Dubai Real Estate News
UAE Property Market Trends and Reviews

The Dh1.65bn worth Skygardens project in DIFC (Dubai International Finance Center) is now nearing completion, revealed Amlak finance, the largest mortgage provider in the UAE.

Being the first residential tower in DIFC, the Skygardens comprises a total of 575 apartments across 39 storeys, and includes studios, single and double bedroom apartments, duplexes, and penthouses.

The prices of the apartments start from Dh.4500 per square foot, to an average of Dh.3900 per square foot for unfurnished ones. The land area is about 6000 square meters.

The Skygardens, although had suffered some setbacks due to misunderstandings between Amlak and the owner Mazaya Holdings, it is now on schedule for completion in August.

Amlak has bought the remaining 80 percent of the building for Dh.1.65bn from Mazaya Holding, which remains as the developer. The apartments are ideal for executives working in DIFC, although even people from other international finance centers such as Singapore and London, are being targeted.

The DIFC connects Skygardens through a footbridge from the concourse level of the tower. The constructing of the bridge is still in the planning process.

The seventh floor of the building includes an indoor garden area, with complete water features and sitting areas.

Amlak has already seen a growth of 155 percent in net profits between the first half of 2007 and first half of 2008. This year's net profit has already touched Dh.269mn. This latest venture of Amlak, in the form of Skygardens, is expected to strengthen its position further in real estate sector.

Sama Dubai, a member company and subsidiary of Dubai Holding (a holding company established by Dubai government), yesterday announced about the commencement of construction work on its Dubai Towers.

Placed amidst beautifully landscaped islands in the heart of Dubai, the cluster of towers will represent most sophisticated architecture. The center-piece of Dubai Towers - The Lagoons Central Business District will comprise four residential, commercial, retail and hospitality towers.

Developed at a cost of Dh.20billion, the development is easily accessible from the metro station, and is connected to The Lagoons.

The Executive Chairman of Sama Dubai, Farhan Faraidooni, said "At Sama Dubai we have gained necessary resources to undertake architectural and engineering models that transform skyscrapers to a reality. We will include all measures so as to make it the new icon of real estate development and innovation on a global level."

The ground breaking for the towers was done on 21st June, and the enabling works will continue till 2009. Comprising 60 to 91 storeys, the towers are likely to be delivered by 2014.

Spreading across a built-up area of more than 12.5million square feet, the towers will include health spas, restaurants, entertainment facilities, high-end retail, gymnasiums, hotels and apartments.

The Dubai Towers are so designed that they symbolize a candlelight movement, and each aspect of the design contributes to the creation of this visual façade. The towers will comprise spiraling structures that rotate elliptically around vertical axis and produce an visually distinctive outline for each of the four towers.

With the increase in height of the building, the floor size progressively diminishes, with the floor plate design of each towers being unique.

A scale model of the Dubai Towers and The Lagoons are being displayed at the Central Boulevard of Emirates Towers.

Located adjacent to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, The Lagoons, an award-winning development, offers harmonious existence with surrounding eco-systems. The Lagoons, which features museums, theatres, arts center, Dubai Opera House and music conservatory, will be highly appealing to residents and tourists alike.

Dubai Towers too will have the same level of environmental consciousness and will be LEED certified.

The leading integrated property developer, Aldar Properties, has launched the second phase of Al Mamoura and Baniyas Towers at Abu Dhabi.

The two commercial developments, located at the heart of Abu Dhabi, offer about 62,000 square meters of office space, thereby helping to meet the high demand for office space in Abu Dhabi.

Followed by the pre-letting of the 37,000 square meters of entire Al Mamoura A, another 20,000 square meters at Al Mamoura B, is also due for completion, and will be open for lease by the end of this year.

Baniyas Towers will have another 42,000 square meters of grade A office space to offer in two buildings, that are due for completion by January 2009.

Al Mamoura B and Baniyas Towers will offer 'grade A' office accommodation, including high-end amenities, together with units of flexible size, available for lease. Both developments will have ample parking for its tenants and will be serviced by a high standard of building management.

"Aldar Properties hopes to provide the market with a considerable amount of international grade office space by the year 2009. These projects are being done inline with Aldar’s initiative to meet the requirements of this rapidly evolving city and its high demand for quality office accommodation," said Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, Aldar Properties.

Leading real estate developer in Ras Al Khaimah, RAK Properties, has announced the completion of construction works on its three-storey podium and utility networks of its 'Julfar Towers'. This was revealed during the second Ras Al Khaimah Real Estate and Investment Show, being held at the Ras Al Khaimah Exhibition Center between 22nd and 24th May 2008. RAK Properties is the sponsor of the show that brings together the region's leading contractors, developers and realty companies.

The construction work of the twin tower realty project, is on par with the residential tower, which now stands at 30 floors and the office tower which stands at 28 floors.

Centrally located in Ras Al Khaimah with adjacent creek, mangroves and a mountainour backdrop, both towers offers stunning views. The development is also only minutes away from the Hilton Hotel, Manar Mall, the beaches and the golf club. The project also offers 100% foreign ownership to investors of Julfar Business Tower.

