I know 1 that was sold for AED 1550 psf.

I will keep track of them in an excel sheet.

22 available for sale now on dubaihomesearch - average listed price sqft is AED 1570.38 (range 1383 to 1968)

Price will depend on demand for the Torch, this should increase over time as we head towards completion and after as marina arcade mall opens, tram starts, pentominium completes etc.

Although there may be a very limited marina view in 4 years time if MST goes ahead in its current form, there will still be open views to the sides as shown here by malec and the prestige of the location should keep prices high.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/580/65201618nf8.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4066/75850361fl8.jpg

View of Infinity Tower and Grosvenor House at night will look good from here.

And don't foget there is always a nice view of Atlantis on the Palm from the large open air pool in the podium.

I wonder how much those units shown above in MST directly in front with views not as good as the Torch will sell for? Maybe starting at 2500 psf at launch ?

http://i28.tinypic.com/qoyphw.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/28molee.jpg

http://i29.tinypic.com/1z64ok7.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/33kgpdw.jpg

Nice pictures scoot! Thx for posting them.

thanks Scoot - much appreciated!

Plasterboard party walls

Jumbo stud partitions are very quick to build and keep the self weight of the building down compared to using concrete block walls with plaster finish. No walls to raggle in the electric cables etc.

Big downside is that they don't insulate sound very well unless filled with wool or other sound absorbant material and built as a double partition. Won't be very good at supporting that new plasma either.

are they only being used here between bedrooms in individual apartments ?

Back to this F**king weather great........................

Wow the last couple of pages of this thread were certainly different. :nuts:

Anyway back to business. From a construction point of view all investors should be happy with the progress on this tower.

As you will have seen from my pics and updates they are capable of doing a floor every 4-5 days easily. The number of workers do seem to vary on site from day to day (maybe more inside sometimes).

They do not work on Fridays as i have heard that they do. To be fair not much construction happens on Fridays. I for one do not begrudge workers having 1 quality day off a week regardless of delays or costs.

Amazing how few people know what will be built on the plots in front in Dubai. I spoke to a lot of boat owners in the marina and when i showed them pictures of what might be coming, most of them said that it would ruin the marina and they would look to move their boats away from the area.

If MST goes ahead in its present form then i will be taking on SP both legaly through the courts and via the media. I have a contact who has expressed an interest in running a story/stories that will do serious damage to SP Ltd UK (selling agents). If it gets to this stage i will invite anyone who feels they have been dissadvantaged to join the party. I have been advised to wait and see what is officially launched and sold before moving forward.

Here is some food for thought, not an exact comparison but just to show you that so called UK marketing companies do have some responsibilities to investors when providing accurate/missleading information.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2n1cfes.jpg

Plasterboard party walls

Jumbo stud partitions are very quick to build and keep the self weight of the building down compared to using concrete block walls with plaster finish. No walls to raggle in the electric cables etc.

Big downside is that they don't insulate sound very well unless filled with wool or other sound absorbant material and built as a double partition. Won't be very good at supporting that new plasma either.

It's not that bad. Even without rockwool or stuff a 70mm wall has an R value of 28 dB. With rockwool you can expect 32 dB insulation. It isn't much, but it's enough to separate two rooms. It's quite comparable with a 70mm wall of concrete blocks
The biggest issue with those walls is how well they're attached to the floor and the ceiling. Even the slightest opening cuts the R value by 50%. With the use of concrete blocks the chances of open spaces between the ceiling and the wall are much smaller than with those metal stud walls

Not a bad thing, won't that type of wall free up more interior space? As for a plasma problem you might have, get a celling mounted projector.

Mark, VA were doing an upper class deal June and July for a littleover a grand. VS400 LHR about 8 30pm arrives about 7 00 am get a good bed and great lounge, give it a go.

Thanks Charlie. I've had good experiences of Virgin Upper Class to/from NY, but that was well over £2k I think (business was paying). I'd assumed Dubai would be a similar price, but I guess with the summer being so hot out there demand's down and hence the promotion. I'll look into it. :).

4db of reduction represents around 70% reduction in noise transmission. Remember decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale and a reduction of 3db is equal to 50%.

Most other projects are using 200mm block with plaster both sides on party walls and 100mm on partition walls. Obviously 200mm dense block with plaster is very heavy in comparison to plasterboard and metal stud.

200mm solid block with plaster => say 226mm o/a at 2300kg/m3 at a height of 3.3m

= 0.226x3.3x2300kg = 1700kg/m run of wall, that is 1.7tons per meter of wall:eek:

this could be reduced by 50% by using hollow blocks or by 95% by using metal stud and plasterboard.

^^

TB your calcs are way out.

You forgot to include the thickness of the paint. On both sides of the wall.

Doh!

delete

This topic would peel that paint right off :lol:

The plasterwall should make for smoother walls too although not likely going to be done up by master plasterer so maybe not + when you go to knock one down or cut hole in like I did it'll make less mess than block :)

http://i32.tinypic.com/ng7xvs.jpg

http://i32.tinypic.com/259bcci.jpg

http://i31.tinypic.com/bgr67s.jpg

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/9913/planev6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/9913/planev6.4e90233aac.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=76&i=planev6.jpg)

If you look at the floorplans for higher up 2 beds you can see that the thinner walls are only for separating the bedroom from the living room / hall.

Does anyone know the answer to the earlier question from Steve? Are these studwork partitions only used for partitions within the apartments, - as opposed to common walls between adjoining apartment which I would really hope are of some form of blockwork construction?

Would there be good reason to want to reduce own building weight in this tower design - I mean more so than in another type of tower? I believe - and correct me if I'm wrong - that the super-strong concrete would mean generally smaller dimensions could be used for the main strength members of the building. Is there a penalty to pay for this in some way - perhaps a requirement to minimise weight due to the reduced scantlings of the main strength components? Perhaps TB would care to comment?

.............or is it just cheap to use studwork partition walls?

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3791/m1pl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/3791/m1pl2.708e16c15b.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=218&i=m1pl2.jpg)

http://i31.tinypic.com/bgr67s.jpg

If you look at the floorplans for higher up 2 beds you can see that the thinner walls are only for separating the bedroom from the living room / hall.

I hope you are right, otherwise you can hear you neighbor sitting on the toilet while you are trying to sleep :lol:
If they use metal stud for the party walls I hope it's at least 150mm wide with 3 layers of plaster board on each side and filled with rockwool. It's not as good as 200mm concrete blocks, but it should be sufficient.

Hi Guys,
Just got back from Dubai. Generally pleased with the progress. Managed to get in to the Tower to snoop around. I'll post some updates and more detail after I been through my work emails!

PS Did we all know about the viewing gallery on the top floor?

Welcome back. Viewing gallery? No have not heard about that, please tell.

^^

What the one looking at a wall of glass and concrete, that should be a real treat. :lol:

Maybe it was their get out clause for:

"The tower boasts stunning views of the Marina itself"

But there will not be any stunning marina view from the top floor even if MST goes ahead.

Hi Anjam, is this to be a 360 degress viewing deck on the top floor??

^^

What the one looking at a wall of glass and concrete, that should be a real treat. :lol:

^^ From the Marina side maybe but I am sure there will be some great sea,palm and inner city views from the other three sides. I couldn't get much info on it but I saw this document in the Civil Engineers office.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2550147459_2cc2f5835d.jpg?v=0


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2550969018_902348843b.jpg?v=0

Interesting. Well at least there will be a marina view for the first 2 or 3 years after handover from the roof.

