Construction Sites I August Issue no. 121

SITES Monthly Construction news, tenders, project focus, and forthcoming exhibitions in Qatar

I ssue N o .121 - A ugust 2017

W.L.L. formerly

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Ready-Mixed Concrete (RMC) is increasingly being used in infrastructure and real estate projects in Qatar and other countries now as it ensures high quality in construction. In fact, the RMC industry has revolutionized construction activity. RMC is much superior to site-mixed concrete in terms of quality, maintenance, construction speed and raw material consumption.

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NEWS

Manateq in QR550 million partnership Manateq in QR550 million partnership agreement with Ismail Bin Ali Group agreement with Ismail Bin Ali Group Deal will see Ismail Bin Ali Group build and operate accommodation and recreation facilities for 8,700 workers in Ras Bufontas Special Economic Zone

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anateq, a leading developer of special economic zones, industrial zones, logistics and warehousing parks in Qatar, has signed a landmark agreement with Ismail Bin Ali Group (IBA) to construct and operate a residential complex that will house more than 8,700 workers in the Ras Bufontas special economic zone (SEZ).

The new development will sit on an area measuring around 150,000m², which has been handed over by Manateq, and will accommodate up to 8,784 people who will be working in the factories and warehouses within Ras Bufontas and the surrounding areas.

The agreement, which emphasizes the strong partnership between the public and private sectors in the development of Qatar, will result in private sector investment totaling QR550 million.

Ismail Bin Ali Group has been awarded to construct and manage the facility in line with the

Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) model, for25 years.

The new development will sit on an area measuring around 150,000m², which has been handed over by Manateq. It will accommodate up to 8,784 people working in the factories and warehouses within Ras Bufontas and the surrounding areas.

Designed to enhance the overall experience for both employees and employers, the complex will include worker, supervisor and technician accommodations in the form of fullyequipped rooms and one and two-bedroom apartments.

The complex includes catering, laundry, training, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and community areas. Along with a public retail center, there will also be a mosque, medical, banking and administrative facilities.

Work on the project is expected to take up to three years to complete. “Underpinning the strong bond Manateq has formed with the private sector to successfully contribute to the diversification and economic development of Qatar”, IBA Group said it would offer competitive rental rates for companies interested in housing their workforce in the new development.

“This is a landmark agreement for Qatar and builds on the success that Manateq has achieved to date as we continue with the development of our Special Economic Zones, which play a crucial role in transforming the country into an industrial and logistics hub for the world,” Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO of Manateq, said.

Ras Bufontas SEZ is strategically located next to Hamad International Airport, providing businesses with easier access to global markets.

The special economic zone is aimed at various sectors including firms specializing in healthcare and medical devices, light industries, advanced technology and air cargo services.

“Our partnership with Ismail Bin Ali Group is a key indicator of how collaboration between the public and private sectors can have a beneficial contribution on the economic success of our country.”

Hamad Mohammed Esmael Al Emadi, CEO of IBA Group, expressed pride over working with Manateq to drive the economic development of Qatar.

Al Emadi said: “We believe in the strength of Qatar’s economy and we would like to thank our government for its continuous and unlimited support to the private sector and our role is to contribute to the achievement of Qatar’s Vision 2030.

“We are committed to quality and performance and our reputation in these two areas speak for itself. Clients who invest in this leading new development will be assured of a quality product that will benefit them and their workforce.”

well-equipped toto meet RasGas delivers its 500th Kahramaa well-equipped meet RasGas delivers its 500th Kahramaa Qatar’s growing electricity and Qatar’s growing electricity and LNGLNG cargo to Edison cargo to Edison water requirements water requirements

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asGas Company Limited (RasGas) has celebrated the delivery of its 500th liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to Italy’s Edison energy company under a long-term purchase and sale agreement signed in November 2003. The deal between Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (II) and Edison provides that 4.6 million tonnes (or 6.4 billion standard cubic meters) of LNG will be delivered to the Italian firm per year. RasGas tanker, Al Areesh, delivered the cargo to the Adriatic LNG Terminal in the northern Adriatic Sea, about 15km off the Veneto coastline in Italy, on July 1.

RasGas CEO Hamad Mubarak Al Muhannadi said: “We are very proud to have made the delivery of the 500th LNG cargo to our partners and customers to long-term Edison.”

He described the delivery as “a milestone that demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the company to the safety and reliability of its supplies of LNG to all its customers worldwide”.

Edison CEO Marc Benayoun said: “The delivery of the 500th LNG ship is proof of the excellent relationship and a long-term partnership between RasGas and Edison, which began over 14 years ago with the signing of the agreement for the sale of gas and the construction of the terminal offshore.”

Edison is a leading company in Italy and Europe with operations in the procurement, production and sale of electricity in energy and environmental services, thanks to its subsidiary Phoenix and in E & P. With its over 130 years of history, Edison has contributed to electrification and development of Italy. It now operates in Italy, many other European countries and in the Mediterranean basin, employing more than 5,000 people. In the power generation sector, Edison has plants with total capacity of 6.5 GW.

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he Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has underlined that it is well-equipped to meet the country’s expanding electricity and water needs. Kahramaa said it had managed to efficiently meet the growing demand for electricity and water services in the second quarter of 2017, “thanks to the efforts and co-ordination between all authorities concerned”. The maximum electricity load during this period was 7,600 MW while the maximum demand for water was 375 MIG. Kahramaa President Essa Bin Hilal Al Kuwari said: “The levels of electricity and water production in the country are constantly increasing to keep pace with the continual growth the state witnesses in all fields.”

The second quarter of 2017 witnessed the operation of the first phase of the Um Al-Houl Electricity and Water Production Project, which started in early June. The current phase of the plant feeds the network with a production of 60 MIG of water and 1,612 MW of electricity. With the completion of all phases in the second quarter of 2018, the project is planned to provide 136 MIG and 2520 MW “which is a great achievement to Qatar electricity and water sectors”. Al Kuwari highlighted that these quantities of production had increased the electricity production reserve to more than 23% and the water production reserve by about 15% while the water storage capacity had increased to 1,472 MIG, at an increase of 10%.

He stressed that Kahramaa had sufficient quantities to meet Qatar’s needs of electricity and water for five years. “It also has the required reserves to operate all projects whenever required.”

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Kahramaa, he said, had plans to promote its role and achieve its mission of meeting Qatar’s needs of high-quality electricity and water services as per the approved international standards.

“All electricity and water projects are proceeding as planned without delay. Further electricity, water and solar projects will be announced soon,” Al Kuwari said.

“These achievements come in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the ambitious goals of the second national development strategy set by the country’s leadership under the patronage of HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar,” he said.

“The strategy aims to achieve sustainable development, progress, growth and well-being of all citizens and expatriates in a way that encourages and creates an attractive investment environment for capital from all over the world according to plans and programs set by the state,” he concluded.

BUSINESS

Qatar Chamber encouraging Qatar Chamber encouraging industries to relocate to Qatar industries to relocate to Qatar

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atari private sector has proved its robustness and ability to overcome the consequences of the economic blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies, according to Qatar Chamber (QC) Chairman Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani. Sheikh Khalifa, in a statement, noted that from the very beginning of the unfair siege which started on June 5, business sectors promptly looked for new channels to import all goods, including foodstuff and building materials, with great success.

“There is instant communication between Qatar Chamber and concerned ministries and institutions to remove all obstacles facing business sectors in a view to ensuring the sustained flow of goods and preventing any shortage especially in foodstuffs,” Sheikh Khalifa added.

The chamber holds daily meetings with traders and importers to discuss any constraints facing them in order to address stakeholders and concerned bodies to find immediate solutions.

The QC Chairman praised the fruitful co-operation with government authorities in this regard which resulted in solving all problems facing Qatari merchants and opening new horizons for businessmen in order to meet demands and fill any shortfall in the demand-supply balance caused by the blockade.

“We are currently focusing on encouraging businessmen to relocate industries, particularly the foodstuff industry. They will be granted new incentives and facilitations that enable them to immediately start their own businesses,” he said.

He pointed out the initiative launched by the single window committee, formed as part of a project to streamline investor services, had contributed to speeding up the issue of industrial licenses under the theme “Own a plant within 72 hours”.

The initiative included introducing 250 industrial opportunities in various sectors, he added.

The QC Chairman said the siege imposed on Qatar didn’t have impact on the domestic market, while the companies related to the siege countries had been heavily affected as they had lost their existence in the Qatari market.

He assured that Qatar promptly managed to find new alternatives, especially with the launch new direct marine route with Oman such as Salalah and Sohar ports and with India through Mundra and Nhava Sheva ports in addition to Izmir Port from where a ship arrived in Qatar a few days ago with 3,000 tons of foodstuff.

Separately, Sheikh Khalifa, in the opening article for QC’s monthly publication (Al Moltaqa magazine), underlines that Qatar’s economy has once again proved that it has been strong enough and resilient against economic crises and headwinds.

“Despite the huge drop in global oil prices, Qatar still holds a robust economy. On the heels of the global slump of oil prices, Qatar’s economy remained robust and achieved great developments unlike other regional peers that witnessed recession and retraction,” he notes.

Qatar’s non-oil exportsexports continue to grow to grow Qatar’s non-oil continue

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he total value of Qatar’s nonoil exports in May this year reached QR1.49 billion compared to QR1.33 billion in April, recording an increase of 12.2% and to QR1.72 billion in April 2016, recording a decrease of 13.2%, a monthly report released by Qatar Chamber (QC) on the foreign trade of the private sector shows.

The report, which was prepared based on certificates of origin issued by QC’s Research and Studies Department and Member Affairs Department in May, pointed out that non-oil exports were distributed to 66 countries compared to 61 the previous month.

It shows that the total value of non-oil exports during the first five months of 2017 reached QR7.76 billion.

Countries receiving Qatar’s non-oil exports included 16 Arab countries and the GCC, 19 European countries including Turkey, 13 Asian countries (except Arab countries), 15 African countries (excluding Arab countries) and three countries of North and South Americas.

The report also shows that QC issued 5,665 certificates of origin in May for many destinations in 66 international markets.

