I have just got off the phone to a legal advisor and As I have walked into a UK based company advertising in the UK, I am covered by UK Laws regarding miss-selling.

I'm surprised your contract mentions a "Marina View" as mine does not make any reference to any kind of view. Anyway a Marina View is what you're going to get so what's the problem ??? If it's that you wanted your contract to say that "nothing would be built in front of The Torch" then you should have insisted that your contract said this before signing it. Whatever was said verbally cannot be proven ( unless you taped the phone call ) so, quite frankly cannot see you can sue DS for anything here - you're getting exactly what's in your contract.

I have just got off the phone to a legal advisor and As I have walked into a UK based company advertising in the UK, I am covered by UK Laws regarding miss-selling.

So what are you planning to do mackie, you can just get a refund from DS if your not happy, no need to go to legal advisers. Still think Torch is a good investment however even with a half blocked view. Location is great and you will be able to see to the sides of any towers in front.

i meant ..

Princess Tower view , Marina Heights view ,

Dubai Marina view (best) and Marina Pinnacle/MAG 218 views...

I imported malec's marina model into google earth. This is how the view should look from the 16th floor of the Torch without the emaar towers in front.

http://i11.tinypic.com/2uzec8n.jpg

Ocean Heights 2 blocks the sea view but notice however, that there is still a small sea view even with all the JBR towers.

I have just got off the phone to a legal advisor and As I have walked into a UK based company advertising in the UK, I am covered by UK Laws regarding miss-selling.

Your rights in the UK are worthless! I assume your contract has been transacted in Dirhams. DS UK will be a company on paper only with no assets. As we used to say in the business "all their furniture is on castors"

My point was a general one that there are too many developers making outrageous sales led statements to sell their developments as quickly as possible. So before getting into bed, know who your sleeping with.

Everyone here who complained about the views being blocked was offered a refund without question from DS. Nobody took it because they would have lost the 20%+ growth that they already made. Does not matter if its UK or UAE contract, DS will refund you if you just recently bought and if you complain to them. They seem to want to do the right thing, just some of them get a bit over enthusiastic in their sales pitches.

People who purchased 04,05 and 06 apts will still get decent views of the marina even if a couple of towers are built in the plot in front. There will be enough space in between towers to get a good marina view.

(investment talk continued here http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=368157&page=17)

I imported malec's marina model into google earth. This is how the view should look from the 16th floor of the Torch without the emaar towers in front.

http://i11.tinypic.com/2uzec8n.jpg

Ocean Heights 2 blocks the sea view but notice however, that there is still a small sea view even with all the JBR towers.

What would the view look like from a type 4 or 5 on the left side of the building? Similar photo would be much appreciated.

I imported malec's marina model into google earth. This is how the view should look from the 16th floor of the Torch without the emaar towers in front.

Steve;

Can you please try to do a similar view from a side apartment type 5.

Many Thanks

Does anybody know, which side is the main entrance to the building.

Cheers

Everyone here who complained about the views being blocked was offered a refund without question from DS. Nobody took it because they would have lost the 20%+ growth that they already made. Does not matter if its UK or UAE contract, DS will refund you if you just recently bought and if you complain to them. They seem to want to do the right thing, just some of them get a bit over enthusiastic in their sales pitches.

You were correct, the DS team were very understanding and accommodating and we managed to get the issues cleared, they did want to do the right thing. Can't wait now for some movement on the building front and a more realistic completion date. I am told it is still doable. I am a PM myself and it is hard to believe this but it is not impossible. I have no experience with building in Dubai but reading all of your comments, I can’t disagree, especially you were proven right elsewhere.

So did you keep your torch apartment ? What did they say about the view ?

Some kind of a building will go infront of the Torch, no body knows how high or the details, even people at Emaar don't know. I am trying to get access to somebody at a senior level at Emaar to find out more.

We have kept the apartment and the view will be risky but still a great area to live long term.

Do you know which side is the main Entrance?
Can you Import Malec's 3d to show a view from a type 5 on the 19th floor?

main entrace is the same as marina heights ie from the marina side not the back road side

Does anybody have any recent photos from the Torch site?

Where is the Very Funny Naz and Imre with his nice photos?

This is getting very quite.

Any update from the Torch site?

Only 41 days and I will be there, can't wait.

^^ I'm still here mate..don't worry. Aint going anywhere. Just began a new job in Dubai..so very much head down at the moment... Once I get settled, should be bringing some updates and a bit of industry gossip to the fore...

Phew, thought you got squashed on SZR for a moment! Hope you can find time to see what is going on at the Torch site soon. What happened about the webcam that DS were supposed to setup there in September ? Only 19 months to we all move in (NOT!)

^^ I'm still here mate..don't worry. Aint going anywhere. Just began a new job in Dubai..so very much head down at the moment... Once I get settled, should be bringing some updates and a bit of industry gossip to the fore...

So! you managed to get a job with Dubai Select!!! Good luck and try to be neutral in your posts as some of us are not yet blinded by the promise of el dorado! or is that el Dubai?
:cheers:

^^ is that true naz, you have got a job for Dubai Select ?

^^ No he is working for ITP I think, not Dubai Select, but he owns an apartment in the Torch so asked if he can check out the site.

Hi Naz you need to update your user name......shouldn't it be NAZ UAE now :lol:

So! you managed to get a job with Dubai Select!!! Good luck and try to be neutral in your posts as some of us are not yet blinded by the promise of el dorado! or is that el Dubai?
:cheers:

DamacLover=Akasha Nahasapimapetilon.....he's still bitter from when I once told him he brings a strange smell to the forum. :lol:

Ooops, I digress...yes I do indeed work for ITP, not Dubai Select.

I might send Jan a PM as someone suggested to see if I can get my username changed to Naz Dubai...

Am meeting up with Dubai Select on Friday, will check out the Torch site (and others) and see if I can get some definite answers...

In the mean time... im looking forward to getting some juice from Cityscape...

Oh dear...like I said before, your dear mum must have dropped you at birth.
:)

You just can't demonstrate an ounce of civility. God knows how ITP have given you a job.

Do Keep an eye on my apartment in DIFC as well. It's in Park Towers.

I gather work has started there.

Looks like initial euphoria of TT taking off has somewhat dampened. Hope it will be ready for you in good time.
:ohno:

i am very interested to know about this other tower coming in front of torch.. we have some units there.. any more info would be appreciated.

:-)

i am very interested to know about this other tower coming in front of torch.. we have some units there.. any more info would be appreciated.

:-)

Still no news on this issue. Emaar are keeping very tight-lipped. So nothing new there. Cityscape may provide some answers, we'll wait and see...will be visiting Emaar there, but will be going through the correct channels for once.

Naz,

Did anything interesting come out of your visit to The Torch on Friday ?

Thanks

Nothing that you didnt already know. The expected height will be around 360-365 metres, so that might need changing in the title...but it still depends on the LED.

I was told that a team of 6 interior designers are working on the Torch, which is good news as it seems DS do see the importance of this.. something quite a few "luxurious" towers seem to have forgotten, e.g. Marina Terrace.

Other than that, nothing that you won't already know..eg. current status of piling works, etc. Nothing new really..besides Bay Central of course.

Hi Naz

Any news on the hotel chain for Bay Central?

Naz;

Is the completion date still unchanged? Do you believe it?

Can't believe it after a year all we have is a hole in the ground. DS claimed piling started in Jan 2006.
The Empire State building had all the foundation stuff completely done in 2 months and started rising right away. DS are at it over a year now, obviously using the money reaped in to fund all their exciting new projects risking The Torch investors' money.

No sign of an update for nearly 7 weeks now.

I am also a bit dissapointed with Dubai Select now. Webcam was due last september.

I imagine the Torch will not be completed until the same time as Bay Central around the end of 2009

which is what we said for ages, however, compared to other towers, the torch was not thaaat slow, the superstructure will rise soon now, and don't forget due to the basement levels and the redesigns and change of contractors they lost a lot of time.

Time to look at the render again while we wait for a photo update.

http://i10.tinypic.com/2nl6z5u.jpg

I hope it turns out that like... since there is no premium on these units, I may as well keep this until construction is further into the phase. I wish they actually did marketing here in Dubai rather than stick to the UK... :/

Can't believe it after a year all we have is a hole in the ground. DS claimed piling started in Jan 2006.
The Empire State building had all the foundation stuff completely done in 2 months and started rising right away. DS are at it over a year now, obviously using the money reaped in to fund all their exciting new projects risking The Torch investors' money.

No sign of an update for nearly 7 weeks now.

Empire State Building was NOT build right next to the sea and had NO problem with high underground water level that needed to be pomped out regularely and the perimeter wall of the foundation being waterproofed.

Also not to forget that ESB was build on desperate time, by VERY desperate people, working night and day and happy just to have a job to literally survive.

Today Nov 21 thanks to scoot68 now resident at MH

http://i15.tinypic.com/4cib5mw.jpg

Emmar plot in front of the Torch

http://i7.tinypic.com/2craiwn.jpg

Clearly action taking place at the plot in front of the Torch. Room for 3 buildings quite clearly.

I spoke to Dubai Select again today and they are adamant that there construction is on schedule. I think the earliest this will complete is end of 2008.

On the bright side though with the strong British connection I feel the Torch will be a very good holiday let apartment.

What is the building to the left of Grosvenor House which has risen above ground level?

iris blue.

