Dubai Constructions Update by Imre Solt: December 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Public invited to watch Burj Dubai inauguration from Burj Park Island

Public invited to watch Burj Dubai inauguration from Burj Park Island

Dubai, UAE; December 31, 2009: Members of the public will be able to watch the inauguration of Burj Dubai on January 4, 2010 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, from the adjacent Burj Park Island.

The 29,000 sq m park is set on Burj Dubai Lake and will be a spectacular new leisure attraction in Downtown Burj Dubai, the 500-acre ‘mega project’ developed by Emaar Properties and anchored by Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building.

Overlooking the Waterfront Promenade of The Dubai Mall, Burj Park Island also has a designated area for viewing The Dubai Fountain, and is immaculately landscaped with greenery and ample seating areas.

Visitors to the park on January 4 will be able to witness the inauguration ceremony of Burj Dubai by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, from a special vantage point. The date also marks the fourth anniversary of the Accession Day of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed as the Ruler of Dubai.

Final work on the many features surrounding Burj Dubai is fast nearing completion. The second section of Burj Dubai Lake has been filled - an area measuring 36,000 sq m and containing 47,000 cubic metres of water. The finishing touches to bridges linking the promenade to the park are also being applied.

Mr. Abdulla Lahej, Executive Director, Dubai Project Management, Emaar Properties, said that the addition of the new Burj Park Island will bring even more visitors to Downtown Burj Dubai. “Downtown Burj Dubai is an integrated development of staggering proportions, and as each new facet of the project is completed, its tourist appeal becomes even greater.”

He added: “The opening of Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain, and the ongoing activities along Emaar Boulevard have all sustained extremely high visitor levels to the area. With the completion of Burj Park Island and Burj Dubai Lake, and with the inauguration of the tower itself, tourism to Downtown Burj Dubai is bound to set new records.”

Anticipated to be home to 135,000 people, Downtown Burj Dubai already has two shopping malls – The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar; five hotels – The Address Downtown Burj Dubai, The Address Dubai Mall, The Palace – The Old Town, Al Manzil and Qamardeen; and a dedicated office complex – Emaar Square. To date, thousands of homes in various residential developments in the community have been handed over.

The Dubai Mall, with over 1,200 retail outlets including flagship stores and Middle East debuts of global brands, has catalysed the retail sector creating 10,000 new jobs and attracting an annual 37 million visitors in the first year of its opening.

Burj Dubai to welcome first residents from February 2010 onwards

Burj Dubai to welcome first residents from February 2010 onwards

Armani Residences to be handed over first followed by The Residences and The Corporate Suites

Dubai, UAE; December 31, 2009: Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building by Emaar Properties, will receive its first residents as early as February 2010. They will be the first of over 12,000 people who will live and work in the mixed-use tower comprising luxurious apartments, prime office space and the world’s first Armani Hotel, amongst other modern lifestyle amenities.

Following the inauguration of Burj Dubai on January 4, 2010 to mark the fourth anniversary of the Accession Day of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the Ruler of Dubai, Emaar will immediately take charge of the property from various consultants, contractors and suppliers. From January 5, the public can access At The Top, Burj Dubai, the world’s highest observation deck on Level 124 of the tower.

The planned hand-over to residents of Burj Dubai will begin in February, 2010. The luxurious Armani Residences on levels 9 to 16 will open their doors first, to be followed by the much-awaited Armani Hotel Dubai, which occupies the concourse to Level 8 and Levels 38 & 39, to be unveiled to guests in March.

The Residences, comprising 900 apartments, and The Corporate Suites, a collection of high-end offices, will be handed over to customers from March. The handover programme can take anywhere from two to six months.

An orientation programme for customers is currently ongoing, taking them through the Burj Dubai lifestyle experience that awaits them. Emaar has also written to all of its customers to inform them of the handover schedules, as the interiors of homes and offices receive their finishing touches.

Mr. Abdulla Lahej, Executive Director, Dubai Project Management, Emaar Properties, said the delivery of the various components of Burj Dubai had been carefully structured to accommodate as smoothly as possible the expected tower population of more than 12,000 people, adding that phased delivery is normal practice for a project of this magnitude.

The first homes to be occupied at Burj Dubai, at the Armani Residences Dubai, reflect the individual style of the designer - Giorgio Armani. The 144 one and two-bedroom apartments have an understated elegance and artfully combine form, space and lighting, and use furnishings that focus on the compatibility of materials.

