Largest Concrete Pour at Al-Reem Island

Abu Dhabi, 23 June 2007 - Abu Dhabi's leading real estate developer, Sorouh Real Estate announced its largest concrete pour at Al-Reem Island, with the pouring of the first and second half of the Sky Tower raft foundation. A total of 8,000 cubic meters of concrete was poured into the foundations of this landmark project. This concrete pour marked a significant milestone for the Sky Tower and took place exactly on schedule.  

A number of consultants and builders are involved in finalizing the start of a sequence of major concrete pours on the Sky Tower foundations and basements which will support the 74 storey tower. This raft foundation also forms the lowest level of the 3 basement parking levels.  It took more than 1000 concrete mixer trucks to deliver the concrete for the raft foundation. Dr. Mohamed Newera of Sorouh Real Estate, the Project Director commented: "If we were to line up the trucks in one straight line, it will be more than 8 km long. This is a monumental task and a very significant milestone."

Concrete pouring will not stop at the basement. ACC crews will spend about 7 days pouring each floor, with at least 3 days in between to prepare each floor for upcoming pours.  Preparation involves the installation of mechanical pipe sleeves, welded wire fabric reinforcement, electrical conduits and welded perimeter closure angles. The construction of Sky Tower is being undertaken by Arabian Construction Company (ACC) the contractor which was awarded the AED 2.259bn contract to build the Sky Tower and its sister tower. 

"We are thrilled to see the Sky Tower progress on schedule.  When we chose ACC to undertake construction of the Sky Tower project for us, we believed that they would excel in meeting our expectations of quality, efficiency and on time delivery.  So far, they have done just that," said Dr Adnan Sahli, Executive Director of Projects at Sorouh Real Estate.

The elliptical shaped Sky Tower in Sorouh's Gate District on Al-Reem Island will rise to 300 metres and be Abu Dhabi's tallest building when completed.  It will offer unrivalled opportunities to own residential or commercial property at the most prestigious address with spectacular panoramic views of the Gulf and Abu Dhabi. The Sky Tower is scheduled for completion in 2009.

-Ends- 

About Sorouh Real Estate
Abu Dhabi based Sorouh was established on June 26, 2005 with a capital of AED 2.5 billion.  Today it is one of the largest real estate developers listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market with a market cap close to AED 9.7 billion. It is one of the most widely held issues with approximately 55,000 shareholders.

Sorouh's corporate vision is to "bring communities to life in perfect balance". Its real estate projects are master-planned and designed to meet the four core needs of human wellbeing: physical, intellectual, social and spiritual.  SOROUH employs in excess of 120 highly qualified professionals operating in the field of master-planning and master-development.

Sorouh's now has around AED 50Bn of projects under development. These include:

Shams Abu Dhabi, Sorouh's flagship project is an AED 25Bn landmark development on Reem Island. A complete new city of 60,000, Shams Abu Dhabi will be self sustaining city of Canals and Parks which integrates world-class master planning practices and extends the lush green of Abu Dhabi's landscape.

The Gate District on Shams Abu Dhabi is a cluster of 8 towers located at the entrance to Shams, Abu Dhabi. Now architecturally renowned worldwide the AED 11Bn residential, office and retail development is designed as a Gateway to the Peninsula from Reem Island. The Gate District also includes the AD 2.2Bn 74 storey Sky Tower which will be a pinnacle of luxury for its residential and commercial occupants as well as Abu Dhabi's tallest building when completed.

Lulu Island opposite the Abu Dhabi Corniche will be the City's most prestigious and sought after district. The project was awarded to Sorouh by His Highness Sheikh Khlifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of The United Arab Emirates in March 2006.

Sorouh is also developing the Golf Gardens overlooking the Abu Dhabi Championship Course, the Abu Dhabi Aviation Authority residential project, Al-Shamkha national housing project, the Tala Tower and Saraya on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.  

For more information please contact:
Ahmed El Awad
Assistant Communications Manager
Sorouh Real Estate P.J.S.C.
Tel: +971 2 444 0006
Fax: +971 2 444 0066
AElawad@sorouh.com

Riham El Adl
Account Manager
Hill & Knowlton
Tel.: +971 4 3344930 ext 625
Fax: +971 4 334 4923 /33
Riham.eladl@hillandknowlton.com
 

© Press Release 2007