Yes, you can fit 3 easy.
I don't like what I am hearing or seeing at the moment :ohno: :ohno: :ohno:

Many Thanks to Scoot68

Obviously Emaar know what's to built there now there's the equipment on site. Why don't they come clean and tell us.
Also the Torch site looks exactly the same as it did over a month ago.....a bit worrying... I hope DCE are actually on site now, otherwise I'm fearing we'll have to wait a lot longer to see this start to go up.

Well since they did not sell the plot to Trident for the new mega 110F tower then there must be something special for these plots that will generate good income for Emaar (unless they are being nice and doing only 20 to 30 floors towers). Emaar probably trying to sell out the promenade before announcing this. Also Emaar tend to start construcrtion before announcing a development to give buyers confidence.

I have it from "A source inside Emaar who does not wish to be named" that there are to be 3 iconic towers on plots A5C, A5D and A5E of 24 floors each. Plot A5C is directly in front of the torch....watch this space...

3 "iconic" towers of 24 floors? I wonder what designs the must have to be iconic next to towers with more than 4 times the height :)

well let's hope that they really are 24 floors each.. if so, i am looking forward to see what will make this 3 towers iconic!

supertalls would completly spoil TT, and TTviews(sorry krazy).

I do not believe this.

I heard two other options but did not think it was worth posting because it is only roumer at this stage and no body at Emaar Knows. One of which was three development 18 floors each and the other was only one mixed-use commercial /residential with 1 tower.

I am meeting Emaar next Thursday regarding various developments so I hope to have more information then about what their plans are.

Why are there no workers on TT site, have they all gone on a tea-break again ?? :ohno:

Good luck arfie, we have lots of free drinks waiting for anyone who gets the correct information out of Emaar :D

Piling probably finished and waiting for the main contractor to come in

piling is indeed finished and DCE is to arrive anytime now, we actually thought they are already here since machinery has been put on the site.

There was a permit that needed to be in place before any work can officially commence. Delays are usually (when they're not sinister) related to bureaucracy and red tap in Dubai.

There was a permit that needed to be in place before any work can officially commence. Delays are usually (when they're not sinister) related to bureaucracy and red tap in Dubai.

Permit? :lol:

That's great, thanks for the info.....we should see some action soon then. :banana:

Dear Torch Investors

I am also an investor in the torch on Floor 48 Marina Facing appointment, i am greatly upset by the way how dubai select have treated their customers. First construction of the torch is a mess, delayed, and when is the construction starting? No one knows at dubai select all i hear is " very soon". The problem is we have the next installment payment on the 1st December. I think we are being scammed. I phoned dubai select and said i will be delaying payment of the december 06 installment they said "no" i stated i would of payed 75% of the construction and not even 10% of the construction has been completed. something funny happening here people. Stop closing your eyes and hopeing, i fear the worst. Look Torch investors i have a way of delaying payment of the next installment but i need a collective help from investors of the torch. We will delay payment of the next installment until we see clear construction work taking place. email me on smshah10@tiscali.co.uk. I already have 36 investors on my list. Another 25 and i will approach DS.

i contacted ds about the torch over 18 months ago as i was interested in purchasing. all igot was hassled 3 times a week by a cocky, pushy sales guy who tried to get me to sign up with all sorts of different deals, each time 'i had to be quick as they would be sold out next week' 3 months after hearing this i decided to question why they hadnt sold out months ago as questioned. every time i asked when construction was starting i was told very soon, i said i would invest once i saw anything happening on site.
THIS WAS 18 MONTHS AGO PEPOLE!!!

they hae all these new projects springing up all over the place, how do you think they have paid for them??? with your deposits thats how!

eventually i got fed up of the hard sell that i decided to invest elsewhere.

i recently had a call from them again for their new development 'bay central' and they said they had 80 sales staff selling their great developments.... get them fucking building them instead if you can afford that many staff!!!!

my advice is to get together and put some money in the pot for a legal team to go in there and find ut exactly what is going on, the thing should be built now!!!!

good luck all...

I think you guys are over reacting. Piling is complete and DCE are due to start when the permit arrives. Withholding payments will just delay things even more and won't achieve anything. Think yourself lucky you did'nt choose to invest with DAMAC who have now lined up 52 developments with investors deposits without starting one of the first. Construction will be complete by the end of 08 and ready to move in sometime in 09. An amazing feat of organizing and engineering in my book.

Seems like we need to get DS to communicate more directly with investors of TT.

Am I right in recalling that a representative of DS used to post replies to this forum some time ago ?

If DS are reading these posts - perhaps they could have the courtsey to answer some of the many questions/doubts that are continually being posted here.

Dubai to guarantee capital of investors, says al-Maktoum

DUBAI, Oct 25: The government of Dubai will guarantee capital invested in projects in the emirate, the emirate’s crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said in an interview published on Saturday.

Dubai will not allow any (investor) to lose ... If anyone’s investment in Dubai regresses, and if the capital regresses, then the government of Dubai will give him, and it will buy what he has invested in, al-Maktoum said in Al-Bayan newspaper.

The crown prince, who is the driving force behind multi-billion dollar projects that have placed the emirate on the world map, told the daily: I hate failure, and I can’t stand it.

The goal to develop Dubai into a tourism hub, he said, stemmed from a conversation he had with Arab ministers at an early age while visiting oil-rich Kuwait.

The crown prince interrupted the conversation of the dignitaries and asked Why don’t our countries in the Gulf, and in particular Dubai become promoters of tourism? ... If I remember, no one listened to me.

So I repeated the question, and I said that I was thinking of making Dubai a center of tourism and to place it on the international tourism map.

Since that day, al-Maktoum said in the government daily, the competition thermometer increased and Dubai now has become as I dreamed, five million tourists travel to it (annually), and in 2010 we expect 15 million tourists from all over the world.

Last week, Dubai announced plans to build “Dubailand”, a scheme to give the Arab world its own version of Disneyland. Sheikh Mohammed, who is also UAE defence minister, said the theme park would be completed after three years at a cost of 18 billion dirhams ($4.9 billion).

The return on every project (in Dubailand) will be 18 per cent, where will you find such a return on investment and in what country? he replied when asked how he would attract investors to the project.

Oil revenues account for only eight per cent of Dubai’s general budget, with tourism revenues and trade accounting for the remainder.

Seventy percent of the emirate’s imports are re-exported, said the crown prince.

Dubai has become an important financial centre, with its own weight and importance. Dubai has achieved a silk road in the sky ... Emirates airlines started with two planes and with a start-up capital of $12 million. Today the airline’s fleet consists of 60 aircraft and within two years or three the number will multiply to 120, he said. —AFP

Dear Torch Investors

I am also an investor in the torch on Floor 48 Marina Facing appointment, i am greatly upset by the way how dubai select have treated their customers. First construction of the torch is a mess, delayed, and when is the construction starting? No one knows at dubai select all i hear is " very soon". The problem is we have the next installment payment on the 1st December. I think we are being scammed. I phoned dubai select and said i will be delaying payment of the december 06 installment they said "no" i stated i would of payed 75% of the construction and not even 10% of the construction has been completed. something funny happening here people. Stop closing your eyes and hopeing, i fear the worst. Look Torch investors i have a way of delaying payment of the next installment but i need a collective help from investors of the torch. We will delay payment of the next installment until we see clear construction work taking place. email me on smshah10@tiscali.co.uk. I already have 36 investors on my list. Another 25 and i will approach DS.


I am not convinced with the authenticity of this post nor the one which followed minutes afterwards.

I have purchased 4805 which is exactly the apartment this investor has supposedly purchased.

Furthermore, I am not convinced that 36 other Torch investors have been "signed up" by this person.

Its ok people. SMSHAH and PAULG are "fakes" who are clearly either Damaclover clones (ppl who cannot accept Damac's unbelieveable level of incompetence) or Scooby clones (Trolls that got banned from this forum but keep coming back for more).

13-11-06
View across site. Shore pile preparation for waterproofing membranes in the background

http://i9.tinypic.com/33ymbzs.jpg


08-11-06
Lift Pit Area Excavation continues, reducing the piles to suit

http://i7.tinypic.com/487lr44.jpg

05-11-06
Preparation work progressing at low level to the shore piling for waterproofing

http://i9.tinypic.com/313mw68.jpg

16-10-06
Piles dressed, Ready for the next phase of raft preparation construction work

http://i15.tinypic.com/4dqvfyo.jpg

in rpely to the previous posts about me.
i have been reading this forum for over 12 months now as i love dubai and everything it is doing and it is great for keeping up to date with the construction of all the projects. particularly palm jumeira and burj dubai.

rider your comment seems strange as you question the post that i replied to and i simply replied with my previous experiences with dubai select. i visited them at their wilmslow offices when i wanted to buy and the place looked like they were either moving in or just moving out which unsettled me a little. the people there said that there had been a flood but the building was a brand new industrial unit.

as for naz you are just being abusive. a public message board is exactly that, a place to share your views with other people interested in the same thing. if you love dubai select so much then keep buying their product, personally i think that the people who have bought at the torch have been duped, not saying they will lose their money but when was the projected completion date when you signed your contract??

as for damac and any other developers i have no experience with them, i wouldnt even know the projects that they have built or are building. personally i have invested in international city and palm jumeira and they are both delayed but at least the buildings are coming up and i can see some work going on there.

everyone has their own opinions and everyone has their own choice where to invest. my opinion is that the torch wouldve been a bad investment. anyone elses opinion is up to them but all you defenders of dubai select should stop the whingeing and conspiracy theories when someone voices their opinions.

^^Thanks for your comments.

