The Big Project Middle East

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MARCH

Contents

3424

REGULARS

Editor’s letter 4

News bulletin 7

News in focus 16Utilities company Tabreed announce

2010 financial results for 2010

On site 24The Big Project visits Damac’s Burjside

Boulevard development at Downtown

Dubai

Event insider 31Exclusive preview of the Saudi

Construction Show 2011

Market explorer 43 The drive to create a tourism based

economy will see 24 mega projects

initiated in the capital alone

Trends 49 Experts from the region’s aluminium

industry gather in Dubai to analyse

industry strengths and weaknesses

Tenders 69

Diary 73

Your shout 74

FEATURES

13 CommentAhead of the introduction of

Dubai’s Law 27, The Big Project

finds out how regulation can

improve real estate

20 Market report A round up of the current political

situation across the region

34 Infrastructure top 10A round-up of the regions top 10

infrastructure projects

41 Project update The latest news on the

development of Brighton College

Abu Dhabi

47 TalkWoods Bagot CEO and global

executive chairman talks about a

new software design platform

56 Construction acoustics Acoustic expert Paul Schwarz

helps investigate noise complaints

around Dubai Marina.

64 Supplier hotseat

67 Career ladder

13

49

| www.thebigprojectme.com4

EDITO

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PublisherDominic De Sousa

Chief operations of� cerNadeem Hood

Associate publisherLiam [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9158

Chief marketing of� cerKimon [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9149

Director business developmentAlex [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9154GSM: +971 (0)50 458 9204

Business development managerRhiannon [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9152 GSM: +971 (0)50 554 0116

Business development managerNayab Ra� [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9153 GSM: +971 (0)55 542 6032

Senior sales managerScott [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9144 GSM: +971 (0)50 557 3677

EditorLouise [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9118GSM: +971 (0)56 605 8091

Assistant editorMelanie [email protected]: +971 (0)4 440 9117 GSM: +971 (0)56 758 7834

DesignerMarlou Delaben

PhotographersHelen Riley

WebmastersTroy MaagmaElizabeth ReyesJerus King BationErik Briones

Printed byPrintwell Printing Press LLC

Published by

Head Of� cePO Box 13700Dubai, UAETel: +971 (0)4 440 9100Fax: +971 (0)4 447 2409Web: www.thebigprojectme.com

© Copyright 2011 CPI.All rights reserved.While the publishers have madeevery effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine,they will not be held responsiblefor any errors therein.

T his month, a much-discussed topic among � e Big Project team has been the e� ect of the

recent political turbulence across the Middle East on the region’s construc-tion market.

� e situation is bound to nega-tively impact the region’s industry. Our thoughts are with those caught up in the violence and the hundreds of expats, many of whom are in the construction industry, that have been forced to — or are still attempting to — � ee the most volatile areas.

Last month, I read in the local newspaper the story of one Dubai senior project manager who had been working on a construction pro-ject in Libya since June. He was evac-uated from Tripoli along with 30 colleagues, but said some of his co-workers are still stuck in Libya.

“I could hear it [automatic

weapons being � red] from my hotel room. No one knew who was doing it,” he told Dubai’s 7Days newspaper, adding that he feared for his life as he and his colleagues were forced to plot their escape to the airport on dirt tracks to avoid the trouble.

“You can be attacked any time,” he added. “It was a challenge to reach the airport.”

Last month, hospital sources in Libya alone estimated 1000 people had been killed during the military’s e� ort to gain control of the streets.

In next month’s issue of � e Big Project, we will feature more stories from those in the regional construc-tion industry that have been a� ected, as well as an analysis of the impact on the market.

For now, turn to page 22 for a brief overview of the situation, as it tran-spires across the Middle East.

Turbulent times

Louise BirchallEditor

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NEWS BULLETIN

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A report by growth partnership advisors Frost and Sullivan has concluded the regional mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP) industry will be worth $22.44 billion by 2013, double its value in 2008.

The report predicts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% during the period, due to infrastructure, tourism related develop-ments and the Qatar 2022 world cup, which are spurring the recovery of the construction sector.

“As the construction industry throughout the Gulf perks up, driven by new projects such as those resulting from Qatar’s win for the 2022 Fifa World Cup, new airports and touristic developments, demand for MEP products and services is bound to increase – it is a logical development,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the Hardware and Tools Middle East exhibition.

The report, “Strategic Analysis of the Machinery, electrical and plumbing services market in the Middle East”, also listed invest-ment in commercial and residential projects and highlighted the significance of the MEP markets in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

According to the data in the report, the MEP sector is led by electrical services, which account for a 43.2% market share.

Mechanical services account for 37.6% of the market, with plumbing representing 19.2%.

Property market knowledge “poor”Industry survey concludes 25% have poor understanding

A survey conducted by Cityscape Abu Dhabi has found 25% of property professionals have a “poor” understanding of the market.

The survey aimed to establish how property investors get access to the information they need. Of the total sample, 14% claimed to have excellent knowledge of the industry.

Respondents cited a lack of industry aware-ness, which highlights “a requirement for more transparent processes and a steady stream of up to date information”, according to Cityscape.

“There is a clear need for the provision of easily accessible and straight forward informa-tion as the shape of the market continues to transform and diversify,” said group director for Cityscape Abu Dhabi, Chris Speller.

“It is encouraging, however, to see that exhi-bitions and conferences are regarded by over 40 percent of our survey participants as such an effective way of finding out information.”

It was also concluded that one third of respondents claimed their access to informa-tion on the industry was poor, with exhibitions and conferences named the top source for increasing knowledge.

The “strong support” from Dubai’s government is supporting growth in the construction industry, according to Shaikhani Contracting.

In a statement released last month, managing director Rizwan Shaikhani said the UAE, partic-ularly Dubai, is enjoying continued growth. Other key markets include Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia with a number of new and delayed projects now underway.

In response, the company has announced a “strategic region wide plan targeting growth and expansion” in the UAE and wider region. They will also recruit a number of technical and non-technical staff, including engineers.

“Our region wide expansion plan will allow us to enter and branch out into new markets across the region; creating new partnerships, opportuni-ties and projects,” said Rizwan Shaikhani, man-aging director for Shaikhani Contracting.

“This move gives us the opportunity to bring

Government support drives construction recoveryShaikhani Contracting announces expansion plans as market recovers

the Shaikhani brand to newer heights and to allow us to live up to our reputation of working closely to deliver projects on time,” he added.

It is reported US$1.3 trillion worth of con-struction projects are in development across the region.

According to the 2010 Regional Economic Outlook by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the UAE is forecast to grow 3.2% this year, a figure Shaikhani comments is “not bad”. There are currently US$714.8 billion worth of projects in progress or in the plan-ning stages.

Growth predicted for regional MEP sectorMarket to reach value of $22.4b by 2013

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt

Chris Speller, group director for Cityscape Abu Dhabi

Rizwan Shaikhani


A shortfall in quality between the materials specified and those provided for Government-led construction projects is occurring, due to a lack of quality control.

The comments were made by Gulf Extrusions general manager Modar Mohamed Al Mekdad, during an interview with The Big Project.

“Government projects demand high quality standards but what happens is that when the project is executed we find a big gap between specifications and actuality. We have seen in many government projects certain certifications are insisted upon for certain products but then

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Quality standards require regulationIndustry experts agree a shortfall in unified standards damages project quality

Saudi power capacity to doubleReal estate and industry to drive energy demand

Electrical power capacity is forecast to increase by 49% by 2019, to meet a 9% per capita increase in consumption.

The increased consumption is underpinned by a growing real estate industry and energy intensive industrial development.

Power consumption is projected to reach 220 terawatt-hours per year by the end of the forecast period with a per capita consumption increase of 9 per cent, according to data pro-vided by Riyadh Exhibitions Company.

An official statement released by the Saudi cabinet at the end of last month confirmed an agreement had been signed between the Kingdom and France to develop a nuclear energy programme.

The agreement was signed by Hashim Yamani, President of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, and French Minister of Industry Eric Besson.

Key projects include a number of bridges and railways.

Modar Mohamed Al Mekdad.

Massive investments to be made in GCC transport developmentMulti-billion dollar projects include bridges and rail networksQatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are to fund transport projects worth US $170 billion over the next 15 years.

More than two thirds of the investment has already been ploughed into rail projects, with Saudi Arabia contributing 85% of the total.

Key projects are to include a number of new bridges; one a 1000km link between Jeddah and Dammam, expected to carry 300 million passengers and one billion tons of freight annually.

Rail projects include the 500km Haramain high-speed rail link, to meet the needs of pil-grims travelling between Mecca and Madinah. Construction of the GCC wide rail network, is expected to begin shortly, with completion due 2017.

“Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive and long-term national plan to enhance transport infrastructure requires an efficient and exten-sive network of partnerships, expertise and resources,” said Jamie Dowswell, conference director, for Bridges Saudi Arabia 2011.

“Putting all of these elements under one roof provides an excellent platform for the country’s decision-makers and developers to choose the best partners, suppliers and tech-nologies to ensure the success of the Kingdom’s infrastructure developments,” Dowswell added.

Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank has also announced plans to invest $511mil-lion in megaprojects in Albania, Turkey and Pakistan.

$706.7bnPREDICtED wORth OF thE buILDING MAtERIALS MARKEt by 2015

“Projects need quality control consultants to be appointed by the client, so right now part of this chain is missing somewhere”

for other products they are not developed,” said Al Mekdad in the interview.

Calling on the need for quality control man-agers on projects, he added: “The government really pays for a good quality product, where is this gap? Which pocket is it going to? At the end of the day, some of the products are really of inferior quality.

“Even if the project is ‘low-cost’ housing, still there are specifications to be met.”

Al Mekdad was joined by a panel of experts from the aluminium industry to discuss quality standards and regional supply chains.

Echoing his concerns, Phil Ellerby, managing director and owner of Rigidal Industries, com-mented: “If one is to improve specifications gen-erally then it is through client’s representatives in a private investment or through the various government departments; any of the institutions which are building high levels of infrastructure that they want to last.”

Mekdad also voiced concern about quality specifications in private sector projects and a lack of regulation industry wide.

“Projects need quality control consultants to be appointed by the client, so right now part of this chain is missing somewhere. I’m not expect-ing the developer or client to know everything about the products, but there are specialists who know what quality should be.

“There should also be supervision from the government to say this is the minimum that should be met for a particular industry or prod-uct. This is where we are still yet to catch up.”

The full interview can be found on page 47.


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| XXXXXXXXXXDAMAC welcomes new RERA codesDubai-based group praises Dubai’s new real estate regulations

Damac Properties has praised Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for intro-ducing new regulations to the market, which the company says will be a “model for other developing property markets”.

With a remit to boost confidence and increase transparency, Dubai’s new ‘Strata Law’ outlines the requirements for developers to provide full disclosure statements about all of their projects in Dubai, as well as prepare Jointly Owned Property Declarations, which include definitions of internal floor space and

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DAMAC Properties ‘Ocean heights’ tower in Dubai Marina.

share of ownership of common areas. A third direction outlines the framework for establish-ing Owners Associations.

The new regulatory frameworks, including escrow accounts and a real estate register, have been initiated to ensure that further growth of the real estate market is sustainable and viable.

“The regulatory and legal framework that now underpins Dubai’s property market is on par with international standards. RERA is to be commended for creating a regulatory environ-ment that will become an example for other countries in the region” said Niall Mc Loughlin, Senior Vice President, DAMAC Properties.

Dubai’s Strata Law, also known as Law 27, could act as a framework for markets in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, he added.

“Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt are already making significant progress with regard to implementing their own regulatory framework to support growth in their respec-tive real estate sectors.

“There is the potential for Dubai’s Strata Law to be used as a template for neighbouring coun-tries, which are also planning to introduce reg-ulations that define multiple-ownership” Mc Loughlin added.

Egypt is currently developing a mortgage finance regulation.

DAMAC claim the MENA region will be a “powerhouse” for the global economy this year, following IMF predictions that regional GDP will increase 5.1%, double the pace of the US and countries in the EU.

5.1%thE RAtE OF GROwth thE IMF hAS PREDICtED FOR REGIONAL GDP


Retail and commercial developments have con-tributed to a “landmark” year for Emaar Properties, with the developer reporting reve-nues of AED 12.2 billion in 2010.

In its strongest quarter, Q4, Emaar reported a 38% increase on Q3, with net operating prof-its of AED 691 million (US$ 188 million) for the same period.

It has also been announced that Emaar will hand over homes in Jeddah Gate and Al Khobar Lakes in Saudi Arabia, in addition to projects in Syria, Turkey and Egypt.

Emaar say this demonstrates “commitment to project delivery and increased focus on crea-tion of prime real estate assets globally”.

Th e largest contribution to the fi gures was made by shopping malls and other retail and hospitality subsidiaries, contributing a com-bined 24% of total revenues. Healthcare and education assets were transferred to “renowned service providers”.

“In a year that was marked by cautious opti-mism, timely delivery of property and consoli-dation of core businesses, Emaar Properties took bold initiatives that have a far-reaching

potential in driving sustained returns for our stakeholders,” Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties PJSC said in a statement.

Listing the grand inauguration of Burj Khalifa, and the Downtown Dubai commu-nity, Alabbar added: “Dubai, having entered its next phase of growth under the visionary lead-ership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will con-tinue to be a key market.

“We will continue delivering a superior life-style experience to our customers. We see 2011 to be a signature year for Emaar with signifi -cant revenue streams from international oper-ations kicking in.”

A statement from the developer added: “Emaar Properties will continue to strengthen the operations of its subsidiaries, Emaar Malls Group and Emaar Hospitality Group. Th is year, Emaar Hospitality Group will further consolidate its international footprint with the management agreements for operating luxury retreats in Morocco, South of France and Indonesia making signifi cant progress.”

UAE construction industry set to pick up this yearConclusions based on performance of some of region’s largest construction companies

Th e UAE construction industry is starting to capture investors’ attention, according to industry analysts.

Aft er a “dreadful third quarter”, Deutsche Bank expected the sector to pick up in the weeks ahead, based on seasonal increases in business.

“Overall, we expect the MENA contractors under our coverage to post an 18% quarter-on-quarter increase in earnings,” the bank’s analysts Nabil Ahmed and Athmane Benzerroug wrote in a report.

For its top pick Deutsche Bank singled out Drake & Scull International (DSI), which yesterday announced a two billion Saudi riyal deal with Saudi Aramco to help build the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre project in Riyadh.

Last year DSI won deals worth AED1.2 billion in Saudi Arabia and the company expects further

business from its largest market in the region. Last month, DSI said it was bidding on AED 4 billion worth of projects in Qatar. Khaldoun Tabari, the DSI chief executive, said at the time the company was also planning to expand through acquisitions, according to reports in Th e National newspaper.

Deutsche Bank predicted Drake & Scull would post a 15% increase in its backlog in the coming quarter, and an estimated 7% for Arabtec Holding, the largest construction company in the UAE. Arabtec secured more than AED 2.6 billion in contracts last quarter, its best performance since the second quarter of 2009, Deutsche Bank estimated.

Last week Alembic HC Securities singled out Depa, the Dubai interior contractor, for an upgrade.

Its analyst Majed Azzam cited the company’s diver-sifi cation away from Dubai, low exposure to payment delays and ability to cover many sectors as among the company’s positive attributes, continued the newspa-per report.

Depa is 36% undervalued, according to Alembic but it downgraded DSI from “overweight” to “neutral”, saying “fi erce competition and tight liquidity raise concerns about margin compression and working capital deterioration”. Th e company maintained a “neutral” rating on Arabtec.

Emaar reports “landmark year”Q4 revenue increase of 38% sets developer on track for 2011

AbOVE: Emaar says 2011 will be a “signifi cant” year with revenue streams from international operations coming in.

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“There is the potential for Dubai’s Strata Law to be used as a template for neighbouring countries”

33%EMAAR’S QuARtER-ON-QuARtER INCREASE IN PROFItS, Q3 tO Q4 2010

“Overall, we expect the MENA contractors under our coverage to post an 18% quarter-on-quarter increase in earnings”

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Championed as a model practice for the region’s real estate market, fi ve experts comment on how the introduction of the Dubai Strata Law will affect the industry

Re-building real estate

“RERA is to be commended for creating a regulatory environment that will become an example for other countries”

“If Dubai remains income and corporate tax free, it is only a question of time that will help improve matters further narrowing the supply and demand”

The developer Niall Mc Loughlin, senior vice president, Damac Properties

Th e regulatory and legal framework that now underpins Dubai’s property market is on par with international standards. RERA is to be commended for creating a regulatory environ-ment that will become an example for other countries in the region to follow.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt are already making signifi cant progress with regard to implementing regulatory framework to support growth in their respective real estate sectors. Th ere is the potential for Dubai’s Strata Law to be used as a template for neighbouring countries planning to introduce regulations that defi ne multiple-ownership.

