Construction Business News ME - June 2016

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

Can Dubai achieve its target of 3D printing 25 percent of buildings by 2030?

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contents 6 8 12 14

Editor’s note News Contracts Cover Story

Can Dubai achieve its target of 3D printing 25 percent of buildings by 2030?

20 Analysis

The Saudi construction sector is going through a tough time but could make a comeback around 2018

24 Machinery

Volvo unveils its new truck features

30 In Person

Richard Hill of Northern Ireland-based firm Deluxe Group on the company’s job at Dubai Parks and Resorts

34 In the Field

A glimpse at the Hidd Al Saadiyat villa complex in Abu Dhabi

14 20

construction business news me June 2016 3

24 Managing Director Walid Zok walid@bncpublishing.net Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Group Publishing Director Diarmuid O'Malley dom@bncpublishing.net Group Sales Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706

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c o n t ribu t o rs

46 Take 10

A look at 10 Northern Irish companies making headway in the Middle East

52 Project Review

Kuwait’s Jamal Abdul Nasser Street

46 Supplier News 42 Building Materials 44 Comment

How the Internet of Things can help construction companies complete work on time and on budget

56 Event Review Project Qatar

60 Save the Date 62 Editor’s Pick

Stuart Matthews

Marlow McGuinness Ltd --------Abhi Shek Photography

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editor’s note

Fast Forward Dubai’s 3D printing strategy 2030 is a typically audacious statement from this emirate, but as Construction Business News found when we attended the recent Future of Building Things event, the technology is probably not going to be making real inroads into the sector any time soon.

Sean McQue – Projects Director for UAE at construction contractor ALEC – summed it up neatly when he said that the market will always dictate the methods used for construction. “Construction is one of those industries that fundamentally hasn’t changed for a long, long time,” he said. “We see innovation in design and technology but when it gets onto the ground that’s where you struggle to realise change. As long as it’s cheaper to build things with labour, it’s going to happen that way.”

Having said that, the capabilities of the technology are beyond doubt. A pair of torch-wielding robotic arms building a pe-

6 construction business news me June 2016

destrian footbridge out of metal as it “walks” over an Amsterdam canal is testament to that. The question is, how quickly can the cost of 3D printing be brought down to a level where it’s competitive with doing things the old fashioned way? That could be especially challenging in a low cost labour environment like Dubai. Though it may take some time yet, the government is at least getting the ball rolling which should give companies the confidence to invest in the research and development that is required to take the technology forward.

The 3D printing strategy contrasts sharply with the reality of the construction sector on the ground in Saudi Arabia. But with oil prices showing signs of firming up, perhaps we are starting to see the makings of a reversal of fortunes in the region? Only time will tell if that proves to be the case, but market sentiment suggests a genuine recovery is still some way off.

Jason o'Connell Editor

NEWS

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Dubai launches first project under new PPP law Xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Last month witnessed what could prove to be a watershed moment in Dubai’s economic evolution when a deal was announced that will see the first project developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Law introduced in November.

Park Line will build the world’s largest automated car park as part of a major redevelopment of Dubai Courts that will take 30 months and include construction of a new Supreme Court building as well as office and retail space. The company will operate the facility under a 30-year Concession Agreement.

The company is a joint venture between Next Generation Parking (NGP), a KBW Investments company, and ITNL Infrastructure Developers, a subsidiary of IL&FS Transportation Networks Limited (ITNL), India.

Issa Najieb Khoory, chairman of Park Line said successful implementation of the scheme could set a benchmark in Dubai and pave the way for more infrastructure projects to be developed in the emirate on a Public Private Partnership basis.

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“We will encourage more and more public authorities to adapt the PPP project structure as it removes the risks from the public sector to private companies,” he said.

K. Ramchand, Managing Director, ITNL, and Chief Executive Officer, IL&FS described the deal as the culmination of a year-long effort to reach a partnership acceptable to all stakeholders.

“As is observed all over the world, the success of the initial clutch of projects pave the way for expeditiously promoting PPP projects across various sectors of infrastructure,” he said.

HRH Prince Khaled Bin Alwaleed bin Talal, founding Chairman of KBW Investments, said: “The Dubai Supreme Courts development, an expansive project that will be a hallmark achievement in NGP’s portfolio, demonstrates the UAE’s forward-thinking movement toward smart and sustainable building. KBW Investments takes pride in being at the forefront of technological advancements in UAE infrastructure.”

Abu Dhabi completes steel structure for MTB

Abu Dhabi Airports has completed the steel structure for the central processor roof of its Midfield Terminal Building (MTB).

The next major construction step will be the de-propping of the final arch in the central processor, a statement said. Work is also progressing on the closure of the building envelope and fit-out of the four piers. “Once the overall structural work and the closure of the building envelope are complete we will hand over the internal space to our concessionaires so that they can commence fit-out of their retail concepts,� Sulaiman Al Siksek, chief pro-

Financing issues delay $16.5bn Makkah metro

grammes officer at Abu Dhabi Airports.

Situated between the two runways at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the MTB will be the largest architectural structure in Abu Dhabi when complete. The roof spans 319m at the widest point with 18 arches, the largest of which is 180m wide and 52m high.

The multi-billion dollar re-development and expansion is designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 45 million passengers per year, almost double the 23 million passengers seen last year. The terminal is slated to open by the end of 2017.

Dubai unveils $490mn conference centre and hotel complex Dubai Municipality has formally given the green light for a new AED 1.8bn ($490mn) conference centre and hotel complex in Jaddaf overlooking the creek opposite Festival City.

Exact details of the contractor awarded the project or the timeline involved were not revealed during the press conference by Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.

Spread over an area of 55,000 square meters, the Arena will include two hotels and an office building as well as the huge state of the art conference hall. Sheikh Rashid Hall for conferences will have a capacity to hold 10,000 people over three levels with seating designed like a theatre.

The main hall and the sub-hall have been linked to the hotel buildings and offices through a glass corridor containing shops and restaurants. It will be 25 meters high, 150 meters long, and have an area of 50,000 square feet.

There will be a three-star hotel on thirty three floors with an area of 250,000 square feet, and a four-star hotel comprising forty-eight floors, with an area of 410,000 square feet while the office building will be 36 storeys high.

The $16.5bn metro project in the holy city of Makkah will be delayed while its financing is restructured.

Ali Abdelfattah, chief executive-designate of the Saudi government's Mecca Mass Rail Transit (MMRT), broke the news at a conference in Dubai, Reuters said.

He gave no indication how long the project would be delayed, but said it remained a top priority for the Saudi government.

He added that most government-funded projects in the kingdom were going through some sort of restructuring or replanning but that privately funded schemes remain largely unaffected.

Drake and Scull wins $33mn contract with Emicool Drake and Scull International has clinched a AED120mn ($32.6mn) contract with Emirates District Cooling (Emicool) to extend its district cooling network to Dubai Sports City.

MHPM-Driver will project manage the expansion of the network which is expected to be completed by July 2018.

The project will boost production capacity to 77,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) to cater to the surging demand in the area.

construction business news me June 2016 9

NEWS

Nakheel Mall almost 50 percent complete

Construction of the AED 1.2bn ($320mn) Nakheel Mall on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah is approaching 50 percent completion, the developer has said.

The mall’s three underground parking levels, with 4,000 spaces, are nearly complete, with the overall superstructure due to be finished in Q3 this year.

Work is also on track on the mall’s VIP entrance and rooftop features, which include two fountains and two waterfalls plunging 65 ft into the mall, Nakheel said.

Nakheel Mall will have five retail levels with 350 shops, restaurants and leisure attractions spread across 1.2 million sq ft of leasable space. Alongside the mall will be The Palm Tower – a 52-storey hotel and residential complex – for which a separate construction contract was awarded last year.

A St Regis hotel will occupy the first 18 floors, with 504 luxury residences above.

Due for completion in 2018, the tower will also boast a trio of rooftop attractions, with one of the world’s highest infinity pools on the 50th floor, a 51st floor restaurant and a viewing deck on level 52.

Dubai Holding launches AED1bn Marasi Business Bay development

Dubai Properties Group, part of Dubai Holding, has unveiled a new AED1bn ($272mn) creekside property development on Business Bay. Marasi Business Bay will feature residential units built on water with boat access, floating restaurants and cafes, onshore shopping and a range of leisure and entertainment facilities.

Work on the project has already started. The first phase, The Promenade will be completed by September 2016, in line with the opening of RTA’s Dubai Water Canal Project, followed

by The Park and The Yacht Club.

A substantial part of the development is set for completion by 2020, with overall works concluded by 2023.

The total investment will be self-financed in partnership with local financial institutions.

Emaar unit buys stake in Leaders Fort Contracting

Emaar Industries & Investments (EII) has acquired a significant stake in the UAE-based Leaders Fort Contracting.

Leaders Fort has extensive expertise in specialised works including concrete repair technologies, industrial & traf-

10 construction business news me June 2016

ficable flooring, waterproofing, protective coatings, MEP works among others.

EII aims to help the new acquisition explore opportunities for potential partnership on mega projects in the UAE, the oil and gas and military sectors as well as into other GCC markets.

Nasser Batha, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Industries & Investments, said: "The acquisition of a significant stake in Leaders Fort Contracting is a strategic fit to our focus on investing in leading UAE-based companies that have high growth potential.

“LFC has a strong track-record in providing specialised services for the construction sector, which fits well with our investment strategy.”

KIA headquarters wins Kuwait’s ACI Award of Excellence The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) Headquarters building has been awarded the American Concrete Institute (ACI) - Kuwait Chapter, Award of Excellence.

Construction on the KEO designed building began in 2013 and is due to be completed by the end of this year.

The awards were presented to the entire project team – KIA (client), KEO International Consultants (design and supervision), First United General Trading & Contracting (main contractor) and the concrete suppliers, Bubiyan Ready Mix Co. W.L.L. The office tower was designed to achieve clear open spaces internally, and to have large clear spans over the atrium openings on the facades, KEO said in a statement.

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contracts

Parsons Corp to develop $3.26bn Dubai deep tunnel sewage system

Parsons Corporation has clinched a contract with Dubai Municipality to build a Deep Tunnel Sewerage System at a total cost of AED 12bn ($3.26bn).

Due for completion in late 2020, the project will remove the need for more than 121 sewage pumping stations spread across the city, saving large amounts of energy.

Two tunnels will be dug totalling 70kms, one in Deira to transfer sewage flows to the treatment plant in Al Warsan, and the second in Bur Dubai to transfer sewage to a treatment plant in Jebel Ali. Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said the deep-sewage system will reduce maintenance costs, cut electricity consumed

Dallah Healthcare inks Hill Intl bags $80mn $89mn MEP contract dollar contract for Dallah Healthcare Holding Company Kuwait’s Mutlaa project signed a contract worth SAR 334mn Hill International has won a fiveyear contract worth KWD 23.8mn ($78.7mn) to provide program management consultancy services during development of South Al Mutlaa City in Kuwait.

