Work on Dubai Healthcare City infrastructure on schedule

"We are spending AED 350 million to provide a foundation for world class facilities to be established in the city. The quality of the infrastructure is crucial, to support and satisfy world's leading institutions that will be the tenants of DHCC," said Saeed Al Muntafiq Chairman Of Dubai Healthcare City

"Dubai Healthcare City, when fully operational, will become a globally acknowledged location for the choice of healthcare and medical services. And, to ensure that, we have carefully selected only the best to partner with," said Al Muntafiq while referring to some of the world's most prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic and Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Center, which have joined DHCC in creating a regional centre of excellence for healthcare.

"We are dedicated in creating a facility that we and all the people of Dubai, the UAE and the region, would be proud of. We are highly committed in establishing DHCC as the region's healthcare hub," Al Muntafiq said adding that His Highness' vision is rapidly being translated into reality.

"If you take a drive around the site in Dubai's Oud Metha area, you will see the obvious effort put into the pace with which infrastructure is being developed and various structures are being raised. We have been given a target to make the His Highness' vision a reality, and we shall," Al Muntafiq said.

He said Dubai is growing rapidly, both in terms of its physical expansion as well as its global awareness about its image for excellence. People around the globe are beginning to look at Dubai, which is already attracting some 5 million tourists a year. "With a target of 15 million inbound travellers in just six years, it is necessary for projects such as DHCC to create facilities that ensure the well-being of residents and visitors," said Al Muntafiq.

He announced that the first four buildings of Phase I Dubai Healthcare City would be inaugurated on 25th December 2004.

The ongoing construction works are divided into two broad segments that are progressing side by side and complementing each other. These are the four blocks of buildings that are currently being built even as the second part - that of the laying of the infrastructure and the roads network - continues apace simultaneously.

"To ensure that the project stays on course and on schedule, we insisted on strict adherence to deadlines from our contractors and consultants. For example, the contractors who are constructing the four blocks of buildings were given 12 months to complete the task," explained Al Muntafiq.

"Approximately 67 per cent of the time has elapsed since work has started, and judging by the progress of work, we are confident that the buildings will be ready by 25th December 2004," stated Al Muntafiq.

Infrastructure ready
Al Muntafiq also pointed out that infrastructure and road works are actually ahead of schedule.

"We have a mission to fulfill and we are eagerly awaiting the completion of the construction works so we could get on with creating what we have set out to achieve -- and that is, to make available to the people of our region and beyond -- the best in medical and healthcare delivery," concluded Al Muntafiq.