Tag Archives: horoscope
12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge to replace Floating Bridge
12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge to replace Floating Bridge Staff Reporter / 9 February 2014 Contract for Etihad Bridge that will allow bulky ships to pass underneath to be awarded by year-end, says RTA An artist’s impression of the Etihad Bridge. -Supplied photo The Floating Bridge will be replaced with a 12-lane Etihad Bridge that will allow bulky ships to pass underneath, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday. By the end of this year, the RTA will award a contract for constructing Etihad Bridge near the Dubai Creek Park and Dubai Courts on the Bur Dubai side, and near Deira City Centre and the Dubai Golf Club in Deira. The Dubai Tram project, which has a track extending 11km along Al Sufouh Street, could see its initial phase opened in November this year. Etihad Bridge, which will replace the existing Floating Bridge, comprises 12 lanes (six in each direction) in addition to a footpath in each direction. It measures 61.6 metres in width and has an arch that rises 100 metres. The bridge is set to provide free traffic movement in both directions and will allow free navigation round the clock as it rises 15 metres above the creek water level and has a 400 metre-wide navigation line, enabling the passage of bulky ships underneath. “The RTA will complete the construction of internal road projects in residential areas in accordance with the five-year plan (2012-2016) where a budget of Dh234 million is allocated for constructing internal roads in a number of residential communities in Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, RTA. “It will also work on the Parallel Roads Project supporting Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road for which a budget of Dh398 million is being allocated. The portfolio of projects funded also include the Jumeirah Corniche Project at a cost of Dh70 million, widening of Al Qudra Road Project at a cost of Dh49 million, and the construction of the Union Gallery as well as the rehabilitation of the Union House at a total cost of Dh201 million.” He also said that the total expenditure budget approved for the RTA in 2014 was Dh7.036 billion, comprising operational budget of Dh3.156 billion and capital and projects budget estimated as Dh3.88 billion. “The aggregate anticipated revenues for this year is Dh5 billion, marking a 17 per cent increase over last year’s budget. The approved projects budget is estimated at Dh3.62 billion, which will be allocated for constructing around 99 projects; comprising 50 new projects to be undertaken in roads, marine transport and public transport sector, and 49 projects currently under way,” explained Al Tayer. He said: “Traffic and Roads Agency will get 36 per cent of the budget, 33 per cent will go to the Rail Agency, 13 per cent to the Public Transport Agency, 17 per cent to be shared between the Licensing Agency, Administrative Support Services Sector, and Technical Support Services Sector, and one per cent to the remaining agencies.” news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Sharjah rents sizzle; Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah follow
Sharjah rents sizzle; Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah follow Issac John / 6 February 2014 Apartment rents in Sharjah jumped 33 per cent year-on-year while Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah witnessed respective 23 per cent and 18 per cent hikes in 2013. Despite a three-year freeze on hikes, residential rents recorded steep increases in Sharjah in 2013, in line with a general upswing felt across a resurgent UAE leasing market. A two-bedroom apartment at the Corniche now rents for up to Dh70,000. — KT file Apartment rents in Sharjah jumped 33 per cent year-on-year while Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah witnessed respective 23 per cent and 18 per cent hikes in 2013 amid vivid signs of a long-awaited resilience in the property sector, said analysts at Asteco, a real estate consultancy. “Our research shows that the rental law that was created to protect tenants from steep annual rent increases, is being circumvented by some landlords asking for additional fees for maintenance and extra parking spaces, to compensate for the three-year rent freeze stipulated in the rent law,” said John Stevens, managing director Asteco. In March 2013, the Sharjah Municipality warned landlords not to hike rents before the completion of three years in line with the tenancy law. In Sharjah’s popular Al Majaz, Al Qasimia, Al Nahda and Al Wahda areas, residential rents rose nearly 38 per cent in 2013, Asteco said. “Rental rates throughout Sharjah increased, on average, by eight per cent in the last quarter alone. A two-bedroom apartment in Corniche now rents for up to Dh70,000 per annum,” it said in a report. Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Fujairah also witnessed a fourth-quarter growth of up to six per cent. While the annual rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Ras Al Khaimah has gone up to Dh50,000 per annum, the cost of a similar property in either Fujairah or Ajman is up to Dh45,000. The steepest increases of 2013 were recorded in Dubai with rents on average surging to between 50 and 60 per cent across all residential apartments and villas. While Dubai’s apartment rents jumped by almost 50 per cent, villa rents rose by 20 per cent, Asteco said. Prices of Dubai property also rose by up to 60 per cent in prime residential developments, but current price level is still 21 per cent lower than 2008 peak, Asteco said. However, in 2014, Dubai is forecast to witness slower growth in residential rental rates with the addition of 25,000 new units. The International Monetary Fund, raising its 2014 economic growth forecast for the UAE to 4.5 per cent, has observed a steep recovery in 2013 in real estate sector, with home prices in Dubai having increased rapidly in some areas. Knight Frank said in its Prime Global Forecast that Dubai’s real estate market would be the world’s top performer in 2014, building on the previous year’s rapid price growth. It predicted a price growth of between 10 and 15 per cent this year in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, prime residential rents rose on average by 17 per cent during 2013 amid an eight per cent surge in the last quarter, partly driven by the removal of the five per cent annual rent cap. According to Jones Lang LaSalle, property prices in Abu Dhabi rose by up to 25 per cent last year but the significant gains were limited to prime projects. issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