South Al Mutlaa City is a development on a site of 104 square kilometers (40 square miles) located west of the capital Kuwait City.

Once completed, the development is expected to reach a population of 400,000.

12 construction business news me June 2016

($89mn) with Hashim Contracting and Trading Company for mechanical, electrical work and plumbing work on phase one of Dallah Hospital, Namar, southwest of Riyadh.

The contract is planned to be financed with approved Islamic financing from a local bank, and works are expected to be complete by 31 July, 2017, according to a bourse filing.

The first phase of the hospital, which will operate with a maximum capacity of 400 beds and 200 clinics, is expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2017 with a capacity of 150 beds and 100 clinics.

by the system by 30 percent and cut the need for tanks to transfer sewage through the city to treatment plants.

Services provided by Parsons include feasibility studies, preliminary design, preparation of IPO, then project management in detailed design stages as well as the implementation and supervision of the tunnels and the lift station.

Grupo ACS to build AED 1bn industrial waste plant for Adnoc Spanish construction giant Grupo ACS has won a EUR 235mn (AED 967mn) contract to build an industrial waste treatment plant in Abu Dhabi.

Work on the plant is expected to start early June and take 39 months. ACS subsidiary Intecsa will engineer, procure and test the plant that will process waste from various Adnoc subsidiaries.

The plant will be located in the industrial zone of Ruwais, around 250km west of Abu Dhabi.

Turner and Townsend to cost manage Al Maktoum Airport expansion

Turner and Townsend will provide cost management services for the expansion of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport.

The company was appointed by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), the engineering arm of Dubai Aviation City Corporation.

Turner and Townsend has successfully delivered previous projects for DAEP, giving it a firm grasp of the com-

NSCC wins enabling works contract for $272mn Omniyat project NSCC International has won the enabling works contract for Omniyat Group’s AED 1bn ($272mn) Langham Place Hotel and Residences in Downtown Dubai.

Located in Business Bay, The Langham Place hotel will include 167 hotel keys whilst the Langham Place Residences will have 239 fully-serviced residences.

Dubai-based Omniyat expects to award the main construction contract for the development by the end of the year.

pany’s protocols and processes linked to cost planning, procurement and commercial management.

The company has also worked on 140 airport projects, valued at $35bn, in 19 countries.

Mike Collings, Managing Director, Middle East said: “Our experience of delivering complex programmes in live airports will help us run the ongoing expansion while minimising the impact

Hill Intl JV wins $42mn Lusail Tram contract A joint venture led by Hill International has won a QAR 151.6mn ($41.6mn), four-year contract to provide project management consultancy services for the Lusail Light Rail Transit (LLRT) system near Doha, Qatar.

Hill is a 50% partner in consortium with Italferr S.p.A. and ASTAD Engineering Consultancy and Project Management Company.

The LLRT network will serve the residents of the city by providing an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation that will not only connect destinations within Lusail, but also to Doha by way of the Doha Metro.

The 38.5-kilometer (23.5-mile) tram system will have four lines, 25 stations atgrade and seven underground stations.

on day-to-day operations, and allow DAEP to plan for future growth.

The expansion of the existing passenger terminal – originally opened in 2013 – will include a larger immigration hall providing 55 control counters, an extended departure area with 91 check-in desks and an extra 12 boarding gates and lounges, a new outbound baggage handling building, and additional parking and approach roads.

Azizi awards Keilani $55mn contract for two buildings Dubai-based Keilani Construction Company bagged a AED 200mn ($54.4mn) contract with Azizi Developments to build two new ninestorey buildings in Al Furjan.

Currently under construction, the AED510mn serviced residence buildings are expected to be delivered by the end of 2017.

Azizi Developments is the biggest private-developer in Al Furjan with 24 plots and expects to deliver eight projects in the area this year.

construction business news me June 2016 13

NEWS

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Can the emirate reach its goal of producing 25 percent of buildings using 3D printing technology by 2030? Jason O’Connell writes.

H

is Highness Sheikh Moham- ments and cut back on waste genermed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ated from construction. is nothing if not a man of vi"Through the 3D Printing Strategy, we sion. And he sees the future of aim to make Dubai a global hub for the Dubai very clearly: In 3D. development of this technology and a Last month the Vice-Presi- base for research and development in dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and this area,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “We Ruler of Dubai launched the world’s aim to provide the best opportunities for first fully functional 3D printed office innovation and optimal application of building on the premises of Emirates this technology worldwide. Our goal is Towers. The 250 m2 building, which to raise the level of services provided to will house the temporary office of the the people and harness 3D printing for Dubai Future Foundation, took only 17 the benefit of the entire community." days to print using a special mixture of The value of the 3D printing techcement deployed nology-based conby a 3D-printer struction sector in measuring 20 ft Dubai is expected high, 120 ft long to reach around and 40 ft wide.

AED3bn ($816mn) If Sheikh Moby 2025, providing hammed has his huge opportunities – Sean McQue, ALEC way it will be just for companies inthe start of a revolution in how build- volved in the sector. Globally the market ings are made in the emirate and be- is expected to reach $120bn by 2020 and yond. The office building was unveiled about $300bn by 2025, as research and less than a month after Dubai launched development accelerates the capability its 3D printing strategy, an ambitious ini- and cuts the cost of the technology. tiative aimed at producing 25 percent of As usual Dubai has wasted no time in buildings using 3D printing technology putting its words into actions. Within a by 2030. Medical and consumer prod- week of the strategy being announced, ucts are the other two sectors targeted Dubai Holding launched plans for the under the strategy.

International Centre for 3D Printing at Sheikh Mohammed pointed out that Dubai Industrial City, which aims to 3D printing has the potential to of- house 700 companies under one roof. fer competitive advantages in terms The facility will bring a network of deof lower costs and faster delivery. It sign and technology suppliers and incould help reduce manpower require- clude research facilities and laboratories

“As long as it’s cheaper to build things with labour, it’s going to happen that way”

construction business news me June 2016 15

Cover Story

for testing materials used in 3D printed products. It will also offer services, professional training, facilities, storage solutions, and other logistical support to strengthen this sector.

Abdullah Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City, said: “The centre will offer the advantages of strategic location, advanced infrastructure, developed offices, warehouses, exhibition facilities, not to mention the integrated support system that will enable companies to establish their business. The centre will host more than 700 local and international companies to make Dubai a major hub of 3D printing technology."

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has also backed the new strategy with a contract tender for a building using 3D printing technology. The utility wants to add a laboratory at its solar park that will conduct research into both 3D printing and drone technology which it uses to help monitor and maintain its various facilities.

So Dubai certainly has the ambition.

But can it turn those dreams into reality?

Naji Atallah – Head of AEC and Manufacturing at Autodesk Middle East and Turkey – certainly thinks so. Autodesk Middle East hosted the inaugural Future of Building Things event in Dubai last month, a forum for industry professionals to discuss how technology is disrupting the way buildings and infrastructure are designed, built and used. It was fitting that the event took place in the Annex of Burj Khalifa, surely one of the most advanced buildings ever made. Unsurprisingly, 3D printing was a very hot topic at the forum coming just a few weeks after Sheikh Mohammed’s announcement.

“It’s a very ambitious objective and with today’s technology it’s definitely not achievable,” says Atallah of Dubai’s 3D Printing Strategy. “But I think part of what HH Sheikh Mohammed has done is set a framework for the construction and 3D printing communities to work with to reach an objective. At Autodesk we think it is achievable. How the construction site in 2030 will look like is not that clear yet but we’re contributing to realising that vision.”

While 3D printing has yet to make major inroads into the mainstream construc16 construction business news me June 2016

tion sector, Atallah points to a couple of “pockets of innovation” that provide an indicator of what might become the norm within a few years. One example is a company called MX3D which is working on 3D printing a metal pedestrian bridge over a canal in Amsterdam.

“The device they created is not a 3D printer in the traditional desktop sense, it’s actually two robotic arms with a nozzle at the end that deposits the material layer by layer,” Atallah says. “You start with a 3D model and the software slices the model into very thin wafers and the nozzle deposits the material to create these layers one at a time. In this case the nozzle deposits softened metal, building the bridge as it goes.”

The other example he points to comes

from China, where a company called Winsun gained Youtube notoriety when it 3D printed 10 low cost housing units in a single day using their own cement mixture. Winsun used Autocad, an Autodesk software, to control the movement of the nozzle and how it deposited the layers of cement.

Disruptive, was a word that kept cropping up at The Future of Building Things conference in reference to new technologies that have the potential to radically alter the way the construction industry works, with consequences for all stakeholders, from architects to designers, suppliers, contractors and workers.

“It’s not one party that gets disrupted [by the technology], I think the way the entire industry works gets disrupted,”

Naji Atallah, Autodesk

says Atallah. “A major challenge in the industry now is wastage. If you’re building a tower you’re cutting and wasting material and that’s a major cost for the industry. 3D printing has the potential to really reduce that wastage thus decreasing the whole cost of building an asset, which would have implications for everyone involved in the project.”

Like all relatively new technologies there are still issues with the cost of 3D printing but Atallah says the cost has dropped considerably to the point where you can buy a desktop 3D printer for as little as $1,500 whereas 10 years ago they didn’t even exist.

“The process is much faster and the most interesting part is that you can mount 3D print in different materials,”

“So whereas it used to be just a few kinds of plastics, now you can do it in ceramics, metals even carbon fibre” – Naji Atallah, Autodesk he says. “So whereas it used to be just a few kinds of plastics, now you can do it in ceramics, metals even carbon fibre.

Whatever the application is, one of these materials will fit. The widespread requirements across industries has helped drive the cost of the hardware down.”

With Dubai looking to use the technology to produce 25 percent of any given building by 2030, which particu-

lar components or materials might be particularly suited to 3D printing? Atallah cites the panels used in façade cladding as potentially ideal for 3D printing because it enables you to print exactly the size you need instead of cutting it onsite which wastes materials. “With today’s architecture, each panel in the façade of the building is unique and it’s this uniqueness that makes it more applicable to the 3D printing way of doing things,” he says.

But he says the sky is the limit as far as what 3D printing could produce in the future. “We will find some components printed off site and some will be printed on site. What the components are is completely open. We could even be printing glass. And for example with the construction business news me June 2016 17

Cover Story

bridge it’s the structural part, the metal, that is being 3D printed so I wouldn’t be surprised that by 2030 you have huge metal girders being printed.”

