Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad) has announced signing a preliminary agreement with Dana Steel, the flagship manufacturing unit of industrial conglomerate Dana Group, for the establishment of its first hot and cold rolling steel complex in the UAE capital.

As per the agreement, Dana Steel will make a key investment to develop a 50,000sq. m. facility within the integrated trade, logistics and industrial hub of Abu Dhabi.

Established in 2017, and catering to consumer markets across more than 50 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, Dana Steel is one of the region’s largest and most modern manufacturers of Hot Dip Galvanized, Aluzinc, Prepainted Galvanized, Prepainted Aluzink and Prepainted Aluminum steel coils and sheets.

The new complex will facilitate backward integration of the company’s continuous galvanising and continuous colour coating lines and will have 500,000 MT rolling capacity, said a statement from Kezad Group.

This approach will help boost Dana Steel’s manufacturing capacity in the Gulf region by replacing imported raw materials, such as cold rolled full hard coils, with a new Made in UAE supply.

By providing a base for Dana Steel’s facility in Abu Dhabi, Kezad Group is extending its support for the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, which looks to more than double the size of the emirate’s manufacturing sector to AED172bn by 2031 through a series of transformational programmes.

Group CEO Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed said: “Owing to the modern infrastructure and efficient transportation network offered by Kezad and Khalifa Port, investors such as Dana Steel are selecting our industrial ecosystem as a base from which to grow their operations in the UAE and globally. By enabling vertical integration of their manufacturing supply chain, we look forward to supporting Dana Steel on its journey to serve customers and expand its international reach.”

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Dubai is showcasing 10 unique interactive light installations designed to create an immersive artistic journey – combining lights and sounds – at City Walk. The light show is a new addition to the ongoing Dubai Shopping Festival.

In partnership with Light Art Collection and Merex Investment, the outdoor exhibition titled “The Sparks Within” celebrates the power, resilience, and positivity of light and sound as a symbol of connection between people and places.

Visitors and residents continue to enjoy the series of light installations around City Walk, such as the multifunctional work titled ‘C/C’ by Angela Chong, and interactive sculpture that plays around with light while also functioning as a very practical place for the public to sit, relax and take in the sights.

Visitors also get to witness a musically-inspired installation titled ‘Light Piano 2.0’ by Arion de Munck and Mark Ridder, and a colourful artwork titled ‘Nest’ by Vikas Patiland Santosh Gujar – the latter inspired by the symbolism of a bird’s nest. Additionally, visitors were able to interact with ‘Never Ends’ by Luigi Console & Valentina Novembre and ‘Submergence’ by Squidsoup; two immersive artworks providing a unique, provocative and luminous experience.

Among the 10 works on display is also an emotive artwork titled ‘Run Beyond’ by Angelo Bonello, conveying the power of imagination and its ability to conquer fears and limitations, pop art inspired tulips titled ‘BUNCH OF TULIPS’ by Koros Design, ‘TORNADO’ by UxU Studio (which mimics the majesty of the natural phenomena), ‘Sphere 3D Spectrum’ by Clifton Mahangoe, embodying the phrase ‘opposites attract’ and last but not least an installation of 1,500 lights intended to evoke the idea of passion titled ‘DESIRE’, created by Uxu Design and adding inspirational impact to the setting.

Dubai Lights will be running until  29^th January, 2023; more installations from renowned artists and studios can be found in Dubai Design District (d3), and Palm Jumeirah

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The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) has announced that the Arab construction sector is showing full recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic, with its contribution to GDP in 2021 hitting $186.8bn. This is up 4.7% from the previous year’s figures of $178.3bn – which had still shown the legacy of the Pandemic.

The Saudi and UAE construction sectors were the top contributors to the GDPs, with around $45.5bn and $36.8bn, respectively, stated AMF in its recent report.

Egypt ranked third with around $27.3bn, followed by Qatar, $24.1bn, Algeria, $19.8bn, Morocco, $7.7bn, and Oman with $6.4bn.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, construction output ranged from $1bn to $6bn in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan, Libya, and Jordan, while it contributed less than one billion dollars to the GDPs of other Arab countries.

The Report noted that even the figures of 2021 are likely to be significantly overshadowed by the sector’s more recent growth and relative boom throughout 2022, particularly in terms of the impact of the Saudi ‘giga-projects’.

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Damac Properties has announced the launch of the ‘Ibiza’ residential cluster within its Damac Lagoons master development in Dubai.

The latest addition to the Mediterranean-inspired community comes after the successful launch of Portofino, Venice, Malta, Nice, Santorini, Costa Brava, Marbella, and Monte Carlo.

Designed with the ‘Wonders of the Mediterranean’ concept at heart, each cluster is uniquely designed to evoke the spirit of the destination it represents.

Ibiza cluster is based on the Spanish island that is world-renowned for its vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches. Its natural scenic beauty and enchanting historical landmarks are more than enough to attract thousands of tourists every year from all over the world, especially during the summer.

