Construction on Palm Jebel Ali to slow

Infrastructure work on parts of Nakheel's project may be slowed in light of current economic conditions.

Infrastructure work on parts of Nakheel's Palm Jebel Ali may be slowed in light of current economic conditions, according to Ali Mansour, the project's director. A number of bridges are already under construction on the man-made island, and infrastructure work on the lower and left quadrants, along with the spine and lower fronds, is progressing. But construction contracts that were scheduled to be awarded in the latter part of next year and early 2010 will most likely be put back. "We might slow down the launching of contracts for infrastructure work on the components of the island that are not scheduled to be populated until after 2011 or 2012," said Mr Mansour on the sidelines of Meed's coastal development conference today. "It's very reasonable to do so. The island's quite big, so for those districts that are far from being occupied in the near future, we might slow down infrastructure work." Palm Jebel Ali is the second island in the Palm trilogy, located in Waterfront. It will feature luxury hotels and homes built on stilts over the water, which together spell a poem written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Mr Mansour added that the areas which could be affected are the upper right and left quadrants of the development. [e-mail]