The UAE was Qatar’s top non-oil exports destination in May, accounting for QR543.181 million, or 36.38% of the total exports in the month. It is followed by Oman with almost QR169.63 million or 11.36% and Turkey with QR126.42 million or 8.47%.

Saudi Arabia comes in the fourth place with about QR115.821 million,

or 7.76%, followed by Bangladesh with QR92.15 million, or 6.17%.

It is clear that the total value of nonoil exports increased to many countries such as Oman and Turkey which jumped to the second and the third place, whereas Saudi Arabia retreated to the fourth place after it was the third in April and the first in March.

Egypt also went back to the 18th place after being the second in April.

According to the report, about 57.04 of these exports were received by the GCC with QR815.65 million compared to QR634.8 million in April.

European countries, including Turkey, come in the second place. They imported QR278.68 million which represents 18.67% of the total non-oil exports, registering an increase compared to QR96.05m in April.

In the third place, Asian countries excluding Arab countries received QR251.90 million, or 16.87% of the total value.

Arab countries came in the fourth place with total exports of QR96.05 million, or 6.34%.

Commenting on the report, QC Director General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi said that these data manifested the volume of foreign trade and other economic rations.

He praised the industrial sector which represents big portion of the non-oil exports. He expressed hope that all other production sectors, particularly the agriculture and food industry, could achieve the same growth as the industry sector did.

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LEGAL

Interest under Qatari law Interest under Qatari law

By Alexander Whyatt and Laura Warren Doha

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ales of regular late payments under construction contracts are, unfortunately, fairly common in the Qatari construction market. Even if the sum which was owed is eventually paid, if payments on a project are consistently delayed by even a small number of months, this can serious impact, or even negate, a contractor’s profit margin.

ity or law. For example, the Qatari court may nullify the payment of interest if it considers the rate to be exaggerated or exorbitant. However, the local courts generally uphold reasonable interest payments as an agreed contractual term between the parties.

Note that the above does not relate to agreed interest rates on financial loans. In this regard, Article 568 of the Civil Code (which is subject Because of this, contractors usually seek to to specific exemptions for financial institutions) protect themselves from the damaging effect prohibits interest being paid on money which of late payments by using a number of tech- has been lent by stating: niques, including the suspension or termination of the works in the event of non-payment, “If the loan contract includes remuneration in excess of the lent monies under the contract, escrow accounts and bank guarantees. excluding the necessary guarantees securing However, one of the simplest and most com- the lender’s right, the remuneration condition monly employed methods to protect a contrac- shall be void but the contract as whole shall retor against late payments is for the employer to main valid.” be obliged to pay a pre-agreed rate of interest on all over-due amounts, from the date at which each payment becomes due.

Where a contract does not provide for interest Contractors should be aware, however, that in Qatar, the enforceability of interest on late pay- The Qatari Civil Code is silent on the payment ments should not always be taken for granted. on interest for late payments. As such, in the absence of a contractual entitlement, Qatari law does not grant or permit interest on late payments.

Contractually-agreed interest It is generally considered that an agreement which requires interest on late payments to be paid will be upheld as a matter of Qatari law.

This is consistent with the General Principle that contracts should be performed in accordance with their terms, as the same represents the agreement of parties, and with good faith.

This principle is set out in Articles 171(1) and 172 of the Qatari Civil Code(Law No. 22 of 2004), as follows:

Article 171: “1.A contract is the law of the contracting parties and so cannot be revoked or modified except with the agreement of the parties or for such reasons as are prescribed by law.”

Article 172: “1. A contract shall be performed in accordance with its provisions and in such manner consistent with the requirements of good faith.

2. A contract shall not be limited only to binding a party to its provisions but shall also cover whatever is required by law, customary practice and justice in accordance with the nature of the obligations contained in the contract.”

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As with other damages’ claims, financing charges must result from an actionable default on the part of the debtor, and the usual rules for ascertaining and quantifying losses and damages apply; namely that the damages must have been actually incurred by the injured party, be a natural consequence of the breach of the contract, and have been reasonably foreseeable at the time of entering into the contract.

Whereas interest accrues without reference to external circumstances, financing charges are compensatory in nature. As a consequence, a creditor must substantiate both the cause and the amount of the loss by providing satisfactory evidence demonstrating that financing charges have been incurred by virtue of non-payment on a specific project.

Interest on unpaid judgment debts

Where a judgment is obtained against a debtor through the local Qatari courts, interest can, in practice, be awarded where payment of the debt is not made immediately. The rate is typically 5%, payable from the judgment date. This finds its source from Law No 16 of 1971 (the “God deprives usurious gains of all blessings, Civil and Commercial Law) which was repealed whereas He blesses charitable deed with mani- in 2006, although the courts have still been known to award interest at this rate. fold increase.”

Alexander Whyatt Senior Associate

Alexander Whyatt is a Senior Associate in Clyde & Co’s construction team in Doha, and is a solicitor of the Court of England and Wales. He is experienced with the legal and commercial issues affecting construction professionals, having practiced in Qatar, Dubai and London, as well as within the legal team of an international contractor.

Alexander regularly acts for building contractors, professional consultants and property developers, although he is also experienced at assisting institutional investors with construction issues and supporting corporate transactions. He frequently advises on the drafting and interpretation of project documentation and local legislation, and has acted for clients in mediations, court proceedings and arbitrations.

In addition, Sharia law specifies that interest should not be paid on debts. The relevant section of the Qur’an is Chapter 2, Verse 276, which specifies that:

Unless contrary to an express provision of Qatari law, Sharia law is a principle source of legis- Conclusion lation in Qatar. It is incorporated into Qatari law through Article 1 of the Qatari Constitution and Where a rate of interest on late payments is specified in a contract which is subject to QaArticle 1 of the Qatari Civil Code. tari law, the court will usually uphold that rate, As such, in the absence of a contractual entitle- provided it is not exaggerated or exorbitant. ment to interest, Qatari law will not allow it to be Where interest on late payments is not specipaid in respect of late payments. fied in a contract, Qatari law will not generally permit an implied entitlement for interest. However, instead, creditors often include financing Financing charges charges as part of their late payment claims.

Financing charges are typically a component of a damages claim, often in lieu of a non-contractual interest claim which might be made in *All laws in Qatar are published in the Arabic language other jurisdictions. They are usually considered only, and provisions set out above are taken from unto be borrowing costs or the loss of investment official English translations of the same. Should a income incurred by a creditor due to delayed question relating to the interpretation of Qatar law come before the court, recourse would be had to the payment, and are generally upheld under Qa- Arabic text. tari law.

Pursuant to Article 268 of the Civil Code, losses The General Principle is subject to the court’s can include those which are attributable to deoverriding jurisdiction to nullify provisions it layed payment: considers to be contrary to public policy, moral-

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“If the object of the obligation is a sum of money, and the debtor does not pay it after he has been given notice, and the creditor proves that as a result of this he has sustained detriment, the court may order the debtor to pay compensation, taking into account the requirements of equity.”

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*Should you have any questions in connection with this article or the legal issues it covers, please contact Alexander Whyatt, Senior Associate of Clyde & Co LLP at alexander.whyatt@clydeco.com or Laura Warren, Partner of Clyde & Co LLP at laura.warren@clydeco. com

Cate Wright Associate

Cate Wright is an Associate in Clyde & Co’s Construction and Dispute Resolution Group based in Doha.

Prior to joining Clyde & Co she practiced at a leading Australian law firm in Sydney, Australia where she specialised in litigation, representing a mix of developer, major contractor and consultant clients.

In respect of contentious work, Cate advises and acts on both international and domestic arbitrations as well as proceedings in the local courts.

Cate regularly advises on the negotiation and drafting of standard form and bespoke contracts for local construction projects and advises main contractors, employers, subcontractors and suppliers on Qatar law issues

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FINANCE

Study points to banking Studysector pointsas tolargest banking sector as largest beneficiary of 2011-14 economic beneficiary ofboom 2011-14 economic boom

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atar’s economy witnessed a spurt in growth during the period 2011-14, mainly supported by record oil prices with the banking sector being the

largest beneficiary of the boom, according to a report.

According to the report prepared by Al Masah Capital Limited, non-core income recovery, a strong investment-led credit growth coupled with a soaring population were some of the key areas that were instrumental in bolstering the balance sheets of Qatar lenders as it was the case with a couple of other regional countries too.

Capital earnings were also improved significantly mainly as a result of public sector deposits which, in turn, improved capital ratios for the lenders. All these gains came against a backdrop of a liquidity boost from the respective governments into the system, a move that shielded the regional financial sector from the 2009 financial crisis.

Petro-dollar revenues and stringent yet strategic policies by central banks played a key role

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in ensuring that financial stability remained strong and viable in the region.

economic environment, buoyant energy prices and benign interest rate scenario.

But the regional banking sector still remains a preserve of domestic lenders with cross-border presence facing strict licensing restrictions for foreign banks, according to the report. However, with increased competition, local banks are on a footprint expansion spree.

GCC’s loan to GDP and deposits to GDP ratio in 2016 stood at 84% and 85% respectively – a clear indication that aggregate banking penetration is likely to increase over the foreseeable future as the economies continue to grow.

But it has been noted that even with a booming economy, the financial sector in the region continues to face some challenges. Some key economic sectors have also experienced slow growth, primarily as a result of slackening activity.

A low oil price environment continues to be a key challenge in the region, exerting pressure on the government revenues. Consequently, government spending remains in special focus as it is still aligned with the regional long-term vision.

Foreign reserves The report cites that although the liquidity situation in the region remains on a recovery path in the past three quarters, its vulnerability still lingers and it remains a cause for concern for the central banks.

The temporary measures adopted are, however, expected to fade out, as the governments utilize the funds to cushion deficits brought about by a persistent decline in oil prices.

Banking penetration

Banking assets are also on a growth path and will mainly be driven by credit deployment as banks continue to extend loans to both public and private sectors to support the broader economic activity.

Banks’ performance Performance in the regional banking sector continued to experience steady growth with the banks under review accounting for more than 90% of the total assets.

