• Home

Dubai Municipality to spend Dh3.1 billion on 244 projects

DUBAI — By the end of this year Dubai Municipality would have launched works on different phases of around 244 projects worth approximately Dh3.1 billion, according to an official at the General Projects Department of the civic body.

Some of these projects have already been launched, while others are scheduled to begin in the coming months. The projects, many of which are under the design phase, involve designing or construction of new civic facilities, beautification and landscaping and general infrastructure development in the emirate.

According to an official source, the total cost of the projects that already have or will commence within 2005 is Dh 3.1 billion, but the figure is not the department's budget for the current year. “Many of these projects, while they have already started or will begin later this year, have different completion dates, with works on some continuing well into 2006,” the official explained.

Giving details of the projects to be undertaken this year, the official said that these include 147 projects that are under design phase, 43 involve landscaping and beautification, while 97 other projects are under the Architecture Unit and include designs of buildings for colleges, Universities, government offices and markets.

Works on the second phase of Used Cars Complex, being built at a total cost of Dh98 million, an Islamic Institute worth Dh20 million, and the Dh26 million bus station at Al Warsan are part of the schedule for the year. The list of projects works on which commence within the year also include a Dh80 million civic body building - which will house a number of offices, a women's club for civic body's employees, and the international bus station with an estimated cost of Dh25 million.

The General Projects Department, according to the official, is preparing for implementation of 93 projects totalling Dh1.2 billion, while the Historical Buildings Section has 51 projects, which are under the design phase, and estimated at Dh41 million. The section will carry out conservation works of 40 historic buildings in Dubai's heritage districts at a total cost of Dh31million. The Interior Design Unit at the Historical Buildings Section will complete during the current year seven specialised museums including Bait Al Amara, Dar Al Maskokat, Bait Al Khail, Bait Al Hujn and a museum dedicated to late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

One of the biggest projects, in terms of cost and future investments, that will be finished this year is the Zabeel Park project, the official said, adding that the construction of the facility is already over. Built at a cost of over Dh200 million, the first of its kind Techno-theme park is expected to attract investments exceeding over Dh500 million from the private sector.

• UAE