Dubai Properties has announced that The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence is now open for business. The 1.7 km long shopping promenade is currently home to more than 170 stores including Zadig, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nautica, Damas Jewellers, and Aiyanna of London. Once complete the outdoor retail avenue will feature over 300 shops.
Plans for a massive water fountain at Downtown Burj Dubai have been unveiled by Emaar Properties. Situated in the Burj Lake, it will be capable of shooting jets of water 500 feet high, equivalent to the height of a 50-storey building.
It will be complemented by a visual effects system consisting of more than 6,000 lights and 50 colour projectors. The total cost of the lake and fountain is budgeted at AED 800 million.
Emaar Properties has announced that the opening of the Burj Dubai will be delayed by around 8 months. Completion is now expected in September 2009.
Part of the Downtown Burj Dubai development, the tower is the world’s tallest building. Work came to a halt in November 2007 when 40,000 labourers working on the project went on strike over conditions and pay.
Property developers Nakheel have signed an agreement with Khansaheb Civil Engineering to develop the infrastructure of the first phase of their Al Furjan residential development.
Kerzner International has announced that its flagship hotel Atlantis The Palm will open in September 2008. The resort, on the crescent of the Palm Jumeirah, will feature 1539 rooms and suites, a 17 hectare water park, marine habitats and underwater exhibits with around 65,000 marine creatures, four celebrity chef restaurants, luxury boutiques, a spa, and nightclub.
Dubai-based property developer Emaar has announced that the Burj Dubai is now the world’s tallest man-made structure. It has reached a height of 629 metres, surpassing the KVLY TV mast in North Dakota (628.8 metres).
Mohammed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar, said ‘Emaar’s Burj Dubai has accomplished another milestone in its development, placing the city of Dubai and Burj Dubai once again on the global spotlight. With over 160 storeys now, the most number of liveable floors in any building in the world, Burj Dubai is already pushing the frontiers in construction engineering.’
The Burj Dubai is the centrepiece of the Downtown Burj Dubai development. The final height of the tower remains a closely guarded secret.
British newspaper the News of the World reports that England footballer David Beckham has given his villa on the Palm Jumeirah to his in-laws. The tabloid says that as the former Manchester United star is now playing in the USA he has realised that he will be unable to spend any time at the luxury home and decided to let Victoria Beckham’s parents enjoy it.
The paper says that Beckham purchased the villa in 2002 for £800,000, though it is widely believed that it was given to him by developers Nakheel as part of a public relations campaign. Other English footballers owning homes on the development include Joe Cole, David James, Gary Neville, and Michael Owen.
Dubai Properties have announced that the Executive Towers at Business Bay are on target for completion in the last quarter of 2008. All units in the 11 towers have already been sold.
Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC) and Dubai property developer Nakheel have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop four theme parks on the Palm Jebel Ali. Under the terms of the agreement Nakheel will provide the capital to develop the project while BEC will operate the parks.
The four parks will be SeaWorld Dubai, Aquatica, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove and will operate under Busch’s World of Discovery banner. The first phase of the project is expected to open in 2012.
Dubai property developer Emaar has announced that it has completed 50 percent of the cladding work on the Burj Dubai. The iconic structure now stands at 604.9 metres and is the world’s tallest free-standing structure.