First buildings handed over at Nakheel's Discovery Gardens ahead of schedule

Discovery Gardens - which follows on from the success of Nakheel's The Gardens - is a 26 million square foot development of six themed communities inspired by garden living. The first phase of the project, which includes 245 buildings, more than 18,900 residential apartments, and 200 retail shops in the Zen area of the development, is substantially complete, with Nakheel handing over its first buildings to owners in January ahead of the scheduled completion date of July 2008. A further building has also been handed over in the Contemporary zone to Nakheel Asset Management for rental use.

Overall infrastructure, which includes 19,300 linear metres of roads, is more than 80 per cent complete, with underground utilities complete and more than 60 per cent of landscaping already in place. In addition, Discovery Gardens has used more than 1.2 million cubic meters of concrete and reported more than 14 million total man working days.

Fahad Al Haidan, Director, Discovery Gardens, said: "At Discovery Gardens we're building real - and real value - communities in a beautifully landscaped environment at the heart of 'New Dubai'. Not only are the first buildings being handed over well ahead of schedule, but the whole development is now more than 95 per cent complete. Connections to utilities are also in place, as is much of the planting and greenery that will create the unique garden settings central to this development.

"Discovery Gardens will meet the needs of a broad socioeconomic group in Dubai, providing homes for thousands of people. There is a buzz in Dubai about when Discovery Gardens will be ready and we are doing our very best to meet this demand. We are already ahead of schedule in the construction of the development, but those interested to rent can contact us for further information."

Located in the new Dubai area between the Jebel Ali Free Zone and the city's booming business and entertainment district, Discovery Gardens will provide some of the best value accommodation in the rapidly expanding west of the emirate.

Discovery Gardens will provide modern, spacious homes for nearly 60,000 residents in one of the city's most convenient locations, at an accessible price. The development provides easy access to Dubai's two main arterial roads: Sheikh Zayed Road and Emirates Road, and will also have convenient access to the Dubai Metro, scheduled to open its first line in 2009 with a station at Ibn Battuta Mall. The development comprises 291 buildings with more than 26,000 studios and one and two bedroom apartments. A significant proportion of the developments are devoted to garden landscaping, with the buildings grouped into themes: Zen, Mediterranean, Contemporary, Cactus, Mogul, and Mesoamerican.

The development will provide ample parking, plus extensive leisure and community facilities including playgrounds, tennis courts, swimming pools, basketball courts, tennis courts, and five mosques; the first of which is 75% complete with works commenced on the second. Significant progress has been made on the recreational amenities, with works commencing on 12 of the 13 swimming pools. In addition, work has also commenced on all five tennis courts and on four of the eight playgrounds.