A Technology of the Future The consensus of a five man discussion panel at The Future of Building Things, was that it is likely to be a long time before 3D printing exerts a truly disruptive force on the construction industry due to a number of factors, particularly the cost of the technology. Sean McQue – Projects Director for UAE at construction contractor ALEC – stressed that the market will always dictate the methods used for construction.

“Construction is one of those industries that fundamentally hasn’t changed for a long, long time,” he said. “We see innovation in design and technology but when it gets onto the ground that’s where you struggle to realise change. As long as it’s cheaper to build things with labour, it’s going to happen that way. If clients and designers start to drive things from the front and specify that’s what they want to see, then you’ll start to see it coming because it is going to initially be a much more expensive process.”

Sean Dewhurst – Change and IT Director at SSH – believes it will be a gradual process to reach a stage where anyone is using 3D technology to print a tower 18 construction business news me June 2016

“It introduces a lot of risk and at the end of the day multi-million dollar projects are not where you want to be sinking a lot of risk” – Sean Dewhurst, SSH building because of the uncertainty inherent in using newly developed methods. “No one is going to want to build a 3D printed office tower and be the first person to do it. It introduces a lot of risk and at the end of the day multi-million dollar projects are not where you want to be sinking a lot of risk. There has got to be experimentation on a small scale and then confidence built up.”

Geoff Batzel – Chief Strategy and Implementation Officer at KEO International Consultants – said he would not be pushing the technology on clients any time soon. “We saw recently in Dubai the news about the world’s first 3D printed office centre. Ok, that’s a special one off and that will slowly start to trickle down, but honestly as a consultant engineer you’re probably not going to try to push the envelope on your clients, it’s just not a good business model.”

Andy Shaw –Associate Director at architecture firm RMJM International in Dubai – said 3D printing had already

afforded him opportunities to innovate on a small scale. “One thing I’m working on at the moment is looking at 3D printing cladding and fusing that with casting technology for mass production and to make it more cost effective,” he said.

“Having a plan isn’t always the best way. When you innovate you have to experiment and not actually know where you’re going to end up. The key is to start small. They’ve started with the office here. Construction of a villa or a smaller outbuilding or a temporary office is a much more feasible target at the moment. Keep learning and scaling up.

It’s going to be a long time until anybody is 3D printing a whole tower, but if you start small you can start learning and get the cost down.”

Suhail Arfath – Head of Consulting at Autodesk Middle East, Turkey and Africa – stressed that Dubai’s 3D printing strategy was an important step in helping to drive the technology forward.

“Two things are going to drive innovation around 3D printing,” he said. “One, we have got this mandate now by 2030.

We have a goalpost there so we know where we’re headed. At the same time construction is predominantly a low margin industry. As we see the cost of materials for 3D printing going down it’s going to really be seen more and more in construction.”

Analysis

Contract Crunch Saudi construction sector faces tough two years but may stage a comeback around 2018. Jason O'Connell writes.

I

t’s been a turbulent 12 months for the Saudi Arabian construction sector as new work has all but dried up while the kingdom contemplates ways to adapt to the harsh new reality of low oil prices.

Recent analysis shows construction contracts awarded during the first quarter of the year plunged in value by more than half compared to the same period of 2015. Deals handed out in the first quarter amounted to SAR 27.9bn ($7.4bn) against SAR 57.3bn in the first three months of 2015, the sharpest drop since 2009, according to NCB Construction Contracts Index. The total in the three months to 31 March was also 39 percent below the level seen in the final quarter of 2015.

The pain is a result of government belt tightening which has not only led to a drastic drop in the number of contracts handed out for major infrastructure works, but has also seen payments delayed for services rendered, leaving many contractors short of funds and unable to pay their workers, suppliers, subcontractors or even make debt repayments. Inevitably, contractors have had to respond with their own bout of cost cutting.

“The 14 percent reduction in the 2016 budget is likely to have a dispro-

20 construction business news me June 2016

portionate effect on contract awards for new infrastructure projects. As a result, scaling down and further cancellation of planned projects may be unavoidable," according to NCB. “Contractors are already facing increased competition as a result of the slowdown in spending, delays to project timelines and slow contract payments."

The liquidity crisis has already claimed a number of high profile casualties in Saudi Arabia - including the $16bn Mecca Metro and the 1km high Jeddah Tower - which both recently announced delays due to financing issues. Other projects are likely to be shelved indefinitely or cancelled altogether, experts say.

Perhaps no company has suffered more than Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), which has grown to be the largest construction contractor in the land thanks mainly to government spending driven economic growth. Now the company is shedding tens of thousands of its estimated 200,000 workforce as it carries out a deep and painful restructuring.

Though most of those laid off are guest workers, the fact that SBG has said it could also let go of around two thirds of the 17,000 Saudi nationals it employs is an indication of just how grave the situation has become.

$7.4bn the value of KSA contracts awarded in Q1, 2016

51% drop in value of contracts Y-o-Y

construction business news me June 2016 21

Analysis

Its travails can be at least partly be traced back to the day last September when one of its cranes collapsed in the holy of Mecca, killing 111 people and injuring hundreds of others. The company was reportedly barred from bidding for new construction contracts as a result of the incident while a travel ban was imposed on senior executives. And the situation deteriorated in the first quarter of 2016 with multiple reports emerging of laid off workers staging protests amid claims of unpaid wages.

Recent developments suggest things may be starting to look up a little for SBG. The ban on bidding for new tenders was lifted last month while the company has also secured access to much needed liquidity despite owing banks in the region of $30bn, according to Reuters estimates.

SBG pledged land as collateral to secure a $666.5m (SAR2.5bn) loan from local banks Arab National Bank and Saudi British Bank, Reuters said citing financial sources with knowledge of the matter. The funds are earmarked to cover redundancy costs for the workers it is laying off as well as unpaid salaries, the newswire said.

The layoffs are only part of SBG’s restructuring effort which also includes a number of unspecified cost cutting measures to streamline and boost the efficiency of its operations in response to the crisis. The company has recruit-

ed a Morgan Stanley banker as its new chief financial officer, as well as an executive from Kuwait contractor Kharafi National to join its management.

While SBG and other contractors take the difficult measures needed to ensure their own immediate survival, a revival of the good times still looks some way off despite the price of oil recently edging above $50 per barrel for the first time since the start of 2016.

There have also been signs that payments have begun to trickle through to contractors again in recent weeks, after

rent conditions. But while some Gulf countries have introduced PPP laws the NTP does not provide specific legal mechanisms for private investment.

Saudi Arabia accounts for 39 percent of the $2 trillion worth of projects planned in the GCC, it was revealed last month at the MEED Construction Leadership Summit (MCLS) hosted by Deloitte in Dubai.

However these projects are at the preexecution stage and considering current conditions there must be considerable doubt over when, or even if, they will ever see the light of day.

MEED thinks it could take another two years until the construction industry stages a recovery, aided by an improvement in crude prices to $60 a barrel by 2018. By that time government finances will also have been lifted by the introduction of VAT across the GCC. While infrastructure investment will suffer in the meantime, experts say huge project investment is still likely to be needed across the region between now and the end of the decade as economies will require improved infrastructure to serve growing cities. But in order to maintain the momentum in the regional project pipeline and in the face of austerity concerns, Cynthia Corby, Partner, Middle East Infrastructure and Capital Projects Leader, Deloitte told delegates at the MCLS that it will be “necessary to innovate, perhaps with a drive towards privately financed solutions”.

“Contractors are already facing increased competition as a result of the slowdown in spending, delays to project timelines and slow contract payments”

22 construction business news me June 2016

– NCB Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg News in an interview in March that authorities have started paying companies back.

It remains to be seen whether the reforms detailed in Saudi Arabia’s recently announced National Transformation Plan (NTP) will have the desired effect of attracting more private investment to at least partly make up for the drop in government spending. There has been much talk of public private partnerships (PPP) finally gaining momentum across the region as a result of the cur-

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Construction vehicles

24 construction business news me June 2016

Volvo Trucks eyes construction market leadership with updated product range for rough terrain.

construction business news me June 2016 25

Construction vehicles

V

olvo Trucks has unveiled a raft of new technical innovations to improve perfromance for its customers operating in the construction sector.

The Swedish company recently showcased the new applications at its test tracks in Gothenburg, allowing delegates to test drive trucks equipped with the new features in simulated construction conditions.

"We want to be the leading brand in the construction segment just as we are in long haul. These new features in combination with our completely updated product range clearly sets a new standard for what a construction truck can deliver," says Ricard Fritz, Vice President, Volvo Trucks Brand.

I-Shift with crawler gears Volvo Trucks’ new version of I-Shift makes it possible to add up to two new crawler gears. This means, among other things, that the truck can move off from standstill and transport a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 325 tonnes.

“I-Shift with crawler gears offers entirely new scope for heavy trucks with automated transmission to regulate their speed when crawling slowly and reversing. The driver can haul a heavy load without worrying about getting into situations that may lead to costly standstills,” says Peter Hardin, Product Manager FM and FMX. With the new crawler gears, the truck can drive at speeds as low as 0.5-2 km/h. This helps immensely during precision manoeuvres such as in construction and maintenance tasks.

“The vastly improved driveability and startability with the new crawler gears makes the driver’s job far easier when operating in difficult terrain on slippery surfaces with heavy loads, such as at construction sites, in mines or in forests. The heavier the transport operation and the poorer the surface or the terrain, the more the driver gains from a truck with crawler gears,” explains Peter Hardin.

Depending on application area, IShift is available with one or two for-

26 construction business news me June 2016

ward crawler gears, and with or without two reverse crawler gears. Reverse crawler gears makes it possible to reverse extremely slowly, which is a major advantage when reversing manoeuvres require immense precision.

Tandem Axle Lift Tandem Axle Lift is designed for heavy duty transports with loads being carried one way and empty return trips, for instance when hauling timber or in construction and bulk cargo operations.

"With Tandem Axle Lift the second driven axle can be disengaged and its wheels raised off the road when the truck is driven empty. This offers many advantages, of which the foremost is fuel savings. Driving with the second driven axle raised saves up to 4 percent in fuel compared with having all the axles lowered," says Jonas Odermalm, segment manager Construction at Volvo Trucks.

By replacing the differential in the first driven axle with a dog clutch, the second driven axle can be disengaged and raised. The driver thus has access to both the power and capacity of two driven axles (6X4) and also the better manoeuvrability of a single driven axle (4X2).

What is more, driving with the second driven axle raised also cuts the turning circle by a metre and imposes less wear on tyres and suspension systems.

"Tandem Axle Lift is perfect for transports where ground conditions or gross vehicle weights demand a tandem-drive truck, but where the vehicle returns empty or lightly loaded in the opposite direction. On slippery or soft surfaces, the driver can increase pressure on the first axle by raising the second driven axle, which results in better grip and reduces the risk of getting stuck," explains Jonas Odermalm.