When I need expert advice about where to buy and where not to, I know where to come now. In the meantime, if you don't want to get banned by the moderators, I suggest you read the rules about posting in this forum, and then stick to that.

got no more 'smart' comments to add to it then??

(smart comment added accordingly)

just taken your advice and read them for the first time, i suggest that you go and refresh your memory with the rules also.

Has the oceana development on the Palm broken ground yet. I thought completion was due 2007?

hi dubai steve.

oceana was due for handover april 1st 2007. (nice date if youre going to be delayed!!)

they were adamant that it was still going to be that date until about 6 weeks ago. they havent set another date yet but i reckon its going to be at least a year late. the project has broken ground but only just, im glad i purchased on the palm, probably wish i had gone for one of the shorelines but hey, hindsight is a great thing. i think i was wise putting my money here rather than in the marina but only time will tell i suppose.

I guess there is a reasonable concern that DS have spread themselves too thin (DAMAC-like) and moved onto other developments before really ensuring the first one is on track.

The Marina doesn't need another Lighthouse / Ocean Heights so I really hope DS move on from the foundations soon ... if investors loose faith it could spell trouble for everyone! Emaar sales centre plot can't be helping them sell apartments ATM due to uncertainty about what will be there.

(Sorry know this is off topic but that Joy in your friendlier forum seems very friendly :lol:)

A bit of reality check does not hurt !

June 2008 completion date is not going to happen, not a chance. The penalty in the contracts only takes effect from Jan 2009 if it is not due to force majeure , which suggests that a delay of six months if not more is accepted or anticipated. I would love to see their construction programme and I am hoping to be able to have a quick look at it when I am over there over the new year for a couple of weeks.

Although I agree that there is no need for the very negative attitude at this point but some thing in the previous posts touched a nerve with me. We were also in their offices many times and as recent as two weeks ago and the office looked like somebody is in the middle of moving. This did concern us specially when the only sign of the company was a sticker on the window, we still signed never the less and I think it will be a great development but I also think that they have used at least some of the money from the Torch elsewhere.

(Sorry know this is off topic but that Joy in your friendlier forum seems very friendly :lol:)

Yep, offtopic, use this (http://www2.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=10602027#post10602027) thread for that stuff :)

BTW ocean heights is nowhere near the lighthouse. Damac are actually building stuff and there's actually work being done on ocean heights (even though not very speedy)

No chance in hell will this be finished by june 2008, I think it'll be a full year later that people get their keys.
I don't think there's much to worry about though, this seems further ahead than all the other supertowers nearby.

hi mackie.. i too am from cheshire, thats why i wanted to buy from dubai select, so that i could keep an eye on them and see who they were. you can usually tell how sucessful a company is by their premises etc.

when i first visited them and it looked like they were moving out it was 12-18 months ago.

i have since been told by their sales staff that the downstairs of the property is now a showroom with full scale models of all of their developments.. i take it that this is not the case?

I met them in their office end of June and I was impressed with their setup in the office. Downstairs they have the model and internal spec details.

hi mackie.. i too am from cheshire, thats why i wanted to buy from dubai select, so that i could keep an eye on them and see who they were. you can usually tell how sucessful a company is by their premises etc.

when i first visited them and it looked like they were moving out it was 12-18 months ago.

i have since been told by their sales staff that the downstairs of the property is now a showroom with full scale models of all of their developments.. i take it that this is not the case?

why don't you continue your discussion in the investment thread?

I think what we really need is a funny posting from Naz to lift the spirit up again, go on Naz you can do it.

I have just recieved my demand for December's installment and notice that is signed from selectproperty.com ? Does anyone know what this company is or what is its relation to Dubai Select ?

^^ Seems to be the parent website/company because they are selling in Turkey and Spain also so DubaiSelect is not an apt name anymore. DubaiSelect is now a subsiduary of SelectProperty

I have just recieved my demand for December's installment and notice that is signed from selectproperty.com ? Does anyone know what this company is or what is its relation to Dubai Select ?

The company with whom you have signed a contract is neither Select Property nor Dubai Select and in fact these names appear nowhere on your contract.

You have signed your contract with a company called Torch Select, and in fact you make your payments to Torch Select.

To make it as clear as mud then, there are four company involved:

Dubai Select (The Agent).
Torch Select (The Developer)
Select Group Limited (In the contract but I don't know what they do)
And the one that has been mentioned above.

Wow, I will be starting a new business soon in Dubai and there is a lot to learn from these boys.

Many thanks for the latest photos Steve, they're great. I had been a little concerned that much not had happened over the last six weeks since Zublin finished the piling, but obviously I can see now that work hasn't stopped at all and in fact the opposite is true, there has been a lot of work here, exposing the piles etc..that hole is looking very deep now. I certainly feel that TT appears to be moving ahead well now.
There's been a lot of crap about DS here, completely unfounded IMO, and yes we are being infilitrated by DS bashers who sole intent is to be negative with a large amount of scaremongering throw in for good measure. Scooby being one of the best DS shit-stirrers I've ever come across.
I went to the DS offices in Wilmslow a month ago to sign up for my Bay Central apartment and I was very impressed indeed. Great friendly people making me very welcome with a meeting in the board room, coffee and biscuits and really nice looking offices. A top class operation in my book, excellent service whenever I have called them, always answering my questions. And they have a great website, what other developer has anything to compete with it ??
If DS want to hive off money from other developments why then have they launched BC with an escrow account, the monies to be held by Barclays Bank with Emaar as signatories, with funds only to released upon defined stages of construction. AND they're the first company in Dubai to do this. Hardly the actions of a dodgy outfit !!!!
I wasn't going to buy anthing else in Dubai but when I saw BC I was smitten, in fact part of the reason I'm buying my second property (the first is TT) is that DS are developing it, quite frankly I wouldn't trust anybody else.
Oh.... I nearly forgot, they have three of the best construction companies in the business building TT, namely NEB, Zublin & DCE. :) :)

As I say many thanks for posting the pics Steve.................however I'd just like to tell everybody where they came from........the Dubai Select Members log-in area of their website !!!!! What other developer would keep investors informed like this !!!! :applause: :applause: :applause:

Morris;

I can't disagree with you on how friendly they are and that is one of the reasons why we bought more than one unit. We would have liked to buy a unit in the BC also but because of what the sales person told us about the views at the Torch originally and their insistence on the completion date being June 08, this worried us and we await to see the Torch rising first.

I am not a DS basher by any mean and in fact I would love them to do really well. I don't mind a reality check from time to time specially from you people with the Dubai Experience.

Is there a difference between completion date and handing over date in terms of project completion?

Yes, thanks Steve for the photos. I don’t know what we would have done without the SSC.

Yes I have just checked the members area, last time days ago was only updated to 3rd of october, thanks to Steve any way.

Morris;

I can't disagree with you on how friendly they are and that is one of the reasons why we bought more than one unit. We would have liked to buy a unit in the BC also but because of what the sales person told us about the views at the Torch originally and their insistence on the completion date being June 08, this worried us and we await to see the Torch rising first.

I am not a DS basher by any mean and in fact I would love them to do really well. I don't mind a reality check from time to time specially from you people with the Dubai Experience.

Is there a difference between completion date and handing over date in terms of project completion?

Yes, thanks Steve for the photos. I don’t know what we would have done without the SSC.

Yes I have just checked the members area, last time days ago was only updated to 3rd of october, thanks to Steve any way.


I know you're not a DS basher Mackie, this was not directed at you. I know you have some issues with DS being:

1. Told completion date June 2008. You're not being lied to, it may well be completed by then, let's wait and see, you may well be pleasantly surprised.

2. You were told your TT apartment had Marina views. Correct, yes it will have. It won't have an "uninterrupted" view but, your contract does not state this anyway. And like any other similar property with a large piece of land right in front, it's always a possiblilty that something would be built on it. OK, you may have been told that nothing, never, ever, will be built there but how can a vendor guarantee this for you, especially when it's not their land. Unless it's in your contract, just common sense to assume that one day in the future something will be built on it. Did you really think Emaar would leave it laying empty forever ???

3. Bay Central's right on Marina edge...You'll get that fantastic Marina view....nothing will be built in front of it so, a guaranteed Marina view for not much more money than you're paying for your TT unit. But, prices will shoot up if you leave it too long.

Sorry guys, I can't stay quiet any longer. I am not looking for any replies to this post, but I have read statements being made that have to be taken as fact just because the developer makes them. The following is not my opinion, it is reality.

1/ The torch will not be complete in June 08 or December 08 for that matter. Anyone who believes it will is deluded.

2/ The developer has a force majeur clause, which in Dubai covers everything from labour shortages, material shortages to permits being held up. They already have a good case to withhold compensation (if it is allowed for in the contracts).

3/ The developer has not completed any other similar project (or any other I'm aware of, which proves their ability to manage subs works packages on this scale.)

4/ It is convienient for the developer to concentrate on marketing. It will be alot harder to sell units when they are proven to be making far fetched claims on how quickly they deliver the goods.

If I was a customer I would not be planning to get my keys until sometime late 2009 or early 2010.

3. Bay Central's right on Marina edge...You'll get that fantastic Marina view....nothing will be built in front of it so, a guaranteed Marina view for not much more money than you're paying for your TT unit. But, prices will shoot up if you leave it too long.

Yes, I also agree with this one, BC will in my opinion end up to be one of the best investment opportunities in the Marina Area, I am very tempted and I do like everybody I met at DS. I will wait until I go to Dubai over the new year and I will then make my mind up.