Qatar National Bank took the leadership position with $197 billion in asset size, representing a 9.4% market share.

Regional deals acquisition For over a decade, the GCC region has attracted several key deals with the most lucrative ones happening between 2006 and 2016. During this period, a total of 69 deals estimated to be worth well over $27 billion were recorded.

However 2016 remained the most lucrative, in terms of value, with $14,869 million from just two deals.

Islamic banking

The GCC continues to experience a robust banking sector with penetration increasing since 2011 mainly due to an enabling macro-

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The Islamic banking sector continued to register impressive growth in comparison to the

conventional banking in the region. Even with a slow 2016, Islamic banking largely continues to outperform national and international conventional lenders.

Credit demand Lending remained strong in the region thanks to the public sector and the government’s effort to diversify the economy through infrastructure projects.

In Qatar, gross credit for both residents and non-residents has increased to QR839.3 billion in 2016 from QR110.9 billion in 2011. Qatar reported a much faster growth compared to 9.7% by the GCC region during the past five years.

According to the report, the public sector credit demand will remain strong, as the government looks to finance large-scale investments into infrastructure projects linked to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the National Vision 2030 diversification program.

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TECHNOLOGY

Ways to tackle challenges of challenges of Ways to tackle data-driven healthcare in Qatar data-driven healthcare in Qatar

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ata, analytics and the devices used to access and gather them have changed our lives for the better. From giving us the insight we need to improve critical business processes, to enabling us to learn more about our personal health and fitness, they’ve had some major impacts on both the way we work and the way we live.

But you’d be hard-pushed to find an area where data and connected technology have done more for the greater good of the human race than in healthcare.

Mobile devices have put critical patient data in the hands of first responders, new analysis devices and tools are helping healthcare professionals diagnose with greater accuracy, and the instant sharing of information between specialists is enabling them to save more lives in emergency situations.

Those are truly life-changing capabilities – but they come at a cost. The sheer volume of sensitive patient and organizational data handled by today’s healthcare providers has put a major target over their heads for hackers and data thieves.

And it’s not just the volume of data they’re handling that’s leaving them vulnerable.

According to Gartner, 41% of the world’s discrete Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are deployed in healthcare organizations, representing a whole world of new entry points for hackers to exploit.

Fending off diverse threats The combination of massive volumes of sen-

sitive personal data and a growing number of entry points that can be exploited to steal it is a recipe for disaster.

An organization holding more valuable data than ever before, that’s also the most vulnerable it has ever been, is a dream come true for data thieves.

The problem is, not every attacker wants to actually steal data from healthcare organizations.

The critical, life or death nature of the work they do also makes them a huge target for those launching ransomware attacks. Why are hospitals such a perfect target for ransomware? Because patient data is so important to the care they provide, putting it out of reach throws them into a state of panic where they’re likely to cave into demands.

familiar with – making sure you’re properly prepared for a disaster. At ground level, professionals gathering and using data need to receive specific training in how they can best prevent attacks and minimize vulnerabilities. They must understand how their actions can leave the organization as a whole – and all of its data – vulnerable.

Beyond that, healthcare IT leaders need to create, clarify and execute robust disaster recovery plans to help ensure the continuity of care and operations in the event of a serious breach or malicious attack. Backups sit at the core of those strategies. By frequently backing up data and verifying those backups to ensure they’ll work when they’re needed, healthcare organizations in Qatar can quickly and effectively recover from a wide range of threats, including ransomware attacks.

At ground level, professionals gathering and using data need to receive specific training in how they can best prevent attacks and minimize vulnerabilities. They must understand how their actions can leave the organization as a whole – and all of its data – vulnerable.

Quite simply, when you hijack something that’s critically important to someone, chances are that they will pay to get it back.

So what can you do about it all?

Clearly, healthcare providers can’t ignore the benefits that new data-driven technology can bring to them and their patients. So what can they do to keep their data from falling into the wrong hands?

Well, with threats becoming more diverse every day, nobody can ever truly achieve complete protection against malicious attacks.

Instead, the best course of action is something those in healthcare are already very

Consumers inConsumers Qatar enjoyinlower Qatarcost enjoy lower cost of telecoms services thanservices other Arab markets of telecoms than other Arab markets Qatar mobile prices have dropped 57% since 2008

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rices of telecoms services in Qatar are cheaper than the rest of the GCC and Arab region, according to a study.

is in line with the rest of the region.

Importantly, for mobile voice services that included data bundles, prices in Qatar are below the GCC and Arab average (for low and medium usage) and on par with the OECD average.

For mobile voice services not including data packages, Qatar’s prices are on a par with the GCC and Arab averages but above the OECD average. In both cases Vodafone Qatar was cheaper than Ooredoo.

For mobile broadband services, there have been significant changes in Qatar over the last five years, mainly due to the upgrade from 3G services to faster and cheaper 4G services.

Overall, prices for mobile broadband in Qatar are amongst the lowest in the GCC for both residential and business.

Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has participated in the “Telecommunications Retail Price Benchmarking for Arab Countries”, a study by AREGNET which compares the prices of a range of telecoms services across the GCC, Arab and OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development - an economic and social forum with a membership of 35 countries) markets.

Overall, the study revealed that the prices of telecoms services in Qatar were broadly lower than the rest of the GCC and Arab region.

The study showed that mobile voice prices in Qatar had fallen 57% since 2008, which

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In addition, residential mobile broadband services are cheaper than the OECD average but for business, mobile broadband services are higher than OECD average.

For residential fixed voice services prices, Qatar is well below both the GCC and the Arab averages (and for low usage the OECD average). However, for both fixed calls to a mobile and for business voice services, Qatar has some of the highest prices in the region.

One reason for this was that residential fixed charges have not changed since 2008 while the price of business fixed services have continued to rise over the same period.

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For business fixed broadband Internet services, prices in Qatar for higher speed packages (10Mbps and above) are below the GCC and Arab averages but still significantly above the OECD average. However for low speed packages (less than 10Mbps), prices are expensive compared to GCC and Arab averages and significantly above the OECD average.

Leased lines are private telephone lines between two or more locations used by businesses to obtain secure telecommunications services such as a bank’s head office communicating with a branch office. They are available in a range of speeds and distances.

In Qatar, leased line charges are below the GCC and Arab averages. One of the most commonly taken least line speed is 2Mpbs.

Price comparisons of this speed show tariffs in Qatar to be 11% lower than the Arab Average, 20% lower than the GCC average but 50% higher than the OECD average. The prices for leased lines have not changed in Qatar since 2013.

“The AREGNET Benchmarking Report is a vital tool for assessing the growth and impact of competition in the telecommunications sector in Qatar,” HE Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, President of CRA, said, commenting on the report.

“As the communications sector evolves and looks to support Qatar’s National Vision 2030, open and fair competition has increasingly become important to encourage sustainable growth and success,” he said.

“We shall use competition as a means to foster growth and innovation for everyone’s benefit. While the report highlights significant progress, with mobile voice call prices falling 57% in eight years, there is still a long way to go,” Al Mannai noted.

“Business charges for fixed voice calls and fixed broadband are still too high and we are aiming to facilitate greater competition in this area to ensure the availability of smart, high quality services at prices that benefit all types of consumers,” he added.

The study, conducted by Teligen Tariff and Benchmarking on behalf of AREGNET - a network of Arab Regulators from 22 Middle East and North African countries (MENA) -, has been conducted each year since 2008 and provides an in-depth analysis of the cost of telecoms services for different types of users across fixed and mobile voice, fixed and mobile broadband and business leased line services. It compares prices in the 22 Arab countries, as well as providing a comparison with average OECD pricing.

TOTO aims to reduce emissions TOTO aims toCO2 reduce CO2 emissions from plumbing productsproducts from plumbing

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t might seem as a tiny detail, but choosing the right faucet can result in huge water and energy savings. Research estimates that bathroom and kitchen faucets account for 16 percent of the water used in an American home. In a typical house, faucets run for around 8 minutes a day and consume nearly 11 gallons of water per person per day.

The consumption is unlikely to be different in Qatar.

As a leading manufacturer of plumbing products, the TOTO Group’s integrated all in One Auto Faucet promises to Improve livability, benefit the natural system and achieve significant energy and water savings.

The product is part of TOTO GREEN CHALLENGE to significantly accelerate conventional environmental activities. “To promote environmental activities in the three key perspectives of product and services, manufacturing and social contributions, and human resource development, we have established quantitative targets for our Action Plan that lasts until the year 2017 - our 100th anniversary”, the company stated.

TOTO Green Challenge The global environment is changing at a rate beyond our expectations. Plumbing products, alongside household electrical appliances, account for the majority of CO2 emitted from the home.

As a leading manufacturer of plumbing products, TOTO promotes its TOTO GREEN CHALLENGE to significantly accelerate conventional environmental activities.

Engineered to require no electricity or routine disposable battery replacement, Eco-Power products are the perfect marriage of handsfree operation, low maintenance and sophisticated design.

This involves a review of all corporate activities with a view toward achieving stringent quantitative targets by 2017.

Water Saving

Product-related initiatives include a focus on “reducing CO2 emissions from plumbing products” and “purifying the air with Hydrotect. The company has devised an easy-to-understand vision of the future and a roadmap outlining how to get there, aiming to expand activities encompassing the entire housing construction industry on a global scale.

The suggested faucet is a compact infrared sensor; one of the smallest sensors in the world. It’s aesthetically pleasing design with spout senses for human motions only. Moreover, the faucet precisely tempers water and regulates its flow, while the thermostatic controller enhances the comfort of users.

Electricity is generated by the built-in power generator unit when the water flows through it. The electricity stored in the capacitor can be used for daily operation. The ECOPOWER self-generating hydropower system gets stronger with each use, adding years to lifecycle.

NABINA CERAMIC Airport Street, Wakra Road 130, Doha,Qatar

Gharafa Branch Next to the Passport Office

• •

An integrated sensor is able to detect hand movement and thus ensure that just the right amount of water is dispensed. It’s so finely tuned that it only registers hand movement directly below the spout and therefore does not activate the water flow when you’re cleaning the wash basin.

