Author: Jochebed Menon

The Follow-Up Committee of the Initiatives of the UAE President announced the completion of the works on the development, which is a Dhs400 million residential project. According to a report by WAM, the development features 323 houses spanning an area of 407,880.4 sqm in the Al Suyoh 16 area. Jaber Mohammed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, and Chairman of the Follow-Up Committee of the Initiatives of the UAE President, said the project was launched to meet the needs of citizens and support the well-being and stability of Emirati families.

Trade between Bahrain and the GCC has reaped USD5.7 billion in 2020, accounting for 25% of Bahrain’s global bilateral trade for the year (USD20.8 billion). The figures were released at the same time as Bahrain’s Information and eGovernment Authority quarterly foreign trade report, identifying a 12% surge in national origin exports buoyed by a thriving manufacturing sector. Home to national and multinational manufacturing and logistics giants including Alba, Mondelez, Reckitt Benckiser and DHL, Bahrain offers a US FTA and direct access to the GCC’s largest consumer market – Saudi Arabia. During the fourth quarter, the value of exports of national…

The Indian engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), and turnkey project management company, Nuberg EPC, secured the project on an EPC and lump-sum turn-key (LSTK) basis. Nuberg EPC will be the single-point solution company responsible from concept to commissioning of the project. The project is owned by Sprea Misr, a leading chemicals and plastics manufacturer in Ramadan City, Egypt. The 500 TPD sulfuric acid plant project will be based on the latest Double Contact Double Absorption (DCDA) process technology. The double contact process is used for the production of sulfuric acid in high concentrations which is required for industrial purposes. The project…

In a bid to boost Dubai’s public transportation sector, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) introduced three new public bus stations – Al Jaffiliya, Etisalat and Union at Al Jaffiliya, Al Qusais and Deira. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that the completion of these new stations are a further addition to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, which opened in Q3 of 2020. “The construction of public bus stations complements RTA’s efforts to improve the public transport infrastructure and to encourage people to use mass transit means…

Sharjah has continued to build on its foreign director investments (FDI) despite the crisis by allowing global investors leverage opportunities offered by its diverse economy, business-friendly environment and low operating costs, among other competitive advantages. By the end of 2020, the emirate recieved 24 FDI projects worth USD220 million (Dhs808.6 million), as per a WAVTEQ study on Sharjah’s FDI annual performance. There has been a 60% increase in the number of FDI projects between Q3 and Q4. While certain sectors were impacted, others witnessed remarkable growth, offering substantial investment opportunities for businesses in the fields of e-commerce, health and medical…

Real estate developer Aldar Properties has revealed the winners of its first Manassah programme – an entrepreneurship competition aimed at nurturing home-grown talent and supporting the UAE’s retail and F&B entrepreneurs. Following a rigorous process of assessing 150 submissions, seven finalists were short-listed to develop their ventures and receive pitch training. The programme’s selection committee selected three winners to bring their concepts to life at Aldar’s Mamsha Al Saadiyat: Coffee Architecture: a speciality coffee house built by the first female Emirati certified Q grader. Coffee Architecture is designed around minimalism, passion, art, and love in Abu Dhabi. Alkalime: a feel-good…

Expo 2020 Dubai’s City Readiness Committee has restarted its planning meetings to ensure Dubai and the UAE are prepared to welcome the world to the global mega-event opening in October 2021. The meetings were chaired by His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of HH The Ruler’s Court of Dubai, and attended by Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai. The two meetings took place to ensure that the preparations of all local and federal entities are integrated, ready to host the next World Expo. The first…

An architectural feat has been achieved by the under-construction Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. The two buildings of the resort hospitality project by RAK AMI Hotel are now connected by the longest suspended bridge in the Northern Emirates. At 36 metres long, the bridge will feature eight hotel rooms that are set to be widely sought-after. The bridge is supported by four main trusses, each with a weight of 55 tonnes. Each truss is 4 metres high and installed at a height of 44.2 metres. The suspended bridge has a development value of Dhs543 million. Arch.…

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) has been awarded a LEED ND Stage 2 Platinum certification, becoming the largest mixed-use financial center in the world to achieve the highest possible accreditation. LEED is an internationally recognised designation that indicates a building or community was designed and built to be environmentally friendly in an aim to promote a higher quality of life. This certification confirms KAFD as a global centre for excellence in sustainability at every level – from its green building credentials to its robust public transport facilities and walkable infrastructure. KAFD has sustainability built into the core of…

The Emirates Group has rolled out a COVID-19 vaccination programme for its UAE-based workforce. The inoculation programme began this morning, with priority being placed on its frontline aviation workforce, including cabin crew, flight deck and other operationally focused roles. The airline, along with dnata, are among the first transport and air services organisations in the world to offer employees the option to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Over the course of the pandemic, Emirates and dnata have implemented multiple layers of safety measures, to ensure the health and safety of customers, employees and the communities served. The rollout of…