Traffic chaos on Palm caused by burst main water pipe, not sea water

Dubai: Major General Al Muzeina, Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, dismissed rumours that a part of Palm Jumeirah Island was "sinking".

He spoke out in response to unfounded claims circulating through social media that a portion of the iconic palm-shaped land reclamation project was submerged in seawater.

The dismissal is the latest in a string of baseless speculation in recent years that one of Dubai's most famous signature landmarks was being washed away.

In fact, Palm Jumeirah is built on a bed of rock.

"It is nothing more than a leak from the main water pipe which led to the disruption of traffic movement," the Dubai Police stated on its Facebook page. "Competent bodies were in the field resolving the issue and traffic movement went back to normal."

The police also tweeted a clarification.

Extension of Dubai Metro and expansion of road infrastructure are among the major projects

Being organised by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in association with the Project Management Institute, DEWA and Emaar properties, the event saw leading international experts in project management share their experience, including Nasa Chief Engineer Brian Muirhead, Donald Trump Junior and Mohammad Al Abbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, giving keynote presentations.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA, announced that around 35 projects worth Dh30 billion will be completed in the next few years including a 15km extension of Dubai Metro Red Line to the Expo 2020 site.

“Work on the Red Line extension will be complete by 2019 and operations will begin a year before the Expo starts. We are working on plans that will help us carry 25 million visitors to the expo site and around the city. We will be developing roads and other infrastructure that will not only facilitate mobility for the expo 2020 but for generations to come,” Al Tayer said.

Among the key projects expected over the next few years also include extension of the Dubai Metro Green Line, stage two of Etihad Rail project that will integrate with Dubai Metro as well as phase two of Dubai Tram and Urban Rapid Transit System.

The first phase of Dubai Tram will open on November 11 this year, while RTA is also launching around 200 smart phone apps as part of Dubai’s Smart City initiative.

The event, held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was held at Madinat Jumeirah.

Earlier in the morning, Nasa Chief Engineer Brian Muirhead gave an inspirational presentation about facing challenges and successfully managing massive projects under pressure.

He gave examples from Nasa’s Mars missions and shed light on how a dedicated team can turn a potentially risky project into success.

Another keynote speaker, Donald Trump Junior, Deputy Chairman of Trump Organisation, shared his personal anecdotes and his father’s mantra of success.

Speaking at the event, Emaar Chairman Mohammad Al Abbar, made a major announcement of a new IPO for Emaar hotels, following its successful launch of its mall IPO. However, he didn’t offer more details.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has given the go-ahead for a number of ambitious development projects by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) over the coming three years. After completion, the projects would contribute 10 per cent to the national economy.

Accompanied by Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the design concepts and architectural master plans of the projects by the Director of Dubai Ruler’s Court and ICD CEO Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani and a team of engineers during a special demonstration at the Atlantis Hotel and Resort at Palm Jumeirah.

Praising the projects, Shaikh Mohammed gave directives that the projects be completed by 2018.

Shaikh Mohammed examined the model of Royal Atlantis Resort, to be built on Palm island in Dubai. Consisting of 800 rooms, suites and 250 luxurious hotel apartments, the Royal Atlantis Resort will cost approximately $1.5 billion. The project will also house recreational, entertainment and services facilities built to the highest international standards.

In his briefing, Al Shaibani said the first phase of the Dh8 billion Dubai Waterfront mixed-use project is expected to be completed by end of 2016. The first three phases of the project will spread on an area of approximately 820,000 square metres and will include parking lots for 6,000 vehicles.

Shaikh Mohammed was also briefed on the One Zaabeel project which will be located between the Dubai World Trade Centre and Zaabeel Park and will consist of two towers (residential and commercial) linked by a suspended bridge. One Zaabeel will have an approximate cost tag of Dh2.5 billion and will include 550 residential units, two hotels and 130 hotel apartments.

The briefing also included the Warsan project with an estimated area of one million square metres located on Al Aweer Road. The project includes 2,100 residential units and a school that can accommodate 3,000 students. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed within three years with an approximate cost of Dh2.5 billion.


Meanwhile, the Investment Corporation of Dubai also teamed up with Kerzner International Holdings to construct Atlantis resort in China. The ultra luxurious resort will span across an area of 60 hectares with expected completion on 2016.

Shaikh Mohammed praised the quality architectural designs of the projects undertaken by the Investment Corporation of Dubai and its role in developing and diversifying revenues. He said that large-scale projects like these stand proof to the strength of UAE’s economy.

The presentation was also attended by Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman and Meraas Holding Chairman Abdullah Al Habbai and a number of engineers.

The list was topped by London (22,300), with New York (17,400) and Hong Kong (14,800) ranked second and third respectively.

Of the cities listed, the most expensive ones for prime real estate were named as Monaco ($50,400 per sq m), London ($42,000) and Hong Kong ($36,000).