Tandem Axle Lift also offers the driver better comfort when the truck is driven empty, which in many cases

“The heavier the transport operation and the poorer the surface or the terrain, the more the driver gains from a truck with crawler gears” – Peter Hardin, Product Manager FM and FMX

corresponds to 50 percent of the operating time. The in-cab noise level is lower and steering wheel vibration is reduced when only the tyres of one drive axle are in contact with the road.

Volvo Dynamic Steering for dual front axles Volvo Dynamic Steering is now also available on trucks with dual front axles, a very common configuration in construction operations. Since such trucks often carry particularly heavy loads or superstructures, the benefits are very noticeable for the driver.

In addition to far lower turning resistance at low speeds, the steering wheel returns automatically to the straight-ahead position after full lock, cutting out the need for added effort in close-quarter manoeuvring and saving the driver both time and energy.

Volvo Dynamic Steering, which was first launched in 2013, consists of an electric motor that compensates for vi-

bration and steering wheel movement while minimising the amount of force needed to steer the truck.

In addition to the Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH 16, the Volvo Trucks construction vehicle range also encompasses the Volvo FL with fourwheel drive and gross weight of up

to 18 tonnes, and the Volvo FE with maximum gross weight of 26 tonnes.

Together with an extensive workshop network and advanced services for excellent availability, customers benefit from considerable flexibility to create individually tailored and safe solutions. construction business news me June 2016 27

In person

Richard Hill (left) and Adrian Finnegan, design manager

30 construction business news me June 2016

A Quality Finish

Bespoke joinery company Deluxe Group is assembling its five major showsets on site at Dubai Parks and Resorts. Jason O’Connell spoke to business development director Richard Hill about the Northern Ireland-based company’s journey.

W

hen Dubai Parks and Resorts opens its doors to the public in less than five months’ time, it will have been the fastest theme park ever built, another world record to add to the pile Dubai has gathered over the last decade or so.

One of the companies helping to make it a reality is Deluxe Group, a Northern Ireland based outfit building some of the sets on Motiongate, the movie themed component of the park that also contains Bollywood and Legoland.

The family-owned firm is working to turn some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters into a reality for the millions of thrill seekers that are expected to descend on the theme park when it opens in October. Fans of hit films such as Hotel Transylvania, Ghostbusters, Underworld, Green Hornet and Zombieland will be able

to witness the company’s craftsmanship first hand.

Deluxe Group cut its teeth on Disneyland Paris 30 years ago and also built the set for the theme park’s most recent attraction, Ratatouille, so the company comes with a strong track record in an industry that Dubai hopes will help its bid to attract 20 million tourists per year by 2020.

The company built the sets at its workshop in Northern Ireland and then shipped the individual components to Dubai for assembly, Deluxe Group’s Business Development Manager Richard Hill explains. Because the sets are so big (Ghostbusters for example is over eight metres high) the workshop is the size of a small aircraft hangar. The fact that more than 50 standard sized shipping containers were required to transport all the sets to the Middle East shows the scale of the undertaking.

“We’ve built the rooftop of a New

construction business news me June 2016 31

In person

“We’ve built the rooftop of a New York building here and dismantled it and shipped it to Dubai” – Richard Hill York building here and dismantled it and shipped it to Dubai,” Hill says.

“That allowed us to ensure quality and the client could be involved in the process in terms of inspecting and approving it. With a very fast track project like Dubai Parks and Resorts you need to have a lot of prefabrication whereas previously a lot of theme parks were built on site.”

The sets are typically designed by someone else but Deluxe does the shop drawing and fabrication design.

“We’re showed how it should look but not how it should be built and that requires all of our knowledge and experience of working in the industry,” Hill says. “For example, materials have to meet strict fire regulations and theme parks attract a lot of visitor traffic which requires that materials are very durable.

“A lot of the detailing is up to us and our research and development.

You can be manufacturing things that are pretty unique and never been built before. There have not really been theme parks built in the UAE before and one thing Dubai Parks and Resorts is going for is very high quality.”

The Motiongate job was so big that Deluxe had to take on more people.

The company’s base in Northern Ireland – which has a growing reputation as a location for film shoots – helped it to attract the kind of skilled workers needed to deliver the quality finish that Dubai Parks and Resorts insisted on.

“That’s brought people here from the film industry and we have now got some of those people under our own wing,” Hill says. “Our project manager, for example, helped build some of the sets for films like Harry Potter, James Bond and Batman and 32 construction business news me June 2016

he’s putting that film set knowledge together with our theme park construction knowledge. That obviously helps us with Motiongate which has a film theme. Our crew have a good understanding of how a film set should look in terms of authenticity.”

Having that caliber of worker helped the company stick to the very challenging schedule set by the theme park. “The feedback we’re getting is that we’ve got strong project management,” Hill says. “With a theme park schedules can’t afford to slip because you’re working towards an opening. Along with the physical structure there’s a big human resource element involved in running a theme park. All of it has to come on stream at the same time.”

Deluxe employs over 100 people,

with a crew of 25-30 in Dubai working on assembling its Motiongate attractions. As well as the theme park work, the company puts its fit out skills to good use in other sectors such as high end hospitality, retail and even residential. The company has worked on world famous retail establishments such as Harrods and House of Fraser in London and has also done exclusive private members clubs.

“We’ve got a unique blend of craftspeople and artists and people that have worked in the film industry,” Hill says. “That gives us a creative team which helps us in hospitality markets because we can do fabrication that other companies can’t.”

Despite the good flow of work back home in the UK, Deluxe is

clearly intent on growing its presence in the UAE, having recently opened a permanent office in Dubai. With the emirate continuing to develop its hospitality, retail, leisure and entertainment offering, Deluxe Group’s services should be in steady demand in the coming years.

“Dubai sits very nicely between east and west and the new airport and the Expo site are near Dubai Parks and Resorts. There are other theme parks in the pipeline and there will be further phases of Dubai Parks and Resorts so hopefully there will be something in that for us. And theme parks need to be refreshed and redeveloped from time to time as well. We’ve opened an office in Dubai and hopefully we’re there for the long term.” construction business news me June 2016 33

On Site

Location, Location, Location.

The first of the 461 villas in the exclusive Hidd Al Saadiyat development in Abu Dhabi will be handed over in November. Construction Business News paid a visit to the site for a sneak peak.

34 construction business news me June 2016

Project timeline 2013 Jan – UPC approves the Masterplan Infrastructure work begins April – Coastal work begins June – Construction work begins August – Awarding villas to consultant September – Awarded Estidama Pearl 2 rating

2014 September - Completion of coastal works

2015 February – Completion of mock up villas

2016 January – Completion of main roads and utilities March – Yacht club and marina awarded Community centres and mosques awarded April – landscaping awarded June – Completion of infrastructure works November – Phase 1 handover to begin

construction business news me June 2016 35

On Site

L

ocation, location, location.

The well known real estate mantra probably goes a long way towards explaining why villas at the cheaper end of the AED 2bn ($544mn) Hidd al Saadiyat residential development in Abu Dhabi come with a price tag just shy of $2mn – without a swimming pool - and rise to AED 38mn ($10.34mn) for the palatial properties at the more exclusive end of the island.

But there’s no denying that for that money you get to live in one of the country’s most exclusive gated commu-

36 construction business news me June 2016

nities in a quite stunning city location.

All of the eight villa types – including those without pools - will have sea views - even if in some cases it might be just a sliver of a view - and have access to nearly 7km of pristine private beaches and turquoise waters.

A recent visit to the 1.5 million square metre project site showed the development substantially taking shape more than three years after construction began in January 2013. Developer Saadiyat Investment & Development Company (SDIC) has completed the first phase of the project and is gearing

up to hand over the first of the 461 villas around November.

Work has begun on phase 2 and all remaining villas are due to be gradually handed over by the end of next year.

However, for anyone interested in getting a piece of the action there are still a good number of villas available to buy, mostly of the smaller type 6&7, says Marwan Hjazin, director of sales and customer management. They are available to both Emirati investors as well as foreign buyers and slightly more than half of the units sold to date have been snapped up by UAE nationals.

In Numbers

461 The Island consists of

Villas and is

3.5km

800 long. It is also

metres at its widest point near the entry. The total cost of the project is

AED2bn The available villas are: Type 1: 29,000 sq ft and cost

Overall, construction work on the project – led by the main contractor Al Jaber Building - has reached around 65 percent completion, according to Greg Slingerland, project director at LEAD Development, the project management consultants in charge of overseeing Hidd Al Saadiyat. One of the trickier elements of the project for the contractor was the customisation of 112 villas as well as construction of an additional 27 ‘special villas’ built to customer specifications, says Slingerland.

Gulf Contractors Co (GCC) has almost completed infrastructure works,

including all the underground services such as water, sewerage and electrical cables. All fifteen electrical substations have been installed of which around two thirds have been tested and commissioned. The project’s main roads have all been paved while work on the footpaths and villa driveways is due to commence in the coming months.

Landscaping contractor Gulf Contractors Co Landscaping is on site and is due to complete work in August. Ghantoot has begun construction of the 110 berth marina which will be available to non-resident boat owners. The con-

AED38m Type 4: 9,139 sq ft and cost

AED14.5m Type 8: 4,725 sq ft and cost

AED7.2m construction business news me June 2016 37

On Site

tracts to build the development’s community centres and mosques are expected to be awarded shortly.

Though Saadiyat is a natural island rather than man made, some work was done on the beaches which are designed to be self-sustaining and use natural forces to regenerate themselves.

At the tip of the island, close to where the largest villas are located - a groyne has been added as a barrier to limit the movement of sediment.

Smart homes In keeping with the trend for all things smart these days, the entire development uses the latest technology to manage energy and water consumption and as a result has been awarded a Pearl 2 Estidama rating, the only villa development in Abu Dhabi to achieve that feat.

A state of the art control panel from UT Technology will allow residents to control various systems in their homes - such as air conditioning, lighting and security – which can also be done remotely using a smart phone. The level of technology required to secure the Pearl 2 rating added considerably to the development cost, Slingerland says.

Each villa is also equipped with solar panels for water heating and recycles 35% of all waste produced.

The interiors offer the kind of very high end marble and stone finish that you would expect of such a development. We were shown around a completed type 4 villa. In return for an investment of AED14.5nm, owners will receive a six bedroom house covering 9,139 square feet spread over two floors with spacious reception rooms, high ceilings, ultra-modern kitchens and bathrooms and an outdoor swimming pool.

And so to the all-important location.

Hidd Al Saadiyat lies on a strip of land in the north east corner of Saadiyat Island. At its widest point near the entrance the gated community is only 800 metres from one stretch of sand to the other, putting both beaches within easy walking distance and giving residents the feel of living on a small island or a narrow peninsula. But at the same time they will have the city on their 38 construction business news me June 2016

doorstep and be within a few minutes’ drive of Abu Dhabi’s new cultural and entertainment quarter that is beginning to take shape.

