RTA opens five new metro stations mid-October ,Al Tayer: Stations to open include Business Bay, First Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel and Jumeirah Lake

RTA opens five new metro stations mid-October

Al Tayer: Stations to open include Business Bay, First Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel and Jumeirah Lake Towers stations

 22 trains deployed in peak time, 16 trains off-peak time
 Service frequency 6 minutes in peak time, 8 minutes off-peak time
 28 feeder buses to link the new stations with the neighbourhood

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) is poised to open five new metro stations on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro, bringing the total number of stations opened to 26 stations.

“Stations to be opened include Business Bay, First Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel and Jumeirah Lake Towers stations, and the remaining three stations will be opened upon completion of real estate and investment projects around them; as they have been especially constructed to serve these projects in which construction works are still underway,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.

Al Tayer added: “Through the Metro operating company, RTA has finalized all trial technical tests of the metro; which included testing the communication systems, auto operation systems, power feed, air-conditioning, onboard electronic systems, lighting systems and the integration & coordination between various subsystems and components. RTA has also finalized the training of front-end and customer service employees deployed at the new stations to attend to various systems. These employees have already joined up their duties in different locations several days ago following the completion of intensive training courses in the fields of customer service, implementation of rules and regulations introduced by the RTA for safeguarding the project facilities, and the enforcement of law against offenders.
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director confirmed that the new stations were ready to receive passengers. “22 trains will be deployed during peak time and 16 trains will be in operation during off-peak time, and the service frequency (headway) will be 6 minutes during peak time and 8 minutes during off-peak time. RTA has carried out site surveys covering the neighbourhood of all stations to be opened shortly and accordingly opened new bus routes to feed the metro stations. 28 buses are being deployed to link the metro stations with the surrounding areas and the service is set to run at 13-20 minutes frequency,” he elaborated.

Al Tayer commented on the criteria upon which the new stations have been selected for opening and said: “Stations have been selected based on the extent of population density in the locality served by each station so as to provide convenient services to the inhabitants in the neighbourhood, availability of commercial activities in the area served by each station, availability of government activities in the vicinity of each station, and the projected number of passengers at each station. Nakheel Station is one of the stations expected to be busy with commuters considering its proximity to the American University in Dubai, and the mega residential projects in the vicinity of the station,” added Al Tayer.

Commenting on the metro ridership Al Tayer said: “From 9/9/2009 to 9/9/2010, the Dubai Metro lifted 30.22 million persons and the daily ridership is estimated as 130 thousand passengers. This number is set to rise with the opening of the new five stations to as much as 150 thousand passengers, and the number of the metro users is poised to receive a further big boost with the operation of the Green Line in August 2011; which will serve vital areas with commercial & government activities and huge population density”.

“The huge investments pumped by the Government of Dubai to uplift the infrastructure of transportation sector has paid dividends and proved both successful and effective. The number of users of public transport means, including the Dubai Metro, public buses, water transport and taxis, is approaching one million passengers per day. There is also an improvement in the culture of using public transport by all segments of the community and the drive was particularly helped by the metro service,” stated Al Tayer.

“Using mass transportation brings about a host of benefits & advantages that include the physical & psychological comfort of the user, minimizing crashes, economizing on fuel & maintenance costs of private vehicles and ridding the public from the hassles of finding parking spaces for their vehicles; which has become a challenge facing most modern cities worldwide. Besides that, the use of public transportation effectively reduces environmental pollution resulting from the use of massive numbers of private vehicles,” said Al Tayer in a concluding statement.