Saudi Arabia is taking monumental steps to provide clear legal frameworks to advance growth in the property sector. Damac is also eagerly awaiting the issuance of the mortgage law, which will play an active role in stimulat-ing local and foreign investment in Saudi Arabia’s real estate market.

The InvestorAhmed Shaikhani, managing director, Memon Investments

In the Dubai Land Department and Real Estate Regulatory Authority, we are very much appreciative of the new regulations and they are a positive development for our operations here at MemonInvestments.

Th ey will stop inexperienced real estate com-panies and set regulations for all experienced companies and institutions operating in Dubai and the UAE.

Th e practices the authority wants to regulate and implement are correct, in the shape of the municipality codes, escrow accounts, and appointing auditors and consultants for the construction and fi nancial sectors.

Th e market is more secure now; the pay-ments are coming in and no person, organisa-tion or institution can spend the hard-earned money in the wrong way.

If I was an investor in any country, my fi rst question would be ‘how safe is my investment?’ If there was no regulation, I would cancel, but if I know there is regulation and that there are laws for land and laws for buying an apartment then I am interested in buying there.

Th e regulations are appropriate for the mar-ket right now. We see the authority implement-ing the laws and expect that it will gradually implement all of the necessary and correct regu-lations covering every aspect of the industry.

The regulatory bodyMarwan Bin Ghulaita, chief executive offi cer, Real Estate Regulatory Authority

I would like to see the real estate market being part of the economy. It can’t lead or drive economic performance; it should be part of it to attract professionals to the market.

Dubai is the most transparent market in the region, based on international standards. Th ree or four years ago, the regulation was not there. Today, speaking as a regulator, if you want to buy a property a developer would be regulated and registered; if you want to gain a broker’s advice the broker is being registered, regulated and educated, enabling all in the sector to be controlled and regulated by us.

Th e best we can do is to tell each and every investor, even if he is sitting at home in the UK or the US, that there is a regulated market here.

People did get hurt in Dubai but they will reinvest in Dubai again because this is the right time to invest. Th is is how we are adding more professionalism to the market.

Let me share with you one fact, fi rstly, today we are making sure that only professionals up to our standards will come to Dubai. Secondly, the banks will start lending but we will have every lender in Dubai working by the book, not like before.

Today we are saying owners’ association management and the valuing of property will be based on international standards.


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The lawyerPhilip Corfield-Smith, associate, Pinsent Masons LLP

We are advising developers and investors on the association establishment process but are aware that a number of regulatory issues have yet to be fully tested.

One such issue arises out of the historical lack of financial transparency provided by the management companies appointed by develop-ers. It remains to be seen how any debts that remain outstanding at the time of establish-ment will be dealt with and whether the associ-ations will have to assume liability and look to recover such amounts from the incumbent management companies through local courts.

The issue with this approach is that the asso-ciations will be tied up in costly and time-con-suming litigation and potentially face difficulties in enforcing favourable judgments.

On balance it appears that the benefits of establishment outweigh the concerns and would break the deadlock that currently exists in many developments where, due to the lack of transparency and trust, owners are refusing to pay service charges, leading to the suspension of utility services.

Once the management of the building and funds are in the hands of the associations, it is hoped that the payment of the service charges that are necessary for the upkeep of the build-ings would be made in a timely manner and the associations would then be able to use the mechanism contained within the regulations to deal with any defaulters.

While the strata regulations are a necessary and important step in the evolution of the mar-ket, they alone are unlikely to restore investor confidence and a number of other issues will need to be addressed to provide the right envi-ronment for a recovery.

“While the strata regulations are a necessary and important step in the evolution of the market, they alone are unlikely to restore investor confidence”

STRATA AT A GLANCE• Law No. 27 of 2007 Concerning Ownership

of Jointly-Owned Properties in the Emirate of Dubai

• Ownership of jointly-owned property, including utilities, land, maintenance and safety provisions

• Disposal of units of jointly owned property; covering permission to divide assets between registered owners, right of refusal and division of common areas

• Authorisation and regulation of Owners’ Association groups

• Insurances for jointly owned-properties

• Direction for Association Constitution 2010

• Constitution covering annual charges; assets; codes of conduct; functions and powers of the association; voting and roles of the board, management and owners

• Direction for General Regulation 2010

• Disclosure statements and consumer protection; issues with disclosure statements; recovery of maintenance charges, community rules and the election of a board

• Direction for Jointly-Owned Property Declarations 2010

• Jointly-owned property declarations; long-term leaseholds

• Circular No. 1 of 2010 - Circular with regards to Service Charge for Jointly Owned Property

• The regulatory role of RERA and the payment of service charges

The agentPhil Sheridan, group chief executive, Fine and Country Estates

Oversupply will continue to stall the prospect of growth in the property market. Those of us who live and work in Dubai, appreciate how welcoming a city it is and consequently, for the city to thrive once again, it needs to attract peo-ple; that is business.

To do that, it needs to be affordable and in that respect, Dubai has already become con-sumer friendly.

Therefore, if Dubai remains income- and corporate tax free, it is only a question of time, together with a range of initiatives, that will help improve matters, further narrowing the supply and demand gap.

Such matters include re-instating the three-year residency visa with property ownership and the maturing of ‘body corporate’ when it comes to property maintenance charges.

Ultimately, the market still needs liquidity which must be delivered in the form of afforda-ble mortgage finance.

This is something the banks are working hard to deliver, evidenced with Tamweel’s recent offering of 4.99%.

I also believe that Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is crucial to Dubai’s financial standing. As many other parts of the world contend with radical change, high taxa-tion and government intervention, so the finan-cial sector could flourish.

In conclusion, demolishing a few buildings may not be the worst idea where the structure is evidently tired. But the supply demand balance will return.

In the end, the picture lies in the hands of us all. If everyone stopped knocking it and realised how lucky they were to live in this wonderful city, the future would be positively assured.

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Tabreed with funding while the company com-pletes its recapitalisation programme.

“Today’s [February 10] announcement is significant not only because of the strong full-year unaudited results for 2010, but also because the approval of terms of the refinanc-ing by our bank lenders is a decisive step towards the successful recapitalisation of Tabreed. The board and management of Tabreed are pleased to have reached this signif-icant milestone and the company continues to work hard with all stakeholders to close the recapitalisation programme,” Tabreed’s man-aging director Khaled Al Qubaisi said.

Sector performanceLast year, 13 plants and two plant expansions came online adding 155,800 of gross capacity and bringing Tabreed’s gross total installed cooling capacity to 541,525 TR across 49 plants.

Tabreed’s core business of chilled water pro-duced revenues of AED 753.3 million, an increase of 73% when compared to AED 435 million in the same period in 2009. Gross profit increased to AED 320.6 million from AED 165.8 million in the same period the year before.

“The management and staff improved opera-tional performance by refocusing on the core chilled water business. This has resulted in improved overall profitability and has posi-tioned the company for growth given the region’s demand for cooling infrastructure,” said Tabreed’s CEO Sujit Parhar.

The company’s contracting segment recorded revenues of AED 132.3 million, a decrease of 26% when compared to AED 178.2 million over the same period in 2009, with gross profit of AED 31.1 million compared to AED 23.1 million in the 12 months of the

Abu Dhabi-based utilities firm National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) is to refinance AED 2.6 billion with its

lenders, it reported following the release of its 2010 full financial results.

For the 12 months ending December 31, 2010, total revenue increased by 31% to AED 1023.7 million and net profit, excluding the non-cash impairment declared for 2009, increased by 147% to AED 146.3 million over the same period in 2009.

Its bank lenders have unanimously approved the principal terms of an agreement to refi-nance AED 2.63 billion of liabilities and to extend Tabreed a new AED 150 million revolv-ing credit facility.

The approved refinancing will convert Tabreed’s existing short-term bilateral and syn-dicated bank debt facilities into a consolidated facility with an extended tenor and lower total cost of borrowing, giving Tabreed long-term flexibility to deliver its business plan.

Tabreed has also secured an additional AED 400 million in short-term financing from Mubadala Development Company, in the form of an amendment to the current AED 1.3 bil-lion bridge loan. This bridge loan will provide

UAE utilities company positioned for growth based on region’s demand for water-cooling infrastructure

Tabreed announces2010 financial results

FINaNCIal hIghlIghtS, 2010

• Totalrevenueincreasedby31%toAED1023.7million,comparedtoAED783millioninthesameperiodin2009

• Grossprofitincreasedby53%toAED426.4million,comparedtoAED278.1millioninthesameperiodin2009

• Netprofit,excludingthenon-cashimpairmentdeclaredfor2009,increasedby147%toAED146.3million,comparedtoAED59.2millioninthesameperiodin2009

• ChilledwaterrevenuefortheperiodwasAED753.3million,a73%increaseoverthesameperiodin2009

• BasicanddilutedearningspersharewereAED0.15,comparedtoAED(1.22)inthesameperiodin2009

“tabreed’s wholly-owned subsidiary, gulf Energy Systems, was the biggest contributor to the results reflecting completion of several projects and progress on others including Sowwah Island”

previous year. The increase in gross profit was due to less uncertainty around costs to com-plete as projects reached completion. Tabreed’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Gulf Energy Systems, was the biggest contributor to the results reflecting completion of several projects and progress on others including Sowwah Island.

Meanwhile, Tabreed’s manufacturing seg-ment reported revenues of AED 95.9 million, a decrease of 34% when compared to AED 145.3 million in the same period in 2009, while gross profit fell to AED 28.2 million compared to AED 45.5 million in the same period of 2009. This decline was attributed to reducing order books and an increase in competition at Tabreed’s 60%-owned subsidiary, Emirates Pre-insulated Pipes Industries.

Tabreed’s services segment, involved in the design and supervision of building electrical and mechanical works, reported revenues of AED 76.3 million, a decrease of 9% compared to AED 83.7 million in the same period in 2009, while gross profit decreased to AED 48.4 mil-lion compared to AED 51.6 million in 2009.

13ThE nUmbEr of TAbrEEd nEw cooLIng pLAnTS ThAT wErE dELIvErEd LAST yEAr

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report | M

IDDLE EAST PROTESTS

prompting duel demands to remove the royal family and install a constitutional monarchy.

The ongoing protests have generally been focused on the need for more employment, higher wages, adequate housing and equal opportunities and are fed by a perception among the Shia majority, that the Sunni royal family is not acting in the best interests of the population. The political shift of the recent protest movement is largely the result of the domino effect, which has swept the region and has been more focused on deep-rooted political change.

Only last year, Bahrain was ranked third in a “best expat experience” poll conducted by HSBC. Yet, as in other Arab countries experiencing unrest, the protests are now beginning to impact on the economy.

On February 23, 2011, Moody’s Investors Service placed Bahrain’s A3 Government bond ratings on review for possible down-grade. The rating action was motivated by Moody’s concern that the ongoing political turmoil in Bahrain has sharpened fiscal and broader economic downside risks. The review will focus on the degree to which political risk has increased and how signifi-cantly the credit fundamentals of Bahrain are threatened.

The hospitality and leisure industries are already affected after the Formula 1 was “called off”.

Other sectors, citizens and investors are forced to adopt a wait and see policy as the

Since unrest erupted in Tunisia at the end of 2010, a domino effect has spread across the Middle East and North Africa, amplifying

the weekly protests predominantly held in Bahrain’s Shia villages over the last decade.

As the situation developed in Tunisia and Egypt, demonstrations in the Gulf state of Bahrain escalated; to date seven protestors have died in clashes with security forces. The coun-try’s image has swung 180 degrees, placing the Kingdom alongside troubled hotspots such as Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya.

Anti-government protests began on February 14, with an estimated 500 people taking to the streets. On February 17 a government clamp-down on protestors resulted in four deaths,

After a month of political protests, resignations and revolutions across the Middle East, real estate services company CB Richard Ellis analyses the unfolding situation in Bahrain

RIGHT: Bahrain is one of many Middle East countries affected by the protests.

BELOW: Protests in Egypt began in January.

Protests in Amman, Jordan, resulted in a new government cabinet.

Shifting foundations

the demands printed in Bahraini state media include: • Thereleaseofallpoliticalprisoners

andanendtocourtproceedingsagainstthem

• Animmediate,impartialandinde-pendentinvestigationintothesevenprotesters’deaths

• Objectivityandneutralityintheoffi-cial(state)media

• Theresignationofthegovernmentandformationofaninterimgovernment

• Thedrawingupofacontractualcon-stitutionbyanelectedconstitutionalassembly,pavingthewayforaconsti-tutionalmonarchyandelectedgovernment

• Amendmentstotheelectoralsystemto“ensurejustandfairrepresentationofallpoliticalandsocietalcomponents”

• Theleadershipshouldprovideguaran-teesthatanyagreementswillbehonoured

Crown Prince attempts to establish a national dialogue with opposition groups.

According to other media reports, Atkins instructed its 170 Bahrain-based employees to work from home on three occassions at the end of last month, as did design and engineering consultancy Scott Wilson.


report | M

IDDLE EAST PROTESTS

TUNISIAInDecember2010,astreetvendorinthetownofSidiBouzidsethimselfonfiretoprotesthumiliationinflictedonhimbyamunicipalofficial.HisactionssparkedarevoltagainstBenAliwhofledamonthlater,after23yearsinpower.Furtherpro-testsdemandtheresignationofcurrentPrimeMinisterMohamedGhannouchiandanendtotheactionsofLibyanforces.

EGYPTAttheendofJanuaryactivistscalledforanuprising;sevendayslaterMubarakannouncedthatwouldnotrunforre-electionbutwouldnotstepdown.Afterfurtherprotests,MubarakannouncedhisresignationandthehandoverofpowertothemilitaryonFebruary11.

LIBYAOngoingprotestshavebeenheldinanumberoftownsand“minorclashes”werereportedinTripoli.Morethan100peoplearereportedtohavebeenkilledandinternetserviceshavebeencut,mak-ingreportingandbusinessdifficult.ManyLibyanshavefledtoTunisia.

Look out for The Big Project’s Market Explorer special next

month, examining the impact of the political unrest on the

region’s construction industry.

The situation at a glance


report | M

IDDLE EAST PROTESTS

YEMENThelargestprodemocracyrallyinrecenthistory,30,000reportedlydemonstratedinSana’a;othersmallyetviolentprotestshavetakenplaceacrossthecountry.Protestorsdemandpoliticalreformandbetterlivingconditions.

OMANProtestorsdemandgreatertransparencyinSultanQaboosbinSaid’scabinet.Todate,sixcabinetmembershavebeenreplacedandtheminimumwagehasincreasedbymorethan40%.RiotshavemainlybeenconfinedtothetownofSohar.

JORDANUpto5000protestorsgatheredinAmman;inresponseKingAbdullahIIsackedPrimeMinisterSamirRifai.AnewcabinetwassworninonFebruary10,taskedwithpromoting“practical,swiftandtangiblestepstolauncharealpoliticalreformprocess”.

SAUDI ARABIAAlthoughnoproteststookplaceinFebruary,leadingacademicsarereportedtobecall-ingfor“sweepingreforms”inrelationtoKingAbdullah’spowers.Socialmediawebsitesarecalling.forarallyonMarch11.


The Big Project takes a tour of Damac’s 49-storey Burjside Boulevard development, under construction in Downtown Dubai

Room with a view

Damac Projects SVP John McNamara.

Since the concept was delivered in 2007, progress on Damac’s Burjside Boulevard has been rapid, with construction begin-

ning in March 2010 and interior fit-outs due to begin early 2012.

On Damac’s first serviced apartments, the developer is responsible for both the frame and fixtures, fittings and equipment (FFE).

“During the construction period we are keen to get the building pushed on as quickly as pos-sible. There is a committed programme but we are pushing to work ahead,” explains senior vice president of projects John McNamara.

Speaking onsite during the casting of the first residential floor, McNamara details how the project has evolved since the initial design phase; from moving the outdoor pool to offer “exclusive” views of the Burj Khalifa, to elimi-nating the building’s damper.

“Due to the slenderness of the building and

the sway, we had to do more than the usual wind-tunnel modelling. We worked with an Australian company, Windtech, which pro-duced a study concluding it was possible to eliminate the damper, making the design much more efficient. We wouldn’t usually go to that extent and it’s a process that takes time.”

One element which exceeded timescale expectations was laying the slabs; reducing the cycle from 28 to eight days. McNamara credits the speed of the phase to additional resources, double shifting and specialist formwork.

“We double shifted the labourers as it coin-cided with the hottest months, but because there are no neighbouring buildings we were able to use table formwork for the slabs and jump formwork for the core wall.”

Designed by German architect Koschany & Zimmer, enabling works; site mobilisation, fencing, excavation, shoring and piling, were

“Due to the slenderness of the building and the

sway we had to do more than the usual wind-

tunnel modelling”

oN

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Damac’s Burjside Boulevard tower is the developer’s first serviced apartments project. Damac will be responsible for the frame and interior fit outs, with construction due for completion in 2012.