TOTO aerated bubble technology, adds air to the water enlarging them and causing them to increase in volume. This enables the water consumption to reduce by half from 4.0 L/ min to 2L/min while retaining the same washing experience.

Energy Saving Without the need of batteries replacement, this helps to reduce daily maintenance and create an eco friendly environment. Without the need of cabling and wiring, this helps to reduce cost and energy.

Since the product is self powered, the electrical cabling is not required. So the energy saving and cost savings are the benefits.

Phone: +974 4465 2345 Phone: +974 4497 9000 CONSTRUCTION

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AUGUST 2017

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EVENT

QDB organizes second “Buy Local Products” QDB organizes second “Buy Local Products” exhibition in support of native industries exhibition in support of native industries

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otivated by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s latest address to the nation, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has organized the second edition of the “Buy Local Products” exhibition in its renewed drive to support the development of indigenous industries, empower the local private sector and diversify the economy.

The exhibition was held at Al Dafna Hall, Sheraton Grand Doha, from July 25 to 27.

The “Buy Local Products” exhibition series is designed to give a merchantable platform to native small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) so that they may showcase their products and complement the nation’s renewed objective of localizing the supply chain and increasing self-reliance.

Following the success of the first edition of “Buy Local Products”, which witnessed the participation of 70 local companies from across various sectors, the second edition was launched to further support native industries through facilitating local procurement, especially for the industrial sector.

The second exhibition saw the participation of more than 150 companies as well as an even wider range of products on showcase than the first edition. It focused on general building materials, plastics, aluminum & copper, steel & iron, wood, paper, glass products, detergents, information technology (IT) & equipment and marine sector services.

Commenting on the launch of the second edition of the exhibition, QDB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa said: “Over the course of time, our team, at QDB, has developed core services and initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of Qatar’s private sector – particularly the industrial sector.”

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He said the second edition of the “Buy Local Products” exhibitions was yet another step in the same direction.

“The purpose of this event serves to augment our ongoing efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in the local market,” he pointed out.

“By strengthening the ability of national suppliers to meet domestic demand and linking local buyers and suppliers with each other, we seek to promote the microeconomics of a self-sustaining economy.”

The launch of the two editions of “Buy Local Products” exhibitions comes as the latest in a string of initiatives aimed at promoting a localized supply chain. In the past, in its effort to support a diverse range of local suppliers, QDB has developed numerous programs that support the agriculture and farming industry in Qatar.

Recurring schemes, such as the eco-friendly Jahiz 1 and Jahiz 2 initiatives, also empower local suppliers that operate across a diverse range of industries, including: chemicals, electronics, plastics, wood materials as well as food and beverage.

Stressing upon the importance of a strong sense of community as it relates to the “Buy Local Products” exhibition series, CEO Al Khalifa said: “During the challenges of these prevailing times, His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani reminded us of the paramount importance of maintaining self-respect and composure when making rational, far-sighted decisions.

“In his last address, he laid unparalleled emphasis on the economic independence for our country. And for us to maintain our economic sovereignty, our industries and industry-owners need to continue to play their respective critical roles.

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“Qatari products have demonstrated a strong promise in the local market by helping to meet nearly all the needs of our nation’s consumers.

Representing their respective organizations during the signing ceremony were QDB CEO Al Khalifa and Ashghal President Dr Saad Bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi.

“Through strengthening the ability of Qatari suppliers to fulfill local demand, on the one hand, and matching local buyers with local suppliers, on the other, we holistically strengthen the interplay of our market actors and achieve new scales of competitiveness.

A key angle of the agreement will see QDB and Ashghal co-operate to support local SMEs financially and technically.

“At present, one of our key priorities is ensuring that the Qatari wholesale suppliers, who may no longer order their merchandise from their traditional sources, are matched with new providers.

“This effort ensures that their business may continue to operate as normal and I am delighted to share with you that in this endeavor, we have met much success.”

Notably, on the sidelines of the forum, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between QDB and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) to launch the “Taaheel” program for SMEs in the presence of officials from both organizations and participating exhibitors.

The co-operation will include Ashghal restructuring procurement regulations to prioritize vendor opportunities for local SMEs, while QDB, for its part, will focus on capability development of these SMEs and to promote the private sector, QDB locally extends wide-ranging financial and non-financial support to entrepreneurs across a myriad of industries.

Furthermore, the development agency is dedicated to supporting Qatar National Vision 2030 by strengthening the private sector through the provision of special advisory services, indirect loan facilities, seed investment programs and matchmaking services so that local SMEs and entrepreneurs may play a greater economic role in Qatar.

Eastern Synergy Contracting vows to promote local suppliers and products Thinking beyond conventional trade links and exploring new avenues and supply bases

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astern Synergy Contracting is known for its reliable, honest and affordable services in the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of a wide range of MEP and HVAC systems and has become the customers’ first choice in Qatar now. A record that can be proud of.

“During the challenges of the prevailing times, our businesses and industry-owners need to continue to play their respective critical roles. Although local products have been available in the market for years, the blockade imposed on Qatar has highlighted the importance of shoring up local production,” the spokesman says.

“In order to ensure to deliver project on time and budget, at every stage of the project, we track its progress to know how we are performing. Efficient communication is critical on every level; that’s why we keep good contacts with our customers to understand their needs well.

Qatari products have demonstrated a strong promise in the local market by helping meet nearly all the needs of the nation’s consumers. The current blockade has given Eastern Synergy Contracting an ideal opportunity to think beyond the conventional trade links and explore new avenues and supply bases on costeffective logistics.

Improvements are continually being made in all branches and sections of the company to increase efficiency on every front.

The company is now concentrating on sourcing materials primarily from local suppliers as well as some alternative options for outsourcing MEP materials to deliver quality goods at the right prices.

“Our success is due to the experience and talents of our highly-specialized and skilled staff who ensure that every single client is afforded the highest standards of customer service and workmanship,” stresses a company spokesman.

“We constantly examine the latest technologies and utilize a wide spectrum of technical tools to work more efficiently and economically for our clients,” the spokesman points out.

Qatar’s construction sector sees the present challenges as chances of opportunities and this should actually consolidate the growth of many innovative local companies, including Eastern Synergy Contracting.

“And, in the future, we look forward to becoming pioneers in the Qatari market by contributing to the sustainable development of the economy in co-operation with our partners.

“Within an ever-changing global business environment, with its many challenges and advances in technology, we will continue to invest in our future staff development and in the working environment and solutions provided to our esteemed and valued clients and the communities,” the spokesman promises.

Eastern Synergy Contracting has always aimed to ensure that the decisions that it takes and the practices that it follows are in the best interests of the nation and everyone involved.

“Word of mouth is our biggest aid for winning new projects - we know that staying on our clients’ preferred tender list depends on keeping them satisfied with our quality as well as reliability,” the spokesman declares.

Its mission statement says it all: “We seek to consolidate the engineering concepts to provide integrated solutions while adding value to the outstanding core competencies of our employees and contributing to a motivated and positive work environment. We also strive to support the strategic relationships with our partners and look to enhance the values of society by contributing to its sustainable development.”

It is significant to note that almost all recent market studies have elected to maintain their robust growth outlook for the Qatari construction industry in 2017.

“For every challenge that we face, there are solutions that keep popping up,” Secretary General of the Qatar World Cup Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi has been quoted as saying recently. “We are working with our contractors to make sure we actually deliver long-term supply chain solutions and alternatives.”

Eastern Synergy Contracting was established by Al-Ta’adhod Group to provide their customers with the finest range of turnkey MEP services for industrial, commercial and residential projects. And the company has successfully met all its goals and is still forging ahead.

The company’s vision is “to be pioneers in the provision of integrated solutions and services in the electromechanical field”.

Eastern Synergy Contracting is a Certified ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001 In additional to Construction Management Certified by GSAS - GORD

scan here

EXPEriEnCE suCCEss...

Address: Eastern Synergy W.L.L. Doha, Qatar P.O. Box 11764 Doha, Qatar

Phone Fax Website Email

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: : : :

+974 4041 2233 / 44 +974 4041 2255 www.easternsynergy.com info@es-qatar.com sales@es-qatar.com

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AUGUST 2017

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REAL ESTATE

First phase of Ezdan opens for lease FirstOasis phase of Ezdan Oasis opens for lease ‘in a qualitative leap Al-Wukair region’ ‘in a for qualitative leap for Al-Wukair region’

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the entire south of the country.

zdan Holding Group has opened the first phase of the Ezdan Oasis project for lease, terming the move “a monumental leap” for it. The project, the largest of its kind in the history of Ezdan Holding Group, will have over 9,000 residential units.

This is the first stage of Oasis which will be launched gradually over four consecutive stages. The project is expected to be a unique model on the level of services and competitive prices compared to similar products in the Qatari market.It includes eight mosques, two schools and 14 sports clubs, eight gymnasiums, 10 swimming pools and a hypermarket of more than 7,000 square meters in area. The hypermarket will be run by a store chain known by its long experience in the retail sector. Ezdan Oasis is an eco-friendly project, with green areas covering 35% of its total surface. It provides multiple parking spaces, enough to accommodate the vehicles of residents and visitors, as well as a range of services, including security and maintenance, a Sakin Centre for integrated leasing services and an Ezdan Discount Card for every tenant.

Ezdan Oasis is home to hundreds of commercial and services units and facilities.

The Newton British Academy has announced the opening of its first branch in Al-Wakrah and Al-Wukair within the project and opened its doors for students’ registration for the academic year 2017-2018. Ezdan Oasis, the largest real estate project in the history of Ezdan Holding Group, spreads over an area of about one million square meters in the AlWukair area, which gained it the nickname of the land of the million or the one million project among real-estate market professionals.

The largest in the Group’s history

When completed, the project units will number about 9,346 units, both residential and commercial.

Talking about the details of the project, Ezdan Holding Group CEO Ali Mohammed Al Obaidli described it as the largest in the history of Ezdan Holding Group, if not of the State of Qatar, as an integrated one.