Photo captions:
- Mattar Al Tayer
- Stations ready to receive passengers

NAKHEEL COMMENCES HANDOVER OF MARINA RESIDENCES

NAKHEEL COMMENCES HANDOVER OF MARINA RESIDENCES

- PHASED HANDOVER OF 980 HOMES BEGINS
- 2000 RESIDENTS SET TO MOVE ON TO PALM JUMEIRAH

Nakheel, Dubai’s master developer, announced it has commenced handover of homes at Marina Residences, Palm Jumeirah. The phased handover of 980 units at Marina Residences, located at the tip of the island’s trunk, will continue until early next year.
The handover marks another great milestone in the development of Palm Jumeirah with more than 2000 new residents to be welcomed to the community during this process.
Marwan Al Qamzi, Group Managing Director, Nakheel Development Projects said:
“Palm Jumeirah remains one of the most sought after locations in Dubai and residents at Marina Residences are set to enjoy the best of what Palm Jumeirah has to offer with gorgeous homes, stunning views, and world-class hotels and entertainment on their doorstep.”
“At Nakheel our focus is on delivering quality communities and the handover of Marina Residences marks another major milestone on Palm Jumeirah. Going in to the new year we are pleased to welcome more and more families into this growing community.”
The waterfront development features six residential towers containing 980 units, 940 of which are a mix of apartments and penthouses. The most luxurious penthouses are designed over four floors, providing more than 14,000 sq ft of living space. The development is complemented by 40 townhouses which are located along the marina fronted promenade.
Palm Jumeirah is now home to more than 12,000 residents, however the project is still ongoing and the next 5 to 6 years will see the island become one of the world’s premier resorts, offering a number of top-brand named hotels, including Atlantis which opened in September 2008, as well as a wealth of retail and leisure choices, offering the ultimate luxury retail, dining and entertainment destination.

About Nakheel
Nakheel is one of Dubai’s largest developers and a key player in realising the vision of Dubai for the 21st century: creating a world class destination for living, business and tourism. Nakheel is developing an iconic portfolio of innovative landmark projects in Dubai, and now in key markets around the globe, across a range of sectors - residential, commercial and leisure.
Nakheel's Dubai portfolio currently includes Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira, The World, Waterfront, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Heights, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan and International City.
Nakheel is a key entity within Dubai World. Dubai World is one of the world's largest holding companies and supervises a portfolio of businesses and projects for the Dubai government across five continents and more than 100 countries.

World First for Nakheel – Success for Unique Coral Translocation, One Year On

World First for Nakheel – Success for Unique Coral Translocation, One Year On


- 1,129 five-tonne coral-covered rocks relocated from Dubai Dry Docks to The World, with 93 per cent undamaged
- Coral ecosystem thrives at new location

Dubai, 2 June 2009: Nakheel, Dubai’s master developer, has finally revealed the details of the success of its unique method of transporting more than 5,500 tonnes of coral from one site to another, in an unprecedented move made possible through the efforts of academics and marine life experts.
With a method which had never before been tried anywhere in the world and over a period of seven weeks, between April and June 2008, a total of 1,129 rocks with an average weight of 5 tonnes were relocated from Dubai Dry Docks to The World breakwaters. The rocks, which cover an area of 6,560 m2 (about the size of a football pitch) were, and now continue to be, home to 18 species of coral and more than 30 species of fish plus various sponges, sea-squirts and urchins.
Initial findings of monitoring undertaken by Dr. John Burt of the Natural Science and Public Health department at Zayed University showed that one year on, the transported marine ecosystem is thriving, with more than 93 per cent of the coral undamaged and responding well to its new habitat.
A decision was taken to move the coral based on potential environmental impacts of proposed construction activities in the area surrounding Dubai Dry Docks. To minimise the damage to corals from traditional removal methods – which typically include the use of crow-bars, underwater drills and cranes – a new technique was developed by the environmental team at Nakheel. A bolt was drilled into each rock and attached to a sling used to hoist the rocks to a depth of three metres below the water surface for attachment to a transport barge. The corals remained suspended in the water throughout the relocation process, minimising stress and damage to the corals.
Brendan Jack, Head of Sustainability and Environment, Nakheel Northern Projects, comments:
“We are delighted with the success of the coral translocation project at The World. The methods used are a world first, and one year on have been hailed by independent parties as a resounding success. The activity demonstrates Nakheel’s commitment to innovation and excellence and we intend that what we have learned here can be used in similar projects in the future to protect marine environments and ecosystems.”
Monitoring of the coral was conducted by Dr. John Burt of the Natural Science and Public Health department at Zayed University. His studies revealed minimal breakages and stress of the corals on the rocks - with 93 per cent successfully translocated and healthy one year on from the move. This new method resulted in much lower damage rates than found when using traditional methods of translocation and is an important step towards sustainable coastal development.
Dr. John Burt, an assistant professor at Zayed University adds:
“I have worked closely with Nakheel throughout all stages of the project, from planning, to execution, to monitoring of the site afterwards. A project on this scale has never before been attempted and I am delighted with the results we are seeing at The World thanks to the unique method of translocation. The project marks an important step in our understanding of the methods of coral translocation, and Nakheel is to be commended for its efforts to protect the coral community at the Dubai Dry Docks.
“The coral translocation area has attracted a number of species of reef fishes that are less common elsewhere in that area, including a number of commercially important species. In addition, as many of the transplanted corals are ‘broadcast spawners’, it is likely that they will seed the surrounding breakwater through their reproductive activities, resulting in the development of coral communities on nearby rocky structures.”
Nakheel is a global leader in innovative coastal real estate development and has made a commitment to foster sustainable design, development and management practices of coastal communities in Dubai and around the globe. Nakheel has its own dedicated Environment resources and through a number of initiatives, aims to achieve greater levels of environmental understanding throughout the Gulf region.

