http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/er4zc5gm6kcnbh7emh5nkho7isnlqywtgtuhf35z5u5skoh3ppb6ktzl7qfjuispmkylwpzv5y2zqq46d5srorsqvef/auto7.jpg
Manegement Building

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/e6vsga6ax4ghzuaygohqaj3qwghgphkcc2vcluozaj2nc4lynrcscgzlkto7r4uoffaow6niqma5uqtagppii7bldoc/auto1.jpg
Pit Complex

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/ex5k2mmxc7mq6eavnirm773r4hsdsmwqzauawsqtjxk5pzkm63h743pwztdjr7c5b4r7jge2ukkudcla3rzzjob4ppc/auto9.jpg
Management Building

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/el4vyy722336iy743fskn2vjjgr27dtmbe5xheqnxnfrkklqofgbsykymmnxqknr6ltdiikcfsbjnkit5q4oadv4izc/auto3.jpg
Go Kart Center

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/eylvuvq2mjzqiti7hd7w2ynmzqv2smgdxgaiv3upus3y7dptqiaqck663cfouelcw5m4bhyigxygjkdm7l2lc4p67jh/auto8.jpg
Grand Stand

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/e4efjvp5j24664s5qhab3uk5df256k6sfz7oqhw3av7sj3ovyptajfibeijnvohvi6aw3puw6gpkqtzrqtathovpnkb/auto2.jpg
Grand Stand

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/e7wzprxl7lpsijchaxyayxlmj7r555wy3dbupff3z5qdy55ogcj6insssiockj6x6je6rk566sdchfmhyyln7t6x3te/auto4.jpg
Grand Stand

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/ezsshjjw7fzmlftwn6m4tu3qstaffohizs7gmmwvaggxarwfv64hk3hlm4hy3tpye36fi3wq2obs3dslhdh3nlupv6c/auto5.jpg
Grand Stand

http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/em6uuthz4ipsjpob7olmvjzagd4ps3b4ifxnqv227i6nbaeb3j42ixacgfjwpzqdqfgum7s45p42hkm6ap63lcis4bb/auto6.jpg
Retail Area

The Dubai Autodrome and Business Park was launched last on March 30th by Union Properties at a glittering event. The project is 25 minutes outside central Dubai and will provide a Formula One standard race track. It is intended to bring flagship motor sport events to Dubai. The project was completed on time as scheduled. Parks and Residential Complex are under construction. Race Tracks and nessessary buildings are completed but other unnessessary building are still under construction.

The Dubai Autodrome & Business park is the first fully integrated automotive and motor sports facility in the Middle East region, incorporating a world class FIA sanctioned 5.35 km motor racing track, international standard pit lane complex with a "state-of-the-art" grandstand accommodating over 7,000 spectators as well as providing modern hospitality suites for corporate customers.

Modern units have been designed to provide offices, workshops, showrooms, warehouses and conference facilities for all types of activities in the automotive and associated industries creating a cohesive working environment from which a motor racing culture will develop and prosper. An international and local racing calendar will be established on the Autodrome to include Single Seater Racing, Touring Cars, Motor Bikes, Sports Cars and Karting.

The development will include air conditioned indoor karting, outdoor karting, a junior and senior moto cross center, racing academies, driving schools as well as a world class off road center. As an all year round destination venue for the family it will incorporate retail, leisure activities, restaurants, cafés and fast food outlets. The project will also include a hotel, serviced apartments and residential condominium style.


http://www.up.ae/NR/rdonlyres/ejpgywl3o6scssccp532xgmpgxeq4wglg43wtw7wvuixlgfb7hbvqsweycgzn6ncuujpuaqija6yekpo7jvl2bozpeb/auto14.jpg
March 04

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March 04

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March 04

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January 04

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January 04

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January 04

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January 04

Looks great!! When is it going to start operating?? Next year??? The bahrain one is tomorrow!! Michael Schumacher is at the front of the starting grid:)

Great project , but i`m more into buildings and tourist projects than in racing :)

it looks good ,,,,,

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/dubaidude1/racetrack.JPG

well, dubai boy, they only completed the nessesary building for racing needs
this project will also turn into a business park, and business always needs buildings
there will also be hotel, business, retail and residential complex too
so afterall, this project is also a building and tourist project

And how could you not like the design of the management building, pit complex, grand stand etc.? are'nt they outstanding:eek:

Did not realise how far along this one was
must be close by now

homepage update, but no info yet:

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/

LG Super Racing Weekend to launch Dubai Autodrome
Global and regional digital leader LG Electronics is sponsoring the first Super Racing Weekend series to be held in the Middle East in Dubai, from October 6-8, 2004.


The event will officially launch the spectacular Dubai Autodrome, a part of the five billion dollar Dubailand project. The development has racing facilities approved by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) and the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) with a world class 5.39 km Grade I racetrack and a 7000-seat grandstand. Eurosport and the FIA launched the LG Super Racing weekend in 2001 to showcase skilled driving. Races are held at top racetracks in Europe and this year's calendar will conclude in the Middle East, with the races in Dubai.

'We are delighted to support the evolution of the motor sports industry in the Middle East and host the LG Super Racing Weekend for the first time in the Middle East,' said K H Kim, President of LG Electronics, Middle East & Africa Operations. 'LG has been associated with the Super Racing Weekend series for the last three years and we believe it is the perfect launch vehicle for the Autodrome, a world class facility that will draw motor enthusiasts from all over the world to Dubai.'

The LG Super Racing Weekend series includes two FIA championships, the FIA GT and the FIA ETCC, and the Formula Renault V6 Championship. A logical progression from Formula Renault 2000, the V6 is highly sophisticated and adheres to a range of safety and budgetary criteria.

'Participating drivers are stars from Formula One and Formula 300 and include legendary drivers like Alessandro Zanardi who lost both his legs in an accident while competing in the US-based Champ car series. He is ranked 15th in the Drivers' Championship with three points, and drives a specially modified BMW,' said Kim.
'A dramatic Dubai showdown is on course as BMW is currently in the lead, ahead of current champions Alfa Romeo,' he added.

Three vehicle categories are approved for the 2004 ETCC: touring cars with normally aspirated petrol engines in compliance with the FIA's Super 2000 regulations; touring cars with turbodiesel engines in compliance with the FIA's Diesel 2000 regulations and touring cars with normally aspirated petrol engines in compliance with the FIA's Super Production regulations
The Super 2000 category stipulates at least a four-seater, four-door saloon with a minimum length of 4.2 metres. Engine capacity is limited to 2,000 cc and depending on the type of engine, various maximum engine speeds are permitted. Six-cylinders are allowed up to 9,000 revolutions a minute (four-cylinders 8,500 rpm, five-cylinders 8,750 rpm). Each engine must be used on at least two consecutive racing weekends. Spare cars (T-cars) and electronic driver aids of any kind are not allowed.

sounds great !
got a friend that works there she says it great job so far doing the media relations

it is great, but more known in europe

how many people can visit a race? 100.000?

maybe some of you want to go there, this is tough racing

it really is worth watching it, if you ever wanted to see

ferrari 575 maranello, dodge viper, lister storm, saleen s7, maserati mc12, lamborghini murcielago, porsche gt3 and nissan 350z in one race.

you better pack your oropax!!!! it's gonna be loud and fast!!!! GO THERE!!!!! i wish i could!

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/lgsr/default.htm

you can buy tickets in virgin megastores in mercato, bur juman, city centre

It will have only 7.000 spectators in all circuit, Is it provisional?

7000 only? so they just have the grand stand. if they want to get into f1 business they have to upgrade it to 150.000 seats!!! minimum! that's standard
guess there will be construction of some more stands over the next months

autodrome homepage finally done and online
nice flash intro

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/nr/autodrome/img/picturegallery/3.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/nr/autodrome/img/picturegallery/6.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/nr/autodrome/img/picturegallery/8.jpg

6 circuits possible
you can hire the gp circuit for 90.000aed per day ;)

I dont think so dubai lover that 150,000 is min. Ive heard that before but im sure its much less now, coz bahrain had the formula one event and it definitly had less than 150.000 seats.

The track seems to have the same problem as the one in qatar. I see its dust everywhere. This weekend was the moto GP event in doha, and i was a marshell. I swear there was sand everywhere.. there has to be a solution to it!!

bahrain circuit is also new, so maybe the started with a lower capacity, but when they want to remain in the business they have to offer about 100.000 seats. 7000 for a formula 1 race. are you kidding me?
this won't work

Well I dont have the exact number am guessing somewhere around 20,000 but there is no way its going to be around 100,000, not for a country of less than a million. But since the tickets are really expansive im sure they are still making the money they need. Ill research it and tell you!!

As for the dubai one, im really amazed, i just spent an hour looking over their website. Its really great! Im seriously planning to come to dubai this weekend just for the event, so if any one has any news or info about the race plz let me know. thank!

well, i've never been to a lg super racing weekend but what i've seen and heard it's supposed to be great

it's also something special as it's the first event. and the cars racing there are not that bad
fia gt championship:
ferrari 550 maranello gt, ferrari 575 maranello gt, ferrari 360 modena, dodge viper gts, lambo murcielago r-gt, maserati mc12, porsche gt3
500km or 3 hours racing non-stop

and 2 other series:
fia european touring car championship (bmw, seat, alfa romeo, peugeot, ford, honda
formula renault v6 eurocup (500hp)

so this is really aggressive racing, cars bumping each other

this is really woth-watching, if you get the chance go there, especially when you're a racing fan and love cool cars. a nice alternative to f1

any of you dubai locals. try to get there. the dubai event of the year!!!
if you go take your cam and take pics :D

btw: it's just the grand stand that offers 7000 seats
more stands are planned. have a look at the map in post #5, there will be at least 6 more stands

Hi! I just went to bahrain's formula 1 website, www.bahraingp.com, and the stands can carry up to 63,000 ppl :eek2: , which is a whole lot more than i expected. I heard that they are increasing the capacity also.

I guess qatar's circuit is really small compared to them. It only holds up to 5,000 ppl not including the vips. :< But they also said that they are in the process of expaniding it!

63.000 is very low. standard us 150.000 or even more, but they'll expand it from time to time, maybe to see how it works first

63.000 is very low. standard us 150.000 or even more, but they'll expand it from time to time, maybe to see how it works first

The biggest problem Bahrain faced back then, was lack of hotel rooms.

i guess so altind. Your right, the might expand it, but still that alot of a country like bahrain. Ive really underestimated the fan base for formula 1. Ive heard from alot of ppl involved with bahrain f1 that two cruise ships were ordered and sailed right on the shores of bahrain coz hotel rooms werent enough. also there was a package from dubai where some hotels got togther and offerend a package that included a charterd flight to and from bahrian.

:lol:
didn't they know a lot of people will be there???

ao, anyone been to lg sr weekend?

whats that dubai?!

I think they knew alot of ppl r coming, but u should see bahrain on weekend. The poplulation of the country increase by like 20 or so percent will all the saudis and qataris coming from across the causeway and by plane. Yestarday and the night before some of my friends wanted to a hotel room, they could not find one hotel room in any of the 4 and 3 star hotels on the islands, and there are hunderds of them!!

I heard that one or two hotels are also going to be built in that same area to support the formula one.

I was just watching the Super Racing race they were having in the Dubai Autodrome live on Dubai Sports Channel. Unfortunately my brother only let me watch for two minutes cuz he had the RC :mad:.

Latest on Bahrain's International Circuit, and you're right qatar4ever:

DESIGNS for a multi-million dinar business park at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) have now been completed, it was revealed yesterday.

They were drawn up by German architect firm Tilke, which was responsible for designing the circuit itself.

The BIC was only the first phase of development in the desert, according to General Organisation for Youth and Sports (Goys) president and Bahrain International Circuit Committee (BICC) chairman Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

"I will not go into details, but I can confirm that the first stage of our plan was to build the circuit in Sakhir," he said at yesterday's Press conference.

"The second phase will be improving facilities at the circuit and enhancing the circuit further.

"There is a business park that we are looking to develop in future, but we will give more details later.

"However, we have just received the final master plan for the whole area which has been designed by Tilke.

"It has three areas and will be done in stages."

However, the GDN has learned that the business park designs include two hotels.

There are also plans to develop an off-road driving school at the circuit.

well you've got the areen resort comin up and another hotel on the beach to also come up so it's not bad for starters, definately the event that bahrain really needed. Next year's F1 will be better and tickets are on sale now.

What is the difference between the one in Dubai and the Bahraini one.

I think the bahraini one is more qualified to be F1 circuit.

went to lg weekend. Will get pics up v soon

This 1st post contans shots of the general buildings at the autodrome.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p94d3c0a149a585b885cb3b575e929f8c/f6b00462.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pacac89c97ddfd88e7374d5687fd0e4f5/f6b0045d.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p3e83973ee30736cbb9692604f4d75b74/f6b0046c.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p44d3a4fce52718c5cfb5189e5098f771/f6b00466.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p73dd7ddd8b89fc3720e1ccf832a486ab/f6b00463.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p10f535194f2c55f16bc9a8dd39cad509/f6b0045c.jpg

More in post 2!

This looks like the gokart track being made. I Think
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p85dc125190775108e2593b0ccfe62c19/f6b00464.jpg

The rest are pics of the actual races.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pbe6fb24a6b60988883d2f15f9560b6b0/f6b00468.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p5f5c5cc8e41e5c75740ea3234790a833/f6b0045e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p687bb7481a79172cb319e607dfe43ae5/f6b00460.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pe2c4c9ffca8c2b1a49cbe3f443915505/f6b0045b.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p5b512e43064583de80fae45a166ce236/f6b00465.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p21df04a687c461d96460c70b741a4528/f6b0046e.jpg

I have some more on DV tape. when I get around to making stills I will post them as well. All these pics will soon be u on my site.

The same exact problem with qatar, except from the pic dubai has it worse. There is way to much sand on the track, and i noticed that around the track there is desert sand not the regular rocks and dirt sand which makes it even worse. But I do like the stands, looks really kool even though its seems it will fall at any given second. Great pics, hope u can post some more. I was also wondering of your thoughts on the race and track itself?

I saw the race at Doha
just looked at the aerial shot and lay out it really seem out in sand
looked great on TV last weekend

Saturday, 9 October, 2004
Dubai Autodrome crosses the finishing line at speed

by Colin Foreman
Advanced Tools

Dubai Autodrome will host its first major event this week. Like the event, the project was fast-tracked and completed in less than two years. Construction Week visited the pit lane to see how the project progressed.

