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Aldar unveils $5b Al Dana plan

Aldar Properties has revealed a detailed plan for its $5 billion commercial development, Al Dana, at the heart of the 10.5-kilometre Raha Beach development.

Work on the development is underway, with several buildings under construction.

They include four integrated buildings comprising the World Trade Centre, and the Gateway, building which was designed by celebrated architect Rafael Vinoly who designed New York’s new World Trade Centre.

“The total investment in Al Raha Beach is about $48 billion, and of that, $5 billion is the cost of Dana, which is the commercial heart of the development,” Ronald Barrot, the company’s chief executive officer, told Gulf News.

With this, total projects under construction exceed $90 billion, taking into consideration the $40 billion Yas Island development comprising 6,000 acres, and the iconic Old Market in the Abu Dhabi city centre…

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A Trip to Burj Dubai and Festival City

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Nakheel launches The Universe

Nakheel last night announced it would be developing The Universe, using the experience and expertise gained from developing its iconic World project.

It also announced it would be re-developing the Port Rashid area of Dubai, as part of its Blue Communities project and the cost of the development will be Dh500 million over five years, Nakheel’s executive chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, said at a VIP event held at a specially constructed dome at Nakheel’s sales centre near Palm Jumeriah.

The Blue Communities initiative has been launched to raise awareness of issues specific to coastal development, Bin Sulayem said. The project will engage thought leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders to take an active role in developing the Blue Communities initiative. He also said that Nakheel “aspired to be more than an ordinary developer,” adding: “We want to use our knowledge and understanding of projects to create sustainable coastlines”.

Speaking on a video presentation, Chris O’Donnell, Nakheel’s CEO, said that Blue Communities would introduce an index to measure the sustainability of coastline developments, something that is not currently available anywhere in the world… SOURCE

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Abu Dhabi announces Dh100b Saadiyat Island project

Abu Dhabi yesterday unveiled plans to develop Saadiyat Island into an international tourism destination by attracting about Dh100 billion in three phases through public-private partnerships…

The company, Tourism Development and Investment Co. (TDIC), will have an initial capital of Dh100 million and would be fully owned by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

“Saadiyat Island will be the first of many projects falling under” the new company, he said. “This is an important chapter in Abu Dhabi’s history. The creation of TDIC ushers in a new era of economic transition for the emirate, while the development of Saadiyat, a unique natural resource, represents one of the most vibrant episodes in the capital’s evolution.”

“Saadiyat is a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s renewed economic openness and a signal to the world that this emirate is very much open for partnerships and business on an international scale.”…

Saadiyat will be developed in three phases with total completion scheduled for 2018. The masterplan envisages six highly individual districts with 29 hotels, including a seven-star resort, three marinas, museums and cultural centres, two golf courses, civic and leisure facilities, sea-view apartments and elite villas.

The six island districts are: Cultural District, Al Marina, Saadiyat Beach, South Beach, Saadiyat Park and The Wetlands…

Stunning Facts

* Infrastructure Cost: Dh5.5b
* Hotels with 7,000 rooms: 29
* Golf Courses: 2
* Villas: 8,000
* Appartments: 38,000
* Home to residents: 150,000…

To be managed by: Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC)

* Owned by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
* Saadiyat Island covers an area of 27 sq.km.
* It is 500 metres offshore north-east of Abu Dhabi city.
* Saadiyat Island means Island of Happiness.
* The island has sensitive mangrove reserves.
* Saadiyat will be lined to Abu Dhabi city via two causeways. Each with10-lane freeways.
* Provision for light rail transport is made.
* Abu Dhabi has 200 natural offshore islands.
* This will attract Dh100 billion worth of investment… {{link http://gulfnews.com/business/Real_Estate_Property/10035489.html SOURCE}}

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Al Ittihad Road expansion

A long-awaited project to ease traffic congestion between Sharjah and Dubai has been announced.

The Dh700 million project will expand a 7.5km stretch of Al Ittihad Road - used by more than 8,000 cars per hour at peak times - into an eight lane expressway… {{link http://gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10026867.html MORE}}

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A Trip To Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai

One of the newest and more interesting malls in the UAE is the Ibn Batutta Mall. Loosely based on the voyages Arabic explorer {{link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Batutta Ibn Battuta}}, the mall is themed around the different countries he travelled in. In typical Dubai style, the architecture is an over-the-top combination of Disney World and Arabian Nights. Enjoy some pictures and video of the {{link http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Company_News/N/Nakheel_Properties/more17.html Nakheel Property’s most recent success}}.

Al Andalus and Tunisia

Continue reading A Trip To Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai…

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Time to Spot Modhesh: It’s DSS Time

As Summer Surprises moves along, Modhesh will be all over Dubai. If you spot him, send any pictures of him to spotmodhesh@usa2uae.com and we will publsih your pictures.

Here are some recent Modhesh spottings:

Modhesh at City Centre, Deira
Continue reading Time to Spot Modhesh: It’s DSS Time…

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Restaurant Review: Johnny Carino’s, Dubai

Rating= 4 out of 5 Stars

Johnny Carinos is by far the best Italian dining experience in Dubai. Located directly across from the City Centre, Deira near the Dubai Shopping Center, Johnny Carinos offers an extremely good Italian menu. In fact, this is about as good as it gets without using wine and other alcohol bases for sauces (an unfortunate side-effect of living in the Middle-East). Myself and 5 other diners arrived in late afternoon and settled in with the starter combination platter. The calamari were very nice and the fried mozzarella and artichoke definitely hit the spot. We followed this up with the main courses. The veal scallopini was tasty with an interesting combination of mushrooms and tomatoes in a cream sauce. I had the chicken porto fino which contained nicely blackened strips of grilled chicken on a bed of wonderful fettucine and a nice cream sauce as well. The service was fantastic and the food was prepared quickly (much above the average wait in Dubai). Combined with the nice ‘homey’ atmosphere, this restaurant has the total package. While not the ‘best’ Italian food by American standards, Carinos is the best Dubai has to offer in this category.

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Archaeologists unearth ancient irrigation system

Al Ain: Archaeologists have found an ancient falaj an underground water channel, underneath the courtyard of a house in Al Ain, and say it might have been built some 3,000 years ago.
Experts at the Department of Antiquities and Tourism have already explored a small portion of the falaj during the recent excavation season.

A source at the department told Gulf News yesterday a team of archaeologists had carried out a rescue project and examined the falaj.

The falaj was located in the north of the Hili Archaeological Park…{{link http://gulfnews.com/Articles/NationNF.asp?ArticleID=173581 MORE}}

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