Emirates City Forum

Please read the article below posted in arabianbusiness.com on 10/07/08 by Claire Ferris-Lay:

"Real estate projects in the Northern Emirates could be left without utilities because development is not being properly planned, says a senior official at the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa).

This could lead to a major shortage of water, electricity and drainage, that might take years to remedy, Hassan Abdullah Al Ghasyah, executive director of supply, told UAE daily Emirates Business 24/7.

“The abrupt development in the construction field now seen in the Northern Emirates is unplanned,” he added.

“Local authorities have not co-ordinated with Fewa on the precise water and power requirements."

Al Ghasyah said Fewa was committed to increasing power and water supplies by a minimum of 8% percent annually. But private estimates of current growth in Ajman alone dwarf this figure - gross domestic product is thought to be growing at 27 percent annually, while the population increases by 18 percent.

Limited supplies of natural gas are already straining on generation capacity in some of the Northern Emirates and there have been reports of delays in connecting new developments to utilities. The issue of shortages is leading to tension between government and developers.

Al Salam City, a $8.6 billion project by Dubai-based Tameer was placed on hold in May.

The city, which was set to house up to half a million people, was due to be built in Umm Al Quwain. Tameer claimed a shortage of water and electricity meant that, for the time being, it could not proceed with the project."

I m a person having a positive approach on things in general, but unless we ll come to read that something planned and organised is going on regarding power, water supply and sewage for the Emirate of Ajman I will still feel worried,,,