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Emaar Properties launches The Hills
Emaar Properties launches The Hills 10 June 2013 Emaar Properties, global project developer and provider of premium lifestyles in Dubai, has unveiled The Hills, its latest residential development in the city. The Hills, envisaged as part of Emirates Living, the pioneering master-planned communities by Emaar, will stand out for its spectacular golf-course views and a focus on a greener lifestyle through several energy and water efficiency initiatives. Overlooking the Emirates Golf Club, with easy access from Shaikh Zayed Road, The Hills features two residential buildings of 12 and 15 storeys, each featuring one, two and three-bedroom apartments. All apartments overlook either the rolling greens of the golf course or spectacular views of the cityscape and beyond. The Hills will be defined by world-class amenities and several swimming pools, a value addition that enhances the quality of life of residents seeking a leisurely lifestyle. The residential buildings are part of a complex of four low-rises. A key component of the development is a hotel under Vida Hotels and Resorts, the latest addition to Emaar’s hospitality portfolio, promising the new generation of business executives, entrepreneurs and leisure travellers a stimulating lifestyle environment. Another low-rise building will feature Vida serviced apartments, also catering for business and leisure visitors. Potential customers can register for residences in The Hills from June 12 at www.emaar.com . The sale will be held on June 15 at the Emaar Sales Centre in Downtown Dubai on a first-registered, first-served basis. Ahmad Al Matrooshi, managing director of Emaar Properties, said: “Emaar pioneered the concept of master-planned communities with Emirates Living, a collection of neighbourhoods including The Lakes, The Greens, The Meadows and The Springs that are now fully established and continue to be sought-after by families. With The Hills, we are broadening our Emirates Living portfolio, offering residences that are distinguished by their sustainability features and their impressive golf-course views. The Hills will define a new, relaxing lifestyle for residents, who can also access all lifestyle amenities in close proximity.” “The launch of The Hills also highlights the robust demand for world-class residential property in Dubai, with demand from investors around the world. By offering the convenience of a hotel and serviced apartments, under Vida Hotels and Resorts, within the development, we are creating a vibrant lifestyle destination, both for residents and tourists to Dubai,” he added. A primary focus of The Hills is to promote a greener lifestyle, with sustainability being a key consideration, factored in right from the design stage. In addition to using environment-friendly materials in the construction, the buildings will also place emphasis on energy and water use efficiency through smart lighting and water-saving kitchen and bathroom faucets. business@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Design District Phase I to be completed by Jan 2015
Design District Phase I to be completed by Jan 2015 Staff Report / 10 June 2013 Phase one of the newly announced ‘Dubai Design District’ worth Dh4 billion will be completed by January 2015. It was revealed on Sunday by Tecom Investments that expanded it’s creative communities base in the emirate after the announcement of new business district. Construction of ten buildings is already under way, Tecom said in a statement. It is expected to be the most connected fashion district in the world, with Dubai being only eight hours flight time from 90 per cent of the countries in the world. The business district will be home to some of the world’s leading brands and talent, as well as showcasing Dubai as an international design, fashion and luxury destination that can compete with the more established global centres. World-renowned luxury brands and educational institutions are already operating in some of Tecom’s nine free zones. Tecom is also providing licensing facility during the construction period of the first phase of the new district. Under Tecom’s existing offering, the legal and commercial framework for licensing specific design-related activities is already available, according to the statement. “The UAE’s resilient and growing retail and tourism sectors, its strong infrastructure and logistic network, and the potential of the Menasa region, have already attracted several of the world’s top design and luxury brands to set up their regional headquarters in Dubai,” commented Ahmad bin Byat, chief executive officer, Dubai Holding. “Dubai Design District will be a dedicated home to the growing and increasingly popular local designer community who are emerging onto the global stage. We are confident that the district will play an integral role in diversifying Dubai’s economy once developed,” Bin Byat said. Dr Amina Al Rustamani, group chief executive officer at Tecom Investments, added: “Extensive market research into the design, fashion and luxury industries, coupled with our track record in creating, operating and growing successful, industry-focused business parks in Dubai has led us to create this new district.” “In the same way that we have supported IT companies in Dubai Internet City — the region’s first knowledge cluster — and media companies in Dubai Media City, we want to give design and luxury goods companies a platform for growth and an appropriate base for their operations in Dubai,” Al Rustamani said. Tecom’s pioneering and industry-focused business parks have helped play a key part in the development of Dubai’s knowledge economy and in growing employment levels across the UAE, she added. — abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Dubai doctor’s bid to solve Kerala’s water problem
Dubai doctor’s bid to solve Kerala’s water problem T K Devasia (news@khaleejtimes.com) / 10 June 2013 The acute drinking water crisis faced by the South Indian state of Kerala during summer this year came as a surprise to many. It is surprising because Kerala, with 50,000 million cubic metres of fresh water in 44 rivulets, 19 lakes, more than 900 ponds, and 300cm rainfall for 120 days in a year in normal conditions, is considered as the wettest state in the country. While most people have been indulging in a blame game, the paradox has spurred a Non-resident Keralite (NRK) based in Dubai into action. Dr Azad Moopen, who heads the DM Healthcare — a leading healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East — is trying to show how the natural gift can be preserved. He believes that the current water shortage can easily be solved even if a small section of the population preserves the rain water that goes into the Arabian Sea due to the peculiar slanting topography of the state. Moopen has decided to test it out in his home village of Kalpakanchery, where the wells and ponds dry by January every year. The people in the village have been sourcing water from far off places in tankers paying Rs600 for 2,000 litres. He looked for a solution that can easily be adapted by the people. Moopen didn’t have to go far. He could find a cheaper indigenous rain harvesting device in the village itself. Developed by Perumalparampil Jaleel, the device seeks to harvest rain water from roof tops. Under the system, rain water from the roof is sourced to a plastic drum through PVC pipes. The plastic drum acts as a filter as it is filled with pure river sand, charcoal and baby metal. There is also a nylon net placed on the top of all these so that leaves and other similar particles are prevented from going inside. After filtering, the harvested rain water is driven to the well through another PVC pipe. In most cases, the water stored in the well is enough to meet the dry season demand. Moopen Institute for Local Empowerment (Miles), an initiate launched by Moopen to strengthen the villages, has launched a campaign to propagate the device with the help of Central Ground Water Board. They explained the conservation measures through a two-day workshop. This was followed by meetings at the ward level. Miles also got devices for rain harvesting with the help of Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Calicut. Irfan Habib, coordinator of the programme, said the efforts evoked massive response from the villagers, who are now queuing up to install the device in their homes. He told Khaleej Times that four to five well recharging filters were being installed on a daily basis now. A group of plumbers are racing against time to install the filters in a maximum number of houses before the monsoon advances. Miles plans to install the rainwater harvesting filter in at least 500 houses at Kalpakancherry, which they hope would bring a permanent solution to the drinking water crisis plaguing the village for more than a decade now. Experts believe that Kerala may not need piped water at all if it taps the wells available in the state. The state has as many as seven million wells as against 7.6 million ‘occupied houses’, according to CWRDM. Continue reading