Damac Lagoons features elegant 4-5-bedroom villas nestled in a palatial paradise of white sandy beaches, delightful comforts and an abundance of lively experiences.

Announcing the launch, Senior Vice President Niall McLoughlin said: “Ibiza is a continuation of our desire to set new benchmarks in contemporary, communal living. Our goal is to create a place where relaxation, serenity, and wonder are prioritised and can blend into residents’ lives.”

The cluster features a ‘Boho Lounge’ where people can fully immerse themselves in the unique atmosphere. In addition, there will be an authentic tapas lounge, offering residents and visitors an exceptional Spanish gastronomic culinary experience. Meanwhile, a number of high-end amenities, including the cluster’s sunset beach and hammock chill-out spots, are guaranteed to give residents their own home away from home.

Spanning a 45 million-sq-ft area, Damac Lagoons is the group’s third master community development in Dubai. “We want people to feel the one-of-a-kind sensation of being in the Mediterranean, while also being able to enjoy high-end, residential living in Dubai,” Niall added.

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AD Ports Group has signed a shareholder agreement with KMTF (Kazmortransflot), a fully-owned offshore logistics and services subsidiary of the Kazakh National Oil Company (KazMunayGas), to launch an exclusive joint venture, 51 percent owned by AD Ports Group and 49 percent owned by KMTF, to provide offshore and shipping services for energy companies in the Caspian Sea.

Furthermore, the two parties have signed an agreement to pool tanker resources.

The joint venture, which will look at investments opportunistically will offer a broad range of services, including offshore support vessels, integrated offshore logistics and subsea solutions and, at a later stage, will offer container feedering, ro-ro and crude oil transportation in the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. The enterprise will tender for a number of identified projects with estimated maritime contract values of more than USD780 million.

By combining AD Ports Group’s diverse portfolio of global maritime services and shallow water offshore expertise with the strong fleet, track record and local knowledge of KMTF, the joint venture will create an important new entrant in the highly valued Caspian Sea and the Black Sea region. The endeavour can expect to create opportunities around the region, particularly with the ongoing upgrades of fleets and facilities currently taking place, and some major offshore projects, such as the multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Kashagan field.

AD Ports Group and KMTF also signed a seven-year vessel pooling agreement, the joint venture includes the provision of several tankers for the transportation of crude oil internationally. Furthermore, the agreement will see KMTF’s fleet working alongside SAFEEN Group’s existing AFRAMAX tanker, with intent to acquire further vessels in the short-term. The objective is to jointly carry 8-10 million tonnes of crude annually in the medium-term.

The Caspian Sea region is one of the oldest oil-producing areas in the world and is an increasingly important source of global energy production.

H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, chairman of AD Ports Group, said: “Under the direction of our wise leadership, AD Ports Group is looking to deploy our expertise in support of agreements that boost trade and economic relations with brotherly nations.

“This new joint venture with KMTF opens the door to enormous opportunities in the Caspian Sea, which plays a key role in global energy production, and is serviced by prominent players within the energy sector. By providing maritime services in this key market, AD Ports Group has reached a new level of internationalisation and development.”

Mirzagaliyev Magzum, chairman, KazMunayGas, added: “This is an alliance of two world class companies who complement each other’s strengths and understanding of the market. As the world looks for reliable energy sources in challenging conditions, we will be able to provide a full portfolio of services supported by a modern fleet and teams of experts combining local knowledge and global experience. Companies operating in the Caspian Sea oil fields are looking for reliable partners and a broad range of value-added services. Working together, KMTF and AD Ports Group will provide the ideal solution.”

Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “Throughout 2022, AD Ports Group has looked to grow international business interests and expand the portfolio of maritime services we are able to offer customers around the world, in support of the vision of the leadership of the UAE. This  joint venture – which is the first of its kind between a UAE company and the Kazakh National Oil Company – reflects how far and how fast we have grown, and how capable we now are of providing advanced offshore services in key global markets.”

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Magnom Properties, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Rawabi Holding, says it is working with Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, (AS+GG Architecture) and Chicago’s The Carbon Lab to deliver a series of sustainable projects which will be a model of best practices in sustainability: “in line with Saudi Arabia’s unified vision for the future and its pledge to cut the nation’s carbon emissions to net zero”.

Details of the new developments in the commercial and retail sectors will be revealed soon and overseen by renowned architect and Burj Khalifa designer Adrian Smith and his partner Gordon Gill, it said in a statement.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop these projects was signed at Rawabi Holding in Al Khobar by Abdulaziz Al Turki, group chairman, Rawabi Holding and Nesma & Partners and chairman of Magnom Properties and the architect Adrian Smith, in the presence of Othman A. Ibrahim, CEO, Rawabi Holding, vice chairman of its Board of Directors and vice chairman of Magnom Properties; Nouf Al Turki, VP of Corporate Affairs, Rawabi Holding, member of its Board of Directors and member of the Board of Directors of Magnom Properties; and Maged Marie, CEO, Magnom Properties.

Magnom Properties explained it will adopt sustainable and advanced technologies across the planning, construction and operations of the “new futuristic developments based on its proven track record of success and strong clean energy credentials”.

