Dubai Maritime City
August 22, 2008 by UAERush · Leave a Comment
As Dubai’s growth as a leisure destination is matched only by the wealth of its visitors, the emirate is set to create 20,000 marina berths over the next five years to accommodate yachts and pleasure boats. The figure represents a 200 per cent rise on current numbers, and leading the way is Dubai Maritime City (DMC), currently rising out of the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Spread across 227 hectares, this manmade peninsula, near Port Rashid, will be home to more than 120,000 people, with a capacity for 1,000 leisure craft. Part of Dubai World’s portfolio, DMC claims to be the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre.
It will have six areas including a Maritime Centre, Marina Centre, Dubai Maritime Campus, Harbour Residence, Harbour
Offices and an Industrial Precinct. The Industrial Precinct will house a ship-repair complex capable of serving more than 80 vessels at a time across 42 berths.
“Dubai Maritime City will be a significant contributor to the emirate’s economic diversification programme,” said Ali Al Daboos DMC’s Chief Operating Officer.
“DMC is envisioned to be a remarkable and highly successful catalyst for achieving the ambitious socioeconomic goals of Dubai and the UAE in general.”
Work on Dubai Maritime City began in 2004 with massive land reclamation and breakwater construction.
Reclamation work was completed in 2006 and has clawed back 31.2 million cubic metres of land from the sea.
To date Dh4 billion has been spent creating DMC – with the company admitting it does not know what the final bill will be.
Currently, DMC is in the third and final phase of construction, which involves the installation of infrastructure. Island Global Yachting (IGY), a New York firm which operates marinas in Dubai, including the forthcoming
Anchor Marina on The Palm Jumeirah, said the expected 200 per cent increase in berths would create 1,500 permanent jobs for IGY alone.
“Dubai has always been a city with a strong maritime heritage but with the creation of unique waterfront developments, the city now appeals to a new market – the international yachting community,” said Michael Horrigan, CEO of IGY Middle East and Europe.
IGY is currently working on a number of facilities in Dubai including Dubai Waterfront. DMC recently signed a long-term agreement with
Drydocks World Dubai (CORR), to manage its Industrial Precinct. Under that agreement, Drydocks World Dubai will manage all components of the Industrial Precinct, so they are the ones responsible for initiating contact with shipbuilding companies.
“We have had a very optimistic response from industry players,” said Al Daboos. “In fact, more than 1,000 companies have already pre-registered with Dubai Maritime City.
“Indeed, this is an excellent indication we are moving in the right direction.
“Maritime businesses have greatly appreciated Dubai Maritime City’s fully integrated development concept, which is expected to significantly boost their growth prospects and deliver premium business value for their investments.”
Other features of the Industrial District will be 19 ship-repair plots, a 3,115m quay wall, 31 small dry berths, 11 large dry berths, a rail transfer system, a 1,720m wet berthing, shops, showrooms and canteens.
“Dubai Maritime City is unique and original in its development concept as it has been specifically dedicated to serve all players of the global maritime industry within one custom-developed integrated facility,” said Al Daboos.
“It has also been specially designed to leverage Dubai’s natural access to the Gulf and its strategic location to facilitate shipping activities and become a focal point in the region’s maritime industry.”
Al Daboos said DMC was working closely with the Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to develop a world-class road network and the two organisations would also invest in water-based transportation such as ferries and water taxis.
Jutting out into the Gulf, DMC cuts an unusual shape that Al Daboos said was to enhance the accessibility and views for people living and working there.
“The development was designed in a peninsula concept that has the advantage of unobstructed open sea access for the industrial community, while optimising the maritime-themed living and working environment with breathtaking sea views amid a vibrant commercial hub,” the chief operating officer told Emirates Business.
DMC is looking at a phased launch for the project which will be finished in 2012.
Al Fara’a to invest in Dubai Waterfront and Dubai Maritime City
August 18, 2008 by UAERush · Leave a Comment
The Arabian Gulf is currently witnessing over $100bn worth of investments in waterfront developments, in tune with ongoing global trends as indicated by recent studies that reveal up to two thirds of the world’s population living in coastal communities and a large amount of developments taking place in waterfront areas.