Hi Anjam, is this to be a 360 degress viewing deck on the top floor??

It is a whole floor dedicated to it so I would have thought so. A resturant/cafe would be nice too.

Same document shows the height as 337.55 to the top of the antenna.

Anjam,

Did they pour again on Sunday ?

Did you manage to speak to anyone in the office on site?

Yes they poured through Sunday night. I met the Civil Engineer but nobody from DS. The engineer couldn't really tell me anything we don't already know. Said he was confident they could get the floors up even faster. Didn't know anything about what was happening on the MST plot.
Managed to get to the top of the podium, feels huge. Judging by the views I got from the podium sea/palm views will be excellent even from the road facing apartments. Views down the Marina were also good but will be completly blocked by the podium of MST if it goes ahead in the current form.
Car park seems very open with huge gaps between the support pillars.
The lift area seemed a bit cramped but maybe more open on the residential floors.
I couldn't figure out where the entrance foyer/atrium was going to get an idea of the size and wether it was going to have a double height ceiling.

I'll post some pictures later.....

Found these photos by Anjam on flickr. Nice photos Anjam :)

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5881/t1li8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5881/t1li8.7b695aa1cf.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=49&i=t1li8.jpg)

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8058/t2cn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/8058/t2cn8.731a322c98.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=49&i=t2cn8.jpg)

Thanks Steve:) I was just getting round to putting them up. More to follow.

^^ Nice job Anjam :okay: You've made some great shots! I especially liked the first one :)

Anjam's Torch photos from Flickr.

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6896/t1yd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6896/t1yd2.503cc431f8.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=74&i=t1yd2.jpg)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7382/t2mm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7324/t3qg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7324/t3qg8.227ed03221.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=247&i=t3qg8.jpg)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9658/t4uj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6695/t5ej1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/54/t6xd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/268/t8sp4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/268/t8sp4.dfcc751184.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=74&i=t8sp4.jpg)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4237/t9ek8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4237/t9ek8.c2be217de0.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=291&i=t9ek8.jpg)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5162/t10rb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5162/t10rb0.019e518ebc.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=291&i=t10rb0.jpg)

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1293/t11en5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1293/t11en5.12ff903469.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=247&i=t11en5.jpg)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7181/t12oe8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7181/t12oe8.0c898e59ed.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=291&i=t12oe8.jpg)

Thanks for reposting Steve and great shots as usual Anjam :)
Great to see the little Torch is rising towards the sky :cheers:

Nice shots Anjam.

I am curious to know if there really will be a viewing floor? Even if the marina view does get blocked the palm view would be stunning from there. It is not on the list of facilties. Most likely it is now a penthouse? Does anyone know anything more about that?

State of the art, temperature controlled swimming pools
Sauna, steam room and spa
Modern gymnasium
Shopping and dining facilities
Barbeque deck
24 Hour maintenance and supervision
Secure underground parking
24 hour security
Professional housekeeping service
Children’s play area
Concierge desk and spacious lobby

I am curious to know if there really will be a viewing floor? Even if the marina view does get blocked the palm view would be stunning from there. It is not on the list of facilties. Most likely it is now a penthouse? Does anyone know anything more about that?

State of the art, temperature controlled swimming pools
Sauna, steam room and spa
Modern gymnasium
Shopping and dining facilities
Barbeque deck
24 Hour maintenance and supervision
Secure underground parking
24 hour security
Professional housekeeping service
Children’s play area
Concierge desk and spacious lobby

Yes let me explain;

State of the art, temperature controlled swimming pools - ice cubes and a kettle at one end of the pool.
Sauna, steam room and spa - 3 more kettles in a B&Q shed at on the BBQ deck.
Modern gymnasium - a barbell with 5kg of weights.
Shopping and dining facilities - a chewing gum machine and patio table and chairs with plastic knife and fork for use.
Barbeque deck - a bag of charcoal and steel tongs.
24 Hour maintenance and supervision - Sadgit Singh's plumbing and electrical services business card in the lobby.
Secure underground parking - a halfords steering wheel lock with every parking bay.
24 hour security - a mothercare style bouncer on the door.
Professional housekeeping service - Ting Tong the thai maid who makes the bed and offers a little extra service, and for 10 dirham will "love you long time".
Children’s play area - a box of used lego from an old NHS walk in center in wolverhampton.
Concierge desk and spacious lobby - a wallpaper pasting table and an empty hall with no plants or atmosphere.

But who cares because the price psf will be AED 5,000.

Happy Days. :)

:rofl:

Some shots from the Torch podium, my bloody camera batteries gave up the ghost. Had to use my phone:bash: Great views but pictures do not do full justice.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2555215713_7192bc2eb9_o.jpg


You can just about make out Atlantis :banana:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2555215635_6108943bc2_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2555215563_570ddd8075_o.jpg

You can see from this pic that internal fixings are well underway.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4237/t9ek8.jpg

Anyone noted any more glass going on or are the initial placings just there to satisfy those who might have questioned SP on what happened re their published schedule. Is it likely we will now start to see large scale cladding going on?

^^ I think they'll continue with placing cladding. On the first residential floors the rooms are already painted so they need to be protected against the weather.

Why would someone want to live in a apartments that never gets a ray of sunlight and with your office place as view anyway? Personally I would even prefer an apartment next to the powerplant over the torch.

Personally if I saw this as the advertised view I might not want to rent the apartment for a holiday. It is not cheap to go to Dubai so I would want to maximise the experience with an open view for the same money.

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9503/30812914vf3.jpg

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9356/11095318oi4.jpg

I expect this may be why they change the towers to office tower realising they can get a much higher price per square foot for those offices which face the Torch rather than the marina.

Well if MST is made of reflective/mirror glass, then the view from at least one of my windows will be of me.

F**king priceless.................................. :lol:

:lol: Thanks needed cheering up!

Was the next floor poured?



:tongue2:

Personally if I saw this as the advertised view I might not want to rent the apartment for a holiday. It is not cheap to go to Dubai so I would want to maximise the experience with an open view for the same money.


I expect this may be why they change the towers to office tower realising they can get a much higher price per square foot for those offices which face the Torch rather than the marina.

Personally I would rent a holiday apartment with that view. It's not as expensive as other towers and you're still on a great location. Besides that when I'm on holiday I only sleep in my apartment, so why paying a lot of money?
:)

I hate to repeat myself but, was the next floor poured?


... or should I pour some "magic" powder to most of the last 10 - 15 posts and make them disappear.

Are you saying that if the next floor's been poured then the last 10-15 posts can stay. And that if it hasn't been poured then you'll delete the posts ??
I'm confused.......what has the pouring of the floor got to do with whether the posts are deleted ??

Are you saying that if the next floor's been poured then the last 10-15 posts can stay. And that if it hasn't been poured then you'll delete the posts ??
I'm confused.......what has the pouring of the floor got to do with whether the posts are deleted ??

You know very well what I mean so don't play the smartarse with me :lol:


... but since Mistermark missed that part, the magic powder is out.

Altin, did you not know that construction or constructive posts are not allowed on Select threads?

All other BS is welcomed :lol: Especially argumentative posts over eff all.

Just my view,......... oops sorry, view is a bad word here.