RTA Issue Certification to Nakheel and SMRT to Operate Palm Jumeirah Monorail

Palm Jumeirah Monorail totally owned by Nakheel

RTA Issue Certification to Nakheel and SMRT to Operate Palm Jumeirah Monorail


Dubai (United Arab Emirates): The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) issued Safety Certificates to Nakheel and SMRT Engineering (Middle East) FZE for the Palm Jumeirah Transit System; the first passenger railway in the UAE.

“Safety Regulation and Planning Department has issued two Safety Certificates for the Palm Jumeirah Transit System (Monorail); the first of these certificates is for the safety of the equipment that makes up the monorail. RTA has issued this certificate to Nakheel, the owner of the railway. The second certificate is for the safety of the operation and maintenance activities of SMRT Engineering (Middle East) Ltd, who has been contracted by Nakheel to operate the railway” announced Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.

“RTA Safety Regulation and Planning Department has been working closely with Nakheel and SMRT since the early stages of the project to ensure that the safety of the railway is in line with good, internationally recognized practice and standards. RTA’s assessments are in addition to the rigorous safety assessments made by Nakheel and SMRT, which included use of an Independent Safety Assessor. RTA’s assessments involved design reviews, site inspections, witnessing of tests, emergency exercises and audits throughout the life of the project. RTA will continue to monitor the safe operation of the railway through regular audits” added Abdul Mohsen.

“To support its safety certification activities for the Monorail, RTA has been working closely with several internationally recognized railway safety experts, including UK’s Office of Rail Regulation”, continued Abdul Mohsen.

He went further to add: “RTA will soon develop new legislations setting out a new role for RTA as the Railway Safety Regulation Authority. This role will fall to RTA’s Safety Regulation and Planning Department which will conduct due diligence. The new laws will set requirements for safety certification, safety regulation and accident investigation for all railways in the Emirate of Dubai, including the Dubai Metro”.

For his part Amair Saleem, Director of the Safety Regulation and Planning Department at RTA, said: “The new laws will grant powers to the Safety Regulation Authority that will help ensure that all railways within the Emirate of Dubai are constructed and operated safely.”

The Palm Jumeirah Transit System, which opened at 08:00 on Thursday 30th April 2009, is totally owned and operated by Nakheel and its a monorail that operates over 5.4 km of track between Gateway Tower at the Dubai mainland end of the Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis theme park. When the surrounding property developments are complete, there will be intermediate stations to serve Trump Tower and Village Centre.