The most distinctive aspect of the project is its 577 commercial outlets of from 60 to 104 square meters area, featuring restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, shops, bakeries and laundries. The project’s residential units number 8,769 furnished apartments, ranging in size from one to two and three bedrooms. They are expected to accommodate more than 35,000 people, as well as offering a variety of services and facilities that will constitute a qualitative leap for the Al-Wukair region.

G

Glulam is a term that is gaining popularity in the construction industry and we wanted to know more as we discussed with the General Manager of Al Jaber Green Structure, Mr. Hani Zureid, a man with Passion for Glulam.

And we saw that passion as the interview progresses.

Glulam is a breakthrough in the construction industry, combined with the latest technology. Glulam provides ease and possibilities to construct a unique works of both modern and contemporary architecture.

“Lamination is much more advanced today than it was in the past. A very strong water based glue is used,” Mr. Hani said.

Nowadays Glulam is acknowledged as a high-performance system in the construction industry. Glulam combined with steel is the most advance structural system/ solution.

He stressed that, “the Glulam is FSC certified. It is sustainable because it’s from a renewable forest. Steel and concrete on the other hand is not renewable and sustainable.”

He continued by saying that “the heat and humidity are major factors in Qatar that should encourage usage of Glulam.”

“Glulam is the best solution for hot, humid and marine zone areas.”

Furthermore, he elaborated that “most structural material are not durable because of the heat and humidity. A solution is needed, a system that resist heat, humidity and corro-

AUGUST 2017

Newton British Academy has opened its branch at Ezdan Oasis to accommodate pre-primary to ninth grade students during the first academic year. Registration for the 2017-2018 academic year is already open.

As for grades 10 and 11, they will be added during the year 2018-2019.Newton British Academy is one of the world’s most prestigious schools that the project hosts, a remarkable cornerstone in the series of services and facilities that Ezdan Oasis offers to its residents. The Academy follows the national curriculum of England and Wales (the British curriculum). It also adopts the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The school implements

Al Obaidli expected the residents of Al-Wukair and other surrounding areas to be attracted by the project as it included many integrated services, including mosques, hypermarkets, schools and sports clubs as well as the most vital facilities such as multi-purposes commercial outlets.

“Ezdan Holding Group has dedicated its extensive experience and tremendous efforts

Sustainable & durable fire resistant structural system replacing /combining steel & concrete.

lulam is short for Glue laminated timber. The energy required for its manufacture is lower compared to other structural building materials which reduces the use of fossil fuels that causes pollution to the environment.

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Newton British Academy

“Ezdan Oasis has expressively affected the market when it was first revealed, hence the project came to be known as the land of a million or the one million project,” he said.

“However, after long discussions, we have decided to name it Ezdan Oasis as it serves as an oasis in terms of services it provides for the neighboring areas.”

In addition, lease is open for 1,875 fullyfurnished housing units, ranging from one to two and three bedrooms, as well as 183 commercial outlets that will serve as the backbone of the city’s dwellers and residents of the surrounding areas.This will enable the Al-Wukair area to enter the comprehensive development course. In addition to that, the government is working on laying a huge road network, serving the region and

GLULAM:

to the realization of a project of this size, which offers such a wonderful package of services, fulfilling all needs of residents who will only leave Ezdan Oasis for work, since there are schools for children, shopping outlets, restaurants supermarkets, hypermarket, sports courts and more,” explained Al Obaidli.

sion. That structural system is Glulam. It is 7000sqm over water platform that had been very durable. It has a 50-year life span and constructed with only one tower crane withit will never corrode or react to the environ- out the use of barge. ment.”

The company has also provided Glulam Mr. Zureid argued, “sustainability shouldn’t to the Banana Island Resort project. And be tackled with a cut and paste approach. It currently involved in designs using Hybrid depends on climate. That’s why Qatar Sus- Glulam structural system for Museum, Statainability Assessment System (QSAS) is a dium, Schools sport halls and Stable and Inbig leap for the country and Qatar is a leader dustrial warehouses. in this.”

Glulam is already specified as the best soluHe pointed out that, “here in Qatar as we tion for Al Wakra Stadium arche shaped roof spend most of our time indoors, we are not structure. exposed to nature. Therefore, we have to be conscious of the structural building materi“Glulam Hybrid system, an Advance als that we choose. Glulam has a natural Engineering solution is the best insulating properties that are a lot higher structural choice for the ICONIC than that of steel or concrete. Using Glulam buildings that require a special reduces the energy required to heat and shapes and large free spans which are cool the structure during its lifetime that’s not stable by concrete and steel”. why Qatar needs a solution, a system for aggressive harsh climates. Glulam can be that Mr. Zureid started educating the local constructural system.” struction market about the benefits of Glulam since 2008 as a division within Al Furthermore, another important factor to Jaber. Now, the education is bearing fruit as consider when selecting a structural system the company gets to do more and more projis its fire rating performance. Glulam, ac- ects and expose the versatile applications of cording to International building codes and Glulam. standards is the only fire resistant structural system that has a predictable charring rate Today Al Jaber Green Structure is an indewith extreme safety for public buildings like pendent company that works as a solution shopping centers, schools and sport halls. provider. It offers full specialized engineering services with affordable cost. Its team of inAl Jaber Green Structures works with pre-cut ternationally acclaimed professionals boasts systems that are prefabricated in the plant of more than 10 year experience based on and arrives at the job site ready for immedi- Eurocode Standards. The company aims not ate installation. Client just needs to lift the just to sell but to educate the public as well. materials, so there is no construction waste or debris. Mr. Zureid said “this resulted in a Mr. Hani Zureid encourages everyone to 30% reduction in costs of transportation and share his vision: “To see my children go to energy consumption compared to other ma- school, not feeling worried, because the terials. It also minimizes the number of man sports hall in their school will be made of Glulam so it won’t collapse or produce power.” smoke like concrete in case of fire and to Recently, the company was involved in the see the use Glulam everywhere.”

Marine Restaurant project in Katara, a

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the international exams approved by the Cambridge University Council for International Examinations and EDEXCEL. The curriculum includes Arabic, Islamic education, Qatari history, French language, swimming and drama.

The school buildings are equipped with comprehensive educational facilities such as computer labs and thers for physics, chemistry and biology experiences. The school has technological design and graphic laboratories as well as a large multi-purpose gymnasium, an indoor pool, school theaters, shaded outdoor playgrounds, a drama hall and cafeterias. Newton Group has three academies that adopt the British curriculum in Al Waab, Al Dafna and Barwa. The British curriculum is one of the most rigorous academic curricula among international schools. It helps students develop their skills in science and math as well as in literature and humanities. Newton Academy offers a range of extra-curricular activities to nurture and foster students’ creativity and abilities.

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EXCLUSIVE

C oncrete

& Ready-mix

All about ready-mix concrete All about ready-mix concrete Ready mix concrete is a special concrete mixer used for mass concrete construction with great quality control

R

eady-mix concrete is a special type of concrete which is seen as an alternative to on-site concrete mixing and is preferred over it because of its durability and longevity. It is manufactured either in a factory or at a batching plant, according to a set procedure, and is then delivered to the work destination with the help of truck-mounted transit mixers.

Ready-mix concrete (popularly referred as RMC) is manufactured under computercontrolled operations and precise methods and is delivered to the work site by utilizing sophisticated machinery and equipment.

This ensures that the manufacturing process is faster and better and also that the resultant product is of optimum quality.

RMC machinery can be customized according to different applications and requirements. RMC is generally expressed in cubic meters (m3).

Advantages of ready-mix concrete  Reduction in cement consumption: The ready-mix concrete manufacturing process involves use of bulk cement and proper mixing and handling of concrete due to which there is comparatively lesser consumption of cement by 10-15%. There is also scope for further optimization by

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using mineral admixtures or cementations materials.  Better quality: RMC manufacturing utilizes modern equipment and latest technologies to maintain proper water-cement mix ratio. The process is kept under controlled conditions which ensure that the concrete produced is of very high quality.  Faster construction: The construction process is carried out using computerized operations which also include the site delivery. This enables higher speed of construction and therefore reduces the overall duration of the process.  Environment-friendly: It involves less usage of diesel and petrol and thus promotes conservation of natural resources and energy. Environmental pollution such as air and noise pollution are relatively lesser as compared to traditional methods.

methods.  No storage problem: Storage of raw materials like cement, water, aggregate and admixtures are expensive and cumbersome. RMC production eliminates the obstacles involved in storage.  Labor cost reduction: As the operations involved are mostly computerized, there is little need of manual labor. The chances of human error are minimized or eliminated.  Less maintenance: The structures made from RMC have very high durability due to which these structures remain intact for a very long time without any signs of any degradation. This leads to increase in their service life and hence results in low maintenance cost.

Limitations of ready-mix concrete  Reduction in wastage: The automated operations ensure that the ingredients used are in the right proportion and thus exclude the use of excess raw materials.

The usage of bulk cement also prevents wastage of cement.  Versatility in usage: The mix design of the concrete can be varied or modified as required during the placing methods.

This provides flexibility in uses and placing

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• Short life span of concrete: Generally, concrete have a very limited life span of between the process of mixing and curing. Due to this time constraint, placement of ready-mix should be within 210 minutes of batching at the plant. The alternative is to increase the time span of concrete by adding modern admixtures in correct proportion.

• Longer transportation time: Batching of materials and their mixing are carried out in a central plant. Thus, the duration for the transportation of concrete from the plant to the site is vital. The longer the distance between the plant and the site, the chances of hardening of concrete mixture increase. Admixtures like retarder can be added to the concrete to delay the hardening process.

• Heavy-weight of trucks: Trucks used for transporting ready-mix concrete are quite heavy along with the bulk weight of the concrete mix. For instance, weight of green concrete is approximately 2.5 ton per m3. This proves to be a hindrance while accessing roads and sites. To overcome this problem, “mini-mix” companies use relatively smaller 4mᵌ capacity mixtures to access more restricted sites.

• Loss of workability: Loss of workability is encountered as the placement of ready-mix concrete is not available immediately after the concrete mix is prepared.

There is also a possibility of setting of concrete during high transit time. Admixtures such as plasticizers and retarders, when added in correct ratio, will delay the setting time and thus reduce workability losses. The addition may also increase the strength of concrete.