:hilarious

I hate to repeat myself but, was the next floor poured?
... or should I pour some "magic" powder to most of the last 10 - 15 posts and make them disappear.

I went out for a few beers last night with my mate Big Dave. It was all going really well until he got out the "magic powder".

It was more than a few posts we lost i can assure you. In fact i needed a pair of latex gloves and a whole tub of vasaline just to find my car keys.

Scoot/Tractor,

Did they pour Sat/Sun ?

TIA

You can see from this pic that internal fixings are well underway.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4237/t9ek8.jpg

No comment

No it is part of the cost cutting package. Once you have finished using the port-a-loo you wheel it over to your neighbours:lol:

No it is part of the cost cutting package. Once you have finished using the port-a-loo you wheel it over to your neighbours:lol:

No comment

^^ that's where they are emptied!

Found this from a couple of year ago, don't think it was ever posted on this thread:


DCE lights up Dubai Marina with super-tall Torch Tower
By Angela Giuffrida of Construction Weekly on Saturday, February 04, 2006

Dubai Civil Engineering has won the US $190 million (AED700 million) contract to build the 80-storey Torch Tower in Dubai — one of the tallest new residential buildings in the world.

The contractor claimed victory in a three-way race, which also saw Arabtec and Arabian Construction Company compete for the super-tall structure.

The tower could become a defining landmark on the rapidly growing Dubai skyline as a result of a massive LED display, which will be installed at the top of the tower.

The display will be made from a flame-shaped poly-carbon structure, capable of carrying text or to be used as structural lighting.

“It will be somewhere in the region of 30 to 40 metres and it will be fully programmable, so for example on National Day, it could carry the national flag or the Olympic symbol, during the Olympics,” said a project insider.

The detailed design of the tower is still in progress and the final number of levels may be increased.

The tower could technically reach 86 storeys, although five of these are likely to be non-residential levels accommodating building services at the apex of the structure.

“The design of the building has been very much influenced by the M&E works and with its future FM requirements in mind — to that extent we have taken a whole life costing approach,” said Nick Edwards, sales and marketing director at developer Dubai Select.

Edwards added: “We will be using a bonded post-tension system on the structure and slipform shuttering.

“We are also using very high performance concrete, which will be up to 100 newtons within parts of the structure and at least 70 newtons in most of it.”

The building will also incorporate and over-sized goods lift, which will eventually become an over-sized passenger lift when construction work is completed. It means that residents will be able to move in much bigger pieces of furniture than is possible in most other high-rise structures.

Piling and shoring work is already underway on the building, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008.

Dubai Select chief executive, Rahail Aslam, said: “We wanted best-of-the-breed partnerships to lead the Torch Tower development to ensure that the project will achieve completion with a strict quality level and in a timescale that will fully satisfy our customers.”

Aslam added that DCE was chosen after a round of stringent and exhaustive evaluation procedures.

National Engineering Bureau is the detailed design consultant on the building.

^^ Of course it was posted here. What do you think. :D

June 13th by Imre

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2577221432_2cc80fd1fd_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2577221154_7052af6a6b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2576390893_a64b979fd1_o.jpg

It's looking good, I will soon be able to see my apartment in real life - seems a long time ago when I was looking at a car park space and signing cheques.

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/6159/torchyw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/6159/torchyw1.27f8b15316.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=356&i=torchyw1.jpg)

5 floors to go before the floorplate change (reduction).

I forget, why was this changed from 345m to 338m?

Where's the webcam we were promised then ??

^^ DS told us that they are not allowed to put a webcam up for legal reasons. They did not know that at the time they suggested it before construction.

As per the contract - everything subject to change!!

I forget, why was this changed from 345m to 338m?

See below

... I saw this document in the Civil Engineers office.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2550147459_2cc2f5835d.jpg?v=0


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2550969018_902348843b.jpg?v=0

Same document shows the height as 337.55 to the top of the antenna.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/2461/dscn0055vr5.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0055vr5.jpg)
1st time posting pics bear with if it is crap - taken from bar44

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7442/dscn0052ep3.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0052ep3.jpg)

Just to prove which floor it was on fridsy 13th (double click on image)

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/2461/dscn0055vr5.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0055vr5.jpg)
1st time posting pics bear with if it is crap - taken from bar44

Paul dont blame it on the first time. you were pissed, admit it son.........

Paul dont blame it on the first time. you were pissed, admit it son.........
LOL -- Only pissed at the prices
300 aed for 4 drinks !!
and got told off for going on the balcony !!

I've given it a little bit of adjustment and ..............it's a great photo Paul. :lol:

http://i30.tinypic.com/fkcr4k.jpg

:lol: don't think anyone can afford to get drunk at bar 44.

:lol: don't think anyone can afford to get drunk at bar 44.
Steve - You can at Borasti bar though as we found out !
Thanks for pic enhancement Morris
Incidentally we went inside Torch there a LOT of activity going on behind scenes lots of white collar (so to speak) workers in there also now - very encouraging

LOL -- Only pissed at the prices
300 aed for 4 drinks !!
and got told off for going on the balcony !!

^^ I did the exact same thing :lol:

http://i31.tinypic.com/2qlzyme.jpg

I suppose you guys (owners) got the Aquitania email. Looks like SP have snapped up Spain and France on the World.

i c Dubai Select are about to launch another marina plot @2500 AED /psf. That financing package is tempting theres nothing non status for property in a decent location for foreigners

:lol: don't think anyone can afford to get drunk at bar 44.

Stotty can............:cheers:

^^ I did the exact same thing :lol:

Thats because they dont want the filthy smoke polluted air to escape the dirty bastards.

If any body has the original price list for the lower floors, can you please post it or PM it to me. :cheers:

Hi Mackie1964 - So is AED 2500 psf good? I think we were around AED 1100 psf at the start of the Torch? is that correct? Do we think it will be AED 5000 once it has been built? I just bought in RAK for around AED 1000 psf as a longer term option..

The new project by DS in dubai marina will be price approx 2500 psf and will definetly be located behind silverene. second in line.

Hi Mackie1964 - So is AED 2500 psf good? I think we were around AED 1100 psf at the start of the Torch? is that correct? Do we think it will be AED 5000 once it has been built? I just bought in RAK for around AED 1000 psf as a longer term option..

AED1,500/sqft and they are all yours, don't believe all the hype. You can pick some up for 1,300/sqft still. No body is able to shift them right now. :ohno:

http://www.gnads4u.com/search.html?t=properties&keywords=torch&pub=D

Hi Mackie1964 - So is AED 2500 psf good? I think we were around AED 1100 psf at the start of the Torch? is that correct? Do we think it will be AED 5000 once it has been built? I just bought in RAK for around AED 1000 psf as a longer term option..

It would be interesting to know what early investors paid psf on average ?

I have heard some paid as low as 750 psf, or is that bullshit ?

Anyone ?

Can anyone in Dubai see if they are pouring a floor today ?

It's not bullshit. I paid AED 751,944 for my Media City facing one bed which at 963 sq ft equates to 780 per sq ft. Admittedly the size of my unit was increased following the re-design. On the old area it works out at 832 per sq ft.

As to why Torch prices are so very low, I suppose the MST plot issue in front is scaring off many buying here. And that must also be having an effect on the Sea & Media City facing units as well, which aren't in reality affected. This is why other towers such as Infinity are doing much better.