Once the developers, Union Properties, had made the decision to build Dubai Autodrome a lot of time was spent looking for a design team with the credentials to do the job. This was not that easy as very few first class racing facilities have been built from scratch. The project managers, Edara, spent a lot of time scouring the world looking for a top class design team and by January 2003 had assembled a panel made up of HOK Sport and Venue as lead masterplanners and architects; Buro Happold as structural engineers; West Surrey Racing (WSR) as track designers; and WS Atkins as civil and electro mechanical engineers.

Co-ordination was one of the most important aspects during the design stages, and it involved many trips to and from London where a lot of the design work was conducted. One thing that the design team tried to do was make best use of the existing topography for the track to minimise the amount of landscaping works required.

Another aspect of the design was that it was conducted in tandem with FIA and FIM – especially the track - so that there were no problems getting approval from the two governing bodies.

During the early stages of design for the structures, the architect came up with a concept dubbed “active balance”. Both the Grandstand and the Marketing and Management Buildings appear to lean to one side to represent the excitement of motor sport as if the car or motorbike is just on the point of losing traction.

The design team also had to be mindful of a number of local requirements that had to be met. For example, the Burj Al Arab had to be visible to spectators sitting on the main grandstand.

From the outset, the project management team aimed to develop a strategy that would enable work onsite to start as soon as possible, using the contracting capabilities available locally in Dubai.

The eventual solution was to split the project into four separate packages. The first package was the enabling works, which required very little design input, but did require a significant amount of time on site. The second and third packages were the two main structures of the development, the Management and Marketing Building and the Grandstand, and in order to get the construction moving as quickly as possible they were tendered as design and build contracts. The final package, and perhaps the most significant, was the track itself, which couldn’t begin until the enabling works were complete. Unlike the two buildings, this package could not be design and build because of the strict guidelines that had to be met for the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Federation Internationale de’Motocyclisme (FIM) standards – the Formula 1 racing and MotoGP governing bodies.

“The strategy worked very well because the design information could be issued and tendered to local contracting companies that were identified as capable of doing the type of work required. Obviously it wasn’t the same list for the track and the infrastructure as it was for the buildings,” says Steve Irvine, general manager, Edara.

Although it was planned to go to four separate contractors, the four packages were split between two contractors. Al Futtaim Carilion was awarded the enabling works and track and infrastructure packages and Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke won the packages for the construction of the Management and Marketing Building and the Grandstand.

“It worked extremely well. The interfaces between the packages were very clear and the contractors came in and did a very good job. “I think one of the big successes of the project is that it was designed and packaged to suit the capabilities of the better contractors who then came in and performed very well,” says Irvine.

The first package to start was the enabling package, which began in June 2003. Once complete, the track and infrastructure package was ready to start the very next day – exactly how it was planned.

Work on the structures began in October 2003. The 225 m long and 32 m high Grandstand was largely fabricated offsite and erected onsite. Bone Steel in Scotland fabricated the 2500 t of steel elements before they were shipped in one single consignment to Dubai in March this year. Precast concrete was used for the slabs and stepping, which, like the steel, was cast offsite by a company in Abu Dhabi and was erected onsite. “Precast was used to improve speed by minimising the amount of work needed on site. Quality control was also improved by manufacturing off site,” says Zuhdi Alrai, senior project manager, Edara.

Altogether the construction of the Grandstand took 11 months, and includes two tiers with 7 000 seats and nine hospitality boxes on top. The Marketing and Management Building was on a slightly more accelerated programme and was finished in July 2004. This gave the interior fit-out contractors the opportunity to start work early so that the building could be operational by the start of the racing season in October.

The Grandstand occupies the highest area of the development so spectators are able to see as much of the track as possible. This was an important issue during the planning stages as the design team tried to create a track that would be exciting for the drivers and riders and also exciting for the spectators. “Depending on where you are sitting you can see from 50% of the track to 90% of the track. There are a number of good overtaking opportunities as well so it’s exciting for drivers, riders and spectators,” says Irvine.

For the track itself it was very much like standard highway construction. “Construction of the track was exactly the same as regular highway construction, apart from the last layer of asphalt. The last had a number of polymers added to the mix to improve the performance of the asphalt. The loads that a racetrack is subjected to are different to a standard road. Instead of downward forces exerted by trucks and heavy traffic, a racetrack needs take the sideways loads into account as the cars and motorbikes speed round corners, accelerating and braking,” says Alrai. The FIA and FIM had very strict guidelines. The tolerances had to be very good and could only deviate by +/- 3 mm over a 4 m stretch of track,” he adds.

Exacting standards such as these were met throughout the project right from the early design stages right through to the actual construction as the project was always meant to be a world-class facility capable of holding the very best events that motor sport has to offer. “Building a race track creates an excitement right from the very start. This excitement meant that everyone was keen to be involved in the project and proud of what they were delivering,” says Irvine.
The fact that virgin desert off Emirates Road was turned into an international racetrack within one year reflects the enthusiasm that the project generated.

By the way dubai looks great there

great pics
never seen some reasonable pics from autodrome so far
thank you for these

wow nice design looked better than expected so modern

Can we take our own car there and race.

of course you can
you can rent the circuit for a whole day and some 600.000 aed i think
watch autodrome website

give all the circuits in the gulf time and they'll be amazing. The gulf is the region which is setting standards now for projects with the far east these days.

give all the circuits in the gulf time and they'll be amazing. The gulf is the region which is setting standards now for projects with the far east these days.

That is absolutely right, I really get amaized of the projectes in Dubai and what the other countries has with no offend to other countries.

I dont wana take the whole circuit for the whole day, I just want to use the tracke to race with friends which will not take more than 1 hour. Is it possible.

Bahrain GP updated its website, just been redesigned by Flip Media for the 2005 GP.

www.bahraingp.com

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p8b0753fa4a367e1afa362d2b103c8730/f6ac71c4.jpg

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http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p8147812fb9f379b645750b05ee4300bc/f6ac71ce.jpg


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p8fee565a3d51a24ce71a70f74991376f/f6ac71d2.jpg

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http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/pe8168b153145d94794e8a0d489c4fc8f/f6ac71ea.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p5175bd3bae7e19f10b001c4960ac7da9/f6ac71f8.jpg

many people went to watch the event (second pic) i guess this business will attract a big propotion of the society

Actually the stands look very empty. Im suprised not that many went, knowing how emirities are car fanatics. What other races will the track host? The LG isnt big enough for a track of this level!

I think so too, but well they allow us to use the racing cars

You must be kiddinggggggggggggg.. bahrain circuit asks 18.888 around 50,000 dollars for the coperate booth @@.. thats just tooo much!!

It is simply multiplying the number of audiances into say AED 50 in order to make a business out of the money paid for the whole circuit

i'm interested in such activities i'm sure i'll attend the next event

btw guys i don't think there are enough marketing for the autodrome ... because not many people knew it was already open !

I thought it was fairly quiet. One of the main problems I thought was the prioceing policy. There were 3 kinds of tickets. AED 50 got you in but not in the stands or the teraces. AED 100 got you in the teraces, where all the food, music and other entertainment was but not such a good view of the trak and AED 150 got you n the stands as well. The vip area of the stands, on the upper level of the building, was the best with a view ofmost of the track, however this was corporate invite only ickets so the general public couldn`t get up there. There was a huge distance between the stands and the terraces, although they did run buses.

qatar4ever, ya the prices went up for the corporate booth because last year they were all sold out in 6 hours which is impressive, so expect them to sell out also next year.

Letter from Gulf NEws

No cooling system
My family and I attended the LG Super Racing Weekend at Dubai Autodrome and my four-year-old son enjoyed it. But unfortunately the facilities were not encouraging due to the lack of any cooling system. In the sweltering heat with children around, it was a pitiful sight.

Often we take them to the toilet where the air-conditioning system is installed. I hope this is sorted out in future.
From Mrs. S. Jaikumar
Dubai

Was thinking about this
but how could it be done putting the huge stands behind glass ?

another proof the track is far away from being finished
also 7000 seats is way too less

well numbers will grow are they all filled ?

Haha.. of course the heat will put people off. I'm telling you Dubai is not an outdoor city.

BTW, since when were public advertisements of alcoholic beverages allowed in the UAE. Budweiser..HA

i dunno you tell us.. i was shocked myself

The also sell beer in Gitex. that pissed me off. something has to be done.

The cooling could have ben done by using those big fans that blow mist at you. They have they in disneyworld and they work a treat. the alcohol advertsing is allowed as lon as it cant be seen from the street.

cant be seen from the street.. thats stupid!!

I think these mist things are a must.. they should also have them on side walks!!

had them all over the place at the J Beach Hotel when i was there
Made the day perfect

Fast-tracking a fast track

Al Futtaim Carillion delivered the Autodrome’s racing circuit exceptionally quiACckly. The new, ultra-modern racing facility features a 5.39 km FIA-approved F1 circuit, as well as five other track permutations (International, Club, National, Oval and Hill); three of which can operate simultaneously. With two straights (each 1 km long) and 16 corners, a Formula 1 car should be able to set a lap time of 1 min, 30 s. Although not as rapid, the Volvo grader that helped create the track was also fast in what were demanding circumstances. “In high ambient temperatures, filters, oils and lubricants come under pressure,” says Paul Ward, Al Futtaim Carillion’s plant and transport manager. “Long shifts meant machine and operator were thoroughly tested,” he adds.

With a track temperature of 55°C (131°F) and higher, the G780B grader from Volvo had to create a road that met the most demanding criteria. The finished track could not exceed a 3 mm change in level when a 4 m straight edge was laid on the track — this means almost perfectly smooth. The road had to be 100% compacted and, using GPS positioning, follow exactly the curves and inclines determined by the track’s designers which included motorcycle, touring car and single seat racing champions.

“We arrived on site in November 2003 and were substantially complete by the middle of May 2004,” says Al Futtaim Carillion’s genial project manager, Malachy Breslin. “Building this track was relatively easy,” he says modestly. “Working in the desert is like having a clean sheet of paper, and the road itself — while admittedly to close tolerances — is essentially ordinary, a couple of layers of sub base and three layers of asphalt.” What he doesn’t mention is that the initial earthmoving exercise involved shifting 1.5 million m³ and that the graders had to prepare the ground for 326 160 m² of asphalt to be laid. There was also a further 457 402 m² of bound gravel footpaths that needed preparing as well as a 10 000 vehicle capacity car park.

The tight deadline (the inclusive contract was 14 months), meant machine uptime was a priority and reliability was as important as strength and efficiency. The 19.6 t G780B, supplied by Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO), provided all three without compromise. The G780B is the largest of Volvo’s tandem drive graders with heavy frame, full 90/90 degree blade mobility and the highest blade pull and cutting capability in its class.

As with F1 cars, the heart of a grader is its engine; the G780B’s has a turbo charged 9.6 l capacity. In order to meet current legislation, emissions are kept at a low level due to its electronically controlled fuel injection system and intercooler. The 181 kW of power produced is transferred to four driven wheels via the Volvo 8400 transmission system. With eight forward and four reverse speeds, this fully sequential direct-drive transmission has the right speed for all applications. There are five speeds below 16.6 km/hr for grading, a high speed road maintenance gear and an even higher speed roading gear.

The transmission’s ‘Smart Shifter’ provides rapid gear changing through pulse shifting, ensuring an appropriately matched forward or reverse gear. For fine grade control, the combination of a high torque engine and high displacement hydraulic pump allows operators to reduce 1st gear ground speed by operating a lower rpm whilekeeping full hydraulic control. This helps position the moldboard to suit the grade required.

In terms of moldboard control, the G780B offers a heavy moveable blade control system (HMBCS); circle turn; blade lift, slide, tilt and drawbar sideshift systems. Together they form one of the most sophisticated devices in construction equipment today, allowing the operator to achieve the required profile and reduce the number of passes needed, thus increasing productivity. The assembly of the moldboard, circle, drawbar, high lift and moveable link bar combine to cut, cycle loads, bank slope, back slope as well as provide 90 degree upward and 21 degree downward mobility. It is possible to cut a 2:1 bank slope with the moldboard completely outside the tyre profile.

Grader productivity is not just a function of weight and power, but also where the weight is and how it is applied. Volvo placed the moldboard as far rearward as possible where most of the weight is centralised (approximately 70%) to help pushing capability. Blade down force is also aided by the long wheelbase and bladebase and lots of weight over the front wheels.

Unlike the F1 drivers who will swelter in their cockpits in their helmets and flameproof overalls, the G780B operator had a much more civilised ride; the G780B’s sealed and pressurized cab with dust extraction and climate control was the coolest place to be in the midday sun. The operator’s life was made even easier by centrally located controls and good all-round visibility — Volvo’s ROPS cab meant he was protected even without a crash helmet.

loads of info here



Dubai Autodrome & Business Park


GCM presents a special report on Dubai’s new state-of-the-art Autodrome and Business Park, which is set for further development.


The UAE’s first fully integrated automotive and motor sport business park – which flagged off its first event with the Dubai LG Super Racing Weekend last October – looks set to launch preliminary work shortly on the next phase of development.