With aims to leverage the booming demand for high-profile coastal projects, Al Fara’a Properties, the flagship subsidiary of the Al Fara’a Construction, Industrial and Property Group, has announced its plans to invest within Dubai Waterfront and Dubai Maritime City - two of the largest master planned coastal developments in the world.
The developer’s latest expansion plan is in line with the ‘Blue Communities’ initiative spearheaded by master developer Nakheel under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
As part of its aims to play an active role in the market for coastal developments while promoting ocean life preservation, Al Fara’a Properties has pledged its support for the ‘Blue Communities’, a model that effectively manages building communities within the coastal areas.
The developer is set to announce its projects within Dubai Waterfront and Dubai Maritime City in line with its plans to launch a series of new projects collectively valued at Dhs10bn in the second half of 2008.
Further, Al Fara’a Properties also plans to collaborate with experts to develop standards that govern coastal communities, which will foster new and innovative methods to fully maximise the potential of waterfront mega developments.
‘The ‘Blue Communities’ initiative is a breakthrough model that underlines the importance of ensuring a healthy balance in the development of luxury projects and the preservation of marine life,’
said Natasha Gangaramani, Director, Al Fara’a Properties.
‘Accordingly, we have translated our strong support for Nakheel’s pioneering concept into a concrete plan to build within Dubai Waterfront and Dubai Maritime City. We are expecting this move to reiterate our commitment as a developer to the resolution of environmental issues by taking into consideration such factors when developing our projects,’ she added.
Dubai Waterfront is a stunning new development, which is set to extend Dubai’s coastal line up to 12 times its current length or by 820 kilometres and will provide sea access for trade and entertainment. Designed to cater to commercial, residential and resort developments, the development will feature over 100 different waterfront projects and over 150 planned communities.
Similarly, the expansive Dubai Maritime City is a 227 hectare fully-equipped, iconic and multidimensional maritime centre, which is expected to house 400,000 people upon its completion by 2012. The developer has committed to develop its waterfront projects in line with US Green Building Council (USGBC) guidelines, which are being implemented within these high profile master developments.
‘The potential of these two mega projects to push Dubai as a major frontrunner in waterfront development is being eagerly anticipated by developers, investors and end-users, and this has fuelled our keen interest in venturing into these world class destinations. Moreover, we will ensure that our signature touch of sophistication and comfort will be incorporated within all of our future projects, which we expect to be delivered in line with the stipulated schedule,’
concluded Nitesh Gangaramani.
The commitment of Al Fara’a Properties towards the environment and the society reflects the company’s core values, particularly with regards to its corporate social responsibilities. In conjunction with the Al Fara’a Construction, Industrial and Property Group, Al Fara’a Properties has played a major part in significant community-related activities such as the recent ‘Dr. Moopen’s Medical Camp’, which was supported by the Indian Community Welfare Association, and provided free medical treatment and medicines to more than 500 construction labourers.
Further, the developer also organized an AIDS awareness seminar, which was held at the Le Grand Château construction site in Jumeirah Village in collaboration with Dubai Police, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs (PCLA), where officials disseminated preventive information regarding AIDS and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to over 150 labourers.
Baani unveils iDubai
July 21, 2008 by UAERush · Leave a Comment
Indian developer Baani on Sunday launched its first project in the UAE, valued at Dh1.5 billion in Dubai Maritime City, in conjunction with Gowealthy.com.
The iDubai is located at the Harbour Residences of Dubai Maritime City and it comprises two 50-storey towers, the iTower and Sky Tower, offering residential and 10,000 square feet of retail space and 40,000 square feet of office space.
Baani president Virendra Bhatia said: “The opportunity we saw in Dubai…we felt a kind of scale that is not available in India.”
Due to its sleek, slim shape, the iDubai is similar in design to the Flatiron building in New York City.
There is a seven-storey atrium, and five levels of podium parking in each tower. All the apartments will have sea views.
The iTower has seven one and two-bedroom apartments per floor. The one-bedroom units will be between 1,050 sq ft and 1,425 sq ft and the two bedroom units will be between 1,720 sq ft and 1,990 sq ft.
The Sky Tower has three bedroom sky villas, with one villa measuring 3,280 sq ft, on every floor. Each villa has an infinity pool.
Phase two of iDubai will include garden villas ranging between 3,200 sq ft to 4,100 sq ft and eight townhouses.