The Saadiyat Cultural District comprises a trio of world class museums – The Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum as well a Maritime Museum and a performing arts centre. The island is already home to a number of five star resorts and they will joined by another that will be located close to the entrance of Hidd Al Saadiyat but within the development itself. Estate agents are prone to overusing words like exclusive and unique when talking about their developments but in the case of Hidd Al Saadiyat, they are probably justified. With prices to match.

FACTS: Developer SDIC Main contractor Al Jaber Infrastructure Gulf Contractors Co (GCC) Marina contractor (110 berth) Ghantoot MEP ETTS Landscaping Gulf Contractors Co Landscaping (GCCL)

Porto Arabia Towers Doha, Qatar

Mall of Qatar Doha, Qatar

Viva Bahriya Towers Doha, Qatar

Qatar National Museum Doha, Qatar

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SUPPLIER News

Ducab to supply power cables for Korean nuclear plant

Ducab chairman Dr Ahmad Bin Hassan Al Shaikh with Seok Cho, CEO of KHNP

U

AE-based cable manufacturer Ducab has won a maiden order to supply an international nuclear power project after it was selected by Korean Hydro-Nuclear Power Co (KHNP) to provide its nuclear power-qualified cable range, NuBICC for the Shin Hanul 1 & 2 Nuclear power plant under construction in South Korea.

Ducab chairman Dr Ahmad Bin Hassan Al Shaikh said the company had held off stiff competition from internationally renowned companies to win the contract.

"Our national leadership has consistently encouraged us to constantly innovate and show the best of the UAE to the outside world, and being a part of a nationally-critical project in Korea with KHNP shows that Du-

40 construction business news me June 2016

cab has now emerged in the region to stand alongside the best-known and leading cable manufacturers in the world,” he said.

Seok Cho, chief executive officer of KHNP, said: “We would like to congratulate Ducab for this important milestone for the industrial sector of the UAE. Providing nucleargrade materials is the highest form of quality mark and this is a major achievement.”

KHNP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) which is building the UAE’s first nuclear power plant at Barakah in Abu Dhabi.

The first of four 1,400MW reactors is due to come on stream in 2017 and the plant will be capable of supplying around a quarter of the UAE’s power demand when fully commissioned in 2020.

STYRO showcases fire and shock resistant products STYRO, an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) manufacturer in the Middle East, showcased its range of advanced Class A fire retardant, heat resistant, tremor-proof, and eco-friendly products last month at the INDEX exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

STYRO aims to capture more of the growing interiors and fit-out market which is currently valued at around $8.8bn.

The company’s products can be used to deliver creative and durable designs in both interior and exterior decorations as well as architectural applications, events/exhibitions, packaging and merchandising displays.

In addition, fire and weather conditions being a major concern in the Middle East, STYRO products are carefully engineered to withstand fire and heat making it the most suitable product for any interior and exterior applications.

STYRO has become a product of choice for several iconic developments in the UAE, such as Dubai Resort and Parks, Smurf City, and Dubai Canal amongst others.

Evaporative coolers gaining market share in the GCC

P

ortacool, the Texas-based provider of evaporative cooling solutions, predicts double digit growth for evaporative coolers in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa.

Countries in the region are forecast to invest $100bn in total by 2030 for new cooling capacity, and more than $120bn for new power capacity. A few years ago, the UAE HVAC market stood at around $850mn and it is forecasted to cross the $1bn mark in 2018.

Evaporative cooling deployments in the GCC are expected to grow as an alternative to high electricity and energyconsuming traditional cooling methods.

Bob Mangiaforte, Vice President, Sales, Portacool, said: “There are clear benefits of our products in places where air conditioners are cost prohibitive or ineffective.

“Additionally, Portacool evaporative coolers provide comfort and safety to workforces that need to remain cool in order to work safely and effectively, while reducing costs and potential liability and downtime for the organizations employing them.”

RAK Ceramics Q1 profit rises 11 percent to $18mn

RAK Ceramics sees Q1 net profit rise by 11 percent to 18$mn

RAK Ceramics delivered a 10.8 percent increase in first quarter net profit to AED 65.9mn ($18mn) despite heightened levels of uncertainty in global markets, and a relatively unchanged overall revenue of AED 735.7mn compared to AED 744.1mn for the first quarter of 2015.

Growth was led by a 3.3% increase in the sale of tiles to AED 496mn and a 0.5% increase in sanitary ware sales to AED 111.5mn supported by restructuring efforts in ‘core markets’’ and the continued improvement of ‘non crore businesses’.

Abdallah Massaad, RAK Ceramics’ Group Chief Executive Officer said: “RAK Ceramics has maintained its prudent approach of focusing on key growth markets

during the first quarter of this year with capacity expansions, senior appointments and further consolidation of key assets in core markets.

“While global financial conditions have presented the business with a challenging economic environment, we are confident that we will see a solid performance in the next three quarters, thanks to our ongoing efforts to strengthen the business, reduce losses and increase margins.

“As we continue delivering on our Value Creation Plan, we intend to retain our position in key markets, keep an eye on opportunities for further expansions and retain the highest calibre of manufacturing talent available in the market.” he added.

construction business news me June 2016 41

Building Materials

Healthcare driving demand for specialist building materials

The huge growth in the healthcare industry in the GCC is helping to push demand for specialist building materials in the region.

I

n Dubai, fast growing ageing populations and the rise of medical tourism means the private sector is expected to need an additional 1500 beds by 2020, equating to an investment of $1.5bn, according to estimates from Colliers International.

But delivering to the highest standards means dealing with the specialised requirements of the sector.

Mike Barns, senior project manager and architect with ICME Healthcare, a specialist healthcare management and consultancy company, says the UAE has adopted infection control regulations from the US, which set out what materials can be used in the fit out of hospitals.

“These set out such things as materials that will resist fungus, fungal growth and resist spores multiplying.

In all of the new hospitals that have

42 construction business news me June 2016

been designed and built, in the UAE in particular, and also in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman these infection control guidelines and requirements steer the selection of materials that's available for designers to use,” Barns says.

ICME is helping commission a new hospital in Cairo, Egypt, which Barns says is a good example of how standards have developed. It was actually designed and built twenty years ago, but was never commissioned.

“Twenty years ago it was okay to design with exposed concrete walls, and now it isn’t,” explains Barns. “Now, they have to be plastered and treated in a certain way. Flooring in the past could be slate tiles; now, unless they don’t have an apt finishing, we can't use that anymore.”

Now these higher standards come with demands of independent certifi-

cation, where manufacturers have to be able to prove their surface materials are up to the specific requirements of a modern healthcare facility. In addition contractors are being obliged to use the exact specified materials or go to the expense of certifying their suggested alternatives.

“A designer may specify three options for the contractor to supply, so he can go out and get alternative prices from those three suppliers,” says Barns. “But if he wants to go beyond those suppliers, there's a lot of pressure on him to show that the alternative supplier meets the healthcare standards that are put in place.”

Suppliers that can make the grade with suitably certified products could find themselves in demand as the healthcare sector continues to demand new facilities across the GCC.

Dubai set to open world’s largest materials library

T

he world’s largest materials library is set to open in Dubai this year. D-Town Library will have capacity to display thousands of materials ranging from clear glass to the most innovative tech-materials that can be used across various creative industries.

In addition, visitors who want to take an in-depth look at the collection can consult the expert engineers on site to enquire about the composition of the materials, usages and manufacturing details.

“The concept will connect and bridge the gap between the world’s industries and consumers. People need to know what is available and how to use it in order to simply start creating, enrich innovation and come up with something new. For all that to happen people need tools, and the library will be an essential tool.” said Rowdha Ali Mohammed AlSakit, CEO of D-Town Enterprises.

D-Town Library is in the process of selecting materials and has already signed MOAs with some of the most prestigious brands in the world and tied up with premium global partners from New York, Paris and Tokyo. Entities involved in the project will be

hosting active educational workshops on how to integrate new materials on a project.

“We want D-Town Library to become the space where the creative community meets knowledge and

innovation. This will be the meeting point to likeminded people, a center of knowledge where innovators and creatives can exchange ideas and bring their projects to life,” said Rowdha Ali Mohammed AlSakit.

Baytik Industrial Oasis in Bahrain welcomes new tenant Tactile Roofing

T

actile Roofing has opened a new premises Baytik Industrial Oasis (BIO), the modular industrial leasing complex at Bahrain International Investment Park.

The company will lease 4,783 squaremetres for their new venture in the Kingdom involving the production of stone coated metal roofing tiles that will be exported around the GCC and to Africa.

Benefits to businesses leasing space at

the serviced industrial park include access to high quality manufacturing space, low upfront investment costs, and close proximity to the Khalifa bin Salman Port and Bahrain International Airport.

The agreement was signed between BIO Chairman, Osama A. Al Khajah and Ankit Sanghrajka, Director of Tactile Roofing in the presence of Riaz Mohamed, KFH-B Portfolio Manager for BIO and Heather Longden, Associate Director, CBRE. construction business news me June 2016 43

COMMENT

Building the next Smart City

Gamal Emara, Country Manager - UAE, HPE Aruba, explains how the Internet of Things (IoT) can help construction companies with on-time, onbudget project completion.

Gamal Emara

O

ptimistic forecasts for the UAE’s construction sector for the next few years are driven by factors such as encouraging macroeconomics, affirmative demographics, and rising tourism activities as well as a resistant infrastructure project pipeline as part of the country’s strategic Vision 2021.

With Dubai Expo 2020 also on the horizon, the government is solidly behind smart development initiatives. As the UAE ushers in this new era of advancement, much has been predicted and promised about the integration of ICT into every aspect of the completed city developments.

The computing capabilities of mobile & IoT devices have advanced to a level that has made them capable of aiding the planning, designing, and

44 construction business news me June 2016

building phases. But turning mobility into an effective tool requires not only computing power but also connectivity. At job-sites, wired connections are not feasible and cellular networks are not always available and hence a strong case can therefore be made for developers to utilize WiFi solutions. These are not only easy to install and manage, but are now also affordable and rugged enough to see deployment in harsh construction surroundings.

The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a huge opportunity for the construction industry, which is constantly processing data and strives for workplace safety, as well as efficiency.

IoT needs a secure, scalable network to succeed and Wi-Fi offers what IT departments require for strong ‘construction IoT networking’.