The Dubai Autodrome and Business Park, as it is known, is spearheaded by leading property developer Union Properties – which has signed a partnership agreement with Ferrari World to develop the residential component under Phase II of the project.
Located 25 minutes from central Dubai and directly accessed from two major highways, the Dubai Autodrome and Business Park was the first development to be officially opened within the Dh18 billion ($4.9 million) Dubailand leisure and entertainment city.
The facility has been designed to offer ‘a real home for the automotive industry in the Gulf,’ providing an automotive, motor sport, tourism and social destination for millions of local, regional and international visitors. The track can accommodate all types of racing from Formula One to motor-bikes.
“It is the integration of the Middle East automotive and motor racing industries into an unprecedented working environment for the first time, coupled with training and the promotion of motor racing from the ‘grass roots’ upwards,” says a spokesman for Union Properties.
“The priority will be on a safe and well-managed operation providing unparalleled driving experiences and a working environment to encourage the automotive industry to expand further in the region,” he says.
Encapsulating a world-class international motor-racing circuit, the first phase was completed on a fast-track basis within 11 months at a construction cost of between Dh350 million and Dh400 million.
It also includes a fully-fledged business park around the racetrack with modern units for offices and workshops.
The next phase of development will see the construction of retail outlets, restaurants, a hotel, serviced apartments and condominiums to make Dubai Autodrome and Business Park an all-year-round family destination.
Given the luxury of a clean-sheet approach by Union Properties, project manager Edara and architect and planner HOK aimed to meet the goals of the client while satisfying the desires of racing car drivers, motorcycle-racing riders and motor sport teams and enthusiasts with a sequence of goners and straights over undulating ground.
The track has also been designed to meet the high standards set by motor sport governing bodies including the FIA (Federation International de l’Automobile) and the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme).
The overall area of the site is 270 hectares while the circuit has a footprint of 100 hectares. The facility, accessed via two main entrances, includes racing circuits, a grandstand, infield buildings and a striking Management and Marketing building.
At the heart of the Dubai Autodrome is the world-class FIA-sanctioned motor-racing track – 5.39 km in length – which has been designed to host three separate racing events at a time with several variations in the track design.
The main circuit comprises 16 corners and two straights – each 1 km in length – and has a maximum gradient of 6 per cent. The theoretical lap time for a Formula One car on this track is estimated to be 1 minute 30 seconds.
The track offers six permutations for users:
• Main Grand Prix track –5.39 km;
• International track – 4.3 km;
• Club circuit – 2.5 km;
• National circuit – 3.6 km;
• Oval handling circuit – 1.2 km
American-style speedway; and
• ‘Hill’ handling circuit – 1.6 km.
Being one of the newest circuits to be designed to FIA standards, it incorporates the latest revisions to safety standards set by the international body, according to Zuhdi Alrai, senior project manager with Edara.
“We have incorporated the best standards in terms of track safety for the drivers,” says Alrai. “The track is also equipped with sophisticated timing, track surveillance and telecommunications systems and a state-of-the-art control room.”
The systems in place include:
• Digital surveillance system covering all areas on track, linked to the race control, with controllable video feed to all points;
• Timing system, providing three discreet timing systems or a fully integrated three sector timing system; and
• Matrix-controlled public address (PA) system, with PA feed possible to all areas within site.
Overlooking the track is the specially-designed grandstand with seating for up to 7,000 people in the first phase, including private hospitality suites for corporate hire on a daily or even annual basis.
“The design of the grandstand is unique in terms of sightlines,” says Alrai. “Generally, spectators in grandstands get to see around 30 per cent of the track. The Dubai Autodrome grandstand has been built on the highest point on the site offering views to close to 90 per cent of the action.”
Eight hospitality boxes, catering for 240 VIP guests, have been included within the aluminium-roofed grandstand. In addition, the grandstand houses function rooms for large gatherings such as press conferences, company events and private launches. The grandstand is connected to the infield buildings by an underground tunnel. A further 200 VIP guests can be accommodated on the top hospitality level of the glass-clad Marketing and Management building.
Temporary stands can also be erected - some close to exciting turns - to seat an additional 35,000 spectators, if required.
Opposite the grandstand is an FIA-specified pit lane complex with up to 36 air-conditioned individual team garages and private team hospitality balconies for their sponsor and guests at race meetings. The pit garages are designed to allow a second-storey expansion, if required.
At the rear is a traditional racing paddock for team transporters and additional team hospitality. All paddock buildings are two storeys high or lower in order to maintain sight lines from spectator positions. This is a controlled zone to ensure safety and spectator management. The outer paddock area can be expanded to accommodate the predicted growth of motor sport in the region.
Included in the pit lane complex is an FIA-specified medical centre, which is optimally located for on-track emergencies. The circuit will maintain its own ambulance and fire truck crews as well as providing a ‘helipad’ for emergency situations.
A media centre and control tower – located adjacent to the pit lane – is fully-equipped with individual ISDN lines, computers and fax machines for the local and international press.
The autodrome will include a racing school, which has been equipped to train drivers on their own sports cars.
To complement the autodrome, the facility has a motocross centre which includes a 1.2 km kart track The CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting)-sanctioned track – which is among the most recently-completed components of the project – is modular in design and can be operated as two discreet circuits. The facility has a shared pit lane design so that all track users can access all facilities. A signature tunnel underpass forms part of the circuit layout
The motocross centre also includes a 3,000 sq m fully air-conditioned indoor kart centre specifically for children, companies and incentive groups.
A total of 12,000 car-parking slots have been allocated under the phase one development. Further parking slots will soon be available within the business park.

Design
Designing a facility to accommodate races for both cars as well as motorbikes presented a number of challenges, says Alrai.
Exhaustive efforts were exerted before the launch of construction to ensure the track featured all the aspects that drivers look for in challenging tracks, taking to consideration aspects such as sharp bends and testing turns as well as the orientation of the track, Alrai points out. It involved discussions with many international consultants and visits to a number of similar track facilities in the world. The design was revised three to four times before Edara was confident that it had come up with the right ingredients to make it a very interesting track.
A highlight of the design of some of the buildings is the ‘Dynamic Balance’ architectural theme devised by HOK. “As per this concept, the buildings are designed to lean backwards along the route taken by a racing car, enhancing the visual impact of the race on both the drivers and the spectators. This theme has been applied to all structures within the pit and paddock area as well as the Marketing and Management building,” explains Alrai.
The design team drew in the best of the talents in the field and comprised:
• HOK – responsible for architecture and planning;
• West Surrey Racing (WSR) – track design. The firm also played a major role in approaching the FIA and FIM;
• Buro Happold – structural engineering;
• WS Atkins – civil and infrastructural engineering;
• Edara – project manager.

Construction
Given the fast-track nature of project, work on the autodrome was awarded in four packages. The enabling package, involving excavation and filling operations, was carried out by Al Futtaim Carillion, which also carried out the fourth package for the racing circuit and infrastructure services.
The second and third packages for the construction of the Marketing and Management building and the grandstand were undertaken by Naboodah Laing Ourke.
Implementing the ‘dynamic balance’ architectural scheme brought with it its own set of challenges as all the columns in the building had to be built at a slant to create the desired effect, says Alrai.
Procuring the steel required for the project presented logistical challenges: some 3,000 tonnes of structural steel was fabricated and shipped from the UK for the construction of the grandstand and the Marketing and Management building.
The fully-glazed Marketing and Management building features double-glazed panels incorporating low-e glass. A fixed-point glazing system has been used for the ground floor.
Other challenges Alrai listed were the location of the track and the need to minimise the noise pollution associated with venues of this nature.
“The track is located in the middle of the desert and suffers the risk of sand being blown on the track,” says Alrai. “In addition, we’ve had to look at the possibilities of minimising the noise level as the development will include residential components in subsequent phases, apart from the fact that a residential complex – the Arabian Ranches – already exists in the close vicinity.”
A fair portion of the facility will be grassed to prevent sand from being blown on the track. In addition, the developers have opted to utilise desert aggregate as a cost-efficient means to tackle the problem. To minimise noise levels, Edara is installing sound barriers, including trees and advertising hoardings.
Turning to the track, he says that three layers of asphalt form the base of the racing surfacing with the final layer including special polymers that prevent skidding and abrasion of tyres.
Other safety measures incorporated for the track are the tyre and the debris barriers. There are a total of 27 Marshall posts located all over the site.

Business Park
The business park is a first-class real estate development including ‘purpose-built’ offices, workshops, retail showrooms or factories, which are being constructed alongside the racing track facility. It comprises low-rise buildings divided into small units – 500 sq ft upwards – which will be available for rent on short or long-term leases, to companies involved with the automobile industry.
“This business park provides companies the opportunity to be close to the racing circuit and offer services associated with the industry, as well as operate clubs,” says Alrai.
The Dubai Autodrome will also be available to manufacturers and racing teams for winter testing, prototype development work, vehicle demonstrations, product launches, driver training, and hot weather car research for international manufacturers.

Future plans
A large area dedicated as a retail space is to be developed. A central piazza is also to be developed to host major events such as concerts.

Bone Steel builds on ‘showcase’

http://www.gulfconstructionworldwide.com/source/xxvi/02/images/A-autodrome9.jpg
The Grandstand

Following the successful completion of the Grandstand project within Dubai’s Autodrome, Bone Steel – Scotland’s leading structural steel company – has set its sights firmly on the fast-growing regional markets where it is looking to expand its operations.

“A review of Bone Steel’s export strategy has led towards an expansion of its operations in this region,” comments Colin Bone, deputy managing director.
The company has recently established a new Middle East office in Dubai, through which Bone Steel intends to increase its market penetration in the other GCC countries, including Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.
“We intend to establish a strong presence throughout the Middle East and discussions are under way for further major projects in the region. The successful completion of the £3 million ($5.67 million) Autodrome project has helped provide a strong foothold in the regional market,” he adds.
For the Autodrome, Bone Steel had the concept frame redesigned by its design partners URS Corporation – widely recognised as one of the world’s leading stadium designers.
This redesign provided Union Properties with a lighter structure, which was within the design concept.
“With input from the construction team at Bone Steel, a structure was developed which was easier to erect,” says Bone.
At the second stage, fire protection was effectively designed out of the structure in collaboration with Safe Consulting (fire and risk engineers), an acknowledged specialist in its field.
The principles used by Safe for the work were simple and back to basics, Bone advises.
“Since the structure is ‘open’ and composed of steel and concrete, there is limited opportunity for a fire to start, and even in the event of fire, under no circumstances would the heat be maintained at a level that could seriously compromise the structural integrity of the steel frame. Following computer modelling of the structure by Safe, the Dubai Municipality also agreed with the principles,” he says.
“The extremely tight construction deadlines for the project dictated that the steel work for both the Marketing Building and the Grandstand – which came close to 3,000 tonnes, had to be fabricated and shipped from the UK.
Elaborating on the company’s operations in the region and the services it offers, Bone says: “Often our customers ask how we are able to make our systems and solutions work in the region?
“The answer is simple. Bone Steel offers customised solutions that suit the needs of each customer. We study each project in meticulous detail and the innovative techniques developed by our engineers and project teams together with the specialised skills of our partners help provide us with what is required to make it work,” he explains.
“We look upon every project as a unique challenge on which we can develop innovative solutions using our many years of experience. Bone Steel continues to improve performance by constantly upgrading its knowledge, skills and technology. This is the platform from which our philosophy and our focus on sustained growth are based.”
Bone Steel was established in 1938 by Alex Bone and has, over the decades, grown to become one of the largest steel construction companies in the UK.
Bone Steel has been involved in several high-profile contracts throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East and was recently involved in the rebuilding of the World Trade Centre at London’s Docklands.
The company has assisted its many clients in construction projects overseas, and has so far worked in 96 countries.
“With our new office in Dubai, this number is set to increase,” Bone explains.
Elaborating on the services offered, he says: “One of the services available to our partners is the provision of value engineering on selected projects where we utilise the experience and skills in our engineering and technical departments to reduce the weight of structures and the experience in our construction department to make each structure as ‘buildable’ as possible.
Partnering, however, is not only for clients and the company has established, partnerships with a number of preferred sub-contractors and key suppliers.
“These include a long-term relationship with Corus for the supply of steel. A unique benefit of the Corus Partnership is that four full-time Corus managers are based within our head office with computer links to the various Corus mills and steel stockists.
Working closely with Corus, we have developed a just-in-time raw steel delivery system to our works, which has been in operation since 1998,” he explains.
He continues: “A number of concerns were identified during early 1990s regarding on-site application of intumescent coatings including disruption, isolation of areas, overspray, sensitivity to weather conditions and increased timescales to contract programmes. A study on how to overcome the various problems led to the invention of a process for applying intumescent coatings to steel within a highly controlled, off-site factory environment.”
“This development prompted Bone Steel to establish Enob Fire as a division of the company. Now Enob Fire is a market leading company in its own right and the management team continues to harness the potential, further develop the process and markets their skills and expertise in fire coating technology and fire engineering.”
“The off-site application process of intumescent coatings is currently growing annually by over 20 per cent worldwide.”
“We do not compete with steel fabricators,” he points out. “Bone Steel is recognised as a steel construction company and not simply as a fabricator, or erector, of structural steelwork. The difference is that we don’t simply provide trailer loads of steel that we can then erect – but instead provide a comprehensive building package,” he concludes.

RMJM adds another feather to its cap

Architectural and engineering firm, RMJM Dubai completed a very challenging assignment as architect and engineer on a team charged with the mammoth task of setting up the 7,000-seat grandstand and the marketing and management building at the Dubai Autodrome.

This involvement builds on the firm’s previous experience of successfully executing similar tasks at pit buildings at Brands Hatch and the grandstand at Nad Al Sheba.
“The Autodrome, where RMJM has worked closely with Edara in developing a quality design and maintaining cost control with Al Naboodah Laing O’Rourke (ANLO), is definitely another feather in our cap,” says a company spokesperson.
Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall and Partners, now trading as RMJM, was jointly founded in Edinburgh and London in 1956. Over the past three decades, the original company has established itself in the European markets.
The practice has established strong roots in the UK and has expanded its business interests aboard, building its international reputation on the values and objectives established at national level. Currently, RMJM has offices in Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai as well as in the UK. However, the company has also undertaken extensive work in many other countries where it does not have a permanent office.
RMJM has been in operation in the UAE since 1970. Originally based in Sharjah, the design and engineering concern established a Dubai office in 1979, which is now its regional centre.
The Dubai office has a complement of over 170 architects and engineers and is equipped to provide a comprehensive multi-disciplinary design services.
“Dubai offers both it citizens and visitors a huge diversity in building designs and architecture and RMJM being a participant in the successful creation of the Dubai Autodrome is proud of its architects and engineers who were involved in the project,” the spokesperson says.
As a global practice that has consistently ranked in the top 20 firms in recent years, RMJM is capable of bringing a wealth of collective experience to projects in the UAE to add to its extensive local knowledge, the spokesperson states.
“Building design involves many complex interactions between members of the design and construction team and RMJM believes in the full integration of the various disciplines into a close working relationship. Our architects and engineers have been working together for many years on a wide variety of projects, creating familiar and open working relationships and allowing different solutions to be studied and evaluated quickly and cost effectively,” the spokesperson says.
Despite its size, the RMJM group retains a sense of social and architectural responsibility, which is derived from the founding partners and has been fostered through the years.
“Our approach is one which mixes the balance of idealism and pragmatism. Design is not based on repetition of genres or dictated by fashion. Instead, there is a continual effort towards creativity and innovation in response to clients needs,” the spokesperson comments. “Client dialogue combined with a rigorous process of interpretation leads to solutions that exceed expectations. Sensitivity to local conditions and cultural perceptions are instinctively integrated into the design”.
“The aspects of architecture and engineering are viewed by RMJM as a socially important activity with responsibilities to the client, the community and the environment, and in its involvement in the ever-growing portfolio of assets.”
Elaborating on the international character of the company, the spokesperson continues: “The global demand for quality buildings has drawn RMJM into projects in different countries at various times – recent examples being the newly-opened Scottish Parliament or the current Beijing Conference and Exhibition complex. The Beijing project is also an example of expertise from one office benefiting another and where the knowledge gained in the procurement of the Dubai Convention Centre has, indeed been utilised.”

