Ajman Sewerage Company plans to launch operations this month
(Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008 - Gulf News)

Ajman Sewerage Private Company Ltd (ASPCL), an organisation dealing with sewerage and ancillary services, will launch its operations by the end of the month, the company said on Tuesday.

The SPL will implement a new queuing system that will assist tenants addressing their problems to the main customer service centres located in the Al Zahra building as well as ajman Municipality and Planning Department.
The move is expected to improve customer service.

Features
Apart from features such as two LCD screens, new monitoring and displaying tools, the ASPCL will introduce separate tellers for women and customers with special needs.

The counters will be managed by multilingual officers. Each query will be attended in a personalised manner, and a follow-up system will be implemented accordingly.
Speaking after the project's testing, Olivier Crasson, general manager of the ajman Sewerage Company, said: "Our company is delighted to introduce the new customer service/queuing system to properly answer all requests."

"This is increasingly important nowadays, in a multicultural and extremely challenging environment. Thanks to all of our tenants, partners and supporters, we will be able to positively re-evaluate the customer service activities in connection with our work management objectives."

Jacob Illeris, general manager of Moalajah, the company in charge of operating the sewerage system, said: "We have carefully designed a satisfactory time-management framework pertaining to payments and processing time for similar instances.
"This is a huge opportunity for both our customers and our dedicated staff members to approach all issues with the confidence that their communications will run smoothly, without wasting time and energy."

Future initiatives
Part of the technical details of the new queuing system carry the Al Reyami Group's signature.

Two more programmes are to be introduced in the next three years, with a view to translate previous solutions into tangible results and through adding a new dimension to the company's development strategy.

Ajman Government to partner Tameer in stalled development
Angela Giuffrida , The National - September 1. 2008 5:43PM GMT

Construction on Al Ameera Village, a Dh1.1 billion (US$300 million) mixed-use project launched in Ajman in 2005, has been suspended while its major developer, Tameer Holding, works out a deal with the Ajman Government.

The Government will now take on a significant part of the project.

Tameer is believed to have encountered difficulties ensuring the development would be built with adequate supplies of water and power, which led it to cancel a Dh522m construction contract awarded to Al Rajhi Projects, a construction company based in Sharjah, last December.

Al Rajhi had been hired in April of last year to construct 41 residential buildings, which formed an area of the Al Ameera project that Tameer had at one point intended to develop itself.

“We were supposed to build the first phase, and possibly the second,” said Antoun Sarie, the chief executive at Al Rajhi. “But work stopped last December. I believe it was to do with utilities problems. It had a ripple effect on our business, as we had already mobilised all our resources and equipment.”

A source at Tameer, who asked not to be named, said that this part of the project would now be developed by the Government, while the remaining land at the 500,000 square-metre site would continue to be developed by private sub-developers.

According to the original masterplan, a further nine residential buildings were set to make up Al Ameera Village, along with a five-star hotel, a shopping mall, sport and leisure facilities, parks and a mosque.

“The plots on which we were supposed to construct have been sold to the Government of Ajman,” said the source.

“The reason is the issue with water and electricity, which is affecting the whole of Ajman right now.”

This is the second major project by Tameer in the northern emirates that has been disrupted because of problems with connections to utilities supplies.

In May, the company said that its Dh30bn Al Salam City project in Umm al Qaiwain had been put on hold, again blaming a shortage of water and electricity in the emirate.

But Umm al Qaiwain’s Government, which has a 23 per cent stake in the project, is reported to have said that the issue of water and electricity was an excuse by the developer to justify setbacks and failures to meet its commitments.

Hundreds of investors are still uncertain about the project’s future.
Meanwhile, delays in connecting projects to utilities continue to blight new developments in the northern emirates, as local authorities struggle with power and water shortages alongside the rapid pace of construction.

Several projects have had to rely on temporary power generators as they wait to be connected to power and water networks. But with 20 projects under way in Ajman alone, the emirate is devising ways of ensuring there is enough power and water to meet all development needs.

Earlier this year, the Ajman Government signed a Dh7.34bn deal with the Malaysian power producer MMC to build the Gulf’s first coal-fired power plant, which in its first phase will have a capacity to supply 1,000 megawatts of power.