The other issue is finance, with no lenders offering mortgages at all for local buyers here. I did hear some time back, I think it was a post by Joannides, that the only lender in the market was Mashreq but this was for overseas buyers only. This lack of finance is not helping TT prices as you'd need to be very cash rich to buy here. Of course this should in theory all change when TT is completed..........but there's still the MST issue of course.

Dubai Islamic Bank and Mashreq Bank are lending on TT.

Morris,

Well done to you sir.

I am trying to work out some numbers on delay/oportunity/exchange rate cost for original launch investors versus 2007 investors, so thanks for your info.

Is there any original launch time investors who bought a 3 bed back in the day, who is prepared to post what they paid psf ?

If not a PM to me would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

HT

It's not bullshit. I paid AED 751,944 for my Media City facing one bed which at 963 sq ft equates to 780 per sq ft. Admittedly the size of my unit was increased following the re-design. On the old area it works out at 832 per sq ft.

As to why Torch prices are so very low, I suppose the MST plot issue in front is scaring off many buying here. And that must also be having an effect on the Sea & Media City facing units as well, which aren't in reality affected. This is why other towers such as Infinity are doing much better.

The other issue is finance, with no lenders offering mortgages at all for local buyers here. I did hear some time back, I think it was a post by Joannides, that the only lender in the market was Mashreq but this was for overseas buyers only. This lack of finance is not helping TT prices as you'd need to be very cash rich to buy here. Of course this should in theory all change when TT is completed..........but there's still the MST issue of course.

one of the other difficulties, when going the mortgage route for the torch - lenders will only lend based on the original purchase price. since the build is not complete or near complete, they can't lend based on the 'market price'. this factor, together with the psf being so low when launched, make it hardly worth the application.

-

This is absolutely right. Most banks finance only Emaar and Nakheel.
I faced the same problem when I wanted to buy something which led me strictly to Emaar... this is also a reason why prices of non-Emaar and non-Nakheel developments do not increase at the same level. And not everybody has got >2 Mio. AED in his pocket...

Hi Mackie1964 - So is AED 2500 psf good? I think we were around AED 1100 psf at the start of the Torch? is that correct? Do we think it will be AED 5000 once it has been built? I just bought in RAK for around AED 1000 psf as a longer term option..
Hi Ben, What unit (bldg, view, no of b/r, sq ft, etc., did you buy at this rate? I though all the good views are no more available.

the most important reason why resales values havennt increased that much is because of the downpayment of 90%!. i have spoken to many agents in dubai and this is the main reason. financing is avaiable for the torch. if this was anoher development in the marina by another developer we would of only paid 30-40% so far and not the 90%. Also other people looking for resale would rather pay alot less upfront then a whole 90%.
!
But as soon as the torch is near completion the price will definetly shoot up.

the most important reason why resales values havennt increased that much is because of the downpayment of 90%!. i have spoken to many agents in dubai and this is the main reason. financing is avaiable for the torch. if this was anoher development in the marina by another developer we would of only paid 30-40% so far and not the 90%. Also other people looking for resale would rather pay alot less upfront then a whole 90%.
!
But as soon as the torch is near completion the price will definetly shoot up.

Agree strongly with the first part. As for the second part, true if the Dubai market remains hot for the next 18 months. AED 1500 psf is a realistic price right now and represents a healthy return. The Torch will remain at a discount until finance is available and this may have to wait until completion.

As the Long term payment plan is fully transferable if the unit is sold and reduces your exposure to tying up investment capital as well as being fixed at a reasonable interest rate with very small early repayment penalties.

Please can someone explain to me why on gods earth would anyone not use it ?

As the Long term payment plan is fully transferable if the unit is sold and reduces your exposure to tying up investment capital as well as being fixed at a reasonable interest rate with very small early repayment penalties.

Please can someone explain to me why on gods earth would anyone not use it ?

Does the small print state that you have to continue with payments even if the tower never gets finished?

Maybe it also states that title can only be transferred when the final instalment is made. If the lender goes bust then you lose out.

Many people don't like middle men with property investments.

Does the small print state that you have to continue with payments even if the tower never gets finished?

Don't be silly True Blue, we all know how much you hate SP, but they haven't given us such a contract like that. Your imagination is definitely getting the better of you now.:ohno:

There is a date in the contract whereby if the tower is not completed you have a right to obtain a full refund of all that you've paid. In my contract the date is 31st December 2008. Of course I will not be exercising that right...........well not immediately at the start of the New Year anyway. :lol:

You're correct in that the title to the property is only transferred to the purchaser after the final instalment is paid. This must surely be the same with all off-plan contracts. This was one of the reasons I didn't opt for the long term payment plan three years ago, as you don't own the property until after 15 years. But you can of course pay the balance due at any time and it makes sense for those on the long term payment plan to obtain a mortgage on completion and hence obtain title to their unit. If the developer goes bust then this is a major problem, however given that there is a separate company sent up ,Torch Select Limited, specifically for the construction of the tower I think it is very doubtful that the company will be forced into liquidation as the tower will have been built and the risk minimalised by such time. Still it's technically possible of course..........but so is the possibility of an asteroid hitting the Torch and flattening it, just as we get possession of the keys. :lol:

I don't think there is any chance of an asteroid hitting the Torch. It will be protected from such incidents by the much larger neighbouring kebab towers. :)

I don't think there is any chance of an asteroid hitting the Torch. It will be protected from such incidents by the much larger neighbouring kebab towers. :)

Yeah given the size of those towers I reckon the ateroid would come off a lot worse !! :lol:

High Times, on a price list from early 2005 3 beds were from floor 55 unit 1 @ 1,883,200, unit 2 @ 1,712,000, units 3 & 4 @ 2,054,400. They increased by 3,500 per floor. (I picked one up for just 3% more than these prices but at the beginning of this year 2008) Hope that helps...

Bhomes have managed to sell some 2 beds for 1.8 mil aed - so handsome returns. However nearer completion we will find Torch prices equivalent to other marina apartments.

The 15 yr payment plan can be transferred onto the new buyer so it makes the Torch easier to resell.

Arfie,
Would you know the size, floor and aspect of those 1.8 mil 2 beds?

http://i27.tinypic.com/izw6s2.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/16k975z.jpg

Many thanks Scoot :applause: Great update, looks like we are really motoring now. Lots of interior work going on. I can see air-con units in the rooms. Nice to see more glass going up.

Many thanks Scoot :applause: Great update, looks like we are really motoring now. Lots of interior work going on. I can see air-con units in the rooms. Nice to see more glass going up.

Yes Thanks Scoot - really moving now on 15th June there were 24 floors now 26 !

2 floors in 8 days -- at this rate topping out circa May 08

Is Sept 09 looking possible ?

What do you think ?

Nice pictures Scoot, I especially like the guy on floor level 9 taking a "Next Catalogue" style pose...:lol:

Yes Thanks Scoot - really moving now on 15th June there were 24 floors now 26 !

2 floors in 8 days -- at this rate topping out circa May 08

Is Sept 09 looking possible ?

What do you think ?

^^ Topped out and Clad by Sep09 but doubt Internal finish/handover

PS I'll ignore your May08 typo Paul as I don't believe in Time Travel just yet :-)

Nice pictures Scoot, I especially like the guy on floor level 9 taking a "Next Catalogue" style pose...:lol:

Very good. Hes enjoying the view!:lol:

As the Long term payment plan is fully transferable if the unit is sold and reduces your exposure to tying up investment capital as well as being fixed at a reasonable interest rate with very small early repayment penalties.

