Lighting Regional News

United Arab Emirates

Downtown Dubai; a working, living and entertainment neighbourhood
Abu Dhabi unveiled a major tourism project to develop its Western Coastline
Ras Al Khaimah launch a US$3.2m Bab Al Bahr resort in the emirate
Dubai launches the Palm trilogy project.
Dubai will come home to an innovative new tower that will continously change shape and generate energy
The 830 million dirham stadium will be built in Dubai Sports City. This will comprise of a 60,000 seater multipurpose outdoor stadium and a 10,000 seater indoor stadium.
The Al Habtoor Group is investing $490m in construction projects in Beirut and the UAE
The Emirates to invest US$2.7bn in hotels and resorts
Investments on Dubai’s famous Palm Island project total at $3 billion.
Plans have also been laid to create another Palm Island in Deira, Dubai.
Dubailand; a US$7.5bn mixed-use theme park; the Middle East’s answer to Disneyland and the Middle East’s first snow dome and indoor ski slope
Dubai Sports City; a US$2bn development, including two outdoor 25,000-seat stadiums, a 10,000-seat outdoor stadium and an 8000 seat indoor stadium
Ras Al Khaimah has embarked on a massive building plan – ten major projects include at least two resorts, an island development, golf course and airport expansion
The Rotana Group has launched 10 new hotel projects in Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Beirut, Damascus and Fujairah – a total investment of US$490m
A US$200m deal has been signed to develop the Aqua Dubai Water Park – it will include 60 water themed leisure activities, a 500-room hotel, spa, water shows and aquarium
Dubai gets new towers – a total of 461 multi-story towers are currently under construction in Dubai, according to the latest figures from the Dubai Municipality – the tower will add 3,252 apartments, 330 offices, and many more hotel rooms to the Emirate’s fastest growing real estate sector
The Burj Dubai aims to reach 166 stories making it the tallest structure in the Middle East and Europe.
The development of shopping malls continues unabated. Malls currently under development in the UAE include: US$20m RAK Mall; The Dubai Mall, which will feature ten distinctive atriums, designed to host events on an international scale; The Mall of Arabia, Dubai Mall
The Dubai World Central airport in Jebel Ali is developing the Middle East's tallest air traffic control tower with investments of Dh143.
Abu Dhabi will invest more than more than Dh380 billion ($103bn worth of projects. Major projects include Yas Island development valued at $40 billion, Saadiyat Island ($27 billion), Al Raha Beach (Dh54 billion), Danet Abu Dhabi (Dh34 billion), Najmat Abu Dhabi (Dh29.36 billion), Shams Abu Dhabi (Dh9.1 billion) and Capital Centre(Dh8 billion).
Abu Dhabi is close to one trillion property market
Abu Dhabi invest US$520 million to attach the Louvres name a its new museum.
Al Ain to create a 10km industrial city by 2008.
Ajman is planning to build a new ‘city within a city' at a cost of around US $15 billion(AED50 billion)
Al Hamra Palace Hotel, billed as Ras Al Khaimah's seven-star property, is taking shape at a cost of Dh400 million
Universal Studios will develop a theme park in Dubai. The project is estimated to cost US$2.2 billion
Dubai is creating the world's largest shopping area as part of Badwadi- the Dh100 billion hospitality and leisure zone in Dubailand.
Dubailand is a Dh235 billion tourism project that will host a number of Las-Vegas style buildings and attractions

Qatar

US$15bn Tourism Masterplan
A residential complex of 6,000 high quality units are being built on the outskirts of Doha
US$2.5bn Pearl of the Gulf real estate project to include 7,600 homes, three luxury hotels, numerous retail outlets and four marinas
The North Beach Resort, a real estate development with 10 resort hotels, two golf courses, and 3,000 villas
Addition of the Museum of Islamic Art, the Qatar National Library and a Photography Museum
US$5bn Doha International Airport which is scheduled to continue through until 2015
US$700m Olympic-standard Sports City
US$2.5bn land reclamation project
$US7bn Asian Games Doha 2006; the largest combined sports event in Asia
Qatar plans to invest more than $130bn to develop and renovate its wide range of infrastructure in the next five year
US$2.5bn Pearl of the Gulf real estate project to include 7,600 homes, three luxury hotels, numerous retail outlets and four marinas
The North Beach Resort, a real estate development with 10 resort hotels, two golf courses, and 3,000 villas
Addition of the Museum of Islamic Art, the Qatar National Library and a Photography Museum
US$5bn Doha International Airport which is scheduled to continue through until 2015
US$700m Olympic-standard Sports City
US$2.5bn land reclamation project
US$7bn Asian Games Doha 2006; the largest combined sports event in Asia, US$15 billion dollar for tourism and hotel projects

Bahrain

US$3 billion freehold waterfront community project unveiled in Bahrain
The Bahrain Financial Harbour is currently under development it will accommodate leading regional financial institutions
Bahrain Island to host US$8bn Disneyland theme park

Saudi Arabia

Fanar City, Saudi Arabia’s 3.3 million square-metre residential project specifically aimed at non-GCC property owners, will comprise residential, commercial, and leisure facilities such as a marina, and shopping conveniences.
Saudi Arabia has introduced initiatives and provided incentives, along with the relaxation of real estate laws so that the private sector may invest heavily in residential and commercial building as a consequence of the rapid population growth.
The Saudi Supreme Commission for Tourism plans to achieve a 7% growth in tourism in the next year and has budgeted SR9m for promotion
Shopping malls feature strongly in KSA – work is underway on the US$107m Granada Mall, the Mall of Dhahran, and the US$37m Centria Mall
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Sultan has signed a SAR903m (US$240.8m) contract for the development of Jeddah airport over a 36-month period, in the first stage of plans to expand the international airport to handle 80 million passengers a year.
Plans to issue investment licences for projects worth more than SR300 billion this year.
Launching two more mega economic cities in Tabuk and the Eastern Province
A $1.6 billion mega project consisting of a large number of housing units will be developed in Makkah
A SR2 billion skyscrapper is under construction in Jeddah

Egypt

Naga Hammadi Dam Project; building of 44 new cities; Urban housing for 10 million people
Estimated US $2.56 billion investment on expanding the building requirements of the tourist industry
The new media city on the outskirts of Cairo at an investment cost of US $323 million
Construction of a US$800m mall project

Oman