The 75-storey Dubai Tower, which will be about 300 metres high, will be a mixed-use development housing a five-storey podium and retail, restaurants and entertainments, about 20 floors for offices and over 60 levels for one and two-bedroom apartments. The development will also include tenant and retail parking. The architectural consultant on the landmark project is the UK's RMJM.

The second-phase work on the estimated $2,500 million Pearl of the Gulf project covers the quay towers, the Pearl Canal townhouses, the Garden penthouses and townhouses, the Corniche towers, the Pearl estates, island hotels and the Pearl quays. The Pearl of the Gulf project, which is being promoted by the local United Development Company (UDC), offers non-GCC expatriates the first opportunity to own freehold properties in Qatar (MEED 9:4:04).

Project manager prequalifiers include Australia's Bovis Lend Lease, the UK's Mace International, Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners), KEO International Consultantsand Projacs, both Kuwait-based, and Hill International, PB International, Parsons Internationaland Turner International, all US-based.

Dredging and reclamation work started on the project in April. Phase 1 reclamation is due to be completed in the fourth quarter. UDC's marine consultant is Denmark's COWI, while Parsons International, which headed the masterplan team, is working as infrastructure consultant.

The island, located 350 metres offshore, will comprise 10 themed districts, which will eventually house 30,000 residents in more than 7,600 homes. In addition, it will include three luxury hotels, four marinas with moorings for over 700 boats and 60,000 square metres of retail and restaurant space.