The Residences at Burj Dubai are 900 studio, one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments spread over levels 19 to 108. Facilities for residents include upmarket gourmet convenience stores - The Gourmet Market - and a meeting place. Valet parking is also provided for guests and visitors.

For the added convenience of home owners, Burj Dubai features Sky Lobbies on levels 43, 76 and 123 which offer numerous state-of-the-art fitness facilities close at hand including spa and wellness facilities. The Sky Lobbies on 43 and 76 each house swimming pools and a recreational room for exclusive receptions and other gatherings.

The Corporate Suites inside Burj Dubai occupy 37 floors. Entrance is from the tower concourse, and express lifts take visitors directly to the lounge lobby at Level 123.

With a height of more than 800 metres (2,625 ft), Burj Dubai is the world’s tallest building and has 160 storeys – the most floors in any building in the world.

At the top of the Burj Dubai, IKEA Teddy at the Burj Dubai spire photos, 31/December/2009

Happy New Year!!!

Burj Dubai night photos,Downtown Burj Dubai,28/December/2009

Downtown Burj Dubai night pictures,28/December/2009

The Address Downtown Burj Dubai Hotel SPA Suite photos,28/December/2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

RTA outlines environmental & sustainability plan of rail projects 2010

RTA outlines environmental & sustainability plan of rail projects 2010

Dubai (Roads & Transport Authority): Fahad Al Ma’amari:

Rail Agency at Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has outlined its environmental and sustainability work plan 2010; which is based on RTA Strategic Plan aiming at curbing pollution and conserving the environment.

“RTA Rail Agency has based its environmental and sustainability work plan 2010 on two key axes; the first one is implementation and application of the environmental management system across the Rail Agency through compliance with the international environmental standards (ISO 14001). The second one is sustainability of environmental enforcement and audit; which is viewed as an extension of the international environmental standards as well as a strategic goal of the RTA (minimizing the negative environmental effects of transportation)” said Mohammed Al Ruwaished, Director of Quality, Health, Safety & Environment Dep’t at RTA Rail Agency”.

He continued: “The Agency is counting on several factors to help realize its environmental strategic plans. Much emphasis is given to assigning due consideration to the standards of green buildings and sustainability in all future rail projects; which will conserve the environment and increase the lifespan of these projects. It will also ensure safe and smooth mobility for all segments of the society in a way that serves the principles of sustained development (protecting the environment, community welfare, customer satisfaction, and economic prosperity). More emphasis is also made on minimizing the waste of building projects, and methods of saving power and water consumption.

Rail Agency is seeking to protect the environment through various means including conducting a study to assess the environmental effect and enforcement program coupled with deeply rooted preventive measures that care for various environmental aspects such as noise & air pollution and vibrations during the construction phase of the project. Due consideration has also been given to the operational period as it contributes to curbing the environmental pollution which might result from the operation of Dubai Metro, so it is imperative to check the best environmental practices adopted in this regard. Studies concluded that trains are among the best transport modes as they minimize the environmental pollution and conserve the environment as much as 3 folds vehicles and aircrafts. The Agency is therefore exploring the possibility of increasing rail projects in the emirate up to 2030 over and above the existing projects (Dubai Metro and Sufouh Tram).

Al Ruwaished added: “There are environmental stipulations which we have to comply with such as not to exceed the noise levels permissible in the emirate of Dubai as monitored by the enforcement systems in place, where in 2009 Rail Agency has achieved a compliance rate with permissible thresholds as high as 95% or more. The Agency is also observing other stipulations such as dust control, introducing preventive measures to prevent the blowing of dust, and safe disposal of waste resulting from construction of rail projects. These conditions are complied with under a regime that encompasses carrying out environmental auditing and inspection on monthly basis through visiting the metro and tram construction sites to take notes and forward them in reports submitted to the Consultants for taking appropriate corrective actions”.

“Monthly meetings are being held with the Consultant and Contractor to debate the outstanding environmental issues and assist in working out solutions to reduce the environmental effects that may impact the environment and the community. The Dep’t pays serious attention to tracking public complaints and taking instant measures in their response; particularly those related to high noise and ground vibration levels resulting from rail project activities” concluded the Director of Quality, Health, Safety & Environment Dep’t at RTA Rail Agency.