Lennarts hemsida

Ruwais, located 240 km west of Abu Dhabi is a green and safe place to be in. Having all the needed facilities, such as shops and community services. Maybe not very much to do, except golf and recreation activities, but I'd say it's a good place to live. The new hotel, currently under construction will be a real face lift for Ruwais, SPA, more restaurants and a great pool and beach area are almost completed. Grand Opening in November. The distance to Abu Dhabi takes 2 hrs with normal 'overspeeding' and the roads are in very good condition.

Pool at the rec center

Pool at Ruwais cafeteria

Housing complex	Guest House

Sidan uppdaterad 4/10-04 Lennart

Following article from Borouge.

Construction is currently underway for Borouge's US$1.2 billion petrochemical complex in Ruwais, one of the largest polyethylene production facilities in the Middle East and the first significant downstream petrochemical investment in the United Arab Emirates.

The 260-hectare Ruwais complex will also be the first petrochemical facility in the region to implement bimodal capabilities for high-density and linear low-density polyethylene using Borealis' state-of-the-art proprietary Borstar technology. This technology, which was first introduced in 1995, will enable Borouge to offer competitively-priced products that are substantially stronger and more easily processed than unimodal products for use in a broad range of applications in the pipe, blow-moulding, film and extrusion coating industries.

Partnership between ADNOC & Borealis

The partnership between ADNOC and Borealis allows Borouge to draw on the technical expertise of both companies in the production of high quality and competitively-priced products. In particular, customers will benefit from stronger and more eco-friendly polyethylene produced by Borealis' proprietary Borstar PE technology. This technology will be incorporated into Borouge's new petrochemical facility in Ruwais which will be completed in late 2001.

Borouge itself is made up of two separate legal companies - a production company, Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Limited (Borouge), based in Abu Dhabi and a marketing company, Borouge Pte Ltd, based in Singapore.

Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Limited (Borouge), which is 60% owned by ADNOC and 40% by Borealis, oversees the construction and running of Borouge's US$1.2 billion petrochemical complex in Ruwais.

The marketing arm, Borouge Pte Ltd, is equally (50/50) owned by ADNOC and Borealis. It has its headquarters in Singapore and sales and marketing offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi. Plans are also in the pipeline to set up offices in other key markets. Borouge Pte Ltd is currently the sole distributor for Borealis' non-wire and cable polyethylene products in the Middle East, East Africa, the Indian subcontinent, North East Asia, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand and will be the exclusive distributor for all polyethylene products produced in Ruwais.

Al Ruwais set for major expansion

By Sana Bagersh

A view of Ruwais recreational centre ©GN picture by Sana Bagersh.

Abu Dhabi - Al Ruwais township, an unusual settlement 250 km from Abu Dhabi city that serves the emirate's oil-pumping heartland, is to double in size to accommodate growth in the emirate's petrochemical industry over the next two to three years. Meticulously designed with wide roads and precise landscaping, the township of 7,500 people will soon be a close neighbour of one of the world's busiest petrochemical complexes. The deafening quiet of the housing areas belies the bustling preparations being made to accommodate the influx of new residents.

"More houses will be built, marking the first major expansion in the township since it was built in 1982," said Shashi Panikkar, General Manager of Al Dhafra Beach Hotel, who has been working at Ruwais's only hotel for 19 years. At present, residents live in 1,300 single family homes that range from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom villas. But soon another 800 new villas will be built, alongside a 125 one-bedroom apartment block that is nearing completion.

Growth of the 16-year-old township is being fuelled by a $1.8 billion expansion scheme of the Ruwais industrial complex that includes increasing production at GASCO and FERTIL, the construction of a new condensate plant, a fuel sweetening unit, 23 storage tanks, a 280 MW power plant, as well as the much trumpeted ADNOC-Borealis polyethylene plant.

The majority of new workers and their families will be resettled in the Ruwais Housing Complex, others in the 6,000-strong camps already in existence around the industrial areas. An increase in visiting petrochemical industry consultants will mean a greater demand for more temporary lodgings at the Al Dhafra Beach Hotel.

As well as the township residents, there are 6,000 oil workers who live in six camps scattered around Ruwais that each accommodate between 100 and 600 people. Most are low cost portacabins run by subcontractors.

The Ruwais township, on the other hand, is inhabited by oil workers with their families. They are of Arab, subcontinent and European origin. Most of the women are housewives, but some work as teachers and nurses.

Social life

Their social life revolves around a lavish recreational centre that was built 10 years ago. It is equipped with three cafeterias, two cinema halls, a library, bowling alley, swimming pool, courts for squash, tennis and soccer, along with separate rooms for cards, bridge, darts, snooker and chess. A smaller women's-only centre was built more recently.

Despite the range of options at the recreational centre, most residents turn to each other for companionship. Others find it hard to assimilate. Most of those who have lived in the township for many years say that Ruwais lifestyle is one that is acquired over time.

"It was hard in the beginning for me. But now I have adjusted and appreciate the quiet and the safety. I know many people go crazy here after a few months, but many of us like being away from crowded city life," said one resident who declined to give her name.

There are no restaurants but the township is served by three mosques, two supermarkets and a small department store. There are a number of bank branches and a two-level shopping arcade with travel agency, driving academy, jewellery shop and computer store, as well as a "souk" of fabric, shoes, luggage, stationery, household goods and tailoring shops.

The 1,000 youngsters who live in Ruwais go to a small government school or one of the three private schools on site: Ruwais International School, Ghiyathi Indian School, or Al Anwar School. They spend their time at the recreational centre, watching television or doing homework.

The Al Dhafra Beach Hotel, the only other centre of entertainment, is stepping up its activities with golf tournaments, coffee mornings for the women, and other social activities. Pannikar says that his hotel also aims be a tourism destination for UAE residents in search of an out-of-the-way "retreat", and as a midpoint stopover for travellers driving between Doha and Abu Dhabi city.

The hotel is starting a shuttle service to the township and camps. Its new parent company, National corporation for Tourism and Hotels, plans to set up a travel hot line for the resort and promote it as a base for tourism to a number of nearby islands.