Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Company has extended 2 reservation agreements with Mousa Abdulaziz Al Mousa & Sons Real Estate Holding Group for the sale of 2-plots within its premium Masar Destination in Makkah.

The Masar Destination, billed as a landmark urban project being developed by Umm Al Qura, offers a diverse range of amenities, including hospitality, commercial, retail, and residential spaces, as well as cultural centers. Spanning over 1.2m sqm, it serves as an integrated gateway directly leading to the Grand Mosque, said a statement.

The extension of the reservation agreements was made due to procedural reasons related to the 2-plots of land, as stated by Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Company in its filing to Saudi bourse Tadawul.

The agreement was reached in collaboration with Al Inma First Development Company, the special purpose vehicle for the Al Inma Makkah Development Fund I, a unit of Umm Al Qura.

This transaction is closely linked to the development of hospitality units within Masar development. The reservation agreements have been extended until 9 April, provided that the final sale agreements will be executed within the validity period of the reservation agreements.

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First Avenue has awarded a contract to Jadwa Al Shorfa Real Estate Fund for a mixed-use project in Riyadh, featuring a mix of commercial, residential and office units along with key amenities.

Located at the intersection of the Eastern Ring-Makkah Khuris Road, the project, Capital Avenue – Al Rayyan, will come up on a 38,950sqm area.

The agreement represents a continuation of the company’s expansion strategy, which focuses on investing in promising real estate opportunities located in highly attractive and strategic locations, said First Avenue for Real Estate Development Company in its filing to Saudi bourse Tadawul.

The project scope includes preparation of detailed architectural designs, supervision of construction works and marketing of the project.

For the project, the development fee amounts to 15% of the actual project cost, estimated at US $49.2mn.

The building permit has been issued for the project, which will have a total built-up area of 110,738sqm.

The project will be completed within 30 months, the statement noted.

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Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense intercepted three drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field yesterday, according to a post by the Saudi Press Agency on social media platform X.

The attack during the second week of conflict in the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States is the latest targeting critical energy infrastructure in GCC countries.

The facility was previously targeted by two drones, both of which were destroyed. Saudi Arabia said that the facility is crucial to the country’s oil production.

Earlier in the week, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a post on X on 10 March that a drone attack caused a fire to break out at a facility in the Ruwais Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

The Ruwais complex has a refining capacity of about 922,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day, making it one of the largest oil refineries in the Middle East, and amongst the largest single-site refineries in the world. Ruwais is located about 240km west of Abu Dhabi city in the Al Dhafra region.

On 9 March, the Bahrain News Agency noted that Bapco Energies declared a force majeure situation on the group’s operations, as operations were disrupted due to an attack on its refinery complex. The attack prompted the group to issue a formal force majeure notice, and said the declaration relates specifically to operational disruptions linked to the conflict and the recent attack on the refinery complex, which forms a key part of Bahrain’s energy infrastructure.

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Abanos has secured a contract to deliver the fit-out and joinery works for Palace Residences Creek Blue, a residential development by Emaar located within Dubai Creek Harbour.

With a total built-up area of 98,243sqm, Palace Residences Creek Blue is a waterfront property, set within a modern, stylish and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood, that aligns with Dubai’s sustainable urban character, said a statement from Abanos.

The development will feature a collection of 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, thoughtfully crafted to blend contemporary aesthetics with expansive outdoor spaces, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living experience, it stated.

The project is being developed by Emaar/Dubai Creek Harbour Development and designed by Mirage/SSH. Contracting works are being delivered by Engineering Contracting Company.

Abanos said the project scope includes the fabrication and installation of wooden doors, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, vanity units and other miscellaneous joinery items.

“Each of the residences is being designed as a refined retreat, showcasing quality finishes, contemporary kitchens, luxurious bathrooms, and spacious living areas complemented by expansive windows that invite abundant natural light and frame stunning views,” said a spokesman.

“Private balconies extend the living space outward, enhancing the connection between elegant interiors and the surrounding waterfront landscape,” he added.

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Developer Aldar has allocated US $27.23mn to the ‘Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans’ initiative, a collaborative effort between the Endowments and Minors’ Funds Authority – Awqaf Abu Dhabi.

This initiative aims to provide sustainable and long-term support to enhance the well-being and future prospects of orphans throughout the UAE. It also builds upon the UAE’s longstanding humanitarian approach, which has established the country as a force for charity and solidarity, guided by the wise directives of its leadership.

The announcement coincides with the UAE’s Year of Family, a celebration of the significance of strengthening family cohesion and reinforcing the values that form the foundation of resilient societies. Aligned with the values of the Year of Family, this initiative reaffirms Awqaf Abu Dhabi’s commitment to aligning its initiatives with national priorities, serving the best interests of society.

Through a well-structured institutional framework, contributions to the endowment are transformed into investment assets, ensuring that the returns are allocated to support orphans’ education, healthcare, and basic living needs. This approach guarantees the long-term sustainability of the support provided. Aldar’s contribution exemplifies the company’s dedication to creating positive and enduring impacts in the communities it serves, said a statement.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Aldar said, “In line with UAE’s Year of Family, The ‘Mother of the National Endowment for Orphans’ reflects the principles that guide Abu Dhabi’s continued development and the UAE’s enduring values of compassion, responsibility, and commitment to social cohesion. As part of this national journey, Aldar carries a responsibility to strengthen our society. The endowment reflects the importance of collective action in shaping a future defined by shared progress.”

