel, which is already part of wasl's hospitality portfolio, and is very popular with leisure and business tourists; and the new Muraqqabat Development which comprises residential and hospitality buildings which aim to meet the increasing demand for quality hospitality and residential properties in one of Dubai's busiest districts. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid was also presented with a number of other projects that wasl plans to develop and which will support the strong growth witnessed by the tourism industry in Dubai in particular, and the UAE as a whole. http://gulfnews.com/business/tourism/mohammad-bin-rashid-endorses-dh2-billion-tourism-project-1.919168 Face81 October 27th, 2011, 10:19 AM Looks like Port Raashid is finally going to move forward with the announcement of the expansion of the cruise terminal facilities and building of a new resort on the island..... from today's papers... http://i41.tinypic.com/2vsqasw.jpg R ^^ WOW!!!! It looks stunning! Love that massive resort on the corner. Very Madinat Jumeirah esque..... Back to basics for Dubai. Good to see them doing what they do best. Tourism and hospitality. Not a commercial building in sight! Excellent! :D Imre November 4th, 2011, 04:16 PM Nice villa:) 4/November/2011 Beach villa, Jumeirah http://i39.tinypic.com/2nlhc44.jpg http://i40.tinypic.com/35d86cp.jpg http://i42.tinypic.com/5chxck.jpg http://i42.tinypic.com/eq7z9y.jpg http://i42.tinypic.com/fazr03.jpg THE DUBAI GUYS November 6th, 2011, 05:30 PM i saw that villa when i found the four seasons...its quite big...anywho...there is some stuff happeneing around the heritage village...this is one of two boarded up sites...maybe its a extension... http://i41.tinypic.com/2qi5quo.jpg R THE DUBAI GUYS November 7th, 2011, 08:15 AM maybe all that work is apart of this: 10 more museums for Dubai by 2015 Sajila Saseendran 6 November 2011, 9:35 PM DUBAI - Dubai will have 10 new museums by 2015, according to a senior official with Dubai Municipality. Director of Architectural Heritage Department of Dubai Municipality Rashad Mohammed Bukhash told Khaleej Times that at least one of them will open to the public by December. “It will be a tribute to Emirati poet (Mubarak) Al Aqaili and will be located in his old house in Al Ras in Deira,” he said. Al Aqaili, who lived from 1880 to 1954, is dubbed as one of the luminaries of Emirati literature during the 20th century, particularly classical Arabic poetry. “We have finished the restoration works of the exterior of his house. We are working on the interior now,” said Bukhash. The poet’s works, photos and other memorabilia will be on display for the public to learn more about his life and times. The museum is expected to attract great interest from the Arab world, particularly from literary enthusiasts. Another museum in the pipeline will tell us the history of traditional Emirati dresses and their significance. It is slated to be ready in 2012. “It will showcase the clothes from the early 1900s. There will be different types of dresses worn by men, women and children. You can get to know about the kind of fabrics and colours used by our previous generations, which were mostly imported from India and Pakistan.” Bukhash said the traditional clothes museum will give an opportunity to track the changes in an Emiratis’ dressing style over the decades. “Women’s clothes have changed a lot,” he noted.The rest of the new museums planned for Dubai will feature traditional perfumes and other things closely linked to the lives of Emiratis. Currently, Dubai has 12 museums including the Dubai museum, Shaikh Saeed Al Maktoum house, the heritage house, Al Ahmadiya School, the Camel and Horse museums, and the traditional architecture museum. Bukhash has supervised the design and execution of all of them. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle11.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/November/theuae_November170.xml§ion=theuae R Agnesbishop November 20th, 2011, 11:51 PM Nice that they are building more museums but what is happening with the Zoo? THE DUBAI GUYS November 21st, 2011, 01:55 PM we do have a thread for it...but its anyone's guess at this point what they are ACTUALLY doing... http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=97702 R Face81 December 1st, 2011, 12:17 AM All this talk of the creek extension through Al Safa made me think of something when I downloaded Dubai's satellite picture from 17.11.11.......... Here's the original picture....... http://i44.tinypic.com/122kshh.jpg And here's one I doctored..... Seems like there are some vacant land bands conveniently located in Mamzar, Al Qusais/Al Twar, Mirdiff and Al Awir that would make for excellent inlets and potential links to the Lagoons and the Arabian Canal (when Dubai finally gets around to those developments).... What do you think? :D http://i44.tinypic.com/k4ht9k.jpg Parisian Girl December 21st, 2011, 04:07 AM http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18338_1_Dewan1.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18338_2_Dewan%202.jpg Wednesday 14 Dec 2011 Global architectural and engineering firm Dewan has shared the first images of its newest project in Dubai with WAN: The Avenue Retail Development. Having signed a consultancy contract with Dubai-based retail estate development company Meraas, plans are to press forward with this high profile project as completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012. This 350m stretch of commercial outlets is the first in a three-phase development scheme stretching 1.1km between Al Wasl Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, and will incorporate a range of retail brands, a major supermarket complex, various food and beverage outlets, and a healthcare clinic. Speaking on the major development, Mohamed Al Assam, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Dewan explained: “Dubai’s retail property sector is proving increasingly stable and sustainable after the financial crisis, a fact that has led to a boost in investor confidence. This, in turn, is providing impetus to the industry’s growth momentum. With reports indicating significant growth in the sector, we are optimistic about the future.” Supporting the retail outlets will be external seating with extensive landscaping, water features and various green spaces. Once completed late next year, the development will cover 12,800 sq m of the 53,000 sq m plot, leaving adequate room for future expansion. Contractors for phase 1 have been announced as Al-Futtaim Carillion. Key Facts Status: Concept design Value: 0(m€) DEWAN Architects & Engineers http://www.dewan-architects.com/ http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18338 VCollaborator January 5th, 2012, 11:23 AM Traders welcome the idea of a veterinary as part of the new market Mohammed Al Sadafy January 05, 2012 A market of ornamental birds and pets will be opened in the last quarter of 2012, according to Sabria Ayub, head of the Investment Department of Dubai Municipality. She said construction of the market began last April. The market, coming up in Warsan area, will be completed in two phases and will cover an area of about 152,000 square metres. The first phase will cost Dh60 million and will have six units containing 120 shops and units for auctions, management, public services and veterinary clinics. According to Ayub, the second phase of construction will include a hotel to accommodate travellers and their pets, an academy to teach methods of breeding birds and pets and places for workers to live. She said the new market for birds and pets will be three times bigger than the present one. There are 78 pet stores at present scattered in Bur Dubai and Deira. Traders have welcomed the idea of setting up the new market, particularly special clinics for pets and birds. Their views about the type of air-conditioning in the new market will be considered, she said. According to a survey of the Investment Department of Dubai Municipality, 44 per cent of the people in the pets and birds trade were Emiratis. Other Arabs made up 7 per cent, Indians (26 per cent), Pakistanis (19 per cent) and other nationalities (4 per cent). http://www.emirates247.com/lifestyle/new-birds-and-pets-market-to-open-in-dubai-2012-01-05-1.436042 Imre January 5th, 2012, 01:34 PM Finally something new :) 14/October/2011 Marina Hotel (next to Bay Central) http://i56.tinypic.com/r1lpw9.jpg http://i51.tinypic.com/2yzmsmh.jpg http://i52.tinypic.com/19wjk7.jpg http://i54.tinypic.com/6sxdas.jpg http://i56.tinypic.com/287niia.jpg Here we are:) 5/Jan/2012 Just seen front of Botanica, board next to Bay Central plot:) http://i41.tinypic.com/j7sz92.