Marina Star plot photo, Dubai Marina , October 2013

The Atlantic photo, Dubai Marina, October 2013

RTA awards AED500million contract for Phase I of Bridges & Roads Network of Dubai Water Canal Project

RTA awards AED500million contract for Phase I of Bridges & Roads Network of Dubai Water Canal Project

The contract encompasses elevating the Sh Zayed Road above the course of the Canal

Comprehensive Plan charted out to ensure smooth traffic diversions: Al Tayer

Dubai- Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

The Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), chaired by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, has recently endorsed the award of a contract for Phase I of Bridges & Roads Network of the Dubai Water Canal Project; which encompasses three phases. The RTA is tasked with the design and construction works of the project up to the completion of the final phase linking the Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf through extending the Canal to pass under the Sheikh Zayed Road, and across Al Safa Park, Jumeirah 2 and continue up to the Arabian Gulf near the southern part of the Jumeirah Beach Park.

“Phase I of the project, awarded to the Turkish Jonal Company in a AED500 million contract, comprises the construction of a bridge across the Sheikh Zayed Road passing above the waterway enabling free navigation 24/7, besides modifying the path of impacted roads in a way ensuring integrated traffic flow between the two sides of the new Canal. about an 800-meter long sector of the Sheikh Zayed Road will be impacted by the project which also includes the shifting of the existing utility lines impacted by the course of the Canal, as well as undertaking lighting and water fountains works on the bridge,” explained Al Tayer.

“The project works of the Dubai Water Canal have been split into three contracts; the first and second one include the construction of bridges above the Canal for the main roads intercepting the Canal i.e. the Sheikh Zayed Road comprising 8 lanes in each direction as well as Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road, each comprising 3 lanes in each direction. The bridges will rise 8.5 meters above the water level to enable a free round-the-clock navigation in the Canal. The project works also include shifting the utility lines via conduits passing underneath the Canal, besides constructing a multi-tier interchange above Al Wasl Road providing free access and smooth traffic movement at Al Hadiqa Road and Al Athar Road upon the completion of the project.

“The third contract of the project is devoted to the drilling & landscaping works, building 4 pedestrian bridges linking with both sides of the Canal, and constructing 4 marine transport stations to ease the movement of the public and encourage the mass & tourist transport as the mass transit means are envisioned to serve more than six million passengers according to the Strategic Plan set for the marine transportation in Dubai,” elaborated RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.

Smooth Traffic Flow

Al Tayer further noted that the RTA had mapped out a comprehensive plan for the traffic diversion in order to ensure a smooth traffic movement. “The engineering design of the temporary traffic diversion will conform to all specifications of permanent roads in terms of engineering design, leveling of the surface & the asphalt, and the provision of sufficient lighting matching to the designed road speed to ensure the safety of all road users. During the diversion stage, the same number of the existing lanes will be maintained in order to avoid any negative repercussions on the current traffic volumes, thus avert any potential additional congestions or delay as a result of the construction works. The contractor’s work site will be fully separated by means of high barriers to suppress the amount of noise or inconvenience to road users as well as residents of the neighbourhood in as much as possible,” added Al Tayer.

“The RTA will undertake several improvements of the network of main roads intercepting the Canal as well as some improvements of the neighbouring localities such as Juemirah and Al Safa including the construction of roads on both sides of the Canal to serve the mobility between these communities. Pedestrians will have a free and safe movement through the construction of 4 pedestrian bridges above the Canal, one of them will be a bridge fitted with convenient stores. There will also be dedicated tracks for practicing light sports such as jogging and cycling alongside both banks of the Canal in addition to aesthetic landscaping works on both sides of the Canal including greens, plazas, sitting & relaxation areas, and a cocktail of tourist-oriented projects,” said Al Tayer in a concluding remark.

Captions:

-      Layout of the 16-lane Bridge above the Water Canal

-      Layout of the Dubai Water Canal project

Dolce Vita photo, Dubai Marina, 16/October/2013

Al Bateen Residences photos, aka Jumeirah Towers, Dubai Marina , 16/October/2013

Dream Dubai Marina photos, Marina 101 Tower, Dubai Marina, 16/October/2013

RTA launches new Ferry, Water Bus lines

RTA launches new Ferry, Water Bus lines

The move coincides with the Public Transport Day

Dubai- Roads & Transport Authority – Nashwan Atta’ee:

The Marine Transport Dep’t at Public Transport Agency, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has unveiled new lines for the Dubai Ferry and the Water Bus starting from November 1st, coinciding with the 4th Public Transport Day 2013.

Hussain Khansaheb, Acting Director of Marine Transport, RTA Public Transport Agency, said: “The Agency will open two new lines for the Water Bus at the Dubai Creek and the Dubai Marina. The first line will offer a service at 7 am starting from Al Seef Station and heading towards Bani Yas Station and the Dubai Old Souk in round trips with a 15 minutes service frequency (headway). The second line at the Dubai Marina will be expanded to link four stations namely; the Marina Terrace, Marina Walk, Marina Mall and the Marina Promenade in both directions with a 15 minutes headway.