There are also plans to build a power plant close to the Dh220bn Al Zorah project, the biggest development planned so far for the emirate.

In addition, the Government has said that several desalination plants were planned.
“This issue is a priority of the Government,” said Rami Dabbas, the director of Al
Zorah and chief executive of another Ajman developer, Aqaar Properties.

A source close to the Al Ameera project said the fact that the Government was now investing in the project was “a further testament to its commitment towards successful development”.

Senior management at Tameer declined to comment on the situation at Al Ameera Village, but said a joint announcement with the Ajman Government would be made soon.

Investors from Pakistan flock to Ajman
Gulf news - August 15, 2008, 23:58

Dubai:  While the Gulf region is riding the swelling wave of real estate as the rest of the globe crashes under the credit crunch, in the relatively lesser known emirate of Ajman business is booming.

There is $2 trillion worth of projects underway in all sectors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to market estimates. And a massive $330 billion of this is set aside for civil construction projects. This unstoppable construction boom is there for all to see, marvel at and invest in.

While the weakened dollar creates chaos in the once stable markets of the US and the UK, developers in the east are seizing opportunities here in the Gulf, not only in Dubai but perhaps the dark horse of all the emirates, Ajman.

With an area of just 260 square kilometres, Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates and the second emirate, behind Dubai, to offer freehold property. The current population of Ajman is a little over 360,000.

As the political problems in Pakistan intensify, Ajman is benefiting from the Pakistani developers flocking to the emirate in droves.

Hasnain Raza Lathubhai, partner at UAE-based development company, Skymax agreed the current political tensions in Pakistan are not helping business. He said there probably is a link between the situation and the increase in Pakistani money in UAE property projects. "To tell you the truth, things are pretty down. But Pakistan, if you look at its history, has gone through down periods like this before, and always comes out more expensive and more developed," Lathubhai said.

There are countless Pakistani developers building in Ajman, obviously seeing it as the ideal place to plunge millions of real estate dirhams.

Chapal World, Sweet Homes, Property House and Al Barakah are just a handful of developers throwing themselves into a plethora of mega-projects taking shape all along the Emirates Road in Ajman and in Ajman city itself.

These projects include Emirates City, Humaid City, Ajman Uptown, Awali City and Al Zorah.

Combined, they have a total development cost of well over Dh250 billion. To support such massive development, the Ajman government is also implementing a $1.4-billion infrastructure plan designed to beef up investor confidence in the emirate.
"As the third largest property market in the UAE, Ajman offers very attractive prospects for Pakistani investors," said Tahir Hussain, a vice president of the Pakistan Business Council in Dubai and also managing director of Schon Properties.
Hussain attributed increasing investor attraction to Ajman to government plans to build an international airport, improve infrastructure and the development of a host of large-scale developments are all contributing to the future boom of the emirate.
Lathubhai said the business relationship between Pakistan and the UAE is "more than close," due to the relaxed government policies and the well-known ease of doing business here.

Pakistan's popularity for real estate development can be clearly seen with the number of UAE developers looking across the water to Pakistan for lucrative development opportunities.

However, some developers wishing to expand in Pakistan have found it difficult to break into the market, with many pointing to the rising political tensions as the root cause. UAE developer Limitless was recently in talks with the Pakistan government to develop the multi-billion Karachi Waterfront. However, discussions appear to have stalled for the time being for unspecified reasons.

Ajman Freehold Law soon
By Parag Deulgaonkar (Business 24/7 - Thursday, May 08, 2008)

A law allowing freehold ownership of properties in Ajman and making escrow accounts mandatory for all developers will be issued by the emirate next month, according to the head of Ajman Holding.

Launching the Dh1.5 billion The Boulevard project in Ajman, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Ajman Holding, said: "The Ruler will be issuing a decree to announce a freehold law in the emirate in a month's time, which will contain clauses related to the escrow account.”

Despite the absence so far of any law in Ajman granting the right of freehold ownership to non-UAE nationals, a number of developers in the emirate have nonetheless been marketing projects to purchasers as freehold properties.

