CONSTRUCTION-

Meraas taps Naresco for City Walk residential development: Dubai Holding Real Estate’s subsidiary Meraas has awarded Naresco Contracting an AED 450 mn contract for the main construction works of Central Park Plaza residential development — the final phase of Dubai’s City Walk project, according to a press release.

The details: The project will deliver 212 apartments, townhouses, and penthouses across two towers, with handover expected in 3Q 2027. The towers will be part of City Walk’s wider community development with sports, retail, and wellness facilities, and an outdoor events area.

AVIATION-

Serco secures AED 495 mn contract extension with Dubai Airports: British multinational Serco secured an extended guest services contract worth AED 495 mn with Dubai Airports until December 2030, according to a press release. The five-year extension follows a previous six-year partnership between the two.

Serco’s role: Serco will continue managing passenger experience operations at both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC). Services include passenger processing, VIP lounge hosting, traffic marshaling, and chauffeur operations.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Empower awards contract for new district cooling plant in Dubai: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) awarded an excavation and foundation works contract for a new district cooling plant in Al Sufouh 2 in Dubai, according to a press release (pdf), which did not disclose the identity of the firm.

Timeline and details: Excavation work began this month, with full construction scheduled to start in 4Q 2025. The plant, with a capacity of 23.4k RT, will be the first in a series of three future plant rooms that Empower plans to build in the area. It will serve multiple buildings, including the Innovation Hub business park.

HEALTHCARE-

Abu Dhabi tapped as WHO virus research partner: The Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) has been designated as the World Health Organization’s first collaborating center in the Middle East for research and capacity building in emerging respiratory viruses and associated infections, according to Abu Dhabi Media Office. The designation is effective through 2028, adding ADPHC to a global network supporting WHO-led research.

TRADE-

Dubai International Chamber expands into Canada: Dubai International Chamber has launched its first representative office in North America, setting up shop in Toronto as part of its global push to deepen trade and investment ties, state news agency Wam reports. The new office will act as a launchpad for Canadian firms into Dubai and vice versa.

Why Canada? …and why now? Non-oil trade between the two countries hit AED 10.2 bn in 2024, and by year-end, 4.1k Canadian companies were active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce— up 29% y-o-y. Some 289 new firms have also joined in the first quarter of this year.

DEBT-

Galadari secures funding for sports complex from Emirates NBD: EmiratesNBD has closed a green term loan facility with Galadari Sports to finance a new sustainable sports complex in Al Quoz in Dubai, according to a press release. The facility will include gyms, squash and padel courts, swimming pools, and will be powered by solar panels and water recycling systems. As part of the bank’s sustainable financing framework, the project will have to adhere to environmental standards and impact reporting.

Another one? Galadari Sports is part of Dubai-based conglomerate Galadari Brothers, which recently received sustainability-linked financing (SLF) from our friends at Mashreq.

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