ChileSoc: Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai, the world's tallest man-made structure, will see a "soft opening" on September 9 this year in tandem with the launch of Dubai Metro, according to an industry source..."The target is to have the event coincide with the opening of the Metro on 09/09/09," a person close to the matter told Emirates Business. "There is still work to be done in terms of finishing the building," the person said. "This includes the access and exit planning as well as connecting the sewerage lines to the main network..." These issues are being addressed to ensure optimum working of the building before final occupancy, the person said... Despite several attempts, developer Emaar Properties did not comment on the subject by the time this newspaper went to press... The groundbreaking for Burj Dubai took place in September 2004 and completion was projected by late 2008. In June 2008, Emaar Chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar said in a statement: "We believe that a completion date of September 2009 is possible and reasonable for a project of this global magnitude and significance..."

Via: Business 24-7

The beauty of bubbles
“…The fireworks could be seen from space (allegedly), putting China’s Olympic displays to shame. Hollywood celebrities studded a guest-list of 2,500 people. Kylie Minogue, a diminutive Australian singer, cavorted in a gold and black corset designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier. Guests consumed an estimated 1.7 tonnes of lobster… The launch party for the Atlantis hotel in Dubai on November 20th was a perfect, noisy finale to the world’s latest age of excess. But its loudest echoes—the man-made islands, the iconic hotels, the overheated property market, the celebrities and the sun—are from another, more distant time: south Florida in the 1920s…”

Cancelled projects makes Dubai 'best' long term investment prospect, it is claimed

“…Property in Dubai is one of the best long term property investments around as the cancellation of development projects will reduce supply, it is claimed… London based property adviser Mohammed Kashani-Akhavan said that property investors should have confidence in Dubai's future prosperity. He has such confidence that he took a full page advert out in leading newspaper Gulf News to make his point… 'Dubai is one of the best cities in the world for property investment in the long term. It is a great time to invest because the golden rule of successful property investment is to buy low when everybody else is selling,' he said…"

Minister of Economy to inaugurate Dubai Drink Technology Expo 2008

“…Dubai Drink Technology Expo is the first non-alcoholic Drinks and liquid Food expo ever organized in the Middle East and North Africa Region, The Dubai Drink Technology Expo. scheduled to run from Sunday 14 to 16 December 2008, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Zaabeel Hall… This high profile exhibition presents worldwide range of products and services in the area of beverage technology and liquid food. Dubai Drink Technology Expo offers the state-of-the-art technology, logistics solutions, and raw materials for every type of beverage and liquid food for the entire industry, which constitutes a vital element to the consumers all over the world..”

The rise and rise of Persian Gulf architecture

“…Ten years after the opening of the Burj Al Arab, Dubai has plans for tourism that would make its architect quake. Not only is the once-iconic hotel now dwarfed by the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest skyscraper, but it is significantly shorter than almost every new building in sight. And, with 15 to 25 per cent of the world’s cranes currently in operation in Dubai, that is a lot of buildings…”

Dubai airport deal lifts Leighton

“…Leighton Holdings continued to shrug off expectations it may soon succumb to the looming construction slowdown in Dubai by announcing its involvement in a 4.9 billion dirham ($2 billion) building contract for Dubai Airport's expansion…The news comes two weeks after the 45 per cent Leighton-owned Al Habtoor won a $3.7 billion contract to build the world's largest building, the four 73-storey tower Dubai Pearl…The Dubai Airport project will involve building a new concourse 645 metres long that will connect to the airport's recently opened Terminal 3 and include two hotels…”

Dubai govt entities get negative ratings

“…Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has revised its outlook on the ratings of six Dubai-based Government-Related Entities (GREs) to negative from stable… The entities are: DIFC Investments, DP World, Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority, Jebel Ali Free Zone (FZE) and JAFZ Sukuk… At the same time, all ratings on these entities were affirmed. 'The outlook revision reflects the impact of the difficult global macroeconomic and financing environment on the emirate (not rated), to which the ratings on these six entities are directly linked,' said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Farouk Soussa…”