United Eastern Medical (UEMedical), an Abu Dhabi healthcare company, held a ‘HealthPlus Family Day’ on January 28 to celebrate the recent opening of their new family health centre in Al Bandar on Al Raha Beach.

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Director of Planning & Infrastructure, Aldar Properties, with a family at the HealthPlus Family Day on Saturday January 28.

The HealthPlus Family Day saw free health checkups, games, bouncing castle and magic shows for children and families.  HealthPlus physicians also offered advice on general medicine and dental patient care.

The event was attended by Talal Al Dhiyebi, Director of Planning & Infrastructure, Aldar Properties; Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Managing Director & CEO of UEMedical; Majd Abu Zant, CEO of Health Plus; and members of UEMedical’s management team.

The Al Bandar Residential Community is one of Al Raha Beach projects of Al Dar Development. More info

ABU DHABI – Residential rents in Abu Dhabi may face downward pressure in 2012 following the completion of delayed projects in the city, adding to the number of homes on the market, a report sid on Tuesday.

Asteco Property Management in its second-half report for 2011 said the emirate’s residential property sector stabilised in the fourth quarter as project handover delays limited the delivery of new supply. Leasing activity, up significantly this year from 2010, is expected to remain strong next year.

“Following a sustained period of rental declines, we have seen some stabilisation over the last three months, particularly at the top end of the market due in part to a slowdown in transactional activity,” said Elaine Jones, chief executive of Asteco Property Management, said in an e-mailed statement to Khaleej Times.

She said some tenants chose to renew leases in existing premises at lower rents and wait for new projects to become available.

The Asteco report said Abu Dhabi rental rates are expected to fall further next year, with more than 24,700 new homes scheduled for completion.

Of the new homes, 18,800 are apartments and 5,950 are villas, the report said adding that about 12,000 units are expected for completion in the first half of the year. New deliveries in 2012 include the first residences on Saadiyat Island, as well as additional projects on Reem Island and Raha Beach.

According to Asteco, 6,680 apartments and 3,600 villas will be handed over this year, far below forecasts due to the continued handover delays within the major projects.

“The delay in handover this year will only exacerbate the volume of new supply delivered in 2012, and consequently, rents will again come under further downward pressure,” Jones remarked.

The Asteco report said Abu Dhabi’s residential property sector stabilised in the fourth quarter as project handover delays limited the delivery of new supply. “Apartment and villa rents were broadly unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the previous quarter,” it added. More info

The first phase of Motor World, Aldar’s custom-designed destination for new and used car showrooms and servicing facilities in Abu Dhabi, is now being handed over to retailers. All 100 shops, which are all leased, have been completed on schedule and car retailers will now begin the process of fitting out their showrooms as Motor World progresses to its official opening at the end of the year.

The second phase of Motor World’s development – an additional 100 showrooms – has begun pre-leasing to tenants with construction scheduled to complete at the end of 2012.

Designed as a one-stop-shop for car buyers, Motor World will provide all related services as well as showrooms in a modern and comfortable environment. Its location close to Abu Dhabi International Airport makes it accessible for consumers from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai.

Motor World has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Al Futtaim Automotive who will bring their flagship showroom offering Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Volvo models. Motor World is also in negotiation with other leading dealerships and key players in the UAE auto industry, and Emirates Driving Company and ARMS Group Pioneer Car Auction are among the companies that have expressed interest to establish their operation in Motor World.

Monzer Al Rifai, General Manager, Motor World commented: “Motor World presents a state-of-the-art centre for the people of Abu Dhabi to find all their automotive needs in one convenient location. It has been popular with the leading automotive representatives in theUAE with the first phase fully leased and the second phase of 100 showrooms now under way.”

Aldar, Abu Dhabi’s property development and investment company, announced that the first phase of the Al Falah residential housing community is on schedule to be handed over to the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) early next year.

The project is part of the Emirati Family Housing Programme, a government initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council to provide more housing for UAE nationals.

About 1,000 villas of the 4,857 will be delivered during the first quarter of 2012. However, the whole project is expected to be delivered by the end of 2012.

Al Falah, a 12.5 million square metre development, is located to the east of Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway.

Yousuf Al Hosani, Project Director of Al Falah, said that so far Aldar has completed 40 to 50 per cent of its work for the first phase of the project.

The project, which is valued at Dh9 billion, is one of several projects that the UPC has launched in order to develop more than 13,000 homes for locals in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region.