An estimated Dh 400 billion worth of projects have been launched in the emirate claiming to have freehold titles. In June 2007, Dubai announced its Escrow Account Law, which applies to developers selling "off plan" units and receiving payments from purchasers or mortgages
against such units.

Urban boom unfolds in Ajman
www.zawya.com (Thursday, March 13, 2008)

Demand is growing for 20-plus storey residential towers in Ajman, with more than 55 development projects worth hundreds of billions of dirhams scheduled to appear in the coming months, according to real estate statistics.

Most of these projects are residential investments. The capital flight from other emirates toward Ajman and the increasing demand on the property market have led to the launch of a large number of residential projects all over the emirate.

The demand for commercial areas follows that for residential investments. Due to the all-encompassing development drive adopted by the emirate of Ajman, there is an urgent need for commercial space. Tourist investments follow commercial investments closely.

Ajman's Skyline to Change Forever
By Joseph George and Rana Jimaa on Friday, May 02, 2008

- Dh 220 Billion’s project, coastal city is officially launched.

- The vast development stretching over more than 22 million square metres of   Ajman.

- The first phase will be ready in 30 months.

- The entire project to be completed in 15 years.

- Built as a sustainable development, it will use maximum shade, energy-efficient   building materials and modern construction methods to reduce energy use by 50%.

- More than 200,000 people are expected to live and work.

- More than 50% of the buildings will be residential, 22% office space, 11% will be   retail stores and hotels will make up 8%.

- The remaining 7% will consist of warehousing, storage and infrastructure. For   leisure, the project will consist of 16km of beaches, an 18-hole golf course, five   marinas, hotels, a 200,000-square-metre mall, an equestrian centre, jogging and   horse tracks and three schools.

- 8.5km access route will link the development to Emirates Rod.

- On its coast will be a crescent-shaped bay, part of the 16km of beachfront –   including three kilometres of original beach, creeks and islands.

- The sustainable initiatives include preservation of the natural environment that   includes, 30 species of mangroves, more than 20 species of birds, countless coastal   fish, trees and sand dunes.

- The project will have integrated network of walkways, canals, waterways, bicycle   paths and public transport facilities.

Ajman trade hits Dh5bn in 2007
By Eman Al Baik on Friday, April 4 , 2008 - Emirates Business 24/7

- By the end of 2007, overall trade activities in Ajman (exporting and re-exporting)   reached Dh 5 billion in comparison with Dh4.5bn at the end of 2006. The rate of   growth was more than nine per cent.

- 29,200 certificates of origin in 2007 issued with an increase of 240 certificates in   comparison to 2006. The difference in value was significant.

- By the end of 2007, the number of new and renewed memberships of all types of   businesses commercial, vocational and industrial was 20,000 in comparison with   19,000 memberships in 2006. The growth rate was 6%.

Ajman real estate sector booming
Gulf News - January 26 , 2007

- Ajman has attracted Dh55 billion ($15 billion) investment in real estate sector during   the last two years.

- This includes Al Azoura - a Dh47.7 billion ($13 billion) project and Ajman Marina, a   Dh7.35 billion ($2 billion) waterfront development.

- $600 million which will be dedicated to the project's infrastructure.

- With a total investments already reaching $7 billion from projects launched after   2004 and 2005.

- R Holding last year unveiled a Dh14.68 billion ($4 billion) Emirates City, as well as   the launching of Aqar that has recently launched Dh2.1 billion Ajman 1 project.

- The Government of Ajman's development plans will contribute to raising the   economy and tourism levels inside the emirate, Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al   Nuaimi, Municipality Chairman and executive-president of Aqar said.

Ajman real estate attracts Dh 400 Billion
By Anjana Kumar on Monday, May 05, 2008 - Business 24/7

- Total investment in Ajman real estate has crossed the Dh 400 billion mark.

- In the past one year, the value of projects in Ajman has increased between 30%   and 40%. We are seeing capital values for upscale residential units in the region of   Dh 700 - Dh 800 per square foot.

- The property price is expected to go up to the Dh 1,000 per square foot mark.