The new A1GP car broke the lap record of the autodrome by 5 seconds when it was tested there last month!!!!

Article on the A1GP website (http://www.a1gp.com/home.html)

Found an old article, and a very interesting one indeed :D

Union Properties Embarks On Unique Affiliation With Ferrari

First ever "Ferrari World" will become part of the Dubai Autodrome, creating a world of fun, fantasy and excitement under the Ferrari brand.

United Arab Emirates, July 19 2004 – Union Properties today thanked His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, for his vision and support of a spectacular new project.

Union Properties will be working alongside Ferrari to develop a spectacular new project, bringing the world's most famous and prestigious brand to become a focal part of Dubai. "Ferrari World" will be based in the Dubai Autodrome covering an area of over eighty hectares.

The project, which is planned to be completed in the Spring of 2006, is a multifaceted Ferrari themed "edutainment" complex, that will take the mantle of the internationally recognized entertainment and cultural park where the whole family can appreciate the Ferrari legend. "Ferrari World" will offer an experience unique to the region showcasing Ferrari's successful history, culture, style and quality of past, present and future endeavors. The project will feature a futuristic inter-active museum as well as an opportunity to experience the ultimate Ferrari driving experience alongside a Members and VIP clubhouse, amusement center, fine dining restaurants and a one-stop Ferrari store with the latest memorabilia available.

The "Ferrari World" in Dubai will be the first of its kind in the world. The project will encompass the style, design and charm of Ferrari. Innovation and tradition in this state of the art development will reflect the concept and the vision of the Ferrari brand evoked by legend and design.

Anis Al Jallaf, Chairman of Union Properties said, "Everyone at Union Properties is delighted by this announcement, for Union Properties to be involved and to be given the opportunity to work with such an esteemed brand shows the synergy between both Ferrari and ourselves as leaders in our respective industries. Aligned with the vision of the government of Dubai, we look forward to providing one of the most pioneering projects in the region."

Simon E. Azzam, CEO of Union Properties said, "We are extremely proud that this project is now materializing and developing as per our vision. After many months of hard work between the two companies to bring this project to fruition, we are finally in a position to initiate what will be a phenomenal addition to the city of Dubai, under the unique brand name that is Ferrari."

Union Properties consists of a number of projects, including the Dubai Autodrome and Business Park. The success of Union Properties is built upon six basic principals, which forms the company's ethical code. Those principles are: quality, service, innovation, care, trust and diversity. Embedding these six values into every faceted aspect of the operation has enabled Union Properties to leverage itself as a leader in its field.

Reported by: Union Properties PJS
Reported on: 21.07.2004

nice projectbut very old, i haven't ever read anything about this particular topic

in the gulf news there has been a full page ad for the autodrome yesterday, does someone still have it?

They had HUGE rendering of some really cool skyscrapers coming up in this audotrome place , they were atleast 35-40 floors each and very beautiful indeed

well, where did you see this?

in yesterdaysgulfnews

cool, then i suppose these are part of the business park, commercial towers
nice, there will be many small skyline clusters in dubailand!

You know i think that Dubai will build skyscrapers for everything! I mean it has an airport with 850 of them, a chess city, medical city, a theme park with over 200 of them, next thing will be a skyscraper university or something.

Belive me, skyscrapers and universitys dont combine!

:bash: :bash: :bash:

University of Pittsburg's Cathedral of Learning and Moscow University; what about those?

well we have the maths tower at out uni, the only times i have used it, its been a bitch to get up it between clases. luckily i dont have to go there anymore as its being ripped down.

yeeha

there's a new thing coming up in autodrome, motor city!
i just got to capture the render and then i'll post it! awesome and tall towers :D

Yeah, just saw renders of motor city and one central park in the flash intro on www.up.ae!

yes, i just want to upload all my project renders to imagestation but it's down one more time right now

just check the flash anime at www.up.ae

Park Lane Apartments is another unheard of proeject in the flash intro and it looks very pretty!

here is motor city

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p2cbe85d56629517ba2b9042621b0b058/f512f884.jpg

the website is weird...
what is the purpose of this one? res project? next to the raceway...don't know if i want to live there...

i'm convinced this is a part of business park in autodrome
just offices in these towers probably

Can we change the title of the thread to motorcity from autodrome? its official.

Top grades for Volvo

Transforming 7.5 sq km of sandy desert in Dubai into a world-class F1 circuit is no mean feat – but to create it in only six months is super speedy, writes Brian O Sullivan.

Using the skill of contractor Al Futtaim Carillion, Dubai’s dream of transforming a 7.5 sq km expanse of sandy, barren desert into a scene for one of the world’s most glamorous sports has become a reality – and that too in an appropriately fast time.

Dubai’s new, ultra-modern Autodrome features a 5.39 km FIA-approved F1 circuit, as well as five other track permutations.
Although not as fast as the Formula 1 car, the Volvo grader that helped create the track was also pretty quick, in what were demanding circumstances. “In high ambient temperatures, filters, oils and lubricants come under pressure,” says Paul Ward, Al Futtaim Carillion’s plant and transport manager. “And with long shifts, machine and operator were thoroughly tested.”

With a track temperature of 55 deg C and higher, the Volvo G780B grader had to create a road that met with the most demanding criteria. The finished track could not exceed a 3 mm change in level when a 4 m straight edge was laid on the track – which meant the road had to be perfectly smooth. This apart, the road had to be 100 per cent compacted and, using GPS positioning, follow exactly the curves and inclines determined by the track’s designers, which included motorcycle, touring car and single seat racing champions.
“We arrived on site in November 2003 and were substantially complete by the middle of May 2004,” says Al Futtaim Carillion’s genial project manager, Irishman Malachy Breslin. “Building this track was relatively easy to do,” he says. “Working in the desert is like having a clean sheet of paper, and the road itself – while admittedly to close tolerances – is essentially ordinary, a couple of layers of sub-base and three layers of asphalt.”

The initial earthmoving exercise involved shifting 1.5 million cu m and the graders had to prepare the ground for 326,160 sq m of asphalt to be laid. That’s not all; there was a further 457,402 sq m of bound gravel footpaths that needed preparing – apart from a 10,000-plus vehicle capacity car park.
With such a tight deadline (the inclusive contract was 14 months), this meant that machine uptime was a priority, and reliability was as important as strength and efficiency. Fortunately, the 19.6-tonne G780B, supplied by one of Volvo’s best performing dealers, Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (Famco), provided all these attributes without compromise. The G780B is the largest of Volvo’s tandem drive graders with heavy frame, full 90/90-degree blade mobility and the highest blade pull and cutting capability in its class.
As with F1 cars, the heart of a grader is its engine, and the G780B’s turbocharged 9.6-litre Volvo power plant is a thoroughbred. In order to meet current legislation, emissions are kept at a low level due to its electronically-controlled fuel injection system and intercooler. The 181 kW of power produced is transferred to four driven wheels via the Volvo 8400 transmission system. With eight forward and four reverse speeds, this fully sequential direct-drive transmission has the right speed for all applications. There are five speeds below 16.6 km/hr for grading; a high-speed road maintenance gear and an even higher speed roading gear.

The transmission’s “Smart Shifter” provides rapid gear changing through pulse shifting, ensuring an appropriately matched forward or reverse gear. For fine grade control, the combination of a high torque engine and high displacement hydraulic pump allows operators to reduce first gear ground speed by operating a lower rpm and yet keep full hydraulic control. This helps in positioning the moldboard to suit the grade required.

In terms of moldboard control, the G780B offers a heavy moveable blade control system (HMBCS), circle turn, and blade lift, slide, tilt, and drawbar sideshift systems. Forming one of the most sophisticated devices in construction equipment today, together they allow the operator to achieve the required profile and reduce the number of passes needed – increasing productivity. The assembly of the moldboard, circle, drawbar, high lift and moveable link bar combine to cut, cycle loads, bank slope, back slope as well as provide 90-degree upward and 21-degree downward mobility. It is possible to cut a 2:1 bank slope with the moldboard completely outside the tyre profile.

Grader productivity is not just a function of weight and power – but also where the weight is and how it is applied. Accordingly, Volvo has placed the moldboard as far rearward on the machine as possible – where most of the weight is centralised. This helps pushing capability. Blade down force is also aided by the combination of a long wheelbase and bladebase, and lots of weight over the front wheels.

With its sealed and pressurised cab with efficient dust extraction and climate control, the G780B offers an excellent environment for the operator.
The operator’s life was made even easier by centrally located controls and good all-round visibility apart from the Volvo’s ROPS cab.

Building up nicely

GCM presents a special report on Dubai’s new state-of-the-art Autodrome and Business Park, which is set for further development.

The UAE’s first fully integrated automotive and motor sport business park – which flagged off its first event with the Dubai LG Super Racing Weekend last October – looks set to launch preliminary work shortly on the next phase of development.

The Dubai Autodrome and Business Park, as it is known, is spearheaded by leading property developer Union Properties – which has signed a partnership agreement with Ferrari World to develop the residential component under Phase II of the project.
Located 25 minutes from central Dubai and directly accessed from two major highways, the Dubai Autodrome and Business Park was the first development to be officially opened within the Dh18 billion ($4.9 million) Dubailand leisure and entertainment city.
The facility has been designed to offer ‘a real home for the automotive industry in the Gulf,’ providing an automotive, motor sport, tourism and social destination for millions of local, regional and international visitors. The track can accommodate all types of racing from Formula One to motor-bikes.
“It is the integration of the Middle East automotive and motor racing industries into an unprecedented working environment for the first time, coupled with training and the promotion of motor racing from the ‘grass roots’ upwards,” says a spokesman for Union Properties.
“The priority will be on a safe and well-managed operation providing unparalleled driving experiences and a working environment to encourage the automotive industry to expand further in the region,” he says.
Encapsulating a world-class international motor-racing circuit, the first phase was completed on a fast-track basis within 11 months at a construction cost of between Dh350 million and Dh400 million.
It also includes a fully-fledged business park around the racetrack with modern units for offices and workshops.
The next phase of development will see the construction of retail outlets, restaurants, a hotel, serviced apartments and condominiums to make Dubai Autodrome and Business Park an all-year-round family destination.
Given the luxury of a clean-sheet approach by Union Properties, project manager Edara and architect and planner HOK aimed to meet the goals of the client while satisfying the desires of racing car drivers, motorcycle-racing riders and motor sport teams and enthusiasts with a sequence of goners and straights over undulating ground.
The track has also been designed to meet the high standards set by motor sport governing bodies including the FIA (Federation International de l’Automobile) and the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme).
The overall area of the site is 270 hectares while the circuit has a footprint of 100 hectares. The facility, accessed via two main entrances, includes racing circuits, a grandstand, infield buildings and a striking Management and Marketing building.
At the heart of the Dubai Autodrome is the world-class FIA-sanctioned motor-racing track – 5.39 km in length – which has been designed to host three separate racing events at a time with several variations in the track design.
The main circuit comprises 16 corners and two straights – each 1 km in length – and has a maximum gradient of 6 per cent. The theoretical lap time for a Formula One car on this track is estimated to be 1 minute 30 seconds.
The track offers six permutations for users:
• Main Grand Prix track –5.39 km;
• International track – 4.3 km;
• Club circuit – 2.5 km;
• National circuit – 3.6 km;
• Oval handling circuit – 1.2 km
American-style speedway; and
• ‘Hill’ handling circuit – 1.6 km.
Being one of the newest circuits to be designed to FIA standards, it incorporates the latest revisions to safety standards set by the international body, according to Zuhdi Alrai, senior project manager with Edara.
“We have incorporated the best standards in terms of track safety for the drivers,” says Alrai. “The track is also equipped with sophisticated timing, track surveillance and telecommunications systems and a state-of-the-art control room.”
The systems in place include:
• Digital surveillance system covering all areas on track, linked to the race control, with controllable video feed to all points;
• Timing system, providing three discreet timing systems or a fully integrated three sector timing system; and
• Matrix-controlled public address (PA) system, with PA feed possible to all areas within site.
Overlooking the track is the specially-designed grandstand with seating for up to 7,000 people in the first phase, including private hospitality suites for corporate hire on a daily or even annual basis.
“The design of the grandstand is unique in terms of sightlines,” says Alrai. “Generally, spectators in grandstands get to see around 30 per cent of the track. The Dubai Autodrome grandstand has been built on the highest point on the site offering views to close to 90 per cent of the action.”
Eight hospitality boxes, catering for 240 VIP guests, have been included within the aluminium-roofed grandstand. In addition, the grandstand houses function rooms for large gatherings such as press conferences, company events and private launches. The grandstand is connected to the infield buildings by an underground tunnel. A further 200 VIP guests can be accommodated on the top hospitality level of the glass-clad Marketing and Management building.
Temporary stands can also be erected - some close to exciting turns - to seat an additional 35,000 spectators, if required.
Opposite the grandstand is an FIA-specified pit lane complex with up to 36 air-conditioned individual team garages and private team hospitality balconies for their sponsor and guests at race meetings. The pit garages are designed to allow a second-storey expansion, if required.
At the rear is a traditional racing paddock for team transporters and additional team hospitality. All paddock buildings are two storeys high or lower in order to maintain sight lines from spectator positions. This is a controlled zone to ensure safety and spectator management. The outer paddock area can be expanded to accommodate the predicted growth of motor sport in the region.
Included in the pit lane complex is an FIA-specified medical centre, which is optimally located for on-track emergencies. The circuit will maintain its own ambulance and fire truck crews as well as providing a ‘helipad’ for emergency situations.
A media centre and control tower – located adjacent to the pit lane – is fully-equipped with individual ISDN lines, computers and fax machines for the local and international press.
The autodrome will include a racing school, which has been equipped to train drivers on their own sports cars.
To complement the autodrome, the facility has a motocross centre which includes a 1.2 km kart track The CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting)-sanctioned track – which is among the most recently-completed components of the project – is modular in design and can be operated as two discreet circuits. The facility has a shared pit lane design so that all track users can access all facilities. A signature tunnel underpass forms part of the circuit layout
The motocross centre also includes a 3,000 sq m fully air-conditioned indoor kart centre specifically for children, companies and incentive groups.
A total of 12,000 car-parking slots have been allocated under the phase one development. Further parking slots will soon be available within the business park.