Palm Monorail open to the Public

Palm Monorail open to the Public

-First Monorail system in the Middle East takes first paying passengers

Dubai, 6 May 2009: Nakheel officially opened the Palm Monorail to the public at a ceremony held at Gateway Station, Palm Jumeirah Thursday April 30, 2009. Mr. Marwan Al Qamzi, Executive Managing Director of Nakheel Southern Projects, and other Nakheel officials were joined by honored guests Nazek H. Al-Sabbagh, Trakhees Managing Director, Mr. Amair Saleem Director of RTA Safety Regulation & Planning Department, and Col. Abdulla Ali Abdulla Al Ghithi, Deputy Director of Protection & Security at Dubai Police.

The monorail, which is the first transport system of its kind to open in the Middle East, is now running four trains between the Gateway Towers and Atlantis stations, with a capacity of 2,400 passengers per hour per day. The service runs from 8:00am-10:00pm daily with tickets costing AED15 for a single journey and AED25 for a round trip. The system will be increased to a total of nine trains per hour with a capacity of 6,000 passengers per hour per day once connected to the Dubai Metro.

Marwan Al Qamzi, Executive Managing Director of Nakheel Southern Projects comments:
“It is a very exciting day for us. The Palm Monorail is now open to the public after months of rigorous testing and trials. The opening is a significant step in the creation of a fully integrated public transport system for Dubai.”

State-of-the-art technology has been employed to overcome a number of challenges including running 1,000m of rail over-sea, meeting Dubai's unique climatic conditions, and protecting the communities of Palm Jumeirah from noise pollution by using a virtually silent track system.

Developed by a consortium of leading international companies, led by the Marubeni Corporation, the Palm Monorail’s system is fully automatic and driverless, although an attendant will be on board at all times. The monorail will initially carry up to 2,400 passengers per hour per direction in four separate trains, each made up of three cars. At full capacity, the figure will rise to a maximum of 6,000 people in nine vehicles. Palm Monorail will connect to Dubai Metro and is able to increase its capacity to nine trains carrying 6000 passengers per hour per day.

Photos:
-Delegates ride Palm Monorail
-Nazek H. Al-Sabbagh, Mr. Marwan Al Qamzi and Col. Abdulla Ali Abdulla Al Ghithi board Palm Monorail
- Palm Monorail train travels between Gateway station and Atlantis station at Palm Jumeirah

NAKHEEL'S MARINA RESIDENCES SET FOR HANDOVER FROM APRIL

NAKHEEL'S MARINA RESIDENCES SET FOR HANDOVER FROM APRIL

- Marina Residences 90 per cent complete

Dubai, 10 February 2009: Nakheel, Dubai's master-developer, has announced that the exclusive Marina Residences development on Palm Jumeirah is now 90 per cent complete. The handover of more than 900 homes on the development is set to commence in just a few weeks, from April 2009.

Work at the development has progressed rapidly. Groundwork only commenced on Marina Residences’ six towers, located at the tip of Palm Jumeirah’s trunk, in September 2006.

Johann Schumacher, Managing Director, Palm Jumeirah, said:
"Nakheel is handing over thousands of villas in the next 24 months and Marina Residences is no exception. Over the course of this year we’ll be handing over the keys for 900 homes, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the newest Palm Jumeirah residents from April.

“Homeowners at Marina Residences will benefit from an exclusive address at an iconic development, Palm Jumeirah. Here they can enjoy the wealth of tourism and leisure facilities which are on offer, and also benefit from having one of Dubai's largest marinas – Anchor Marina – on their doorstep."

Marina Residences is a stunning residential complex located at the tip of the trunk on Palm Jumeirah, one of the world’s largest man-made islands. The high-end, high-rise development consists of six residential towers that rest on landscaped podiums faced with marinas. The six towers hold 940 apartments and penthouses; a further 40 units rest on a marina fronted promenade in the form of townhouses. At the doorstep of each Marina Residence tower is Anchor Marina, one of Dubai’s largest marinas, with berths for more than 500 vessels.