- Land prices are said to have moved up to Dh 76 per square foot from Dh 68 a   square foot in less than two months. Land prices have risen in Ajman by 15% to   20% every year.

- Amir Pardesi, vice-chairman of Mazyood Giga International, said: “Ajman is the best   place for investment for the middle class segment”.

- In March, the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of   Abu Dhabi, ordered the allocation of Dh 16 bn to develop infrastructure in the   Northern Emirates.

- Ajman Municipality and Planning Department Director announced the launch of   infrastructure & real estate projects worth Dh200 million.

- Ajman rentals have increased by 64% in the past 12 months, with the highest   increases seen in studios at 89% and one-bedroom units at 76%.

- Emirates City, a Dh15bn project, will entail around 72 state-of-the-art residential   and commercial properties and is expected to encompass lakes and green parks, a   shopping district, mosques, five-star hotels, educational and medical facilities.

- Phase one of the city will have more than 25 towers breaking ground.

- The downtown area, to be built at a later phase, will contain a shopping mall,   featuring all branded retail outlets, along with a five-star hotel.

Ajman Realty Boom Continues, Investor returns between 20-40 per cent a year, says Inter Emirates Properties - www.zawya.com

Inter Emirates properties, one of the leading realty players in the UAE today said the freehold realty boom in Ajman continues with sharp rise in investor preference for the emirate's properties in the backdrop of both residential and commercial projects offering high returns in the range of 20% - 40% per annum.

One of the main reasons behind the success of Ajman's bustling freehold real estate is its cost-effective offers which guarantee higher returns in the medium to long-term.

The heightened investor interest in Ajman properties has also led to rising rates which is now anywhere between 450- 650 per square feet compared to 300-500 a little over a year ago for residential and commercial properties respectively.

The rising significance attached by the government to put in place modern facilities as part of its vision for the emirate has also fuelled the realty boom in Ajman, she said adding that the keenness of the government in urban planning was reflected in holding the successful Ajman Urban Planning Conference (AUPC 2007) in February this year by Municipality and Planning Department (MPDA).

Ajman offers the best cost-effective realty investment solutions at affordable rates with a potential for significantly higher returns. Importantly, Ajman is fast becoming a preferred property investment destination for middle-income earners in the Northern Emirates. The fact that it has faster connectivity to all the emirates and is closer to Dubai adds value to investment, Ms. Aida said.

Inter Emirates Properties is also in the process of enhancing its Ajman freehold property portfolio by adding new projects. "We are also convinced that it is high time that we enhanced our presence in the emirate and is all set to open a new office premises in Ajman to be closer to the market.”

Real estate law drawn up in Ajman
By Eman Al Baik on Sunday, March 9 , 2008 (Emirates Business 24/7)

The new Ajman Development and Investment Authority is preparing freehold laws and will impose escrow accounts and strata regulations similar to those adopted in Dubai.

“Ajman will duplicate the successful legislative frameworks and laws of Dubai. Property developers in Ajman will not be able to sell properties on maps prior to opening escrow accounts. Deposits will have to be deposited in these third-party accounts.”

Ajman’s real estate sector has grown rapidly since its launch in 2004. By 2006 the total value of investments had reached Dh25.2 billion and the announcement of a number of giant projects then pushed the total investment up to Dh120 billion.

“A developer wishing to operate in Ajman should register with the department prior to starting any project in the emirate. The authority, which is expected to function under the Lands and Property Department, will not only propose legislation but will execute it and control the
property market.

“A decree setting up the department is expected to be issued very soon.”

25.2 Billion
The amount in dirhams of the total value of Ajman real estate investments in 2006. This rose to Dh120bn, thanks to the announcement of a number of giant projects.

Ajman’s free zone to focus on industry
Business 24/7 - Saturday, February 2 , 2008

The emirate of Ajman is pushing ahead with an ambitious free zone project to attract industrial investment and it will be completed on schedule in the second quarter of this year.

The new zone complements Ajman’s Free Zone (AFZ), which has attracted a large number of foreign companies and has the highest number of ready-made garments factories in the world, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, AFZ General Manager told Oxford Business Group in an interview made available to Emirates Business.

