By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter : Published: February 13, 2007, 00:00
Dubai: Every new residential or commercial building project in Dubai will now have to dedicate eight per cent of its area for greenery, said a senior official.
"We will enforce the rule that every residential or commercial project must have an eight per cent green area," said Mohammad Al Fardan, Head of Promotion and Recreation of Public Parks and Horticulture Department at the Dubai Municipality.
The civic body has an ambitious plan to turn 8 per cent of the urban area into a green area by 2020. The original target of 2012 was postponed due to extensive construction work.
Al Fardan told Gulf News yesterday that new rules to have more green areas in every project would be enforced as part of Dubai Municipality's 2020 green area plan .
"We have extended our target date because the progress was hampered due to road works, metro project and a number of new residential and commercial projects," Al Fardan said.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference to announce the International Plants Expo Middle East (IPM) to be held in Dubai from March 6-8, Al Fardan said currently Dubai has 3.7 per cent of green areas in the city.
He said the municipality this year would carry out 56 projects, including five new parks, seven community areas, 13 children's play areas, 15 city "beautification" drives and four new nurseries for plants.
The green cover in 2006 was 2,236.8 hectares (3.7 per cent of Dubai's total urban area).
"We use locally produced plants and flowers. However, with the anticipated growth, there is a need for more advanced technology, expert guidance and a greater variety of plant and flower species," he noted.
"The municipality has chosen to support IPM Dubai 2007 as it will serve as the platform to meet industry leaders, review new products and adopt new technologies," he added.
The IPM Dubai is being organised by Planetfair Dubai LLC and Messe Essen GmbH, Germany, under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates.
Running from March 6-8 at Airport Expo Dubai, IPM Dubai will feature more than 200 international exhibitors from 22 countries. Exhibition highlights are the national pavilions of Colombia, Egypt, Germany and South Africa.
The latest technology and techniques will be on display, along with floristry accessories and sales promotion items.
HORTICULTURE
Flower Centre gives big boost to industry
Dubai Flower Centre (DFC) has given a tremendous boost to flower industry in the region, as it has become hub of horticulture trade in the region, said Ebrahim Ahli, Marketing Director of the centre.
"We have achieved 50 per cent occupancy since opening in July last year and hope to achieve 100 per cent occupancy this year as a number of major international companies have set up their regional hub at the DFC," he said.
Ahli said the DFC has not only helped increase horticulture trade in the region but has helped meeting increasing demand for local consumption. The DFC will have a huge pavilion at the Dubai International Plants Expo Middle East (IPM).
"The DFC has given a boost to the sector by establishing Dubai as a central trading platform for flowers and plants in the Middle East, Asia and the subcontinent," added Michael Mueller, Managing Director, Planetfair Dubai LLC (organisers of IPM).
Visas in the UAE
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Gulf News Report : Published: November 02, 2007, 01:20
There are several different types of visa available - but the most common are visit visas, tourist visas and residency visas.
Information accurate as of 30 April 2007.
Regulations in the UAE are complicated and subject to change. Check with your local UAE Embassy or travel agent prior to leaving to be sure.
There are several different types of visa available. The most commonly used are Visit visas, tourist visas and residency visas for ex-pats.
Visit visa: Citizens of the certain countries (listed in the next paragraph) can get a 30-day visit visa free of charge upon arrival, entitling them to stay for 60 days.
The visa can then be renewed once for another 30 days for an additional fee of Dh500: Britain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
After this period a visitor can extend the visit visa by a further two months by leaving the country and returning. This can be done twice. When the third visit visa expires the person must leave the UAE for at least a month before returning.
For residents of other countries, the visa must be sponsored by an individual, such as a relative, or an establishment. The application is submitted by the sponsor with all required documents. It is issued for Dh100 for two months and is renewable for another month for a fee of Dh500.
Tourist Visa: It is available for tourists sponsored by tour operating companies and hotels. It is issued for 30 days for a fee of Dh100 and an additional Dh10 for delivery. This is non-renewable.
Special Mission Entry Visa: This is issued for a non-renewable 14 days for a fee of Dh220 and a delivery charge of Dh10. Commonly known as a transit visa, it is collected by the visitor upon arrival. It is issued to businessmen and tourists sponsored by a company or commercial establishment or a hotel licensed to operate in the UAE.
