Visa Inc. (pronunciation: /ˈviːzə/; NYSE: V) is a global payments technology company headquartered in 595 Market Street in San Francisco, California. It facilitates electronic funds transfers throughout the world, most commonly through Visa-branded credit card and debit cards.[2] Visa does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers; rather, Visa provides financial institutions with Visa-branded payment products that they then use to offer credit, debit, prepaid and cash-access programs to their customers. In 2008, according to The Nilson Report, Visa held a 38.3% market share of the credit card marketplace and 60.7% of the debit card marketplace in the United States.[3] In 2009, Visa’s global network (known as VisaNet) processed 62 billion transactions with a total volume of $4.4 trillion.[4][5]
Visa has operations across Asia-Pacific, North America, Central and South America, Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East. Visa Europe is a separate membership entity that is an exclusive licensee of Visa Inc.'s trademarks and technology in the European region, issuing cards such as Visa Debit.


In October 2006, the UAE’s Aldar Properties awarded a US$18.5 million contract to Abu Dhabi General Transport Company (GTC) for the construction of the road network at the Al Raha Gardens, and the surrounding areas. The GTC will undertake the construction of an eight kilometer, three-lane, dual carriageway network to form the main collector/distributor road for the development, and links to Khalifa City A.

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) have announced a plan for upgrading pedestrian facilities on Dubai roads at a total cost of US$19 million. RTA also has undertaken two major road projects worth US$188 million for the construction of Jumeirah Lake Towers Interchange across the existing Marina.

Dubai Metro:

The Dubai Metro will be a driverless, fully automated metro network under construction in Dubai. The network will have two third rail collection system powered lines that will both run underground in the city center and on elevated viaducts. elsewhere on double tracks. The first phase of the network is being built by Dubai Rapid Link (DURL), a Japanese led consortium headed by Mitsubishi while the driverless system will be designed and implemented by Thales Rail Signalling Solutions. The Dubai Metro will be operated by the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA). The Dubai Metro system will be the longest fully automated rail system in the world. Completion of the first section of the system is projected for 2009. In July 2005 a design and build Contract was awarded to a consortium known as Dubai Rail Link (DURL) that is made up of Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation and Yapi Merkezi of Turkey.

The first phase worth US$4.2 billion covering 35-kilometers of the proposed network, including the Red Line between Salahuddin Road and the American University of Dubai and the Green Line from the Dubai International Airport to Rashidiya Bus Station, is to be completed by May 2009. Extensions to both routes are included in the second phase, which is now expected to be functional by 2010. In May 2007, the Purple Line was announced a fast track to run between Dubai International Airport and Jebel Ali International Airport.

Construction of Hotels, Resorts and Commercial Properties

The Palm Islands:

The Palm islands in Dubai are the three largest artificial islands in the world. They are being constructed by Nakheel Properties, a property developer, in Dubai. The islands are The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali and The Palm Deira. Between the three islands there will be over 100 luxury hotels, exclusive residential beach side villas and apartments, marinas,water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities and health spas.

Palm Jumeirah:

Residents have started moving into their Palm Jumeirah homes since January 2007. The move will signal the end of phase one of construction, which includes approximatley 1,400 villas on 11 of the fronds of the island and roughly 2,500 shoreline apartments in 20 buildings on the east side of the trunk.

According to Nakheel Property officials, eight of the 32 hotels on the Palm Jumeirah have begun construction, including the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, which is planned for completition in late 2008 or early 2009. The first phase of Atlantis is scheduled to be completed by December 2008. The finished resort will include the largest theme park in the UAE, one of the world's largest artificial marine habitats, a conference wing and over 1,500 hotel rooms. The "Golden Mile", the strip of land located along the center of the trunk overlooking the canal, is set for completion in the first quarter of 2008. Construction has also begun on the Palm Monorail, which will take three years to complete and will serve as a transit system between the Gateway Station at the trunk of The Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis Station on the crescent.

Palm Jebel Ali:

The Palm, Jebel Ali began construction in October 2002 and is expected to be completed in mid 2008. Once it has been completed it will be encircled by the Dubai Waterfront project. The project, which will be 50 percent larger than the Palm Jumeriah, will include six marinas, a water theme park, sea village, homes built on stilts above the water, and boardwalks that circle the fronds of the palm.

Palm Diera:

The Palm Deira was announced for development on October 2004 and completion is expected in 2015, when it will become the largest of the three Palm Islands with 41 fronds. It will consist of residential property, marinas, shopping malls, sports facilities, and clubs. The residential area will be located on the fronds and will contain 8,000 two-story town houses in three distinct styles Premier Villas, Grand Villas and Vista Town Homes.

The World:

The World is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands in the shape of a world map currently being built off the coast of Dubai. The only means of transport between the islands will be by boat and helicopter. Prices for the islands will range from US$15 million to US$45 million. Islands will be sold to individuals who can create their own environment on their islands or to hotel chains wanting to establish their own resorts.
 
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