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/11jlxzl.jpg http://i43.tinypic.com/20h11w.jpg Parisian Girl January 10th, 2012, 02:02 AM http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18499_1_image1.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18499_2_image2.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18499_3_image3.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18499_4_image4.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18499_5_image5.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/18499_6_mainimagelarge.jpg Monday 09 Jan 2012 Three essential threads run through this design: an extraordinary plot in an environmentally sensitive area, high-end facilities for the users, as well as an innovative design. The goal of the design was to surpass even the high expectations of the developer and the end users, with each apartment to be considered as a scarcity amongst treasures. As a 'boutique building' the design reflects a prestigious lifestyle from its broad concept to the meticulously considered details. The design of the facade features slightly inclined and curved columns, cylindrical in section, which not only provide structural support but also resemble reeds – a kind of reminder of the proximity of the mangroves and marine habitat nearby. The building is highly glazed to enable users to enjoy the superb open views, even when using the spar pools abutting the glazing system. A double skin of glazing is used to resist excessive heat gain, playing its part in raising the sustainability of the building. The same effect is provided by the green roof, provided as a leisure garden for the users. Comfort and delight for the users extends to the use of smart built-in interactive systems and numerous superb facilities. In this way the building is intended to arouse visual interest from afar but also presents delightful details as one gets closer and then indeed goes inside. Key Facts: Status: Concept design Value: 0(m€) BEAD Architects & Engineers http://bead-architects.com http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18687 Parisian Girl January 10th, 2012, 02:38 AM http://i41.tinypic.com/zsuuzm.jpg http://i42.tinypic.com/157onls.jpg http://i40.tinypic.com/208gtwz.jpg http://i42.tinypic.com/27x2ya9.jpg About This project is positioned at the most extreme end of luxury. The design goal is to surpass developers and end users expectations, both in immediate visual impact as well as long term practicality. Each single living unit is conceived as a scarce treasure, a must-have for a high society member. As a boutique building it communicates a prestigious life both from the inside and the outside. Discerning residents will choose these apartments for their visionary spaces, the luxury of being served by state-of-the-art and built-in interactive systems, and the numerous superb facilities. Location - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Building status - concept proposal Number of stories - 8 Site size - 1921 m2 Site type - urban Building area - 10400 m2 A project by: BEAD Architects & Engineers (http://www.architizer.com/en_us/firms/view/bead-architects-engineers/20448/) http://www.architizer.com/en_us/projects/view/mangrove-elite-residences/28091/ musiccity January 11th, 2012, 05:39 AM Mixed Use Tower - 91F http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9362/dubaitower1.jpg http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6698/dubaitower3.jpg Located on the shore at the foot of Palm Jumeirah Island, this development proposed 911,675 SF tower soaring 91 stories above the sea level. Incorporating 15 levels of parking with electronically programmed valet, 7 levels of extreme-luxury boutiques, 28 levels of hotel with 140 luxury suites topped with duplex and triplex condominium units, spa, roof terrace and other amenities. Source (http://www.diarch.net/mixeduse/mixed-use-tower-dubai-uae/) Parisian Girl January 11th, 2012, 05:50 AM Thanks for sharing. :cheers: Imre January 11th, 2012, 07:31 AM ^^ Website says its in Palm Jumeirah but location map from Palm Jebel Ali :) http://www.diarch.net/site/wp-content/gallery/dubai/map-copy.jpg Parisian Girl January 11th, 2012, 08:40 AM ^^ Yes, saw that earlier. Odd looking tower I must say. It kinda looks like another tower that was proposed a few years ago.. can't remember the name of it though?? An F1 circuit on PJA would be fun! :D Face81 January 19th, 2012, 02:54 PM 90F Marina proposal.... http://i42.tinypic.com/65tjwn.jpg And this one.... Perhaps at Jewel of the Creek? http://i42.tinypic.com/oi8uwi.jpg Source: www.johnrharris.com THE DUBAI GUYS January 20th, 2012, 08:07 AM And this one.... Perhaps at Jewel of the Creek? http://i42.tinypic.com/oi8uwi.jpg Source: www.johnrharris.com this one is some where along the creek...IF the render is accurate...it looks like it culd be somewhere opp the heritage village because that bldg to the left of it looks like one thats there now... R Face81 January 20th, 2012, 11:22 AM ^^ I think you're right! It must be this plot in red, next to The George Hotel, behind the library...... http://i42.tinypic.com/2w54q2p.jpg THE DUBAI GUYS January 21st, 2012, 04:00 PM while pasing the shangrila on SZR today...i saw some workers painting the boards that have marked part of the plot rite next to the hotel. those boards looked old but its the first time I have noticed them. R Face81 January 22nd, 2012, 02:43 PM while pasing the shangrila on SZR today...i saw some workers painting the boards that have marked part of the plot rite next to the hotel. those boards looked old but its the first time I have noticed them. R That was supposed to be for Sumo Towers, if I remember corretly? http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=545521 http://www.bmg-group.de/content/articles/projects/pictures/sumo01.jpg The link on BMG's site still works!! :tongue2: http://www.bmg-group.de/index.php?de_sumo_tower THE DUBAI GUYS January 23rd, 2012, 06:38 AM That was supposed to be for Sumo Towers, if I remember corretly? http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=545521 http://www.bmg-group.de/content/articles/projects/pictures/sumo01.jpg The link on BMG's site still works!! :tongue2: http://www.bmg-group.de/index.php?de_sumo_tower I remember that...i dont know if its going ahead but why wuld they be painting boards...it was rather random...i still like the design of this... R Face81 January 23rd, 2012, 11:16 AM I remember that...i dont know if its going ahead but why wuld they be painting boards...it was rather random...i still like the design of this... R I always liked this one as well. I hope it gets built some day, just not as an office tower! :cheers: Face81 January 24th, 2012, 11:32 AM Artificial 25-storey freezing ski hills will have a colony of Antarctic birds year-round in a specially-created area By Derek Baldwin, Chief Reporter Published: 00:00 January 24, 2012 http://i41.tinypic.com/21l0bpj.jpg Image Credit: Photo courtesy: Ski Dubai A colony of snow penguins get acquainted with the environment at Ski Dubai. The seafaring birds are part of what Ski Dubai said is a “multi-generation breeding programme at Sea World” and were born and bred in captivity. Dubai: Snow penguins now living permanently at Ski Dubai's 25-storey snow-covered wonderland don't usually give interviews to the media. But at month's end, Dubai's newest stars will meet the press in a media briefing before the mountain-themed ski hill opens its newest attraction, Snow Penguins at Ski Dubai, to the world sometime in February. To be housed year-round in the 22,500 square-metre facility chilled to a constant -1 degree C to -2C and covered with snow, the colony of penguins "will live in a specially created environment which mirrors the Antarctica", Ski Dubai said in a statement. Exciting attraction The seafaring birds are part of what Ski Dubai said is a "multi-generation breeding programme at Sea World" and were born and bred in captivity. Organisers billed the environmental awareness project as "the world's first exciting attraction of its kind" and pledged that patrons young and old will be offered a rare chance to see penguins in their new environment. "Visitors will soon have a rare opportunity to interact with these remarkable birds in a one-of-a-kind intimate encounter and learn about their unique traits and habits. Mall of the Emirates visitors will also be able to enjoy viewing the snow penguin's natural antics during the grand presentation of the ‘March of the Penguins', starting in February 2012," the ski resort said. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/environment/dubai-facility-gets-ready-to-host-snow-penguins-1.970159 AltinD January 24th, 2012, 10:28 PM And Crowne Plazza on SZR will build a 8 storey parking lot at the back. Shouldn't they actually (re)build a new main building/tower first? :laugh: THE DUBAI GUYS January 25th, 2012, 06:32 AM And Crowne Plazza on SZR will build a 8 storey parking lot at the back. Shouldn't they actually (re)build a new main building/tower first? :laugh: LOL! Yes they SHOULD do that first! R AltinD January 25th, 2012, 12:57 PM ^^ And the adjacent Holiday Center is TOTALLY dead, except for the road facing restaurants/coffee shops ... which are within the Hotel's recint anyway. Face81 January 25th, 2012, 03:48 PM ^^ Serves them right for getting rid of McDonalds and TGIF! THE DUBAI GUYS January 26th, 2012, 09:54 AM who remembers this: The Highest 6 Star Hotel in the World Golden Dome Dubai http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELmRZgrSmCw LOL! Culd this have been what was in store for emirates bbay plot BEFORE they settled on EK Park Towers... R Face81 January 26th, 2012, 11:26 AM ^^ Ha ha! Most people will remember that! Although I think that was destined to be behind Etisalat Tower II? AltinD January 26th, 2012, 10:24 PM ^^ Serves them right for getting rid of McDonalds and TGIF! Those happened later ... pluc McD moved just a few meters away. BTW, I remember when in 2000 the place was The Place, with all the supercars and stuff :D Face81 January 27th, 2012, 11:59 AM Those happened later ... pluc McD moved just a few meters away. BTW, I remember when in 2000 the place was The Place, with all the supercars and stuff :D Seems like such a long time ago now!! THE DUBAI GUYS February 6th, 2012, 12:59 PM this was an interesting concept...for Zaabeel. :P http://i40.tinypic.com/n5r249.jpg Office and Hotel Towers No. of Floors: G + 50 Facts Services rendered Architectural Design (Concept) Period 2008 Client NOOR Islamic Bank, Dubai (U.A.E.) Cost estimate 85 Million USD (312 Million DHS) http://www.klingconsult.com/portfolio_detail.aspx?ID=500 R gerald.d February 6th, 2012, 04:26 PM Why have one Gherkin when you can have three? Face81 February 6th, 2012, 04:53 PM this was an interesting concept...for Zaabeel. :P http://i40.tinypic.com/n5r249.jpg Office and Hotel Towers No. of Floors: G + 50 Facts Services rendered Architectural Design (Concept) Period 2008 Client NOOR Islamic Bank, Dubai (U.A.E.) Cost estimate 85 Million USD (312 Million DHS) http://www.klingconsult.com/portfolio_detail.aspx?ID=500 R ha ha! Those would have looked so ugly! ESPECIALLY as they would end up being called Gherkin 2.0 or Swiss RE 2.0!! :lol: Imre February 7th, 2012, 01:10 PM Soil testing just begun between the Eden Blue plot and KG Tower in Dubai Marina, thats a big plot , good for 2-3 towers. I Know February 8th, 2012, 08:31 PM This would look great around Dubai, in places like Business Bay maybe. :) Also in the Marina area would be a good option. http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/phpthumbnails/72/72040/72040_1_600.jpeg http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/phpthumbnails/72/72040/72040_2_600.jpeg http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/first-mosque-in-copenhagen#!/photos/72040/1 Imre February 10th, 2012, 03:06 PM Soil testing just begun between the Eden Blue plot and KG Tower in Dubai Marina, thats a big plot , good for 2-3 towers. Something new 10/February/2012 Between KG Tower and Eden Blue plot , soil testing http://i41.tinypic.com/21dlizm.jpg http://i44.tinypic.com/35m4lye.jpg http://i43.tinypic.com/34t9ydv.jpg I Know February 12th, 2012, 12:43 PM Should be good when its finished Dubai Municipality plans new zoo in emirate Project aims to transfer animals from the old Dubai zoo to the new one By Shveta Pathak, Staff Reporter Published: 12:55 February 12, 2012 http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/dubai-municipality-plans-new-zoo-in-emirate-1.979408 Dubai_Steve February 12th, 2012, 08:24 PM The world’s first rotating tower will not be coming up in Dubai, but in London, construction on which will commence this year, Emirates 24|7 can reveal. London-based Dynamic Group is, however, optimistic that the Dubai project will commence as and when the market conditions allow it. “We will announce the start of the construction in London in due time. Most probably within the year,” the developer said in an emailed statement. Whilst in an email sent to investors worldwide, it said: “We are now close to starting construction on the first building in motion in London, which will become a world landmark. “This building will be a ‘Centre of Excellence’ and an icon of future lifestyles and sustainability.” The company website lists the London Dynamic Project as of profound relevance to a city reclaiming its role of ‘Center of the World’. “As the city prepares to host for the third time the Summer Olympics in 2012, it wishes to bring this icon of future life to London, receiving its own rotating tower to serve as the landmark for the event, and an inspiration for generations to come,” it adds Asked about its Dubai plan, the company said: “As far as Dubai - we will love to know... and we hope as soon as the conditions will allow it. In March 2011, Emirates 24|7 reported that the developers of Dubai's Dynamic Tower, where each of the 80 floors will be able to rotate independently, are keen to put the project back on track. “The Dynamic Tower in Dubai is on hold due to the current situation. Of course, Dr David Fisher and our team would be delighted to have the tower in Dubai on track,” Simona Casati, Press Office & Communication Manager, Dynamic Architecture Group, had said The latest market insight report from Kay and Co, a London-based property market research specialist, shows that Middle Eastern applicants are up 50 per cent compared to the same time last year, accounting for 30 per cent of all sales applicants in the first three months of 2011 The report adds that the number of buyers originating from the Middle East has significantly increased in the wake of the Egyptian crisis and the wider unrest in the region. Buyers are predominantly interested in properties with asking prices of over £5 million (Dh29 million). http://www.emirates247.com/property/real-estate/world-s-first-rotating-tower-not-to-come-up-in-dubai-2012-02-11-1.442343 AltinD February 12th, 2012, 11:14 PM Bllah, bllah, bllah THE DUBAI GUYS February 17th, 2012, 08:14 AM where culd this be: Jebel Ali hotelier buys $100m Dubai beach property By Louise Oakley Thursday, 16 February 2012 2:06 PM Dubai company Jebel Ali International Hotels (JAIH) has acquired a beach-facing property in Dubai Marina’s Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) for more than $100 million. The purpose-built 341-room hotel, bought from Abu Dhabi-based Das Holdings just three weeks ago, is