Please can someone explain to me why on gods earth would anyone not use it ?

The only thing I can think of is that if you have loads of money already and don't believe in debt and want to be the owner from day one rather than in 15 years.

I'm frightened by the cladding on the princess.

I'm frightened by the cladding on the princess.

Looks to me like as expected from the renderings. Only the corners will have all the concrete style cladding, the middle should be all glass :cheers:

I'm frightened by the cladding on the princess.

Then either ask her to take it off, or get a brave friend to stand with you...!!

I have a favour to ask.... does anyone have or would someone kindly take a photo of the gap between Emirates Crown and Princess Tower looking out towards the sea, looking at Scoots latest photos and how far to the right of the Torch Princess is, I am hoping there will be a better gap than previously thought from higher up units... many thanks :)

The Princess cladding is the same cheap shiny crap they use on the Marina Diamonds or on six floor buildings in Al Basha. I was expecting more from a front row building :ohno: Anyhoo looking forward to the torch being clad :)

I have a favour to ask.... does anyone have or would someone kindly take a photo of the gap between Emirates Crown and Princess Tower looking out towards the sea, looking at Scoots latest photos and how far to the right of the Torch Princess is, I am hoping there will be a better gap than previously thought from higher up units... many thanks :)

http://i25.tinypic.com/2zipl6f.jpg Gap looks wider than 1 apartment ") Next time I'll get the sea in.

The only thing I can think of is that if you have loads of money already and don't believe in debt and want to be the owner from day one rather than in 15 years.

Or cheaper debt by remortgaging property in the UK perhaps.

Anyways glad to see the torch rising and thanks Scoot.

Scoot, once again I thank you... that does look wider than I had though... I owe you one.:) .... Was that taken from Marina Heights ???

Jan 4 2008



http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5585/imresolt071ja9.jpg

I have a favour to ask.... does anyone have or would someone kindly take a photo of the gap between Emirates Crown and Princess Tower looking out towards the sea, looking at Scoots latest photos and how far to the right of the Torch Princess is, I am hoping there will be a better gap than previously thought from higher up units... many thanks :)

Jeffers,

This should give you an idea of what rooms will see the sea between the Princess and Emirates Crown gap. :)

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7482/img0787rs0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice one High Times, appreciate your picture :) now I will hope that nothing monsterous gets built on the yacht club land.. (aswell as the MST plots)

Good progress in the last four weeks going from floor 21 - 26.

24th May 2008
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7386/17644386uv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

23rd June 2008
http://i27.tinypic.com/jip26h.jpg

If this pace can continue then the tower will be topped out by August 2009. As they seem to be doing all the partitioning work with steel/board walls this will speed up the interior walls too.

I think my previous estimate of 2nd/3rd quarter 2010 for handover is looking good, maybe a bit conservative.

Ready to sell just before the big crash of 2011. When someone realises that they have built all these homes and they are 70% empty. :nuts::lol::nuts:

^^ Topped out and Clad by Sep09 but doubt Internal finish/handover

PS I'll ignore your May08 typo Paul as I don't believe in Time Travel just yet :-)
LOL - Thanks Anjam - I need new glasses to checkout my posts ! perhaps MAY 09 topped out defoe MAY 10 Handover then ?

Just as well that the former Iraqi Information Minister Saeed Al Sahaf is currently exiled in Abu Dhabi apparently working on Abu Dhabi TV - he may come in handy.

Does anyone know what form of glass is being used. I specifically asked about the shape of the glass to be used when they changed the render of the building in 2006 (don't hold me to that -it could have been early 2007!) and was told that the glass on the curved faces would be "curved" glass (as opposed to a series of flat panes making a curve). To me the glass we're seeing so far looks flat and f*****g awful. It doesn't even seem to follow the line of the floor plate. I realise it's probably going to look quite different when we can see a shit load of it in place, but the odd bits we're seeing so far make me a bit nervous about how the overall effect will be?

What type of cladding is on the torch??

is it cheap crap~?

No, Cheap Crap (TM) and the new Super Cheap Crap is officially only contracted for Nakheel projects.

Aluminium all the way (fingers crossed) !!!!

No, Cheap Crap (TM) and the new Super Cheap Crap is officially only contracted for Nakheel projects.

and where do u get that at ? Nakheel projects have much better quality then Emaar

^^And Emaar like DCE for their projects (Dirt Cheap Everthing):lol:

But I'm sure this will not be the case here, the glazing samples look good :okay:

^^ i agree, the glazing looks good.
shapewise, TT is so much better that some of its neighbouring towers.
is great to see that afterall some seaview units will have their seaviews.
congratulations to those who purchased them.

You're welcome. :runaway:

Check out yahoo homepage this morning for spinning tower.....shows a background of the marina... (be quick before yahoo updates their homepage) http://uk.yahoo.com/?p=us You would need a big plot for this one I guess !!!

Check out yahoo homepage this morning for spinning tower.....shows a background of the marina... (be quick before yahoo updates their homepage) http://uk.yahoo.com/?p=us You would need a big plot for this one I guess !!!
Looks impossile to build but who knows in Dubai ? --with the views they are showing of the palm it looks like this tower is in front of Princess - now if MST is unpopular......!!

More here > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7472722.stm

More here > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7472722.stm
If it's on the BBC it must be true ?
Need new thread I think for new tower anyway

PAULDELVES, there are two threads already:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=465637
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=651041

^^ A skyscraper that moves! The Infinity Tower doesn't seem that impressive by comparison let alone our TT:cry:

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/1066/t1yb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7294/t2ja9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7093/t3sp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/9343/t4vi7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7240/t5ey4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2572/t6bf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7381/t7ca7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You can say that again!

Very nice, great, good progress....etc

You Guys have lost the plot, please enlighten me to what you see as nice in the posted photos, What am I missing here? This is suppose to be the sample apartment :ohno:

Does anyone know what form of glass is being used. I specifically asked about the shape of the glass to be used when they changed the render of the building in 2006 (don't hold me to that -it could have been early 2007!) and was told that the glass on the curved faces would be "curved" glass (as opposed to a series of flat panes making a curve). To me the glass we're seeing so far looks flat and f*****g awful. It doesn't even seem to follow the line of the floor plate. I realise it's probably going to look quite different when we can see a shit load of it in place, but the odd bits we're seeing so far make me a bit nervous about how the overall effect will be?

I agree Mackie and also with Yousuf's post.

I'm very dissappointed the curved glass has been replaced by the straight stuff. As a reminder I've posted the floorplan below which without doubt shows a curved wall...........cheapskates !!!

I also don't like the mass of blockwork between the lounge and bedroom on the Marina & Media City facing one beds. What's this all about ?? These one beds were re-designed and the balcony was moved from outside the lounge area to outside the bedroom. (The other one beds such as Sea View were kept to the original design). The floorplan indicates some sort of access from the lounge - otherwise why would the balcony cut into the lounge creating a strange angle like this - but this "blockwork" seems IMO to only allow access from the bedroom. I certainly hope it doesn't turn out like this as it would be a nightmare having to go through the bedroom each time. Could this be an attempt by SP to save on costs ??

http://i26.tinypic.com/k2keiw.gif

Baconies on the 2 beds are tiny! If you want an idea of the size, get a sheet of plywood 8'x4' and lay it on the ground, then get some patio chairs and a table and try to arrange something useable. The 2 beds don't even get a seperate kitchen.