American cyclist Phinney makes history in Dubai
American cyclist Phinney makes history in Dubai Adur Pradeep / 6 February 2014 World champion Tony Martin finishes fourth behind Olympic winner Lasse Norman Hansen BMC Racing Team’s Taylor Phinney of US on his way to victory in Dubai on Wednesday. — KT photo by Rahul Gajjar It was a historic moment for Dubai and Taylor Phinney on Wednesday. The American rode into cycling’s history books by winning the first stage on the inaugural Dubai Tour. Phinney’s stunning time trial helped him being the first ever recipient of the Dubai Tour’s blue jersey. Phinney, a former under-23 world time trial champion, averaged 50.29km/h in the 9.9km time trial to set a winning time of 12’03”, and guided his team BMC Racing one-two with team-mate Britain’s Steve Cummings finishing second. An excited Phinney (@taylorphinney) tweeted: “Hey that feels good! Huge honor to win the first stage here at @TourOfDubai. Thank you BMC for believing in me, and also for the fast bike!!” The first stage, named ‘The Down Town stage’ – the individual time trial – was held within the new city. World champion Tony Martin, who is competing in his first race after surgery in the winter, finished fourth, behind Garmin-Sharp’s Lasse Norman Hansen, winner of the 2012 Olympic omnium gold. Cummings also set an impressive time of 12’17, giving BMC a dream start. World number one Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha, completed the course in 13’40”. “I thought I was going to beat my record of watts, I reached 490. I knew I was already in good condition as I’d worked well over the winter,” said. “If there’s an event that’s best for me, it’s anything around 12 minutes and below. I haven’t had many opportunities to ride short time trials since I’ve been pro — they seem to be phasing out short time trials and Prologues — so I was really happy when this course came out. It means a lot to win today,” Phinney said. “I’ve been thinking about this race since they came out with the race route weeks ago. I knew there would be some big names here. Specifically, Tony Martin is good in any time trial. especially on a road bike, so I’m overjoyed and relieved that I have won,” the 23-year-old said. While elaborating his strategy for the opening race, he said: “I decided to go early because of the weather report. It looked like the wind was going to build up. I hope it was the same conditions for everyone, but I don’t know. You want everyone to go at the same time, but it’s not easy when there are 125 of you.” Phinney, who claimed second place in an Argentine season warm-up last month, was quite happy with the start he got in Dubai. “After a disappointing 2013, I’ve had a good off-season. I’m fresh mentally and physically but I’ve also been training a lot. The team has a different approach this year: all the riders have individual goals, and I’m a goal-setting-type person, so I like that. Today was a big goal for me. I’m happy with the way my Dubai Tour has started.” But he is also quite aware about the challenges ahead. “The win is a big confidence booster for me. I thought I knew what I was capable of on a course like this, but I exceeded my expectations today. I haven’t won the Dubai Tour yet. There are a lot of variables in this race: wind, climbs on St 3, more wind on St 4. All I can do is take it day by day. There’s some strong competition here, but BMC has a good team, we have also Steve Cummings who is strong and in a good position, so I’m excited. It’s a short race but it’s going to be intense. A lot of things can happen over the next couple of days, we just have to stay calm, we have a good chance.” Mark Cavendish is among the riders taking part in the four-day race, which continues on Thursday with a 122km ride from Dubai to Palm Jumeirah. The second stage will cover a total of 122km, finishing at Palm Jumeirah on Thursday. The second stage, named ‘The Sport Stage’ runs through the area with the most important sports building in Dubai, including Hippodrome, the Olympic pool, the Al Qudra cycling path, the Autodrome and the amazing Golf Club. The third stage, the longest of the race at 162km, will go outside the city and through the desert to finish in Hatta. This stage will be called ‘The Nature Stage’. The fourth and final stage – 124km in length – will cross the old part of the city, passing alongside two of the most iconic Dubai buildings: the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa. This stage is known as ‘The Old Dubai Stage’. – pradeep@khaleejtimes.com Dubai Tour: On the right track The Dubai Tour first-stage got off to an overwhelming start on Wednesday afternoon. Khaleej Times photographers Juidin Bernarrd and Rahul Gajjar, along with agencies, capture some of the spectacular moments Italian cyclist Eugenio Alafaci, of Trek Factory Racing Team, rides past the Burj Al Khalifa. AFP Peter Velits, of BMC Racing Team negotiates a bend. AFP Evan Huffman, of Team Astana, during the 10 km Dubai Tour at Downtown Dubai. – KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd Fans cheers as Martin Tony of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step nears the finish point at the DWTC.- KT photo by Rahul Gajjar Kittel Marcel of Giant-Shimano in action. KT photo by Rahul Gajjar A fan with Dinosaurs mask watches a cyclist go past. Ramunas Navardauskas of Team Garmin Sharp pedals on. – KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd Mark Cavendish, former World Champion, in action at Downtown Dubai. KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
