|
Putting Dubai firmly at the forefront of the
business revolution, the AED 2 billion Business Bay
project is set to provide investors with a unique and
comprehensive value-added platform that will make
perfect business acumen to transact business in Dubai.
International in outlook, cosmopolitan in nature,
sophisticated and efficient in business, Dubai is widely
recognized as the financial, commercial and business
capital of the Middle East and with the completion of
this project, this image of Dubai is set to get another
boost, making it the most appropriate place to conduct
business.
The Business Bay Development project, work on which is
already underway, will meet all its objectives providing
a range of features that ensure business is always a
pleasure.
Offering a superb address for businesses, the project
will be similar in nature to New York or Shanghai, which
are the business centres for countries like the US and
China.
As a leading
regional commercial hub with a state-of-the-art
infrastructure and a world-class business environment,
this project promises to be
a symbol of Dubai's progress.
Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises has been awarded this
prestigious project also known as “The Executive
Towers”. The project, which has been successfully
negotiated with the Emirates premier developer M/s Dubai
Properties, follows Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises’
achievements at the Jumeirah Beach Residence Sector 4
site.
This project is the largest single project awarded directly
to Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises, as is the number
of Towers placed under one contract by the client - a
testament and credit to Al Habtoor Engineering
Enterprises for its efforts over the years and of its
working relationship with M/s Dubai Properties.
The site formerly part of the Central Military Command is
located just off Sheikh Zayed Road behind the
Metropolitan Hotel and shares its surroundings with
other prestigious landmark projects currently under
construction in Dubai, such as the Burj Dubai (the
tallest tower in the world), The Old Town & the Dubai
Mall to name a few.
The Executive Towers will form part of Dubai’s future
business capital and shall provide world class executive
residential accommodation for Dubai’s new business
community as it prepares to become the centre point for
trade and industry in the booming Middle East economy,
and linking the western world’s established economy with
the developing economy of the far east.
This unique project comprises 11 Towers ranging from 28 to
52 storeys in height and equates to a total construction
area of 700,000 sq m including the Podium Structure.
Also forming part of this is 25,000 sq m area of
luxurious villas and 150,000 sq m of service areas and
car parking among others.
The Executive Towers being the first major development
within the overall scheme and its prime location, shall
make this development the pinnacle and Al Habtoor
Engineering Enterprises status and profile as main
contractor shall be further enhanced by carrying out
such a project.
The lead Consultant is M/s Design & Architecture Bureau
(DAR) who are responsible for the structural and
architectural works within Zone 2 (6 Towers and Podium),
while M/s W.S. Atkins & Partners Overseas are
responsible for the Structural & Architectural Design
for Zone 1 Works (5 Towers & Podium).
According to Project Director Ziad Ammous, “Once again it is
our pleasure to work closely with such renowned and
respected Consultants; this follows several successful
projects with both the consultants over the years in
Dubai”. Association with such highly respected
consultants will add further to Al Habtoor Engineering
Enterprises’ profile & selection for potential future
clients.”
The task of mobilization of the project offices and
establishment to house the large number of staff and
workers required for a project of such magnitude is now
complete utilizing the extensive expertise of Al Habtoor
Engineering Enterprises’ internal departments ranging
from Stores, Administration, Plant and Transport through
to the IT Department.
The efficient mobilization facilitated the works to commence
on site as planned on July 3, 2005 on the first of the
11 Towers (Tower M). “This follows successful sectional
completion of the Enabling & Piling works from our
sister company - Al Habtoor-STFA Soil Group L.L.C. under
challenging ground conditions and programme constraints
due to the increased volume of Piles resulting from the
introduction of the Podium Piling,” explained Ziad.
Commenting on the challenges faced on this project, Ziad
said: “We face an enormous challenge to complete the
volume of works in a Contract Period of 853 days. The
completion and final handover date is programmed to be
October 31, 2007, although each Tower has a sectional
completion date at various stages beforehand to add to
the challenge. MEP works are programmed to commence 180
days into the works, which further add to the
challenging Project Management requirements, in design,
co-ordination and site installation works.”
The scope of work for Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and
it’s Sub-Contractors involves all works from Concrete
Raft foundations, reinforced concrete superstructure,
MEP, Aluminium Curtain Walling on external walls and all
internal finishes (wall, floor and ceiling) to the
highest quality and standards, both in material
selection & workmanship, which Al Habtoor Engineering
Enterprises is now known for and which are now expected
in such Prestigious Residential Developments.