Over the next 24 months, Nakheel will deliver thousands of homes at its communities. Handover of homes has already begun at Jumeirah Village, with 2,200 villas and townhouses expected to be handed over by the end of the year. Twenty-four ultra-luxury villas at Jumeirah Island Mansions are set for handover this spring, adding to this already vibrant community that has become one of the most sought-after residential locations in Dubai. Jumeirah Park is also on track, with homeowners set to take up occupancy later this year. Ninety per cent of infrastructure works are complete across the development, with villa construction 30 per cent finalised. At family-focused Al Furjan, 14 show villas are open for viewing, with handover of the first properties on schedule for late 2010.

NAKHEEL’S COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER

NAKHEEL’S COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER

- Thousands of new homes on track for delivery over next 24 months -
- Al Furjan, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Islands and Jumeirah Park focus on family living, quality and sustainability -

Dubai, 2 February 2009: Nakheel, Dubai’s master developer, today released details of progress at its communities at the heart of ‘New Dubai’ – Al Furjan, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Islands and Jumeirah Park. In this year alone, thousands of families will move into new homes across the developments.

At Jumeirah Village, the handover of villas and town houses is underway, with the delivery of 2,200 homes phased for release throughout the year. Twenty-four ultra-luxury villas at Jumeirah Island Mansions are set for handover this spring, adding to this already vibrant community that has become one of the most sought-after residential locations in Dubai.

Jumeirah Park is also on track, with homeowners set to take up occupancy later this year. Ninety per cent of infrastructure works are complete across the development, with villa construction 30 per cent finalised. At family-focused Al Furjan, 14 show villas are open for viewing, with handover of the first properties on schedule for late 2010.

Nakheel’s Chief Executive, Chris O’Donnell said:
“At Nakheel, we have made a firm commitment to Dubai, and to our homebuyers. While we are committed to fulfilling the long-term and sustainable approach to support the growth and development of this Emirate, we are equally focused on delivering new homes and communities here and now.

“Nakheel developments will become home for half of Dubai’s population over the next 20 years. Is it an enormous vision on an unprecedented scale; but it’s a vision that we are delivering, and our New Dubai communities are fundamental to that.”


In New Dubai - as in all of its developments - Nakheel is committed to delivering quality, creative communities, and sustainable lifestyles.

At Al Furjan, planning and architectural principles create a convenient, accessible, family-focused development that fosters a strong sense of community. Innovative design details are incorporated into every aspect of the development - from neighbourhood planning to the creative use of open spaces. The open interiors of Al Furjan homes cater to Arabic, Asian and Western tastes.

Jumeirah Village will be a thriving balanced community at the very centre of Dubai with an estimated population of approximately 300,000 by 2013. Spread across 811 hectares, it is designed with families in mind, with pedestrian-friendly walkways to gardens, and streets surrounded by trees with carefully planned recreational facilities.

The combination of Jumeirah Islands’ excellent location, luxury villas and innovative landscaping have made it one of Dubai’s most attractive communities and with the ongoing addition of new facilities and amenities for residents.

Jumeirah Park is a family orientated community ideally located close to Palm Jumeirah, Ibn Battuta Mall, Media and Internet Cities and a selection of 5-star hotels along Jumeirah Beach Road. The development will feature extensive landscaped areas, lush parks and eco-friendly green spaces promoting an outdoor lifestyle.

Dubai:Nakheel to deliver more than 1000 homes at Waterfront this year

Includes material © Space Imaging Middle East LLC, all rights reserved.


Nakheel to deliver more than 1000 homes at Waterfront this year

- 1042 homes in the Manarah District, Badrah on schedule

Dubai, 1 February 2009: Nakheel, Dubai’s master developer, today announced that construction of 1,042 new homes in the Manarah District in Badrah, Waterfront is nearly 40 per cent complete, with all of these properties due to be handed over by the end of the year.

The Manarah district makes up more than one third of Badrah, the first active gateway to the Waterfront – the world’s largest masterplanned waterfront development. Waterfront covers an area twice the size of Hong Kong and will become home to 1.5 million people.