Design
Designing a facility to accommodate races for both cars as well as motorbikes presented a number of challenges, says Alrai.
Exhaustive efforts were exerted before the launch of construction to ensure the track featured all the aspects that drivers look for in challenging tracks, taking to consideration aspects such as sharp bends and testing turns as well as the orientation of the track, Alrai points out. It involved discussions with many international consultants and visits to a number of similar track facilities in the world. The design was revised three to four times before Edara was confident that it had come up with the right ingredients to make it a very interesting track.
A highlight of the design of some of the buildings is the ‘Dynamic Balance’ architectural theme devised by HOK. “As per this concept, the buildings are designed to lean backwards along the route taken by a racing car, enhancing the visual impact of the race on both the drivers and the spectators. This theme has been applied to all structures within the pit and paddock area as well as the Marketing and Management building,” explains Alrai.
The design team drew in the best of the talents in the field and comprised:

• HOK – responsible for architecture and planning;
• West Surrey Racing (WSR) – track design. The firm also played a major role in approaching the FIA and FIM;
• Buro Happold – structural engineering;
• WS Atkins – civil and infrastructural engineering;
• Edara – project manager.

Construction
Given the fast-track nature of project, work on the autodrome was awarded in four packages. The enabling package, involving excavation and filling operations, was carried out by Al Futtaim Carillion, which also carried out the fourth package for the racing circuit and infrastructure services.
The second and third packages for the construction of the Marketing and Management building and the grandstand were undertaken by Naboodah Laing Ourke.
Implementing the ‘dynamic balance’ architectural scheme brought with it its own set of challenges as all the columns in the building had to be built at a slant to create the desired effect, says Alrai.
Procuring the steel required for the project presented logistical challenges: some 3,000 tonnes of structural steel was fabricated and shipped from the UK for the construction of the grandstand and the Marketing and Management building.
The fully-glazed Marketing and Management building features double-glazed panels incorporating low-e glass. A fixed-point glazing system has been used for the ground floor.
Other challenges Alrai listed were the location of the track and the need to minimise the noise pollution associated with venues of this nature.
“The track is located in the middle of the desert and suffers the risk of sand being blown on the track,” says Alrai. “In addition, we’ve had to look at the possibilities of minimising the noise level as the development will include residential components in subsequent phases, apart from the fact that a residential complex – the Arabian Ranches – already exists in the close vicinity.”
A fair portion of the facility will be grassed to prevent sand from being blown on the track. In addition, the developers have opted to utilise desert aggregate as a cost-efficient means to tackle the problem. To minimise noise levels, Edara is installing sound barriers, including trees and advertising hoardings.
Turning to the track, he says that three layers of asphalt form the base of the racing surfacing with the final layer including special polymers that prevent skidding and abrasion of tyres.
Other safety measures incorporated for the track are the tyre and the debris barriers. There are a total of 27 Marshall posts located all over the site.

Business Park
The business park is a first-class real estate development including ‘purpose-built’ offices, workshops, retail showrooms or factories, which are being constructed alongside the racing track facility. It comprises low-rise buildings divided into small units – 500 sq ft upwards – which will be available for rent on short or long-term leases, to companies involved with the automobile industry.
“This business park provides companies the opportunity to be close to the racing circuit and offer services associated with the industry, as well as operate clubs,” says Alrai.
The Dubai Autodrome will also be available to manufacturers and racing teams for winter testing, prototype development work, vehicle demonstrations, product launches, driver training, and hot weather car research for international manufacturers.

Future plans
A large area dedicated as a retail space is to be developed. A central piazza is also to be developed to host major events such as concerts.

The name has been changed to Motor City? :ohno: What was wrong with the old name, I'm getting sick of these "blah blah city" type names

the name has not really been changed, but until yesterday we only had the race track, the autodrome, but the whole complex with the business park, race track,... will be called motor city

Still....very unoriginal naming :ohno:

I'm getting sick of these "blah blah city" type names

Welcome to my oldest sickness!

Dubailand will have tens of "bla bla cities" :bash:

It seems like everything is going amazing with the development of this facility. When are they expecting that Dubai will hold an actual F-1 race? I'd love to see F1 add this track to their schedule but will they then skip the brand new track in Bahrain?

dubai's f1 team will start in the 2006 season
and i'm sure we'll see f1 cars racing in dubai in 2007, maybe they have a surprise for us and can get it done in 2006

dubai's f1 team will start in the 2006 season


Dubai will have and actual F1 TEAM!?!?!?

That's the first time I heard about that. Way to go Dubai.

What will FIA do about the track in Bahrain?

Dubai will have and actual F1 TEAM!?!?!?

That's the first time I heard about that. Way to go Dubai.

What will FIA do about the track in Bahrain?


yes, they have their own team and david coulthard is said to sign a contract, but just rumours for now. we need a local driver, how about the rallye guy, some sheikh, don't know his name, but he's a good driver actually!

well, it would be a shame to remove the bahrain gp from the schedule. they will keep it of course
the f1 needs new tracks, i'm so bored already of these tracks which have been in the f1 schedule for 50 years or even more

Race school at Dubai Autodrome

http://tradearabia.com/source/2005-03/30/auto.jpg

Dubai

Dubai Autodrome is preparing for the grand opening of its driving school and Kartdrome in the coming weeks. It will offer the best driving experiences in the region in a range of exciting and desirable vehicles.

The race school will also educate drivers on road safety, car handling and accident avoidance techniques and will train aspiring race drivers.

The Kartdrome will offer the best karting facility in the Middle East, combining fun with an unprecedented level of safety.

High-tech karts can be rented on an individual and corporate basis.

"Dedicated and experienced instructors will drive you around the FIA sanctioned track at incredible speeds ... and then it's time for you to get into the driving seat for an exhilarating experience ...," said a spokesperson.

I was at the Autodrome back in January and have to say they'll be lucky to get F1 there ... the facilities are not well designed compared to other new tracks (there's a narrow winding lane you have to drive down for about 2/3kms just to get to the pits - not ideal for large trucks at all) but I guess it could all be changed!

When I was there they were testing the A1 car ... A1 GP will definitely be in Dubai late '05 early '06

It seems like everything is going amazing with the development of this facility. When are they expecting that Dubai will hold an actual F-1 race? I'd love to see F1 add this track to their schedule but will they then skip the brand new track in Bahrain?

Well as far as I know, it's a long term contract, 7 years i think. The track in Bahrain is much better than the autodrome when it comes to being capable of handling F1 especially crowds, etc. But, the autodrome is a different development in itself with different purposes.

I don't think they'll ever do both, but if they do, should be interesting (the autodrome will need upgrades then besides the track).

F1 needs money and as long as you are a profitable track then no probs.

Good luck with ur project :).

http://www.gulfconstructionworldwide.com/source/xxvi/04/images/D2b-FinalAutodrome.jpg


Union Properties speaks to Gulf Construction’s SARMAD KHAN on the latest developments it has launched on the market.


Leading Dubai-based property developer Union Properties (UP) – buoyed by an overwhelming response to its five newly-launched projects – is upbeat about the construction market and believes that the boom is here to stay for quite a while.

“The response we have received to our five newly launched projects shows the confidence people have in our projects as UP has never failed to exceed the expectations of the occupants, be it a residential, commercial or a retail property,” Lesley Ziri, UP senior manager property management, told Gulf Construction.
The response to the five projects – Green Community West, Motor City, Uptown Mirdiff, One Park Apartments and Park Lane Apartments – showcased at the UP Open House at a properties trade fair at the Dubai World Trade Centre was such that the developer had to freeze sales on some of the properties within a couple of hours of launching, she says.
Giving details of the five projects, she said UP is looking at finishing the latest offerings within a span of one to three years and as per schedule the last of them should be ready by the 2008.
Valued at Dh7 billion ($1.9 billion) Motor City carries the highest investment tag and expected to be finished by the third quarter of 2008. The earliest project to be completed will be the Uptown Mirdiff, which is scheduled to be occupied by the end of this year.

Green Community West
Probably the most eagerly awaited project from Properties Investments (PI), a joint venture between UP and Dubai Investments, Green Community West project is Phase II of UP’s highly successful Green Community project. Spread over 100 hectares adjacent to Phase I, this is a residential offering of apartments and villas of three different types including luxury, family and the new type of villas UP terms as bungalow. Though the villas and apartments would be built similar to units built in phase I, there would be slight differences in design concept and finishes. Even the sizes of the villas on offer would be approximately the same as Phase I, Ziri points out.
This project is currently at the design stage and PI is going through the master planning and landscaping at the moment. “As soon as the master planning is done, the project will move into the detailed design stage and then the tendering process for various contracts will start. We are looking at a three-year time span before the first occupants move in,” she adds.
PI is offering some 830 units and the size of the project is larger than the first phase. However, the cost of the project is yet not ascertained, an investment value would be declared once everything else is done, she says.
PI has kept the Green Community West as a purely residential offering.
The developer is especially focusing on the landscaping aspect of the project and is concentrating on providing maximum facilities in common areas such as community pools and landscaping.
Though the cost structure is not yet finalised, there is expected to be certain increase in the prices compared to Phase I.
“There was a pre-booking of Green Community West last October and at the moment bookings are frozen. There are some 1,500 names on the waiting list for this project which is a clear indication of people’s trust in UP projects and indicates the scale of popularity of Green Community Phase I,” she continues.
“By next month tenants who have already secured bookings will be called in to view the project layouts and the pricing details on sales option as this is not a rental property,” she says.

Motor City
The second phase of Dubai Autodrome’s development, the Motor City – a business park for motor and motor-related industries - will take shape on 30 million sq ft of land.
UP has just completed the master planning and is offering plots to manufacturers predominantly from the motor sector within the Offices District, Retail District and, High Technology District, allowing them to have a direct access to on-track action. Also part of the plan is a Residential District, which will be located at the far end of Motor City.
Another aspect of the project is the 50-hectare Ferrari World theme park, the first of its kind in the world, incorporating a museum, interactive displays, clubhouse, restaurants and exclusive shops.
While preliminary work is under way on the residential side, UP is planning to offer land for individual development but under the guidelines and specifications set by UP in terms of design and structure, she explains.
The city – masterplanned and researched by Burt Hill & Associates of the US – has been designed keeping in mind the needs of Gulf’s expanding motor industry and, when completed will serve as the hub of growth for this particular sector.
The first phase of the project includes an FIA-certified race track and associated buildings.

Uptown Mirdiff
Spread over a 23-hectare plot, the Dh700 million ($190.7 million) Uptown Mirdiff is the first among the five new offerings to be completed. The project’s anchor supermarket has been completed and has already opened doors for business. UP is hoping to see the retail/commercial area, which is almost complete, fully occupied and operational by the end of this year.
On the residential side, Uptown Mirdiff’s first apartment building is expected to be completed early May while the rest of the residential units are scheduled to be complete towards the end of this year, she says.
Once complete, Mirdiff would include a variety of residential properties from one to two-bed apartments, villas, play areas for children, recreational facilities nestled within landscaped gardens and public parks.

One Central Park
This 80-storey residential/commercial/retail skyscraper – which is expected to cost Dh1.8 billion – is currently in the design stage. A design team of Fosters and Partners, a leading UK-based architectural practice headed by Lord Norman Foster, is finalising the designs.
Coming up within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the tower will rise on a 215,200 sq ft plot and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008. The tower will include 30 office floors with 20,000 sq ft of net leasable space per floor and 48 floors of one to three-bedroom apartments and penthouses.
Like the rest of the DIFC buildings, it will be built on a podium to accommodate underground parking. Six levels of underground parking with 50,000 sq ft of retail space on the ground floor has been planned for this project.

Park Lane Apartments
Also to come up on a 247,500 sq ft plot within the DIFC, the Dh1.5 billion Park Lane will include a five-star hotel and serviced apartments. The management of the hotel and serviced apartments will be taken over by the operator while the Park Lane apartments would remain under UP’s management.
The project is currently under final designs and is targeted for completion in three years.
The apartments, offered with a choice of one to four-bedrooms on a freehold basis, feature a blend of architectural styles influenced by ancient Arabia and the exotic Mediterranean.

Market
Commenting on the Dubai market, Ziri says: “I believe Dubai is growing at an incredible pace and it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. We have not reached the peak yet and are not even close to that point. Demand for new projects is the same as it was five years ago or probably even higher.”
“Dubai is a diverse metropolis. It is not just a business centre – it is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination particularly in Europe. Many have come just to have the feel of the classic Arabia and decided to take up residence here,” she says.
Elaborating on which market segment UP is targeting, she says: “We are eyeing a very wide client base. An example is the five projects that UP has launched recently. Motor City is motor-sports related and targets one particular type of audience. There are opportunities in the business, retailing and residential sectors. However, it is based around the motor sports industry.
“On the other hand, Green Community West is for a different set of people, mainly a wide variety of expatriates who are looking for permanent residences as not a lot of people buy such a property for reselling with investment as their prime motive.
“Uptown Mirdiff is again the same concept but targeting a different market. The units on offer are a relatively smaller, the location is inland and the plot size are smaller. This project is targeted at the middle income group who are interested in studios, one to two-bed apartments and smaller villas.”
“In Green Community West, the actual built-up area of a luxury villa would go up to 7,000 sq ft on a plot of around 14,000 sq ft, which is hugely different from Mirdiff offerings where the largest villa would have a built-up area of 2,500 sq ft in a three-bedroom villa.”
Regarding legislations on the freehold or leased properties, she says: “UP offerings of free-hold properties are based on a 99-year lease with the exception of the DIFC which has a different legislation. We are following the law of the land and we are told the DIFC has the option of complete freehold facility. Even the 99-year lease is a solid legal entity. There is no land registration involved and it’s a simple contract explaining the property is bought for this period of time, which is transferable, inheritable and re-sellable. We already have handled some cases of resale in Green Community Phase I and this system works perfectly.”
Commenting on the rising costs of construction and maintaining competitiveness in the market, she says: “We are not compromising on the standards of construction or finishes as we work to our own business plan. UP design the properties with the ultimate user in the mind and take into account what the tenants would be need.
She is of the firm view that the demand in the rental and sales market would remain parallel. “As far as UP is concerned we have a high demand both for rental and sales sides and there are long waiting lists at both the ends. As long as there is demand we can anticipate the rates would either remain static or they would increase.
“While selling property offers immediate returns, developers need to diversify and venture into both segments. UP is definitely one developer which has explored the both and is very successful in each of the sectors,” she concludes.

finally a press release for this project
i'm very interested in these towers :D

yup the left one could be tall....

they need to put bigger effort in this project

Nice circuit,

But why they didnt host major events??

