Zaya, a UAE-based luxury boutique real estate developer, has announced the appointment of Dutch firm Van Oord as contractor for the dredging and marine works element of its premiere property project.

Nurai, a stunning private community of limited edition resort beach-front estates and water villas on a natural island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, was launched in the beginning of 2008.

The launch witnessed a spectacular sold out success for its first phase, making it one of the most exciting and significant real estate projects in the region.

The Dh3 billion iconic project is being developed with a magnitude that requires the skills and expertise of several world-class companies to ensure its success, including Van Oord, the contractor responsible for the construction of Palm Jumeirah and The World in Dubai. 

The prestigious Dutch firm has over 150 years of experience in the dredging and marine construction industry and owns one of the largest state-of-the-art dredging fleets in the world.

Van Oord, will start working on the initial infrastructure from next month and undertake the dredging, sculpturing of Nurai’s magnificent beaches, building the marina and associated marine and rock works.

'We have chosen Van Oord based on their enviable reputation in the industry and notable portfolio of projects that match the profile and prestige of Nurai,' he explained.

'The size and magnitude of the island requires exceptional partners who will help us deliver an outstanding result that will appeal to a very discerning clientele,' said Nadia Zaal, Zaya CEO.

'Van Oord is pleased to be working with such great visionaries in the property sector in the UAE. Zaal’s vision for Nurai is impressive and rivals some of the best island developments we have seen in the many years that we have been in the industry,' he added.

'Our commitment is to provide the same level of expertise and dedication that have made Van Oord a well established and well respected contractor in the industry for over a century,” said Niels de Bruijn, area managing director, Van Oord.

With over 12 months of detailed planning and input, using the world’s best consultants and specialists in their respective fields, the initial phase of Nurai is due for completion in June 2009.

Zaya is already in discussions with other leading specialist contractors who will undertake other aspects of the construction.

The entire project is programmed to be completed and handed over in December 2010, and the full project on track for completion December 2010.

Nurai is the first in a series of unique projects being developed by Zaya for the upscale property market.

The company’s extensive research has shown that there is a shortage of this type of project, a category that Zaya will remain focused on with plans for expansion into the Middle East, Asia and Europe.-TradeArabia News Service