Damac Properties, a leading property developer in the region, said that cladding work has begun on its twin tower development at DIFC– Park Towers.

The development is Damac Properties’ only project at the rapidly expanding financial centre of Dubai and will offer more than 400 apartments in a range of sizes.

Park Towers is now approaching the 25th floor in the North Tower with the South Tower at the 22nd storey, said a top official, adding that both towers are now clearly visible on the DIFC skyline.

Commenting on the progress at Park Towers, Damac Properties CEO Peter Riddoch said: 'It is fitting that we should record a double achievement on our twin tower building – with the 25th floor now in sight and cladding on the outside of the building already under way.'

Arabian Aluminium, who are currently carrying out the cladding for the Burj Dubai, has been awarded the cladding contract worth Dh120 million ($32.6 million), he said.

'In addition the glass and aluminum cladding which will give the building its eye catching fully glazed façade has now commenced on site with contractors Arabian Aluminium starting to work from the 13th floor of the towers down.'

'The external finish will comprise intricate double glazed triangular panels set in aluminium framing. Thanks to its glazed finish each apartment at Park Towers will offer stunning uninterrupted views of the growing DIFC landscape, he pointed out.

According to Riddoch, construction of Park Towers’ two distinctive shaped buildings is due to be completed by the beginning of 2010.

In addition to the construction progress achieved at Park Towers recently, the building has also notched up the accolade of completing five million man hours of construction without a single lost time incident on site since work began.

To mark this milestone, contractors Shapoorji Pallonji were presented with a special certificate by Damac Properties’ Health, Safety and Environment Manager in recognition of their efforts.

'We are delighted to be working with Arabian Aluminium on this part of the project and also commend the solid progress shown by our main contractor Shapoorji Pallonji – which is even more commendable in the light of their impressive safety performance on site as well,' he commented.

‘To have reached the impressive milestone of five million man hours since construction began without a single Lost Time Incident is a testament to the teamwork and co-ordination on site among all the staff and I want to thank them for the efforts they have made,’ he said.

DIFC is one of the world's fastest growing international financial centres and aims to develop the same stature as New York, London and Hong Kong.

It primarily serves the vast region between Western Europe and East Asia and since it opened in September 2004, has attracted high calibre firms from around the globe as well as the GCC region.

‘To be able to live at the heart of a financial district and be at the centre of the action with stock markets, banks and financial institutions just minutes away is both convenient and important to the people who work in this sector,' Riddoch added.-TradeArabia News Service