“We have approximately eight projects which four of them are in Abu Dhabi, one is in the Western Region and three in Al Ain. We have approximately over 6,500 units in Abu Dhabi, around 6,000 in Al Ain and around 500 in the Western Region,” said Abdullah Al Sahi, director of corporate services at UPC.

Once it’s ready for accommodation, the Al Falah project alone would be able to accommodate 60,000 people.

At Al Falah, the community is divided into five villages and each village is arranged around its own village centre and neighbourhood centre. Al Falah will also feature a town centre which is currently still under the master planning phase.

The villas come in three different styles: Gulf heritage style, Andalucian style and modern style. They are available as three bedroom, four bedroom and five bedroom homes.

Emphasis on family

“We took into account the traditions and heritage of the Emirati people with an emphasis on the family, community and privacy,” said Al Sahi.

Muna Al Daheri, Head of Planning of Al Falah, said that the project has been planned to include space for schools, mosques, hospitals, and other facilities for the community.

Abu Dhabi-based developer Aldar started work on the first phase of its new Al Falah residential housing project this week.

“Approximately 20% of the 4,857 villas are scheduled to be delivered to the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council in the first quarter of 2012, with the remainder to be delivered by the end of the year,” the company has told OPP.

Al Falah is a 12.5 million sqm housing scheme located to the east of the Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway. It has been designed to provide full community facilities and extensive housing opportunities for UAE National citizens.

“The Al Falah community forms part of The Emirati Family Housing Program,” says Aldar, “a wider government initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council to create more social housing for the local population.”

Al Falah consists of five ‘villages’ and a range of community amenities. Each of the five villages is arranged around it’s a neighbourhood centre which contains a mosque, a landscaped market square and shops.

Every centre is strategically placed within a 10-minute walk of all villas. The company is building 3, 4 and 5 bedroom units. A proper town centre is also being planned to include apartments, a shopping mall and commercial office space. A hospital and several clinics are also being designed along with 15 new schools spread throughout the community.

Talal al Dhiyebi, Aldar’s Director of Planning & Infrastructure, told OPP “we are pleased to play our role in delivering homes and new community for 60,000 people. With almost 5,000 new homes planned, Al Falah Project will be effectively creating a new town in Abu Dhabi.”.

The Al Falah project is part of UPC’s Emirati Housing Program that includes developing more than 13,000 homes for locals in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. The new communities will enjoy a complete set of infrastructure and social and civic facilities developed as per world-class quality standards.

Aldar’s property portfolio includes major developments and re-developments within Abu Dhabi including Yas Island, Al Raha Beach, Central Market, Al Falah, and Noor Al Ain. The company owns a large land-bank in strategic locations throughout the Emirates.

Trouvay and Cauvin Group, the Dubai headquartered pipe and valve specialist company, has announced that it has been appointed to supply products and services for two major Abu Dhabi based projects.

Emirates Technical Associate, the MEP contractor for the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi, said that it had signed a contract worth $1.3m with Trouvay and Cauvin for products including humidifiers, strainers and steam accessories. The deal also includes technical and engineering support services.

Partnered with Mubadala Healthcare, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is a 360 bed hospital and clinic that is scheduled to open in late 2012. The clinic is one of a number of initiatives led by Mubadala Healthcare, a division of Mubadala Development Company.

These initiatives are aimed to develop and enhance Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s private healthcare infrastructure, Mubadala said.

The second deal signed by Trouvay and Cauvin was a $3.5m deal to supply cast iron pipes and fittings for soil, vent and rainwater to Voltas and Thermo, contractors on Abu Dhabi’s historic Central Market project.

The project consists of a complex of three skyscrapers that are currently under construction by developer Aldar Properties. Two of the towers are expected to be completed by 2012.

One of the oldest districts of the city, Abu Dhabi’s Central Market is being transformed into a mixed use development consisting of markets, shops, offices, apartments and hotels.

It is set to occupy five hectares of prime city real estate and is expected to become a major commercial destination for the UAE capital.

International architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan has played key roles on two projects that secured awards at last week’s Cityscape Abu Dhabi.

The company was responsible for the Al Bandar waterside development in Abu Dhabi, and was also concept masterplanner on Yas Island, which were named Best Residential Project (Built) and Best Urban Design and Masterplanning Project respectively.

Broadway Malyan director James Rayner said, “These prestigious awards are recognition for our client and testament to the world-class designs of our international teams, the diversity of their sector expertise, as well as our long-term partnering with the client.”

