Rixima conducted a ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of work on a dedicated Dh700 million ($190.6 million) student accommodation project at Dubai International Academic City (DIAC).

Scheduled to be completed in September 2011, the Rixima Student Accommodation will be home to 2,800 students studying at DIAC, the only free zone dedicated to international higher education. It is the first stand-alone student accommodation to be built in Dubai.

The ground breaking ceremony was attended by Dr Ayoub Kazim, DIAC executive director. The ceremony took place just one month after the launch of the Rixima Student Accommodation project.

During the ceremony, Zoltan Katona, general manager, Rixima announced that a Time Capsule will be buried in the foundations of the student accommodation.

"The capsule will contain a selection of everyday items from modern Dubai that will provide a snap shot of life in Dubai today for future generations. A competition is to be held to identify which items should be included in the Time Capsule," he explained.

"Today’s event marks the beginning of the physical delivery phase of top quality on-campus accommodation at Dubai International Academic City."

"The complex, with its spacious studios and single bedroom apartments, will reflect our commitment to creating a world-class environment that will meet the specific needs of students who have chosen Dubai for their higher education,” Katona noted.

"Our aim is to provide a home-from-home, using state-of-the-art construction materials and technology, which is welcoming and secure."

"We are confident that the Rixima Student Accommodation will raise the bar for student accommodation in the region and reinforce DIAC’s position as a leading destination for the world’s premier educational institutions," he added.

Spread over 1.3 million sq feet with 1,400 plus units, the project will include 417 sq ft and 492 sq ft studio apartments, with separate bathroom and kitchenette facilities.

The single bedroom accommodation will measure 580 sq ft in size at the purpose-built development.

Dr Ayoub Kazim, executive director, DIAC said: “The ground breaking ceremony is an important milestone in the development of DIAC. It moves us one step further along the road of providing top-quality on-campus accommodation for our students.”

High quality sound insulated internal walls made out of clay bricks and sound proof slab is one of the several innovative engineering solutions incorporated into the project, he explained.

Equipped with modern conveniences such as broadband Internet connection, as well as a grocery store, coffee shop, gym, swimming pool and laundry facilities, the project will include 1,300 parking bays in the basement.

Catering to the academic requirements of over 12,000 students, DIAC currently hosts 32 academic institutions from 13 different countries from diverse regions, including the US, the UK, Iran, Russia, Australia, Sri Lanka, France, Pakistan and India.

Some of the important names include Michigan State University, Heriot-Watt University, Hult International Business School, and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.-TradeArabia News Service