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DI to Build Island at Ras al Khaimah
01 Feb 2007
Belgian contractor Dredging International has signed a contract with private stock company Rakeen Development for the reclamation of an artificial island off Ras al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The €50 million contract adds to a string of projects which Dredging International is currently executing in the Gulf area. The first stage of dredging and reclamation will begin later this month with planned completion by the end of October.
The Al Marjan project is the first man made island that is being built in Ras al Khaimah. It will be developed as an offshore destination for tourism, leisure, and luxurious living, comprising waterfront homes, floating villas, hotels, resorts, sporting facilities, a marina, a water theme park, and commercial areas. It is the first major real estate project in the Emirate to fit in a global plan for residential and commercial development in Ras al Khaimah.
Dredging International has an extensive experience in partnering with real estate developers in the Arabian Gulf. The company is currently involved in the construction of the 4km² artificial island Pearl of the Gulf in Qatar, and in the creation of a 9km waterfront estate development called Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi.
Located at 27km from the city center of Ras al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate and the seventh to join the UAE, the coral shaped island of Al Marjan will extend up to 2km at sea. The reclamation will link several smaller islets, creating a Mediterranean style waterfront which compares to the French Côte d’Azur.
At 45 minutes by car from the international airport in Dubai and 15 minutes from the international airport of Ras al Khaimah, Al Marjan is expected to become a permanent home, a weekend destination or just an investment opportunity.
The current contract calls for the reclamation of 160 hectare of prime waterfront area.Dredging International has to level up to 4.5m CD with sand that will be dredged from a borrow area located some 3 to 5km from the island. Dredging will be carried out with care for the environment. Since the site is in very shallow water, the Belgian company will first assign a middle class trailing suction hopper dredger for creating an access channel, through which two larger dredging vessels can enter at a later phase.
Dredging International anticipates sending the 5,400m3 capacity trailer suction hopper dredger Pallieter to deepen the access channel in the first instance
By DAVID FOXWELL
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