Also Dubai Select is the only developer that is offering long 15 yr payment plans. Nobody else in Dubai is offering anything like this at all.

Regardless of what gets built in front of the Torch people with Marina view apartments will still get very good views of the marina. The Torch is in a fantastic location in fact its the best part of the marina to be in.

Bay Central project is also great its unique with the hotel chain being linked to it but still the TORCH is their landmark property. If Emaar build as expected only 25 story buildings max then people will be raving about the Torch Tower that it has fabolous views. I've met Dubai Select recently and seen the internal specs they are planning to use for the apts and I'm pretty impressed.

Regarding completion date of June 08 it seems very unrealistic but you never know. One of my friends spoke with the site manager and he said they are plan to have 2 floors built roughly every 10 days and they feel its easily do able.

Well, once this tower starts to rise it should shoot up. Groundwork always takes forever, from first floor to last floor doesn't take long at all and from topping out to keys handed over takes ages aswell

The following is not my opinion, it is reality.

1/ The torch will not be complete in June 08 or December 08 for that matter. Anyone who believes it will is deluded.



Sorry....... this is entirely your OPINION.

Dear fellow Torch investors

This message is to rider and other investors of the torch. i am an investor of TT i have purchased apartment 4806. i am an authentic purchaser of the TT. look investors we are piling pur hard earned money into this project, of course we are worried about the construction of the project. Those pic that were supplied by steve our older then the date they have on them. I have a relative in dubai, he has been to the site a few days ago and also he saw was the machinery on site, but no work going on. To the investors that call me false and a "liar" go and look for yourselves in dubai.

Sorry guys, I can't stay quiet any longer. I am not looking for any replies to this post, but I have read statements being made that have to be taken as fact just because the developer makes them. The following is not my opinion, it is reality.

1/ The torch will not be complete in June 08 or December 08 for that matter. Anyone who believes it will is deluded.

2/ The developer has a force majeur clause, which in Dubai covers everything from labour shortages, material shortages to permits being held up. They already have a good case to withhold compensation (if it is allowed for in the contracts).

3/ The developer has not completed any other similar project (or any other I'm aware of, which proves their ability to manage subs works packages on this scale.)

4/ It is convienient for the developer to concentrate on marketing. It will be alot harder to sell units when they are proven to be making far fetched claims on how quickly they deliver the goods.

If I was a customer I would not be planning to get my keys until sometime late 2009 or early 2010.

I have no specific information on this tower, but I agree with the sentiment of this post. The proper legal environment has not yet been established that would allow buyers to easily assert claims of developer failure to honor agreements, except in cases of gross violations. Delays in this industry which seem to be a matter of course would hardly be viewed as a gross violation. If we get our buildings within a few years of construction start, we probably ought to consider ourselves lucky--regardless of over optimistic (deceptive) projections by the developer.

Anybody know whether there are to be the original three floors of underground car park or was this extended to four floors to accomodate the tower re-design ???

Dear fellow Torch investors

This message is to rider and other investors of the torch. i am an investor of TT i have purchased apartment 4806. i am an authentic purchaser of the TT. look investors we are piling pur hard earned money into this project, of course we are worried about the construction of the project. Those pic that were supplied by steve our older then the date they have on them. I have a relative in dubai, he has been to the site a few days ago and also he saw was the machinery on site, but no work going on. To the investors that call me false and a "liar" go and look for yourselves in dubai.


Unfortunately, great though the Internet is for obtaining information, the downside is that there is enormous scope for false information, scaremongering and attempts to discredit others. Brace yourselves, we're going to hear much more of this type of stuff.
In six months time there will be posts like " they're only up to floor 20, they should have been on floor 50 by now, what's going on, investors are being duped, pull all your money out" . Or in 12 months time...... "they should have had the windows in 2 months ago, nothing's happening, we're being taken for a ride, they'll never finish it, they've run out of money, let's get together and demonstrate at DS offices".
Yes we've got this all to come I'm afraid....but hey, that's the Internet folks. :lol:

Hi does anyone know how far (how many minutes walking) the nearest metro station will be from TT, and when it will be ready? I've been unable to find a good map showing TT & the metro.

^^ This (http://dm-blog.blogspot.com/2006/10/four-metro-stations-for-dubai-marina.html) might help.

I saw that article, thanks, but I am concerned that the actual walking time from The Torch to the nearest station might be up to 25 minutes in the searing heat which would certainly kill off any commuting joys. But maybe it won't be that bad?

25 minutes to the station is way too much, depending on how directly you will be able to access it i'd say around 10 to 15 minutes.

Sorry DubaiFlo but I'm not convinced, in any case a 15 minute walk is a long walk. Probably next time I will try the walk and time it.
Bear in mind that the metro will be on the other side of the highway which might be difficult or even dangerous to cross.
Yes 25 minutes might seem too much but that could be the reality.
Unfortunately when we bought DS told us the metro would be a few minutes away. If this is not true I think they should hand out unlimited quantities of anti-perspirant in the lobby.

As a commuter I would wish to stay in accommodation much closer to the metro, and it makes me wonder if apartments in TT will be difficult to rent out.

If we had a decent map we could calculate the exact distance?

I'd be surprised if there wasn't some kind of shuttle bus service which could drop people off at the metro stop.

If not taxis are plentiful.

in terms of renting out LALALAND the Torch is in a great location. Its near Internet and Media City, best part of the marina next to the palm. The Torch will be great for corporate rent and also holiday lets.

Sorry DubaiFlo but I'm not convinced, in any case a 15 minute walk is a long walk. Probably next time I will try the walk and time it.
Bear in mind that the metro will be on the other side of the highway which might be difficult or even dangerous to cross.
Yes 25 minutes might seem too much but that could be the reality.
Unfortunately when we bought DS told us the metro would be a few minutes away. If this is not true I think they should hand out unlimited quantities of anti-perspirant in the lobby.

As a commuter I would wish to stay in accommodation much closer to the metro, and it makes me wonder if apartments in TT will be difficult to rent out.

If we had a decent map we could calculate the exact distance?

The closest station will be on the other side of the road but there should be a bridge to cross (that's shown in the renders of the metro). 25 minutes to walk? Maybe if you're 80 :hahaha:

So what is the walking distance exactly? 2 km including the bridge?

^^ The station is supposed to be oposite American University and of course there will be a covered bridge crossing the SZR. I would say that from there to the Torch is around 1 km, still alot for walking during the hotter 6 - 8 months of the year.

Sorry....... this is entirely your OPINION.

One of the fastest tower in Dubai has been the 60F, 280m Millenium Tower in SZR. It took exactly 2 years from piling to the handover of the building.

The 360m tall building called The Torch will NOT be completed in 2008.

Take it this from an outsider and with absolutely no financial interest on Dubai's Real Estate.

Here's a fairly good Metro map. Walk from TT to Metro should only be about 10 mins IMO. :)

http://i10.tinypic.com/4hupo61.gif

Which is closer, University stop or Central Dubai Marina stop, taking into account that you need to cross the SZR bridge to JLT side for the central marina stop.

That map has changed. There'll be one station close to marina mall and another "jlt" station close to marinascape

Is the marina mall station on the marina side or the JLT side of SZR ?

Well to me it's beginning to appear that TT is not such a fantastic location after all. If Morrismarina says the walk is 10 minutes, then I would double that to at least a 20 minute walk, based on my experience of DS.
Presumably there are pavements but not too many zebras crossing on the way to the station.

Regarding DIC and DMC it might be better to find accomodation closer to a metro station. But I might be wrong.

Well to me it's beginning to appear that TT is not such a fantastic location after all. If Morrismarina says the walk is 10 minutes, then I would double that to at least a 20 minute walk, based on my experience of DS.
Presumably there are pavements but not too many zebras crossing on the way to the station.

Regarding DIC and DMC it might be better to find accomodation closer to a metro station. But I might be wrong.


You're right Scooby the location is terrible.....the worst possible in the Marina......the siting of the metro station is all the fault of DS and their bad planning.....I'd sell the bloody thing as quickly as possible if I were you......cut your losses.....better still add the Metro station issue to the list of legal actions that you're taking against DS. :laugh:

ok investors, lets talk about the location of the torch and other matters.
firstly im still not happy with the construction of the torch, still no pic updates on their website and yes construction is at a standstill (if i am wrong please let me know).
Lets talk about location, we cant always have the best of location for the metro. How can anyone say that the location is bad? probably for the metro, yes i agree but remember which towers do we have in front of the torch, Le Reve, Ocean heights, Elite residence, if we are far from the torch so are they (even more). But i am still not happy with dubai select, i wish to see a escrow service opened for the torch investors.

20 minutes? Using google earth the torch is about a mile from marina mall (not a straight line). I'd walk that in 15 minutes and there's a stop closer than that

Torch Construction Update Bulletin
November 23rd, 2006 Back to news index
In light of growing speculation over the construction progress of The Torch at Dubai Marina, Dubai Select would like to reassure all purchasers of property in this development that construction is well underway and there have been no major technical or financial issues that should cause serious concern to completion of this tower.

As is always the case with a major project of this scale, the task of balancing the technical demands of the construction and expectations of owners to maintain the quality of the end product is extremely challenging, which is why we can only indicate anticipated completion dates to our customers. We fully understand why purchasers in the tower will be keen to monitor progress right up to completion to exploit the return on their investment, which is why we impose financial penalties on ourselves in the sale and purchase agreements for all purchasers should completion be delayed at our fault.