Facilitating Workflow With the introduction of tablet devices, mobile project management has emerged as a worthy replacement to age old methods. Coupled with the broad ecosystem of feature-rich mobile applications and the ability to draw from vast amounts of remotely stored data and 'cloud' services, these devices are capable of granting contractors, engineers and supervisors access to blue prints, schematics and other vital documents. Moreover, with the ability to instantly push updates to all members working on the project, mobile computing devices can aid collaboration and revolutionize the building information modeling (BIM) process in real-time.

With site-wide high speed wireless connectivity for all mobile devices, workers gain the ability to transfer

Smart GPS Knowing GPS data related to where your equipment is located and how it is being used is important for identifying cost savings opportunities and keeping your fleet organized. These benefits can be uncovered by analyzing the GPS data from across your fleet and comparing it over a period of time.

high volumes of data back and forth between not only each other but also headquarters (HQ). This significantly streamlines communications while cutting costs and improving operational efficiencies. This could also bear attractive 'green' side effects as staff no longer have to make regular trips to and from HQ. High speed wireless connectivity is an enabler of the following applications: Wearables A truck driver can be required to wear a “wearable”, which may come in the form of an activity band. Drivers and management can be notified if a driver is missing or is being unproductive.

Construction workers on-site can wear a helmet and vest with RFID, vitals monitoring, GPS sensors, motion sensors, etc.

Asset Tracking At job sites, company assets are a major investment and the progress of construction is heavily dependent on their functionality. Heavy-equipment is often required to be left on-site overnight which makes them a prime target for theft. Asset tracking technologies help monitor such equipment remote locations and automatically detect and report suspicious behaviour.

Developers can also benefit from automated maintenance schedules, logs and reports. The readiness of cheap and easy-to-use RFID technology has made possible the automation of inventory management. By knowing in advance which materials are soon to run out, construction companies can foresee and avoid material deficiencies, thus eliminating losses in productivity. Equipment repairs are one of the largest operating costs in the construction industry. With the advanced sensors available now, machinery can self-detect the need for a repair before it becomes a larger issue.

Equipment Inspection Similar to monitoring and repair, equipment inspections can be enormously enhanced by the help of smart sensors. With the advanced sensors available now, machinery can selfdetect the imminent need for a repair before it becomes a larger issue. Lost/ late forms, low accuracy and undue internal processing time are no longer an issue with electronic processes.

Site Security Another vital area of a construction site where mobile technology can be applied is in video surveillance. Not only does this enable better collaboration and remote supervision, it is

essential to site security. High-speed connectivity for robust and costeffective camera equipment can mean the ready availability of high definition video, making both identification and collaboration easier.

Evaluating IoT and MobiLity Solutions for the Construction Site An Internet of Things solution implementation is not impossible to manage, but it’s not easy either. In fact, developing solutions for the Internet of Things requires unprecedented collaboration, coordination and connectivity for each piece in the system, and throughout the system as a whole.

All devices must work together and be integrated with all other devices, and all devices must communicate and interact seamlessly with connected systems and infrastructures. The challenge for the developer is to find a robust enterprise-class Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) solution that is affordable in terms of the capital expense and operational overheads.

In line with keeping things simple, developers should also consider investing in controller-less 'instant' WLAN solutions. These solutions utilize a virtual controller on access points to deliver controller-like features including RF management and role based access control. As construction integrates more deeply with IT, network uptime will become an increasingly important factor. It is therefore prudent to invest in network management tools which can prove invaluable in providing maximum network availability. Companies must look for a service provider whose solution is based on the latest 802.11ac wireless standard as this delivers gigabit Wi-Fi combined with the device density and application intelligence required by today’s Wi-Fi networks.

There is also a need to balance cyber and physical security since smart devices are physical in nature.

For any country keen to drive smart cities, both cyber and physical security should always be considered in the upstream of the project. construction business news me June 2016 45

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Peace Bridge, Derry-Londonderry

Construction know how from Northern Ireland Ten Northern Ireland-based construction companies making a name for themselves in the Gulf.

D

riven by some unique skillsets, a focus on innovation and internationalisation, Northern Ireland’s construction sector has successfully implemented major projects around the world, ranging from new airport runways in Hong Kong and the Caribbean, to refurbishing the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and building theme parks in Paris and now Dubai.

Those many years of expertise have also driven university-led innovation in construction services and solutions that

46 construction business news me June 2016

CONTACT

For more information on the Northern Ireland Construction & Engineering sector or to make contact with any of these firms please contact: www.investni.com/ international/me.html

are helping designers develop fresh concepts, and developers and contractors reduce costs and save people’s lives.

“As an economic development agency our role is to bring these innovative companies to market and help them grow through introductions and support for business development. Some of them are completely new to the market and we are proud to present them to the GCC Construction sector,” said Invest Northern Ireland’s Regional Manager for UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, Mrs Swathi Sri.

Dubai T: + 971 4391 4700 E: dubai@investni.com Jeddah T: + 966 2622 5550 E: Jeddah@investni.com @InvestNI_MEast Invest Northern Ireland Middle East

The Deluxe Group

1

The Deluxe Group is a Northern Ireland based high-end fit-out, family run firm and has been successfully operating in the bespoke interiors markets since 1969. Deluxe provides bespoke joinery manufacturing to high end, quality-led projects in the hospitality, leisure, commercial, retail and luxury residential market sectors. It has worked with some of London’s leading hotels.

The Group brings together a diverse range of skills and experience under a single roof, with each of the different departments within the group able to work individually or pooled as a single resource from development of an initial concept, through manufacture, to final delivery of the project on-site. With a strong group turnover, a lean management structure and low overheads Deluxe offer a very high quality, customer focused service.

The company provides a world class service through every stage of every project to ensure that its delivery meets and exceeds its clients’ expectations and has had considerable success in the Middle East. Currently in the UAE, The Deluxe Group are helping to bring life to five attractions based on Sony Pictures Studios movies in motiongate™ Dubai, part of the multi themed leisure and entertainment destination resort, Dubai Parks and Resorts. The company’s theming division have been awarded a substantial contract to create amazing sets, props and special effects for action-packed attractions based around Hollywood movies that include Hotel Transylvania, Ghostbusters, Zombie land, The Green Hornet and Underworld.

CONTACT richard.hill@thedeluxegroup.com ONLINE www.thedeluxegroup.com

Lagan Construction Group

2

Lagan Construction Group is a private family owned construction business which was established in 1962 and has grown from its quarrying activity origins to become the major international civil engineering, building and asset management contractor that it is today. The Group is one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies on the island of Ireland turning over in excess of £200 annually.

Lagan Group works across Ireland, the UK and internationally undertaking infrastructure, capital and maintenance projects through a variety of procurement routes for public and private organisations. It is a third generation private family business and is proud of its values and culture which are at the heart of the group and set the standard for how its people behave.

The business is driven by the needs of clients and partners.

Lagan Groups team is motivated by a passion to deliver excellence through expertise. As a dynamic and innovative group, it continually explores new market opportunities to develop and expand the business. Lagan Group is proud of its reputation and its people. It’s proud to make a difference.

ONLINE www.laganconstructiongroup.com CONTACT Freddie.Patterson@laganconstruction.com

construction business news me June 2016 47

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Amphora

3

Amphora Non Destructive Testing (NDT) specialise in the durability of concrete to allow infrastructure owners to manage their portfolio and effectively plan maintenance. The company’s products can be combined with its services as corrosion and materials engineers to offer complete infrastructure management solutions.

Concrete structures often need maintenance to keep them in working order and allow them to reach their designed lifespan. Visual inspections by qualified structural engineers have proven to be indispensable in identifying durability issues which need to be addressed but often the repair costs run into many millions of dollars. Early intervention can save vast sums of money through a combination of insitu non-destructive testing, structural health monitoring and advanced computer simulations which help identify these issues and allow lower cost repairs to be planned for and made.

Founded by Prof Muhammed Basheer and Prof Adrian Long as a spin out from Queen’s University, Belfast, Amphora NDT has grown to make sales across the globe. The company’s products were used to assess the concrete elements of the Bird’s Nest Stadium, the centre piece for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Amphora is actively looking to expand in the Middle East. On a recent trade mission organised by Invest NI to Dubai, Qatar and Oman, Amphora NDT CEO, Neil Campbell, said: “We’ve had a successful week in the Middle East meeting engineers and testing laboratories and have been impressed with the openness to innovation in this growing market.”

ONLINE www.amphorandt.com CONTACT neil@amphorandt.com

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4 5 CDE Global

Aremis provides specialist consulting services to the construction and engineering sectors, in the areas of procurement, quantity surveying, construction contracts services, contract administration and legal advice in the preparation and defence of contractual claims to both employers and contractors. The company provides project scheduling expertise in order to mitigate possible delays to project completion, and where a project is already in delay it can assist by preparing baseline programs and actual status programs in order to identify where the delays have occurred and the liability.

Its focus is to assist clients to proactively avoid formal dispute. It provides experienced expert forensic staff on site to record all delays and disruptions to the project, and these are then quantified at agreed intervals to allow the client to know their liabilities or losses. This system relies on accurate onsite information gathering, and then on providing this information to the specialist claims experts to allow the planning and quantum functions to be completed. This methodology allows for the accurate and timely collation of onsite data and avoids the problems encountered by failing to provide information on-time or failing to comply with contract notice provisions.

Formed in 1991, CDE Global has been going from strength to strength since its creation over 20 years ago.

CDE Global is the leading provider of washing equipment for quarries, mines and recycling operations on the global market. The CDE equipment range has applications across a wide range of materials and is delivering significant efficiencies in the construction and recycling, mining, specialist industrial sands and environmental sectors.

Achievements such as the completion of the largest sand-washing plant in Qatar, which produces 1,200 tonnes of washed sand per hour, and the largest construction and demolition plant in Norway have contributed to its position as the number one washing materials company in the world.

Working across four sectors and seven regions CDE has been co-creating with customers for over 20 years to deliver collaborative, imaginative and unique processing systems. The CDE Global Design Headquarters are in Cookstown, Northern Ireland and the company also has offices in: Kolkata, India; Sao Paulo, Brazil; North Carolina, USA; and Ormeau, Australia. The company now has a Sales and Support office in Dubai.

CDE Global’s principles are founded on: flexibility, modularity, integrity, experience, versatility, visionary, individuality and efficiency, assisting clients towards a cleaner, quieter, safer and more efficient future.

ONLINE www.aremisconsulting.com CONTACT colmmorgan@aremisconsulting.com

ONLINE www.cdeglobal.com CONTACT rgarg@cdeglobal.com

Aremis Consulting

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Delap and Waller – Consulting Engineers

For over 100 years Delap & Waller has been providing market leading engineering services for end-user clients, developers, main contractors and design and build / PPP Contractors.

In addition to its tailored Mechanical & Electrical design services Delap & Waller offers a range of related services including Sustainability Services and specialist Legal Services.