Al Bandar, is an entirely new island offering high-end waterside living within Aldar’s Al Raha Beach Development in Abu Dhabi. Reached via a causeway, the development comprises over 530 luxury residential apartments, 5,000m²retail and commercial space, landscaped private gardens, a private marina, water taxi terminal and a pedestrian-friendly environment.

Yas Island occupies a total land area of 2,500 hectares and features a world-class motor sports racetrack, signature hotels, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park and a water park. It also includes the Abu Dhabi destination retail development with links and parkland golf courses, lagoon hotels, marinas, apartments, villas and numerous food and beverage outlets that will create a unique international tourist destination.

Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s biggest property developer, will build 2,600 homes in two projects on Al Raha Beach, Chief Financial Officer Shafqat Malik said in a phone interview late Monday.

The townhouses and apartments are part of the Al Zeina and Al Muneera projects on Al Raha beach, he said.

The developer, which is building thousands of homes and offices in the UAE’s capital, was hurt when the financial crisis caused property prices to drop by more than 30 percent as banks tightened lending and speculative demand evaporated.

Aldar said on January 13 it had agreed to sell real-estate assets, including a Ferrari theme park and convertible bonds, to the government for AED19.2bn dirhams ($5.2bn) to reduce its debt.

The company is currently focusing on completing its projects and expects to end 2011 with a profit, Malik said.

Aldar Properties has begun handing over units of Al Bandar, the first residential community in the Al Raha beach complex, to home-buyers, according to the company.

Abu Dhabi’s largest developer delivered the keys for the three districts that comprise the complex – Al Naseem, Al Bazra and Al Manara.

The project was completed in May 2010, and will be home to modern apartments and duplexes, loft-style residences and larger family apartments, all with balconies and waterside views. The company adds that its facilities management team is to offer top level customer, concierge and security services.

“The design of Al Bandar, set on an island, is such that the spectacular sea views will not be obstructed by any future development in the area, providing true waterfront living for those who look to call it their home,” said Sami Asad, chief operating officer.

Al Bandar will feature 35,000m² of retail space, along with two cafes and two casual dining restaurants, a Hutspot Juice Bar and Pacifico, and a waterfront restaurant set on the tip of the marina. Laing O’Rourke is the main contractor.

Al Bandar Marina has a total of 131 berths ranging in sizes from nine to 24 metres. Aldar Marinas will introduce family days and open days on the sheltered waters of Abu Dhabi’s extensive inland waterways. In time, Al Bandar Marina will open to boat owners from the wider Abu Dhabi community.

Last month Aldar Properties confirmed 14 retail tenants for its Al Raha Gardens Village. The kiosks will be maintained by Al Raha International Integrated Facilities Management Co. Tenants in the shopping centre include Boots The Chemist, Claire’s Accessories and Grand Optics.

The company’s share price has rebounded from a low of AED2.05 on 12th August to close at AED2.4 last Thursday. The stock has lost 47% in value since the beginning of the second quarter.

ABU DHABI – Aldar, Abu Dhabi’s leading property development, management and investment company, with the ensuing completion of the iconic HQ building, the quantum of commercial space it will be releasing to the market would double to 190,000 
square metres.

HQ Al Raha Beach

Tenants are expected to be in occupation HQ, located near the Abu Dhabi International Airport, after the summer. Advanced negotiations are being concluded on a substantial proportion of the 23-floor building, Aldar said in a Press release here on Monday.

HQ is the first of many other planned developments at Al Dana, the Central Business District of Al Raha Beach. A key part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan, Al Raha Beach is perfectly located for accessing the traditional Central Business District on Island as well as future locations such as the Capital District, the 
release claimed.   Aldar is offering a range of integrated tenant services and there will be a comprehensive range of facilities that include a gym, numerous food and beverage outlets, convenience stores and restaurants, the company said.

Aldar itself will relocate its main office into HQ. Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC), a specialist investment company created by the Government of Abu Dhabi to focus on the advanced technology sector, has announced that it will move its head office to the ‘HQ Building’ created by Aldar.

ATIC has leased 6840 square meters of space in the HQ building in Al Raha Beach. Al Mamoura development is another project of Aldar, and comprises two state of the art commercial buildings in the Al Muroor district of Abu Dhabi. Building A offers an expansive 46,000 square meters of space while Al Mamoura B offers approximately 23,000 square meters   of lettable offices.  Trust Tower, another project of Aldar, will offer 72,000 square meters of flexible office space 59-levels, at the heart of Abu Dhabi upon its scheduled completion at the beginning of 2012. Construction is proceeding on schedule, with the building’s roof to be completed during summer 2010.

ramavarman@khaleejtimes.com