A1 is due next year, isnt it?

i guess there will be major events in the future, and there have been some races in the last year ,too..

check out some nice aerials from march

it looks great but if they seriously think about hosting a f1 race in 2 years, they better build some grand stands for 100k people as it is planned in the masterplan


http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/eanooip3gc5ipxzolbs33prr3y6oudrchmza7zz57t2i62lz43vj2nqn6cb64pzyxq6desgglqeplhda6z5m4ableth/auto40.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/eoszkusekwiwudnjih53fk5anbgdrnwql2vxnxduqxfc44x7nw5wcfm6a3edg72yknlvrpkvyrkhem2hivykdwpbirc/auto39.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/ejl54xtwfbc4esdgolz3os4b2c6l654f3hq7ol7fsk54ckanrzivpiesswbqsrqw4vta5vsqvpg62q4yltmwwt7m6pa/auto38.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/eeekchynmuz6dq7l7xawvcqau5lgvpjobndh4ie2x7belhddun2sjjaiqqyrpkthh6kja4vleqaojallwswi3vlkoda/auto37.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/es3wc4jq65ykdnwoa6wxnhha5c574zbewijhfzh2mmehr4m3vt52driza6t7p7emkwu7esvxfilnx5ekmskxkhrxj7c/auto36.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/enok4to7ue5ea6uivcp3rh42zxi4nwvysa23qeu7ambak3dwjciaeao5buhcdcize6423vrpmouko7po5wvmebr6w3h/auto35.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/e2nvbysgwjhmi2wv4mtuuwlsu773x4zj3pi5yiyaxpt2k47qclsngxtnf57eguyl2hehl47y3sjpjucfwzcisg6pueh/auto34.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/eyjgx4jbfha2u7fzmhg2afawz4i5d7fiazwmxp3djc44ui462yn2rkxs3d7z2aww73fuvbrtsbqwuqabandniuepvqc/auto33.jpg

http://www.dubaiautodrome.com/NR/rdonlyres/ey7qvy775rggjjy2d3pvs6q5lbe5crx27vg7zxkedkeetq6zkadpmwuqrbx4rbzlotm7wwtc4uzwob2adt536wi4lnd/auto32.jpg

thanks for d pics!!! nice aerial shots. should have been part of the F-1 calendar... yup, ur right they should put up first a bigger grandstand i suppose. anyways,,, with the A-1 racing championships coming, we'll see a lot more of this new circuit.... :)

looks great , thanks for the photos, where did you get those d-l ?

on the autodrome website of course

look at how much sand and desert there still is

you can easily enjoy the view over skyline, but one the autodrome will be like in the middle of a city :D

you can just drive into the autodrome, it's open

you will think you're in a recreational park or something
sooooo many palms and plants although it's far from being finished!

may 30

the grand stand
http://tinypic.com/5jwgw9

http://tinypic.com/5jwhee

http://tinypic.com/5jwhs1


below the grand stand
http://tinypic.com/5jwhvn


another stand, but for the media & tv channels i guess
http://tinypic.com/5jwj9y

Fast car spectacle

Spectators will be able to see some of the world's fastest cars to visit the UAE when the Dubai Autodrome hosts a round of the FIA GT Championship in November. Corvettes, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Listers, Jaguars, Maseratis and Porches will line up for a three-hour endurance run in the penultimate round of the series, with the final being held at the Bahrain International Circuit.

who is in dubai for that event :D ?
altin, what about you ? ;)

Races are on Thursday and Friday, at least last year they were. I have to work those days.

get holidays ;)

Flo how the hell are you up to 3000 posts :runaway: Where do you post??

no idea... here?

Wow...with all these amazing projects...one would never need to leave Dubai...btw those autodrome pics kick ass! m))

Union Properties to create Formula One World

Today, in Shanghai at the Chinese Grand Prix, Union Properties, the Middle East's leading property development company, has signed an agreement with Formula One Administration to build the first-ever Formula One™ World at MotorCity, Dubailand, Dubai.

Developed by Union Properties in conjunction with Formula One Administration Limited, Formula One™ World will be a visionary and permanent theme park offering unparalleled access to the world's most popular annual sporting series and feature state-of-the-art fun and entertainment facilities for all ages, all 'under one roof'.

The $360 million development, spread over 5 million square feet, will include a hotel and advanced conference centres, offering the global corporate community unique and truly original business facilities.

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO, Formula One Administration Ltd. said: 'I'm pleased to be working with Union Properties and have every confidence that they will deliver an outstanding development, which Formula One fans the world over will enjoy'.

Anis Al Jallaf, Chairman, Union Properties said:
'We at Union Properties are delighted to be associated with Formula One and are intent on creating the most exciting and imaginative theme park in the world. This is another landmark in the rapidly developing landscape of 21st Century Dubai and is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defence.'

The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2006 and will be completed in 2008.

Will F1 be in Dubai? I thought that wasn't going to happen

for the time being i think they want to establish their own thing
maybe they plan it for the near future

then they just have to do it the way bahran has done it and everything will work perfectly

judging the project from the render by union properties with these jaw-dropping towers and the ferrari world and that sort of stuff, it'll be an amazing project

We will have two rounds of GP in the same region? doesn't sound bad to me. congrat's

it will be.
i hope they will host a F1 race finally.but the problem actually IS bahrain.
they got one recently and i think that's why there won't be another grand prix in the middle east in the near future i guess.

Bahrain has a 5 - 7 yrs contract with FOA. starting 2004...

eccelstone once said 2 gp in the same region is not the first option he's looking for
but hey, all these tracks in europe are so boring and gps have been held since 50 to 60 years
it's getting boring, the f1 needs mnay more new tracks, different countries

the most boring ones are silverstone, magny cours and monaco. wake me up man

so, kick out bahrain, i guess that makes things a lot easier! :jk:

No, Hokenhiem and Norbureng are the worse followed by Silverstone and not to forget! the ugly Hungarian circuit.

they are called hockenheim and nurbuergring and after the redesign both are quite nice.

yeah, why 2 gps in germany?
this is unfair
another few, san marina and canada and indianapolis, as exciting as teabag throwing

eccelstone once said 2 gp in the same region is not the first option he's looking for
but hey, all these tracks in europe are so boring and gps have been held since 50 to 60 years
it's getting boring, the f1 needs mnay more new tracks, different countries

the most boring ones are silverstone, magny cours and monaco. wake me up man

so, kick out bahrain, i guess that makes things a lot easier! :jk:

i disagree. old tracks is much better and much more interesting than present millitary ranges with 20 meters wide road and nothing on sides. :puke:

they are called hockenheim and nurbuergring and after the redesign both are quite nice.
after redesign both became shit :ohno:

In case you haven't heard, there is much talk going on about a mysterious new team joining F1 next year. None of the present teams know who they are, just that the car will be supplied by Honda. I read an article last week or a 2 weeks ago.

We have also heard about the Dubai's ambition to enter F1, first by trying to buy Jordan Team and then by deciding to go all alone.

Maybe that mysterious team joining F1 next year will be Dubai, and maybe this explain also why there is no UAE team yet on the A1 Championship.

yeah, why 2 gps in germany?
this is unfair
another few, san marina and canada and indianapolis, as exciting as teabag throwing


Duabiflo, here is a chance to correct DL , as you showed an initiative before, good for you,

it is called ''San Marino''

after redesign both became shit :ohno:


Right, Hokenhiem was something like Monza, but now... nothing but what you mentioned.

San Marino although old and rusty, but it’s a great venue.. I really love it one of the best circuits and most confusing, along with Monaco, all these accidents make a change!

BTW, Chinas GP today, was really boring, not because of the circuit but there was no motive (except for Mclaren and Renault)

Dh1.32b Formula One World to be set up in Dubailand

By Saifur Rahman, Staff Reporter

Dubai : Union Properties is investing Dh1.32 billion in creating Formula One World at the newly-conceptualised MotorCity in Dubailand, in association with Formula One Administration.
Although Dubai already has an FIA certified racetrack, Dubai Autodrome, it has yet to host a Formula One race. The region's only Formula One event took place in Bahrain last year.

With Formula One World, however, Dubai could outplay its regional rivals in hosting these events.

"Dubai is building these for the future. Facilities like DSC and MotorCity will help the emirate to bid for larger sporting events," said an industry analyst.

"Cities are known to build Olympic villages once they win the bid. But Dubai is doing it much ahead."

Spread over 5 million square feet, Formula One World will include a hotel and advanced conference centres.

The project, to be built next to Dubai Autodrome, is scheduled to begin construction in 2006 and will be completed in 2008. The facility will be located between Dubai Sports City (DSC) and Arabian Ranches.

"I'm pleased to be working with Union Properties and have every confidence that they will deliver an outstanding development, which Formula One fans the world over will enjoy, said Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Administration Ltd.

Dubai MotorCity and DSC will both help Dubai bid for major global sporting events and meets like a Formula One race to service the tourism industry, which drew more than 5.42 million visitors last year and is poised draw 15 million a year by 2010.

In 2002, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai's tourism regulatory body, established the Dubai Convention Bureau to bid for 2,200 global annual rotating events.

In 2003, the city hosted the annual meetings of the boards of governors of the World Bank Group and IMF, which brought 16,000 delegates and global leaders to the city.

Despite substantial success in the trade, tourism, real estate and construction sectors, Dubai so far has failed to attract any large international sporting tournaments like the Asian Games or the World Cup.

The emirate, however, is building a solid reputation as a strong sports destination by hosting the Dubai Tennis Open and the Dubai World Cup the most lucrative horse race in the world.

Bahrain is no preparing to give F1 its first Driver (SH Salman) while you guys are supposed to waid tell 2009 to get green light heheheheehhe..

BTW, a single race requires around 500-600 marshals, how will they manage to bring these in? in Bahrain, Bahrinis took care of this opportunity and desirved a compliment on it too:)

Well no offence to anyone, but this is just copyin Bahrain big time. The problem is that in the GCC, we don't work together. When someone comes up with an idea, somebody else has to make one that's bigger and supposedly "the best". It's not just about buildings and projects, it's also about passion.

BS, I think they are very optimistic, it will not work, don't forget that the constructors GP is on the way, so by siging with ecclestone or whom ever, and ready by 2009? it is late time, by that time FOA might be a history.

I guess they just couldn't accept or come to terms with losing the F1 GP to Bahrain a few years back...(They also copied our ALBA, with DUBAL...But we're still the biggest, they only seem to care about touristic projects!)

Btw, in case u didn't know (BS, BullShit, lol...And Moody), my cousin and some frends who work as Marshals told me Bahrain will probably get that title, the one they got last yr, for i think the best organized GP, cuz they did an excellent job, and the dude in charge of like all GP's around the world, who is supposed to be very hard to please, was infact very pleased and impressed by our marshals and their speed and efficiency etc...

GO DUBAI :D

so we will have two autodroms?

Why ofcourse , we are talking about Dubai afterall :D

Mashaallah

oh my lovely city

I'll drink a glass of tamar hindi to that , Cheers :D

Dubai boy, please show us GDP per capita plzzz???

I would say this track is to small for dubai they should have built a shanghi but bigger.

moody this is all i got from the article in the gulf news !! it was mainly about the UAE , but they had a small pie chart in the corner with the info in my signature :D

I see, anyway still good to read what you've posted, keep us informed and cheers,

Formula One theme park plan for Dubai

http://www.itp.net/pictures/news/92p4200.gif
The announcement has fuelled speculation that Dubai could eclipse Bahrain in the Formula One calendar.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has teamed up with Union Properties to build the first ever Formula One World theme park at MotorCity in Dubailand.

The developer has signed a deal with Formula One Administration to build the US $360 million project, which will spread over an area of 460 000 m2.

The deal has ignited speculation that Dubai could pose a threat to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

But Martin Whitaker, the general manager of the Bahrain track, has denied that the announcement poses a threat to its long term contract with Ecclestone.

The MotorCity development will include a hotel and advanced conference centres. Construction work is expected to begin in 2006 and will be completed in 2008.

Union Properties chairman Anis Al Jallaf, said: “We are intent on creating the most exciting and imaginative theme park in the world. This is another landmark in the rapidly developing landscape of 21st century Dubai.”

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO, Formula One Administration said: “I’m pleased to be working with Union Properties and have every confidence that they will deliver an outstanding development, which Formula One fans the world over will enjoy.”

The FIA Formula One World Championship is the world’s most popular annual sporting series and in 2004 was broadcast on television across a record setting 174 countries. This year is the biggest calendar in the history of F1 racing with 19 races across four continents.

Formula One Administration, founded by Bernie Ecclestone, holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championships.

let's hope it will not eclipse bahrain, but will be an additional track
i want to see both
the middle east deserves 2 tracks

maybe it's a good idea to put both together in the schedule with dubai taking place one week after bahrain
maybe this will make people stay in the region for a week or so!

yupp agree with you.
but this step almost convinces me there will be a F1 Race in dubai finally.

this is great news :) can't wait to see what Dubai's F1 track looks like!! :D


i believe there's definitely room for 2 tracks in the ME~~

or they can alternate as the middle east host every year?

mhm doubt that would be possible without any special contract or sth. we will see long time to go.

let's hope it will not eclipse bahrain, but will be an additional track
i want to see both
the middle east deserves 2 tracks

maybe it's a good idea to put both together in the schedule with dubai taking place one week after bahrain
maybe this will make people stay in the region for a week or so!


This would be both fair and exciting

Formula One World construction to begin in second quarter next year

By Saifur Rahman, Staff Reporter

Dubai:
Construction of the Dh1.32 billion Formula One World, part of Union Properties' multi-billion dollar 40 million square foot Dubai MotorCity project, will start during the second quarter of next year, said a senior official.

"We are working on the blueprints with architects and designers to finalise the plan," Simon Azzam, Union Properties chief executive told the media yesterday.

Union Properties last week signed an agreement with Formula One Administration on the project, that is aimed at bringing in international circuits to Dubai and raise the emirate's profile as a preferred tourism destination.

"We have received good response from the F1 team while making the announcement in China recently," he said.

Eighty per cent of the facility will be covered and temperature controlled due to excessive heat during the peak summer months. "However, 20 per cent of F1 World will be an open facility," he said.

Spread over 5 million square feet, Formula One World will include a hotel and advanced conference centre, offering the global corporate community unique and truly original business facilities.

The project is set to be completed in 2008.

Dubai MotorCity will have four components including Dubai Autodrome, Formula One World, Business Park and Residential District.

"We will make an announcement on the development of the Business Park when the plans are in final shape by late 2005, or during the first quarter of 2006," Azzam said.

The Dubai Autodrome and Business Park is the first fully integrated automotive and motor sports facility in the Middle East region, incorporating a world class FIA sanctioned 5.35 km motor racing track, international standard pit lane complex with a "state-of-the-art" grandstand accommodating over 7,000 spectators and modern hospitality suites for corporate customers.