351Number of apartments in the project

CoNStRUCtioN tRivia total bUilt-Up aRea: 686,242ft²

aveRage foRmwoRk CyCle: eight days

time takeN to lay SlabS: eight days

pRojeCt paRtNeRSaRChiteCt: Koschany and Zimmer Architekten

maiN CoNtRaCtoR: Sun Engineering

CoNSUltaNt: ZAS PSE Engineering Est.

piliNg: Stromlek

CoNCRete: Emirates Beton

Steel: Attieh Steel, Dubai

CoNStRUCtioN SoftwaRe: E Builder

wiND-tUNNel teStiNg: Windtech

short-term residents, who can buy or lease Burjside’s apartments.

Location, locationAs the developer’s first serviced apartment pro-ject, Burjside Boulevard marks a diversification for Damac’s Dubai-based operations. From its portfolio of “luxury”, residential, leisure and commercial developments, to one which com-bines elements of each.

“Burjside Boulevard fits with Damac’s cur-rent business plans, because it’s a very different property model. We are giving our investors more choice over their investment,;they can buy an apartment to live in, buy it as a rental invest-ment or live in it some of the time and rent it out for the rest,” says Niall McLoughlin, senior vice president, Damac Properties.

While it is no secret the market has experi-enced huge turbulence since the project was first initiated, Damac maintains that demand for such multi-purpose facilities remains strong, particularly among the emirate’s many business travellers.

Explaining that the development offers “important investment choices” McLaughlin also says it provides an alternative avenue of investment for future clients.

completed by Norwegian firm Stromek. An AED 200 million contract was awarded to Sun Engineering; the project’s main contractors.

Five-star touchUpon completion, the 49-storey building will feature 39 residential storeys; a dedicated leisure floor with pool, restaurant, lounge and views of the Burj Khalifa. Residents in the 351, five-star furnished apartments, will also have fully-equipped kitchens and access to all the stand-ard hotel services.

“Bridging the divide between high-end resi-dential apartments and luxury five-star hotels”, the development is aimed at Dubai’s transient population; long-term business travellers and


While no completion date has been set, the schedule for Burjside Boulevard will see the frame completed in 2011, with FFE beginning next year.

A phased occupation will follow to “allow the project to get up and running”.

With so many luxury developments in Dubai failing to sell or folding before completion, McLaughlin credits a combination of original-ity and reputation as the USPs that will secure Burjside’s success in what has been described as a saturated market.

Maintaining that Dubai is “the most favoured location” for multinational corpora-tions, he adds that demand does, and will con-tinue, to exist

“Dubai’s future is assured,” comments McLaughlin, adding: “It’s at the gateway to Africa, Europe, Asia and the CIS States, and has secured its position as a regional finance, trade and logistics hub, and not only that, but it offers a unique and idyllic lifestyle.”

“We are aiming to do something very differ-ent at Burjside Boulevard; we want to create the type of home our customers have always dreamed of. Everything from the decor, to superior-quality linen and top-of-the-range appliances will be incorporated.”

“There is no better site that hasn’t already been developed,” says McLaughlin.

ABOVE: Construction began in 2010 and fit outs are due to begin next year.

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168.4mHEIgHT Of THE BURJSIDE BOULEVARD

“because there are no neighbouring buildings we were able to use table formwork for the slabs and jump formwork for the core wall”

“Every project in Dubai has been impacted by the global downturn, however, there is always demand for quality developments in premium areas. Prices in the Downtown dis-trict have been very resilient, mostly because demand has remained robust,” he says, adding that the company has not faced the same fund-ing issues as other developers.

The area is also one of only a few in Dubai for which developers can still secure finance; other areas banks consider low risk include Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Business Bay and Dubai Marina.

Winning contractsNaming 2009 the “year of construction”, Damac won contracts to the value of US $1 billion. Currently the developer has more than 12,000 units across the Middle East and North Africa at various stages of construction, with seven in Dubai alone due for handover in 2011.

Other projects include Executive Heights in TECOM, Dubai; Lake View and Lake Terrace, both Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, and the recently announced Damac Tower, Lebanon; to be developed in association with Versace.

“We have awarded contracts worth $1 bil-lion, including 15 in Dubai, two in Abu Dhabi and one main contract in Saudi Arabia,” McLaughlin adds.

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Byrne Equipment Rental is to o� er Algeco’s products on an exclusive basis for rental pur-poses in the UAE. Byrne has recently added Algeco’s buildings to its portfolio in order to further broaden the � rm’s appeal and follow its “all your equipment rental solutions under one roof” vision.

Byrne will initially be offering two groups of Algeco products:� e Batex range of quick erect warehousing solutions and � e 4000 KD series of structures for use as o� ces, accommodation, medical facilities, recreation areas, schools etc.

� e 4000KD structures are built of high quality and innovative materials, with � exible layouts enabling their use in multipurpose structures up to two storeys in height, while paying particular attention to safety and ergo-nomic needs. � e storage warehouse option is as strong as a traditional building; anti-seismic and anti-intrusion. � e frame and roof are made of galvanized steel, which requires no maintenance and is resistant to extreme weather conditions.

Graeme Clack, CEO of Byrne said: “We are delighted to represent a company with the pedi-gree of Algeco, its quality is second to none and the � rm’s products, developed via practical applications all over the world, are ideally suited to the fast moving GCC market. � ey are truly a world leader in their � eld and the prod-ucts are outstanding.”

Who are Algeco:Algeco serves more than 31,000 customers in the areas of construction and infrastructure, industry, services and administration o� ering space rental solutions throughout 22 European countries, including Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,

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Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and now the Middle East. Algeco’s � eet of more than 300,000 modular space and secure stor-age units is leased through a network of more than 100 loca-tions making it the world leader in the space rental sector.

Who is Byrne:Byrne provides equipment rental solutions to many indus-tries including the construc-tion, oil and gas, marine and the leisure and tourism indus-tries, to name a few. Its plant and equipment � eet exceeds 7500 items which incorporates everything from air compres-sors, generators, forkli� s,

loadalls, lighting towers and welding machines to temporary portable buildings including toilet blocks, o� ces, storage and accommodation units, to meet all rental requirements. � e level of customer service provided is second to none, with one point of contact for all required rental needs, and a genuine 24 hour call centre ensuring a backup service that remains unmatched in the mar-ket today. � e group employs just under 800 people and it’s broken up into seven compa-nies across four countries – Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – there are 11 opera-tional depots and within those there are branches and special-ist divisions.

Byrne Equipment Rental, the largest diverse supplier of plant and equipment in the region, is joining forces with Algeco, the largest provider of portable rental buildings in the world

BYRNE EQUIPMENT RENTAL

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STRUCTION

The Saudi Construction Show is taking place from March 21-25 in Riyadh and is expected to be the largest construction

machinery, equipment, building material and vehicles exhibition the Kingdom has hosted.

The show will provide a lucrative platform for worldwide contractors and suppliers to unite, according to show organiser, CPI.

Furthermore, visitors and exhibitors will have the opportunity to discuss deals and there will also be opportunities for contractors to view and test the latest equipment available on the market.

“We’re expecting to have a large number of exhibitors each showcasing a wide variety of leading brands in the construction machinery, equipment and vehicle sector,” says CPI sales director Raz Islam.

Exhibitors include Medco, Al Rassam, GTE, Abahasain, Kanoo Group, AAA and Zahid Tractor, among many more.

Also exhibiting is Saudi Arabia-based Rajhi Steel, which has a 120m² stand at the event. The firm produces high-quality steel that is less vul-nerable to corrosion and lasts longer than some alternatives due to the unique way it is manu-factured, according to the company.

When asked whether customers were looking at quality, not just price, company representa-tive Faisal Binadean says there is a mix of buyer types — the first are predominantly interested

in brand and service, and a second who simply look at price.

One of Rajhi Steel’s main objectives at the show is to meet new customers and “keep in touch” with existing ones in the Saudi Arabian and wider GCC market.

“The stand is made from steel and will host ideas about the material and how it can be used more efficiently. This is a good chance for us to be hospitable and to provide a chance for people to meet us,” says Binadean.

Binadean adds that the firm is positive about the show’s prospects and expects to make a number of business deals.

“There are a lot of opportunities and projects in Saudi Arabia. The government budget for 2011 has allocated billions and billions of dol-lars to be spent on construction so this will move the economy forward,” he explains.

While he acknowledges the KSA market is an “open and competitive one”, Binadean high-lights that is also a “huge” market.

Right time and placeLast month, the Ministry of Industry gave its support to the inaugural Saudi Construction Show, against a backdrop of HH King Abdullah’s multi-billion dollar cash boost in the housing and infrastructure projects sector.

Riyadh alone has seen its population grow fivefold since 1960. The city’s success, according

EVENT INSIDER: SAUDI CONSTRUCTION Saudi Arabia’s largest industry event ‘Saudi Construction’ debuts on March 21-25 in Riyadh. The Big Project takes a peek behind the scenes, including a look at opportunities in KSA’s lucrative development market

ABOVE: The Kempinsky hotel, Jeddah.

”We’re expecting to have a

large number of exhibitors

showcasing a wide variety of leading

brands“


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to the Riyadh Development Authority, is due a combination of its geography and strategic international status.

In an interview with The Big Project at the end of last year, formwork company RMD Kwikform regional manager Peter Gibson said: “There is a focus on infrastructure in the east of Saudi Arabia and there are a few mega projects in the West, but the central region seems to have covered the whole spectrum of projects.”

“The infrastructure segment of the market has developed healthily over the last two years, with a major redesign of Riyadh’s internal road and transport system; mega projects in the infrastructure market show the commitment to upgrading the Kingdom as a whole.”

In addition to the housing requirements, the city must meet the major schemes currently underway, which will contribute to an addi-tional 1.3 million square metres of office space by 2015 and 2.9 million metres squared of retail space to be delivered by 2014.

Outside RiyadhMeanwhile, KSA’s second city, Jeddah, has expanded a staggering 1000-fold over the past 60 years.

Last October, Ziad Aazam, director of plan-ning and strategic studes for the Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company (JDURC) told The Big Project that the city plays an important role in providing a

”The infrastructure segment of the market has developed healthily over the last two years, with a major redesign of Riyadh’s internal road and transport system”

The strategy committed a 15.7% share of the $384 billion budget for transport developments. In Jeddah, a 15-month review is underway.

Contractors and suppliers looking to grow outside Jeddah or Riyadh, also have access to diverse developments in Dammam.

The primary industries in Dammam are oil, manufacturing and shipping, with activity con-centrated in industrial zones away from resi-dential and recreational developments.

The significance of the zones is outlined in the National Industrial Development Strategy, a blueprint for economic diversity on a national and international scale.

The city’s second industry is tourism; mak-ing the most of the area’s geography and herit-age are a number of waterfront developments, recreational spaces and cultural buildings.

Unlike the religious tourism seen in other provinces, Dammam’s reputation as a holiday destination is purely about relaxation and cul-ture, extending to the country’s largely expatri-ate population.

Among the ongoing waterfront develop-ments is the King Abdullah Civic Centre and Dammam Corniche.

In fact, there are a number of communities and tourist attractions currently under con-struction, with private developments spear-headed by the likes of Emaar and Injaz.

With so many project opportunities, it is no wonder event organisers are looking to bring contractors, suppliers and manufacturers together in the Kingdom. At the end of last month, DMG brought The Big 5 to KSA.

Look out for April issue of The Big Project for show highlights, including visitor and exhibitor comments.

place for higher education and knowledge gen-eration, health services, cultural exchange, gov-ernmental services and recreational, hospitality and industrial provisions.

In addition to plans for a myriad of skyscrap-ers and mega projects, Jeddah updated its infrastructure plans in a five-year strategy.

As well as airport expansion, plans include substations, solar-power plants, railways, roads and ongoing projects at Jeddah Islamic Seaport, which will have its capacity doubled by 2020.

ABOVE: The Wadi Al Aslaa development at King Abdullah Economic City.

ABOVE: The show includes live equipment demos.

ABOVE: The Al Jawhara tower, Jeddah.

FAST FACTS LOCATION: Riyadh, KSA. Al Khurais Road, opposite Zahid Tractor

DATE: March 21-25

TImE: 4pm-10pm daily

CATEgORIES: Construction machinery, equipment, building materials, machines and vehicles

SpECIAL FEATURES: Live equipment demos, one of the region’s largest formwork and scaffolding displays

WEbSITE: www.saudiconstructionshow.com

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OFFICEMobile: +971 50 450 8356 Tel: +971 4 8816750Fax: +971 4 8816250

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| www.thebigprojectme.com34 | www.thebigprojectme.com34

Top 10 GCC infrasTruCTure projeCTsThe Big Project looks at some of the most lucrative infrastructure projects underway in 2011


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FRASTRUCTURE

LEFT: Contractors constructing one of ADEC’s phase one schools in Abu Dhabi.

Haramain railway, KSALast month, contracts were signed for the construction of four stations along the Al-Haramain High-Speed Railway project route, according to the minister of transport Dr Jubarah Bin Eid Al-Suraisiry, who is also chairman of the board of directors for the Saudi Railway Organisation.

Al-Suraisiry said the construction of the four stations, worth SR 9.39 billion, will be undertaken in 30 months from the start of the project’s implementation.

The signing marks the second part of the first stage of the project. The value of the first contract is SR 3.2 billion, the second is SR 1.6 billion, the third is worth SR 2.9 billion and the last will amount to SR 1.8 billion, representing opportunities for suppliers and contractors.

The first stage of the project, which included civil engineering works, such as construction of bridges and excava-tion works, was carried out at a value of SR 6.8 billion.

Al-Suraisiry added that the stations had been designed to the latest interna-tional standards. The designs, he said, bear significant characteristics of the Islamic architecture of the two holy cities — Makkah and Madina — and are inspired by the historical and cultural environment of Jeddah and Rabigh.

The stations include the main build-ing, arrival and departure terminals, mosque with a capacity of 600 worship-pers, a Civil Defence Centre, heliports, train and passenger platforms, long and short-term car-parking lots, shops, res-taurants and cafes.

A joint venture between local Saudi Bin Ladin Group and Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi won the contract to build pas-senger stations in Medina and Makkah. Local Saudi Oger won the contract to build stations in Jeddah and the King Abdullah Economic City. The EPC con-tract for phase two is expected to be awarded this month, with phase one due to be completed in April.


Abu Dhabi schools The Abu Dhabi Future Schools Programme was launched in December 2009 by Abu Dhabi Education Authority in partnership with Musanada to supply the growing demand for schools in the capital.

Phase one involves the construction of 18 new institutions across the emirate, the first of more than 100 in the pipeline.

These projects include seven Cycle One (grades kindergarten to five) schools, seven combined Cycle Two schools (grades six to 12), two Cycle Three schools (grades 10 to 12) and two kindergarten to 12th grade schools.

Also as part of the transformation of Abu Dhabi’s education system, the tender was recently launched for the development of Abu Dhabi University Education Park by the client, Mubadala Development Company. The pro-ject will comprise research laboratories,

business incubators, offices, retail services and residential units.

The scheme is an extension of the current Abu Dhabi University campus and is cur-rently under design. No expected delivery schedule has been revealed yet, but US-based Sasaki Associates has been appointed master planner and architect.

CoV

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FRASTRUCTURE

”KBr will assist with the delivery of 20 expressway projects over five years, part of Qatar’s us $20 billion roads-building programme”

Qatar roads building In February, the Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) awarded a contract to US-based construction and engineering firm KBR to manage the design and construction of 30 major roads in Doha.

KBR will assist with the delivery of 20 expressway projects over five years, part of Qatar’s US $20 billion roads-building pro-gramme aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, travel times and envi-ronmental impacts.

The contract builds on KBR’s portfolio of programme management services for infra-structure projects in the Gulf, according to KBR president infrastructure and minerals Colin Elliott.

In 2004, the international contractor was appointed to oversee project management for the first stage of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.

The news marks one of a number of new tenders for road improvement works in and around the capital, Doha, which have been recently launched by Ashghal.

Last month, Qatar Building Company was awarded a $12 million contract to design and build a traffic diversion for Wakra — Ras Abu Abboud Road Intersection.

In June 2010, Ashghal awarded a main contract for the construction of the seventh phase of Doha Highway to Midmac Contracting and Turkish firm Yuksel Insaat in a JV agreement; a three-year QR 1.59 bil-lion contract.

Kuwait power projects At the end of February, the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water signed five contracts totalling $1.5 billion to increase the country’s power and water reserves.

The contracts signed include the second-phase conver-sion of the Southern Al-Zour power plant into the com-bined cycle system through installing additional gas turbines, the building and repair of five water reservoirs at a capacity of 80 million gallons each.

The reservoir project is expected to cost $170 million and will be delivered within three years.

A second contract will cover the repair of pipelines for drinking water, extending from Abdullah Al-Jaded Port to the western Finats area, while another contract covers the development of 220 water stations throughout the state at an installation cost of $25 million.

The final contract is related to a KD 7 million project to extend 300KV electricity cables.

Kuwait came close to pushing its power capacity to its limits last summer, with record highs placing extra pres-sure on power plants across the country, according to local media reports.

