High profile Dubai project faces delay - architect

A high-profile Dubai residential project, dubbed one of the world's most high-tech, is unlikely to be completed on schedule, the architect who designed the tower has admitted.

The Pad is a 24-storey tower being built by Omniyat Properties in the emirate’s Business Bay development.

It will house 231 ‘intelligent apartments’ boasting state-of-of-the-art technology covering everything from communications and entertainment to monitoring residents’ body health.

However, its designer has told Arabian Business that he believes the development is running behind schedule.

“The project hasn’t stopped but it is continuing at a much slower pace,” James Law, chairman and founder of James Law Cybertecture International, said.

“It was due to be completed 2010 and there will probably be some delay on that now.

“The developer, just like any other developer, has had to face the pressures of the recession,” he added.

“There’s always a chance [work could be accelerated], but in my opinion I think there will be a longer timeline.”

When The Pad was first unveiled in March 2007, it was scheduled for completion in 2009. According to Omniyat, more than 90 percent of apartments in the building have been sold.

“We are geared towards completing the project in 14 months,” an Omniyat spokesman told Arabian Business.

“However, the exact delivery date will depend on the outcome of discussions with Injaz (the entity that manages infrastructure delivery for Business Bay) to determine when infrastructure and power will be available.

“Once a date is finalised, we will realign our delivery timeline in accordance to the master developer’s plans,” he added.

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