C oncrete

& Ready-mix

A

amal Readymix is a branch of Aamal Company which is one of the largest, most diversified and fastest growing companies in Qatar.

Aamal Readymix has grown considerably over the past years and is now rated among the top 3 Readymix companies in the country. Aamal Readymix commitment to total quality management extends to every area of its operations.

We were the first Readymix company to be accredited to QHS&E quality ISO 9OOl:2OO8, Health & safety OHSAS I8OOI:2007 and environmental ISO 14001:2004 management system'. In fact, continued client satisfaction and confidence is how, we at Aamal Readymix, define and measure our success. This is evident by number of repeat customers with whom Aamal Readymix conducts business Aamal Readymix now owns four batching plants, a huge fleet of 70 transit mixers, 15 mobile concrete pumps and 6 stationary concrete pumps. Moreover 4 flake ice plants fulfill the in-house requirement of ice for temperature controlled concrete.

Aamal follows the guidelines set out by both British Standards and the American Society for Testing and Materials; and in regards to its concrete the company adheres to the strict Qatar Concrete Specifications (QCS).

EXCLUSIVE

The varieties of extensive engineered concrete mixes consist of lean, normal and high strength mixes up to grade 90 Mpa catering to the current demand in the State of the Qatar. Special types of concrete such as Self compacting concrete, Lightweight Insulating concrete (foamed concrete), no fines concrete (pervious concrete) etc. are available on demand. Customized mixes with water proofing admixtures, corrosion inhibitors and polypropylene fibers are also being supplied. Screed mixes, cement grouts and mortars are also integral part of our product range.

Aamal Readymix has established its reputation to supply concrete to various iconic and prestigious project. Some of our recent projects are Doha festival city, Doha Oasis, Qatar University Engineering college, Perlita gardens at pearl Qatar, Energy Centers at Khalifa Stadium and Al Bayt stadium and several school projects.

Aamal Readymix has been recognized for providing excellent product and quality service by its customers, as well as local / international organizations. Aamal Readymix was presented with the award of “Best supplier of Readymix concrete for Doha Festival City”. Qatar Green building Council award Aamal Readymix for the most innovative sustainable product “Environment friendly Green concrete”. National Readymix concrete association (NRMCA) has issued certificates of conformance for all the plant.

AAMAL READYMIX Address: St # 37, Salwa Industrial Area P.O. BOX 40557, Doha - Qatar Tel: 44603939

Fax: 44603838

Key Staff: Parveez Aslam, General Manager Direct Line – 44601741 Direct Fax – 44606712

Business Hours: 5:30am-12:00 midnight E-Mail: parveez.aslam@aamalreadymix.com Web: www.aamalreadymix.com

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AUGUST 2017

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EXCLUSIVE

C oncrete

& Ready-mix

Mercedes-Benz Service Solutions: An economical and reliable way to keep your vehicles on the road Service Solutions offer more value at lower costs

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asser Bin Khaled (NBK) Automobiles, the authorized general distributor of MercedesBenz in Qatar, has introduced the new Mercedes-Benz Service Solutions package that is dedicated for light and heavy trucks.

“Mercedes-Benz Service Solutions package is the best way to guarantee the increased vehicle resale value.

Thanks to this package, all commercial vehicles and trucks will be maintained at the highest standards so they deliver the best performance,” he added.

“The new solution comes within the company’s commitment to offer clients the best deals and options, provide reassurance that their vehicle is in safe hands at the best price ever,” said a release issued by NBK Automobiles. Mercedes-Benz Service Solutions offers a customized range of services at a fixed, transparent and low price, which reduces downtime and improves economic efficiency of the truck, or fleet.

Service solutions are modular, which means that whether you have a fleet of long-distance haulage or single vehicles doing local distribution, Mercedes-Benz has the right combination of service components to meet the requirements of every client. Service solutions come with a variety of addons that also give you the opportunity to customize Mercedes-Benz service to your operational requirements. Based on customer request, other services may be added such as 24-hours roadside assistance, fleet board, tire service, driver training, extended opening hours, among others.

Khaled Sha’aban, General Manager of NBK Automobiles, said the MercedesBenz Service Solutions offered a number of advantages. “Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles is pleased to offer fleets this innovative solution, which has wide range of benefits,” he stressed.

“It is the best way to customize the fleet service, offering attractive fixed maintenance and repair costs, reduced vehicle downtime and administration,” Sha’aban pointed out.

“In short, it is an economical and reliable way to keep your vehicles on the road, and enjoy peace of mind so that you can give more focus on your core business.

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The Mercedes-Benz Service Solutions (MBSS) allow the customer to purchase the maintenance services of his vehicle as per his needs, over the chosen duration and mileage, at a convenient price.

They cover the cost of parts, labor and operational fluids needed for the scheduled maintenance operations.

Customers can choose from three customized packages: Best Maintenance, Select Plus and Complete. Best Maintenance package pays from the first until the last day. It guarantees an increased vehicle resale value so when the customer decides to sell his truck,

the service solution will help him get a better price for it.

The new owner will also have a service history and complete maintenance, which included services performed by properly trained Mercedes-Benz technicians using only Mercedes-Benz genuine parts, assuring that the truck is maintained at the highest standards to deliver the best performance.

In addition to these benefits, Best Maintenance has a fixed cost which allows the customer to know exactly how much the maintenance of his vehicle will cost over the next years. This will help them avoid the impact of inflation on maintenance costs.

The Select Plus package offers the same benefits in addition to post-warranty cost protection, while complete package adds more benefits including scheduled maintenance, post-warranty cost and protection wearing parts.

Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles has built its success by establishing solid, longstanding relationships with its customers, and through offering a wide range of products that appeal to car enthusiasts who appreciate quality and style.

As a brand, Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles says it is deeply associated with a successful history of premium quality service and market leadership.

MB_DMLR_ACTROS_QC-SITE MAG-FA.pdf

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C oncrete

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EXCLUSIVE

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Mercedes Powershift.

Made for ME. Geared towards performance, efficiency and reliability.

The Mercedes Powershift automated gearbox for the Actros provides superb performance, outstanding efficiency and reliability for your truck fleet.

Available with 12 and 16 speeds, the tried and tested Mercedes PowerShift gearbox ensures the optimal gear selection as well as an economic and fuel efficient driving style - even in the harshest and most demanding conditions.

The elimination of gear shift errors and the robust gearbox construction reduce wear and tear and maximise the vehicle uptime.

Thanks to the innovative “Power Mode”, “EcoRoll Mode” and “Manoeuvring Mode” functions, the driver will accomplish his tour faster, safer and more comfortably.

Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar. Visit our showroom on Salwa Road. For more information contact us on Tel 4462 4444, Email mercedescares@nbks.com, or visit us online at qatar.trucks.mercedesbenzmena.com

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AUGUST 2017

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C oncrete

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EXCLUSIVE

® for Use of GEWIUse Micropiles of GEWI Micropiles for Uplift Resistance Uplift Resistance ®

By Klaus Lanzinger Introducing Micropiles as an alternative solution for structures facing uplift problems in Middle East.

Underground structures like tunnels, through structures and railway station are often subjected to considerable uplift forces due to the high ground water level. To overcome these uplift forces it is possible to increase the thickness of the bottom slab of the structure to create enough dead weight. However when increas-

So from the engineering point of view it is more sophisticated to “nail” the structure onto the ground. This is the principal function of the GEWI® piles. They offer a cost efficient and sustainable solution for prevention of uplift.

hole diameter of max. 300mm and an internal steel element, which is able to carry tension or compression loads. The load transfer to the ground is achieved via skin friction. Despite the small diameter which enables quick installation in the solid ground conditions like for example in Qatar, the Micropiles develop a high carrying capacity due to their relatively high circumference.

GEWI® piles are being used in Germany and Europe for solving uplift problems since more than 30 years. Micropiles are piles with a bore-

The big advantage of the GEWI® pile compared to the Micropiles or reinforced concrete pile is that they are available with a double corros on

ing the bottom slab thickness by digging further into the ground, also the uplift forces from the ground water will be increased.

Technical Data GEWl® Pile B500B & S555/700 Nominal diameter Ø

Yield strength / Crosstensile strength sectional area f0,2k/ftk A

Load at yield

Ultimate load

Fyk

Ftk

Weight

Weight DCP

[mm]

[N/mm²]

[mm²]

[kN]

[kN]

[kg/m]

[kg/m]

20 25 28 32 40 50 63.5

500/550 500/550 500/550 500/550 500/550 500/550 555/700

314 491 616 804 1,257 1,963 3,167

157 245 308 402 628 982 1,758

173 270 339 442 691 1,080 2,217

2.47 3.85 4.83 6.31 9.86 15.41 24.86

5.9 7.0 8.6 9.5 13.6 21.0 32.4

Load at yield

Ultimate load

Weight

Weight DCP

Fyk

Ftk

Approval

GEWl® Plus Pile S670/800 Nominal diameter Ø

Yield strength / Crosstensile strength sectional area f0,2k/ftk A

[mm]

[N/mm²]

[mm²]

[kN]

[kN]

[kg/m]

[kg/m]

25 28 30 35 43 57.5 63.5 75

670/800 670/800 670/800 670/800 670/800 670/800 670/800 670/800

491 616 707 962 1,452 2,597 3,167 4,418

329 413 474 645 973 1,740 2,122 2,960

393 493 565 770 1,162 2,077 2,534 3,534

3.85 4.83 5.55 7.55 11.40 20.38 24.86 34.68

7.0 8.6 9.0 11.3 15.8 30.0 32.4 43.5

Approval

W.L.L. formerly

Buildings

Our Strength is in our work

Al Shoumoukh Towers 11th Floor Street 231 Building no 58 (next La Cigale Hotel) Area no 23, Suhaim Bin Hamed Doha P.O.Box 24893 Doha, Qatar

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Phone : +974 44 58 04 11 Fax

: +974 44 58 04 14

Web

: www.dsi-middleeast.com

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protection system (DCP) according to EN 1537 and thus a service life of 120 years can be achieved. Furthermore, the unique continuous thread of the GEWI® bars offers many advantages. The bar can be cut and coupled at any given point, end anchorages enable easy incorporation of the pile head into the structure and ensure an excellent load transfer. GEWI® piles offer a wide range of bars up to a dia. 75mm bar grade 670/800 with an ultimate load of 3,500 kN.

