The La Fontana project in Arjan in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National
The La Fontana project in Arjan in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

La Fontana in Dubai is finally done



After a lengthy dispute over electrical hook-ups, the first project is ready for handover in Arjan, the Dh20 billion (US$5.44bn) development planned to include Dubai's version of the London Eye.

Location, location, location:

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Construction on La Fontana di Trevi, an Dh80 million residential development with 122 apartments, was started in 2008. But a Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) substation planned for Arjan was never built, leaving the developer, Triveni Builders and Promoters, to scramble to provide power to the project.

The company refunded the deposits of 23 of the original 102 buyers when it became clear power would not be provided on schedule, said Ashok Galgotia, Triveni's chief executive.

"It was a nightmare," Mr Galgotia said. "I don't think I slept very well for two years."

Triveni eventually spent an extra Dh500,000 to run power cables 5km from the Dewa substation in the nearby DuBiotech development.

Primary construction on the project, which is located across from the Dubai Cricket Stadium off Emirates Road, was completed in June. But the power was not connected until last month, Mr Galgotia said.

A spokesman for Dubai Properties Group (DPG), the master developer of Arjan, said power in the development was being provided "in line with the completion schedules … received from investors".

"Infrastructure obligations, therefore, are being met - in line with the various sales and purchase agreements and in line with the investor's construction progress," he said.

Delays establishing infrastructure and electrical hook-ups have been an issue for developments around the UAE. Several projects in Dubai's Business Bay were built and running on generators before the power was connected.

On Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, the handover of several towers in the Marina Square development was delayed for months while the developers waited for power connections.

"It is having a big impact on the industry," said Craig Plumb, the head of research for Jones Lang LaSalle. "There are completed buildings in Business Bay finding it difficult to attract tenants because of issues with power and roads."

Many of the initial projects in Dubailand, billed as "the world's most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment project", have been hit by infrastructure delays. Plans call for a variety of theme parks, as well as hotel complexes and the world's largest shopping mall.

But many of the first developments to complete in the area are relatively isolated, with little landscaping and few facilities in place.

"Certainly this is going to be an ongoing issue for developers in these areas," said Matthew Green, the head of research at CB Richard Ellis. "Once they get critical mass and a few more buildings handed over, things will improve."

Arjan, one of the Dubailand's sub-developments, is designed to include office, retail and hotel space in addition to enough apartments to house 67,000 residents. The project's plan includes an amphitheatre as well as the "Great Dubai Wheel", a giant Ferris wheel designed to "add a unique landmark to the Dubai skyline, enhancing the Dubailand experience", according to the original promotional materials.

A DPG spokesman declined to directly address the status of the giant wheel and the other entertainment elements of Arjan.

"Many investor projects in Dubailand are proceeding; others will be delivered by the different investors in line with the market demand," he said.

Damac Properties, Diamond Developers and ACW Holdings are also moving forward with projects in Arjan. ACW finished primary construction work last month on an 11-storey commercial tower, The Light.

La Fontana, Mr Galgotia's first property project in Dubai, is scheduled to begin handing over apartments in the next few weeks.

In the wake of the delays and falling values in parts of Dubai, which made it impossible to arrange financing, Mr Galgotia said he had to sell a family property in India to finance construction. Last year, in an effort to sell returned apartments, he advertised two-bedroom apartments originally priced at Dh1.2m for sale at Dh599,000.

"We were committed," he said. "We had to make ends meet."

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

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Rating: 2.5/5

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

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The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder

Transmission: CVT auto

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 244Nm

Price: Dh122,900 

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

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How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.

Eliminated after second session

11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.

Eliminated after first session

15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.

CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES

Mar 10: Norwich(A)

Mar 13: Newcastle(H)

Mar 16: Lille(A)

Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)

Apr 2: Brentford(H)

Guide to intelligent investing
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Match info:

Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')

Morocco 0

The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

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