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Ajman's mega city in the sand
Ajman is planning to build a new ‘city within a city' at a cost of around US $15 billion (AED50 billion), Construction Week can reveal.
Ajman Development and Investment Authority (ADIA), along with Ajman-based Aqaar Properties, will develop the Al Zora project.
Plans to build the development have been in the pipeline for more than five years, but nothing has materialised until now.
It is set to become one of the largest developments in the small emirate and will span an area of 10 million m2 on the coast of Ajman, from the Ajman Kempinski hotel to Al Hamriya Port.
The masterplan for the project includes residential buildings and villas, a commercial office district, a marina, a golf course, entertainment projects, hotels, hospitals and schools.
A highway connecting the development directly to Emirates Road will also be built, in order to allow investors in Al Zora to commute to the other emirates.
Rami Dabbas, head of real estate development, Ajman Investment & Development Authority, CEO of Aqaar Properties, said: "We are trying to recreate another Monaco. The project will spread across an area of about 10 million m2 of existing land.
"We are not reclaiming any land and even if we do, it won't be much, as we have enough space to develop. Al Zora is definitely going to put Ajman on the map as a world destination."
Aqaar Properties has tied up with Lebanese developer, Solidere, which is managing the project. Solidere has been appointed for the reconstruction and development of Beirut city centre in Lebanon.
"Construction work hasn't started yet but we have done our survey, including the water flow modelling, for example," said Dabbas.
"That is very important as it gives us an indication of how the water flows, where it circulates and where we need to be flushing. We have many consultants on board for different aspects of the project - right from an infrastructure consultant to an urban planning consultant. When we have finalised all the details for Al Zora we will announce the entire team of consultants and people working for us."
Dabbas added that the infrastructure packages for the project would be tendered within the next five months.
"The most important thing for Al Zora is the infrastructure since it is beside the coast and will have the day-to-day functioning of a city. The first thing we will be dealing with will be the infrastructure, and I think that will take about four or five months."
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Comments 1-8 of 8
Posted by Srikanth, Mumbai, India on 20 February 2007 at 12:03 UAE time
I have lived in Ajman and I appreciate the authorities for considering the Infrastructure as the most important and caring for the same. Let them also plan adequate system for easy flow of traffic. I wish them all the best and look forward to occupying some space in Al Zora City shortly.
Posted by Vivek, Dubai, UAE on 19 February 2007 at 17:12 UAE time
The Real Estate for Commercial and Residential is too much already in Ajman and surrounding Emirates. As rightly pointed out, unless it is a 'niche' area, it doesn't make business sense to announce more run of the mill projects. Huge opportunities can be encashed, in other fields. Good Luck.
Posted by abdul hafeez Sheikh, lahore pak, pakistan on 19 February 2007 at 10:10 UAE time
Ajman can be one f the fast growing state if more attanetion is paid to the Industirla sector . After completion of various real estate projects UAE need a very strong Industrial infrastructure to support the real esate operattions .
Posted by Peter Hirst, Manchester, UK on 17 February 2007 at 15:18 UAE time
Great project - good luck to all - it will a fantastic boost to Ajmam & the U.A.E.
Posted by sreekumar on 12 February 2007 at 12:53 UAE time
I welcome and wishing all success for the project. Infrastructure is the key thing to consider while developing these type of project. Roads and transport facilities has to be taken in to consideration very well within the city but approach to the city and link to the other areas or emirates also important.
Posted by Khaled Malik, Sharjah, UAE on 12 February 2007 at 09:25 UAE time
I highly appreicate Ajman authorties for planning and joining overall UAE modernization plans. The project will add great value to the ajman state and UAE. I am further surprised to see the above comment, that if someone is unaware of something, he/she feels its not happening. Please refer to Dubai statistic department, or subscribe to Meed organization to get the details on the regional projects. I would request to Arabianbusiness.com authorties to publish only comments, which reflects the sensibility. Billions projects are not execusted without any statistics, therefore, we must ask ourselves that do we have enough information, rather than sending an ignorant comments to such places.
Posted by rahat nadeem, sharjah, UAE on 11 February 2007 at 22:15 UAE time
this will be a very nice project in ajman...plz let me know when u have any information.
Posted by manojkalithodi on 10 February 2007 at 11:53 UAE time
Many of these master plans remain in paper. How many of these plans in other Emirates other than in Dubai go ahead. Do you have a database on active projects in the Emirate