DM urges private investors to come up with ideas for Zabeel Park

"The municipal investment for the park is over Dhs300 million while the overall investment, including those from the private sector, will exceed Dirhams one billion," said Essa Al Maidour, Director of Contracts and Purchasing Department at Dubai Municipality.

He was addressing a meeting of potential investors called by Dubai Municipality to brief them on the available investment opportunities in the park. The meeting was also attended by Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, Director of the General Projects Department and Ahmed AbdulKarim, Director of the Public Parks and Horticulture Department.

He noted that the civic body has recently formed a new Investments and Privatization Section under the Contracts and Purchasing Department, and it is equipped with human resources experienced in this field.

"The purpose of this section is to get the private and government sectors to work together for the growth and development of Dubai. We therefore welcome investors' ideas in line with our vision for future growth and development," he said.

Al Maidour added that a database had been created for potential investors who would be notified on a regular basis about all new projects undertaken by Dubai Municipality.

Explaining the mechanism for investing in the project, Saleh Salem Al Qaiwani, Head of Investments and Privatization Section, said that an application form would be placed in the Dubai Municipality website from 17 April onwards.

"Investors can send completed form with project description, required land area and detailed project presentation to the department before 9 May 2004," he said.

He noted that Dubai Municipality already has awarded a few projects such as the Dhs100 million Star Gate which is an edutainment facility with a lot of educational and fun activities for both youngsters and adults. The gym at the Sports Club House has been undertaken by another private company for a total cost of Dhs25 million.

Zabeel Park, which has a `high technology' theme, is expected to host activities of the Dubai shopping festivals in the future. The total area of the park is approximately 51 hectares and consists of three separate plots. Around the external perimeters of all three areas there would be a jogging track with both soft and hard landscaping.

The larger area, approximately 29 hectors, contains four major elements of the project such as the Sports Club, Panoramic Tower, and Imax Theatre, and eill be accessible from four gatehouses. A further major feature in this area is an amphitheatre created in eight-metre-high earth mounds which will contain terraced seating.

The medium-sized area, approximately 19.82 hectors, will contain facilities for a number of activities with the highlight being a boating lake with a lakeside restaurant. A feature of the lake will be cascades and a 25-m high fountain geyser. Other facilities are a BMX circuit, mini golf and skateboarding park, assault course and adventure playground.

The smaller area, spanning approximately 2.29 hectors, is constructed in the form of a low angle amphitheatre to be used for general purposes. Throughout the park, there will be toilet facilities and refreshment kiosks, and the parks will be equipped with public address systems and closed circuit televisions.

A Technology Zone in the park will comprise interactive displays, an electronic 'Space Maze', a sports area including basketball and tennis courts and a clubhouse, a 'Barcode Garden', which includes hi-tech displays and water features, an Alternative Energy Zone featuring displays of solar, wind, geo-thermal and tidal power.