Progress on site has seen seven out of the nine Tower raft
foundations cast to date and by the end of December
2005, further two rafts are scheduled to be cast which
in itself is a huge task involving over approximately
50,000m³ of ready mixed concrete.
The superstructure works are under progress in several
Towers and shall soon be beyond the podium parking
levels onto residential floors which shall then permit
the use of the specialist self climbing vertical
formwork system, especially purchased for this project,
to maximize the production levels versus programme
duration.
In tandem with the vertical structure climbing ahead, the
slab programme is forecast to achieve one storey level
per week using a table formwork system. These works
benefit from redesign works, which are being carried out
on the concept design. This has resulted in maximizing
efficiency of the design, besides increasing site
efficiency by reducing the volume and complexity of the
reinforcement quantities being used.
The enormity of the task is set to further increase with the
introduction of a 36-storey hotel structure for which
excavations have begun, pending negotiations with the
client on the tender sum. This will hopefully transform
the project to 12 Towers. However the main challenge for
Ziad and his team is to complete this additional Tower
six months ahead of the other 11 Towers completion
dates.
“Of course along with the huge logistics of managing and
executing all these works, we have the task of ensuring
that the excellent reputation, which Al Habtoor
Engineering Enterprises enjoys, is maintained for
Quality build. All this, in addition to ensuring a safe
working environment for several thousand employees, will
make the challenge of completing such a project for my
team and myself demanding but rewarding,” Ziad added
obviously relishing the challenge.
Work on site is progressing with a 3,000-strong labour force
of operatives, which is set to increase three-fold as
the project reaches its peak. Overseeing the supervision
of this labour force to ensure production, quality and
the timely execution of work is a staff of over 400 from
foreman level up to the Project Director. This also
includes site office departments for Planning,
Production, MEP, QAQC, Engineering, Commercial and
Administration to assist the site team in achieving
their overall goal of completing the project to the
required standards and on time which Al Habtoor
Engineering Enterprises is known for.
The project itself is part of a huge exceptionally
picturesque and coherent scheme, which is set to
transform the whole area. This involves the creation of
a man made creek to connect with Dubai Creek at the Ras
El Khor reserve with the seawater eventually flowing
right into the heart of this impressive new development.
Notwithstanding this, Business Bay will also be created
into a spectacular grand landscape designed environment
for the future business area of New Dubai.
“If this does not immediately capture the imagination of the
Business community, Freehold Tenant or Investor into
this development, then one look at the Sales Centre most
definitely will. This unique state-of-the-art structure
hosts countless aesthetic features and gives the perfect
vantage point for the whole Business Bay Development to
any would-be buyer,” emphasized Ziad.
The Sales Centre project, which will open in February 2006,
is also being constructed by Al Habtoor Engineering
Enterprises under two separate Design & Build Contracts
totaling over AED 42 million. This has been designed by
M/s W S Atkins and has incorporated many
state-of-the-art internal finishes and spectacular “Art
Deco” external features, which will no doubt make it one
of Dubai’s finest restaurants once it has served its
initial purpose as a Sales Centre to capture investors
for this project.
This bespoke designed structure promises to be a must-visit
site for individuals, interested in Architecture or
Construction and with its viewing gallery, one can
monitor the progress of one of Dubai’s finest
construction developments by one of the region’s most
reputable Main Contractors, the Al Habtoor Engineering
Enterprises!
As a standing testimony of its construction prowess, Al
Habtoor Engineering Enterprises boasts signature
projects under its wings, including the sail-shaped Burj
Al Arab - world's tallest and most luxurious hotel,
soaring 321 m into the sky from an artificial island in
the sea, the Dubai International Airport’s amazing
Sheikh Rashid Terminal (currently building also the
Concourse 2, Terminal 3 at the same Airport), the
stunning glass-fronted Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
distinctively designed like a wave, the Dusit Dubai,
with its unique inverted Y architecture symbolizing the
traditional Thai welcome of folded hands, and Dubai's
first Shangri-La, just to mention a few.
The Group is currently involved in many landmark projects
reflecting the ambitious vision of Dubai and the role
that the UAE envisages to play as a leading
international commercial and business centre, making the
emirate a business hub and firmly placing it on the
international map. | 
