Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer Imkan said work is progressing at a steady pace on its luxury villa development Nudra coming up at Saadiyat Island's Cultural District in the UAE capital.

A 37-villa unit, Nudra had broken ground earlier this year. With more than 20 per cent of the project already  completed, it is well on track for a timely handover in July next year.

The meticulously-planned 26,000-sq-ft development plots along the beachfront are currently being graded, ready for handover before year-end, said a statement from Imkan.

The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Capital Group, said site offices are well-established and the first stage foundation work, including the bulk excavation, dewatering and the installation of over 1,500 piles, has been successfully completed.

Furthermore, 11 out of the 32 villa basements are ready and five of the ground floor slabs already cast, with the remainder set to follow in quick succession, it added.

Imkan has also reported that the Jerusalem Limestone, which is to clad the external elevations, has been quarried and is now being cut and finished, with the first batch due to arrive at the site later this month.

The building structures are already starting to rise above ground level, giving purchasers an increasing sense of the scale of these luxurious villas, said the developer.

The ‘shell and core’ finish will enable purchasers to fully customise their interiors, it stated.

CEO Walid El Hindi said: "Imkan is fast gaining a strong reputation in this market because of our ability to differentiate ourselves from our competitors through projects such as Nudra that bring the notion of place-making to life. We believe in building enriched communities and spaces that allow for human interaction - going beyond just providing housing."

"With Nudra, we are introducing a concept of customized fit outs (shell and core) while simultaneously setting new benchmarks for community-living. With its ability to offer bespoke properties that cater to the individual needs of customers, Imkan’s developments have achieved high uptake among potential investors and end users," he noted.

According to Imkan, the construction of the hillside retaining wall at the rear of the project is also now complete.

This structure is designed to support the gentle rising hill that is located approximately 6 m above the entrance level, providing villas at the rear with magnificent views of both the Arabian Sea and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.  Formation of the beach is also progressing well with completion forecast for February 2019, it added.

Richard Larmer, the senior director for development at Imkan, said: "We are very pleased with the progress we have achieved to date on this exceptional project that is set to put design-oriented living in focus. The quality of the Nudra development is evident from the top-tier architecture and design contracts being awarded to experts in our field."

"At Imkan, we are committed to delivering our projects in a timely and credible manner. Nudra reinforces our pledge to enhance the UAE’s residential and commercial landscape through new and exciting offerings," he stated.

Earlier this year, Imkan had reported that its had awarded the construction contract for Nudra to a joint-venture of Wates and Eastern.

Wates is a renowned UK company that has executed highly skilled restoration works on Buckingham Palace and locally on Qasr Al Hosn, while UAE-based construction and civil engineering firm Eastern brings to the table four decades of experience in the local market.

Moreover, award-winning architect Meisa Batayneh Maani, the founder and principal architect at Maisam Architects and Engineers, is chief designer of the development.-TradeArabia News Service