Mission Visa: The newly added type of visa, it is issued for the purpose of temporary work in the country. It is issued for a maximum of 180 days with a combined fee of Dh1,800. It is issued for three months against a fee of Dh600 and can be renewed for another three months against a fee of Dh1,200.
It has been introduced to facilitate Labour Ministry's Temporary Work Permit. An applicant must obtain the permit from the Labour Ministry first to get the visa.
Transit Visa: It is issued to travellers transiting through UAE airports. It issued for 96 hours and must be sponsored by an airline operating in the UAE. The visitor must have a valid ticket for onward flight. There is no charge for this permit.
Multiple Entry Visa: It is an option for businessmen who are frequent visitors to the UAE and who have a relationship with a reputable company here.
This multiple visa is valid for six months from the date of issue and costs Dh1,000. However, each visit must not exceed 30 days. The visitor must enter the UAE on a visit visa and obtain the multiple entry visa while he is here.
Residence Visa: A residence visa is required for those who intend to enter the UAE to live indefinitely with a person who is already a resident. It is issued to the immediate kin of a resident for three years for a fee of Dh300.
The residence permit becomes invalid if the resident remains more than six months at a time out of the country.
Parents of residents are issued residence visas after special approval with a renewable validity of one year for a fee of Dh100 for each year. A refundable deposit of Dh5,000 has to be paid for each parent.
Investor Visa: It is issued to an expatriate investor in partnership with a local. The foreign investor must hold a minimum stake of Dh70,000 in the share capital. Like the residence visa, it is issued for three years for a fee of Dh300.
Employment Visa: Employment Visa or Permit is issued by the Immigration Department to a foreign national who wishes to work for a company in the UAE upon the approval of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
It allows the holder to enter the UAE once for a period of 30 days and is valid for two months from the date of issue.
When the employee has entered the country on the basis of the employment visa, the sponsoring company will arrange to complete the formalities of stamping his residence.
Ajman gets new university
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
By Sunil Rao Published: July 06, 2002, 00:00
Ajman has got a brand new university campus.
Preston University of the U.S. has won a concession through a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, to run a branch campus.
Students are being offered Bachelors and Masters courses in Information Technology and Business Administration. Some 200 pupils have already enrolled for programmes currently under way.
"Come September, we are also offering certificate, diploma and degree courses in fashion designing," explained Dr Abdul Basit, President. "Admissions have opened, and the level of interest is high."
The university started operating out of Al Bustan Masfout Plaza in December 2001 after a soft launch, but steadily growing demand and expansion plans aiming at offering more programmes will likely see it implementing plans for constructing a dedicated campus in more spacious surroundings in 2004.
"We can accommodate up to 400 students here, but growth is inevitable, and we expect to shift to our own facility in due course," Dr Basit added.
He stressed the Ajman campus is run directly as a branch of Preston University – rather than as an affiliate, where other operators manage the campus under the Preston umbrella – thus ensuring high education standards.
Students primarily comprise children of expatriate families seeking quality higher education options.
Nor will educational continuity be an issue for them: "We have 45 campuses worldwide, either as direct branches or locally managed affiliates, and our students can therefore transfer their credits to other facilities, should they need to relocate halfway through their programmes."
The Ajman campus follows a coeducational system, with separate common-rooms for boys and girls.
Attendant facilities include an extensive library, while the 20-plus faculty members are roughly representative of the country's demographic spread, including instructors hailing from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, the U.S., Armenia and elsewhere.
"We try to create an environment as conducive as possible for quality education," stressed R.S. Hussain, Director General of the Ajman facility.
He added students are offered various options on programme structure and duration.
"For instance, a Bachelors programme that generally takes four years to complete can be finished in three years if so desired by the student, who can attend classes during the summer semester and other vacation periods to complete the required credit hours."
He pointed out such flexibility allows the course to be completed quicker, paving the way for the student to enter the jobs market faster, while saving his parents a percentage of overall tuition fees.
Hussain added that while the IT and Business Administration courses continue to witness demand, the proposed programmes in fashion designing are also evoking a strong response.
"Earlier this month we had organised an awareness programme at another leading educational institution in the UAE, and students there evinced strong interest in taking up fashion designing," he explained.
The facility plans to roll out a string of fresh initiatives in the upcoming autumn semester, including an ambitious inter-university software competition in September.
Hussain added the event would be different from other IT contests organised locally, with the focus here on giving students across the UAE an opportunity to display their flair in research-oriented projects.
