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Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has appointed Cisco as its technology consultant to formulate the overall technology strategy for its BD2 million Convention Centre Complex.
Jafza will be merging IT and real estate processes to plan, develop and build a solid infrastructure that will offer revenue-producing and differentiating services to developers as well as tenants at the facility.
Based on Cisco’s Connected Real Estate framework, the Convention Centre Complex will feature intelligent buildings and infrastructure components, offering value added services that are built on a converged IP network backbone, Jafza said.
Cisco will be responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of all Real Estate electrical systems and creating the value added services catalogue, which will be offered to the tenants of the complex, it added.
The Cisco Connected Real Estate framework will be based on the Internet Protocol (IP) network as the fourth utility in the development, in addition to water, gas and electricity.
With this concept, the complex project is set to realise significant benefits in process efficiencies, simpler operations, higher workforce productivity, reduced capital and operational costs, superior security, and opportunities for revenue generation through value added services, Jafza said.
“We are offering our customers the opportunity to capitalise on a smart infrastructure that vigorously adapts and progresses with their ever-changing business needs,” Jafza chief executive Salma Hareb said.
Cisco Emerging Markets director of Real Estate Amr Salem said, “By implementing a highly secure, intelligent and scalable networking platform, we will mitigate risks of disruption as well as be able to quickly deploy new services that can drive operational efficiencies and business results.”
“Our Connected Real Estate framework consists of building a smart communications infrastructure that acts as the fourth utility in the development hosting all real estate systems on a converged IP network.”
Due to be completed by the end of 2009, the complex has an area of 72,700 square metres and will include 22 meeting and conference rooms, exhibitions halls, a 700-seat modular auditorium, a fitness centre, a recreational area as well as 22 retail outlets.
The complex will also comprise a twin-tower commercial building that will house 1,274 offices, a 322-room four-star hotel and a 4,100 space car park.