“The revamped line of the Dubai Ferry will shuttle between the Dubai Marina and the Dubai Creek. In the Dubai Creek the journey will move from Al Ghubaiba Station to the Dubai Marina starting at 11 am, and the other journey will start at 10:30 am in the direction of the Floating Bridge and continue up to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and back to Al Ghubaiba Station in a one-hour journey. Passengers will be served in both journeys with coffee and tea. The other journey will start at 03 pm off Al Ghubaiba Station in the direction of the Floating Bridge and up to the Hyatt Regency Hotel and back to Al Ghubaiba Station.
“As for the Dubai Marina, the first morning journey of the Dubai Ferry will start at 11 am in the direction of Al Ghubaiba Station, and an internal journey will start at 3 pm and last for one hour. At 4 pm, a journey will start from the Marina featuring a more tourist-oriented cruise to pass by Burj Al-Arab and Atlanta Hotels, offering passengers opportunity to shoot stunning pictures for these iconic tourist landmarks in Dubai Emirate in a trip that takes about one hour in both directions,” continued Khansaheb.

The Ferry is one of the latest and biggest marine transit modes operated by the RTA in Dubai and used as an additional express transit means to serve new communities, Dubai Creek, Jumeirah coastal line, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and Water Fronts projects. This modern marine transit mode, which has the capacity to accommodate 100 passengers, extends 32 meters in length, 8 meters in width and travels at a speed of 24 knots per hour and is fitted with high class entertainment means for on board passengers.

The Water Bus is another air-conditioned, convenient and safe marine transit means launched in 2007 shuttling in stations on the Dubai Creek. The boat is fitted with convenient seats, ample space and advanced LCD monitors among other features that provide an enjoyable travelling experience for all passengers, special needs included. It has a dual base design to offer high stability that makes it the best and smoothest transit means plying the Dubai Creek. Through its five lines, the Water Bus provides passengers and tourists a superb opportunity to explore the Dubai Creek in a new and thrilling cruise experience, besides offering riders unlimited amounts of convenience and safety.

Sukoon Tower photos, Dubai Marina, 16/October/2013

Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai doubles room inventory

Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai doubles room inventory

150 new guestrooms expands offering by 130% with a further 75 rooms and suites planned; three new dining outlets and poolside & terrace upgrade as visitor numbers to Dubai continue to rise unabated
The award-winning Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, has just completed the current phase of its expansion programme, adding 150 new superior rooms to the existing inventory of 115. The business-focused premier four-star hotel, will add a further 75 club rooms and suites before the end of the year, making a total of 341 bedrooms.

Located on the first four floors of the extension, the 40-square metre superior rooms are equipped with corporate travellers in mind and feature an executive working desk, 40-inch flat screen television, WiFi internet access, coffee and tea-making facilities and a spacious bathroom with separate bath and walk-in shower.

Named the Middle East’s Leading Airport Hotel at the 2013 World Travel Awards, the opening of the hotel’s extension is timely, according to general manager Simon Moore. ”These additional rooms, not only increase the number of guests we can accommodate, but by offering the very latest in technology, design and guest comfort, they also enable us to compete more effectively for greater market share.”

The extension will also be home to 75 club rooms and suites before the end of this year, as well as three new food and beverage outlets and state of the art ballroom and meeting facilities which should come on stream early next year.
The hotel extension comes to market at a time when MasterCard’s latest Global Destination Cities Index, positions Dubai, as the seventh most popular destination city with 9.89 million international overnight visitors in 2013, up 8.2% from last year. And if Dubai continues its current rate of growth, by 2016 it will have moved into third place, above Paris and Singapore, which measured 13.92m and 11.75m visitors, respectively.

Hospitality Consultant TRI measured Dubai’s hotel occupancy levels during the first half of this year at 86%, and forecasts an 11% increase for the full year 2013 compared with the previous year.

“With our location close to Dubai Airport, we are ideally situated to take advantage of the increasing numbers of stopover passengers, short stay leisure visitors and of course business guests quite literally on ‘flying visits’,” said Moore.
Of course if Dubai wins the World Expo 2020 bid, this will dramatically increase the number of visitors to the UAE.
A recent Expo 2020 economic impact report by Oxford Economics shows that Dubai Expo 2020 would support over 277,000 jobs – many generated by the $7.2 billion that would be invested in transport infrastructure. HSBC estimates 45,000 new hotel rooms would be needed to host Expo 2020, the equivalent to adding over 6% per annum to Dubai’s existing room capacity, which will cost a further $7.2 billion.