C oncrete

& Ready-mix

EXCLUSIVE

Ahmed Ezzat

Target Market Manager - Concrete NRMCA Certified Concrete Technologist - ME

It’s all about Chemistry: As one of Sika’s key market segments, I’m happy to present our top-notch concrete solutions in Qatar. Supported by a fantastic R&D team and a world-wide network of 20 global technology centers, we take the lead in developing new innovative solutions. We match day to day local requirements and add tangible features to our valuable customers. Our strong technical and logistical support in addition to our sincere commitment towards delivering the best service is purely reflecting the Swiss image as a world leader in the field of construction chemicals.

Customer Comes First: In Sika, we strive to fulfill the needs of our customers. Simply we don’t see ourselves as suppliers, but we are definitely partners.

We don’t just sell, we build trust. We are here to walk the extra mile and our team is always listening.

Name it, we just have it!

In our concrete department, we have a wide variety of products matching each and every project requirement. From basic Lignosulphonates to high end polycarboxylates, water proofing admixtures for watertight structures, chemical curing compounds, mold release agents, fibers, shotcrete accelerators, etc… We have tailor made products for Qatar that are designed not only to perform but to exceed expectations.

Yes we are Swiss but we’re not costly!

We live in an era where economics play an important role in our daily lives and in Sika we understand the equation. We never compromise on quality; instead we develop the best products that are also commercially competitive in local market.

A quick glance on our Concrete Technology: In the world of concrete, water cement ratio is of prime importance. The simplest way to put it all together is to think that the greater amount of water in concrete, the more dilute the cement paste will be. This affects the compressive and tensile strengths of concrete, its durability, shrinkage behavior and even color.

From the 1930s to date, admixtures are being developed for the aim of reducing water content yet enhancing concrete workability and rheology. An evolution took place during the last two decades of the 20th century and Sika was a pioneer when the third generation of concrete admixtures was first introduced for an average water reduction of 25%. Today, Sika has revolutionized the processing of durable and / or high early strength concrete producing extremely workable mixes with optimum cohesion at dramatically low water cement ratios. With our technology and depending on application, we can modify slump retention time from minutes to hours.

Speaking of durability, fiber reinforced concrete is becoming more important to enhance the properties of both fresh and hardened concrete. Fibers, which can also replace steel mesh in shotcrete applications, reduce the occurrence of plastic shrinkage and plastic settlement cracking whilst enhancing durability and surface properties of the cementitious matrix. Here again Sika comes first with a wide range of solutions and in the event of fire our special polypropylene fibers are designed to protect concrete from spalling.

replaced the traditional methods of lining tunnel profiles and has become very important in stabilizing excavated tunnel sections.

Weather it is dry or wet spray concrete, our alkali-free shotcrete accelerators are utilized. From small concrete spraying machines to comprehensive systems, Sika is a master of these technologies.

Green Concrete for a better tomorrow: Carbon Dioxide has become a terrestrial challenge for many concerned environmentalists in the 21st century and cement manufacturing is directly contributing to the predicament.

More than 700 KG of Carbon dioxide are elaborated to the atmosphere for every ton of cement produced and for that, utilization of cement replacements and pozzolanic material is today more prominent than ever.

On another note, the use of these material results in improved properties of concrete such as lower heat of hydration, improved impermeability, reduced drying shrinkage, enhanced resistance to chemical attack and minimizing the risk of late alkali-aggregate reaction.

This is where our top class Viscocrete technology comes to act. The dual action super plasticizers which can also produce self-compacting concrete are utterly compatible with various cement replacement mixes for delivering clean, green yet very good concretes.

BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLY DESIGNED "GREEN" CONCRETE CONCRETE SUPPLIER SAVE WATER COST OPTIMISATION

Tunnel Segment:

USING ALL RESOURCES IMPROVED PRODUCTION USING RECYCLED AGGREGATE

We live in a part of the world where an increasing need of infrastructures is surfacing every day. Sprayed concrete has

COMMUNITY HIGH DURABILLITY MEETS ALL STANDARDS IMPROVES THE FINISHING MEETS ALL SUSTAINABILITY SCHEMES

ENVIRONMENT LESS WATER LESS ENERGY LESS RESOURCES LESS CO 2 OMISSIONS

Concrete the world with

You may know us for just one skill area. But Sika has over 100 years global experience, and over 50 years in GCC. In many of the most crucial areas of construction. Global expertise, local support, one phone call, problem solved.

Sika Qatar LLC P.O.Box 201847 Doha, Qatar T: +974 40163366 F: +974 40163370 sika.qatar@bh.sika.com

Follow us on

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19

EXCLUSIVE

C oncrete

& Ready-mix

Hazards and safety measures in measures in Hazards and safety the ready-mixedthe concrete industry ready-mixed concrete industry To ensure safe working conditions for the construction workers, it is very critical to follow safety measures at the worksite. Here we look at some safety measures every construction worker must take.

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he ready-mixed concrete (RMC) industry has revolutionized construction activity. The ready-mixed concrete is much superior to sitemixed concrete in terms of quality, maintenance, construction speed and raw material consumption.

RMC is utilized in construction of large engineering structures such as big buildings, bridges, roads and dams. In order to satisfy the huge demand of quality concrete, more RMC industries are being set up and thus, there is also increase in the employment of workers.

But, despite the overgrowing demand and employability, workers have to encounter various potential health hazards and injuries at the worksite. They run the risks of fatal injuries and even death due to faulty machines or unsafe work practices.

Hence, it is necessary to spread awareness and follow safety measures at the worksite so that the potential hazards could be minimized and even eliminated.

Worker safety measures:

Machine safety • Lockout methods need to be implemented to de-energize conveyors and other machines before trying to fix any jams.

Overhead hazards • Ensure that operations such as casting and stressing are tightly braced and adjusted so that there is no sudden release of materials.

• Avoid working under overhead loads.

• Ensure proper placement of guards to give protection against moving parts of machines and tools before the operations begin.

• Make sure that rigging is properly placed to avoid falling materials during hoisting and stacking procedures.

• Hatches should be properly maintained to prevent any injuries from swinging parts.

Think safety measures:

General safety Vehicle safety • Mixing trucks and other vehicles used for operations should be checked whether they are in proper working condition or not.

• Overloading of hoists, cranes and forklifts should be avoided.

 Setting up of a comprehensive safety and health management system to inspect and rectify every hazard at the worksite.  Proper maintenance of machinery and tools such as cranes, rigging, hoists, etc.

Regular inspection of tools should be carried out and machines should be operated by trained workers only.  Workers should be given training regarding safe work practices and procedures in handling machineries and various operations. They also need to be trained to recognize and respond to various potential hazards in workplace.  Personal protective equipment programs can be conducted to enlighten workers in selecting, cleaning and maintaining equipment like protective clothing and goggles, respirators, etc.  Lay out a written hazard instruction program to provide information to workers regarding chemical hazards and hazardous substances, emergency protective measures and safety equipment. Protective equipment are essential during various operations viz. cutting, welding, grinding, chipping, cleaning, chemicals handling and many more.

 Reduction in exposure to silica during drilling and chipping of concrete materials with engineering controls.

Physical hazards  Implementation of a confined space entry program to protect and provide awareness to workers involved in cleaning of storage bins, inner mixer drums and other confined spaces.  Follow a noise control program to lessen noise emerging from various machines during their operations. The program should focus on controlling sound level and testing and training of hearing protection equipments.  Implement procedures such as guarding and lockout to ensure proper maintenance and servicing of machines and tools to protect workers from worksite hazards.

Fall hazards  It is of utmost importance to identify and fix various fall hazards such as damaged and slippery surfaces, unsafe ladders and any unsteady protective equipment used to climb up and down on trucks and other vehicles.  The portable ladders must be equipped with safety feet and be long enough to complete the required tasks without any risk to workers. These should be properly tied and secured to prevent any unnecessary movement.  Make sure that there are adequate guard rails, safe accessibility and no hazardous areas or holes at the scaffolding and working areas.

Ergonomics  Conveyors and dollies should be provided to minimize or eliminate the need to bend and lift.

Health hazards  Prevent eye irritation and skin burns by avoiding exposure to cement dust. This will also prevent bronchitis and silicosis.  Utilize high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums to get rid of residual dust instead of dry sweeping.  Avoid wet as well as dry areas to minimize dust as much as possible.  Using effective protective equipment like goggles, boots, gloves and respirators to prevent workers from any hazards.

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 Adhere to safe work practices so that potential injuries from lifting, twisting, turning and awkward postures can be prevented.  Training should be provided to workers so that adequate awareness can be spread regarding proper handling techniques of mechanical and manual materials. This will prevent musculoskeletal injuries.

INNOVATION

SC pilots innovativeSCcooling technologycooling technology pilots innovative on 2022 World Cupon construction 2022 Worldsites Cup construction sites Cooled vests and towels demonstrate commitment to protect workers during summer months

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he Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), the organization responsible for delivering the infrastructure required to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, has begun rolling out innovative technologies designed to keep workers on official World Cup sites cool during the summer months.

Around 1,000 workers on Al Wakrah Stadium have recently received pioneering cooling towels to make working outside more comfortable. The towels, which workers can wear on their necks, arms or place in their pockets, will cool core temperatures for up to four hours after being submerged in water. A total of 9,400 towels are to be deployed across all SC projects.

The towels are being distributed in parallel with two pilot programs involving cooling technologies across multiple World Cup stadium construction sites.

The first, which is undergoing trials on Al Wakrah Stadium, is a lightweight evaporative cooling vest that reduces heat stress and fatigue by cooling the upper body, where the cardiovascular system is located. In addition, the SC is in the process of trialing an innovative cooled helmet, which it has developed with scientists from Qatar University and Aspire Zone Foundation that can cool the wearer by up to 10°C. If successful the helmets will also be rolled to workers across SC’s construction sites.

