Emaar retains Hyder for Dubai Marina

Emaar Properties has retained Hyder Consulting M.E. as consulting engineers for the remaining phase of the Dubai Marina project, currently under development.

The commissioning includes the design of two permanent bridge crossings over the Marina, which will become a significant architectural feature of the overall Marina development.

Dubai Marina is a 700-acre development and one of the flagship projects of Emaar Properties, one of the biggest development companies in the Middle East. Dubai Marina promises to be "a city within a city" and marks one of the Gulf's biggest real estate development projects.

The development vision is for more than 40 million square feet of building area, over many projects that will house luxury residential and leisure facilities on completion. In support of the vision, a major infrastructure programme is underway, and as part of the new road network, several bridges are being built.

The showpiece bridge structures have single spans of 126 metres, and working in conjunction with Australian architects, Woods Bagot, Hyder has successfully developed a design, which meets the client's brief for structures that are sleek, slender and elegant.

Dutco Construction Co was awarded the contract for the project which started this month. The two bridges are to be constructed simultaneously and are scheduled for completion in January 2004.

Rod Stewart, Hyder's country manager in Dubai, said, "Hyder Consulting has been involved in the development of Dubai for 30 years.

"Our appointment by Emaar on this prestigious project bears the testimony to Hyder's growing reputation for structural design thanks to projects such as Emirates Towers, the Garhoud and Baniyas interchanges and the soon-to-be-completed record breaking Skywalk Towers link bridge."