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aldar added, “At Aldar, we believe that sustainable progress must be reflected in the way we support our communities. The ‘Mother of the Nation Endowment for Orphans’ reflects the UAE’s deeply rooted values of solidarity and social responsibility. Through this partnership, we are supporting the long-term approach to providing essential care and opportunity for young people, aligned with national priorities and our shared ambition to foster an inclusive and resilient society.”

The announcement coincides with Zayed Humanitarian Day, which honours the generosity and humanitarianism established by the UAEs Founding Father. The contribution was announced at the Zayed National Museum.

This initiative embodies the values and principles championed by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, the statement concluded.

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Developer Arada has awarded two contracts for the next phase of Sharjah’s Aljada megaproject, which aims to build 2,210 homes. These contracts, valued at US $555mn, cover the main construction activities across 14 residential blocks.

China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group, a subsidiary of China Railway Group, will construct the 5 Nesba buildings on East Boulevard and the 5 Safa buildings on West Boulevard. Both contracts are expected to be completed within 26 months, with all blocks scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2028, ahead of the completion of one of the community’s key attractions, Madar Mall.

The contract for The Gate blocks 3-6, located at the southern entrances of the community, has been awarded to Kuwait-headquartered Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi and Sons, said to be one of the most experienced contractors in the region. The company has also collaborated with Arada on other projects in Aljada, Masaar, and Nasma Residences.

Each construction contract involves the delivery of modern apartment blocks, featuring units ranging from 1 bedroom residences to 4 bedroom family spaces. Smart home technologies will be integrated into all buildings as standard features.

Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada said, “These large-scale contracts reflect our confidence in the local market and our determination to continue to aggressively deliver on our projects across the UAE. They mark a major milestone in the ongoing development of Aljada, and reflect the extraordinary buyer interest we continue to see in this community. These new buildings will be delivered alongside major upcoming components of Aljada, including Madar Mall and the Arada Central Business District, reinforcing our commitment to creating a transformational, lifestyle-led destination.”

The Nesba and Safa communities are characterised by contemporary, light-filled architecture and are situated adjacent to Aljada’s iconic sports park, currently under construction and slated to open by the end of 2026. This 400,000sqft landscaped complex will boast a full-size football pitch, five-a-side fields, and courts for padel, basketball, volleyball, squash, and badminton. Additionally, there will be cycling and jogging tracks and adventure play areas for children.

The Gate 3-4 is a 2-building complex located at the main entrance of East Boulevard, directly opposite SABIS International School – Aljada. The Gate 5-6, another 2 building cluster, is positioned at the West Boulevard entrance, near the northwest corner of the community and directly opposite Raffles World Academy Aljada, which is currently under construction and expected to open for the 2026-2027 academic year.

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Azizi Developments has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyprlift, a US-based innovator in advanced vertical transportation systems. The purpose of this agreement is to explore the potential application of ropeless elevator systems in selected Dubai developments.

The 2 parties will collaborate on technical studies, integration planning, and feasibility assessments. These assessments will evaluate the end-to-end requirements of the project, covering various aspects such as design, installation, testing, commissioning, operations, and ongoing maintenance.

Hyprlift, headquartered in California, specialises in the development of self-propelled, modular, ropeless elevator systems. These systems offer an alternative approach to vertical transportation, providing greater architectural flexibility, multi-directional movement, increased transport capacity, and more efficient utilisation of building cores.

Group CEO, Farhad Azizi said, “Innovation is central to our approach. Through this collaboration with Hyprlift, we are exploring elevator systems that could improve performance and comfort, while unlocking new possibilities in building design. This framework supports our focus on infrastructure-led development and long-term value.”

Hyprlift Founder and CEO James Hutchinson added, “The MoU reflects a shared ambition to rethink vertical mobility and place advanced technology at the heart of modern buildings. Azizi Developments’ interest in our self-propelled, ropeless elevator systems signals a growing recognition that the future of intelligent buildings depends on reimagining how people move within them.”

Azizi said it currently has around 150,000 units under construction, valued at tens of billions of dollars.

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Dubai’s RTA has inaugurated 2 bridges as part of the Oud Maitha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, which forms part of Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project. The project contributes to linking Al Asayel Street with Al Khail Road via Al Wasl Club Street.

The first bridge serves traffic from Al Asayel Street towards Al Wasl Club Street, while the second bridge carries traffic from Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Road towards Business Bay Crossing, the RTA said.

The RTA announced that 72% of the overall project has been completed, and 70% of the tunnel construction works have also been completed. The tunnel will serve traffic from Dubai–Al Ain Road towards the Oud Maitha service road. Works are currently underway to complete additional road expansions and bridge structures, which are expected to open in the third quarter of this year.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said that the development project is being implemented under the directives of the leadership to complement the Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development and accommodate the emirate’s ongoing urban expansion and population growth.