Our construction partner, Dubai Civil Engineering, benefits from many competitive advantages over other firms constructing in Dubai, such as unparalleled access to supply chain within the region, which we believe significantly reduces the likelihood of any of our projects experiencing major construction delays. Nevertheless, in the event that we feel at any of the regular construction review meetings that home owners should not be expecting to enjoy their properties within a reasonable timescale around the anticipated completion dates, we are committed to being fair and open in proposing mutually agreeable solutions.

We look forward to the development becoming visible above ground in the New Year and will, as always, provide regular construction updates directly to our purchasers.

^^ ^^ ^^
the above is on DS website, members area, construction news section.

scooby, did DS forced you to buy your unit? :nuts:

Other news on the site:

As anyone who has taken advantage of the offer to visit the site with one of our local representatives will know, the former site of the Emaar sales centre on Dubai Marina has been cleared, provoking speculation about what might be constructed on the plot between the Torch and the water front. We, too, have been following the speculation and although it would seem Emaar have not sold the plot on to any developers, they are inevitably developing plans for the site themselves which they are clearly keeping close to their chest. We have not been able to confirm any of the rumoured schemes, however we remain confident that Emaar will only add to this end of the Marina in a way that will further embellish this master-planned development. Because of the limited capacity of this surface area, we remain completely confident that purchasers who specifically selected properties with marina-facing aspects will have views to the marina and that the outlook from all individual properties will be spectacular both day and night.

As soon as there is any information in the public domain, we will again be happy to openly discuss what impact we believe it will have on home owners in The Torch.

Bit of an abuse of the English language! "Construction is well under way".

They did manage to set a milestone and have stated that they look forward to the development becoming visible above ground in 2007. Anyone still confident of 2008 completion?

Onto location, in their sales advertising they stated (from memory) The Torch has the best location in the marina with unparalleled views of The Marina, The Palm, Jumeirah beach, The World Islands and Burj Al Arab which is within easy walking distance. Did I miss anything? If the Burj is within easy walking distance then the metro will be a hop skip and a jump!

This post has been edited as touched on investment related area. Sorry!!

i haven't bought in the Torch but Marina Heights and only read this thread to see if there is anything relevent to the Emaar boarded site but the way this is looking Dubai Select is beginning to become a DAMAC clone !!!!

anyone want to buy torch?

Anyone wanna talk investment and speculation?

Whats everyone's problem i have not bought in Torch but i'm sure as hell am sick of all this discussion.

Oh DS are like this and like that. Piling has been done i'm sure they will progress to next stage very soon. Yes they may not hit the completion date but has anyone in Dubai.

So take the rubbish to the Investment thread and all the scaremongers get a life. At this moment in time there is nothing to say there are issues with DS or the Torch.

Show me a developer who has not used marketing hype. They all do it Sales and Marketing for any company regardless of the product is always full of over hyped rubbish.

^^ Where's a moderator when you need one.

Whats everyone's problem i have not bought in Torch but i'm sure as hell am sick of all this discussion.

Oh DS are like this and like that. Piling has been done i'm sure they will progress to next stage very soon. Yes they may not hit the completion date but has anyone in Dubai.

So take the rubbish to the Investment thread and all the scaremongers get a life. At this moment in time there is nothing to say there are issues with DS or the Torch.

Show me a developer who has not used marketing hype. They all do it Sales and Marketing for any company regardless of the product is always full of over hyped rubbish.

thedubailife, I noticed your link:

"Support Dubai's Construction Workers! Sign the Petition!"

Are you saying that Dubai Select will effectively be using slave labour to construct the Torch? e.g. 4-6 US dollars for a long day's work?

^^ that is what happens everywhere in Dubai.
i don't know about the salary they get but it won't be much higher than what u say + accomodation and food , transport, if you can call it like that.

^^ Where's a moderator when you need one.

been away on vacation in new york, but I'm back now for more :nuts:

thedubailife, I noticed your link:

"Support Dubai's Construction Workers! Sign the Petition!"

Are you saying that Dubai Select will effectively be using slave labour to construct the Torch? e.g. 4-6 US dollars for a long day's work?

OK this shit has to stop NOW. What's your point here other than to bash dubai select and the torch? I don't think I've seen one post of yours that doesn't have something to do with bashing the torch. One more of these comments and it's in the brig for a few days.

There's nothing wrong with critisizing stuff but when every oppertunity is taken to bash something it gets a bit annoying. We're not so stupid here that someone needs to state something a million times before the point comes across.

BTW Naz, this also applies to you and bashing damac.

I have posted less about Damac in the last 6 months than the last 2 days of crap that the likes of Lalaland have posted here. I rest my case.

Hi Everyone,

I was at the Torch site yesterday and am pleased to report that far from being at a standstill there were at least 30 workers workers on site continuing to break up the pile tops and level the site ready for the raft. The further excavation I told you about has taken longer than anticipated (this was supposed to be completed by the end of October) as the ground was very hard! But it does look like things should start to progress more quickly now.

Still no sign of any work on the Emaar plots in front and no-one was around to ask any questions of, although I have to say that on the Torch side this plot is huge so they really could decide to put anything up there (Marina Heights may be more lucky). We were told we should have confirmation by June last year of what was happening - given that Emaar have sold all theses plots to developers it seems hard to believe that they can get away with witholding iinformation from the likes of DS but then this is Dubai!

Victoria

I did not know that the Beckham's were in Dubai yesterday. :)

Many thanks Victoria and David for the update

Hi Everyone,

I was at the Torch site yesterday and am pleased to report that far from being at a standstill there were at least 30 workers workers on site continuing to break up the pile tops and level the site ready for the raft. The further excavation I told you about has taken longer than anticipated (this was supposed to be completed by the end of October) as the ground was very hard! But it does look like things should start to progress more quickly now.

Still no sign of any work on the Emaar plots in front and no-one was around to ask any questions of, although I have to say that on the Torch side this plot is huge so they really could decide to put anything up there (Marina Heights may be more lucky). We were told we should have confirmation by June last year of what was happening - given that Emaar have sold all theses plots to developers it seems hard to believe that they can get away with witholding iinformation from the likes of DS but then this is Dubai!

Victoria


You work for Dubai Select? I think a visit to the site is overdue. I will report back what I see.

I will be meeting DS tommorow here in Dubai. Just been for a walk in the marina I feel what ever gets built in front of the Torch people with 04 and 05 apartments will still have great views of the marina to the left. Also the way all the buildings are structured I'm still very confident we'll have decent views of the marina.

Any news from your meeting with DS or Emaar arfie ?

Going back to the metro....

it will probably be less than a 5 min walk to the tram, so if your lazy, take that down Al sufor road, then change at MoE.

^^ Here you go!

^^Thanks for your comments.

When I need expert advice about where to buy and where not to, I know where to come now. In the meantime, if you don't want to get banned by the moderators, I suggest you read the rules about posting in this forum, and then stick to that.

So basically, suffer in silence!!!! :ohno:

Investors potential or actual have every right to say their bit. You have used "the moderators will ban you" :bash: a little to often.

What can I say? :)

Going back to the metro....

it will probably be less than a 5 min walk to the tram, so if your lazy, take that down Al sufor road, then change at MoE.

somehow this sentence makes me feel quite good. even thought it came from nick.

So basically, suffer in silence!!!! :ohno:

Investors potential or actual have every right to say their bit.

How you choose to express your suffering as a Damac investor is entirely your choice... all i say is please do not bring your tears to this forum. Thanks. The ppl on this forum clearly don't wanna hear your crap.:)

Activity starting up again... (as of 2 days ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/Upandhi/Dubai%20Marina/Torch_2006-11-30_IMG_3272.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/Upandhi/Dubai%20Marina/Torch_2006-11-30_IMG_3269.jpg

How you choose to express your suffering as a Damac investor is entirely your choice... all i say is please do not bring your tears to this forum. Thanks. The ppl on this forum clearly don't wanna hear your crap.:)

Reality check son!
Almost all of the crap spouts out of you. Any poster here can verify it by sampling, say, 10 of your posts and 10 of mine.

Back to topic, investors in TT have every right to be concerned when completion dates are shifted another 12 months. Not long ago, you were giving everyone the 'how rosy everything is' with DS and their portfolio.

Sonny, I have no worries about my investment. It is getting cheaper by the day with £-AED exchange rate. :) and for your info my investment is a little safer then yours. For a start it is not in DM.
:cheers:

What is the extra small hole for, are they going to excavate deeper to that level throughout?

yes they announced that before, due to the increasing number of basement.

Alot of digging to do if thats the level they need to be at, Someone said the hole in the middle was for the elavator shaft.

Is that not the case.

Its a nuclear bunker !!!:bash:

What is the extra small hole for, are they going to excavate deeper to that level throughout?

The piles at the higher level have their rebar cutoff at bond length and the concrete dressed around the perimeter. That tells me they are finished and not going deeper.

The hole will be the pocket in the raft for the lift pit.

What concerns me is how unsafe the men in the hole are working. Using percussion tools in against a sheer vertical earth wall is likely to bring the lot down on top of them burying them alive. It might be a weak sedimentary rock but that does not mean its safe. Also the weather forecast is for rain this weekend. I better repeat that. The weather forecast is for rain this weekend. If the rain comes then that increases the chance of a land slip.

Get out of there guys until temp shores are fitted!!

- They are not going to dig deeper then what they have already done.

- The deeper hole in the center is indeed for the elevators shaft (central core) and machinery equipments.

- The site looks as messy as any other construction site in this stage. Soon it will be cleanned and tidied, so don't worry about it.

