Murray & Roberts Construction MD Stephen Pell, whose group is involved in several building projects in Dubai, says the company recently completed the 47-storey Shangri La hotel and apartment development.

The company has been involved in many large projects in Dubai, the most well-known being the Burj al-Arab hotel, the tallest hotel in the world.

It is busy working on a shopping centre, the Bur Juman, which is scheduled to be finished by May or June next year.

The company has also been working on the marina development Madinat Jumeirah for the past 10 months. The development, which includes a 300-bed hotel , should be finished by March next year.

Pell says Dubai's reliance on its oil reserves is tapering off with the focus shifting to tourism.

"They realised the oil reserves will run out in a few decades. Dubai has now created a focus on tourism and industry. More and more tourists are going there every year."

Pell says Dubai is a travel hub for the world and that the Emirates airline has recently placed a R12bn order for new aircraft.

"We finished constructing their new airport terminal two years ago and Dubai is now doubling the size," Pell says.

"Dubai itself is very busy with developments, particularly commercial buildings, hotel and accommodation."

Murray & Roberts Construction is involved in other property developments in the Middle East.

Pell says the company is busy building the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's new headquarters, which should be completed by June next year.

The company is also involved in construction at the Hidd port in Bahrain, where it is building an 1,8km-long quay. "It's scheduled to be completed by January 2005, but we're well ahead of the programme at the moment," says Pell.

Murray & Roberts Construction has also started working on the multipurpose Khalifa Stadium in Qatar, which is being built for the Asian Games. It is due for completion at the end of 2004.

Pell says that his company has Middle East partners in all of its developments.