Azzam refuted claims that the present facility is largely unutilised.

"The track is currently undergoing resurfacing works and will be ready for the GIT race next month. The facility is booked until April 2006."

Anees Al Jallaf, chairman of Union Properties, said: "Union Properties is intent on creating the most exciting and imaginative theme park in the world."

Theme park to attract some 1.9m visitors

25 October 2005

DUBAI — The $360 million Formula One World theme park, which is scheduled for completion in 2008, is expected to attract some 1.9 million visitors during the same year, Union Properties (UP), the developers of the project said yesterday.

Earlier this month UP signed an agreement with Formula One administration in Shanghai at the Chinese Grand Prix to build the first-ever Formula One World at MotorCity in Dubailand.

Spread over five million square feet, the new visionary and permanent theme park will offer access to the world‘s most popular annual sporting series and feature state-of-the-art fun and entertainment facilities under one roof. The development will also include a hotel and conference centres.

Simon Azzam, chief executive officer, UP, did not disclose the total cost of the 40 million square feet MotorCity, but said that the rest of the projects within the city, including the business district and residential area will be launched before the year end or early next year.

Both projects will be offered on leasehold. All the projects will be financed both through banks and internally, he said, adding that investment has not been yet finalised for the business district and residential area.

MotorCity, a business park for the motor and the motor-related industries, is part to the Dubai Autodrome development. The construction of the fast track will start next year.

“The concept and business plan are ready. We are waiting for the design,” he said.

Dubai Autodrome is a fully integrated automotive and motor sports facility. It has a FIA sanctioned 5.39 km motor racing track, international standard pit lane complex with a “state-of-the-art” grandstand accommodating over 7,000 spectators as well as providing modern hospitality suites for corporate customers.

Azzam said that the racing track has been recently resurfaced and awaits the FIA approval. The track is fully booked until April next year by some motor companies for testing and launching of vehicles.

“We will have the first international race next month and starting from March, we expect to have a race every month,” he added.

expect the design to be UNBELIEVABLE~~

:)

So its gonna be in same location where the Autodrome is !

Edara, one of Dubai's most successful Project Management companies, has been given the responsibility of being project managers for MotorCity.




The 30,000,000 square foot MotorCity project, which is also under the Union Properties umbrella, will be a one-of-a-kind development featuring motor-related corporate, retail, residential and entertainment options under one expansive roof.

Edara will be responsible for developing 3 large components of the project estimated at AED 4 billion and due to be completed by 2009 - UPTOWN MotorCity, Green Community MotorCity and the Auto Mall. UPTOWN MotorCity, located on 96 hectares, will include apartments and residential units. It represents a new paradigm for living inspired by classical and contemporary theories in the urban planning of Bath, England. The apartments are divided into three distinctive building types; the low-rise terrace apartments, the northern gates apartments and the terrace towers. Green Community MotorCity is an extension of the highly successful Green Community Project and will occupy 57 hectares with villas and terrace apartments. The retail space will also feature a hotel and the office building.

Zuhdi Alrai, Project Manager of MotorCity, said


'MotorCity is a very unique project in Dubai, if fact completely different compared to any of the project I have been involved with and the people involved in this project need to have a complete understanding of its scale and scope. Working with Edara gives you a lot of insight into these requirements. Their approach towards project management is just what we need for the success of MotorCity.'


Edara and Union Properties have had a very successful relationship in the past. They have collaborated on a number of landmark projects like The Tower, Green Community, UPTOWN Mirdiff, Skywalk Towers, Creekside Residence and Dubai Autodrome to name a few. Said Adel Lootah, the general manager of Edara, 'MotorCity will be one of Dubai's biggest and most sought-after developments and we are glad to be associated with it. Our record in project management is second to none, and we our sure that Union Properties' innovative ideas for living and working combined with our expertise will result in another iconic Dubai project.'

here's the small pic for it
http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/1/19351-motorcity.jpg

so, let's have a guess how many towers will be in there? :D

the right bottom could be some 10 to 20 F buildings i guess.
similar to sports city.

the only render we have (posted earlier in this thread) show a few big ones
50 to 60 storeys

More towers :D

Edara becomes project manager of Dh4b MotorCity

Staff Report

Dubai :
Edara, one of Dubai's project management companies, has won the contract for the Dh4 billion MotorCity.

The 30 million square foot MotorCity, which will come up under the Union Properties umbrella, will be a unique development with motor-related corporate, retail, residential and entertainment options under one roof.

Edara will be responsible for developing three large components of the project by 2009 Uptown MotorCity, Green Community MotorCity and the Auto Mall.

Uptown MotorCity, covering 96 hectares, will include apartments and residential units. It will represent a new paradigm for living, inspired by the classical and contemporary theories in the urban planning seen in Bath, England.

Housing units will be divided into three types: the low-rise terrace apartments, the northern gates apartments and the terrace towers.

Green Community MotorCity is an extension of the successful Green Community Project and will occupy 57 hectares with villas and terrace apartments. Its retail space will feature a hotel and an office building.

Zuhdi Al Rai, project manager of MotorCity, said: "MotorCity is a very unique project in Dubai, if fact completely different compared to any of the projects I have been involved with, and the people involved in this project need to have a complete understanding of its scale and scope. Working with Edara gives you a lot of insight into these requirements. Their approach towards project management is just what we need for the success of MotorCity."

Edara and Union Properties have had a very successful relationship in the past. They have collaborated on landmark projects such as The Tower, Green Community, uptown Mirdiff, Skywalk Towers, Creekside Residence and Dubai Autodrome to name a few.

Adel Lootah, general manager of Edara, said: "MotorCity will be one of Dubai's biggest and most sought-after developments and we are glad to be associated with it.

"Our record in project management is second to none, and we are sure that Union Properties' innovative ideas for living and working combined with our expertise will result in another iconic Dubai project."

Headquartered in Dubai, Edara is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Union Properties, one of Dubai's most successful property development companies.

From the Motorshow:

http://tinypic.com/ina8a1.jpg

ah
now i know where exactly it is
when you enter the autodrome - you can go there and nobody will stop you btw, you could literally take a walk on the circuit!!! - the road is parallel to the grand stand. go on for about 1.5km and there it will be

race drivers will drive towards it when they pass the grand stand and the finish line!!

nice towers there.

nice~~ :)

http://tinypic.com/ip41o3.jpg

Great design for those towers. Me likey

http://tinypic.com/ip41zn.jpg

http://tinypic.com/ip428o.jpg

http://tinypic.com/ip42gg.jpg

http://tinypic.com/ip42l5.jpg

All the above 5 pictures are from the brouschure that I picked up from the Motorshow, where I took and posted picture of the model.

Motor City to have five components
17-Dec-2005

Motor City developed by the Union Properties, the Dubai-based real estate company will have five components. They are the Dubai Autodrome, Formula One Theme Park, the commercial area Business Park MotorCity, and the residential area that includes UPTOWN MotorCity and Green Community MotorCity.


Motor City, Dubai

Mr. Simon Azzam, CEO of Union Properties, said, "MotorCity is the only project in the world that offers residents, employers, businesspeople and tourists such an extensive array of sophistication, thrills, quality of life and possibilities."

Mr. Azzam said: "MotorCity is truly a unique creation. And within this remarkable environment there's Business Park MotorCity, the heart and soul of the region's automotive and motorsports industry." Business Park MotorCity is perfect for auto-related companies that demand pole position in their market and offers the most high-powered address in town where worldwide corporations can pull away from the competition.

love them :)

btw are those Res or Off towers?

^ The tall one (post 177) is an office tower while the other wide one (post 175 & 176) is a hotel.

That long lowrise connecting them, is the Automall.

99 years lease applies.

very nice
hotel tower is a nice idea
perfect views

should be the first circuit in a purpose built skyline :D

Sorry, I got them wrong.

The elegant, tall building is the hotel, while the wide one is the office building overlooking the FIRST corner of the cirquit.

website is now online
http://www.motorcity.ae


http://www.motorcity.ae/images/formula1-zoom-2.jpg

http://www.motorcity.ae/images/formula1-zoom-1.jpg

http://www.motorcity.ae/images/formula1-zoom-1.jpg

If everyone who visits this place looks like the people in this pic then I'm there in a second!! :naughty:

lol these are the grid girls u know :D

nothing for you.

From property week.... looks pretty good. Some interesting skyscrapers too.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/b1eb0796.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/4645b18d.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/2cbcacd0.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/b9d083f3.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/0ff69bc6.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/0a68a9cc.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/41736ba5.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/8eea7bac.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e357/sahmad1/3ec048a1.jpg

yeah we already had those amazing renders..
but why more villas..who the heck wants to live there..

insane
what a great project

right now there is just the race track and sand around it
look at all the green :eek:

great project! Love all the greenery, BUT why cant they have grass in and around the F1 track as well????????? We dont want to have sand all over our multi million dollar circuit like BAH, now do we? :rant: :gaah: :bash:

love where this one's going gentlemen :)

some new renders from up website

http://www.up.ae/nr/up/img/propertyforsale/motorcity/picturegallery/picturegallery4.jpg

http://www.up.ae/nr/up/img/propertyforsale/motorcity/picturegallery/picturegallery5.jpg

http://www.up.ae/nr/up/img/propertyforsale/motorcity/picturegallery/picturegallery1.jpg

http://www.up.ae/nr/up/img/propertyforsale/motorcity/picturegallery/picturegallery2.jpg

http://www.up.ae/nr/up/img/propertyforsale/motorcity/picturegallery/picturegallery3.jpg

you should see the pools in the low-rise area... there are some really funky designs...

and i'll just say the guard houses there are going to be exquisite haha

awsome project... however i am a little sceptical about all the greenery. does that seem a little too green to everyone?

how expensive is it to put so much grass in? how much water do you need to water it with per day?

i have seen the grassed areas in parts of dubai, and there seems to be a layer of plastic under the grass that works as a giant sprinkler system.... is this kind of thing sustainable?

any info would be very useful thank you. i find it all very interesting

sustainable...of course not

^^ it's definitely expensive to put the grass on there... very expensive and hard to maintain but they do it

it will never be as green as shown in the renders.

MotorCity focus of Union Properties talks

Union Properties’ vision for MotorCity was the focus of recent talks held between company executives and visiting delegates from CJ Corporation of South Korea.

The executives and the delegates also discussed areas of commercial mutual interest.

The meeting, held at Dubai Autodrome, included an introduction to CJ by chairman Jay Hyun Lee, followed by a Union Properties credentials presentation by CEO Simon Azzam.

The Korean guests were then taken on a guided tour of the Autodrome’s facilities and amenities.

CJ Corporation was established in 1953 primarily as a food manufacturer but has since ventured into other areas, most notably bioengineering, pharmaceuticals, film distribution, cinemas, home shopping, finance and construction. It is today one of the most successful companies in South Korea.

Union Properties is one of the region’s leading property investment developers and real estate companies, noted for creating outstanding residential, commercial and recreational real estate initiatives, including Green Community, The Tower, Index and of course MotorCity, which incorporates Dubai Autodrome.

Azzam said: “CJ is an ambitious, dynamic, forward-thinking organisation with a worldwide presence and we are truly honoured to have met their directors to get a deeper understanding of their mission and premium range of products and services.’

Jay Hyun Lee added: “Our aim is to create healthy lifestyles that are fun, with more convenience. In this respect, the CJ philosophy is very much in keeping with UP’s.”

Azzam added: “I am quite sure we have further discussions in the not-too-distant future.”

Union Properties, one of the UAE's leading property investment developers and a public joint stock company established in 1993, is totally committed to providing quality service in everything it does.

The success of Union Properties is built upon six basic principles forming the company's ethical code; these being quality, service, innovation, care, trust and diversity.

Embedding these six values into every faceted aspect of the operation has enabled Union Properties to leverage itself as a leader in its field.

Union Properties has an outstanding reputation for professionalism and integrity throughout the UAE, serving public institutions, multinational corporations, the business community and the private sector.

That Simon Azzam scares the hell out of me, everytime I see him on Real Estate TV. He looks to me like a homo and canibal, something like that German dude. :nuts: :D

that german dude? :D

Hitler? Michael Shumacher? Boris Becker?

Video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lZ1tQELWGI&search=dubai

Jesus I always thought the autodrome will just have the tracks and that's about it! I'm impressed! m))

there are also a few new renders on the project website

im glad dubai got a race track....these have alot of impact on a city's tourism

motor city is now under construction
sites are not accessible though

lots going on out there
the whole area behind the race track is under development

Saturday, 28 October 2006
Carillion wins race to build Motor City
by Angela Giuffrida



http://www.itp.net/pictures/news/143front200.gif


Union Properties’ Motor City is comprised of Dubai Autodrome (above) the Formula One Theme Park, a business park and two residential zones.

Al Futtaim Carillion has picked up a contract worth more than US $376 million (AED1.4 billion) to build 34 apartment blocks as part of the massive Motor City project in Dubailand.

Work will involve the construction of three- to five-storey residential buildings, each with two levels of car parking underneath, along with the hard and soft landscaping of the entire site, confirmed Alan Mack, head of building services, Al Futtaim Carillion.

The apartment blocks are being built in ‘Uptown Motor City Area Two’, part of the $1.1 billion mixed-use scheme.

The company was also awarded the $75 million infrastructure contract for the project, which is being developed by Dubai-based Union Properties, earlier this year.

“Infrastructure work started in April and is due to go on for a year. It involved infrastructure work for the entire project, as well as the Green Community Motor City,” said Mack.

“The residential project is much more significant. We’ve received a letter of intent and plan to start work on 1 November, with completion expected in May 2009.”

Al Futtaim Carillion also worked on Motor City’s 2.79 million m2 Dubai Autodrome, which was completed in 2004.

The latest contract win follows the award earlier this month of a $256 million lump sum contract to Nasa Multiplex for the construction of Auto Mall, a 38-storey office tower and three-level auto showroom at Motor City.

Spread over 2.78 million m2, Motor City will feature motor-related corporate, retail, residential and entertainment segments.

The development’s five key components include Dubai Autodrome, Formula One Theme Park, Business Park Motor City, and the residential zone that includes Uptown Motor City and Green Community Motor City.

Low-rise residential development will cover an area of 550,000m2 and will include 3,223 housing units, made up of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and villas, while Auto Mall will be built over an area of 65,000m2. Business Park

Motor City is expected to attract tenancy from high-profile auto-related companies, while the $360 million Formula One Theme Park will provide entertainment such as simulator rides, live demonstrations, an interactive museum, retail outlets, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Dubai-based Edara is the project manager, while the UK’s Currie and Brown was appointed QS in January this year.