The company has extensive experience of working in the UAE. Delap and Waller undertook the full MEP design of the Diabolito restaurant at the Yas Island Marina Formula 1 Race Track.

The main challenge was to integrate the Restaurant & Kitchen requirements into the existing Base-Build MEP design whilst meeting the complex requirements of the kitchen services.

Delap & Waller was also contracted

by ADMA (Abu Dhabi Marine Operations Company) to undertake a review of the HVAC network for the Central Amenities Building, the main eating and social facility for its 6,000 staff living on Das Island which is one of the UAE’s main oil production centres.

Delap & Waller’s role was to examine all aspects of the current HVAC network and distribution system and propose design solutions which would suit the current requirements, whilst improving efficiency and maintenance costs.

ONLINE www.delapandwaller.com CONTACT Michael O Doherty 00971 558136923 Abu Dhabi Office +971 2 406 7888

Lignum Interiors

Windell

Established in 2013 Lignum Interiors are bespoke joinery manufacturers and specialise in the production, manufacture and installation of custom joinery and bespoke woodworking.

Based in County Down, Northern Ireland, the company has international experience exporting around the world and has worked on projects destined for the United States, Canada and across Europe. In the Middle East it has recently completed the manufacture and installation of a luxury apartment in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. It works with Skopos Interiors, its partner based in the UAE, to bring its expertise and skill in creating quality joinery made to the highest of standards to the Middle East.

Lignum Interiors is a highly regarded provider of bespoke kitchens, furniture, traditional Irish pubs, bars and restaurants, custom built reception counters, shop fit-outs, cruise liners and architectural joinery for both the commercial and residential sectors. Its team is made up of time served industry professionals and craftsmen. Their passion about their work is evident in the care and attention to detail and the exquisite finish of the projects that leave the workshop.

Windell is a leading commercial and blast enhanced glazing specialists.

Its core business is providing commercial and high security glazing systems to a diverse range of clients from government departments to private investors. The company’s experience was built on delivering robust security solutions in a hostile environment prone to multi-type terrorist attacks. It draws on 30 years of expertise to deliver innovation and value engineering to projects throughout all industry sectors.

Windell has amassed a wealth of practical knowledge and experience whilst delivering projects across the globe, proving our accomplishment at adapting to design for and work in diverse geo-physical and climatic conditions, whilst respecting different cultures and customs.

The company has planned, designed and engineered secure solutions for Defence Estate facilities throughout the UK. For over 30 years, it has been one of the United Kingdom's leading security glazing providers, protecting facilities which house critical defence operations and programs. It has extensive experience in delivering projects within hostile environments, to its clients’ exacting needs.

ONLINE www.lignumdesign.co.uk CONTACT ciaran@lignum-interiors.co.uk

ONLINE www.windell.co.uk CONTACT info@windell.co.uk

construction business news me June 2016 49

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Brett Martin

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Established in 1958, Brett Martin is a privately owned family business which has become one of Northern Ireland’s most successful independent manufacturing companies. With headquarters located on its founding site in Co. Antrim, the company has grown in scale to employ over 800 people at several locations throughout the UK and Europe.

Brett Martin is a global supplier of specialist plastic products for the construction, fabrication, print and display sectors worldwide. The company’s product portfolio includes an impressive range of plastic sheets, factory engineered rooflight systems, plumbing and drainage systems. A commitment to an ongoing programme of investment in the latest manufacturing technology, innovation and product development ensures that Brett Martin products remain at the forefront of its chosen markets.

With export credentials spanning more than 70 countries worldwide, the company has a team of experienced product specialists, engineers, and sales and service personnel who support projects in the UAE. To further reinforce its commitment to the Middle East market, the company recently formed Brett Martin DWC LLC. The Dubai-based company includes a full time Business Development Manager responsible for project-based business, offering bespoke technical backup and product expertise across the region.

“It’s an exciting time for the region and permanent presence in the Middle East will make it easier for our customers to do business with us,” said David Biggs, General Manager of Brett Martin DWC LLC. “From design and specification through to installation and completion, we will provide advice and guidance to ensure every project in the Middle East is completed to the highest standard.”

ONLINE www.brettmartin.com CONTACT michaelcolquhoun@brettmartin.com Dubai Office +971528665494

50 construction business news me June 2016

Surfaceform

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Surfaceform from Cookstown in Co. Tyrone specialises in designing and creating innovative surfaces using luxurious materials. The company takes pride in its ability to deliver a diverse range of surface solutions that infuse this sumptuous traditional form with the very latest ideas. All surfaces can be tailored, bespoke to the clients’ individual needs. The company’s team of designers and master craftsmen work with clients right through the design process; from the initial idea to its final realisation. The company also works with architects and interior designers, to provide a professional and highly personal service.

Surfaceform Polished Plasters are suitable for both traditional and contemporary interiors. Polished plasters are extremely durable and less prone to shrinking and cracking than other brands. The plasters breathe, allowing water vapour to permeate freely so moisture evaporates quickly unlike acrylic finishes which can trap moisture inside the wall. When plaster sets, the result is a hard-as-stone, long-lasting mineral coating. The natural, oxide pigment system results in the colour being preserved on the walls. All its plasters are fire-tested and low in VOCs. With an extensive range of colours it has the ability to match any colour.

ONLINE www.surfaceform.com CONTACT aaron@surfaceform.com

Project Review

The High Road

The ongoing $800mn redevelopment of Kuwait’s Jamal Abdul Nasser Street into an elevated expressway is a hugely complex undertaking. Construction Business News takes a detailed look.

T

he KWD 242.4mn ($800mn) complex transformation of Kuwait’s Jamal Abdul Nasser Street into a multi-levelled expressway has reached an advanced stage as the project’s contractual completion date approaches in October.

Louis Berger and Pace were tasked by the Ministry of Public Works with the design and construction supervision of the project which is a central component of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance the countries’ transportation network.

Extending from the Jahra Gate to Grenada area in the western region of Kuwait, the project includes the upgrading and reconstruction of the existing service roads to provide additional traffic lanes with enhanced new or relocated utilities infrastructure.

The upgraded Jamal Abdul Nasser highway will serve a number of important areas running adjacent to the road, including university campuses, a medical zone, several government ministries and residential areas.

The project is part of a network of newly developed highways comprising the Jahra Highway, Jaber Causeway and Doha link serving the city and the newly developed projects of

52 construction business news me June 2016

Silk City and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Seaport.

Jamal Abdul Nasser Road comprises of five phases of work that are being undertaken simultaneously. The first phase starts from the Airport road roundabout until the First Ring Road (Al Salam Palace). Phase 2 is from Sabah Hospital road roundabout up till Grenada area toward Jahra City.

The 3rd phase extends from Al-Razi Hospital interchange to Ghazali roundabout while Phase 4 extends from Ghazali roundabout to the Airport road roundabout. Lastly, Phase 5 encompasses the Ghazali Interchange with Jamal Abdul Nasser.

A challenging project The Assistant Undersecretary of the Roads Engineering Sector – MPW, Engineer Ahmed Al-Hassan describes the project as an engineering marvel and one of the largest multilevel road projects in the world.

“Attempting this in such a busy metropolis like Kuwait city, along with the fact that it is upgrading an existing busy road; requires very intricate methods of construction that does not impede or disrupt the traffic flow or perturb public environment dynamics,” he says.

Dr. John Faulkner, Project Director (LB/Pace) said the undertaking entails a series of sophisticated large scale operations requiring the latest innovations in bridge construction. A purpose made hi-tech precast facility was established to manufacture the precast concrete segments for the viaduct. The 8.6km elevated viaduct of Jamal Abdul Nasser Street consists of six to eight lanes width with access ramps that are one or two lanes wide. The link road viaducts, are also of precast segmental construction and vary in width from four to six lanes.

Two launching gantries were imported for the project and are currently in use. The technique employed for

cables in addition to other preservation works”.

the precast segmental erection of the bridges is known as ‘span by span’, which involves completing one deck span of segments after the other. The advantages of span-by-span erection include speedier erection of bridge segments, easy geometry control and employing a smaller crew size for operation.

The project also involves construction of a 716 metre long section of depressed road which will have two roundabout bridges to service local traffic. New at-grade service roads, generally of twin three lane configuration, will be located either alongside or underneath the elevated main-line roadway. A total of four in-

terchanges and nine roundabouts will be constructed under the scope of the project works.

Services and Utilities Project Engineer representing MPW, Engineer Mahmoud Ramadan said: “In addition to transforming the Jamal Abdul Nasser into a unified highway, the project plans also include the renovation of a number of utilities and drainage structures along the length of the project route, which will require relocation, protection, and refurbishment. Renovation works include relocation of water lines and sewage systems, relocation of telephone services, gas lines and voltage

The Precast Yard The fully utilized precast yard is set up on a remote area of land located in Doha with a total surface area of 130,000 square meters. It accommodates large-scaled pre-cast machinery such as mold production frames, heavy gantries, water tanks, storage and curing chambers. In addition to the staff offices and the concrete batching plant.

The yard works commence in the steel reinforcement cutting zone, where the steel bars are cut and shaped to form the segment frame reinforcement. A total of 11 overhead electrically operated cranes lift the frameworks to the segment mold machines in order to complete the casting and pre-stressing process. A total of 4 gantry cranes (2 x 100 tonnage and 2 x 140 tonnage) are used to move the completed segments to curing then storage for site use.

The precast yard provides a greater space for work and a suitable environment in which the quality and consistency of the segments can be assured, meeting strength requirements and establishing a bridge that is durable and requires little maintenance. Other advantages include easy geometry control and guaranteeing an elevated speed on construction and quality control in addition to very limited or no public disturbance.

Detours In order for the structural works appointed on the existing road to be carried out, an alternate traffic detour for road users is mandatory. Traffic detours are strictly constructed in accordance with international standards which state that all detours should comprise all the qualities of a wellconstruction business news me June 2016 53

Project Review

FACTS: Owner The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) – Roads Engineering sector (Motorway) Consultant and Designer Joint venture of Pace and Louis Berger Contractors Rizzani De Eccher - Italy Obrascon Huarte Lain - Spain TREVI - Italy Boodai Construction - Kuwait Contract signed February 2011 Start date May 2011 Contractual completion Date October 2016

developed road, even if it is temporary, and this includes the quality of asphalt, road markings and safety measures.

While trying to maintain ease of traffic flow, detours occasionally may follow a rather irregular path depending on the circumstances and available space surrounding the original road. The main objective of detours is to re-route the traffic to allow the formation of spaces required for the construction of bridges and the relocation of all utilities.

Progress Updates Overall work on the project is currently around 75 percent complete.

