Silicon Oasis makes Dh210M ‘smart’ move
Authority to invest in smart services and construction of light industrial units in the free zone.
dubai — Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority will invest Dh210 million on smart services as well as for the construction of the light industrial units in the free zone.
Spread over 18,000 sqm, the fifth phase was completed in January 2017 with total investment in the project reaching approximately Dh223 million. The sixth and final phase of the project, set for completion in Q1 2019, has been launched at a total cost of Dh110 million.
DSOA has commenced accepting leasing requests for office space and lifestyle facilities at Silicon Park, it said in a statement on Saturday.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), said the entity registered a 5.4 per cent increase in revenue over the same period in 2016.
In H1 2017, DSOA registered a 23 per cent increase in the number of rented spaces in its Data Center while reporting hikes in service fee profits at 28 per cent and community services profits at 18 per cent compared to the first six months of 2016.
According to latest figures, 36 per cent of the companies at the hitech park are from the Middle East and Africa region, 25 per cent are European, 30 per cent are Asian, while seven per cent originate from the Americas. Around 81 per cent of these companies operate in the technology sector, while 19 per cent span other industries.
Silicon Oasis will have 71,000-square meters of office space, a 25,000-square meter retail expanse, 46,000-square meters of residential area, the 112-key Radisson Red DSO Hotel and 59 furnished apartments, as well as lifestyle facilities such as restaurants, cafés, health centers, gyms, running and cycle tracks, prayer rooms, shopping center, and underground parking to accommodate over 2,500 cars. In February 2017, Sheikh Ahmed unveiled the commemorative plaque and laid the foundation stone of Silicon Park at DSO – the first project in Dubai to fully implement the smart city concept, spanning 150,000-square meters and set for construction at a cost of Dh1.3 billion.
He noted that DSOA has allocated Dh100 million to provide an advanced technological infrastructure at Silicon Park and to implement smart services in line with Dubai’s smart city initiatives.
He said: “In line with the UAE Vision 2021, the project achieves several of the key performance indicators of the UAE National Agenda, including cohesive community, safe society, and sustainable environment, and aligns with the latest global trends for smart cities. Silicon Park has already garnered
The project achieves several of the key performance indicators of the UAE National Agenda Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority
much interest from international companies keen to participate in the UAE’s march to sustainability. Once complete, it will provide a superior standard of living for residents, professionals, and visitors.”
The number of companies operating within DSO reached 2,100 at the end of H1 2017, he added.
As a smart community, Silicon Park will feature intelligent solutions from charging docks for smart devices on the streets to smart popup furniture and digital play tables, as well as optimally designed bus shelters, piazza shading, and other public amenities.
Furthermore, its residential units will boast remote-controlled systems that can regulate lighting, air conditioning, and electrical appliances in addition to controlling the movement of windows and curtains. Upon completion, the project will offer a range of office spaces and business facilities including meeting rooms and a multi-purpose conference center. In compliance with Dubai Municipality’s Green Building Regulations and Specifications and international LEED standards, Silicon Park will leverage green building materials and control mechanisms as well as solar panels and double-glazed windows to reduce heat absorption.
The project will optimize the use of renewable energy resources and adopt measures to achieve efficiency in energy consumption. In line with this objective, it will feature smart lighting systems with motion sensor controls that respond to traffic and pedestrians.
Silicon Park will also include a control center that collects and analyses data gathered through sensor devices. The collated information will enable seamless management of smart devices to ensure the delivery of best-in-class smart services to employees, residents, and visitors.
Completely free of regular vehicles, Silicon Park will use electricity-powered alternatives as the primary mode of transportation. All residents and visitors owning electric vehicles will be able to access the charging stations set up across the premises. In addition, they will have the option to use smart rechargeable electric bikes as a means of conveyance.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) joined forces in a ground-breaking strategic partnership to plot out specific routes for the movement of RTA’s smart vehicles at DSO. The initiative reinforces the shared commitment of the two government entities towards enhancing the smart mobility concept in Dubai.
In a bid to encourage the public to use zero-emission electric cars, DSOA announced a new initiative enabling electric vehicle owners to use the charging stations on its premises free of charge from 22 March 2017 until the end of the year.