- The soil is not rock, just sand.

- It is raining today but just a smooth light rain, nothing serious and certanly less water pours in from the sky then what infiltrates from the bottom.

actually that site looks pretty organized to me.

so flo was wrong

If you check the following picture, you'll notice that atleast two of the piles on the perimeter of the hole in the center are demagged with the metal cage inside exposed, propably by the excavators digging in.

Will that compromise the load bearing capacity of those specific piles or just a small concrete patch-up and they'd be "good" as new?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/Upandhi/Dubai%20Marina/Torch_2006-11-30_IMG_3269.jpg

As the digging goes deeper....the project gets delayed.

THey should now start moving in the other direction! i.e., upwards!

^^ They are not going any deeper; they are preparing to start going upward.

Thats what ones been hoping for some time now!

Great piling progress. Think another 3 months for the real start!!

wasn't it announced that the main contractor is going to dig deeper, because of the redesign and the newly added basement level?

I think you're right Flo.....I did hear somewhere that the three floors of basement where being increased to four, to accomodate the additional 150 apartments added since the re-design. I can't see that only three underground floors will provide enough space.
Having said that, why didn't Zublin dig down lower in the first place ???

Looks deep enough to accomodate 4 levels to me. There is a stair tower against the back wall with 5 flights of steps. This is also sitting on ground which has still to be dug down to reach the same level as the main area. If you assume that the ground floor may be above the street level with a few steps at the entrance then there is probably enough depth altogether.

Hope I'm right because I'm getting fed up waiting to see some construction that is allegedly well under way! Will we see some construction before The Torch [PART 4]?

Hi, just wanted to say thank you to everyone that keeps this forum up to date. I've been following developments for the last six months thanks to you all and finally had the chance to visit the marina last week myself. Here are some photo's of TT site which were taken on the 29th November.
http://i11.tinypic.com/47ceaz4.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/2cr36vs.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/30svbqq.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/4ifgnyo.jpg
http://i12.tinypic.com/2j4osqg.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/40lmjvm.jpg

This won't start rising before January, will it?

PS Great pics!

Also took photo's of the old sales office and what was noticeable was that they have also now cleared the area between MH and TT and fenced off the plot as one with the old sales office plot.
http://i14.tinypic.com/2wri4n7.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/34y5k7d.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/4iffm20.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/2ushd7q.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/349evyg.jpg

What is wrong with this guy in the photo? Has he just realised that his sea view in Marina Heights will be blocked by the Torch :D

http://i11.tinypic.com/2ushd7q.jpg

But it seems they are levelling this land between the Torch and Marina Heights for a tower or podium etc. Must be part of the Emaar development?

This won't start rising before January, will it?

PS Great pics!

Cheers, I think we'll be lucky to see it start rising by February.

Great Photos, Interesting news about the fencing. What about the road?

I will be meeting DS tommorow here in Dubai. Just been for a walk in the marina I feel what ever gets built in front of the Torch people with 04 and 05 apartments will still have great views of the marina to the left. Also the way all the buildings are structured I'm still very confident we'll have decent views of the marina.

Any update from your meeting Arfie?

Did you also meet with Emaar to see what they are planning in front of TT?

Cheers!

Emaar claimed there will be 2 towers built in that plot in front of Torch with most likely them being 25 storey buildings. But they are keeping things close to their chest and nothing finalised yet if it was they would have launched it in Cityscape for sure.

Great Photos, Interesting news about the fencing. What about the road?

The road seems to have been cleared as well and is now just an entrance into the plot.

Nice, the density of the area is increasing! Manhattan in the desert :)

Nothing that you didnt already know. The expected height will be around 360-365 metres, so that might need changing in the title...but it still depends on the LED.

I was told that a team of 6 interior designers are working on the Torch, which is good news as it seems DS do see the importance of this.. something quite a few "luxurious" towers seem to have forgotten, e.g. Marina Terrace.

Other than that, nothing that you won't already know..eg. current status of piling works, etc. Nothing new really..besides Bay Central of course.

Thanks for the update, is there an ARMANI designer with them :S? ^^

I think you're right Flo.....I did hear somewhere that the three floors of basement where being increased to four, to accomodate the additional 150 apartments added since the re-design. I can't see that only three underground floors will provide enough space.
Having said that, why didn't Zublin dig down lower in the first place ???

Hi People,
First post here, just got back from Dubai. I visited the Torch site and had a lenghty discussion with one of the site engineers (Working for the sub contractor not DS). He was on lunch and I asked him for an honest briefing on what was happening. The site is at the required depth, the additional excavation is for the lift shaft. He told me that in his opinion they should be at ground level in 3 1/2 months and then will be adding two floors every 7-9 days. He clearly noticed the disbelief on my face and went on to explain they will be using some new machinary which really speeds the building process. He showed me a tower across the road using the very same method.
he assured me me even though it appears as if not much is going on once they are above ground progress will be "Fata Fat" (Hindi for Quickly Quickly).

Here's hoping!

Anjam
Apartment 1203

sounds good

Hi People,
First post here, just got back from Dubai. I visited the Torch site and had a lenghty discussion with one of the site engineers (Working for the sub contractor not DS). He was on lunch and I asked him for an honest briefing on what was happening. The site is at the required depth, the additional excavation is for the lift shaft. He told me that in his opinion they should be at ground level in 3 1/2 months and then will be adding two floors every 7-9 days. He clearly noticed the disbelief on my face and went on to explain they will be using some new machinary which really speeds the building process. He showed me a tower across the road using the very same method.
he assured me me even though it appears as if not much is going on once they are above ground progress will be "Fata Fat" (Hindi for Quickly Quickly).

Here's hoping!

Anjam
Apartment 1203

thanks for the update.

Spoke to a Scottish Site Engineer working in Dubai, told him that Torch will break ground end of March and will rise at 2 floors every 8 days.

He said "aye-rite!!" (Scottish for NO CHANCE!) :lol:

what's the Gaelic for "quit the fucking speculative bollox and wait and see....."? Anyone?

^^ Wish I could tell ya, but I was always shit at Irish ;)

what's the Gaelic for "quit the fucking speculative bollox and wait and see....."? Anyone?

All the toys are right out the pram now!

Just cheched the forum rules and don't see anything prohibiting speculation or expressing an opinion.

edit

what's the Gaelic for "quit the fucking speculative bollox and wait and see....."? Anyone?

Would that be a planned feature of your TT apartment?

Anyway, with regards to your post, you must be in bed with so called moderators of this MB. You can be pious one minute and odious the next. There is no need to be abusive on this forum.

You can be patient just like the rest of TT investors/onlookers :banana:

At the moment, The Torch will only be the 16th tallest building in the future in Dubai. And that with 345 meters. :omg:

Any update on the Torch Webcam. For the sake of an internet connection and an IP Cam it's not really a biggie for DS to implement one. Would help overseas investors immensley but then again I am pretty sure I would get no work done all day!

Anjam
T-1203

I think the Web cam will come if there is going to be one when the Main contractor takes over the site. So sometime in the New Year you'd hope.

The Torch

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6766/img5961tl5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/2743/img5962ew5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3241/img5963ua1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9171/img5964uy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5004/img5965pk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5474/img5966hc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks Imre your a star......Everyone vote for Imre to win Forumer of 2006

Imre you are a legend, if I was a women I'd have your love child!
Many thanks for your great work and updates.

Anjam
T-1203

On the subject of the Torch, nice progress in a week. Anyone know how thick the PCC is?
Also is it not normal to put the whole slab down in one go so there are no joins?

Anjam

T-1203

Imre you are a legend, if I was a women I'd have your love child!
Many thanks for your great work and updates.

Anjam
T-1203

I'm guessing Imre will be applying for a restraining order now.

Many Thanks Imre - great pics and some clear signs of progress on the site.

Yes great pics Imre.....as a token of my appreciation, I'm going to sell my house and all my belongings and buy you a new apartment in The Torch :lol:

On the subject of the Torch, nice progress in a week. Anyone know how thick the PCC is?
Also is it not normal to put the whole slab down in one go so there are no joins?

Anjam

T-1203

Thats not the main slab, its just the blinding which provides a smooth surface for the tanking/ waterproofing. The main slab will be a couple of metres thick.

Good to see one debate resolved, that is the bottom of the building!

Investors.

who is the main contractor for the Torch? I thought the main contractor for the torch is Dubai civil Enginering, who are currently on site. if im incorrect please could someone let me know.

thanks

^^ you are correct.

http://i10.tinypic.com/30xig0o.jpg

again they are digging deeper, see Mag tower.

Dubia select confirmed that the extra deeper hole is for the lift

http://www.hidubai.com/pictures/Emaar%20Plots%20Small.JPG

Look - the dark blue hoarding on the Emaar land has spread everywhere - and excavation is underway. Can't wait to know what they are doing! Thanks Dubai Steve for such an informative photo.

Actually its my picture, even linked to the www.hidubai.com site where it was posted and is hosted. I did mention I'd like a credit for www.hidubai.com if my pics were used ...

Thanks Tractor for such an informative photo! :) And shame on you Dubai Steve for not posting the acknowledgement and link to HiDubai!:ohno:

Sorry Tractor, found the photo on a different thread in this forum and pasted it here.

Thanks to Tractor and www.HiDubai.com (http://www.hidubai.com/showthread.php?p=527#post527)for this information below

http://www.hidubai.com/pictures/Emaar%20Sales%20Plot.JPG

According to the Project Manager for the foundations, there will be 4 Emaar towers on this plot.