A rendering of one of the ADEC phase one schools.

Qatar Exhibition Centre and surrounding infrastructure.

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UAE airports The Airport Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), predict that the sheer volume of current development activities in the region will see passenger growth rates continue for the next decade.

Based on research by the two international bodies, airports in the Middle East are expected to handle more than 400 million passengers by the year 2020.

In the UAE, allocated investments for the development of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai have been estimated at around $8 billion.

The airport has a blueprint to eventually handle 160 million passen-gers annually; however it currently caters to a limited number of cargo airlines and opened to receive helicopter and passenger aircraft with no more than 60 people on board just last month.

Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport, the existing airport in cen-tral Dubai, is building Concourse 3 that will expand annual capacity to 75 million passengers from 60 million at a cost of up to $1.17 billion.

In the capital, investment for Abu Dhabi International Airport mid-field is forecast to touch $6.8 billion.

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FRASTRUCTURE

”Kuwait came close to pushing its power capacity to its limits last summer, with record

highs placing extra pressure on power plants”

”other features of the new airport will include tunnels, corridors, train stations and communications systems”

Infrastructure developments are rife in Qatar.

King Abdulaziz International Airport Expansion (phase one) Design and construction of the new main passenger terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah commenced last month by main contractor Saudi Bin Ladin Group.

When completed, the airport will be equipped to capacitate an additional 30 million passen-gers per year, with 42 departure gates connected to 72 gangways.

The client, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), has set a budget of $7.2 billion with delivery scheduled for 2014. Design consultant is Paris-based design consultant Aeroports de Paris and locally-based Dar Al Handasah (Shair & Partners) is on board as project manager.

The first phase, worth $4 billion, includes construction of a 670,000m³ terminal featuring 94 aircraft bays. The second part, worth $3.2 billion, involves construction of a 133m high airport control tower, dubbed the world’s tallest, alongside an 8200-capactity car park, three power gen-eration and cooling centres, data administration centres, and infrastructure and road networks.

Other features of the new airport will include tunnels, corridors, train stations and communi-cations systems; new taxiways, aprons, roads and support facilities.

The Kuwait cityscape.

Expansion of Abu Dhabi Airport is currently underway.


Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone Located in Taweelah, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the 420km² Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone is a project four times the size of Abu Dhabi island.

Partially under construction, it is expected to become one of the world’s biggest industrial zones, with its own dedicated port.

There are three key elements to the project: Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone A, which are both under construction and expected to open in quarter four of 2012, and lastly, Industrial Zone B, on which construction has not yet commenced.

The Khalifa Port occupies an area of 3.4km, including onshore and offshore seg-ments. Stage One A of the project, which comprises the offshore quay area, is 2.7km² or the size of nearly 400 football pitches.

Industrial Zone A covers 51km² and is home to the only current anchor tenant Emirates Aluminium (EMAL). Other industries targeted according to sector include: petrochemicals, steel, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, chemicals, biotechnol-ogy, food and beverage, metals and logistics. The client, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, expects the zone to be fully occupied by 2018.

Panning a huge area of 365km², Industrial Zone B makes up stage three of the project, comprising among other components: housing, high-technology, light manufacturing and logistics industries.

Infrastructure works are expected to start in 2013. One of the latest new tenders to be launched for the project was an EPC contract

to build a seamless copper pipe mill, with a capacity of 30,000 to 40,000 tons a year of copper tube production.

The latest update by Middle East tenders revealed that Germany’s SMS Group and Italy’s Danieli were the two front runners for the supplier contract.

“spanning a huge area of 365km², industrial Zone B makes up stage three of the Khalifa port and industrial Zone project”

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FRASTRUCTURE Hassyan IPP, Dubai Initially planned as a power and desalination plant, the client Dubai Electricity and Water Authority cancelled the desalination component at the beginning of this year and will now develop the project as an IPP only.

A tender for the main construction contract is expected to be issued by the end of March and a contract will be signed with private developers in quarter two.

The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2014 and comprises gas turbines associated with heat-recovery steam generators, auxiliary boilers, back-pressure steam turbines and all associated works.

A number of power projects are underway in the UAE.Khalifa Port located half way between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.


GCC RAIL: KSA TO QATAR

110km ThE LENgTh oF ThE gCC RAIL TRACK bETwEEN SAUDI ARAbIA AND QATAR

RAZ AL-ZOUR PLAnT

2012 PLANT IS EXPECTED To PRoDUCE CommERCIAL PowER by 2012

KHALIfA PORT

420km2

ToTAL AREA oF ThE PoRT AND INDUSTRIAL zoNE; FoUR TImES ThE SIzE oF AbU DhAbI ISLAND

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FRASTRUCTURE

”The raz al-Zour power and Desalination plant will begin supplying the saudi arabian Mining

Company (Maaden) with 350MW of power”

Raz al-Zour Power and Desalination Plant, Saudi ArabiaThe Raz al-Zour plant will be located 75km north-west of the industrial city of Jubail in Saudi Arabia. The desalination plant will use thermal desalination technology to generate at least 70% of the water it produces.

It can also use reverse-osmosis technology to gereate up to 30% of its water.

The client, Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), expects the plant to produce commercial power by December 1, 2012, with progress on track.

The project will begin supplying the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) with 350MW of power. The plants are intended for full operation by December 31, 2013. Saudi Aramco will supply 500 million ft³ a day of

natural gas as feedstock for the plant. It will also provide diesel oil or Arabian extra-light crude oil as a back up to the natural gas.

Furthermore, the plant will be connected to the Saudi Electricity Company’s grid at 380KV using a new substation at Raz al-Zour.

Saudi Electricity is expected take 1050MW of the plant’s power output, while the client will take 220 million gallons a day of desali-nated water.

Last month, German engineering group Siemens was awarded a contract worth more than $1 billion for the supply of components to the combined-cycle power plant and associated seawater desalination facility. Siemens will supply 12 gas turbines, 10 heat-recovery steam generators, five steam turbines along with associated auxiliary and ancillary systems.

The plant is one of many power projects in KSA.

GCC Railway project The pan-GCC railway transportation system will run along the coast of the Arab Gulf, proposed to end in Muscat, Oman and Kuwait, passing through Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

There will also be an option for a route from Saudi Arabia to Manama, Bahrain, and a 110km track from Saudi Arabia to Doha in Qatar. The full proposed net-work also includes a line from Turkey, all the way south along the Red Sea to Yemen, passing through Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

A joint venture between Kuwait’s Global Investment House and Saudi Arabia-based Parsons Brinckerhoff completed a basic preliminary study.

According to a Middle East Tenders update on January 4, 2011, the client Cooperation Council for Arab States of Gulf Secretariat General is expected to commence a study to form the GCC Rail Authority by the end of March once it has gained approval from the six member states.

The new body will oversee development of this project. World Bank is on board as financial consultant, along-

side specialist consultancy firms: Canada-based Canarail Consultants, France-based Systra and locally-based Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company.


PROJECT U

PDATE | ABU DHABI

Brighton College ABu DhABi

Structural works on Brighton College Abu Dhabi were completed last month, accord-ing to developer Bloom Properties, the real

estate arm of National Holding. Up to 15,000m³ of concrete have been

poured into the school structure and more than 2500 tons of steel reinforcements have been utilised for the 34,000m² project, with 1000-plus labourers reported to have “worked around the clock” to complete the structural work in record time.

“Bloom Properties is committed to deliver-ing on its promise of completing the project on schedule. Our joint efforts with the contrac-tors, mandated to comply with our stringent quality standards, are beginning to bear fruit. The dedication of all involved in the pro-ject is truly commendable and has resulted in the completion of structural works earlier than forecast,” Bloom Education general manager

Hani Raydan said in a statement. Admissions for the 2011-2012 academic year have already commenced at Brighton College Abu Dhabi classes from pre-reception to grade nine.

The Brighton College campus at Bloom Gardens will offer world-class education in the British curriculum. Its differentiating factor will include a creative blend of Arabic and Islamic Studies in compliance with Abu Dhabi Education Council.

The campus is also designed to provide dedi-cated centres of excellence in academic, visual and performing arts, and sporting activities. The three areas will be linked by spaces for out-door learning and social interaction.

Bloom is the property and lifestyle develop-ment arm of National Holding, with headquar-ters in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The company has been in operation since 1999 with an established portfolio of completed projects.

This month we look at progress on one of Abu Dhabi’s new educational institutes, Brighton College Abu Dhabi, on which structural works were completed last month

“More than 1000 labourers worked around the clock to complete the structural work in record time”

COnsTRUCTiOn TRiviA • Up to 15,000m³ of concrete have been

poured into the school structure

• More than 2500 tons of steel

reinforcements have been utilised

• Project covers 34,000m²

• Around 1000 labourers were onsite

last month

The first development launched for sale by Bloom is its residential development, Bloom Gardens, which is located on the Eastern Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Bloom Education part-nered with Brighton College to bring the school to the region.

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oman’s construction industry is predicted to grow at nearly 6% year-on-year with 24 mega-projects planned for muscat alone. Melanie Mingas fi nds out how the country is planning to rebuild its economy in less than a decade

oman on a mission

LeFT: The omani government plans to build a 2000km coastal railway network, with ‘gate-way cities’ developed at a number of strategic points. beLow: rendering of a completed project.

L ike other Gulf states, Oman’s development strategy is set out in a series of fi ve-year plans, pioneered by the government.

Since the fi rst fi ve-year plan was launched in 1976, the country has developed economically, socially and physically, with progress particularly linked to a num-ber of petrochemical and industrial mega-projects; collaboratively securing the country’s wealth and increasing GDP 35 times since 1970.

Th is year marks the fi rst year of the eighth cycle, which will see investment ploughed into establishing a tourism industry that will become the Sultanate’s pri-mary economic driver by 2020.

As a result, the Omani construction industry was valued at US $3.7 billion in 2010, with growth expected to reach an annual rate of 5.8% between 2010 and 2014. Sectors within the industry, particularly cement pro-duction continue to enjoy some of the largest gross margins of all the GCC countries, according to the Oxford Business Group.

One of two staple elements of this escalation will be the emerging tourism sector, as detailed in the 2011-2016 development strategy. Th e second, infrastructure developments, will include the creation of six new air-ports, the dual expansions of Muscat and Salalah Airports, port and power developments and the con-struction of a coastal railway line.

“In the current cycle there are many infrastructure developments such as roads and, of course, the railway, which will follow 2000km of coastline,” explains Sam

Oliver, UK Trade and Investment Offi ce (UKTI) at the British Embassy, Muscat.

“Th e government is then planning to select various locations along that line for development, where most of the inhabitable land is connected by the new rail infrastructure. Th ere will also be many harbour and port-related development activities along this coastal area, creating gateway cities.”

Running in tandem with this initiative is Vision 2020; a concept established at the end of the country’s “fi rst phase” of development, in 1995.

Outlining Oman’s goals for phase two of its develop-ment, the plan aims to create economic and fi nancial stability; reshaping the role of government and glo-balising the national economy.

Th e diversifi cation programme will encourage the youngest generation of the Omani workforce to pioneer development in digital technologies, renewable resources, infrastructure and other areas identifi ed as crucial to development.

Majestic MuscatTh e most signifi cant of the current development pro-jects will focus on the capital. Titled ‘Majestic Muscat’, 24 mega projects will be undertaken across the city, with a remit to “enhance the quality of life” for resi-dents and visitors alike.

Aiming to develop a “cohesive, inclusive, safe, healthy and vibrant city with opportunity for all”, the projects will include development of the waterfront and

“there will also be many harbour and port-related development activities along this coastal area, creating gateway cities”

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$3.7bThe esTimaTed VaLue oF oman’s consTrucTion indusTry in 2010

arjan weerstand, salalah port .


corniche areas (see box-out), in collaboration with a number of prestigious international design firms, such as Denmark-based Gehl Architects, Australia’s Project Architecture and Parson’s International.

“The various strands of this development will be in harmony with the economic, civic and commercial aspirations of the city; providing a new look and feel, while reflecting the country’s values and heritage in a modern setting,” explains Oliver.

Dry wadis will be “transformed into archi-tectural features” including promenades, with old campsites renovated into new residential settlements; featuring a focus on commerce and leisure developments.

In a drastic contrast to similar remits in other Gulf states, the developments in Oman will work to preserve the country’s famous rural landscapes.

“You will not find the jagged edges of chrome and steel, but a relatively unbroken skyline dot-ted with domes, minarets and occasional land-marks of trade and commerce all blending into an aesthetic whole.

“The project will be a stunning testament to the renaissance of, not just the metropolis, but the country as a whole,” Oliver explains.

Developing infrastructure Supporting these developments will be a num-ber of infrastructure projects, including the expansion of Salalah Port; with the general cargo quay extended by 1200m.

Currently under evaluation from the Omani government’s tender board, 41 parties showed interest in the tender, with 19 submitting bids for the $195.6 million contract. It was a response that senior manager of project devel-opment and implementation, Arjaan Weerstand, describes as “substantial proof of market recovery”.

“The decision to expand specifically this ter-minal was triggered by the growth of the Salalah Freezone in 2007 and 2008, with the start of the construction of the Salalah Methanol plant and the increase of limestone and other commodities.”

Undergoing an extensive design phase which addressed the needs of all terminal users, the project is Oman’s first public-private partner-ship (PPP).

Additional projects will see the construction of six new airports across the country and the regeneration of two further airports in Muscat and Salalah.

The Muscat expansion, due for completion in 2014, will increase capacity to 12 million pas-sengers annually; with additional phases increasing this figure to 48 million by 2050. Runway upgrades will also see the airport able to handle the world’s largest plane.

Both airport contracts were awarded to Cowi and Larsen Architects and Consulting Engineering, with project management run by Airport de Paris Ingenierie.

Extensions at Salalah Airport will increase passenger capacity to one million within three years, up from 258,000 in the first half of 2010.

In addition, six new airports will be con-structed in Adam, Haima, Shaleem, Al Duqm, Ras Al Had and Sohar.

Described by the Oxford Business Group as the “most ambitious” of all the projects, Al Duqm will also develop a port and dry dock, refinery and petrochemical complex, power and desalination infrastructure. There will be an industrial area and a free-trade zone complex, as well as tourism and residential projects.

Major contracts to build two 750MW power projects have been awarded to Siemens. Barka 3 and Sohar 2 will generate electricity with sur-plus power used to generate steam for a turbine. It is one of a number of key projects which has

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5.8%The predicTed growTh raTe in oman’s consTrucTion indusTry beTween 2010 and 2014

Majestic Muscat project partners• sultan Qaboos boulvard, ws

atkins, oman

• seeb seafront plaza, architecture studio, France

• al mawalih souk gehl architects, based in denmark

• waterfront square at shatti al Qurum, gehl architects

• seeb waterfront, parsons international

• muttrah business district, gehl architects, denmark

• al Qurum Festival square, gehl architects, denmark

• muttrah corniche, gehl architects, denmark

• hawiyat najim park, Jenson and skodvin architects, norway

• The minarate, Lundgaard and Tranberg architects, denmark

• Landscaping projects by atelier Jaqueline osty et associes, based in France

• al azaiba, atelier Jaqueline osty et associes, France

• naseem park, atelier Jaqueline osty et associes, France

• al barkat park, muscat municipality, oman

• al Khuwair and activity hub, project architecture, australia

• al hamriyah Terraced park, project architecture, australia

• al Jami street upgrade, project architecture, australia

• muscat plaza, project architecture, australia

• ruwi central business district, project architecture, australia

• al amerat square, muscat municipality, oman

• wadi al Kabir park, project architecture, australia

• al Khuwair Vegetable market, snohetta, norway

• muttrah Fish market, snohetta, based in norway

• wadi adai pedestrian bridge, snohetta, norway

2020 The deadline has been set to make tourism oman’s primary economic driver by 2020

aboVe: salalah port as it currently stands. more than 40 parties showed interest in the us $195.6m expansion project contract.


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seen a rise in demand for Omani workers.“Siemens plans to invest in significant resources and manpower in Oman, upon the award of projects,” says Siemens Oman, chief executive officer, Markus Strohmeier.

“For the power plants, we are going to employ Omani nationals to work alongside the Siemens team during the implementation. It is our plan for the Omani colleagues to take on a long-term role during the operation and main-tenance phase of these plants,” Strohmeier adds.

Having worked in the country for 35 years, Siemens’ new contracts are supported by fur-ther collaborative developments in gas turbine technology, with several consortia.

Commenting on the significance of the Omani market for the company, Stronhmeier adds: “The development of the oil and gas industries, as well as the solid approach Oman has taken in optimising its infrastructure, makes it key to our own growth plans.

“Many of our technologies have been deployed in Oman in the early days and have given Siemens successful business references. Siemens wants to be a reliable partner in build-ing up the infrastructure in Oman with our global experience and local know-how of cus-tomer requirements.”