But the payment plan is so niiiiice ....

Isn't that the original render that had the curved glass in it, when it did look like a torch, before it got changed to a more square design.

I agree with you TB, the balconies on the 2 bed higher floors between 23-53 seem to have a partion in the center of it, sharing it with your nieghbour, making it about 2" x 6" each, or have I got that wrong.

Alan

2 beds on higher floors have a better layout with a separate kitchen area and a shower and bath in the main bathroom. Not worried about the balcony, enough just to pop out to test the temperature outside etc.

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/9913/planev6.jpg

Yeh thanks Steve, as I won't be living there anyway, my Oceanic Apartment is as big as a Bowling Alley, so I can play on that.

On the subject of Balconies, how many of you think they are important? it seems a lot of the buildings and Architects are "Not Bothered" and others are, it could be European designers go for a big one, and others that have designed for hot countries before, leave them out, or is it to do with giving you more living space and Sq footage, and of course raising the price.

Alan

But the payment plan is so niiiiice ....

:lol::lol::lol:

looking at the floorplan it looks like curved glass is only used in the middle of the tower on every side. Am i wrong?

if they are using straight glass isnt the floorplan reduced?

On the subject of Balconies, how many of you think they are important? it seems a lot of the buildings and Architects are "Not Bothered" and others are, it could be European designers go for a big one, and others that have designed for hot countries before, leave them out, or is it to do with giving you more living space and Sq footage, and of course raising the price.

Alan

Once you get above 30 floors personaly i think a huge balcony is wasted space.

Who the f**k wants to sit on a balcony on the 60, 70th floor of a building. not many in my view. I have already re-designed the interoir of my units to reduce the balcony size and increase the useable floor space inside, and just leaving the ply sheet sized balcony True Blue was on about.

Just enough space to hang out the George Cross towell to dry in the 40 degree heat.

Before i decided to buy here i looked at a few other units and was always put off with appartments boasting 2000 sf + with massive, sometimes two balconies. Take off the balconies and the actual appartments reduce in size considerably.

On the subject of Balconies, how many of you think they are important? it seems a lot of the buildings and Architects are "Not Bothered" and others are, it could be European designers go for a big one, and others that have designed for hot countries before, leave them out, or is it to do with giving you more living space and Sq footage, and of course raising the price.

Alan

I agree that if you are high up it just becomes a hazard as there is always wind with altitude. However, I expect to spend most of the winter holidays in Dubai when temperatures are more "British" and look forward to having my morning coffee and Scots porridge oats out on my spacious balcony wearing my tartan bath robe. I posted a picture I took in May of Dorrabay at 8:00am with the sun full on the balcony :okay: So we need space for 2 sun loungers, 6 piece patio dining set and an easy chair.:)

I'm on the left side closest the marina.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1295/imgp1160ft7.jpg

-- snip --
On the subject of Balconies, how many of you think they are important? it seems a lot of the buildings and Architects are "Not Bothered" and others are,
-- snip --
others that have designed for hot countries before, leave them out, or is it to do with giving you more living space and Sq footage, and of course raising the price.
Alan

To me they are useless. I never use them, never leave the cloths hanger outside. The dusty weather make the balcony the worst hot dusty place, not to mention a sandstorm.
Even if I want to go suntan, I would rather go downstairs to join the rest of teh folks.
The only time I go outside to the balcony is to wash it. Yucks.

For useful practical balconies, the only usable ones are those of the Downtown apartments whereby the apartments are completed and enclosed.

Rgds.

looking at the floorplan it looks like curved glass is only used in the middle of the tower on every side. Am i wrong?

if they are using straight glass isnt the floorplan reduced?

smshah, I think I tend to agree with you and I very much hope that you are right. The type B 2 beds have no balcony issues on those curved faces so there should be no reason why the curved glass couldn't be used. It will spoil the look if they don't imho.

Yeh thanks Steve, as I won't be living there anyway, my Oceanic Apartment is as big as a Bowling Alley, so I can play on that.

On the subject of Balconies, how many of you think they are important? it seems a lot of the buildings and Architects are "Not Bothered" and others are, it could be European designers go for a big one, and others that have designed for hot countries before, leave them out, or is it to do with giving you more living space and Sq footage, and of course raising the price.

Alan

I personally like balconies as you can use them to take pictures of all the other developments!:lol:
On a more practical note, in some developments i.e. JBR it is the only way to let fresh air in.:)

Although the best way to get fresh air if you live in JBR is to pack your belongings and move to a nicer area, preferably away from the jack-ass-end.

I agree that if you are high up it just becomes a hazard as there is always wind with altitude. However, I expect to spend most of the winter holidays in Dubai when temperatures are more "British" and look forward to having my morning coffee and Scots porridge oats out on my spacious balcony wearing my tartan bath robe. I posted a picture I took in May of Dorrabay at 8:00am with the sun full on the balcony :okay: So we need space for 2 sun loungers, 6 piece patio dining set and an easy chair.:)

I'm on the left side closest the marina.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1295/imgp1160ft7.jpg


Sorry TB I have to disgree with you completely here.......... I've always found Scotts porridge oats somewhat rough in texture when compared to Quaker oats which are much smoother and better tasting IMO. :lol:

Has anyone enquired about the glass will their be using straight glass all the way or will it be curved?

Sorry TB I have to disgree with you completely here.......... I've always found Scotts porridge oats somewhat rough in texture when compared to Quaker oats which are much smoother and better tasting IMO. :lol:

Sainsbuy's taste the difference porridge with bran, some sultanas & milk.
Yummy

No opinion on balconies sorry

Has anyone enquired about the glass will their be using straight glass all the way or will it be curved?

Smshah. I did ask this specific question of SP several months back and the inquiry was passed on to site for an answer. I did receive the answer (not from site though) that very definitely curved glass was to be used. There was no indication as to whether this applied to the whole building though - and since my 2 bed type B is in the mid section I suppose they could have been answering for that section only since would likely be my area of particular interest. I would post the exact wording here but I'm on hols at present and the message is on my work PC so I can't access it.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6311/2620523547df7a5eb1e3bmj3.jpg

http://imaging.gnads4u.com/images/000/030/508/878_1/orig.pdf

Just in case any body wants to buy some. :lol:

After calling me two days ago, telling me that my investments have more than doubled (worth 2,500/sqft I was told) :lol: and would I be interested in buying in the new developments. :bash::bash:

Hi Mackie, Is this a live advert?? when you speak to these guys they certainly don't have anything to talk about at those prices, just 2500 aed sqtf pre launch prices on West Avenue.... and the odd resale raises its head, I was advised on prob one of the the worst Bay Central unit resale at around 2300 sqft...

Why would West Avenue fetch so much more than Torch resales at 1300/ft:dunno:

Anyone telling you that non-complete apartments are worth >2000 AED/st ft is lying through their teeth.

Hi Mackie, Is this a live advert??

Yes, in todays Gulf News Propert adverts as per the link.

http://www.gnads4u.com/search.html?t=properties&keywords=torch&pub=D

^^^^

Interesting, thats the first 3 bed i've ever seen up for sale at AED 3,575,693 or AED 2062 psf.