Establishing a free industrial zone, totalling more than Dh1.15 billion.

“An international consultancy has worked on the planning of the industrial zone, which will include warehousing, office space, worker accommodation, and a road network to serve the needs of the companies setting up there over the next decade.

Sheikh Mohammed said the AFZ had attracted hundreds of foreign investors and is ranked first among the world’s free zones in the number of ready-to-wear garment factories.

“Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, the government has provided the necessary facilities to attract more investments in tourism, industry and commerce – and the AFZ is a core component of that strategy. The emirate has an abundance of investment projects. The government is currently also providing infrastructure for roads, bridges and establishing the sewerage
network,” he said.

Steady progress with Ajman sewerage project
www.zawya.com - December 11, 2007

- Ajman's new AED 800 million sewerage system is progressing on schedule, with the   emirate's Al Jurf, Hamidiya, and new industrial areas now connected as well as part   of Nuaimiya.

- Ajman Sewerage (Pvt) Co Ltd is now preparing to do the ground works in Al   Rashidiya which will be ready by the end of December.

- The first stage - screening of wastewater - is already completed and fully   operational along with seven pumping stations.

- Work on the secondary biological treatment is due to start early next year.

- Capacity to handle 49,000 m3 effluent per day with a peak load of about 78,000 m3,   connected to 75,000 homes and businesses on 12,500 plots of land.

- Construction works follows the best international standards of quality in terms of   materials and procedures.

- Treated water has the potential to transform large tracts of desert areas into   grassed or arable land.

More details of Ajman International Airport unveiled
By Nadia Saleem, Staff Reporter (Gulf News, May 4,2008)

- It will cover more than 60 million square feet, located 3.5 kilometres from Al   Manama, Ajman.

- It will accommodate commercial aircraft. It will have a capacity of 1 million   passengers a year rising up to 10.4 million by 2046, as well as cargo of at least   400,000 tonnes, and corporate aviation among other infrastructure capabilities.

- The cargo activities will take up 70 per cent of the airport services.

- There are niche services that can be provided by Ajman International Airport that   are difficult for large airports to manage. (Said Burns)

- Services involving cargo jets, general aircrafts and low-cost carriers, adding that   this would make the project complementary rather than a competition to other   airports.

Work on Dh 12 Billion Ajman Airport to begin later this year
By Eman Al Baik on Tuesday, March 25 , 2008 (Emirates Buusiness 24/7)

- Dh 12 Billion Ajman Airport project is expected to begin later this year, 2008.

- The management of the airport will be the responsibility of ICTC, which runs 200   international airports around the world including Frankfurt International Airport.

- The project is expected to create 28,000 jobs.

Ajman Marina Work to Begin This Year
www.zawya.com April 12, 2008.

- Dh 3 Billion Project with 244,409 Square-metre.

- To be completed in 2015.

- Phase one will start this year and will be completed in 2010.

- Phase two will begin in 2011 and is scheduled for completion after two years.

- Phase three will start in 2013 and is expected to complete in 2015.

- The Marina bay and the promenade to stretch for 1.7 km which can accommodate   up to 300 boats and will take up to 18 months.

- The project will deliver a total of 30 buildings - some are high-rise towers of up to   60 floors and the low-rise buildings will be of nine floors.

- Ajman Marina residential district will be 795,852 sq m.

- More than 65% of the project's built-up area is made up of residential space.

- There are approximately 5,161 high-end housing units in both high-rise towers and   low-rise buildings that will cater to about 14,000 residents.

- 23% of the project - 273,695 sq m has been planned to cater to 1,400 companies   and 38,692 users.

- Project’s Master Plan is finished.

- The total parking area that will be offered will be about 541,849 sq m.

- Will have five-star hotel with 210 rooms and 15 suites, and luxury hotel apartments   that include 100 serviced apartments. In addition to that, the hotel will provide   68,000 square metres of retail space.

- Walkway covers more than 50,000 sq m.

- There will be a total of 24,000 sq m of shopping outlets, a park and a children's   playground.