Destination Oman In the country’s quest to re-brand itself as a tourism hub, a number of resorts and hotels will be developed, along with a multi-billion dollar convention centre. However, unlike that of its GCC neighbours, Oman’s ambition will see the country building to demand, rather than flooding a newly-created market, and therefore risking oversupply.

Spearheaded by Omran, the tourism devel-opment and investment arm of the Omani gov-ernment, the first completed project was the site for the Second Asian Beach Games Muscat

2010; delivered on budget within 900 days. Other projects include the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, in addition to hotel and resort developments throughout the country.

Omran is responsible for master-planning and development of the projects and the man-agement of a large portfolio of hotels.

“Over recent years, Oman has taken major strides forward in attracting tourists to our many leisure resorts and hotels,” says Omran’s HE Dr Rajiha bint Abdul Ameer bin Ali.

“Our strategy has always been to target the business sector too and this investment will provide us with an outstanding venue for con-ferences and exhibitions,” he adds.

Omran plans to invest $1.8 billion in the 10,000 capacity Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, located near Seeb.

The centre’s exhibition halls will be ready by mid-2013, while the auditorium and the first of several planned hotels are expected to be com-pleted by the end of 2013.

Summit of ambition Supporting the construction industry across all sectors, the inaugural Omani Construction Summit was held in Muscat this January.

Deemed the “biggest gathering of industry professionals and leading players,” the four-day event hosted 35 conference speakers, 14 exhibi-tors and 240 construction professionals.

“The summit represented the biggest gather-ing in the sultanate of industry professionals and leading industry players that have a promi-nent role in the implementation of many major projects throughout the sultanate,” comments CJ Paul, general manager of organiser Global Exhibitions and Conferences (GEC).

The summit was jointly delivered by GEC and US-based International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC), organiser of the Saudi Urban Transport Conference, Tall Buildings Middle East and Tunnels and under-ground Construction Middle East, among other events.

Key focus areas during the summit included infrastructure, particularly the Omani National Rail Project; residential and tourism develop-ments and the Salalah Port extension.

“At the Oman construction Summit, many talks focused on the industry picking up again. The fact is that the Middle East has not been impacted by the crisis, as for instance Europe was,” said Weerstand, who spoke about the Salalah Port expansion at a summit conference.

Vision 2020 at a glance“to proMote econoMic and financial stability in oMan”

• reshape the role of the government in the national economy

• broaden private-sector participation

• diversify the economic base and sources of national income

• globalise the omani economy

• upgrade the skills of the omani workforce to promote higher employment

• develop human resources in the industry

“for the power plants, we are going to employ omani nationals to work alongside the siemens team during the implementation”

“Although no one knows if the crisis is really over there was indeed an optimistic atmosphere at the event,” he adds.

The pace of construction has seen demand for expatriate workers soar; in 2010 it was announced that thousands more would be needed to strengthen the existing 850,000-strong expatriate community and plug a national skills gap, particularly in civil engi-neering and labour.

Currently, expatriate workers make up nearly 30% of Oman’s 2.9 million population; an 8% increase on 2009 figures.

According to the UKTI office, other issues in the industry include short-term obstacles to new company start-ups, due to local regulations and a lack of communication between the rele-vant departments.

But the body maintains that such obstacles are merely communication problems rather than legislative barriers to trade and expansion within the country.

“There can be a general lack of cohesion between government departments; for instance all the relevant agencies must be approached individually, so things can take time depending on what you are doing,” says Oliver.

Yet despite the superficial barriers, invest-ment in development is strong with major pro-jects on course to meet due completion dates.

“The government is heading the major infra-structure projects with support from the private sector, while private-sector projects focus on malls and resorts,” Oliver adds.

“Around the country you can see that there are signs of activity.”

2011 This year marks the start of the eighth five-year development plan, which will see investment ploughed into the burgeoning tourism industry

aboVe: cJ paul, gm for global exhibitions and conferences.

AD


In short Woods Bagot and Buro Happold say Zero-E “encompasses the human dimension of sustainable development, seeking to create socially and economically thriving communities”, which: • Produce zero emissions• Annually produce more energy

than they require• Process their own waste• Release cleaner air than they

take in• Heal compromised sites and

ecosystems• Restore natural habitats• Reconnect humans with nature• Increase occupant health• Exhibit material integrity• Delight and beautify

surroundings • Supply all water needs using

collection and closed loops

“T his project began with my belief that, as a profession, architecture doesn’t do enough to contribute to advancing

knowledge,” says Ross Donaldson, global exec-utive chairman and CEO for Woods Bagot.

“We rely on research and development from other sectors, but for such a critical issue as climate change, architects have a significant contribution to make.”

Aiming to fashion a “quantifiable design process”, Donaldson, in collaboration with engineering consultancy firm Buro Happold, created Zero-E; a new software platform which goes beyond modelling the environmental cre-dentials of a building.

With potential to be utilised in both new design and retrofit projects, Zero-E is a tool for all sectors of the construction process, which considers both the efficiency of buildings and the impat they have on their surroundings.

Donaldson explains the software can be used by designers, developers and facilities manage-ment companies alike, mapping everything from curtain walls to light bulbs, while “giving back” to the environment.

“We have developed a different way to pack-age design considerations, which illustrates the energy and carbon impact of designing build-ings,” he explains, adding that there are benefits

Engineering tomorrow’s environmentWoods Bagot’s global executive chairman and CEO Ross Donaldson speaks to The Big Project about a design platform that could transform the engineering and design process

“We have developed a different way to package design considerations that illustrates the energy and carbon impact of designing buildings”

the “mechanics” such as utilities, fixtures and facades to increase efficiency.

Beyond these considerations, Zero-E also works to provide solutions which enable an entire community to not only be carbon neu-tral, but actually produce energy (see box).

Piloted on an industrial site on the Yangtze River, Chongqing, China, the study (which began in 2010) covered a 450,000 square metre mixed use development, with an 82-storey office and hotel tower, which will “continually monitor and react to internal and external cli-matic conditions for maximum performance”.

Labelled a “holistic resource system”, it inte-grates photovoltaics, solar thermal panels, absorption chillers, a biogas fuel cell and anaer-obic waste processing.

Selecting the location of the pilot based on demand and challenges, the next step is to introduce the software to the Middle East and European markets.

“I think 2010 was the tipping point because any time we show people this stuff we get high levels of engagement and interest; the interest we received in China could potentially take this to a very exciting reality.”

Zero-E allows designers and engineers to develop buildings which “give back” to the environment.

tALK

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for both the commercial and residential sectors: “We are witnessing an emerging branding trend from developers where people feel there is a demand from the market to be seen selling energy-efficient units.”

The two companies undertook extensive research, developing parametric modelling tools to test the concept. Development was funded by the Woods Bagot R&D fund, which allocates 2% of annual profits to such projects.

The programme places a building’s features to maximise efficiency, based not only on the available data for the building, but also the geo-graphical location of the development.

For example optimum floor depth is deter-mined by calculating the resulting lighting and heat loads, while FM contractors are able to test


What are the key strengths in the aluminium industry in the Middle East region?Modar Mohamed Al Mekdad (MM): Having cheap energy is one of the key elements in this industry. To produce one ton of alumin-ium you require 15,000kw of electricity, therefore it’s natural to be located here.

Phil Ellerby (PE): We specialise in alumin-ium envelope solutions for buildings. We tend to be involved in the higher-end pro-jects like airports and there are currently many airport contracts in the region.

MM: In the last five years, the region has witnessed a boom in primary production. The downstream industry consumes 16% of this, with the rest exported.

If you add value in terms of extrusion, flat roll products, building influx, finished

products add a lot to the region in terms of GDP. When we talk about US $55 billion investments and how much it can be inflated on the downstream side; up to multiples of 10 or even 20.

What are the potential weaknesses you have identified in the market? MM: You need government involvement in projects. There are not many varieties of products, just rods and billets; downstream production requires investments in technol-ogy, R&D and establishing a technology-based industry rather than just converting from aluminium shapes.

For this reason we diversified our opera-tions into automotive, transportation, elec-trical and machine parts. As a result, I can say now that that decision helped us to over-come the recession.

All about aluminiumThe Big Project brings together three aluminium experts at the Media Rotana Dubai to discuss developments, opportunities and weaknesses in one of the GCC’s most lucrative industries

PE: Sadly, we’re a little too remote from the primary producers of ingot billet and slab. For us to be able to utilise aluminium in our own envelope solutions there needs to be another interface, which is the hot rolling mill, producing coil. There is only one real producer in the Gulf states at the moment, which is based in Bahrain.

The panel: Modar Mohamed Al Mekdad, general manager, Gulf Extrusions

Phil Ellerby, managing director and owner, Rigidal Industries

Tarek S Ali, show manager, Reed Exhibitions; organisers of Aluminium Dubai

L-R: The panel included Modar Mohamed Al Mekdad, GM for Gulf Extrusions; Phil Ellerby, MD for Rigidal Industries and Tarek S Ali, show director of Aluminium Dubai, organised by Reed Exhibitions.


85%PREDICTED LEvEL of ExPoRTED ALuMInIuM fRoM ThE REGIon’S PLAnTS By 2030

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MM: We have conducted feasibility studies which concluded that without government sup-port in terms of natural gas, liquid metal and energy tariffs, projects are less viable.

Also what scares me in the Middle East is the lack of communication between upstream and downstream industries.

What seminal events occurred to help the evolution of the industry over the last decade?MM: When the boom began around 2002, demand was around 50,000 tons per annum and available capacities were higher in supply than demand. In 2005, the market demand reached approximately 100,000 tons and metal began flowing in from India and China.

In 2007, it was said demand had surged to around 180,000 tons per annum simply because of the pace of construction. But in the absence of clear statistics this data misled many

“If you allow more imports to come in there will always be the contractors only buying on the basis of price”

Below: The discussion covered building standards, exhibitions, sustainability and recent developments in the industry.

investors and today 50% of factories are run-ning at 50% of their capacities.

PE: That scenario was paralleled in most of the Gulf industries, but especially in the UAE. There is a huge amount of overcapacity now because investors were ill advised. Across the entire construction kaleidoscope, there was over capacity because people were investing in downstream industries and there wasn’t a mar-ket to support it in the long term.

How have these events shaped the industry today? PA: When you have an overcapacity in the mar-ketplace like we do now — whether it’s extru-sion or it’s a finished tertiary product — it results almost automatically in lower, unsus-tainable prices. There is so much overcapacity at the moment that anybody who invested in the last five years is now trying to keep their com-pany alive, reflected directly in the sales price.

TA: Price fluctuations may be to the advantage of some investors, but we can probably encour-age more architects to invest in aluminium. It is happening for new buildings, but what about the old buildings? There is potential in the ret-rofit market as well as the new build.

MM: Established companies can be more patient; in the UAE quality standards are very high and I believe we are seeing greater demand for certain specifications not every company

can meet. I believe in another three-to-four years the situation will balance out.

How does the lack of codified regional standards impact on production and supply? MM: Architects implement UK, American, Japanese or Australian norms. The problem when you have so many different standards is that sometimes you might over- or under spec-ify because you don’t know what is applicable for the region. As the chairman of Qualico, we are trying to enhance quality and influence how standards are set through working groups.

Local government on a federal level should work on establishing proper standards to cover investors; we need local standards especially for imported material or in-house manufacturing.

PE: Having been here 30 years and coming from England, we use British standards. They are the longest-standing and most comprehen-sive. Standards from Germany are good and there are many from America; some relevant, others not. But it is essential to have standards fit for purpose for the area in which you are working. Europe requires high PVDF coating for UV protection, whereas the Middle East has a lot of sandstorms so we use a polyamide mod-ified polyurethane coating system.

How does the demand for standards change within the industry and between different end users?PE: If you are working with people who are the decision-makers and ultimately the client, or their technical advisors who are there to put together a fitting specification for a project, then people are very interested in quality. The remit is given and it’s up to the consultants and architects to write the standards.

They have won a project based on a quotation and a certain level of specifications and they are rarely interested in improving those specifica-tions if they are there to make a commercial profit. If one is to improve specifications gener-ally then it is through clients’ representatives in a private investment or through the various government departments; any of the institu-tions which are building high levels of infra-structure that they want to last.

MM: Dividing public and private projects, gov-ernment projects demand high standards, but what happens is that when the project is exe-cuted we find a gap between specifications and


“In the private sector, if it is a build-and-operate project they really demand good quality, but in build-and-sell, quality is not a key issue”

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actuality. We have seen in many government projects certain certifications are insisted upon for certain products but then for other products they are not developed.

In the private sector, if it is a build-and-oper-ate project they really demand good quality, but in build-and-sell quality is not a key issue. They just want to make a reasonable price.

Again there is the awareness of quality that is still to be developed in this part of the world. If I look at the tender document from the specifi-cation point of view versus what is actually being supplied we see sometimes we have a gap, especially when you talk about schools or low-cost housing.

We also need to develop quality control; even in low-cost housing there are specifications to be met. The government pays for a good-quality product, where is this gap? Which pocket is it going to? At the end of the day, some of the products are of inferior quality. Projects need quality-control consultants to be appointed by the client, so part of this chain is missing some-where. I’m not expecting the developer or client to know everything about the products, but there are specialists who know what quality should be.

There should also be supervision from the government to say this is the minimum that should be met for a particular industry or prod-uct. This is where we are yet to catch up.

TA: In exhibitions today, the machinery and processing equipment profiles mostly come from the European market, which shows there is a quality in the production process, not only in the primary side.

For example today 65-70% of exhibitors come from the processing and machinery fields and the machines from Germany or Italy, reflecting the quality of the products coming from this machinery.

I think the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC) brings expertise by tying up with associations from the UK and Germany promoting quality production. Progress is moving but not fast.

Could the introduction of more stringent building, sustainability or waste-management codes address the issue? MM: The existing codes have to be extended in detail for windows, doors and external enve-lopes, saving energy and green solutions.

Gulf Extrusions has a particular product, the thermal-brokered windows and doors, which can minimise the thermal transfer by 25 to

50%, yet the specifications are mandatory only in Sharjah, UAE.

TA: Maybe we could go back to the specifier to educate them and use the media as well as an educational channel.

MM: There should also be a code for the build-ing. Today I want to buy an apartment, but I don’t know what is hidden under the tiles and false ceiling. There should be somebody to rate this building.

TA: The collection process in the Middle East region is not developed very well. The way peo-ple are not educated in how to separate the cans and re-use aluminium. So maybe aluminium is green, but people must be educated.

PE: I have my own personal theory that the UAE is inundated with vast numbers of extremely poorly-paid workforce. If you were to

Tarek S Ali, Aluminium Dubai show manager, Reed Exhibitions.

Phil Ellerby, managing director and owner Rigidal Industries.

Modar Mohamed Al Mekdad, general manager Gulf Extrusions.


$55bESTIMATED InvESTMEnT In ThE REGIon’S SMELTER ExPAnSIonS AnD nEw PRojECTS By 2020

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financially incentivise individuals or teach peo-ple how they can recycle cans, I think you would solve all the solid-waste problems of the Middle East overnight. I think unfortunately the exceedingly low-paid workers here don’t understand that.

There have been recycling facilities here in the UAE for a very long time; Union Paper Mills has got to be in excess of 30 years old. Lucky Recycling for aluminium in Jebel Ali has been operating for at least 25 years. The facili-ties are there. The great thing with aluminium is that it can all be recycled.

What are the overriding concerns in the industry?TA: As an exhibition company we can bring any concept here, but we try to work slowly with the industry and are involved in massive market research to cover the region; focussing on innovation, applications and investment opportunities. We try to find opportunities for

small and medium-sized investors to help develop the role of the industry and meet exhibitor demand.

Quality is also considered. We have Chinese companies coming to our exhibition and we need to understand exactly what conflict this can create in a small market place.

Are there any minimum quality requirements for exhibitors? MM: Today, when I exhibit I see low-quality companies and this can be harmful for us.

PE: It’s always a problem with exhibitions; the ones who want to exhibit are those who haven’t been here for 30 years developing and growing a business. They want the quick solution to be in the marketplace and so go to exhibitions to hand out hundreds and hundreds of cards.

TA: From the visitor’s point of view, they have the right to see what is cheap and what is expensive. It’s filtering; the size of the stand affects the visitor’s perceptions and secondly, you will be immediately identified as a quality provider in the region just by being present with your team.

MM: How do you verify the companies? Sometimes they are just trading companies representing Chinese companies; not even

ABovE AnD BELow LEfT: The panel discussed concerns about the

calibre of exhibitors coming to the region from China.


“price fluctuations may be to the advantage of some of the investors but we can probably encourage more architects to invest in aluminium”

76%of ALuMInIuM PRoDuCED In ThE MIDDLE EAST IS ExPoRTED In ITS PRIMARy foRM

had to improve those specifications and move on, again emulating the best.

We are seeing the excellence of Dubai and the UAE spilling out into the other Gulf areas with higher levels of specification. We don’t believe those specifications would have been there five years ago, but they certainly are now and the level of specification is improving all the time.

