Real estate developers return to the shopping malls of Dubai with stunning displays of luxurious projects.  Currently, the bellow featured Dubai Pearl is open for public viewing at the Fashion Avenue of The Dubai Mall. Here are some fact updates on the project:

• Dubai Pearl achieves key construction milestone
• Pearl Dubai awards construction contract to Al Habtoor-Leighton group
• DIFC Investments invested $817m in Dubai Pearl

The boom in the supply of free satellite TV channels in the Arab region seems to have stifled the terrestrial TV landscape. Local terrestrial TV stations are still alive in the region, but regulations and market dynamics have insured that -except in a few countries- the number of terrestrial TV stations did not grow in the past few years. These results were highlighted during Arab Advisors 6th annual media and telecoms convergence conference held in Amman on June 1 and 2, 2009 and attended by 533 delegates from over 180 companies spanning 25 countries.

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The World is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands constructed in the shape of a world map and located four kilometres off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The World is one of several artificial island developments in Dubai. Like the other artificial island projects such as the Palm Islands, The World was built primarily using sand dredged from the sea. Development was by Nakheel Properties and originally conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

Global slowdown notwithstanding, the capital of the United Arab Emirates continues to be transformed with masterplan budgets for the city’s top ten civil projects worth $208 billion remaining in place.

Details of the top ten projects from new cities and island resorts to new communities and a light rail system are revealed today (8 March 2009) by the organisers of Cityscape Abu Dhabi, which takes place from 19-22 April at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre “Abu Dhabi is not immune from the global financial turmoil but has wisely avoided over exposure to the stressed international and regional credit markets,” said Mark Goodchild, Exhibition Director for organisers IIR Middle East.

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At a time when the regional project industry is facing a very uncertain future, the need to have up to date, relevant and accurate information is vital to the success of any business.

MEED Events’ Dubai Mega Projects 2009 being held on the 15th – 17th March 2009 at The Westin Hotel Dubai, is the leading forum for industry professionals to gain the latest information on Dubai’s mega project market.

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Residents and tourists in Dubai will experience one of the most welcoming and community-focused shopping malls in the region when Mirdif City Centre opens its doors.

The latest City Centre offering, spread over 196,000 square metre, is being designed in such a way that customers can consider the mall an extension of their homes, leaving them at ease and comfort as they explore the Centre’s premier retail, entertainment and leisure offers.

At a time when superlatives are being used with almost every project, Mirdif City Centre will provide a powerful destination for those looking for a well integrated shopping, leisure and entertainment destination within easy reach of their community.

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Property developer Safi Qurashi, 39, who grew up in South London bought the 11-acre ‘Britan’ island for £43m.

‘Britain’ is one of 230 islands in The World, a man-made archipelago off the coast of Dubai, constructed mainly from sand dredged from the sea, where each piece of land represents a different country, state or city. Viewed from above, it resembles a map of the world. Costing an estimated £10billion, the project was launched by Dubai’s ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in 2003.

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Limitless, an integrated real estate development company and a business unit of Dubai World, has begun construction work on the Dh40.4 billion ( $11 billion) worth Arabian Canal in the last week of December 2007. The project is perhaps the largest and most complex engineering work in the Middle East after the Suez Canal in Egypt. When completed, it will be just a few miles shorter than the 51-mile-long Panama Canal.

The 150 m wide and 6 m deep canal is scheduled to be completed in 3 years and will be able to accommodate vessels of up to 40 m long. The canal would flow inland from Dubai Waterfront after passing through the east of the Dubai World Central International Airport before turning back towards Palm Jumeirah. The 46-mile-long waterway will wrap around an inland development, essentially transforming a swath of desert into desirable waterfront property. This realty development in Dubai includes marinas, residential communities and business facilities.

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the design of the seventh crossing (Dubai Smile) across Dubai Creek, reported the Emirates News Agency WAM.

The project, which has an iconic design at a cost of Dhs810m, is located near Dubai Creek Park, Wonderland Park and Dubai Courts at Bur Dubai, and Deira City Centre and Dubai Golf Club at Deira, a statement said.

RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director Matar Al-Tayer said: ‘The seventh Crossing ranks among the unique and landmark projects undertaken by the RTA, which aims to ease traffic flow across Dubai Creek. RTA is keen to turn out the seventh crossing into an iconic distinctive structure of Dubai worldwide.

Specialized global companies have been invited to compete in submitting distinctive aesthetic architectural designs, and the best one was selected based on specific technical criteria.

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