Jan De Nul awarded reclamation contract for Dubai Waterfront

Dubai Waterfront, the world's largest waterfront development and a subsidiary of Nakheel, began reclamation work on the first seven islands to be reclaimed at the project.
The reclamation phase of the 310-hectare island marks one of the pivotal stages in the construction of iconic development.
This activity assumes significance as it marks the actual 'water breaking' milestone.
Work on the first island, worth more than $200 million, will be completed in the next 18 months, company officials said.
The entire project will take approximately six years to complete.

Elaborating on the progress of the development and the details of reclamation, Mr. Khaled Al Huraimel, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Waterfront Company, said: "The awarding of the reclamation contract is another key milestone for Dubai Waterfront, indicating the fast pace at which the project is being developed.
This reclamation work on the first island is critical as it will pave the way for future development and reclamation work of the rest of the islands.
We shall also start work very soon on Madinat Al Arab, the first district zone and the nucleus of the entire Dubai Waterfront development.
When completed, Madinat Al Arab will be the most sought after downtown are offering an unparalleled cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Special attention will be given to the quality of life within the development through planned roads and other amenities that will measure up to the demands of the rising population."

The contract for the reclamation work has been awarded to Jan De Nul, a leading Belgian company specialized in dredging and land reclamation.
The work on the first island of the development will be executed mainly by trailing suction hopper dredgers that will dredge sand offshore, approximately 20 nautical miles and transport the sand towards the waterfront area where it will be dumped or jetted into the reclamation area.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark this landmark event Mr. J.P.J. De Nul, Owner and Managing Director of Jan De Nul stated: "Dubai is witnessing a tremendous growth and it is really exciting to be involved in such an ambitious and iconic project that will be a part of the legacy of this great city.
This project represents a unique opportunity for our company and we look forward to working on this dynamic development."

The 'water breaking' ceremony saw officials from both companies convene to commemorate this momentous event.
Attending the event were Mr. Filip Morobe, Area Manager Middle East, Jan De Nul from the Head Office in Aalst, Belgium and also Mr. Jan Kop, Project(s) Director Dubai and Mr. Bassam Atiyeh, Regional Manager, Jan De Nul both based in Dubai.
The party of officials, including Mr. Matt Joyce, Managing Director of Dubai Waterfront together with Mr. Saeed Bin Sulayem, Assistant Managing Director of Dubai Waterfront, Mr Ali Mansour, Project Director Palm Jebel Ali, Mr. Marwan Al Qamzi, Head of Procurements & Contracts, Nakheel and Mr. Aziz Derraz Events & Sponsorship Manager of Dubai Waterfront Company marked this occasion by visiting the offshore island site onboard the vessel Juan Sebastian De Elcano.

Mr. Matt Joyce commenting on the project said: “The construction and reclamation of Dubai Waterfront is an incomparable logistics operation which has attracted many highly experienced professionals, all driven by the passion to bring this incredible vision to life.
Meticulous project planning and research, coupled with the most efficient methods of construction, is being undertaken to ensure that the world’s largest waterfront development achieves its ambitious objectives and goals.”

More than 300 million cubic metres of sand and 12 million cubic metres of rock to protect the seven islands will be utilized for the process.
The first offshore island is about fifteen per cent of the entire Dubai Waterfront project, which will cover an area of approximately 2,300 hectares.

About Dubai Waterfront:

The Dubai Waterfront, the largest-of-its-kind waterfront development in the world, comprises a balanced mix of residential, retail, hotel, office and industrial offerings, in addition to common areas that will be reserved for educational, cultural, health and recreational purposes.
Located 35 km south west of Dubai, bordering Abu Dhabi, on the last remaining coastal waterfront of the Emirate, the Dubai Waterfront forms the first phase of a larger effort - the Arabian Canal - a 75km development envisioned by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed.
It will serve as primary entrance to the Arabian Canal, which ultimately will provide long-term waterfront investment opportunities.

About Madinat Al Arab:

Madinat Al Arab plans to be the most sought after downtown area in the world to replace the legacy that Manhattan has held in the last few decades.
Madinat Al Arab will represent the tremendous success of Dubai and will house the best community services in the world (schools, universities, hospitals, social facilities, etc).
It will offer ultimate lifestyle anyone would dream of from entertainment, culture and opportunities within a cosmopolitan city that offers a rich experience to people from all cultures.
Madinat Al Arab will offer world-class architectural visions with diverse mix of buildings to suit different people’s needs all within a stunningly charming landscape.

Source: Jan De Nul Group, 10 July 2006