Construction of the elevated highways have reached around 70% completion with the mainline reaching 85% and ramps at 30%, including the installation of edge and median barriers. Around 75% of structural works have been completed for the construction of the underpass. As for detours and relocation and protection of utilities, approximately 80% of ongoing works have been completed so far alongside Jamal Abdul Nasser’s original road.

54 construction business news me June 2016

5 – 6 September 2016 Doha, Qatar

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Event Review

Project Qatar 2016 The 13th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition reinforces its status as one of the leading construction exhibitions in the gulf.

56 construction business news me June 2016

“Project Qatar 2016 attracted this year a huge number of professionals and decision makers from around the world, eager to network and explore the most state-of-art technologies in the construction industry” – George Ayache, IFP Qatar

P

roject Qatar 2016, the 13th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition, held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, concluded last month with great success, surpassing all expectations, thanks to an overwhelming response from both exhibitors and visitors.

In its 13th edition, Project Qatar, organized by IFP Qatar at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), witnessed major highlights including a Business to Business (B2B) matchmaking platform where Hundreds of pre-arranged B2B meetings between leading companies and visitors were held to explore the new-

est inventions, exchange knowledge and benefit from new business deals.

Another highlight of the show this year was the Project Qatar Workshop Series, organized by IFP Qatar in collaboration with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, to reinforce the educational and commercial aspects of the construction industry.

The series addressed topics such as sustainable smart cities, modular scheme, project analytics training, quality assurance and control, product testing, the role and importance of solar energy in today’s construction sector, GSAS awareness, construction waste, energy efficiency, green interiors, new developments in building material industry, along with an HSE awareness session.

“Project Qatar 2016 attracted this year a huge number of professionals and decision makers from around the world, eager to network and explore the most state-of-art technologies in the construction industry,” said George Ayache, General Manager at IFP Qatar. “The event has proven

once again this year its role as the leading construction exhibition in the gulf region by providing exhibitors and visitors with the latest insights and trends of the industry.”

IFP Qatar also organised this year a number of free tours to major mega construction sites in Qatar, including the New Port Project, Lusail City, and the Mall of Qatar, as well as a business intelligence series consisting of a number of events such as 3rd Annual LightingTech Qatar, 2nd Annual Future BIM Implementation Qatar, 3rd Annual Future Interiors Qatar, 3rd Annual Future Landscape & Public Realm Qatar, and 3rd Annual Future Drainage & Stormwater Networks Qatar.

In addition, IFP Qatar organised once again this year two yearly concurrent events: “Heavy Max 2016,” the 13th International Exhibition for Heavy Machinery, and “Qatar Stone Tech 2016,” the 5th International Stone and Stone Technology Show.

Describing his company’s participation at Project Qatar 2016, Uday Shankar, Marketing Manager at Specialized Filters & Trading Co, said: “It is so wonderful when it comes to the organising, and this is the fourth time we are participating. It was good.”

As Qatar is still committed to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 and hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022, the construction market in the country will remain one of the most appealing markets due to the wide range of business opportunities available. construction business news me June 2016 57

Supplier Special

58 construction business news me June 2016

Just the Tonic

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Ideal Standard hits the mark with new bathroom collection

deal Standard has achieved tremendous success across the Middle East with its Tonic II total bathroom collection since its launch in 2015.

The range encompasses ceramics, fittings, furniture and bathtubs created by German design studio, ARTEFAKT, with smart storage solutions coupled with a wide choice of products and layouts.

“Choosing the right bathroom furniture can transform the space into a calming oasis and Tonic II offers just that,” said Dimitra Dotsia, marketing manager at Ideal Standard Mena. “Modular furniture options mean any layout can be configured to suit individual needs and Tonic II has offered the regional market some of the best solutions on for creating a sense of space and orderliness.”

The collection comes with rimless WCs featuring the latest in flushing technology, AquaBladeTM. Thin, quick release WC seats ensure the toilet compliments the rest of the bathroom in terms of technology and versatility.

Tonic II furniture provides ample storage with robust glass shelves and soft-close drawers, and offers a choice between five different finishes, including glossy white, light grey or light brown. The stylish wood effect is avail-

able in wood grey and wood brown.

Clever features such as internal dividers, storage boxes and an internal light with motion sensor are included within the vanity drawer unit.

Packed with the latest in brassware technology, all basin and bath fittings have a temperature limiter to ensure easy and quick control of maximum water temperature for ultimate safety, along with a cascade regulator to ensure a water efficient flow of 5 lites per minute.

The collection also features vessels designed to stand on top of furniture pieces or bathroom worktops, a pairing that creates a more refined and elegant bathroom. Tonic II features a full range of bathing solutions, with single ended, double ended, D Shape and free standing baths all an option. By including options like the single-ended bath that can doubleup as a shower, the bathroom offers the freedom to create a beautiful use of space.

“Characterised by a clean aesthetic, smart storage solutions and a wide choice of products and layouts, Tonic II is an example of Ideal Standard’s total commitment to design beautiful form and innovative high-performance function,” added Dimitra Dotsia. construction business news me June 2016 59

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendar

Construction Business News ME picks the latest and most sought-after exhibitions, conferences and seminars coming up in the construction industry

Future Interiors Qatar

September 5-6, 2016 Intercontinental Hotel The City, Doha Future Interiors Qatar 2016 has been designed to showcase the latest interior design projects and opportunities for fit-outs in Qatar. With the construction of eight stadiums for the Qatar world cup well underway, millions of dollars of investment will be spent on designing and constructing commercial, retail, residential, hospitality and transportation to cater for the influx of tourists into Qatar.

Cityscape Global 2016

September 6-9, 2016 Dubai World Trade Center Cityscape Global 2016 is the largest and most influential real estate investment and development event for emerging markets globally. Bringing together investors, developers, government officials and real estate professionals, there is no better place to find investment opportunities and new business partners. Cityscape Global is taking place on 6 – 8 September 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE. To find out how you can get involved please contact the Cityscape Global team at info@cityscapeglobal.com.

Big 5 Kuwait

September 25-27, 2016 Kuwait International Fair Kuwait’s US$175bn construction industry continues to grow and is poised for increased project activity, in addition to the massive infrastructure and building projects underway and in the pipeline. This market growth was reflected in the success of The Big 5 Kuwait 2015, the largest in the event’s history with a total of 7,187 participants, including 200 exhibitors across 4,700 sqm, further underpinning the show as the main event of the year within the Kuwaiti Construction industry.

Infra Oman 2016

October 10-12, 2016 Oman International Exhibition Centre, Oman Infra Oman is considered as the annual meeting place for industry leaders, suppliers and buyers in the Sultanate of Oman.

The event has proved to be an ideal starting point not only for 60 construction business news me June 2016

Dubai World Trade Centre

local companies, but also for foreign entities that are more determined to be part of Oman’s growing market. The 6th edition of Infra Oman will feature a mix of new events targeting companies involved in energy, water, waste management, recycling and sustainable solutions, manufacturing, heavy industries, mining and petrochemical sectors.

Saudi Build 2016

October 17-20, 2016 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia For over 30 years, Saudi Build has been Saudi Arabia’s largest construction trade exhibition, attracting thousands of international manufacturers, exporters and businessmen, as well as tens of thousands of regional engineers, importers and industry professionals to connect and engage with the latest technology that the Kingdom’s largest sector has to offer.

Middle East Concrete

November 21-24, 2016 Dubai World Trade Centre East Concrete is the only event dedicated to concrete in the region. The event connect professionals with leading global suppliers of high-quality concrete and precast machinery, chemicals, consultants, and a range of other products and services. Held together The Big 5 International Building & Construction Show at World Trade Centre in Dubai thousands of innovative and ground-breaking technologies, as well as revolutionary ideas are showcased by over 400 exhibitors from 30 countries to 36,000 international participants searching for products that can save money, energy, reduce emissions, and minimise waste. Co-located with PMV Live the event also provides invaluable insights and free education on the latest industry trends.

PMV Live

November 21-24, 2016 Dubai World Trade Centre PMV Live is the most important heavy machinery event in the Middle East. The event connect professionals with leading global suppliers of high-quality heavy construction machinery, plant equipment, commercial and construction vehicles, consultants, precast machinery, and a range of other products and services.

Editor's pick

Time to grasp the nettle

Lower for longer oil price provides opportunities as well as challenges, says PwC.

P

wC’s 2016 Middle East Capital Projects and Infrastructure (CP&I) Survey highlights the risks, challenges and opportunities brought about by the drop in the oil price since late 2014 and the inevitable slowdown in government spending as well as constraints on banking sector liquidity.

The results of the survey of over 130 industry insiders from a range of sectors across the Middle East region show a significant contrast in fortunes from last time round. Whereas previously the CP&I sector was struggling to deal with capacity constraints driven by the sheer volume of spending that was underway across the region, this appears to be changing now, says the report which is titled ‘Delivering during change’.

In fact 75 percent of respondents said they have already been impacted by funding constraints, mostly through projects being scaled back rather than cancelled or delayed/deferred, suggesting that governments are focusing on getting better value for money and more efficient spending, the report says. Spending cuts are expected to be relatively deep and impact most industries, it adds. Social infrastructure, urban development, transport and energy spending will all be impacted by the new environment of constraints on government spending.

However one area that respondents were more optimistic about is mega events. Government commitments to host global events like the Dubai Expo 2020 and the Qatar World Cup 2022 involve significant infrastructure spending which cannot be delayed or cancelled. These events are part of the effort to diversify economies away from

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oil which has taken on greater urgency over the past two years.

The private sector will be vital The private sector is expected to step in to fill the funding gap left by government belt tightening, resulting in the adoption of Public Private Partnership (PPP) models. Nine out of ten respondents to the survey said private sector funding of capital projects would be of critical or growing importance over the next year. There are already signs of this happening. For example, Saudi Arabia is planning to privatise many of its airports, building on the success of the $1.2bn privatisation of Medina Airport. Dubai passed a Public Private Partnership law in November to formalise cooperation between the government and private investors on new projects and signed off on its first project barely six months later. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are following suit with their own PPP programmes.

If the private sector is to take a greater share in the risk of a project, the report says, then scope changes by the

client and poor contractor performance - the most common reasons for projects being delayed and over budget will come under much closer scrutiny, the report says. However, in the short term disputes between developers and contractors are likely to rise this year as budgets shrink and payment delays become more common. Both sides should start preparing for this by ensuring that their own documentation and site data is up to date and well-organised to avoid protracted resolution proceedings.

The Regional CP&I market is going through a time of change - and the impacts of these changes are still evolving and likely to continue, the report says.

However, where there is change there are also opportunities. Mega events, economic diversification away from oil and gas by investing in infrastructure, and improving the lives of citizens by investing in social infrastructure must all continue, PwC Middle East says.

However this will necessitate new methods of financing and delivery which presents an opportunity to offset the obvious current impacts that are being experienced.