MM: There is added value in the downstream industry so we have diversified. For example, smelting adds $150, extruding $250, building a window adds maybe $500, selling and installa-tion another $500, so you’re talking about $1100 added on the original price and there are many processes involved in that downstream.

Today we supply to Jaguar, Aston Martin, Lotus, Range Rover and Land Rover. We are going to put another extrusion plant in Abu Dhabi for non-architectural applications, investing around $300 million. India is one of the other areas we are expecting growth.

This shows you well established companies always have continuous growth. Of course, when there are financial problems we slow down but we don’t cancel.

We have taken advantage of the situation because for example, if today I want to buy an extrusion line I know that I can get it 30 to 40% cheaper than I could have done five years ago; my cost per square metre is much less than it was in 2005.

producers yet still classified as manufacturers. Today, somebody who is trading in extrusion is not an extruder. He will claim he is and will exhibit as one but how do you verify? I know the biggest companies in China will not accept small stands.

TA: We approach the companies and catego-rise. When we receive an enquiry the first thing is to ask them the products they deal in and what they manufacture.

MM: Around 80% of those companies exhibit-ing at exhibitions like this, throughout the region, are representing companies and not representing the manufacturers.

There is a problem with Chinese companies communicating, particuarly in new markets, so if you have the opportunity to solve this through trading companies you have the opportunity to represent massive companies in the region.

PE: In some cases the traditional methods used by Chinese, Korean and other Eastern compa-nies are to establish trading companies.

When Korean companies first entered the market, they all sold through trading houses as a natural way of selling.

They will always pose a threat to the industry here, especially with this overcapacity situation. If you allow more imports to come in there will always be the contractors only buying on the basis of price and not quality.

There is a certain quality a company will accept, based on reputation. For example, we don’t buy from China at all, for a variety of rea-sons, despite the fact that the prices offered by these companies may be up to 20% less. At this stage their quality isn’t up to par.

What business strategies did you employ during the downturn? PE: We had to improve product specifications and move on.

Now we are exporting our systems to other Gulf states, North Africa and India because of the massive drop in demand in the UAE, specif-ically in Dubai. But our new markets are now accepting a higher grade of specification than perhaps they have done in the past.

The envelope solutions we offer mirror the very best in the western world. Our initial and simplistic systems were then emulated by many of our market competitors, meaning we have

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FacTS • 76% of the aluminium produced in the

region is exported in its primary form

• 85% of Middle East aluminium is expected to be exported by 2030

• one ton of aluminium requires 15,000kw electricity

• The region is expected to contribute about 15% of the total global production of aluminium by 2015

• The Middle East Region is Currently Challenged by the Minimal Existence of the Aluminium Downstream Industries

• Saudi Arabia and the united Arab Emirates are among the Gulf’s two biggest aluminium markets

• 1.8 million tons is produced anually by Dubai Aluminium Company (DuBAL) and Emirates Aluminium (EMAL)

• This equates to 40% of the total Middle East production

• uS $30b is the estimated current investment in the Gulf’s industry

• $55b is the predicted level of investment expected by 2050

Source: Frost and Sullivan Market Research Report, 2010.

Source: Frost and Sullivan Market Research Report, 2010.

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Last month, The Big Project teamed up with acoustics expert Paul Schwarz to investigate a reader tip-off that some Dubai Marina construction sites were breaking legal limits for the level of construction noise produced. Here are the findings, as well as some bonus tips on best practice

Sound advice

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A s we all know, construction is a noisy business and sites that fail to limit the level of sound produced during the

construction process may be breaking the law, putting employees’ health at risk and causing unacceptable disruption to residents and others in vicinity of the site.

That is why when The Big Project received a tip-off from a reader in the industry that some Dubai Marina construction sites were exceeding legal building noise limits, we recruited WSP acoustic director Paul Schwarz to investigate.

Expert advice Schwarz has a varied experience of record-ing and measuring sounds having worked in the worldwide acoustics sector for 15 years, moving to the UAE four years ago.

A regular speaker at the IQPC-organised GCC industry event Acoustics in Construction, he’s all too familiar with the issues surrounding industry noise pollution. As a result, he is working to create the UAE Society of Acoustic Engineers to advise authorities on the best approach to

establishing and enforcing architectural and environmental noise regulations in the UAE and – eventually – across the GCC.

He explains that assessing the level of noise from a site is not as simple as one may assume: “For a full analysis, you must ensure you take a detailed snapshot over a 10-15 minute period to capture every sort of noise in the environment.

“Be confident that the target of your meas-urement is the loudest sound you can hear. You can prove this by taking and comparing a series of measurements; one close to the road, one closer to the site, another close to an air-condi-tioning unit on the roof and one close to a goods loading and unloading area, for exam-ple,” he continues.

Schwarz says it’s also important to address the ‘Canyon Effect’ when attempting to accu-rately measure noise limits.

If a building is made predominantly of glass or concrete, it is reflective. In a well built-up environment of glass or concrete buildings, sounds are bounced from one building to another, increasing noise levels.

The way sound is processed by the human brain is also worth considering. Schwarz asserts


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ABOVE: WSP acoustic director Paul Schwarz.BELOW: Construction sites around Dubai Marina.

140dBWIDELy BELIEVED TO BE THE PAIn THrESHOLD AT WHICH HEArIng DAMAgE IS PErMAnEnT

To put noise levels into perspective, it is widely believed the pain threshold is 140 deci-bels — equivalent to standing next to a jumbo jet — and likely to result in unrecoverable hearing damage. An average nightclub or con-cert would reach around 100-105 decibels, which your body may react to leaving your ears “ringing”.

“When you hear a ringing in your ears, it’s an indication you have suffered permanent hearing damage to the membrane in your ear and you will never be that sensitive to that particular frequency again,” he reveals, adding that if you can still hear ringing the day after – you have most certainly damaged your hearing.

So how does this relate to construction? Well, those who work in an industrial settings, such as a construction site, are exposed to loud levels of noise daily, which often results in age-related hearing loss (referred to medically as Presbycusis) by the age of 50.

Site managers should aim to decrease the amount of noise produced on site to below the legal maximum limits in order to demonstrate best practice and become an employer of choice in this respect.

While many internationally-established companies reading this advice will be familiar with such good practice — many of which will have designated health, safety and environ-mental managers — Schwarz says there are still a large number of firms operating in the region that are failing to meet high enough standards of noise control.

“In established construction markets, noise control is seen as due diligence. Companies want to be seen to be doing the right thing and demonstrate transparent processes.

“Furthermore, local authorities may enforce construction noise regulations.”

The UAE has compulsory noise-limits regu-lations, which must be set at the site boundary.

.

But Schwarz says these may be open to inter-pretation in the industry.

“They are not well defined, technically, when compared to markets where legislation is based on many years of research and experience, alongside advisory civil engineering or acoustic societies that have been in contact with the authorities for years.”

This inexperience is also reflected in the enforcement of regulations in the emirates.

“In the US, the UK and most of Europe, authorities will have specific noise teams responding to complaints made by the public, individuals or corporations. The teams will investigate the issue using an acoustic consult-ant and generate a report; it’s quite a lengthy process,” he says.

But Schwarz goes onto say that the process of effectively dealing with complaints of building-related noise pollution are becoming more common in the Middle East.

“I have known police officers to confiscate equipment or ask sites to suspend operations if they feel noise levels are unreasonable.”

However, he adds that without full teams and procedures in place this could be a subjec-tive method that requires further development.

Turning it downUntil then, contractors can act responsibly by independently assessing noise levels regularly and actively working to reduce them.

“The best way to deal with any noise is at the source,” says Schwarz.

If equipment is relatively new and well main-tained it will most-likely be emitting the lowest noise level it is capable of. Older machinery, piling machines and JCBs will emit a “ridicu-lous” amount of noise whatever the situation. In which case, staff should be provided with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), machinery can be fitted with silencers and works can be scheduled to take place at times

when they will cause the least disruption to those in the vicin-ity, avoiding early mornings and late nights.

Acoustic consultants help planning the phasing of work. In the UK, US and Australia, it is common for them to be engaged at an early stage, espe-cially if the development is close to a noise-sensitive area or building of significant histori-cal importance, but this is not yet the case in the UAE.

that around 90% of the population would barely be able to perceive a difference between two sources of noise up to three decibels apart.

If two sources of noise were 10 decibels apart, however, these could be distinguished by up to 99% of the population, he says.

“a developer receiving no complaints at all during a period of construction is very rare, anywhere in the world. often the largest number of complaints can be a result of a lack of communication between a developer and the affected community”


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“For large buildings, constructing outer buildings first can create a noise barrier for the rest of the construction process. It’s all about good planning and considering practical solutions before you take the first lump of soil out of the ground,” asserts Schwarz.

Of course, he recognises that noise-reducing advice must be practical for it to be feasible. Implementing complicated noise-reduction procedures that result in a noisy task taking twice as long is not the way forward; it’s simple and easy processes, rather, that Schwarz recommends. For example, construction workers can be assigned work patterns that alternate shifts on a noisy area of a con-struction site with shifts on a quiet part of the site, limiting the number of hours per a day that they are exposed to phenomenal levels of noise.

To the testUpon assessment of a number of sites in and around Dubai Marina last month, all levels of noise emitted proved to be within the legal limits set by Dubai Municipality.

Yet, Schwarz tells The Big Project it is not unusual to receive com-plaints about construction noise, even when contractors adhere to regulations and demonstrate best practice.

“A developer receiving no complaints at all during a period of construction is very rare, anywhere in the world,” he says.

Yet there are simple solutions: “Often the largest number of com-plaints can be a result of a lack of communication between a devel-oper and the affected community.

“We have found that by simply engaging with the local commu-nity and providing information on the details of the development, the duration of the works and a place where people can go to have their opinions genuinely heard and discussed will appease a sur-prisingly large number of people.

“This fundamental awareness of how construction activities affect the quality of people’s lives and the basic provision of com-munication is, unfortunately, all too often overlooked on building sites all over the world,” he concludes.

So while the many contractors operating around Dubai Marina are not technically breaking any rules, they — and other construc-tion companies region-wide — could still benefit from ‘sound’ advice for best practice.

The auThoRiTaTive view “good operating practice” construction companies should consider to reduce the likelihood of complaints from members of the public: • Activities with the highest noise emissions should be undertaken during daytime

standard working hours between Sunday and Thursday and not over the weekend or on official holidays

• Diesel-engine vehicles and compression equipment should be fitted with silencers

• Electrically-powered equipment should be preferred, where practicable, to mechanically-powered alternatives. All mechanically-powered equipment should also be fitted with suitable silencers

• Where appropriate, bored piling techniques should be considered instead of impact piling to reduce environmental noise and groundbourne vibrations. The rotating action of this piling technique significantly reduces environmental noise and groundborne vibration compared to that from impact piling

• Deliveries and waste removal from sites should be routed to minimise disturbance to local residents with full use being made of sheltered or remote access points. Entrances close to residential areas should only be used for worker and visitor access

• Delivery and heavy vehicles should be prohibited from waiting within or near the site with their engines running. The movement of heavy vehicles during the night must be avoided wherever practical

• Independent noise monitoring should be undertaken to demonstrate that noise levels at the site boundary are acceptable. This serves to protect the local community as well as the contractor and the developer against excessive noise levels, but also from unwarranted complaints

• Items of plant on site operating intermittently should be shut down in stand-by time and when not in use

• Where feasible, all stationary plant should be positioned on the construction site so that the noise impact is minimised

In addition to the above, there are also several very practical measures that a contractor or developer can adopt if considered early in the construction programming stages• With large developments, it is possible to consider the use of site offices and storage

units to provide a natural barrier to noise on site. If they are positioned directly between the noisiest activities planned for the site and the nearest affected noise-sensitive properties, then the reduction in noise can be significant

• noise cannot always be completely eliminated, but by considering the construction of units or buildings closest to the nearest noise-sensitive properties first, completed buildings will then subsequently provide a natural barrier to noise from the construction of the rest of the development

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The Big Project discusses the future of heavy equipment auctions with IronPlanet Middle East managing director John O’Sullivan

IrONPlANeT exPANdS IN The MIddle eAST

“Our new operations in dubai will create the local presence necessary to quickly respond to customer needs and provide one-on-one support”

IronPlanet, an online marketplace for heavy equipment, announced last month that it would be expanding its Middle East opera-

tions from the firm’s Dubai base. The firm conducts auctions most weeks, sell-

ing equipment from North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to buyers around the world.

The US company’s first auction featuring equipment from the Middle East took place on February 23.

“We’re excited to announce IronPlanet’s expansion into the Middle East with our strate-gic base of operations located in Dubai,” said Jeff Jeter, executive vice president at IronPlanet.

“Dubai provides us good access to IronPlanet customers across the Gulf region and we look forward to providing these cus-tomers a better way to buy and sell their used equipment through IronPlanet’s global used-equipment marketplace.”

The frequency and accessibility of IronPlanet’s online auctions results in faster and more profitable sales, fair market value for equipment, low selling costs and a global audi-ence of buyers, according to the company.

“We have more than 1240 bidders in 55 countries,” John O’Sullivan, managing director for the Middle East, told The Big Project.

Furthermore, selling equipment from the consignor’s location eliminates transportation costs for the seller. Buyers are protected by detailed inspection reports and the IronClad Assurance provided.

“IronPlanet has been successfully selling equipment into the Middle East for a number of years and has an established customer base throughout the entire region,” said O’Sullivan.

“Our new operations in Dubai will create the local presence that is necessary to quickly respond to our customers’ needs and provide one-on-one support from a multilingual, local staff of representatives.”

O’Sullivan told The Big Project that the firm was actively looking for new consignments in the Middle East, adding that online auctions were the “future” and that the region was ready to embrace it.

“It can be difficult to convert a few people from bricks and mortar, but the majority is already online.”

Business is moving online, think about the next generation – if you don’t embrace it, game is over. He said Saudi Arabia was the region’s fastest-growing market in terms of bids.

While O’Sullivan acknowledged an oversup-ply of equipment in the region, which was keep-ing prices down, he observed a demand for “quality, late-model equipment”.


Suppliers in the spotlight

SmartGlassNew international sales manager appointed to develop Middle East profile

Dublin-based glass supplier SmartGlass International (SGI) has appointed Martin Potter to manage the company’s international brand portfolio. As international sales manager, Potter (pictured above) will have responsibility for expanding the SGI brand in the Middle East and growing the company’s international pres-ence and sales.

“Developers in the Middle East are looking for high-quality, innovative materials and prod-ucts to fit out interiors from healthcare facilities through to hotels,” Potter commented.

“The use of intelligent smart glass provides added value and increased flexibility in new building design, improves working environ-ments and building ergonomics, saves energy, and increases the wellbeing of occupants.”

The company exports “electronically switch-able glass” to markets in more than 50 coun-tries. SGI has been operating in the region since February 2009.

Products include LC SmartGlass and SPD-SmartGlass, both developed to meet the needs of the commercial, hospitality, healthcare, marine, aviation and security and industrial and exhibition market sectors.

Users can adjust the transparency of the glass at the flick of a switch, adding value and increasing flexibility in building design.

A recent study by the University of Cambridge concluded the use of SmartGlass can reduce solar gain by up to 90%.

Saint-Gobain GyprocSupplier becomes “first in the Middle East” to warrant drylining systems

Abu Dhabi-based materials developer Saint-Gobain Gyproc has launched SpecSure, a drylining system warranty to guarantee the use of Gyproc products within its systems.

Drylining systems comprise Gyproc plaster-boards, Gypframe metal components and Gyproc accessories, such as jointing compound, tapes and screws.

The company’s drylining systems, which comprise of Gyproc plasterboards, Gypframe metal components and Gyproc accessories, such as jointing compound, tapes and screws, were recently showcased to consultants, archi-tects and project engineers at the Gyproc Seminar. The seminars are held every quarter.

Case studies conducted on the materials showed a projected saving of more than 30% when block-work was substituted for light-weight drylining partitions.

The use of the systems can also reduce the building programme by 65% and increase sale-able floor space by 6%, according to informa-tion from the company.

“Our systems withstand the robust demands of today’s construction methods and building uses and provide comfortable living and work-ing environments,” explained Gyproc technical manager Jason Hird (pictured above).

Previously active in the Middle East under the British Gypsum and BPB Gyproc brands, the first dedicated manufacturing plant opened in Abu Dhabi in 2001.

AC Cleaner HVAC company seeks Emirati partners for franchises in the UAE

Following the development of a new method for cleaning air conditioning systems, AC Cleaner is inviting Emirati companies to join its net-work of franchise dealers to distribute the sys-tems in the Middle East.

The newly-developed cleaning system reduces the likelihood of breakdown, extends the lifetime of the product and improves energy efficiency by up to 30% for every eight grams of dust removed, according to the firm.

Research published by the company claims one in five European employees has been absent as a result of illness caused by unclean or poorly maintained HVAC systems. Illnesses can include Legionnaires’ disease, fungus, allergies and sick building syndrome (SBS).