Ajman now top target of property investors
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
High property prices and spiralling rents in Dubai are forcing large numbers of investors to look to Ajman, where prices can be more than a third less.
By Robert Ditcham, Staff Reporter Published: September 07, 2006, 00:00
Dubai: Ajman is feeding off consumer aversion to Dubai's high property prices, according to officials behind a new residential tower in the once sleepy northern emirate.
High property prices and spiralling rents in Dubai are forcing large numbers of investors to look to Ajman, where prices can be more than a third less, said Avais Nagaria, CEO of Ajman-based Palm Real Estate Investment Group.
The trend has encouraged many private developers to launch Ajman residential properties aimed at low- to middle-income end-users, especially in the Emirates City development on Emirates Road, a short journey from Dubai International Airport.
"Construction in Ajman is moving very rapidly, especially after construction of Emirates Road, which opened up Ajman to people working in Dubai," said Nagaria.
Yesterday's launch of the Dh110 million Orbit Tower by Palm Real Estate Investment Group follows the announcement of ETA Star's four-tower Gold Crest Dreams residential complex earlier this year.
Meanwhile, property developer Tameer Holdings is building its first Ajman project, the three million square feet residential and commercial Al Ameera Village on Emirates Road.
Contracts for construction of the 30-storey Orbit Tower in Emirates City will go to tender at the end of the month and project completion is due in August 2009. Architects' firm Adnan Saffarini has designed the tower and is also acting as consultant and supervisor.
"Our aim is to provide luxurious, spacious and secure living to the middle class earning between Dh5,000 and Dh6,000 a month," Nagaria said.
The tower will bring 400 one- and two-bedroom units onto the market priced from Dh245,000 to Dh400,000. Facilities include a health club with gym, a prayer area, children's playground, swimming pool, sauna, and jacuzzi, with separate areas for men and women.
Nagaria said pre-launch sales have been strong, with up to 30 per cent of units snapped up by investors.
Ajman to set up an international airport
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
By Sunil Rao, Published: November 14, 2001, 00:00
Ajman will set up an international airport, with the UK's Wiggins Group having undertaken the Dh367 million ($100 million) build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract to construct the terminal and allied infrastructure.
The contract was signed in May, with project work at the Al Helou site near the Ajman Cement plant set to start shortly. The terminal is hoped to go operational in second-half 2002.
This will be the seventh commercial international airport in the UAE.
At a British Business Group function attended by His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman; Dr. Zuheir Amin, economic development adviser, explained that the facility would cater to both international passengers, airfreight and business jets market.
"Over 160 private jets are sold annually in the Middle East, with the number continuing to grow."
The complex would include a private jet terminal with maintenance facilities and would serve as a complete air service station, he stated.
"Wiggins already operates eight airports in the U.S. and Europe, and plans to expand its network to 20, the Ajman facility being its first in this region," he said.
"The company is targeting point-to-point air facilities, the idea being to set up a 'plane station' that avoids stopovers for air travellers."
While he acknowledged the events of September 11 had caused the global airlines industry to suffer a setback, he pointed out these would be short-term, and that the aviation sector would resume its growth after a temporary hiccup.
Meanwhile, UK's Thames Water with a 51 per cent stake will lead an international consortium on a Dh475-Dh515 million sewerage plant in Ajman to treat water for landscape irrigation purposes, thus replacing the current septic tank system.
The agreement is due to be signed by end-month, with the BOT operation to be implemented within four years, said Dr. Amin.
He explained that other consortium members include the U.S.' Black & Veach, which doubles as project consultant, and Japan's Fuji Bank, as financial adviser.
The plant will cater to population growth projected annually at 5.5-6 per cent for the next 20 years. The emirate's resident population stands at 220,000, up from 6,000-7,000 in the 1960s.
The official also unveiled a raft of projects aimed at facilitating the emirate's ongoing expansion and infrastructural development.
One involves a Dh44 million BOT operation to convert municipal waste into electricity and fertiliser, with consultancy by an Egypt firm, and plant implementation likely by a consortium of British and U.S. companies. Project operator is to be confirmed shortly, he added.
"We have drawn up an ambitious tourism development plan on a 9 million square metres piece of land in the Al Zawra area, with the project open to funding initially expected at Dh2.5 billion," he stated.