1 x 54 floors
2 x 40 floors
1 x 35 floors

The arrangement of these is unknown, but from the shape of the plot you would expect three at the front and one behind.

Bad news then.

If those heights are correct then the most likely combination would be

2 x 40 towers directly in front of MH and TT
1 x 54 floor tower between these in front of TT and MH
1 x 35 floor tower between TT and MH

In which case, lots of upset people in TT and MH including myself.

I wouldn't get too excited about all this. Emaar are obviously keeping things very secret, so I find it hard to believe the Project Manager is so dumb as to release the correct info without authorisation.

the torch is really tall

the torch is really tall

:lol: :lol: :lol:

The picture above was taken from Marina Heights. The irony of your comment is that the Torch is currently as small as it can possibly be. That is about 40 feet below sea level!

We'll know whether its roughly true or not very quickly - remember this was the PM just for the foundations, not an Emaar person.

Would someone with knowledge of construction be able to explain what they're doing just inside the pathway around the edge of the marina. They are excavating a ditch and constructing a concrete something inside (which looks hollow, but may be filled in). The large yellow containers hold water to help the drilling machine they have for this ditch.

Whatever they're doing can't be foundations? Perhaps it is to allow them to excavate a couple of meters down without any movement of the existing path / marina wall?

They have also removed a lot of sand from between TT and MH ... I think just to level it.

There was a serious car park issue when I was in the marina 2 weeks back. Now with this car park taken away its going to be a nightmare.

I'm still not convinced Emaar will build these big towers. One thing for sure is nothing has been signed off for whats going to be built.

You can clearly see the locations of all 4 towers.

It could be a hotel and res complex like Bay central with facilities and parking incorporated however. But it seems that it is not going to extend back past Mag 218 ?

Yes you can but I would be surprised if they're as big as the project manager states.

Why would the manager say that the towers are larger than they are going to be though ?

Because he's sworn to secrecy.....like Emaar employees.....and having a bit of a laugh !!!!: :lol:

I spoke to one of the site managers in August and he told me, six towers, two of which would be max 30 storeys....so who the fu@k knows what's going on here ???

My only concern is.....if something is bad news, you keep it quiet until the last minute.....why else would Emaar withhold the info ?? I reckon they've done a deal with TT and MH not to disclose what's really going on until the 11th hour, so it doesn't affect sales of their developments. Call me sceptical...but why on earth would they have not announced their plans by now ??? Second thoughts...I reckon it's not good news & Tractor's info may be correct.
Enough is enough now......Emaar should tell us what WTF is going on here ????

It may be bad news for you, but for EMAAR and their investors its great news...

anyhow, the tender info will have to be published, even for just the foundations so we will soon know.

I can completely understand that owners of MH/TT don't want to believe this.

Today progress continued quickly on the site:

http://www.hidubai.com/pictures/Emaar Plot Works.JPG

The Yellow circle highlights a digging tool they are using to bore about 20m into the ground. This is the 2nd one.

The Red circle highlights where they already made a hole, filled it with a steel mesh and then concrete. I know its about 15m-20m deep as I watched them do it.

One thing seems sure, the plot is an odd shape! Both 'piles' are at odd angles.

As if they read my post, they picked up the 2nd 'pile' for the hole they made in the yellow square:

http://www.hidubai.com/pictures/Emaar Piles.JPG

^^ Those are not piles, those are for the perimeter wall of the site. After doing that all around the construction site, they will start excavating and piling.

Sorry, yes, of course they are ... which seems to indicate there will be a large tower with basement right in front of TT :(

Dear Investors

I am not pleased. we have purchase apartments in a block which is going to be boxed in from all sides. no sun, no scenery, zilch!!. I beingh the owner of a marina facing apartment 4806 am extremely annoyed. Look at the supposed depth of the emaar plot, this emaar site is going to be a supertower.
i have been screaming about these problems lets team up and take action against DS. Investors who are unhappy and do want a refund email me. i have already consulted lawyers in the U.K and dubai and we do have a case against DS. if you want to hear more about this please email me on smshah10@tiscali.co.uk look investors if you are worried, stop twiddling your thumbs until it is too late and take action now. That emaar building is a supertower, and you will see, count me wrong if you want to, but u will see.

Take it easy - in theory the large excavation could simply be for underground parking. Everyone is complaining about the loss of what little parking there was.

You'd have to be very unlucky to lose all your view from the 48th floor.

Smshah if you have an apt on the 48th floor that means in real terms your on the 54th floor.

From 54th floor your views are going to be fantasitc even if 2-3 buildings built in front because there is usually a gap between the buildings.

I understand your frustration but lets see what happens.

Dear Investors

Firstly happy christmas 2006 investors of the torch. Well today being 25th december i phones emaar sales and spoke to a very nice lady where we spoke about the development on the old emaar sales center in front of the torch. She told me that it is going to be a high rise development. i asked how many floor this "high rise" is going to be, she replied she does not know. What is meant by high rise? i dont know could it mean supertall? or just another 30 floor, etc. we have to find out more about this emaar project. Thanks alfie for tour comments regarding the car park but i very much doubt it will be a car park as the emaar person said high rises meaning plurak (more then one).

smshah - who did you speak to at emaar ? Hena Razzak the sales manager ?

Well I have been looking into the Bay Central project over the past few days the problem with the 2 beds on BC is that even they wont have a clear view. The living room and balcony will look directly towards the 2 big hotel towers and you will get a view of the Arabian Gulf between the JBR and the hotel towers. So people in the Torch with 05 and 06 apts will be in the same boat looking onto the marina between 2-3 buildings.

dear investors

not sure who i spoke to at the torch but i was transferred to the sales manager. message to alfi. have you also spoken to this women if so what did she say to you?

Smshah if you have an apt on the 48th floor that means in real terms your on the 54th floor.

From 54th floor your views are going to be fantasitc even if 2-3 buildings built in front because there is usually a gap between the buildings.

I understand your frustration but lets see what happens.


I agree Arfie, you'd have to be very unlucky indeed for anything to be as high as 54 floors which is approx the total height of MH.

I'd be surprised if the towers directly in front of TT and MH were the same size or larger than them.

Look at the rest of the marina, the towers on the edge are rarely larger than the ones behind them. My guess is that these towers will be 40F max with perhaps a supertall in between MH and TT.

The work going on in front would surely still be required for 40F buildings and Emaar aren't in the business of building supertalls - are they?

Also where the Torch is located is the widest part of the marina. I'm convinced there will still be a decent view of the marina from the balcony or even living room from the marina facing apts.

I agree Arfie, you'd have to be very unlucky indeed for anything to be as high as 54 floors which is approx the total height of MH.

I'd be surprised if the towers directly in front of TT and MH were the same size or larger than them.

Look at the rest of the marina, the towers on the edge are rarely larger than the ones behind them. My guess is that these towers will be 40F max with perhaps a supertall in between MH and TT.

The work going on in front would surely still be required for 40F buildings and Emaar aren't in the business of building supertalls - are they?

So a 40 fl tower is okay then ??? No it's not, if you've purchase lower down in TT. Sounds to me like the sales lady at Emaar, has confirmed our worst thoughts then. No wonder Emaar aren't announcing anything......they're still bracing themselves for the eventual uproar from TT residents. (But they'll have DS as the actual developer, who'll have to take all the flack).
I doubt whether any action could be taken against DS as they'll claim not to have known anything about the Emaar development and sold Marina view apartments in good faith. If they have received nothing in writing from Emaar, then I reckon they'll be in the clear.

It's Christmas day but with every body stuffed and falling asleep infront of the TV, I could not resist the temptation to have a look and check what is going on with the Torch. So thanks for the bad news and Merry Christmas to you too. Below is what DS sold to us:

A Life where your terrace opens to views across the foremost Marina in the World.
This much envied location possesses stunning views spanning the length of the marina itself but also out across Jumeirah Beach, the palm jumeirah and beyond to the ambitious island project known as the world.


They forgot to tell us that you have to be at the F*****g roof to get these Views.

What a load of B****ks, even when I discussed this with them recently they have assured me that it will not be more than 18 floors high. Now I better go and have some more of the same and forget about it for now, I will be going to Dubai on Wednesday and will be reporting back with what I will find.

So a 40 fl tower is okay then ??? No it's not, if you've purchase lower down in TT. Sounds to me like the sales lady at Emaar, has confirmed our worst thoughts then. No wonder Emaar aren't announcing anything......they're still bracing themselves for the eventual uproar from TT residents. (But they'll have DS as the actual developer, who'll have to take all the flack).
I doubt whether any action could be taken against DS as they'll claim not to have known anything about the Emaar development and sold Marina view apartments in good faith. Of course they'll have been told verbally what's been planned by Emaar from day one, but would never admit it of course. They'd have received nothing in writing from Emaar so would be in the clear on this one.

Sorry Morris, I was being selfish - I guess it's hard not to be in this game. I'm on the 48th (or 54th) floor so a 40F building wouldn't impact me too much. I'm sure you'd be content enough if the building in front stopped 14 floors below your apt.