The microbiological maintenance system is a “one of a kind” industrial machine, which works to disinfect systems.

“Both scientists and politicians denounce the dangers stemming from the bad maintenance of these devices,” said AC Cleaner manager François Donadieu (pictured above).

“Facing this public health problem, AC Cleaner comes forward with the tools and the technical nature of their enforcement that bring about the solution.

“Both scientists and politicians denounce the dangers stemming from the bad maintenance of these devices, especially as cleaning is still an artisanal technics.

“This is an innovation,” he added.

A round-up of the latest news and announcements from industry suppliers in the Middle East


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International CopperAntimicrobial copper promoted by international body for use in region’s schools

The International Copper Association (ICA) is promoting the use of antimicrobial copper in the Middle East following clinical trials in the UK which concluded the material can reduce the spread of infection by more than 90%.

The trials, conducted at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham compared the antibacterial per-formance of the newly-developed material against that of non-copper surfaces. The ICA claims the surfaces “continuously kill bacteria and viruses such as Influenza A, E. Coli and MRSA between routine cleans”.

The anti-bacterial copper is already in use in Mejiro Daycare Centre for Children, Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan. The centre has replaced hand-washing basins, taps, food-serving tables, serving trolleys and door furniture with brass alloy alternatives.

“We had already implemented infection con-trol by introducing air-purification units and ensuring children wash their hands properly, but we are still searching for better measures,” said centre director Shoji Hiiragizawa.

Local ICA representative Ravinder Bhan (pictured above) said: “The Middle East places special emphasis on public health. The use of copper alloy touch surfaces, as demonstrated through application in the Tokyo daycare cen-tre, can serve as a model for the Middle East

“The antimicrobial properties will reduce the chance of infection among children, and add to their health and safety in schools,” he added.

SAS InternationalSupplier completes design, manufacture and supply contract for Abu Dhabi Souk lighting

Lighting systems for Abu Dhabi’s refurbished The Souk, Central Market, have been supplied by SAS International.

The interior building solutions supplier won a contract to design, manufacture and provide lighting and service channels, as well as metal ceilings. The products have been used for inte-rior and exterior areas in the market.

The redevelopment of the Souk, headed by Aldar, follows a fire in 2003 which destroyed the emirate’s oldest bazaar.

Architect Foster and Partners, which joined the project in 2006, was responsible for the external redesign of The Souk.

SAS International and Aldar have collabo-rated on a number of projects including Aldar headquarters; the main building at the Science & Technology Park, Doha; and the H3SIXTY Business Centre, Bahrain. SAS International has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

It was also announced last month that SAS International has introduced a new double-hook system for its System 205 and 600 ceilings.

The panels and rafts are now demountable from either side to facilitate easier installation and maintenance.

System 205 is specifically designed for use in corridors while the double-hook adaptation for System 600 acoustic lighting rafts or modules provides “additional access flexibility for an already versatile product,” according to a state-ment from the company.

Emirates SteelOutput and sales increase takes market share to more than 50%

Emirates Steel has reported a 17.5% rise in out-put and a 120% increase in sales during 2010, taking the producer’s current market share to more than 50%.

The rises mark the second year of increased trade, with wire rod output increasing 64.5% and billet production increased by 150% in 2010 compared to the last three quarters of 2009; Direct reduced iron (DRI) output went up by 640% in 2010, compared to the last quarter of 2009. Rebar production increased 7.5% year-on-year from 2009.

Around 80% of finished products are sold within the UAE with the balance exported throughout the wider GCC, China, the Far East and Pakistan.

“These are significant increases in our pro-duction and sales volumes considering the chal-lenges faced in our local and regional markets,” said CEO Gregor Munstermann.

“The construction sector is the primary con-sumer of our rebar and wire-rod products and our objective is to be one of the leading regional companies in steel making,” he said.

“Although some stability is returning to the GCC’s construction sector this year, we believe infrastructure projects will accelerate recovery in the next couple of years,” said Mubarak Al Khaili, VP of commercial strategy.

The company also predicts housing require-ments across the region will absorb the increased capacity.

30%MiNiMUM prOjECtED SAViNg tHrOUgH USE Of gyprOC’S ligHtWEigHt DryliNiNg pArtitiONS

“These are significant increases in our production and sales volumes considering the challenges “


SUPPLIER H

OTSEAT | ZAM

IL AC

After a strong performance in 2010, Zamil AC’s chief operating of� cer tells The Big Project about the research and development processes behind the company’s growing product line

currently operates in markets across more than 55 countries.

“We started o� by simply manufacturing room air-conditioners, and have grown to o� er end-to-end HVAC custom solutions, right from application study, engineering, manufac-turing, supply, installation, commissioning and long-term maintenance,” Bunyan explains.

� e company also designs, manufactures, tests, markets and services a comprehensive range of air-conditioning products, from com-pact room air conditioners and mini splits to large-scale central air conditioners, chillers and air-handling units for highly specialised, com-mercial and industrial applications.

Products are marketed under � ve core brands: Classic, Cooline, CoolCare, ClimaTech and Geoclima.

“We look at expanding into new markets more from a pro� table growth perspective. � e select export markets we are looking at o� er tremendous growth potential and we plan to expand our production facilities and introduce new products and services to our local and international clients,” Bunyan says.

“Zamil’s outstanding expertise means we can o� er products and services that have been designed speci� cally for this region, using technological advances that are well ahead of the demand curve.”

WINDS OF CHANGE

A s a leading producer and supplier of air-conditioning systems in the Middle East and North Africa, Zamil Air

Conditioners is well positioned to set the pace for innovation in the industry.

Investing heavily in R&D operations, in 2010 Zamil Air Conditioners launched a new process cooling chiller system “Cooline from Zamil” and won the Barclay’s Data Centre Project award for the low-carbon Geoclima chiller line.

Zamil’s new innovation for 2011, ResisTec, is an anti-corrosion coating speci� cally for HVAC coils, panels and drain pans, designed to reduce lifecycle costs and depreciation.

Part of the company’s system-care cata-logue, the products have been speci� cally designed for the Middle East region, using technology “well ahead of the demand curve”.

“One of the unique requirements of the Middle East is that the products have to oper-ate up to 55°C,” says chief operating o� cer Osama Bunyan.

“During the past few years we have intro-duced quite a few new products that were required by the market, including high-energy e� ciency chillers, process cooling and residen-tial chillers, screw and scroll type compressors, and environmentally-friendly refrigerant gases,” he adds.

Described by company vice president Ahmed Zaatari as an “integral part of the total Zamil CoolCare service plan”, the range also includes “high-quality products and responsive maintenance services”.

Designed to address customer concerns about the longevity of AC systems, particularly in climates such as the MENA region, the anti-corrosion systems are applied to coils, panels, drain pans and other HVAC system compo-nents to protect against system degradation.

� e anti-corrosive coatings were developed for Zamil in collaboration with a European consultant, with the process for third party testing, � eld tests, technician training and sales taking almost a year.

� e coating material is manufactured in Europe and applied to products at Zamil’s fac-tories, or on site for retro� ts. It is now a stand-ard addition on all Zamil Air Conditioner

chillers and applied condensing units with aluminium � n condenser coils.

Worldwide operationBased in and manufacturing all of its products from Saudi Arabia since 1974, Zamil’s product and service portfolio includes steel, air-condi-tioning, glass, concrete, insulation and other associated services for the region’s building and construction sector.

Zamil Air Conditioners is one of � ve divi-sions trading under the Zamil name. the divi-sion is a subsidiary of Zamil Industrial Investment Company, a Saudi Arabia publicly-listed company.

� e company has several international man-ufacturing facilities in Italy, Egypt, Vietnam, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Now with a string of in-house brands, Zamil operates under four service areas; residential, commercial and industrial, services and con-tracting and Zamil Controls. � e company has supplied to buildings in Dubai’s Business Bay development and Dubai Industrial Park and

FACTS

• 1974 Zamil Air Conditioners is established in Saudi Arabia

• 90 countries worldwide currently use Zamil Air Conditioning products

• Seven countries across three continents manufacture Zamil products

• 10,000 people are employed by the wider Zamil Industrial group

• 30% of revenues are derived from outside Saudi Arabia

• Zamil Industries was founded in 1998 and provides products, engineering systems and services to the construction industry

Zamil Chief Operating Of� cer Osama Bunyan.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaExhibition 21st - 25th March 2011

REGISTER NOWTEl: +971 4 440 9129EMAIl: [email protected]

The inaugural Saudi Construction Show is showcasing construction machinery, vehicles, building equipment and tools, building material machines, formwork and scaffolding. Riyadh will be the host city for this event, on record as the largest construction machinery show yet held in the Middle East. Please visit our website for further information and registration.We look forward to seeing you there!

Organised by Supported by Official Media Partner English

Official Newspaper

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THE “Roof & Cladding” Company

T: 00971 6 53 8449 F: 00971 6 533 6673 E: [email protected] W: www.Tigerprofiles.com

1) Tapered T-Seam (Standing Seam Panels) - Paragon Mall—Reem Island

2) Concealed Fix Wall Panels—Sheikh Saeed Halls—Dubai World Trade Center

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“Global economic pressures are changing the way in which we all work and construction is definitely no exception,”

Former RedSky IT general manager and direc-tor John Conmy has joined construction soft-ware company Causeway’s UAE office, within the construction and infrastructure division.

Conmy has five years’ experience in deliver-ing construction software solutions across the Middle East, having established RedSky UAE.

“A key reason for joining Causeway is the company’s unique approach to delivering solu-tions for the management of cost and value on major construction and infrastructure pro-jects,” commented Conmy.

“The recession has put contract margins and project performance under real pressure and as a result is now forcing the industry to focus hard on controlling costs.

“This is creating a need for a more structured and controlled way of working and contractors need to have the tools to be able to react. Causeway offers commercial management and project accounting software that complements and integrates to a contractor’s existing finan-cial accounting systems,” he added.

In practice The firm’s project accounting software has been implemented to manage cost and value on pro-jects such as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link,

The Big Project finds out more about Causeway’s new UAE employee, John Conmy

Heathrow Terminal 5, Cross Rail, Al Raha Beach and Abu Dhabi Airport.

Last month, fit-out, construction and man-agement services specialist ISG reported signif-icant time and cost-savings, as well as a higher success rate for bids following implementation of Causeway Estimating for its Middle East operations, according to a statement issued by the company.

The subsequent introduction of Causeway’s CADMeasure interactive measurement tool resulted in additional productivity benefits.

The selection of Causeway Estimating fol-lowed a rigorous evaluation of the options available, including demonstration workshops to test the products in a realistic environment.

“We had previously been using a spread-sheet-based system that had a number of inher-ent disadvantages,” said ISG commercial director Richard Kimber.

“It was clear we could improve our bid man-agement process by investing in specialist soft-ware — and that this would not only reduce our costs but also enable us to deliver a better service to our customers. It also became appar-ent that the functionality of Causeway Estimating offered a number of distinct advan-tages over the alternatives,” he added.

Causeway’s Dubai offices, established in 2008 provide a platform to service the requirements of the whole GCC construction industry.

Delivering solutionsAs part of his role, Conmy will focus on deliv-ering solutions for contractors. However, with complementary divisions providing solutions for cost consultants, quantity surveyors and facility managers, Causeway offers software for the complete lifecycle of the built environment.

“Global economic pressures are changing the way in which we all work and construction is definitely no exception,” said Causeway’s divi-sional director James Atkinson.

“It has been a real catalyst for companies to review their processes in a drive to become more efficient. Innovative software solutions can add real value, eliminating inefficiency and providing the transparency and control required. Whether maximising profitability of construction projects, managing documents and drawings, monitoring utilisation of plant or managing supply chain performance; Causeway has the solutions required.”

Atkinson added: “With John now on board, 2011 will be an exciting year for Causeway’s entire operations globally.”

Doing it the Causeway

About CAusEwAy Causeway, dubbed “the construction

software people”, enables construction

companies to achieve efficiency and

excellence, according to the firm.

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and facilities management,

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manage cost and reduce risk through

the use of innovative construction

software solutions.An example of an ISG designed interior.

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UAE

� ProjEct NAmEQAsr Al-AiN PAlAcE HotEl ProjEctcliENt toUrism DEvEloPmENt & iNvEstmENt comPANy (tDic)Project Number MPP2436-UTerritoryClientEmail [email protected]:http://www.tdic.aeDescription Construction of Qasr Al-Ain palace hotel.

Budget $ 500 million

Remarks This project is in Al Ain. The resort could be even bigger than the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi that opened in 2005. Further details of this scheme have not been revealed. South Africa's Northpoint has prepared the concept architecture for the hotel. The local office of KEO International Consultants is acting as the architect, while South Africa's MLC is the cost consultant.Main Architect KEO International Consultants (Al Ain)Cost Consultant MLC International (Dubai)

� ProjEct NAmEFAirmoNt HotEl & sErvicED APArtmENts ProjEct-1Project Number ZPR222-U Territory Abu DhabiClient National Investment Corporation (Abu Dhabi)Description Construction of Fairmont Hotel & Serviced Apartments comprising a 40-storey hotel with 449 rooms and a 35-storey tower with 198 apartments.


TENDERS The latest tenders and project updates for developments in MENA

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Period 2014 Remarks This project is in Abu Dhabi. The scheme is currently under design. This is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011. Local Dewan Architects & Engineers has been appointed as the consultant, while UK's EC Harris is acting as the Project Manager. Main Consultant Dewan Architects & Engineers (Abu Dhabi)Project Manager EC Harris International Limited (Abu Dhabi)

� ProjEct NAmE BUrjsiDE BoUlEvArD towEr ProjEct

Project Number SPR2155-UTerritory DubaiClient Damac Properties (Dubai)Email [email protected] http://www.damacproperties.comDescription Design and construction of 190-metre-high, 49-storey Burjside Boulevard Tower comprising serviced apartments, with an entire floor dedicated to leisure, including a temperature-controlled swimming pool, a fine cuisine restaurant and lounge overlooking the pool.

Budget $ 75 million

Period 2012 Remarks This project will be located directly opposite Dubai Mall, offering guests and residents, breathtaking views of the Dubai Fountain and Burj Khalifa. There will be a choice of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, all with their own internal gourmet kitchens, complete with European stainless steel appliances. Local Sun Engineering & Contracting Company has been appointed as the Main Contractor. The contract is worth an estimated $55 million. Construction of the basement, podiums and first typical floor has been completed. Work is ongoing on the second floor. Client will soon award four additional contracts on this

project. Currently out to tender, the contracts for MEP works, lift supply and installation, cladding and metal works will all be awarded within the next two months. The firms appointed will be working alongside the Main Contractor, which is targeting five-day cycles for building the residential floors in the hope of completing the project by end of 2012. Main Consultant Al Waha Engineering Consultants (Dubai)Main Architect Architectural Consulting Group - ACG (Abu Dhabi)Main Contractor Sun Engineering & Contracting Company L.L.C (Dubai)Foundations, Enabling & Piling Contractor Stromek Emirates Foundations L.L.C (Dubai)

� ProjEct NAmE ADNoc HEADQUArtErs comPlEx ProjEct

Project Number MPP1176-U Territory Abu DhabiClient Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)Email [email protected] http://www.adnoc.aeDescription Design and construction of a new headquarters complex for ADNOC comprising a 342-metre-high, 65-storey office tower, podium, basement and underground parking areas, as well as a tunnel connecting the office tower with the underground parking.