The Julfar Towers real estate project in Ras Al Khaimah, worth Dh.500million comprises two 43 storey towers. One among this is a residential tower with 349 apartments and the other is an office tower with 468 units, built on a three-level podium. The podium also inclued an advanced business center, retail and food outlets. It is considered to be the nerve center for common facilities utilities.

The Managing Director and CEO of RAK Properties, Mohammed Sultan Al Qadi, said "The completion of the podium and utility networks is a major milestone in the construction of Julfar Towers. We are pleased with the manner in which the work has been progressing and we are confident of completing the project by next year."

The ground-breaking ceremony for a residential community, 'Flamingo Creek', located at 'The Lagoons' master development in Dubai Creek, took place yesterday.

The project is being developed by National Properties, a wholly-owned real estate subsidiary of National Bonds Corporation.

The freehold project comprises 244 low-rise villa-style apartments and townhouses, which also marks the entry of National Properties into the luxury residential market. 'Flamingo Creek' will be an easy access to retail, education, leisure and entertainment facilities, including the Dubai Opera House.

The National Properties CEO, ABdulsalam Almarri, and Mohammed Qassim, CEO of The Lagoons, together with Buti Al Jumairi, the CEO of National Bonds Corporation, along with other senior management staff of National Properties, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony held at the project site in 'The Lagoons'.

"With the rapid expansion of Dubai City, the longing for serene spaces is bound to grow stronger, and Flamingo Creek will bring in a new dimension to life. It will offer all the comforts of city life without losing the charm and beauty of nature," said Lootah.

A leading Dubai-based property developer, Memon Investments, a part of Memon Group of Companies, has been awarded with a contract worth Dh.40.35mn for construction of its Dh.80m Cambridge Business Center.

This high-profile project at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) is the first commercial development of Memon, and was won by Cairo Contracting Company (CCC).

During the moment of signing the contract, the Joint Managing Director of Memon Investments, Rizwan Shaikhani, said "Our vision for an ideal business development is rapidly approaching fulfillment with this important contract being awarded to our new partner, Cairo Contracting Company. We are confident that CCC will match the high-standards of our previous projects. In the process of realizing another magnificent achievement for Memon Investments, as a leading developer in the UAE, we see outstanding prospects for Cambridge Business Center, as an important business address in Dubai."

The strategic location of Cambridge Business Center within the leading integrated innovations hub of the region, coupled with its hi-tech industries and outstanding designs, has contributed to the Cambridge Business Center being sold completely within weeks after its launch.

With classic British architecture across its 108 small, medium and large offices, the business tower will feature advanced technologies such as the Wi-Fi technology, hi-speed internet connectivity and keyless entry.

To serve the commercial tenants, the development would include 11 retail shops on the ground floor, a travel agency, banking facility, and amenities required for rest and relaxation, such as a state-of-the-art health club on the rooftop.

Being one of the largest construction companies in Egypt, CCC holds a portfolio of nearly LE800m and carries numerous prestigious construction works for prominent global companies to its credit.

A leading UAE-based developer and total solutions provider in the realty sector, Sweet Homes, has revealed the commencement of preliminary phase of construction works for its Rainbow Towers project, worth AED 1.7billion, at the Emirates City, which also marks the maiden offer by the developer as a full-service real estate company.

This follows the recent shoring and excavation contract, which was offered to Piling Tech LLC for its initial groundwork for Towers B10, B14 and B15, three out of nine towers in the Rainbow Towers development.

Earlier, the developer also announced that six towers were already sold out, and out of the remaining three towers, 70% have been sold already. The entire project is due for completion by mid 2010.

Speaking during the occasion of groundbreaking ceremony, the CEO of Sweet Homes, Fahad Sattar Dero, mentioned that the excavation contract has been awarded to Piling Tech LLC due to their impressive background, outstanding track records, and competitive bidding.

Being ideally located along the Emirates Road, the Rainbow Towers will include nine luxurious 31-storey residential buildings, which comprise high-speed elevators, modern fitness club, Jacuzzi and sauna facilities, recreation area, swimming pool, and sports bar.

Apart from the amenities that the development offers, the investors are also drawn by the unique and highly flexible four-year self-finance payment scheme, which breaks down the payment schedule to just 50 percent of the value, on completion of the project, 25 percent on delivery and remaining 25 percent during handover.

Further to its current portfolio of AED 3.5billion, Sweet Homes has also announced its plan to invest AED 2billion on high-profile commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate developments across Middle East during 2008. Sweet Homes is also on the look out for venture into other UAE emirates through the launch of projects in neighbouring states of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The company has already begun its first step ahead in this direction, through the opening of the AED 2.5bn Ajman Uptown project, the first freehold villa and townhouse community in Ajman.

Piling Tech LLC, specialized in civil engineering activities, has built a solid reputation in the regional construction sector through its high profile projects for royal families and government departmtners. The company has worked with both government and private firms such as Bayel Tic, Federal Electricity and Water Authority, and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority and Chapal World.