Anyway, this thread has had every rumour under the sun about what will be built although the chances of a mall or some lifestyle enhancing development appear to be diminishing.

dear investors

lets nor forget emaar announced marina prominade very late into the construction. emaar only announce properties for sale after they about 40% complete. take a look at when emaar announced the sales of marina prominade. But i would like to say ds have ripped us off, uncertainity is something ds should not of given to the customers, my biggest mistake was from buying from their. The reason why i purchase fron ds was because they were UK based. i should of purchased in the The Jewels but i i changed my mind for DS. BIG RIP OFF Dubai Select. Their is going to be a "high rise" as quoted by the emaar sales lady in front of the torch. i feel great shame for all the investors. Lets do something Now. I suggest group meeting with DS Chief. I suggest 10 investors or more gather to see ds. one appointment time. Lets do something apart from twiddling our thumbs. We do have a case against DS.

I'm pretty sure Mark Stott would offer some sort of compensation to all those that purchased apt in Torch Marina Facing apt and were promised nothing bigger than a 20 storey will be built.

DS have purchased quite a few plots from Emaar, Torch, Point and Bay Central (big plot) and I believe they are in negotiation over another plot. Obviously DS dont want their reputation destroyed so maybe they will offer something to unhappy customers.

I think people maybe putting cart before horse here. We don't know what it is going to being yet or how and also orientation can effect views i.e depends at which angle tower is at as you may still get views.

Also i can't see much blame on DS. The plot of land in front was always there and people should have been aware something is bound to go up there.

Unless you buy on a Marina edge Tower views are not going to be definite. Also Lets not forget a view is one thing and being at ground level you'll still have the marina atmoshphere. Which is also a reason why people buy in the marina.

The work going on in front would surely still be required for 40F buildings and Emaar aren't in the business of building supertalls - are they?

No not at all, they like to keep them a reasonable size.

to be honest i doubt emmar are worried at all about what they were doing. they sold a plot in the middle of 'the tallest block', not a marina front plot. as such they dont have to worry about views or anything else.

how far we have to wait before the secret is revealed....i am in 6405 however i am not 100% sure that i would have a clear view, as the new development can have 4-5 floors of podium plus an art work on the top as most of the marina towers do... i am sure DS know what is going on , and by not telling thier customers i think that they should be sued...
any thoughts.....

I doubt they know, Emaar dont have any real motivation to keep them any more informed than their investors...

No not at all, they like to keep them a reasonable size.

Especially if they (Emaar) build them downtown. :D

usually for any high scale masterplan, the small developers will know what will be built in the area around them before they purchase the plot so they can promote thier development, how come DS did not know what is in the front of the torch, what if emaar decided to go with 100 floor, do the plot price DS will pay will be the same if there were a park there.
it just insane for DS to buy a plot and promote it without knowing what is around...
any other developers in marina withthe same problem?

dear investors

so we have been ripped off. come on investors sit their dont do anything about this just sit their and twiddle your thumbs.!!!!

i say group action against ds chief. lets have a meeting with the chief executive of ds. email me to arrange smshah10@tiscali.co.uk . have you noticed how they arranged the payment schedule? very beneficial for DS. we have paid 75& of the constuction. do we see 75% of the constuction complete? No we dont barely 5%. RIP OF DS. Thank you for ripping us off and blocking our views. They knew about the tower. I remember when i was purchasing i was going to buy a seaview. lucky i didnt because of princess tower. did they tell me about princess tower was going to build blocking views of the torch? No they didnt. Just like they have now ripped us off on the marina facing apartments of the torch.
And also why is that lady at DS called catherine is always telling me that she also has purchase a marina facing apartment at the torch? is this a ploy for us not to worry. or has she really bought one. i very much doubt this. its all game to keep us quiet and not to worry.

i dont think it's a bad idea to have a small meeting with DS CEO, i can go if he is UAE.
NAZ do you have any inside info you wana share with us?

Unless everyone lived in a goldfish bowl at the time of purchase. It was obvious there would be buildings on the land.

Why is DS a rip off we don't even know whats going to be built there, even the EMAAR person who said High rise does not know exactly what is going up.

I also want to know where SMShah has been when we have discussed this topic already. They only thing you do by publicaly saying rip off this and that is affect your inventment. The impact you'll have on DS will be limited.

Like a i said before there maybe a few high rises there but the orientation odf them maybe such that the views from the Torch or MH are virtually un affected. I think you need to be rational in the actions you take and have a less of a hollywood type lets burst into there offices kind of approach.

How about waiting until you have concerate evidence beacsue it makes no difference on the timeline if you do it now or later when you know what is actually going on since i doubt anyone could change EMAARS mind as to what they build there. The only thing you may get either way is a goodwill gesture which usually means here have something but were not admitting a problem.

i totally agree that we have to keep it under control, but at least we deserve some feedback from DS at this stage

Nothing new to add, as far as i'm aware. Nothing has changed. There was always the Princess tower in between the sea and the Torch. Anyone who bought not knowing this has only him/herself to blame. There was always the possibility of a high-rise between the marina and the Torch. Again, you only have yourselves to blame, no one else, if you bought thinking otherwise. Regardless of what you were being told. The onus is on YOU to make sure you're making the right decision, not on the seller, or anyone else for that matter, thats the bottom line.

Btw, to break the monotony of the cries of these "bambies who've lost their mothers", anyone who feels their torch apartment is now "worthless", I'll glady pay you around 50% of what you paid for it. I just sold my house in the UK and have around £250k cash to play with. So stop crying, and damage-limit your "bad" investment by giving me your "worthless" apt. for 50%.

Serious off-loaders only please, initial contact by PM. Strictly no crying, or tissue-usage.

Thanks.

^^ So there you go stop bleating! Your properties are not worthless!!

They've just HALVED IN VALUE that's all!! :jk:

i think we are talking about two different subjects, from legal point a view can the developer hide info from his clients, meaning if emaar told DS at the initial stage that there would be 20/40/50 high rise tower there and DS did not tell its customers that what i consider as a problem
other than that life will go on and no way the value will depreciate , at least not to NAZ offer:lol:

From a legal point of view, if I was selling you my bicycle, and conveniently forgot to mention that 2 days prior, it had been used in an ancient Aztec-Indian voodoo ritual in which evil spirits would haunt and possess whoever rode it, would you have a case against me?

My point is, regardless of whether or not DS knew and chose not to disclose it, or if Emaar knew and chose not to disclose it, or if DS and Emaar both threw a lavish party at the Burj Al Arab the night before launch, to celebrate how they would mastermind and execute a cunning plan to rip-off unbeknown UK investors and share the profits, none of this can be proven in a court of law, unless one of you knows more than you're letting on.

So, you've got 2 choices - sell me your apartments cheap.... or wait until your apartments are built, the rest of the marina is built, and then assess whether your sorry arses are happy with the "measily" 100% appreciation in the price of your "worthless" apartments or whether you only prefer to take advantage of the "scandalous" rents the rest of Dubai seems to be currently enjoying.

I'm in the same position as everyone with my marina facing apt and the 2 risks facing me (which I accepted) when I purchased were:

1. Freehold law not being passed.
2. Risk of my 'unobscured view' being blocked

None of us have a leg to stand on with DS or Emaar - we can't sue them or get compensation from them - none of us should have signed on the dotted line unless we were willing to take the above risk(s).

...and as I've said on several occasions, an apt with great interiors, furniture etc is AS important (if not moreso) as one with 'unobscured' views

I think the frustrating thing for TT investors is that Dubai is very different in the way it handles situations like this compared to other countries.

As a comparison, in the UK when planning permission is granted it is made public and the details are made available for inspection by anybody who cares to enquire about them. What have here with the Marina is a position where planning permission has been given (and even approved by the Dubai Marina Review Panel and Dubai Municipality) AND the developer has even commenced the work. Yet the details of the permissions granted are not available and nobody even has any timescales as to when they will be placed in the public domain. There is certainly not the openness we would see elsewhere..... and hence the endless speculation leading to the kind of frustrations we are seeing here.

Agree with Morrismarina as long as the interior spec is of high quality it will help to increase the value of the property and also to rent it out which is what most of us have bought it for.

I still believe whatever built we will still have some decent view of the marina.

You are a top bloke NAZ. Playing the agony aunt is a side I didn't think that you had.
I'm a little disturbed that DS have taken 75% of people's money before the build is above ground. Usually it is 40-50% to where TT is right now.
It is unfortunate for people who have been sold a dream, only to find themselves trapped.
Incidentally, there is no need to stick the knife in, asking people to sell their apartment for 50% (to you!). Perhaps you should declare your involvement with DS. Honesty is best policy.:cheers:

I am really confused about whats going on??? Why is everyone complaining... I have a floor here and I am VERY concerned as to whats going on. Can someone without just ranting and going off at DS explain what is the NEW news that people are talking about with the tower? is it that there is another tower being built in front of it? I am pretty sure this was known before as well... actually we didnt know when we purchased the floor but soon after this was discovered....

is there more news that i dont know about? plz email me at rishi@rjs.ae or just post here in one summarized post....

read back through the thread <------

i did mate... all i see is people screaming at naz b/c hes a dubai select lad.... thats about it... just summarize plz.

Chances are the licences were applied for quite recently, so this should be interesting...

Dubai Municipality this month issued permits to build eight high-rise towers in various parts of the city at a total cost of Dh3.5 billion and with a total built-up area of 11.3 million square feet, a top official said.

He noted that among the towers licensed this month, five were in Dubai Marina with the tallest being a 100-storey tower and the smallest being a 37-storey tower.

now with it being the 'tallest block' and all....

I don't think Emaar need to go through this process. One of the towers is the Torch and the other is Marina 101. 2 are on SZR and 1 in Dubailand.

These permits are needed before contracts are signed for construction. there is no way this is for the torch.

Emmar do go through this process as seen with their other projects.

The 100F tower might simply be the Marina 101