The entire development, which is located 25km from central Dubai, has been earmarked for completion in late 2008.

Al Futtaim Carillion’s other major projects in Dubai include Dubai Festival City, Burj Dubai Downtown, Emirates Hills and Dubai Marina Towers.

Dubai firm wins F1 theme park rights

London: Dubai's Union Properties has won the rights to develop Formula One theme parks around the world, the official Formula1.com website reported yesterday.

The website said Union Properties CEO Simon Azzam and Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone had signed an agreement in London yesterday allowing the concept to become global.

"We are starting in Dubai with the first ever F1 theme park, but this will only be one of many that eventually will be developed around the world," said Azzam.

Construction of the Dubai project at MotorCity facility will start next month and will include a hotel and conference centres.

Now they need to get the F1 to come to Dubai :)

“The residential project is much more significant. We’ve received a letter of intent and plan to start work on 1 November, with completion expected in May 2009.”

The development’s five key components include Dubai Autodrome, Formula One Theme Park, Business Park Motor City, and the residential zone that includes Uptown Motor City and Green Community Motor City.

The entire development, which is located 25km from central Dubai, has been earmarked for completion in late 2008.

These news reports drive me crazy. How is the "entire" development (I suppose they mean Motor City) been earmarked for completion in late 2008 if one of its residential zones won't be ready until May 2009?

Any idea when the scheduled completion of the Business Park and F1 Theme Park is going to be?

Dubai is building lots of really cool Projects. But I wish they would stop putting unrealistic completion dates on these Projects. :)

hey guys went to the autodrome for the races today, pretty awesome but they need to give out free ear plugs!!! anyway, took some pics of the dubai motor city model on display:

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/1280/dsc00235du5.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00235du5.jpg)

more pics coming soon...my internet is slow right now :S

Abu Dhabi boy posted renderings that look exactly the same as the ones for the Formula One Theme Park of Motor City in the Yas Island (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=10731756#post10731756) project thread.

What's the story here? Who has the Ferrari world?

Now they need to get the F1 to come to Dubai :)
no, thanks. make your own championship for shity autodromes. don't hijack f1. it should stay on classic circuits.

^^ a mod trolling.. now I've seen everything :eek:

it's not trolling. it just me pissed off by modern huge open military polygons (autodromes) that killing grand prix. gp should stay on classic circuits. respect gp traditions or make your own championship.

next year suzuka will gone and will be replaced by another tilke's shit - new fuji.
spa is killed now completely. eau rouge, blanchimont and bus stop was killed few years ago. now they have killed start/finish line...

actually these courses have bored me the most
since hundreds of years they are cruising around this

boring

time for revolution, we need many more new tracks

if you can't respect gp traditions then make your own championship. but don't ruin f1.

and indeed it is new autodromes are boring. 60m wide tracks with 25m wide road fully asphalted without any greens and without any single tree over the road. all classic circuits have own brand. but new autodromes are all with one face. looks absolutely same.

Please stop trolling. How the heck are we "disrespecting" the F1 tradition by creating a state of the art circuit? I dont think you or anyone else has the "right" over a sport so please like they say... live and let live.

Bottom line - if you find our projects so boring, you have made your point and we get it - thanks for dropping by.. :)

Sounds like someone passionate about the 'sport', giving an opinion about the changes.

A circuit with trees sounds cool.

Please stop trolling. How the heck are we "disrespecting" the F1 tradition by creating a state of the art circuit? I dont think you or anyone else has the "right" over a sport so please like they say... live and let live.

Bottom line - if you find our projects so boring, you have made your point and we get it - thanks for dropping by.. :)
Krazy - don't accuse people in trolling just because of you don't like what are they say. Tilke's and Tilke's like autodromes are not state of the art. It looks like you just protecting it because it your project. You even don't care about f1 and about what is it...

Coth, as much as I agree with you that F1 is slowly being ruined, I think you are directing your anger at the wrong people. The problem is not the new circuits around the world who want F1 to come to them, nor is it Mr Tilke's for designing his rather drab circuits... (Although Turkey isn't too bad). The problem is the way Formula 1 is being run. It has become far more of a business than a 'sport' and until that changes things will continue to go downhill no matter how many gimmicky rule changes they make.

Taken on Jan 2, 2007 by Brian McMorrow

http://i5.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/72583292.ix0RqLeE.DubaiAerialsJan07207.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/72583290.qJpDInFW.DubaiAerialsJan07205.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/72583288.ZeVzGgTG.DubaiAerialsJan07204.jpg

http://i5.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/72583286.i3ScRp58.DubaiAerialsJan07201.jpg

see the piling work on the bottom!

Union Properties launches UPTOWN MotorCity at Home Owner Dubai 2007

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

[Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:29:00 pm]
Union Properties, one of the leading property investment developers in the UAE, is all set to attract the multitude that will throng Home Owner Dubai 2007 on the 16th and 17th of February, during which Union Properties will be giving out specific details of their recently announced release of UPTOWN MotorCity.

UPTOWN MotorCity, part of the unique MotorCity development that includes the first F1 Theme Park, Dubai Autodrome, Business Park MotorCity and Green Community MotorCity, is the most exciting residential address in town and will open its doors for booking on the 18th of February right after Home Owner show 2007. However, visitors of the exhibition will be given the opportunity to have a preview of their freehold studio, 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments in UPTOWN MotorCity with prices starting from AED 680/sq.ft.

Commenting on the participation and the announcement of the release of the UPTOWN MotorCity, CEO Mr. Simon E. Azzam, said, “Our participation in Home Owner Dubai this year has a special significance. Visitors will not only get a chance to learn about our three iconic projects MotorCity, Index, and Limestone House, they will also be given the opportunity to preview the freehold properties in UPTOWN MotorCity.” He added: “We have been extensively participating in various international real estate, motorsports and automotive shows. However our presence in local major exhibitions is a must especially that our projects, until today are all in Dubai.”

He continued: “Home Owner Dubai will give us the chance to showcase our three different projects for three different segments of the market. While Index and Limestone House are targeting high-net-worth individuals, businessmen and investors seeking exceptional residence in the DIFC vicinity, MotorCity aims more toward those who seek adventures, business opportunities as well as quality of life especially with its two residential projects “UPTOWN MotorCity” and “Green Community MotorCity”.

Based on the style of the successful UPTOWN Mirdiff, UPTOWN MotorCity will be designed along the lines of an ancient spa town. The master planned neighbourhood promises an excellent variety of residential properties, play areas, sports facilities, swimming pools and schools, all nestled within landscaped gardens and public parks offering residents a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Union Properties will be showcasing its unique developments at an imposing 176 square metre stand in Home Owner Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah from 16th and 17th of February 2007.

All high-quality models will be supported with interactive media that will assist Union Properties’ team to answer all the queries visitors might have.

R

Having driven a sim of the autodrome on someones PC it does seem to be boring, its lovely to drive round, nice flowing corners ands all, but its very -Tilke-esque' in the lack of genuine overtaking areas. his work in Abu Dhabi does seem to be headed back to the sort of circuits f1 should be all about.

Having driven a sim of the autodrome on someones PC it does seem to be boring, its lovely to drive round, nice flowing corners ands all, but its very -Tilke-esque' in the lack of genuine overtaking areas. his work in Abu Dhabi does seem to be headed back to the sort of circuits f1 should be all about.

what is the simulation name?

F1 theme park

http://i11.tinypic.com/2gv0dpu.jpg

I wonder why they are not filling in the sandy bits with nice grass? Would look so much better :)

Dubailand F1 theme park nears starting line
by Angela Giuffrida on Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Union Properties will award the contract for the Formula One theme park at its MotorCity project in Dubailand within the next six weeks.

According to the Union's CEO, Simon Azzam, five companies have been shortlisted for the contract, which will include all infrastructure surrounding the theme park and possibly a 250-room hotel.

The total cost of the project is around US $350 million (AED1.2 billion). "The rides themselves will be installed by specialist companies from Europe. This will take up about 40% of the theme park," said Azzam.

"The construction contract involves the infrastructure, roads, some buildings and possibly a hotel, which will be six or seven storeys high."

Union Properties signed a license agreement with Formula One Administration last November giving it the exclusive rights to develop F1 theme parks around the world.

The F1 theme park will be spread over 465,000m2 and is scheduled for opening in early 2009.

R

01/May/2007

Dubai Autodrome

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1522/imresolt085dg4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

OK

http://www.daytona-detroit.com/masterplan.html

R

The bottom line, is Formula One going to become a reality in Dubai, or what? As a mega lifelong F1 fan I'd love to see a Dubai Grand Prix! :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

It would surely be a HUGE success among F1 fans the world over! We just need to bring F1 back to being a 'sport' again and cut out all of the bullshit rules!!! :bash:

Motor City contract in December
by ArabianBusiness.com staff writer on Saturday, 21 July 2007 A contract worth an estimated US $272 million (AED 1 billion) for the construction of a mixed-use development at Motor City in Dubailand will be put to tender in December this year.

The project, to be called Main Street, will be made up of 21 buildings ranging from three to ten storeys, as well as retail and office buildings.

According to Antoine Hasrouni, senior project manager, Edara Project Management (the project manager for the entire Motor City development), it will take around two months to negotiate and award the contract.

Story continues below ↓
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"We have not drawn up a list of companies to invite to bid yet, it is too early," he said.

Motor City is an 11 million m2 project made up of residential, business, sports and leisure facilities in the form of five major components: Dubai Autodrome, F1 Theme Park, Business Park Motor City, Uptown Motor City and Green Community Motor City. It is being developed by Union Properties with an estimated investment of $3 billion.

Numerous contractors are currently involved in the project: Al Naboodah Laing O'Rourke secured the contract for Area One in Uptown Motor City; Al Futtaim Carillion is the contractor for Area Two, having won the $376 million contract to build 34 apartment blocks. The company was also awarded the $75 million infrastructure package for the project. NASA Multiplex is the contractor for the Automall, situated in Business Park Motor City. The $256 million package includes construction of the mall, a 38-storey office tower and a three-level showroom at Motor City.

R

http://www.daytona-detroit.com/masterplan.html

R

I dont get it? Whats the Detroit house?

this project is now well under construction, meaning you can see it rising

one tower under constructio has now reached more than 20 floors, no clue which one it is, maybe the one we have a thread for

there are now dozens of cranes in place surrounding the track, a big mess guys

Nasa wins Motorcity work
CONSTRUCTION UAE
24 Aug 2007
Local developer Union Properties has awarded the local/Australian Nasa Multiplex a second contract at its Motorcity development in Dubailand. The latest package, estimated to be worth AED 500 million ($136 million), covers the construction of a hotel with a 29-floor tower. Motorcity is an extension of the already complete Dubai Autodrome on Emirates road. The local Edara is the project manager (MEED 28:4:06).

R

this project is now well under construction, meaning you can see it rising

one tower under constructio has now reached more than 20 floors, no clue which one it is, maybe the one we have a thread for

there are now dozens of cranes in place surrounding the track, a big mess guys

Got any pics? Please share with us, thanks.

:soon: :cheers:

Now I know what a theme park is, and I certainly know what F1 is all about, but what the hell is an F1 Theme Park?

F1 theme park

http://i11.tinypic.com/2gv0dpu.jpg

^^

You get to experience living the "virtual life" of either Bernie Eccleston, Michael Schumacher or John Todt :lol:

^^ :lol:

Thank you sooooooo much!:lol: :cheers:

I know what Disney animations are about, and I know what a theme park is....
... But what the hell is a Disney theme park all about?

^^ heey english teacher we need some lessons i thourgh ur agent:lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl:

^^ Well bizzy, if you're looking for lessons in bitter, frustrated sarcasm then you are certainly in the right place!:lol: :lol:

man ur so right some people need to born again :lol:

^^ Well bizzy, if you're looking for lessons in bitter, frustrated sarcasm then you are certainly in the right place!:lol: :lol:

I couldn't have said it better. I find NAZ's sarcasm to be refreshing though as it adds a nice touch to the forum... :lol:

Just read that Abu Dhabi will host F1 from 2009.With Bahrain also hosting does this mean that Dubai has little chance?what a great event to put Dubai even more on the map.

Abu Dhabi to host Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2009
In front of an elated crowd of tens of thousands of people, Formula One™ Management today announced that Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, has secured the rights to host a Formula 1™ Grand Prix from 2009.

* United Arab Emirates: Saturday, February 03 - 2007 at 17:13
* PRESS RELEASE

On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the announcement was made to the public who had gathered to watch the sport's elite at the first-ever Abu Dhabi F1™ Festival - featuring the largest gathering of current Formula One™ drivers and cars ever assembled outside of a Grand Prix.

An official signing ceremony immediately followed at the stunning Emirates Palace Hotel by the Chairman and CEO of Formula One™ Management, Mr Bernie Eccelstone and the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA), His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

'A Formula 1™ Grand Prix is one of the world's most prestigious sporting events, in the same category as an Olympic Games or World Cup, and is unrivalled in terms of continuous global resonance. That is why this new partnership is such an exciting one for Abu Dhabi and the entire UAE,' said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

'For Abu Dhabi, and indeed the whole of the UAE, the opportunities that are presented by increased international attention and connectivity will deliver very real macroeconomic benefits.'

Abu Dhabi, the capital, and largest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, will provide an idyllic location for one the world's most popular sport. With over 200 natural islands, offering some of the most untouched beaches in the region, it is fast becoming one of the most sought out destinations in the world.

Formula One™ Management CEO Bernie Ecclestone commented: 'We are delighted to welcome Abu Dhabi into the Formula One™ family, and look forward to a long and successful partnership. Abu Dhabi's hospitality, the genuine warmth of its people, and ever increasing number of world class facilities, will ensure that its round of the FIA Formula One™ World Championship is a wonderful addition to the Formula One™ calendar.'

The 2009 Formula 1™ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix track is being constructed by ALDAR Properties, one of the UAE's leading property development companies, and designed by renowned Formula 1TM circuit designer Hermann Tilke.

Already under construction, the track is situated on a 2,550 hectare, natural leisure island, Yas Island, situated on the east coast of Abu Dhabi and only minutes away from the expanding Abu Dhabi International Airport.

'Abu Dhabi will bring its own unique culture, landscape and fans to the F1™ experience,' said HE Khaldoon Al Mubarak. 'The track design alone is an indication of the visionary approach we are taking and I am confident we will deliver something truly special,' he added.

'Spectators will enjoy high speed action played out on three distinct sections of the 5.6km circuit, including high speed areas ending in tight overtaking turns, a street section and a marina section. Each section of the circuit combines to deliver an unrivalled viewing experience.'