He explained that the beachfront project is awaiting confirmation of funding, with the first phase covering 19 per cent of the area to include a mix of tourist hotels and quality apartments and villas, and the second envisaging a golf course.
He expected the BOT project to go to a British consortium with experience of putting up similar complexes in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Morocco. He added that financial closure would likely be achieved in first-quarter 2002, with phase one implementation to be completed nine months thereafter.
He said the government is seeking to expand by going the privatisation way, given its relatively limited resource base. "We have privatised operations at Ajman Port recently," he pointed out.
"Our aim is to implement a mixture of income-generating and infrastructure-related projects to sustain growth" and healthy cash-flows, he noted.
Senior officials hinted at other projects in the pipeline related to the petroleum sector.
Earlier, David May, chairman of the 480-strong BBG, said the group is actively exploring business prospects in regions away from the traditional growth areas in the country.
"We held a meeting in Ras Al Khaimah four months ago, and hope to stage similar events in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain next year," he said.
Obaid Ali Al Muhairy, director, Ajman Port, and senior member of Ajman Chamber, added that the emirate's port and free zone also continue to grow, while noting that companies involved in tourism, general trade and the hi-tech industries would find the business climate here particularly suited to them.
Four floating mosques for Palm
Friday, November 02, 2007
Dubai-based developer Nakheel is considering plans to have four floating mosques tethered to the Palm Jebel Ali, reported Emirates Today. Plans for the buildings have been drawn up by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis, who has designed a floating church for the city of Amsterdam. The mosques would be attached to a vast floating poem written by the ruler of Dubai that will be bobbing near the palm's outer rim
Floating Mosque, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For the Palm Jebel Ali project in Dubai Water studio designed a floating Mosque. A modern and daring design for a traditional function. The interior is characterized by giant funnel-shaped transparant colums that do not only support the roof, but also allow filtered light to illuminate the inner space.
Dubai Select were one of the first developers in Dubai to provide an escrow account for their developments.
Dubai Select proactively chose to provide this service to ensure the security of client’s money, as opposed to sitting back and waiting for this type of protection to be imposed by the authorities in Dubai.
It is an advantage to hold an escrow account as it protects your funds and ensures safety of purchase. With an escrow account you have the assurance, security and safety that your monies are protected by an impartial third party
New legislation will ensure escrow accounts become standard in Dubai
Eagerly-anticipated legislation, concerning escrow accounts and a condominium law have passed the final draft stage and are awaiting official approval from the emirate’s rulers.
It follows a lengthy period of consultation between the land department and property developers in Dubai.
“The draft laws have been finalised and have been submitted for government feedback and approval,” said Mohammad Sultan Thani, director of development and marketing administration at Dubai Land Department.
Legal experts say the Trust (Escrow) Accounts will protect buyers’ stage payments in independently-held accounts.
According to information obtained by Gulf News, escrow accounts in Dubai will be managed by a number of domestic and international financial institutions, all of which will be supervised and monitored by the land department.
Meanwhile, the release of the Condominium Law will also pave the way for a by-law to be signed on the rights and responsibilities of owners associations.
Source; Gulf News
Dubai Land Department signs escrow account agreement with National Bank of Dubai
The National Bank of Dubai (NBD) will be the only bank in the UAE to offer Escrow Accounts both within conventional and Islamic banking, thereby maximizing choice for customers. The new laws and agreements don’t just benefit consumers; developers using NBD Online will have access to account management and have a dedicated team on hand, designed to support the operations for these account services.
The NBD is supporting Government initiatives to raise the standard of the real estate industry and ensure the continued prosperity of Dubai's property market. Under the new Law No. 8, property developers in Dubai must place project funds in escrow, or trust, until milestones in construction are achieved, then independently verified by the escrow account bank. These escrow accounts will be regulated by the Dubai Land Department.
New regulations will establish an escrow framework for property developers and greatly enhance the confidence of investors and owners in the long-term stability of the Dubai real estate sector. The Dubai Land Department has taken proactive steps to regulate the real estate industry to ensure the highest of standards are adhered to while raising the bar of the industry and encouraging both domestic and international investment.
National Bank of Dubai named as Escrow account provider NBD to support Dubai Land Department regulation
Press Release - 4th September, 2007, Dubai, UAE
National Bank of Dubai (NBD) has been appointed as an official escrow account bank by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). The signing appoints NBD as one of the few banks in Dubai to provide escrow accounts designed to protect consumer payments on new and in the pipeline properties in Dubai.