Adrian Smith will also use an integrated design approach to highlight each project’s relationship with the natural environment, and will take into consideration building orientation, daylighting, generation of wind power, solar absorption, and the site’s geothermal properties.

“Architecture has the unique power to positively influence society, and our work in the region is a telling example of how economic and environmental sustainability can co-exist in urban development. It gives us great pleasure to develop projects across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region in partnership with Magnom Properties. We look forward to seeing how our pioneering design concepts enrich the sustainable journey of Saudi Arabia,” commented Smith.

It is claimed that the high-performance designs incorporate the vision of Magnom Properties in setting new standards in sustainability across all its ventures by minimising carbon footprint, managing precious resources, improving environmental quality and integrating intelligence into the built environment.

Abdulaziz Al Turki added: “We work under the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 whereby Saudi Arabia is driving collective commitment to creatively and responsibly meet future energy and climate challenges through a reliance on clean energy, offsetting carbon emissions and reshaping its cities through principles of sustainable architecture. “

“In line with our larger goal of transforming the region through our specialised expertise, we will harness the potential of advanced technologies and innovation to create best-in-class sustainability standards in these projects,” said Othman A. Ibrahim.

“Apart from using renewable materials, sustainable energy sources and making efficient use of space and resources, amongst others, technology will play a key role in embedding sustainable practices to align with the decarbonisation roadmap for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

According to Maged Marie, delivering state-of-the-art developments to empower communities, will ensure Magnom remains committed to implementing the core principles of sustainability across all of its operations.

“Our partnership with Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture to realise our ambitious vision reflects our philosophy of collaborating with the best minds worldwide to drive change and positively impact communities,” concluded Marie.

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Dubai Land Department (DLD) has launched its new strategic plan and vision for 2023-26, identifying the key features of its directions for the next three years.

The new strategic plan is in line with the national agenda to build a better economy while ensuring consistency with current and future global developments and practices.

According to DLD, its key vision is to strengthen global leadership in real estate investments.

Rolling out across three phases, and involving DLD employees, partners and customers in designing the department’s strategic plan, the new corporate mission and values are as follows:

• Vision: To be world leader in real estate investments.
• Mission: Enabling the real estate community by providing seamless real estate services, effective legislation and integrated data through partnerships, leading digital infrastructure and an empowered human capital.
• Values: Proficient team, people-centric, justice, passion and boldness.

According to DLD, the efforts made while preparing the new strategic plan in turn created five main pillars for future initiatives. These are –

• A pioneering real estate model, through enhancing the sector’s readiness and sustainability, and ensuring effective governance of the real estate sector.
• The second pillar is being a real estate innovation incubator by fostering a globally attractive real estate sector and harnessing technology to enable real estate solutions development.
• The third is a data-driven sector, maximising the added value of sector data and raising awareness, trust and transparency in the real estate sector.
• Then, creating an agile DLD, to cultivate a flourishing digital ecosystem, enhance its operations and improve corporate governance efficiency, as well as foster partnership with public and private sectors.
• The fifth and final pillar is Exceptional Journeys 2.0, through which the focus is on shifting to employee-first culture, refreshing DLD identity and enhancing its position, and moving to a proactive and ‘human’-focused approach.

DLD has updated its strategy in bid to ensure the best results and outputs based on four fundamental principles – sustainable impact; local adaptation; global leadership and co-operation and harmonisation.

The new strategy also constitutes a qualitative addition that would enhance the contributions of the real estate sector to Dubai’s GDP, in addition to supporting the objectives of the other sectors and strategic directions.

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened Phase I of the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Improvement Corridor Project.

Phase 1 of the project extends from the intersection of Ras Al Khor with Dubai – Al Ain Road (Bu Kadra intersection) to the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road with Nad Al Hamar Road.

Works included widening the road from three to four lanes in each direction over a 4km stretch, and opening all bridges leading to Dubai Creek Harbour, extending 1,730m, with a capacity of about 10,600 vehicles per hour. The phase also included construction of a two-lane service road along Ras Al Khor Road, stretching 4.2km.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, commented: “Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Corridor Project is one of the strategic road improvement projects undertaken in response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It is part of an ongoing process to enhance the capacity of the infrastructural components to support the strategic objectives of the emirate and serve development across the board. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Corridor Improvement Project is one of the biggest projects currently undertaken by RTA. Works under Phase I and II of the project involve widening Ras Al Khor Road in a sector extending 8km from the intersection of Ras Al Khor with the Dubai- Al Ain Road up to the intersection with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road in addition to bridges extending 2km in total and a service road on both sides of the road.”

The project serves a host of major development projects currently inhabited by about 650,000 people, namely: The Lagoons, Dubai Creek, Meydan Horizon, Ras Al Khor, Al Wasl, and Nad Al Hamar Complex. In future, the project’s scope will cover the construction of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing, which crosses over the Dubai Creek and links Al Jadaf in Bur Dubai with the road separating Dubai Creek Project and Dubai Festival City.

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