No news on the monthly SP update for June then ? They stole one of my pics for the last update, W**kers.

What they dont realise is that i placed a copyright imbedded into the picture that can only be seen if magnified. Now that I have proof of them using it on their website without my permission thats gonna cost them big time. :ohno:

Yeah I was happy to see these advertised prices of 3.468 & 3.575 for the 3 beds... I had seen 1 a while ago with bhomes @ 2.7, but that was some time ago... I guess that there is a limited numbers of these units being built and as they are on higher floors this hopefully this will create a desirability. :)

You guys should ignore asking prices, some people are just dreamers and trying their luck ... real prices can be >30% lower!

True to a degree these could be seen as luck pushers, but at times when the same developer is launching new developments at 2500+ this surely creates a buzz around their previous developments with regards to resales....

:)Tractor i agree asking prices are pie in the sky at the moment. They bare little relavance to what an appartment might actually sell for but none the less as actual sale figures are difficult to come by it is the only barometer we have for the resale market at the moment so forgive my moment of exitement.

Jeffers your post before last is a little piece of insight that i also share. Many investors sneer at 3 beds as being difficult to sell and rent in todays market in Dubai. They are right in todays market. What people are not taking into account is the fact that Dubai is a speculators market at the moment and the real end users are not here yet. Devlopers only build what they can sell quickly to generate cash flow.

My bet is that when the Marina is finished around 2012-2015 as 3 beds will only represent less than 20% of the market they will demand a premium.

Any commodity/asset is valued primarily by its supply/demand ratio. Demand for 3 beds from investors wanting to flip and resale in the short term is low. Whilst the speculators market is here then 3 beds will be at the bottom of the pile for sure.

When the market turns into a real end users market the whole desireablity of whats required will change in Dubai. By then the Developers we have moved on and commentators will look back and say that the ratio of what was built in the Marina was not planned properly.

Anyone who travels around the world will know that in most desireable places to live the unit sizes are more wighted towards whats needed rather than whats easiest to sell because they are not starting from a standing start, there is already a population and demographic to satisfy.

Just my opinion obviously.

We must be getting ready for floor 28 now surely. I think that is where the floorplate reduces ?



Naz stop sending yourself PM's and pretending to be popular.

I'm trying to send you a message and your box is full. Go have a dump and make some space innit.

I agree with High Times. That's why, early on, I also reserved a four-bed plus maid's room duplex (2850 sq ft) in JLT. When Dubai is 'completed' and operating like any other established tax haven, I believe there will be demand for large and opulent units. Not least from myself, wanting to live there in the winter months...

Has anyone clarified with Select Property if they will be able to sponsor residence visas given Emaars change in policy last month?

Havnt even bothered to ask as i suspect there will be several changes in policy before it becomes relevant to torch investors.

Not only that there are plenty of other angles to get visas and for Uk citizens i see no issues really.

Havnt even bothered to ask as i suspect there will be several changes in policy before it becomes relevant to torch investors.

Not only that there are plenty of other angles to get visas and for Uk citizens i see no issues really.

Hi Times, there may indeed be other angles, but i expect this will have a significant impact on the secondary market, since many people like the simplicity of gaining an 'automatic' residence visa, as opposed to setting up a company or other means for gaining a visa...

Had the prices today for Aquitainia, nearly 5M for a 1 bedded apartment (some of them)

Hi Mackie, I had these too last week and suddenly the prices on their Pacific development in RAK looked outstanding !!! (obviously different Emirate and investment risk level)

Had the prices today for Aquitainia, nearly 5M for a 1 bedded apartment (some of them)

Think ill give that a miss then!

How does it compare to the Island of Ireland ?

I might buy a couple of floors. :lol:

^^I thought you would go for one of the cheap villas at 20,900,000.00 (3339sqft), especially with your 2.5% discount :lol:

Sorry, that's our discount, I keep forgetting, you are on a 30% staff discount :banana:

Morris surely must have £3m stuffed under his matress somewhere from his Torch sales comissions.

Hi Times, there may indeed be other angles, but i expect this will have a significant impact on the secondary market, since many people like the simplicity of gaining an 'automatic' residence visa, as opposed to setting up a company or other means for gaining a visa...


I tend to agree with you, I did get it in my contract with Trident, that sponsorship for residency would be part of it, but of course it states that Dubai law would overule anything else.

I wish we new for sure, as I am looking forward to getting out of here.

Alan

I have been PM'd and asked by a couple of people to post the original price list for 3 beds, so here goes.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9575/originalpricelistux6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A one bed on the World for more than the Torch Penthouses a few years back... crazy, only in Dubai....

Hi Times, there may indeed be other angles, but i expect this will have a significant impact on the secondary market, since many people like the simplicity of gaining an 'automatic' residence visa, as opposed to setting up a company or other means for gaining a visa...

(General opinion suggests the situation could be a combination of factors, some external - like the globally depressed economic scenario and higher cost of flights thanks to spiralling oil prices - but there is a nagging suspicion the city has been rumbled: strained infrastructure, choked roads, few transport options, ugly cranes and little to do beyond malls.

Travel agents would add greedy hotels to the litany: when the sun shone brightly on Dubai three, even two years ago, most hotels happily raked in as much as they could with four-star properties increasing rates to an extortionate Dh800-1,200.

This year, the city finds itself excluded from brochures of leading European travel agents, who would rather sell holidays to Sri Lanka, Thailand or other exotic destination that, one assumes, offer more by way of enriching experiences at lower prices. Ironically, Thomson Holidays, Europe's leading travel agency now recommends Israel as the only destination worth visiting under 'Middle East'. )


rest of article
http://www.kippreport.com/article.php?articleid=1383

worry less about the visas, more about the unrelistic numbers forecast to visit Dubai. Has that worked to drive prices up?

I agree, its like there getting too greedy, no human touch any more. Im seriously considering selling my real estate there too.

Any news on construction lately. Im getting withdrawals again :ohno:

Still not ready for completed section.

^^ :lol:

We needed the laugh :cheers:

I have been PM'd and asked by a couple of people to post the original price list for 3 beds, so here goes.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9575/originalpricelistux6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


So i'm up around AED 1.5 M....................on paper?????

Dead right "0n paper" - looK forward to your pics Scoot

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2650683801_56e9b0e93a_o.jpg

This graphic illustration pisses all over Princess Towers impressive start :lol:

^^ Not easy to repeat after a few beers.

Well done all you prestigious 2bed owners your worth a fortune. £1.4m :lol:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7465/torchpricesviewscd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:lol: £1.4m UK pounds.

Although on the other hand if that is supposed to be AED then I feel like a tramp :(

Thats the price of the Penthouse they are advertising... Just a typo I guess..

Anybody got any updates...........what floor are we up to now ??

24 floors above podium and doing well with the internal walls.

24 floors above podium and doing well with the internal walls.
That means the number 29 is up there then now ? - its moving well - number 55 up there by year end ? any pictures?

I'm in Dubai right now, taking delivery of two JLT apartments. The travel company booked me into the Grosvenor House, who kindly assigned me a marina-view apartment. Guess what? It directly overlooks The Torch! It looks about one-third built. Do we really believe it'll be ready in a year? I'd say double that would be going it some.

Mark,

Get your camera out then !!

