15 Mar 2010

Limitless is putting the finishing touches to The Galleries’ 20,000 square metre eco-friendly outdoor plaza, with landscaping, lawns, pools and shaded seating areas now complete at the company’s flagship project in Dubai. 

The plaza – the social centre of the mixed-use development, and a new destination for Dubai – takes up a third of the total land area of The Galleries, under construction in zone one of Downtown Jebel Ali, master planned by Limitless.  

The outdoor space – a hallmark of Limitless developments – contains more than 200 trees, an amphitheatre for 300 people, two pools with fountains, and extensive shade.  There is also a 105 sqm screen, currently in the final stages of construction, overlooking the amphitheatre and providing a focal point for cultural and social events.

The plaza will be lined with cafes, restaurants and shops, the first of which are undergoing fit-out, serving 14,000 people who will live and work at The Galleries when it is complete.  Around 1,500 are already based in the A-grade office buildings there.

Salah Ameen, Deputy Executive Director for Limitless in the Middle East, said: “Our plaza is the heart of The Galleries, and living proof of our commitment to balanced communities where green, open space is a major component of the master plan. With cutting edge design and engineering, the plaza promotes social and environmental sustainability by focusing on health, relaxation and wellbeing and using eco-friendly systems in its everyday operation.”
 
The plaza’s irrigation network feeds off the main irrigation system serving the entire area of zone one of Downtown Jebel Ali. In addition, the main pool and fountain uses water recycled from the air conditioning units that cool The Galleries’ commercial buildings, saving an estimated 4,000 gallons of water a day. Low energy lighting is also used throughout the plaza.

Limitless has also completed four podium level gardens at The Galleries’ office towers. Overlooking the main plaza, each garden has greenery, shade, water features and seats, providing an ideal spot for meetings, social events or a break from the office.

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, close to the Jebel Ali Free Zone, The Galleries is within easy reach of the rest of Dubai and the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. It will also be served by the Dubai Metro when the RTA opens its remaining Red Line stations.   

Four office towers at the project are complete, with commercial and retail space leased to local and international firms, including L’Oreal, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, Blom Bank France, Kraft Foods, Ericsson, SPX, CapitalStone, Subway, Diamond Lease, Mushmaool restaurant and Fresh Plus convenience store.  More leasing contracts are currently under negotiation.

Work on The Galleries’ residential buildings is also progressing, with plans to lease the first 330 apartments later this year.

For more on leasing at The Galleries, call Limitless on +971 4 435 7868 or DTZ toll-free on 600 522245 (+971 2 667 4492 outside the UAE). Alternatively, log on to www.downtownjebelali.com

Media enquiries: Rebecca Rees on +971 4 435 7956 (rebecca.rees@limitless.com)
 
Note to editors:  Media interviews and site tours of The Galleries can be arranged.