expected to open in October 2012. Yet to be named, it will be a four-star hotel owned and operated by JAIH, which manages a portfolio of hotels including Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Hatta Fort Hotel and Oasis Beach Tower, also in JBR. JAIH regional general manager David Thomson told Hotelier Middle East magazine yesterday: “We are delighted to announce that really the first acquisition for the company since we originally opened [Jebel Ali Hotel] 30 years ago is a property which is about half a kilometre from [Oasis Beach Tower] on the JBR next to Amwaj Rotana. “It’s a brand new hotel. We’re going to open it as the first four-star hotel on the beach, or in a beach location, which Dubai doesn’t have since the Oasis Beach Hotel, which we used to run [was demolished in 2009].” Thomson said the hotel was complete but that JAIH would be investing more than $20 million in architectural upgrades and fit-out. “It was over $100 million in terms of the purchase price and we would expect to be investing probably another certainly $20 million plus in terms of the development of what’s there now, the FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment), the cosmetics changes we want to make,” revealed Thomson. He said the hotel would predominately be targeting leisure guest and families, who will also have access to the beach facilities at Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa. “Essentially it is leisure that we’re looking towards. One of the things we do really well is we offer as very friendly kind of relaxed service in all our properties and that’s something we want to emulate in this particular hotel as well. “We want guests to enjoy themselves — they’re in a four-star beach resort which is all about going on holiday and kicking back,” said Thomson. “We will pitch ourselves slightly below the competitive set on The Walk but not too far below; we believe what we’ve got there is a fabulous product so we believe it will command a reasonable price. The star rating really isn’t part of a our rate strategy, it’s more in terms of the look and feel of the hotel, we want people to feel comfortable when they come in there, we don’t want them to feel like they’re walking into a high end five-star environment which sort of carries whole behaviour issues around it,” he explained. Thomson is confident the JBR hotel will be successful, expecting average occupancies of around 80 percent year round. “We really believe it’s going to do extremely well; we imagine occupancies in the 80s pretty much year-round. We see Dubai going from strength to strength on the leisure side. Leisure arrivals are keeping pace with the available inventory that’s on the beach and we see that going up and we’re very well placed for that. “This is a property that we wanted to own for sure,” said Thomson. JAIH was established in 1981 as a branch of Dutco. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/jebel-ali-hotelier-buys-100m-dubai-beach-property-445725.html R Imre February 17th, 2012, 09:49 AM where culd this be: ^^ on the JBR next to Amwaj Rotana. Exactly this:) Originally Crowne Plaza but was empty for years.. I found an old pic for it: http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2879/imresolt123ss9.jpg (http://imageshack.us) Imre February 17th, 2012, 10:08 AM More updated here from Benji: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2497996837_b156a42f7c_b.jpg Face81 February 17th, 2012, 11:09 AM where culd this be: Jebel Ali hotelier buys $100m Dubai beach property By Louise Oakley Thursday, 16 February 2012 2:06 PM Dubai company Jebel Ali International Hotels (JAIH) has acquired a beach-facing property in Dubai Marina’s Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) for more than $100 million. The purpose-built 341-room hotel, bought from Abu Dhabi-based Das Holdings just three weeks ago, is expected to open in October 2012. Yet to be named, it will be a four-star hotel owned and operated by JAIH, which manages a portfolio of hotels including Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa, Hatta Fort Hotel and Oasis Beach Tower, also in JBR. JAIH regional general manager David Thomson told Hotelier Middle East magazine yesterday: “We are delighted to announce that really the first acquisition for the company since we originally opened [Jebel Ali Hotel] 30 years ago is a property which is about half a kilometre from [Oasis Beach Tower] on the JBR next to Amwaj Rotana. “It’s a brand new hotel. We’re going to open it as the first four-star hotel on the beach, or in a beach location, which Dubai doesn’t have since the Oasis Beach Hotel, which we used to run [was demolished in 2009].” Thomson said the hotel was complete but that JAIH would be investing more than $20 million in architectural upgrades and fit-out. “It was over $100 million in terms of the purchase price and we would expect to be investing probably another certainly $20 million plus in terms of the development of what’s there now, the FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment), the cosmetics changes we want to make,” revealed Thomson. He said the hotel would predominately be targeting leisure guest and families, who will also have access to the beach facilities at Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa. “Essentially it is leisure that we’re looking towards. One of the things we do really well is we offer as very friendly kind of relaxed service in all our properties and that’s something we want to emulate in this particular hotel as well. “We want guests to enjoy themselves — they’re in a four-star beach resort which is all about going on holiday and kicking back,” said Thomson. “We will pitch ourselves slightly below the competitive set on The Walk but not too far below; we believe what we’ve got there is a fabulous product so we believe it will command a reasonable price. The star rating really isn’t part of a our rate strategy, it’s more in terms of the look and feel of the hotel, we want people to feel comfortable when they come in there, we don’t want them to feel like they’re walking into a high end five-star environment which sort of carries whole behaviour issues around it,” he explained. Thomson is confident the JBR hotel will be successful, expecting average occupancies of around 80 percent year round. “We really believe it’s going to do extremely well; we imagine occupancies in the 80s pretty much year-round. We see Dubai going from strength to strength on the leisure side. Leisure arrivals are keeping pace with the available inventory that’s on the beach and we see that going up and we’re very well placed for that. “This is a property that we wanted to own for sure,” said Thomson. JAIH was established in 1981 as a branch of Dutco. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/jebel-ali-hotelier-buys-100m-dubai-beach-property-445725.html R More updated here from Benji: Good find. Do we have a thread for this? Imre February 17th, 2012, 03:49 PM Good find. Do we have a thread for this? Same thread as JBR , all hotels all there . bizzybonita March 2nd, 2012, 03:43 AM Zabeel Master plan City http://i42.tinypic.com/2j1vehd.jpg By http://www.klingmann.com bizzybonita March 2nd, 2012, 03:53 AM (Non)-Winners Announced for ThyssenKrupp Elevator Architecture Award 2008-2009 http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/any_love_for_the_losers_of_thyssenkrupp_elevators_dubai_competition/ THE DUBAI GUYS March 2nd, 2012, 08:31 AM i hope the zaabeel city master lan goes ahead...it wuld make good use of that barren space... as for the the Tall Emblem Structure for Zaabeel park..i liked the fan one and the one which was a cresent. R Face81 March 2nd, 2012, 11:42 AM It will come back some day. If Daubi gets to host the World Expo, we can be almost certain the pace of development will pick up once more :) I like the crecent tower thing as well. Probably the most sensible one of the lot! firoz bharmal March 5th, 2012, 10:19 AM Video link.............Dubai means Business..... http://vision.ae/business/numbers?ut...mpaign=numbers __________________ Imre March 8th, 2012, 06:12 PM 08/March/2012 Plot next to Infinity Tower, any idea whats going on , Al Futtaim Carillion already there.. http://i44.tinypic.com/14j6iyh.jpg http://i43.tinypic.com/t8uo9t.jpg Face81 March 9th, 2012, 11:26 AM ^^ A new mall? AltinD March 9th, 2012, 11:32 AM Some kind of infrastructure work? :dunno: Imre March 10th, 2012, 01:48 PM Any idea? 10/March/2012 Plot between Torch and Marina Heights https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/431498_10151376184660648_741515647_23373922_1534025754_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421061_10151376197915648_741515647_23373960_1593215005_n.jpg jsmith6 March 12th, 2012, 03:11 PM Anyone know where the Four Seasons Hotel will be built? Work starts on Four Seasons hotel in Dubai By Louise Birchall Sunday, 11 March 2012 7:13 PM Dubai Contracting has started construction works on Four Seasons’ first hotel in Dubai, executive vice president of worldwide development Scott Woroch has confirmed. Speaking at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, Woroch said he could not reveal details of the development, but said an official announcement would be made soon. “We’re very actively engaged on a project in Dubai. It’s no secret that’s a market we’ve been monitoring closely and trying to find the right deal, and I think now we’re very close to making an announcement – we’ve got a great site,” Woroch said in comments published by Hotelier Middle East. “It’s something we’re very excited about. It’s going to position the brand in very good location, with a great partner,” he added. The Toronto-based hotel firm has been looking for a suitable location in Dubai since construction of a Four Seasons hotel in Festival City was called off by developer Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate in June 2009 - at the height of the global economic downturn - according to Woroch. “Dubai is one of the most important markets in the Middle East, it’s a large in-point for a lot of travellers into the region and from an international perspective it really is the most established [Middle East] destination from North America, Europe and Asia,” he said. “Dubai has been very successful in being both a business and a leisure destination and that’s one of the reasons the market has been so successful.” However, Woroch said there was room for the further development of attractions in Dubai. “There’s always room for adding more attractions, but what’s developed over the last several years is dubai as a beach destination and as a world-class shopping destination”. http://m.arabianbusiness.com/work-starts-on-four-seasons-hotel-in-dubai-449423.html AltinD March 12th, 2012, 03:50 PM Yes, we already have a thread for it. The place used to be a Hilton Resort in the 90s and early 2000s (lost my watch in the changing/shower rooms just a few days in Dubai for the first time :ohno:), then Jumeirah ran it for some years, and then it closed and remained so for years. It is located just before the Jumeirah Beach Park. Imre March 12th, 2012, 04:22 PM Yes, we already have a thread for it. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1452817 :cheers: jsmith6 March 12th, 2012, 04:26 PM AltinD and Imre, thanks for the information. THE DUBAI GUYS March 13th, 2012, 10:09 AM Dont know if we have athread for this... Name : Sarah Mixed-use Tower Project - Dubailand Residential Complex Description : Construction of a commercial and residential building comprising 4 basement levels, a ground floor and 16 additional floors offering 288 apartments of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms, with other amenities such as a swimming pool, a health club, children’s play area, 24-hour security, 4-level car park and central air conditioning, including showrooms on the ground floor. Territory : Dubai Updated : March 12, 2012 Status : Current Project http://www.emiratestenders.com/CategoryResult.asp?CategoryId=28 R Parisian Girl March 17th, 2012, 11:43 PM http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19161_1_Aedas-Main-Image-1000-px.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19161_2_Aedas-Additional-Image-1.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19161_3_Aedas-Additional-Image-2.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19161_4_Aedas-Additional-Image-3.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19161_5_Aedas-Additional-Image-4.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19161_6_Aedas-Additional-Image-5.jpg © 2012 Aedas. All rights reserved. Aedas designs shaded spaces for an exclusive through school Wednesday 29 Feb 2012 In October 2010 Aedas were asked to prepare design proposals for a Royal Academy to be sited on the southern coast of Abu Dhabi Island. The brief was relatively open in terms of the Academy’s requirements, with the team simply being asked to provide designs for a ‘through’ school for approximately 1200 students aged 6-18 comprising; teaching spaces, a health & physical education centre, dining area, play areas, administration facilities, a mosque and equine facilities. Alongside the school, a 400 key 5* hotel was required for students’ visiting families, as well as residential facilities for the students and staff. Status: Concept design Aedas Architects: http://www.aedas.com/ http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=19161 eghaedi March 21st, 2012, 02:22 PM HH Sheikh Mohammad announces launch of the Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District in Downtown Dubai http://s1-04.twitpicproxy.com/photos/full/542975400.jpg?key=804598 http://s1-01.twitpicproxy.com/photos/full/542975399.jpg?key=840560 http://s1-05.twitpicproxy.com/photos/full/542975411.jpg?key=832556 Imre March 21st, 2012, 02:49 PM HH Sheikh Mohammad announces launch of the Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District in Downtown Dubai http://twitpic.com/8z9uio http://twitpic.com/8z9uhz http://twitpic.com/8z9uib Looks good http://s1-01.twitpicproxy.com/photos/large/542975399.jpg?key=840560 http://s1-05.twitpicproxy.com/photos/large/542975411.jpg?key=832556 http://s1-04.twitpicproxy.com/photos/large/542975400.jpg?key=804598 jsmith6 March 22nd, 2012, 05:32 AM Looks good Where will this be, exactly? OmarPERU March 22nd, 2012, 06:04 AM That's in front of standpoint residences opposite to burj park Josau March 22nd, 2012, 09:24 AM DUBAI // The arts received a double boost yesterday with the announcement of two multimillion-dirham projects. Related ■ UK art lovers get a picture of Dubai's thriving arts scene ■ Art grant recipients must give back to UAE community Topic Art The first, a glittering new cultural district in Downtown Dubai, will cater for aficionados of both opera and modern art. The second, the expansion of the blossoming grassroots art scene in Al Quoz industrial area, will provide studio and gallery space for aspiring artists. Emaar’s Downtown Dubai development was announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The new district will include a modern art museum and opera house. Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz will double in size by 2014 as part of a Dh50m expansion plan. Both announcements were made on the opening day of the Art Dubai international fair, part of the emirate’s annual Art Week. The plans for Dubai’s new cultural district include not only the opera house and modern art gallery, but two “art hotels”, leisure attractions, design studios and apartments. “The cultural accomplishments of a nation define its character and individuality,” said Sheikh Mohammed in a statement released by the state news agency Wam. “Having demonstrated our credentials in hosting world-class cultural events, the UAE has established itself as a thriving destination for culture and the arts. “We will continue to strengthen the infrastructure framework for promoting cultural initiatives, through projects such as the Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District. This will not only encourage our talented local artists but also facilitate global cultural exchange.” Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “It will be Dubai’s definitive entertainment destination that stimulates creativity, supports the arts sector, and also offers visitors their choice of hospitality and leisure. “The focus of Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District is to stimulate the city’s cultural and artistic milieu through an opera house, modern art museum, galleries and design studios – in short, the entire infrastructure for arts and culture to thrive.” The architectural plans for the district, which will be centred on Emaar Boulevard, are being finalised, and construction work is expected to start soon. The opera house announcement was welcomed by Art Dubai fair director Antonia Carver: “It’s always very positive to have cultural centres of all kinds, whether they be performing or visual arts. It’s very exciting. “Art Week really showcases the growing maturity of the Dubai arts scene. The vision of public cultural centres and not-for-profit institutions is perhaps the new way that is now happening in Dubai to complement the commercial sector.” Alserkal Avenue has grown steadily since 2007 with the support of the entrepreneur Abdelmonem Alserkal. The expansion plan is a response to increasing demand for space and is due to be completed in 2014, with the entire Dh50 million cost being met by the Alserkal family. At present half of the avenue’s 39 warehouse spaces are used for cultural purposes, and a further 62 units ranging in size from 93 square metres to more than 650 sq m are to be created in the new extension. There will be an events centre large enough to hold 1,000 people, and the project will increase the avenue’s total area to 92,000 sq m. Parking for 500 cars will be provided, and the existing galleries will continue to operate normally during the development of the adjoining site. “I think this is the natural growth of the art community that was born in this area,” said Mr Alserkal. “It will add an extension of the art community in Dubai where artists, galleries and art lovers can get together and share their concerns.” He said the galleries and artists who had moved to the district deserved the praise for its growth: “I think the risk was taken by the art galleries who came and invested here. OK, we had the vision, but they are the ones that put in their money and believed in this area. They are the ones that should be given the credit for investing here.” The plans include a private museum to display items from the family’s collection. “We are forming a fund to invest in international art and local art,” Mr Alserkal said. “The existing art we have is mostly international and mostly has to do with Arabic calligraphy and Arabic and Islamic design.” He said Emirati artists would benefit from the expansion, and he and his team were discussing how this would be achieved. The initiative was welcomed by existing gallery owners. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, creative director of the Fn Design Studio, said: “I think it’s very exciting, the expansion will bring more galleries and more people. I think it’s going to be fantastic once everyone comes in and the expansion happens, it’s going to bring more recognition to the area. “It’ll be good not just for Emirati artists, because Dubai is a mix of cultures, and I think it should be promoting every artist from around the world who is living and working here.” csimpson@thenational.ae When reading the official announcement of the project, one will notice, that it is again linked to "arts hotels and apartments", meaning it is linked to real estate. When does Dubai understand, that culture is an investment in itself, you cannot finance it with real estate. This is how the first Dubai Opera house project failed. However, the downtown neighborhood is by Dubai standards much more mature, than the "Lagoon" project was. So I'd say this is quite likely to happen during the next 10 years. Imre March 22nd, 2012, 05:21 PM Just seen the CNN,football theme park , Real-Madridland in Ras Al Khaimah :) Imre March 22nd, 2012, 05:27 PM Real Madrid to open theme park in UAE Los Blancos president Florentino Perez will disclose the details of the project at a press conference which will be attended by a number of the club's star players 21-Mar-2012 1:34:00 AM By Alberto Pinero Real Madrid will on Thursday announce plans to open their own theme park in United Arab Emirates. Its construction will be officially confirmed at a press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu, which is expected to be attended by club president Florentino Perez and a representative of Ras Al Khaimah's government, as well as several members of Los Blancos' first-team squad. The theme park will be the main attraction on the planned 'Real Madrid Resort Island', a project which the club have been working on for the past six months in the strictest secrecy. The Liga giants have already gone public, though, with their intention to build a theme park in Valdebebas, which is located to the north east of the Spanish capital. As part of Perez's ambitions plans for the club, the Madrid president has also given the go-ahead for the Santiago Bernabeu to be given a facelift which will result in the exterior of the stadium being given 'a skin' akin to the one which is wrapped around Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena. http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/138/spain/2012/03/21/2980603/real-madrid-to-open-theme-park-in-uae Face81 March 22nd, 2012, 07:11 PM ^^ RAK? :lol: UAE Investor March 22nd, 2012, 11:02 PM ^^ RAK? :lol: not going to be any where obvious like Dubai sports city.... :lol: bizzybonita March 23rd, 2012, 12:29 AM Real Mardid FC want to invest on RAK ( Real Mardid Island ) http://s.alriyadh.com/2012/03/22/img/820656572467.jpg http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032012/58/liga-real-madrid-build-1-billion-uae-holiday-resort.html Guest89 March 23rd, 2012, 12:42 AM ^^ RAK? :lol: My thoughts exactly. :D Can't wait for Barcelona to move in next door in Umm al-Quwain. :lol: Imre March 23rd, 2012, 06:30 AM Real Mardid FC want to invest on RAK ( Real Mardid Island ) http://s.alriyadh.com/2012/03/22/img/820656572467.jpg http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22032012/58/liga-real-madrid-build-1-billion-uae-holiday-resort.html Sounds good: A presentation at the Bernabeu on Thursday showed plans for sports facilities, a marina, luxury hotels and villas, an amusement park, a club museum and a 10,000-seat stadium with one side open to the sea. AltinD March 23rd, 2012, 11:57 AM Can't wait for Barcelona to move in next door in Umm al-Quwain. :lol: Y U want Barracuda replaced? :lol: Face81 March 23rd, 2012, 06:53 PM Rory Jones Mar 21, 2012 Nakheel is in negotiations with Ikea to build a major store at Ibn Battuta Mall as part of the Dubai developer's huge expansion of the shopping centre. The mall is set to double in size and Ikea is being considered to fill a large part of the space, following the appointment of a consultant by Nakheel to examine the project. The store at Ibn Battuta Mall would be more than 30,000 square metres and similar in size to its successful sister store on Yas Island in the capital. The Ikea store at Festival City caters for the Northern Emirates and the older areas of Dubai, while the new store target shoppers from Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Discovery Gardens. "I hope to sign," said Adnan Hegrat, the head of malls and retail at Nakheel. "It's 90 per cent yes. We are having an expansion of the mall and we hope Ikea will be part of this expansion," he said. A representative of the Al-Futtaim Group, whose retail division holds the franchise for Ikea, stressed the two companies were still in negotiations and declined to comment further. Analysts said an Ikea at Ibn Battuta Mall would be popular and would probably not affect sales at its other two stores in the country. "One's at one end of town and one would be at the other, so