Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafz) has appointed Cisco to build an intelligent infrastructure for its Dh2 billion ($544 million) Convention Centre Complex.

Through its collaboration with Cisco as its technology consultant, Jafza will be merging IT and real estate processes to plan, develop and build a solid infrastructure that will offer revenue-producing and differentiating services to developers as well as tenants at the facility, said a statement.

Based on Cisco’s Connected Real Estate framework, the Convention Centre Complex will feature intelligent buildings and infrastructure components, offering value added services that are built on a converged IP network backbone.

Cisco will be responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of all real estate electrical systems and creating the value added services catalogue, which will be offered to the tenants of the Convention Centre Complex.

The Cisco Connected Real Estate framework will be based on the IP Network as the fourth utility in the development, in addition to water, gas and electricity. With this concept, Jafza Convention Centre Complex project is set to realise significant benefits in process efficiencies, simpler operations, higher workforce productivity, reduced capital and operational costs, superior security, and opportunities for revenue generation through value added services.

Further, the flexibility and scalability of the IP foundation will accommodate the ever-changing business requirements for developers during the development and construction stages of the Convention Centre project and for the tenants who will occupy and utilize the Complex services and facilities, the statement said.

According to Salma Hareb, CEO Jafza and Economic Zones World, this agreement further extends Jafza’s commitment to provide the tenants of the Convention Centre Complex with state-of-the-art value added services, and a highly efficient growth driven business environment.

“We are offering our customers the opportunity to capitalise on a smart infrastructure that vigorously adapts and progresses with their ever-changing business needs,” Hareb said. “By implementing a highly secure, intelligent and scalable networking platform, we will mitigate risks of disruption as well as be able to quickly deploy new services that can drive operational efficiencies and business results.

 “Our Connected Real Estate framework consists of building a smart communications infrastructure that acts as the fourth utility in the development hosting all real estate systems on a converged IP network. This will then become the fabric of every building, and will act as the platform supporting all the centre’s real estate requirements,” said Amr Salem, director of the Real Estate segment for Cisco in the Emerging Markets.

“It is the Information Utility – also known as the fourth utility – that provides a foundation for cost reduction, operational efficiencies, and revenue generation through value added services. Such benefits are realized by the developers, operators and tenants.”

Due to be completed by the end of 2009, the Convention Centre Complex spreads over an area of 72,700 sq m, and will include 22 meeting and conference rooms, exhibitions halls, a 700-seat modular auditorium, a fitness centre, a recreational area as well as 22 retail outlets. The Convention Centre Complex will also comprise a twin-tower commercial building that will house 1,274 offices, a 322 – room four star hotel and a 4,100 space car park.

“Jafza’s next-generation Convention Centre Complex represents a major step in the region’s real estate industry and we are proud to play such a critical role. We applaud Jafza for having the foresight to create an Intelligent Building that is capable of delivering advanced services to its customer base,” Salem concluded. – TradeArabia News Service