As a result of the appointment, NBD will be the only bank in the UAE to offer Escrow Accounts both within conventional and Islamic banking, thereby maximising choice for customers. NBD will also offer view-only access to property developer customers and the DLD for escrow accounts held with the Bank. Property developers using NBD Online will further benefit from better account management and reconciliation. In addition, a dedicated team will be allocated to support the operations for these account services.
“National Bank of Dubai is honored to be selected as one of the few banks in the UAE to provide Escrow Accounts to its portfolio of property developer customers. Through such services NBD is supporting Government initiatives to raise the standard of the real estate industry and ensure the continued prosperity of Dubai’s property market,” commented Rajesh Thapar, Group Head of Corporate & Institutional Banking, National Bank of Dubai. Nasser Yousuf, Head of Business Development, Harshit H. Jain, Head of Liabilities & Transactional Banking, Prakash Mallya, Product Manager – Transactional Banking Services and Mohammad A. Zainal, Asst. Relationship Manager were also present at the ceremony held today morning at the offices of the Dubai Land Department. Mohammad and Prakash have worked very closely with DLD and team members in Operations, Business Technology, Finance, Al Watani Al Islami, Audit and Control, Risk Management and Credit Management to ensure that all the stringent pre-requisite conditions of DLD were met.
Under the recently promulgated Law No. 8, property developers in Dubai must place project receivables in escrow, or trust, until predetermined development milestones are achieved and independently verified by the escrow account bank. These escrow accounts are regulated by the Dubai Land Department.
Juma Mohd. Bin Humaidan, Asst. Director General of Dubai Land Department said, 'The decision by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to establish an escrow framework for property developers will greatly enhance the confidence of investors and end users in the long-term stability of the real estate sector in Dubai. The Dubai Land Department has taken proactive steps to regulate the real estate industry to ensure the highest of standards are adhered to while raising the bar of the industry and encouraging both domestic and international investment.”
NBD’s Retail Banking is ranked amongst the top 3 mortgage finance providers in the UAE, offering a suite of mortgage finance solutions and a reputed panel of 14 developers to choose from. This appointment will complement NBD’s leading position in the mortgage finance market, adding value both to its customers and its property development partners.
May 31 (Bloomberg) — Burj Dubai is the world’s second-tallest building, overtaking Malaysia’s Petronas Towers, its developer Emaar Properties PJSC said.
The tower is 468.1 meters high, (1,536 feet) and has 130 stories, Emaar said in an e-mailed statement today. The Petronas Towers are 452 meters tall.
Emaar, the Middle East’s largest real estate developer, plans for Burj Dubai to eventually become the world’s tallest building, surpassing the Taipei 101, which stands at 509 meters. The Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based developer did not say how tall Burj Dubai will become, yet the company plans to break the record for pumping concrete, which stands at 532 meters, it said.
Burj Dubai is facing construction delays of at least a year after a leading contractor on the project went bankrupt, leaving the tower without external walls.
Work that should have begun in the first quarter of 2006 did not start until April following the collapse of Switzerland-based Schmidlin Ltd. Facade Technology, said George Efstathiou, a partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, which designed the tower.
Reporter : Matthew Brown in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cityscape Dubai 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Cityscape Dubai 2007, now in its 6th year, is the largest business-to-business real estate investment and development event in the world.
Cityscape Dubai 2007 is set to welcome more than 45,000 regional and international investors, property developers, governmental and development authorities, leading architects, designers, consultants and all senior professionals from more than 120 countries.
More information visit : http://www.cityscape.ae/index.html
A short history of Dubai Property: part 6
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
In the few months after the new Dubai Property Law was decreed on March 12th, AME Info recorded 14 new project announcements in Dubai. The developers ranged from the local stalwarts Emaar Properties and Damac Properties through local secondary developers, to big international names from Korea and India with three projects worth $775m.
The second part of this A-Z sketch of players, projects and concepts in the booming Dubai property industry runs from N-Z. We apologize for the many omissions in this listing which can not possibly be comprehensive given the boom in this sector.
For further detail visit : http://www.ameinfo.com/130514.html
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Dubai: Ajman is feeding off consumer aversion to Dubai's high property prices, according to officials behind a new residential tower in the once sleepy northern emirate. 
