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Safari Park Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: A raft of new projects to further boost the quality of life in Dubai are set for completion by the end of the year, Dubai Municipality officials say.

Projects ranging from the new Dh299 million Dubai Safari Park to a Dh269 million fish market and an iconic Dh160 million project shaped like a giant Dubai frame are being built to bring added value to the lives of people living in the emirate.

As part of the initiative to transform the city, the municipality announced that some 68 projects worth around Dh4.5 billion currently either being reviewed, designed or implemented.

Redesigning and renovating several parks for the purpose of increasing green spaces in the city and delivering public squares and the African Village are just some of the projects to expect within the coming years.

In a presentation held in the presence of Hussain Lootah, Director-General of the municipality, at the municipality, Mohammad Mashroom, General Manager of the Public Projects Department, said over 10 projects are set for completion this year.

“Among the two large projects to be completed this year are the fish market, which is 85 per cent complete, and the Dubai Frame project, which is 75 per cent complete. The fish market will be ready in September while the Dubai Frame project is expected to be ready on the 44th UAE National Day this December,” he said.

The Dubai Frame will frame views of the city allowing a scene of Old Dubai from one side and the New Dubai skyline from another.

As for the long-awaited zoo park coming up opposite Dragon Mart, Mashroom confirmed that it will be ready by the end of November. “Currently the basic iron structures forming the animal cages are being fitted and work is being done to finish the main building. Other works to design the zoo park are also being finalised.”

Among other projects to be completed this year are the market for buying and selling used furniture, which is 90 per cent ready, he said. “There is also the Hatta Heritage Souq and Motel, expected to be ready in December, Dubai Club for Special Sports to be ready in October, villas in Hatta and Al Quoz. the Hatta community centre, and the Dubai Centre for Wetlands, also to be completed in October.”

Throughout next year, Mashroom added, the municipality will complete nine big projects, including the African Village as part of the Safari project, which will be ready in June 2016, General Directorate and Foreign Affairs building, Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre, Zayed University project, and the Scrap Materials Market.

“Around 25 horticulture projects and eight park redesigning projects are being reviewed in Al Mizhar, Al Quoz, Al Muteena, Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa’a 3 and other locations. Three parks and public squares are being designed throughout the current phase. All these projects are estimated to cost Dh100 million in total,” he said.

The municipality’s public projects department said it has confirmed the implementation of 11 service projects this year worth above Dh79 million. Nine parks and public square projects worth around Dh77 million are already under construction, including the Quran Park project, which is currently in its third phase of construction, and Palm Park, which is expected to be ready in December 2016.

Other future projects to be reviewed and studied were also discussed during the presentation. The estimated cost of these projects is Dh2.6 billion, said Mashroom.

“The municipality is currently also reviewing 14 other projects worth over Dh1.3 billion, and they are already being designed. Among them is the Mohammad Bin Rashid Library, which is expected to cost Dh385 million, the Mohammad Bin Rashid Electronic College to cost Dh320 million and the Global Court project worth around Dh133 million.”