Cementaid's Everdure Calite waterproofing system features in Dubai

The Dubai Aquarium is part of the US$8b Dubai Mall Complex in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The sheer size and magnitude of the salt-water aquarium will be a fitting complement to the world's largest shopping mall, which is part of the prestigious Burj Dubai District. The development includes The Burj Dubai, the tallest residential building in the world.

Becoming operational in 2009, the Aquarium will be the world's largest indoor marine mammal pavilion.

Developers Emaar (Dubai) and Consultants Meinhardt (Singapore) selected Cementaid "Everdure CALITE System" Hydrophobic Pore-blocking Ingredient (HPI), to provide permanent waterproofing and design-life durability of reinforced concrete used in the base slab and tunnel walkways of the enormous aquarium structure.

Time-proven effective over more than 45 years in salt-water environments, the Everdure CALTITE ingredient was included in the concrete mix used in construction of the 50m x 40 x 20m high aquarium.

Batched and supplied under stringent quality controls by premix producer CEMEX, approximately 6,500 cm of low-shrinkage, high strength (50MPa) CALTITE concrete was placed over a period of approximately 12 months.

Said Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Executive Director, Retail, Emaar: 'The aquarium will be an integral part of The Dubai Mall's diverse entertainment portfolio and is bound to impress visitors with the grand scale of its development."

"Designed to world-class standards, the aquarium will allow visitors to experience the exotic wonders of aquatic life first-hand through breathtaking views."

The Aquarium forms a central feature in the Mall's "Waterworld," which includes fountains and water features, also using CALITITE System concrete for waterproofing and durability protection.