I think it's a good idea," said David Macadam, the head of retail for the Middle East at Jones Lang LaSalle,a property specialists. "There's enough population growth to support both stores." Ikea's store in Yas Mall celebrated its first anniversary last week, having moved from Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall. The home furnishings brand had a strong year for sales last year and welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors to its Yas store, according to the company. Ibn Battuta Mall is on of the largest themed malls in the world, with about 111,500 square metres of leasable retail space and more than 265 stores. The extension is expected to include a mix of retail, entertainment and hotels. Nakheel has also announced it would double the size of Dragon Mart, the huge Chinese shopping and trading centre on the outskirts of Dubai, adding about 158,000 square metres of retail space and 5,000 parking spaces. It is in the process of raising Dh300 million (US$81.6m) from banks to build The Pointe, a retail, residential and marina development on the Palm Jumeirah that will include 75 retail stores and 125 food and beverage outlets. Nakheel is also expected to begin work on the much-anticipated Palm Mall this year, which will offer about 80,000 square metres of leasable retail space. Al-Futtaim Group, which was founded more than 70 years ago, operates more than 40 companies with 20,000 employees in at least 20 countries. In addition to Ikea, Al-Futtaim's retail division holds the franchise for Marks & Spencer and operates Plug-Ins Electronix in the UAE. rjones@thenational.ae http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/retail/ibn-battuta-explores-chances-for-ikea-store THE DUBAI GUYS March 27th, 2012, 06:08 AM Mall developer targets Abu Dhabi By Orlando Crowcroft, Business News Editor Published: 00:00 March 27, 2012 Dubai: Developer Majid Al-Futtaim (MAF) plans to spend as much as Dh3 billion over the next 12 months with a major new mall in Abu Dhabi in its sights. Chief executive officer Iyad Malas said yesterday that MAF was currently looking for land in both Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and that the UAE capital had a need for a large destination mall close to the city centre. He added that although an Abu Dhabi project was at a very early stage, it could be worth as much as Dh3 billion and be around the same size as Dubai's Mirdif City Centre. Not fixed spending plans "We are looking at land in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to develop malls, but these are ambitions more than fixed spending plans. We would like to build them, but can we find the right land in the right location at the right price? That is the big challenge," he said. "Our research shows that if you can find something on (Abu Dhabi) island, then that would be a good business proposition http://gulfnews.com/business/property/gulf/mall-developer-targets-abu-dhabi-1.1000043 R Imre March 30th, 2012, 09:25 AM New project from The First Group ( location is between the KG Tower and Eden Blue plot) TFG Marina Hotel / HOTEL / 30 floors Introducing TFG Marina Hotel, a prestigious hotel development set in the heart of one of Dubai's most coveted and breath-taking locations. Dubai Marina, the world's second largest man-made marina, is a vibrant city within a city, offering residents and visitors the ultimate in cosmopolitan living, right on the water's edge. Located in the heart of 'New Dubai', Dubai Marina is superbly and centrally situated just off Sheikh Zayed Road's Interchange 5, with fast and convenient connections via road and the Dubai Metro to anywhere in the city. Covering 30 floors, TFG Marina Hotel is a stunning development featuring 519 luxuriously appointed hotel rooms. Each turnkey residence is fully furnished and equipped to the highest standards, with cutting edge, contemporary design and finishing throughout. The spacious ground floor lobby unfolds into a multitude of food and beverage outlets, while situated right next to the hotel is the Club House annex. This four storey building houses a great number of exclusive recreational facilities, including a state of the art gym and luxurious roof top swimming pool. Residents and guests can also enjoy all the comforts of home, coupled with the convenience and luxury of a hotel, with full management and services aligned to international 4 star standards. Dubai Marina has become the place to reside in the city, thanks to its ultimate, eclectic atmosphere, wealth of amenities and unrivalled waterside and sea views. Take a short stroll from TFG Marina Hotel and breathe in the fresh sea breeze, watch the world go by at one of the many buzzing Cafés and restaurants along the Marina Walk, or enjoy a spot of retail therapy in the diverse array of shopping outlets, including the area's popular Dubai Marina Mall. Just minutes away is the popular Jumeirah Beach Walk, an extensive stretch of al fresco dining and shopping options, located on the seafront. With so much on offer, it is no wonder the Dubai Marina has become one of the world's most desirable lifestyles. TFG Marina Hotel offers guests and residents the opportunity to truly live this exclusive dream. http://www.thefirstgroup.com/tfgmarinahotel/ THE DUBAI GUYS April 1st, 2012, 06:39 AM i hope they bring back their SZR tower! Developer inks deals to restart Dubai projects By Andy Sambidge Saturday, 31 March 2012 12:55 PM Kuwait-listed developer Al Mazaya Holding said on Saturday it had signed contracts to restart some of its suspended real estate projects in Dubai. The company said between 70-80 percent of its problems in Dubai had been resolved and was noticing "some signs of demand on real estate units by international companies". The renewed demand has encouraged Al Mazaya to sign construction resumption contracts for some of its projects in Dubai, it said in a statement without giving further details. The company added that it was in the process of resuming another project soon. The announcement came as Al Mazaya Holding reported a net loss of $57.2m in 2011, weighed by provisions totalling $142.9m. Rashid Al Nafisi, chairman, said that Al Mazaya Holding was able to "deliver its real estate projects inside Kuwait and abroad and to pay a large part of its obligations to companies, investors and individuals in 2011". He added: "Al Mazaya was able to maintain its financial standing, operational performance and market position thanks to careful planning and the implementation of the firm's precautionary 2011 policy, which took into consideration both the general economic climate and recent financial developments in the global markets." The company's total assets amounted to $950.9m by the end of 2011, the statement added. Naif Al Awadi, CEO of Al Mazaya Holding, said: "We have made a quality leap in operations in the last two years... We have reduced our obligations and delivered three times more projects than what we used to deliver annually during the previous years." Al Awadi said that Al Mazaya would continue to seek to restructure assets, improve budgets, refocus on revenues this year. In Dubai, Al Mazaya's projects include The Villa, Dubai Healthcare City, The Icon (1&2), Sky Gardens, Al Mazaya Business Avenue and Queue Point at Al Liwan, in addition to other projects in Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/developer-inks-deals-restart-dubai-projects-452002.html R Face81 April 3rd, 2012, 11:36 AM ^^ Which one was that? The one that was made up of silver cylinders? :D THE DUBAI GUYS April 3rd, 2012, 04:43 PM this one: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=563951&page=2 R Parisian Girl April 25th, 2012, 11:51 PM http://i46.tinypic.com/f5asut.jpg A CGI rendering of the Reem Island development by CW Staff on Apr 25, 2012 A $54m commercial and residential project in Abu Dhabi which is inspired by artefacts and elements of the Islamic world has been launched at Cityscape Abu Dhabi. http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-16630-wafra-launch-54m-islamic-themed-building-project/ AltinD April 27th, 2012, 08:27 AM BS, $54 million it will cost them the proposed facade alone Adam2707 April 27th, 2012, 01:23 PM It's not the tower in the image. THE DUBAI GUYS May 3rd, 2012, 06:26 AM here we go again! Dubai deal on underwater hotels and floating cities (Issac John) / 3 May 2012 Drydocks World, the shipbuilding arm of Dubai World, said on Wednesday it has signed a deal with Big Invest Consult, a Swiss company, to develop underwater hotels and floating cities. The deal was inked at the Annual Investment Meeting held at the Dubai International Convention Centre. “The project is based on a unique concept that aims to provide the ultimate leisure experience and opens new horizons in tourism and housing in coastal areas, adding commercial value, while aiming to preserve the marine ecosystem,” Drydocks World said in a statement. The hotel, featuring a discus-shaped residential underwater building connected to another discus above water, will be funded by BIG Invest. The project envisages “an ultimate leisure facility with a structure that is partly above water and the rest underneath — a residential Underwater Discus with an Above Water Discus”, the company said. BIG Invest is acting as a representative of the Deep Ocean Technology, the Polish owner behind the technology and concept of Water Discus Hotel. According to the deal, Drydocks and Maritime World are appointed the exclusive main contractor for the construction of the new concept hotels and cities floating in the Middle East. The firm said two developments with five hotels attached to them are planned in the Middle East. The Swiss firm is eyeing the coast of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “This project has seven different types of designs and (each will cost in) the range of around $50 million to $120 million. The amount varies based on the design. The discussions are to build these around the world, not just the UAE,” said Khamis Juma Buamim, chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World. “The Water Discus Hotel project opens many new fields of development for hotel and tourism sector, housing and city sector in the coastal off-shore areas, as well as new opportunities for ecology support by creation of new underwater ecosystems and activities on underwater world protection. We would like to create here in the UAE the international environmental programme and centre of the Underwater World Protection — with Water Discus Hotel as a laboratory tool for oceans and seas environment protection and research,” said Bogdan Gutkowski, president of Big Invest Group. issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com Render here: http://khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/community/2012/May/community_May7.xml§ion=community more renders here: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/out-of-this-world-under-the-sea-1.1017488 R Face81 May 3rd, 2012, 11:09 AM ^^ woah! Back from the dead with a venegance! :nuts: AltinD May 3rd, 2012, 11:28 AM ^^ Back from what dead? Hydropolis was a completely different concept, from completely different people. THE DUBAI GUYS May 3rd, 2012, 01:21 PM More pics here: http://www.biginvest.ch/en/water-discus.php R aravinda May 3rd, 2012, 01:35 PM http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/travel/dubais-world-discus-hotel-20120503-1y0et.html Face81 May 3rd, 2012, 02:30 PM ^^ Back from what dead? Hydropolis was a completely different concept, from completely different people. Altin, you of all people should know that Nakheel = GoD = Dubai World = Dry Docks World = GoD So, same idea, same people, but money from another pocket on the same jacket ;) AltinD May 3rd, 2012, 07:50 PM ^^ Nope, different enginering concepts. THE DUBAI GUYS May 7th, 2012, 06:06 AM I saw that the embassy suites building on al maktoum road (the abandoned pink building close to the clock tower) has what I think looks like demolition boards around it... R Face81 May 8th, 2012, 10:15 AM ^^ Wonder what they will build there?! Imre May 11th, 2012, 11:44 AM Something new in Dubai Marina: 11/May/2012 UNKNOWN TOWER (Next to The Summit), soil testing going on, its a big plot.. http://i46.tinypic.com/5ph9hw.jpg http://i45.tinypic.com/2itkh21.jpg http://i46.tinypic.com/2yljm7o.jpg http://i50.tinypic.com/dng4gp.jpg http://i45.tinypic.com/2j2w9s4.jpg firoz bharmal May 11th, 2012, 03:24 PM ^^...........:banana: bizzybonita May 15th, 2012, 04:39 PM NEW ZOO PARK AKA SAFARI DUBAI PROJECT http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IBKBeUVnhfs#! Face81 May 18th, 2012, 06:14 PM Couple of videos on the proposed under water hotel: http://vimeo.com/28859633 http://vimeo.com/31844738 Chakazoolu May 19th, 2012, 05:00 PM New 1.2 Million sq ft Dubai Theme Park http://www.arabianbusiness.com/developer-secures-funds-for-dubai-theme-park-458359.html Imre May 21st, 2012, 01:25 PM New launch from Emaar on 26th May: http://www.emaar.com/images/Spotlight-Panorama-launch_01.jpg Panorama at The Views Located in The Views, the established master-planned community of Emaar near The Greens, Panorama overlooks the fairways of Emirates Golf Course, and features 224 apartments that open doors to a vibrant lifestyle for residents. The mid-rise development is uniquely designed guaranteeing that most apartments have uninterrupted views of the green course and the Dubai Marina skyline. With spectacular views of Emirates Golf Course, Panorama at The Views features large one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom duplex units. Generous balconies and rooftop terraces add to the comfortable and relaxing lifestyle that awaits residents. Other features include floor-to-ceiling picture windows in the living rooms and bedrooms, state-of-the-art kitchens and elegantly accented bathrooms. http://www.emaar.com/index.aspx?page=emaaruae-theviews-panorama Chakazoolu May 25th, 2012, 06:51 PM I've seen this board in Al Barsha 3 for some time but no idea about the project, does anyone know? http://i47.tinypic.com/1jkjrl.jpg The board (located at the blue circle in the map below) says 'Meraas Estates' and its located in Al Barsha 3 close to Dubiotech http://i46.tinypic.com/p16s2.jpg Does anyone have any plans, details etc? Parisian Girl May 26th, 2012, 12:20 AM http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19816_1_1337613508_1427000pMZArchitects.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19816_2_1337613508_3170ade_MZArchitects.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19816_3_1337613508_3837lan_MZArchitects.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19816_4_1337613508_3163lan_MZArchitects.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19816_5_1337613509_9838ons_MZArchitects.jpg http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/19816_6_1337613509_6461iew_MZArchitects.jpg © MZ Architects, All Rights Reserved Friday 25 May 2012 Sunken into the cooler depth of the desert sand, the stadium, like a hidden treasure, presents itself to the visitor as a series of sharply inclined planes emerging from the ground. These planes, in addition to the volcanic mountain backdrop in front of which they lay, define the space of the stadium and its related activities and create a magnificent place that allows for the conglomeration of a large number of visitors in the heart of the vast landscape. Status: Concept design MZ Architects http://www.mz-architects.com/ http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=19836 Face81 May 26th, 2012, 01:00 AM I've seen this board in Al Barsha 3 for some time but no idea about the project, does anyone know? http://i47.tinypic.com/1jkjrl.jpg The board (located at the blue circle in the map below) says 'Meraas Estates' and its located in Al Barsha 3 close to Dubiotech http://i46.tinypic.com/p16s2.jpg Does anyone have any plans, details etc? It's Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens, as the board clearly shows. This must be a first phase, although the project was supposed to be DP's and has been on hold for a long time now. |