The project is among the key road infrastructure developments, encompassing the upgrade of 4 major intersections, including the construction of bridges and 2 tunnels extending 4.3km, in addition to roads extending 14km.

“The project serves several key service facilities, residential communities, and development zones, most notably Za’abeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Maitha, and Umm Hurair, in addition to major destinations such as Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. The population of the areas served by the project is projected to exceed 420,000 residents by 2030,” Al Tayer added.

The project will increase the traffic-carrying capacity of Oud Maitha Street from 10,400 vehicles per hour in both directions to 15,600 vehicles per hour, representing an increase of 50%. It will also reduce average journey time from 20 minutes to 5 minutes, reflecting an improvement of 75%.

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The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has announced that operations remain uninterrupted despite current regional developments. The company said it has activated its protocols and is collaborating closely with the relevant authorities to safeguard its people, assets, and operations.

Business units are conducting a product-by-product and transaction-by-transaction assessment of the situation, taking into account the ongoing disruption impacting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC continues to utilise export capacity that bypasses the strait and its international storage facilities, thereby ensuring the continuity of supply to global markets, the energy company said.

ADNOC’s sales and trading teams are proactively reaching out to customers whose shipment schedules may be affected, the firm said it values its commercial partnerships and will continue to provide the latest information directly to them.

The company said it is carefully managing offshore production levels to meet storage requirements, while ensuring the safety of its people, assets, and facilities. This approach maintains operational flexibility and allows the company to resume normal operations without significant delays.

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai has issued Law No. (3) of 2026 on the quality and safety of buildings in the emirate of Dubai. Provisions of the law will apply to all buildings across Dubai, including those in private development zones and free zones such as the DIFC, whether built before or after its enactment.

The law aims to ensure the quality, safety and sustainability of buildings in Dubai by maintaining structural integrity, ensuring regular maintenance and supporting the safe operation of all systems. It also seeks to enhance occupant comfort, reduce accidents, protect lives and property, and preserve the emirate’s urban identity.

Dubai Municipality is responsible for ensuring building safety and quality by developing a digital management system, maintaining a unified building database, conducting periodic assessments, setting standards for sustainability, and implementing measures and procedures to safeguard buildings, lives, and property. It also oversees maintenance, investigates incidents, applies corrective actions, promotes modern technologies, regulates materials, and manages the digital building portal, said a statement.

The law defines the roles of authorities overseeing construction in Dubai, including the Dubai Municipality, along with authorities supervising private developments and freezones such as the DIFC. It also requires that a Quality and Safety Certificate be issued only after a licensed engineering office or firm conducts a comprehensive inspection and assessment of the building’s structural and technical condition, following the law’s provisions and related procedures.

According to the law, the owner of a building, including unit owners under Law No. (6) of 2019 on Joint Property Ownership in Dubai, must obtain a Quality and Safety Certificate after the building’s completion, ensure any defects identified in inspections are corrected, and follow the procedures set by the relevant authority.

Under the law, building owners must hire a licensed engineering office to assess the building and prepare a technical report for the Quality and Safety Certificate, carry out periodic maintenance for buildings under 20 years old, and fix any defects that threaten structural safety, lives, property, or surrounding buildings. Owners must allow authority inspections, enable repair works, and continue maintenance even after obtaining the certificate. The law also defines the responsibilities of building management and the engineering office and sets rules for authority inspections to ensure the building meets certification requirements.

The validity of the Quality and Safety Certificate is 10 years for buildings less than 40 years old from the date of their completion certificate, and 5 years for buildings 40 years or older. The certificate can be renewed for similar periods, with the conditions and procedures for renewal determined by a decision issued by the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai (TEC).

According to the law, in cases where a building is approved for demolition, the rules for vacating tenants set out in Law No. (26) of 2007 on Regulating the Relationship between Landlords and Tenants in Dubai and its amendments apply. Tenants who vacate under this law have priority to return to the building after reconstruction or completion of maintenance and repairs, at the same rental value agreed in their original lease, unless otherwise agreed by both parties. Violators of the law or its decisions face fines from US $27 to US $272, 294, with repeat offences within 2 years subject to doubled fines up to US $544,588.

Relevant authorities may also suspend building permits, stop any transactions or approvals related to the building with government or private entities, including the Dubai Land Department, and halt lease certifications for units in the building until the violations are corrected. Imposing fines or administrative measures does not prevent holding the violator accountable under civil or criminal law, and engineering offices or contractors remain responsible for fulfilling their legal obligations.

The law permits anyone subject to a decision, action, or measure under this law to submit a written appeal to the Municipality’s DG or relevant authority within 30 days from being notified. A committee will resolve the appeal within 30 days, and its decision is final. The law allows the authorities to seek help from government bodies, including the police, who must assist promptly, the statement explained.

Building owners, contractors, and engineering offices must comply within 1 year from the law’s effective date. The Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai may extend this deadline if necessary. The DG of the Dubai Municipality or relevant authority issues decisions to implement the law, except those reserved for the Chairman of TEC. Any provisions in other laws that conflict with this law are annulled. The law will be published in the Official Gazette and will take effect 60 days after publication.

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