New World Wealth said a majority of the multi-millionaires - classified as those with net assets of at least $10 million - buying second homes in Dubai were from the Middle East.

It added that the bulk of London second home buyers come from the rest of the UK and Europe while there are also substantial numbers from China, India, Russia and the Middle East.

The report said there are currently just over 13 million millionaires in the world with approximately 495,000 of these individuals classified as multi-millionaires.

The mega project, announced earlier this year, will house the world’s largest shopping mall.

Government owned conglomerate Dubai Holding has announced that it plans to begin work on the recently announced mega project, Mall of the World, early next year.

In a statement announcing the financial results of its business group, Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group (DHCOG), for the first half of 2014, Dubai Holding confirmed that it is currently appointing specialised consultants for the new development.

It expects to commence work on the first phase of the project during the first quarter of 2015, the statement added.

Launched in July this year, Mall of the World is a 48 million sq ft, climate-controlled development, which will house the world’s largest shopping mall and the world’s largest indoor theme park, covered by a glass dome that will be open during the winter months.

The project, estimated to cost $6.8 billion, will also include a wellness zone, a cultural celebration district and 100 hotels and serviced apartment buildings with 20,000 rooms.

Once completed, the development is expected to welcome around 180 million visitors annually.

The project’s first phase is slated to include the retail aspects and is expected to be ready in three years.

The whole development will be built over 10 years, and the funds will be raised gradually during that period, Dubai Holding CEO Ahmad bin Byat said earlier this year.

Dubai Holding, hit hard during the crisis, has seen strong recovery across its units, with DHCOG reporting a net profit of Dhs2.1 billion ($571.8 million) for the first half of 2014. The company’s revenue grew to Dhs5.6 billion and EBITDA stood at Dhs2.8 billion, the statement said.

With assets worth around Dhs116 billion, Dubai Holding’s portfolio includes Jumeirah Group, which owns and operates 22 hotel developments; Dubai Properties Group; TECOM Investments, which manages 11 business parks and Emirates International Telecommunications, which holds a major stake in du.

Dubai is a neat and clean city, and authorities in the emirate go out of their way to maintain the beauty of the city.

Laws against littering and spoiling the city’s beauty are strict and they go for everyone – tourists, expats and locals.

Municipal inspectors are now keeping a strict vigil and looking out for offenders. No leniency will be shown to those who do not respect and maintain the aesthetics of the city. So, ditch the dirty habits and avoid paying your hard earned money in these fines. 

#1 General littering: Dh500, Dh1,000, Dh1,500

It may not be as strict as a city like, say, Singapore, but if you litter in public areas in Dubai, you are liable to pay a fine when caught.

This includes public parks, beaches, roads...just about everywhere, and includes everything like throwing empty packets of chips, soda cans, cigarette butts, paper, etc.

The offenders will invite a Dh500 fine when caught for the first time, which will double, and then treble for each repeat offence to make litterbugs learn in the city.

This also includes motorists. If they are caught throwing anything out of their car windows onto the roads, they can be slapped with a fine. It’s advisable to keep a small trash bag in the car to avoid a fine. And when on foot, use the large number of trash bins placed all over the city to keep it clean.

In cases where landlord adds conditions through addition that contravenes the law: DLD

Mohammed bin Hamad, Senior Manager (Real Estate Relations Management) at Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera), told Emarat Al Youm.

“These new supplements or conditions shouldn’t contradict or conflict with the laws and legislation as well public order and public morals in case of issuing a new contract for the tenant,” he added.

In the case of renewal of contracts, the tenant also has the right to refuse to sign the contract, offered with the news terms, and seek legal action against the landlord over in rent dispute settlement centre.

The Rental Dispute Settlement Centre, the judicial arm of the DLD, became operational in December 2013.

According to the Article 16 of the Decree No. 26 of 2013 establishing the centre, all committees will have to judge all rental lawsuits within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of referral of the case to them. The deadline may, however, be extended in accordance with the rules and procedures adopted by the chairman of the centre in this regard.

Law No. 26 of 2007 and Law No. 33 of 2008 that amended some provisions of Law No. 26 2007, govern the relationship between the landlords and tenants in Dubai. 2007.

Generally, a number of conditions are mentioned in the addendum such as the contract is non-renewable, landlord can access the apartment anytime, tenant has to vacate if the landlord is selling the apartment, landlord will not be paying for maintenance, etc.

Dubai’s The World islands could be connected to the mainland via a cable car, with one developer claiming it is the most efficient transport option and has initial support from the government.

A study carried out by Austrian company Doppelmayer Cable Car found a line linking The Heart of Europe – a collection of six islands – to either Jumeirah Beach or Umm Sequim was the most feasible transport option to reach the man made islands, about 4 kilometres off the coast.

“It would be cheaper than building a floating bridge, it would be very efficient, it would even be a tourist attraction,” Josef Kleindienst, CEO of Kleindienst Group, the developer behind The Heart of Europe, told Arabian Business.