Yes a photo Mark will be much appreciated. If not then perhaps you can have a look at the floors numbers on the side of the building at tell us which floor we are up to. "Floor 29" seems good progress if this is in fact where we are up to.

Its Mister Mark to you two :lol:

With 7 weeks to go until the end of August maybe they wont be that far away from floor 40 after all. They usualy pour on a Sunday evening so i am really keen to hear what the magic number is ?

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/9788/buildscheduleyx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yes I think they will only be 1 week behind the above schedule which mackie and TB laughed at :D Progress is very good now. Hand over in 2010 without a doubt.

Your money is already in my 2011 Forecast, don't get so excited :banana:

^^ :lol: I added your £100 to my tax returns already. I like to be prepared.

DS, don't you mean 5-8 floors behind schedule?! They appear to have actually slowed down again? Scoot's last pic shows it on floor 26 three weeks ago ... a floor per week.

Ok I removed the £100 from my future tax return :(

DS, don't you mean 5-8 floors behind schedule?! They appear to have actually slowed down again? Scoot's last pic shows it on floor 26 three weeks ago ... a floor per week.

Err - how do those Maths work then? If we're on 29 already and they pour on a Sunday night as usual - that makes 30. With 7 weeks to go (or just less than 7 if you want to be picky - even at only a floor per week, how does that make 5 - 8 floors behind the above schedule which says "The Torch reaches 40th Floor August 2008?" I'm assuming 31 August by the way. Perhaps you've used another date by interpreting the time line on the chart?

Sorry, I make it 3 weeks to August, but I guess you guys want to assume they meant the end of August on their timeline!!

So lets say the best case for the END of Aug is 2-3 floors behind and best case for START of Aug is 6-7 floors behind. That suit you? I actually think they may be at a mechanical floor either now, or soon, which takes longer (took at least 2 weeks for Pinnacle) so 5-8 could be right.

We shall see!

With 7 weeks to go until the end of August maybe they wont be that far away from floor 40 after all. They usualy pour on a Sunday evening so i am really keen to hear what the magic number is ?

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/9788/buildscheduleyx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You guys can't read a program schedule!!

The program clearly shows floor 40 at begining of August. So they are about 10 floors behind schedule.

Mistermark, did you notice any further progress on the glass or any further cladding as yet???

and will we get aluminium cladding as promised?

^^ It is an Arabic Schedule, Right to Left. Keep up TB :lol::banana:

The Glass cladding in the middle of the May is a good clue.............:lol:

They can read well but it is the same old story, where is this bloody Morris. What does he have to say about this :banana:

^^ It is an Arabic Schedule, Right to Left. Keep up TB :lol::banana:

Priceless :hilarious:hilarious:applause:

Yes a photo Mark will be much appreciated. If not then perhaps you can have a look at the floors numbers on the side of the building at tell us which floor we are up to. "Floor 29" seems good progress if this is in fact where we are up to.

Well I've taken a series of photos, by opening the window of my hotel room and hanging the camera out of the gap at the bottom (luckily I have a point and shoot here as well as a bulky DSLR...) but I can't show them here because I tried to upload to Flickr and am getting a message along the lines of Flickr being blocked 'due to it being out of keeping with the morals and ethics of the Emirate of Dubai'!

OK, there may be some people who post smutty photos on their Flickr accounts, but wouldn't the same apply to Google image search etc? So apologies, I'll try to upload them on my return.

This evening I tried counting the number of floors. By my calculation it's 26, rather than 29.

^^ use www.tinypic.com or www.imageshack.us instead of flickr. Thanks!

Don't use imageshack it's rubbish, really small pics. Use tinypic.com. :)

I also prefer tinypic but is it working in UAE ? it was banned at one point.

This was the last updated pic from Imre and posted by High Times on 28th June. We're more than two weeks further on now, so would expect them to be around Floor 29 now. Any chance you could go out and have a look Mistermark please, see what floor number they're up to. Would be much appreciated.

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7093/t3sp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

.

Morris the comeback kid is not biting anymore, I think we finally wore him down :lol::banana:

Hi Mackie
I went to see the doctor this morning and he traced my mental problems back to October 2005 and came to the conclusion in his diagnosis that it all stemmed from my dealings with SP. He gave me a stress ball to use but I've just squeezed it into a liquid. :lol:

P.S. The tablets he gave me last month have stopped working as well. He said this was due to Bay Central and as I was already on the full strength medication there was nothing he could do for me. He said I should start to feel better in about 5 years time !!

^^ Here have one of these from over stock .com kindly donated by True Blue and the Jewels residents who no longer need them.

http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/3/L10821804.jpg

Select propertitis, no know cure :ohno:

Where have all the photos gone? Please anyone:)

This evening I tried counting the number of floors. By my calculation it's 26, rather than 29.

Have you been on the sherry Mark ?

I mean Mistermark. :ohno:

He's wrong with his floor count, but let's leave his girlfriend out of this.

It is an Arabic Schedule, Right to Left. Keep up TB


^^ Priceless :hilarious:hilarious:applause:

I had it valued today and it turns out it was only worth 5 dirhams :D

Does July come after August in the Arabic calendar? Remember to respect the wisdom of your elders, signed True Blue 1963 :lol:

Is Sept2009 completion likely?

In a poem maybe.

Where have all the photos gone? Please anyone:)

I am planning to make a big update on Friday, will post on Saturday to the flickr.

Thanks Imre.

How is life in Goldcrest ?

Do you have internet there yet ?

life is ok, thanks.

still no internet but at least we have water and electricity:)

Hello Imre
still no ineternet that a shame for Dubai!!
Regarding to your updates on friday would you also take some pics of the Quays please.
Inspite of not having internet we hope you doing well!!

Regards from the whole family

Hello Imre
still no ineternet that a shame for Dubai!!
Regarding to your updates on friday would you also take some pics of the Quays please.
Inspite of not having internet we hope you doing well!!

Regards from the whole family

thanks Ossi:)

I will take lots of pics on Friday, dont worry.

We've missed your photos Imre. Looking forward to them again, thanks.

My apologies to those who were hoping I'd post my images of The Torch - I tried using Imageshack but it's so slow on my hotel connection I've given up and gone for dinner...

A quick question, however: how many storeys tall are Emirates Marina and the tower behind it? I ask because this will determine how many floors up in The Torch it's necessary to be to get a worthwhile sea view.

Mistermark, Emirates crown @ 62 floors i believe (thats the one I hope to be able to see over) So Emirates marina, I guess what 5 or so stories lower..... Looking forward to your images.. hope your having a nice time over there.

Emirates Marina Hotel is 59 floors Emirates Crown is 64 floors (if info from SSC is correct). :)

My apologies to those who were hoping I'd post my images of The Torch - I tried using Imageshack but it's so slow on my hotel connection I've given up and gone for dinner...

HighTimes is getting very bad withdrawl symptoms.

Does www.tinypic.com work in UAE? It is much faster to upload than imageshack.

My apologies to those who were hoping I'd post my images of The Torch - I tried using Imageshack but it's so slow on my hotel connection I've given up and gone for dinner...

A quick question, however: how many storeys tall are Emirates Marina and the tower behind it? I ask because this will determine how many floors up in The Torch it's necessary to be to get a worthwhile sea view.
Try Gmail to upload. That's what I did when I was in Dubai to upload Silverene snaps. Takes a bit of time, yes, but nowhere near as much as other sites.