Abu Dhabi: Reem Developers has announced the completion of infrastructure at its Rawdhat project, its gateway project situated at the entrance to Abu Dhabi Island.
"We have achieved the major part of our role, the infrastructure including roads and utilities is complete and we have handed over many of our plots," said Ho Kiam Kheong, chief development officer at Reem Developers.
Infrastructure works were carried out by NPC. The master-developer will take care of the landscaping once sub-developers have completed their construction. Reem has reserved 10 out of the 70 plots at the 28-hectare site.
"We will develop mainly offices, hotels, retail and some residential on our plots, but are flexible on the composition. We have started with the conceptual designs and expect to break ground on the first two plots, commercial buildings by early next year," said Kheong.
All other 60 plots have been sold and sub-developers are in various stages of planning and getting UPC (Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council) approvals.
Kheong explained that sub-developers do have to adhere to a certain timeline to complete their projects but since banks are not exactly cooperative these days, the developer isn't too keen to push them to their limit.
No fixed completion date
"Obviously some are eager to start and others are a little bit more laid back. We don't have a fixed completion date for the whole project. I want to make sure the mix is correct and that takes time," he said.
Kheong expects the mix to entail around 75 per cent residential. "It depends a bit on the sub-developers, however we control the design to a certain extent making sure that the quality represents a high-end project. We sold land on this basis, so although affordable housing is a great idea we can't force sub-developers in this project to change course."
Rawdhat is centred around a courtyard design and themed in a Mediterranean style mixing in modern and traditional elements. Around 15 to 20 per cent of the area will feature parks and other open areas. A mosque with a community centre adds to the amenities each individual tower may provide.
Mixed development
"This 1.3-km-long development of residential and office buildings succeeds in bringing city life down to a human scale. Parks and walkways running throughout the development allows for a pleasant environment that can be enjoyed by those who work and live in the community," said Yaseer Yacoub, managing director for Ewan Architectural and Engineering Consultancy, the master planner lead consultants for Rawdhat.
Meanwhile infrastructure for Phase One, including the marina and canal, at the master-developer's even larger, the 160-hectare Najmat project, on Reem Island will be completed by year-end. Sixty sub-developers are in the process of getting planning approval and some have completed basement construction.
"I can't speak for the sub-developers but it is possible that the first buildings could be completed by mid-2012," Kheong said.
In Najmat, Reem Developers has reserved the two best plots on which it intends to construct a mixed-use high-rise development including hotels and offices.
Towers in phase one are 20 to 80 storeys high, but phase two, awaiting master-plan approval by UPC will include low-rise apartments and villas.
"It is a long-term project. We can't say exactly when everything will complete but the timing should be ideal to coincide with the market being ready for the project," Kheong said.