Much of the major utilities infrastructural work at Stage One of Manarah is also now complete – with 75 per cent of the networks and facilities in place to provide drinking water, and 80 per cent of sewerage, storm-drain and irrigation infrastructure complete. In addition, two thirds of the telecommunications network has been installed. Work on the community’s transport systems is also underway, with 15 per cent of the single and dual carriageways in the district now complete.

Marwan Al Qamzi, Managing Director Waterfront & Palm Jebel Ali, Nakheel said:
“We’re making great progress here at Badrah. More than 1,000 new homes in Manarah are now taking shape, with residents set to take ownership by year end. Of course, our communities are about much more than simply buildings so we’re also busy laying down all of the essential elements for successful living environments – from roads to water, energy to entertainment.

“A critical element in throughout Waterfront is sustainability, and Manarah will become an exemplar development for environmental efficiency and a welcome home for those striving for a greener lifestyle.”

There are four districts in Badrah, each connected by a central boulevard: Manarah includes residential, educational and civic amenities; Diaa has a high proportion of residential buildings and amenities; Talla has a larger mix of offices; and Bahaa focuses on retail and leisure elements.

While designed with sustainability and affordability as key factors, Badrah will be built to very high standards. All buildings will meet LEED (Leadership in Environmental Design Green Building Rating System) ratings performance standard as a minimum. This will result in lower maintenance and running costs as energy and water consumption is substantially decreased.

Nakheel and RTA delegation take first official trip on Palm Monorail

Nakheel and RTA delegation take first official trip on Palm Monorail

- Middle East’s first monorail will welcome passengers on board in April 2009

Dubai, 26 January 2009: Nakheel, renowned for its innovation and pioneering projects, hosted a delegation from the Road Transport Authority (RTA) on the Palm Monorail’s first official ride last week.

The delegation, led by RTA CEO Mr. Abdulmajid Al Khaja, travelled from Gateway Station at the trunk of Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis Aquaventure Station. The journey between the two stations which are at either end of the monorail track, covering a distance of 5.45km, took eight minutes.

Chris O’Donnell, CEO, Nakheel said:

“On the first official journey between Gateway station and Atlantis station representatives from both Nakheel and RTA were able to experience this fabulous example of modern transportation, design and construction. We have been working very closely with our strategic partner RTA since the Palm Monorail’s inception. Our cooperation with RTA extends as far as a joint ticketing system that will enable holders of a RTA farecard to pay for journeys on the Palm Monorail.

“As a result of this cooperation we are delighted to be able to announce that the Palm Monorail will be open for visitors of Palm Jumeirah from April 2009.”

Mr. Abdulmajid Al Khaja, CEO of RTA added:

“Our partnership with Nakheel on the Palm Monorail project has been a very fruitful and exciting experience. It is the culmination of many dedicated people’s hard work and commitment that has allowed us to experience the first official ride on the Palm Monorail. Together, Nakheel and RTA have been focused on delivering a transport service which will enhance the other transportation projects currently underway in Dubai. When we connect the Palm Monorail to the Metro we will be able to offer passengers a seamless journey from Dubai International Airport to the hotels on Palm Jumeirah, using just one farecard.

“As we enter the final stages of completion we look forward to the next important stage of welcoming Dubai’s residents and many visitors here on board.”

The Palm Monorail is the first system of its kind to be completed in the Middle East and sets global standards for the transportation industry. State-of-the-art technology has been employed to overcome a number of challenges including running 1,000m of rail over-sea, meeting Dubai's unique climatic conditions, and protecting the communities of Palm Jumeirah from noise pollution by using a virtually silent track system.

Developed by a consortium of leading international companies, led by the Marubeni Corporation, the Palm Monorail’s system is fully automatic and driverless, although an attendant will be on board at all times. The monorail will initially carry up to 2,400 passengers per hour per direction in four separate trains, each made up of three cars. At full capacity, the figure will rise to a maximum of 6,000 people in nine vehicles.