Budget $ 490000000

Period 15/05/2013 Remarks This complex will be located at the intersection of Corniche road and Bainunah street in Abu Dhabi. It will cover a total built-up area of approximately 190,000 square metres. Local/Belgian Six Construct Abu Dhabi has been appointed as Main Contractor to build the headquarters complex. Local Arabtec Construction has been awarded an estimated

$60 million contract to build the underground car park, as part of this project. The car park will contain three levels underground over a space of 22,741 square metres, a built-up area of 65,340 square metres and around 1,575 parking spaces. The project is situated underneath the public park near ADNOC headquarters and will take two years to complete. Main Consultant Halcrow International Partnership (Abu Dhabi)Main Architect HOK International (Dubai)Project Manager Hill International Ltd. (Dubai)Main Contractor Six Construct Ltd. (Abu Dhabi), Arabtec Construction L.L.C (Abu Dhabi)

� ProjEct NAmE miDFiElD tErmiNAl ProjEct - ABU DHABi iNtErNAtioNAl AirPort ExPANsioNProject Number OPP270-U Territory Abu DhabiClient Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (SCADIA)Web http://www.scadia.comDescription Construction of a Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Budget $ 6.8 billion

Tender Cost $ 13625 Period 2016 Remarks Bid Package No. WBS-1.2.3.3Expression of Interest (EoI). The Abu Dhabi terminal will be built between the airport's two runways; total built-up area 630,000 square metres, 20 million passenger annual capacity. and multi-storey car park. At least 14 groups submitted pre-qualification applications for the main contract, including Lebanese Arabian Construction Company, France's Bouygues, South Korea's


Samsung Corporation and local/Belgian Six Construct Abu Dhabi; US' Bechtel Corporation, Turkey's Enka and local Al-Jaber Group; Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Turkey's TAV and local Arabtec Construction; local/Australian Al-Habtoor Leighton, South Africa's Murray & Roberts Contractors and Germany's Hochtief; Japan's Taisei Corporation; South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Kumho Engineering & Construction; Italy's Impregilo, Astaldi, Pizzaroti and China's Sinohydro Corporation; India's Larsen & Toubro, Australia's Multiplex and local National Projects Construction; and others. Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is yet to decide when it will issue a tender for construction of the terminal. A joint venture of Turkey's TAV Construction and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has been selected for the estimated $57 million pile caps and foundations package on this scheme. Main Consultant Arup Gulf (Dubai)Main Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (USA)Design Consultant Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (UK)Project Manager Parsons International Ltd. (Abu Dhabi)Specialist Contractorsv TAV Construction (Abu Dhabi), Consolidated Contractors International Co. Ltd. - CCC (Abu Dhabi) Foundations, Enabling & Piling Contractor National Services & Contracting Company - NSCC (Abu Dhabi)

� ProjEct NAmE tHErmAl PowEr PlANt ProjEctProject Number OPR453-U Territory Abu DhabiClient Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA)EmailWeb http://www.adwea.gov.ae


Description Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a gas thermal power plant. Period 15/03/2014 Remarks This project will be located in Shuweihat City, 260 kilometres west

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of Abu Dhabi Emirate. It is understood that a consortium of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation has been appointed as the EPC contractor. Funds for the scheme will be raised through borrowing from South Korean, Japanese and other foreign banks by May 2011. Costs will be recovered by selling electricity produced at the plant to Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company, a wholly-owned unit of the Client, for 25 years. Main Contractor Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Sumitomo Corporation (Abu Dhabi)

� ProjEct NAmE sHAms 1 solAr PowEr PlANt ProjEct

Project Number SPR1914-U Territory Abu DhabiClient Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (MASDAR)EmailWeb http://www.masdaruae.com


Description Build-own-operate (BOO) contract for the construction of Shams 1 solar power plant with capacity of 100 MW. Remarks This plant will be located at Madinat Zayed in the western region of Abu Dhabi. A joint venture of Spain's Abengoa Solar and France's Total has been awarded the main contract to carry out this scheme. US' Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract to design and supply a solar steam generator system and also perform site advisory services. Construction of the plant is in progress. The project is expected to be completed in third quarter of 2012. Financing for this project has attracted 10 banks and now looks set to reach financial close this month. The following banks are to lend on this $740 million scheme, of which about $600 million will be debt finance:- France's Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, Natixis;- Japan's Mizuho, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Sumitomo;

- Germany's WestLB, KfW; and- UAE's National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Union National Bank.Debt is set to carry a 20-year tenor and the pricing is set to be very competitive. Financial Consultant BNP Paribas (Abu Dhabi)Technical Consultant Fichtner Consulting Engineers (Abu Dhabi)Main Contractor Abengoa Solar (Spain), Total (France)Specialist Contractor Foster Wheeler International (Abu Dhabi)

sAUDi ArABiA

� ProjEct NAmE iNDUstriAl GAtE city mixED-UsE DEvEloPmENt ProjEct

Project Number ZPR214-SA Territory Saudi ArabiaClient Mawten Real Estate Company (Saudi Arabia)Email [email protected] http://www.mawten.com.saDescription Development of Industrial Gate City mixed-use scheme comprising warehouses, residential areas, commercial centres, hotels, medical services and banks, including infrastructure such as modern roads, water and sewage systems, power network and a water treatment plant.


Remarks Located close to the present Riyadh Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, project covers an area of 6.5 million square metres. The scheme is part of Saudi Arabia's strategy to involve the private sector to achieve economic development and strengthen industries. It is understood that the project is currently under design. This is expected to be completed in first quarter of 2011. Invitation to bid (ITB) for the main construction contract is expected to be issued in first half of 2011.

� ProjEct NAmE mEDiNA AirPort

ExPANsioN ProjEct - PHAsE 1Project Number MPP2374-SA Territory Saudi ArabiaClient General Authority of Civil Aviation - GACA (Saudi Arabia)Email [email protected] http://www.gaca.gov.saDescription Expansion of Medina Airport to develop airside and landside facilities, including the construction of a new terminal with capacity of 14 million passengers a year, renovation of an existing runway and construction of a second runway.


Remarks This project is in Saudi Arabia. It will be developed in two phases on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The airport currently handles about 3.5 million passengers a year. Later expansion plans involve the construction of a new passenger terminal, the renovation of existing runway, the possible construction of a second runway. Client has pre-qualified eight consortiums to bid for the main contract. They include:- South Africa's Airports Company- Turkey's YDA, Spain's Aena Desarrollo Internacional and OHL- Badr Consortium comprising local Integrated Transportation Company, South Korea's Incheon International Airport Corporation, Central Japan International Airport and South Korea's Samsung.- Local Saudi Binladin Group, France's Aeroports de Paris and Bouygues.- The Saudi airplex consortium comprising local El-Seif Engineering, Canada's MMM Group, US' Airport Development Corporation & Houston Airport System and UAE's Emirates NBD.- Turkey's Limak Investment, India's GMR Infrastructure and Turkey's Mapa Construction.- The Tibah consortium comprising Turkey's TAV, local Saudi Oger, Al Rajhi Holding Group and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company.- The Saudi-Malaysian consortium comprising local Bakri International


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Energy Company, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, local Almabani General Contractors, Italy's Impregilo and local/Malaysian Riyad Bank.Client extended deadline for pre-qualified firms to submit bids for the first phase development from the previous deadline of December 15, 2010. xtension has been granted in order to give more time for the consortiums to do their due diligence on site. Financial Consultant International Finance Corporation - IFC (Saudi Arabia)

� ProjEct NAmE PP10 PowEr PlANt ExtENsioN ProjEct

Project Number MPP1995-SA Territory Saudi ArabiaClient Saudi Electricity Company - Central Region (Saudi Arabia)Email [email protected] http://www.se.com.saDescription Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for extension of Block C1 of the existing PP10 power plant by addition of 8 GT 7EA simple-cycle indoor turbines.


Remarks This plant in Riyadh will have a capacity of 472 MW. US' GE will supply the simple-cycle turbines. Local Arabian Bemco Contracting Company has been selected as the EPC contractor after negotiations. Construction works have commenced on this scheme. Main Contractor Arabian Bemco Contracting Company Ltd. (Saudi Arabia)Tender Categories Power Generation & Distribution.

QAtAr

� ProjEct NAmE DoHA mAll DEvEloPmENt ProjEct

Project Number ZPR215-Q Territory Qatar

Client Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate Email [email protected] http://www.afrealestate.comDescription Development of Doha Mall comprising a full retail centre, an entertainment park and 2 hotels.


Period 2015 Remarks This project involves development of the largest complex in Doha, on the northern highway linking the airport with the Qatar - Bahrain causeway. The scheme will cover an area of 433,000 square metres and is being implemented in joint venture with Qatar Islamic Bank, Aqar Real Estate Investments Company and a private company. Construction work is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2011. Phase 1 is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012.

� ProjEct NAmE PAssENGEr tErmiNAl ExtENsioN ProjEct - NEw DoHA iNtErNAtioNAl AirPortProject Number MPP2316-Q Territory QatarClient New Doha International Airport Steering Committee (Qatar)Email [email protected] http: www.indiaproject.comDescription Carrying out an extension to the existing passenger terminal at New Doha International Airport.

Budget $ 690000000

Period 10/11/2012 Status Current Project Remarks This project is in Qatar. Known as the north node, it will involve construction of a five-level structure; total floor area of 127,000 square metres. Ground floor will accommodate transit passengers, the first floor is for departures, while the second floor for arrivals. Third and fourth levels will house a 100-room

hotel. The extension will connect to the main passenger terminal. A joint venture of Belgium's Six Construct and local Midmac Contracting Company has been awarded the main contract. The new arrivals terminal is close to completion and due to be handed over soon. Key features of the new terminal include additional baggage belts, more immigration counters, Duty Free retail shopping, bus and taxi stands, and larger arrivals hall. Main Contractor Six Construct Ltd. (Qatar), Midmac Contracting Company

omAN

� ProjEct NAmE tErmiNAl coNstrUctioN & AssociAtED works ProjEct - mUscAt iNtErNAtioNAl AirPortProject Number MPP2216-O Territory OmanClient Ministry of Transport & Communications (Oman)Email [email protected] http://www.motc.gov.omDescription Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a new terminal at Muscat International Airport with capacity to handle 12 million passengers a year, including a runway, taxiway system, aprons, roads, utility buildings and other civil works.


Period 2014 Remarks Formerly known as Seeb International Airport Muscat Int currently handles about 4 million passengers a year. The terminal building will cover a floor area of 332,000 square metres and built between the airport's existing runway and proposed second runway, linked to the existing terminal by rail. A joint venture of Turkey's TAV Construction and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Group has been awarded a $1.17 billion contract to carry out

civil works. Cavotec Middle East has been awarded a $4 million contract for design, supply and installation of 95 pop-up pit systems, Cavotec will also supply its Wibe Cable Support System. The state-of-the-art pop-up pit system, composed of units that emerge from the tarmac when required. A consortium of UK's Bechtel, Local Bahwan Contracting Company and Turkey's Enka has been appointed as the EPC contractor. Mobilisation works are ongoing. Construction of the terminal is expected to commence in April 2011. Design Consultant COWI & Partners LLC (Oman)Project Manager Aeroports de Paris - AdP (France), National Engineering Services Pakistan Ltd. - NESPAK (Oman)Design Consultant Larsen Architects & Consulting Engineers (Oman)Main Contractor Bechtel (UK)Specialist Contractor Cavotec Middle East FZE (Dubai), Bahwan Contracting Company L.L.C (Oman). Enka (Turkey)Civil Engineering Contractor Consolidated Contractors International Company - CCC (Oman), TAV Construction (Turkey)

� ProjEct NAmE

sUr iPP ProjEctProject Number ZPR118-O Territory OmanClient Oman Power & Water Procurement Company S.A.O.CEmail [email protected] http://www.omanpwp.co.omDescription Build-own-operate (BOO) contract for the construction of an independent power plant (IPP) with capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW) at Sur.Closing Date March 7, 2011 Period 2014 Remarks This project will be located in Sharqiyah region of Oman. Nine companies responded to the RFQ. They include Japan's Marubeni Corporation, Mitsui & Company, Tokyo Electric Power Company; Saudi Arabia's Acwa Power, Saudi Oger; US' AES Oasis; Singapore's Sembcorp Utilities; Panama's Procomon & Asociados; and Turkey's Enka. Client

AD


ISH China Beijing: March 3-5

Held at the Beijing China International Exhibition Centre (CIEC), ISH China attracts exhibitors from the

sectors of sanitation, heating and air-conditioning. Conferences and seminars are also held concurrently

with the show.

Architecture and Construction Materials

Tokyo, Japan: March 8-11Architecture and Construction Materials features construction materials for commercial buildings,

cultural and public facilities as well as homes and of� ce buildings. The exhibits also include related

equipment, building techniques, tools and software.

Hard Hat ExpoNew York, US: March 9-10

Hard Hat Expo is the only gathering of all the construction equipment and services in New York,

Hard Hat Expo continues to grow each year, through continuing participation by quality exhibitors and the

addition of more events for attendees to participate in.

Building Trade and Home Renovation

Finland: March 11-13Building Trade and Home Renovation targets the construction engineering and professional repair

building industry in Finland.

Indian CeramicsGujarat: March 15-17

Indian Ceramics 2011 represents the sixth consecutive year of the show exhibiting international

ceramic technology for the manufacturing industry.

Bridges UKLeicestershire: March 17

The show provides a forum for the industry addressing the process from structuring to � nal

construction of bridges.

Viatec Expo

Italy: March 17-20The international trade fair for road construction and

infrastructural rationing in Alpine Regions.

Bulgaria Building Week

So� a: March 23-27The show is an international building exhibition

for building restoration, building and construction, building utensils, machines and materials.

DIARYMARCH

GLOBAL TRENDS

$36bnThe value of state handouts announced by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz for the citizens of Saudi Arabia. The primary areas of investment include housing, social security, education and employment.

30% The minimum shareholding required by public and closed joint stock companies to own and develop land in Oman.

$3.1bn The cost of the recent protests to the Egyptian Economy. According to a report by investment bank Credit Agricole. The value of currency was driven to a six-year low between Janurary 25 and February 18. Libyan oil reached $116 a barrel.

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DUSTRY EVENTS

INTERNATIONAL MENAIsanbul WindowTurkey: March 10-13The 12th edition of the international window glass technology, accessory, side industry and auxiliary products fair.

Second Annual Cost-Effective Sustainable Design and Construction Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: March 13-16The show will highlight key solutions to the latest challenges in Saudi Arabia’s sustainable building and infrastructure industry, including the bene� ts of sustainable design.

Architectural Lighting Saudi ArabiaRiyadh: March 13-16Find out about innovative new designs and projects from lighting experts and designers from around the region.

Building Materials and Maintenance

Sharjah, UAE: March 21-23Building Materials and Maintenance is the region’s premier trade event acting as a comprehensive sourcing platform for industry requirements of doors, windows, walls, roofs, cladding products, materials, accessories, and related equipment and services.

Saudi Construction

Riyadh: March 21-25Saudi Construction, an international gathering place for the construction machinery industry, will showcase the latest equipment, products, services and technologies. Bringing contractors and suppliers together, it will also feature conferences and workshops, and is expected to the largest construction machinery exhibition in the Kingdom.

Bridges Saudi Arabia 2011 Jeddah: March 27-30Focused on upcoming plans to enhance existing networks and implement new construction, Bridges Saudi Arabia will unveil future projects, share advances in design and planning, construction and maintenance, and explore best practices for quality, safety, sustainability and durability of future bridges.

DON’T MISS: ARABIAN CONSTRUCTION WEEK 2011MARCH 28-30, ADNEC

More than 500 exhibiting companies

Thousands of products showcased

10,000 trade visitors

20,000m2 of exhibition space

Four global summits with 800 delegates


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DUSTRY COM

MEN

TJUSTIN WAITE Industry expertUKIn the UK we have Site Waste Management Protocol (SWAMP). A large part of this is minimising waste through designing in whole product units. For example, the width of internal walls would measure the equivalent of a whole number of tiles, or rooms con-structed from plasterboard in height and width multiples. Consideration should be given to how materials are transported, stored and delivered to reduce the risk of damaging stock on site.

PAUL CHANEYAssociate at Energy Control SolutionsUSMany of the LEED credits are simple and direct. Why not look to them even if you are not certi-fying a building? Some ideas include ensuring you install e� -cient lighting and recycling facili-ties. But my favorites are the simple tips: install the best � lters in your HVAC systems, and ensure you maintain the systems, as smart management of a build-ing results in lower energy costs.

ALI NAJIMSenior energy consultantASA Energy, Saudi ArabiaBuilding green and economics go together in the short and long term. Building attached houses instead of detached ones, you saves up to around 27% in energy; intelligently using shad-ing may save the same again. By constructing courtyard build-ings, cooling towers or allowing natural light in design, further savings can be made. In my book, ‘E� ective and Economic Methods to Control the Sources of Energy Wasting’, I propose � ve principles for GCC countries. � ree of these princi-pals are: To consider urban plan-ning and building design; to think seriously about the transi-tion from buildings exposed to direct sun and shaded buildings; and base selections on insulation methods rather than materials.

GUY HARRISManaging directorMorgan Harris Architects UKI recommend the use of bamboo. It’s cheaper than timber � ooring and though it may have travelled a long way it is a sustainable source; bamboo grows rapidly so stocks are replenished swi� ly and it’s a good substitute for MDF. In fact, the whole property can be built from bamboo. You can use bamboo framework, insulation, cladding and roo� ng - even bam-boo fabrics. I’m sure costs will be massively reduced.

JON WEISSArchitectural designer, JOWUSCost is no longer much of an issue. Building green is rapidly becoming standard building practice for most people and some of the best designs are cheaper to build than the availa-ble alternatives. One of my favourite tips relates to water in residential projects. For water heating, buy a standard 40 gallon, under-cabinet water heater and place in the kitchen, or centrally between the kitchen and main bathroom. You’ll have passive, instant heat by reduced water in the pipes, and lower costs due to fewer piping connec-tions. Furthermore, heat from the tank dissipates back in to the living area instead of an unheated basement or garage.

ROBERT HAVERLOCKCerti� ed building advisorUSAs a sustainable building advisor, I have seen LEED schools that don’t work beyond helping people create code-built homes that have poor indoor air quality (IAQ). While there are many good ideas presented, without third-party testing by a commissioning agent throughout a project the sustain-ability of a building is not given.

Your ShoutThis month, our international green experts offer more words of wisdom and top tips on sustainable building and designing on a budget

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