Rakeen, one of the region's leading property developers and master planners, said it has completed 80 per cent of infrastructure work on Al Marjan Island, the first-of-its-kind man-made island in Ras Al Khaimah.

Rakeen said the project was on track for its targeted completion date in 2012. The company further revealed that infrastructure services such as potable water system, irrigation system, storm water system, rising main system and vacuum system will be ready by the time the first development projects on the island are completed.

The first phase of the infrastructure work, consisting of Peninsula Island No. 1 and 2, was awarded to Kumho Industrial from South Korea, which started construction work in September 2008.

The second phase, consisting of Peninsula Island 3 and 4, was awarded to Italian contractor Rizzani De Eccher and work commenced in November 2009.

Yahia Kambris, technical director of Rakeen, said, 'The construction work has progressed according to schedule and we are on track to complete all infrastructure work in 18 months.'

'The first development projects to be completed on the island will then be able to hook up to the infrastructure services and enjoy various amenities on the island,' he added.

'As we enter the final stretch of construction work, there has been a growing excitement among future residents of Al Marjan Island as various sections of the prestigious development now begin to take shape,' Kambris said.

'In line with Rakeen's core values of sustainability, responsibility and prosperity, Al Marjan Island is being developed to be one of the most attractive communities in the region with a serene and optimised living environment that provides a perfect balance between life and work,' he added.

The Dh6.6 billion ($1.8 billion) Al Marjan Island, one of the major projects of Rakeen, consists of five man-made coral-shaped islands, covering over 2.7 million sq m and extending up to 4 km into the Arabian Gulf.-TradeArabia News Service