Turning his attention to the significant outdoor space that has also been renovated, Moore added. “With the cooler temperatures putting outdoor events back on the agenda, our al fresco venues are a major driver for banqueting business, giving us an added value edge, especially for the MICE market,” added Moore.

Popular settings for outdoor social gatherings and corporate events, the 503-square metre Oasis Pool & Bar area has been re-landscaped to offer an enhanced experience for large scale events for between 150 and 600 guests.
This is complemented by the popular Terrace area adjacent, which cumulatively incorporates the outdoor spaces used by the hotels’ three dining and entertainment outlets – Cactus Jack’s, Biggles pub and Gozo Garden – with a combined capacity for 550 guests.

The hotel has also been nominated in the ‘World’s Leading Airport Hotel’ category at the 20th annual World Travel Awards, taking place 30 November in Doha Qatar.

For more information about The Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, please log onto www.millenniumhotels.com


Photo caption: The new superior rooms at the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai.

Business Bay records robust sales growth of 62% in total value during Q3 2013 over Q3 2012.

Business Bay records robust sales growth of 62% in total value during Q3 2013 over Q3 2012.

Business Bay records over 24% growth in volume of sales transactions in Q3 2013 compared to the Q3 2012.

Dubai, UAE; October XX, 2013: Business Bay, the mega-development of Dubai Properties, recorded a growth in the volume of sales transactions by 24 per cent in Q3 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. With over 135 residential transactions reported in the third quarter of 2013, the total value of residential and mixed-use property sales in Business Bay was close to AED268 million, an increase of 62% compared to the same period last year, according to data by the Dubai Land Department*.

The third quarter (July to September) of 2013 recorded a 12 per cent growth in volume of sales transactions compared to the second quarter of 2013. Over 135 sales transactions were made during this period, valued over AED268 million, an increase of 12 per cent in value of sales transactions compared to the second quarter of 2013. The highest number of transactions were made in September with 63 apartments and mixed-use units sold at a total value of over AED115 million, according to data by the Dubai Land Department*.

Porush Jhunjhunwala, Director at Banke International, the premier property sales company with a strong roster of residential and commercial properties in Dubai, said: “Business Bay has emerged as one of the front-runners driving the last few months with rental rates and sales prices firming up during the third quarter of 2013 and now witnessing further increase in demand and take-up by both property buyers and tenants.”

He added, “Residential rental rates in Business Bay are appreciating at notable levels outperforming the market at large. Occupancy rates are increasing with new supply being added to the market. The rich array of lifestyle amenities in neighbouring destinations like Downtown Dubai, including The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar and several world-class hotels and leisure attractions, has made the location highly sought-after by tenants, owner-occupiers and investors.”

Studios in Business Bay can be rented from AED 60,000 - AED 75,000 per annum, and are a preferred choice by executives while couples and small-sized families opt for 1 or 2 bedroom apartments at rents ranging from AED 75,000 - AED 90,000 per annum and AED 115,000 to AED 135,000 per annum, respectively. Large-sized families or those with larger budgets can find 3 bedroom apartments ranging from AED 155,000 to AED 185,000 per annum.

Residential sales prices range from AED 810 to AED 1,500 per square feet1 The price range is governed by the the stage of construction, the views offered, build quality and location apart from unit size and type.

Office sale prices are in the range of AED 700 to AED 1,200 per sq feet and are available for rent at AED 60 to AED 80 per sq ft2 per year on a shell and core basis

Among the residential property choices in Business Bay are homes in Executive Towers; as well as apartments in Churchill Executive, U-Bora residential tower, Windsor Manor, Ontario Tower, Mayfair Residency, among others.

Among the commercial office space at Business Bay are Churchill Executive, Oberoi Tower, One Business Bay, Citadel Tower, 51@Business Bay, Al Manara Tower amongst others offering a range of amenities including drop-off area for employees or clients, basement car parking, cafes and pedestrian walkways.

As the bustling hub located centrally in the city, Business Bay has multiple towers – some developed by Dubai Properties and others developed by individual developers – for residential, commercial, hospitality and mixed-use real estate. The community is in close proximity to the “Center of NOW” Downtown Dubai, and also has direct access from the Dubai Metro station.

Popular shopping destinations such as The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar are about 10 minutes drive from Business Bay.

Residents in most of the residential buildings benefit from facilities including community pools. Many of the towers have ancillary retail at the ground floor offering pharmacies, restaurants and cafes, souvenir and gift shops.

Business Bay’s appeal will be further bolstered with the newly announced projects such as the Dubai Modern Art Museum and Opera House District, and the Sheikh Zayed Bin Mansour Al Nahyan Mosque, among others.
Due to strong demand, Banke International expects rental vacancies to be lower in the short-medium term, pushing rental rates as well as sales prices higher underlining the strong outlook for residential properties in Business Bay.