The developer of Marina Square, the long-delayed master-planned project on Reem Island, will start handing over apartments in some towers by the end of the month, owners have been told.
The handovers are expected in phases, beginning with RAK Tower, a 43-storey residential building owned by RAK Properties. But the handing over of other completed towers may not begin until the end of May, according to notices sent to owners.
The news follows this week's announcement that the developer Sorouh Real Estate is starting the handover of apartments in the Sun and Sky towers, the first project completed on Reem.
Marina Square covers 26.7 hectares and will eventually include 13 residential towers, a commercial tower, shopping mall and a hotel built around a marina with berths for boats up to 40 metres in length. The first phase of the project includes eight towers.
A representative of Tamouh Investments, the master developer of the project, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Last March, Tamouh announced that it would begin handing over units in Marina Square in May last year. Then in August, the company issued a press release saying handovers would begin "post Ramadan, following the receipt of mandatory approvals and certifications from regulatory authorities and utility service providers".
But the handovers did not happen. And the developer has not explained the delays, frustrating owners.
"We're paying rent and a mortgage, as well as storage charges for our furniture," said an owner in the Marina Heights development who asked not to be named. "We were in the apartment a year ago and it looked finished."
Marina Heights, one of several sub-developments within Marina Square, consists of two 43-storey towers with a total of 704 apartments. This week Profile Group Properties, the owner of the Marina Heights buildings, sent a notice to buyers of units advising that they could begin final inspections of the apartments, but the developer will not start giving buyers their keys until "on or before" May 26.
"Obviously we're frustrated, but we're not privy" to the reasons for the delays, said Guy Alan Sadler, the chief executive of Profile Group.
The timing of handovers was up to Tamouh, Mr Sadler said. Profile Group is one of several developers that bought towers that are being built by Tamouh.
Before Profile Group can do a handover of individual units to buyers, Tamouh must hand the buildings over to Profile.
The Marina Heights towers still do not have their final completion certificates from the Government, Mr Sadler said. "We want to get clients into their apartments as soon as possible," he said.
Sorouh and Tamouh had to make changes to the civil defence systems in the buildings to receive final certification from the Abu Dhabi Government, owners have been told. But neither developer would confirm the reasons for the delays.
"These issues should have been addressed on the drawing board, not now," said Ahmed Nawab, the chief executive of Trust City Real Estate, which plans to occupy a full floor in the Infinity Tower, an office building in the Marina Square project. "We've been waiting patiently and every time it has been delayed."
The US$30 billion (Dh110.19bn) Reem Island development is a landmark for Abu Dhabi. It is one of the first-large scale developments in which foreigners can own apartments.
The "city within a city" will eventually cover 6.5 million square metres and house more than 200,000 people.
The Sun and Sky complex includes a total of 1,150 apartments in the 74-storey Sky Tower and the 65-storey Sun Tower.
kbrass@thenational.ae
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
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Transmission: Six-speed automatic
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Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
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MATCH INFO
Bangla Tigers 108-5 (10 ovs)
Ingram 37, Rossouw 26, Pretorius 2-10
Deccan Gladiators 109-4 (9.5 ovs)
Watson 41, Devcich 27, Wiese 2-15
Gladiators win by six wickets
Start times
5.55am: Wheelchair Marathon Elites
6am: Marathon Elites
7am: Marathon Masses
9am: 10Km Road Race
11am: 4Km Fun Run
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Company%20Profile
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