The MAG 218--A Brief History
MAG 218 Timeline:
Initial concept images were completed on 18 December, 2004. These provided both interior and exterior views of the tower.
The intial project launch finally took place in March 2005. 11 March news reports provided more detail:
Shortly thereafter an official launch ceremony was held at the Burj Al Arab:
The launch was followed with an ad campaign:
Within a month sales catalogs were also released. By the end of April MAG PDD had teamed up with Asteco to hold a showing of its tower with a newly constructed scale model. Several news sources publicized this event:
Reports for when the tower would be complete began to vary. In November 2004 a completion date of 3rd quarter 2007 was suggested. In the March 11 press release a start date of July 2005 was suggested with project completion in 32 months--by February 2008. This would remain consistent with later estimates of a 1st quarter 2008 date of completion.
In July 2005, however, construction did not begin nor was a main contractor selected. More press reports, however, were published. MAG PDD general manager Mohammed Nimer was interviewed by Colin Foreman for ITP Construction:
The interview revealed a lot about MAG's stated commitment to quality and delivering the product promised--a theme elaborted on further in a later November 2005 interview. Mr. Nimer went on to say that the concept design had been finished and work was being done on the "detailed design." This work would finally be completed on 28 August with an updated design adding balconies to the two-bedroom units.
This was the last report on the MAG 218 published in the general media for the remainder of 2005. This dearth of reporting, however, would be made up for by the persistence of the MAG 218 Community website in gathering further detail about the project from web forums and ultimately through direct communications with the developer. The result of these efforts was a 12 November Interview with the general manager. In it, Mohammed Nimer offered a number of assurances. Regarding quality control he asserted,
That being said, there were continued delays in the start of construction and the announcement of any contractors. The start date was moved from July to August, August to October and finally October to January. The first year since announcement of the MAG 218 project ends with a piling contractor having just been announced.
Having set targets of 100 new units being sold by year-end MAG PDD launched a major new advertising campaign in November. Spending over Dhs 800,000 the company released full-page news ads and hung banners from city flyovers. It also enlisted the efforts of other sales agents, having abrogated its working relationship on the project with Asteco earlier in the year.
A perusal of the MAG 218 Community site and associated pages will reveal the full extent of activities and developments on the MAG 218 project. The year was characterized by high anticipation at the launch of a new, distinctive tower for the Dubai Marina. Delayed progress, however, on the awarding of a contract and start of construction tempered some of the enthusiasm. The year 2006 will once again set into play hopes for a year of steady progress on the construction front.
Go to MAG 218 Community homepage, Dubai Marina Communities or DM Blog.
- 06 November 2004: Project announced in news publications.
- 18 December 2004: Concept drawings completed.
- 11 March 2005: Official launch announced.
- 15 March 2005: Official launch party held at the Burj Al Arab.
- 30 April 2005: Scale model put on display.
- 28 August 2005: Re-design of tower completed.
- 12 November 2005: "Re-launch" sales campaign initiated.
- 26 December 2005: Piling contractor announced--Arabian Forasol.
MAG Group will shortly launch a 55-storey development at Dubai Marina. Featuring 534 units, the promoters expect an average sale price of Dh800 a square foot for the MAG 218 tower. Completion is set for the third quarter of 2007.
Initial concept images were completed on 18 December, 2004. These provided both interior and exterior views of the tower.
The intial project launch finally took place in March 2005. 11 March news reports provided more detail:
Moafaq Al Gaddah Group launched its latest project, MAG 218 Tower at the Dubai Marina recently. Officials said the value of the 66-storey luxury residential project is estimated at more than Dh350 million. Dar Al Handasah, who designed the project, has been appointed project management consultant. Asteco has been named sales and marketing agents and Amlak will support the buyers with mortgage finance. Mohammad Nimer, director of MAG Group's property development department, told Gulf News that construction will begin in July. "We expect to choose the main contractor by July after a tendering process. The project is scheduled for completion in 32 months," he said.
Shortly thereafter an official launch ceremony was held at the Burj Al Arab:
MAG Property Development Department which is a part of MAG Group of Companies held a dinner party at Burj Al Arab to launch their latest project: MAG 218 Tower in Dubai Marina... The event was attended by high-profile businessmen specialized in the real estate business.
The launch was followed with an ad campaign:
Within a month sales catalogs were also released. By the end of April MAG PDD had teamed up with Asteco to hold a showing of its tower with a newly constructed scale model. Several news sources publicized this event:
Asteco, real estate and property management company will present a model for the MAG218 project, the 55-storey tower with 550-apartments to be built within the Dubai Marina on April 30 and May 1 at its head office in Capricorn Tower, Shaikh Zayed Road... Asteco consultants will be available to introduce the new project, which takes its name from the 27-year-old Moafaq Gaddah Group (MAG)... MAG218 will be completed by the first quarter of 2008, and the consultancy Dar Al Handash is already working on the building's design plans.
Reports for when the tower would be complete began to vary. In November 2004 a completion date of 3rd quarter 2007 was suggested. In the March 11 press release a start date of July 2005 was suggested with project completion in 32 months--by February 2008. This would remain consistent with later estimates of a 1st quarter 2008 date of completion.
In July 2005, however, construction did not begin nor was a main contractor selected. More press reports, however, were published. MAG PDD general manager Mohammed Nimer was interviewed by Colin Foreman for ITP Construction:
(Saturday, 23 July, 2005) MAG’s Commitment to Quality Real Estate: What are the origins of the MAG Group? The company was originally founded in the UAE in 1978, dealing in car parts, batteries and tyres...
The interview revealed a lot about MAG's stated commitment to quality and delivering the product promised--a theme elaborted on further in a later November 2005 interview. Mr. Nimer went on to say that the concept design had been finished and work was being done on the "detailed design." This work would finally be completed on 28 August with an updated design adding balconies to the two-bedroom units.
This was the last report on the MAG 218 published in the general media for the remainder of 2005. This dearth of reporting, however, would be made up for by the persistence of the MAG 218 Community website in gathering further detail about the project from web forums and ultimately through direct communications with the developer. The result of these efforts was a 12 November Interview with the general manager. In it, Mohammed Nimer offered a number of assurances. Regarding quality control he asserted,
I want to be sure that you’ll have it and you will be satisfied with it from all aspects, like time-wise, quality-wise, service-after-sale wise, which is very important for us… All of this will help us in promoting ourselves… This is a guarantee—other than the contract, other than all the insurance we are giving you; but more assurance is our name.
That being said, there were continued delays in the start of construction and the announcement of any contractors. The start date was moved from July to August, August to October and finally October to January. The first year since announcement of the MAG 218 project ends with a piling contractor having just been announced.
Having set targets of 100 new units being sold by year-end MAG PDD launched a major new advertising campaign in November. Spending over Dhs 800,000 the company released full-page news ads and hung banners from city flyovers. It also enlisted the efforts of other sales agents, having abrogated its working relationship on the project with Asteco earlier in the year.
A perusal of the MAG 218 Community site and associated pages will reveal the full extent of activities and developments on the MAG 218 project. The year was characterized by high anticipation at the launch of a new, distinctive tower for the Dubai Marina. Delayed progress, however, on the awarding of a contract and start of construction tempered some of the enthusiasm. The year 2006 will once again set into play hopes for a year of steady progress on the construction front.
Go to MAG 218 Community homepage, Dubai Marina Communities or DM Blog.
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