Balbir Singh, a Health, Safety, Security& Environment (HSSE) Officer on Al Wakrah

Stadium, underlined the need to protect outdoor workers from heat stress hazards.

“Heat stress is an issue at this time of year so we must be extra vigilant in ensuring workers take regular breaks, stay hydrated and have access to shade,” Singh said.

“These towels are a great addition to our summer working practices because they are simple to use and don’t restrict workers’ movement, meaning they are safe. Unsurprisingly, the feedback we’ve had from workers on-site has been very positive and I recommend that all construction sites in hot countries consider offering them to staff,” he added.

Both the SC and Midmac and PORR Qatar/ Six Construct – the joint venture main contractors delivering Al Wakrah Stadium – worked together to ensure the delivery of an initiative that will continue to protect workers on SC projects during the height of the summer heat.

Mahmoud Qutub, Senior Advisor at the SC’s Special Projects Office and head of the SC’s Workers Welfare Division (WWD), said the feedback on the towels had been very positive.

“Our investment in these cooling technologies illustrates the broader point that innovation is ingrained in everything the SC does, from improving our stadium designs to streamlining our auditing system or making workers more comfortable on-site,” Qutub said.

“By acutely addressing a pressing need – reducing heat stress – at a crucial time of year, and following the comprehensive set of improvements we have made to our accommodation standards and worker recruitment practices, this initiative truly captures the lengths we are going to in order to make sure our workforce operates in the safest conditions possible,” he said.

The SC’s investments in cooling technology for workers supplement the stringent working practices it already enforces across World Cup construction sites during summer.

The SC has recently activated a new electronic humidex index measuring device as part of its Smart Work Safety Management Solution (SHAMS).

The device issues automatic “no-work alerts” when the humidex index is reached by way of a flashing bulb and sound, replacing a manual system common across the Gulf under which safety officers hoist black flags to indicate that construction activity must cease. The innovative device is a regional first and has been developed by the SC, in collaboration with Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC) at Qatar Science and Technology Park.

The cooling technology rollout further establishes 2017 as a breakthrough year in terms of workers’ welfare on 2022 World Cup projects. In April, the SC’s independent third party monitor, Impact Ltd, had published its first annual report, which praised the SC’s

overall direction of travel on workers’ welfare while identifying opportunities for improvement.

The WWD has also recently commissioned health screenings of workers by the renowned Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar and activated a new anonymous hotline to provide workers with another method for raising grievances, in addition to existing processes such as Workers’ Welfare Forums.

Qatar Qatarfire firesafety safetysystems systemsand and equipment equipmentmarket marketprojected projectedtoto grow growatataaCAGR CAGRofof6.2% 6.2%during during 2017-23 2017-23 Upcoming FIFA World Cup driving the demand for equipment

D

emand for fire safety systems and equipment in Qatar is expected to surge with the increased activity in the construction sector in the state.

Construction projects costing around $92.98 billion, which are to be undertaken by 2022, are consequently pushing up the demand for fire safety systems and equipment in Qatar, according to the report “Qatar Fire Safety Systems and Equipment Market (20172023): Forecast by Types, Verticals, Regions and Competitive Landscape”, released by Research and Markets.

The report covers the Qatar fire safety systems and equipment market by types, verticals and regions. It provides a detailed analysis of the on-going trends, opportunities in high growth areas, market drivers which would help the stakeholders to device and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.

Doha City accounted for the largest revenue share in the country in the year 2015-16, fol-

lowed by Mesaieed. Doha is likely to witness a rise in share in the projected period as a result of major construction projects being undertaken in the city such as Doha Metro, Doha Convention Center & Tower Project, Ali Fetaias Office Building and Darwish Residential Towers.

According to the report, the demand for fire safety equipment, such as hose reel cabinets, sprinklers, smoke/heat detectors, extinguishers and others, is anticipated to increase due to the FIFA World Cup in the forecast period.

Additionally, nine new stadiums and 41 new hotels have to be built in Qatar by 2022, which will further spur the demand.

Development in Qatar across different sectors owing to the FIFA World Cup, 2022 and National Vision, 2030 have increased the demand for fire safety systems and equipment. The industry witnessed growth in recent years and the trend is likely to continue as well.

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REAL ESTATE

UDC strengthens itsstrengthens position as aitsleading UDC position as a leading real estate developer in the Gulf region real estate developer in the Gulf region

We are committed to implementing the company’s strategy with real estate development at its core

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nited Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari shareholding company, has reported a net profit of QR318 million in the first half of this year. The net profit attributable to owners stood at QR 284 million and basic earnings-per-share stood at QR0.80, according to the company’s first-half financial results.

UDC Chairman Turki Mohamed Bin Al Khater, commenting on the financial results, underlined the company’s “success in pursuing growth and its commitment to maintaining profitability and achieving annual growth targets”.Established in 1999, UDC, the master developer of the Pearl-Qatar, began to be listed on the Qatar Exchange in June 2003.

It has an authorized share capital of QR3.5 billion and total assets of QR 18.4 billion at the end of June, 2017.

UDC’s current portfolio includes: real estate development, property management, infrastructure and utilities, energy-intensive industries, hydrocarbon downstream manufacturing, maritime related businesses and hospitality. From day one, UDC has played an active role in Qatar’s development, rapidly evolving into a leading shareholding firm.

It also has successfully established several new companies and investment vehicles.

Wholly-owned UDC companies include Hospitality Development Company, Ronautica Middle East and Madinainova, amongst others.

“In the face of challenging conditions, UDC continued its good performance for the year, thereby strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading real estate developers,” said Chairman Al Khater. “The first half of the year was unique on multiple levels,” he said.

“The company accelerated its sales of land and urban development while continuing to develop its residential projects and retail outlet presence at the Pearl-Qatar, which increased revenues and bolstered the PearlQatar’s position as an investment, tourism and leisure hub,” Al Khater pointed out.

“These developments reflect our success in pursuing growth and our commitment to maintaining profitability and achieving annual growth targets.

“We are committed to implementing the company’s strategy with real estate development at its core.

“We will also continue to promote the treasures that the Pearl-Qatar have to offer and foster growth through a mix of development projects across diverse areas that aim to deliver rewarding financial returns while taking moderate and relatively acceptable risks,” Al Khater added.

UDC President and Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Al Othman said the first-half results were in line with the company’s “strategy to generate sustainable value for our shareholders and investors while utilizing UDC’s leading position in the local market to attract more visitors to the Pearl-Qatar, thereby strengthening our position as a leading investment, shopping, leisure and residential hub”.

Al Othman said the financial results reflected a 32% increase in revenues during the first half of 2017 compared to the same period of last year “which is evidence of our ability to stay viable despite the current global economic situation”.

He noted that the past six months had been marked by many positive developments with the foundation for a number of development projects being laid that were expected to enhance the occupancy rate of residential units and retail outlets in the Pearl-Qatar.

UDC kicked off the construction of Al Mutahidah Towers which will consist of two connected residential towers, comprising diverse residential units, all overlooking a beautiful waterfront with direct access to the beach.

“During the first -half of the year, we also sold eight land plots in Giardino Village, one of the most luxurious and promising residential areas on the Island, lying in close proximity to shops and entertainment venues adjacent to Porto Arabia, Medina Centrale, Qanat Quartier and Viva Bahriya,” Al Othman pointed out.

Commenting on the company’s expected performance for the second half of the year, Al Othman said: “We will continue to

exploit the Pearl-Qatar’s position as Qatar’s real estate development of choice and use our resources and experience to create a sustainable commercial and social environment that contributes positively to the project’s investment returns. In line with that strategy, 10 prototype villas, currently under construction at the Giardino Village, will be offered for sale during the third quarter of 2017.”

He said UDC would continue “to inaugurate and attract new retail outlets and restaurants across the three retail locations on the Island and by enhancing our residential sales and rental activities”.

The company said it would continue to build on its success in real estate development through the launch of new projects that would be in line with the highest global standards and would pursue these ventures in accordance with established plans and timetables, reflecting its commitment to preserving the values of shareholders and investors.

UDC’s first-half achievements also included the completion of the first and second phases of residential unit sales of Al Mutahidah towers and the inauguration of office leasing at the Pearl Tower 1, in addition to the launch of the Investor Relations mobile app, which can be downloaded from iTunes App store and Google Play store, to provide investors with the company’s latest share price and financial news.

The Pearl-Qatar has also welcomed a large number of new local and international outlets and restaurants at Porto Arabia, Medina Centrale and Qanat Quartier, which are now providing residents and visitors of the Island with an exceptional leisure experience.

The newly-inaugurated shops bring the total number of outlets across the Island to 338, which have bolstered retail activity as witnessed by the number of vehicles entering the Pearl-Qatar. This statistic is tracked through monitoring devices installed at the entrance of the Island that are currently recording a weekly average of about 200,000 vehicles.

Barwa Real Estate leasing Barwasigns Real Estate signs leasing contract for contract Mustawdaat project for Mustawdaat project

B

arwa Real Estate Group has announced the signing of a leasing contract of its Mustawdaat project in the Umm-Shahrain area, with Mohammed Hayil Group for Trading and Contracting.

Salman Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, signed the contract on behalf of Barwa with Mohammed Hayil Al Omar, the Chief Executive Officer of the tenant company.

Signed at Barwa headquarters, the contract term is for ten years and six months, starting from October 1, 2017, during which the tenant shall operate, maintain and lease the project.

The total rental value is QR755 million over the duration of the contract term.

The Mustawdaat project comes as one of Qatar government initiatives to meet market demands of storage areas to fulfill the needs of the state’s citizens and residents at affordable costs so as to support overall price reductions.

The project’s development has been awarded to Barwa Real Estate Company as one of four warehousing parks that have been

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awarded to a number of developers in 2015.

Sponsored by Manateq, these projects offer an ideal solution for logistics activities and were awarded for the developers to run a (Build - Run- Transfer) model, whereby the facility is designed, constructed, operated and maintained by the developer. It will be transferred to Manateq after a 25-years concession period.

Located in Umm-Shahrain, the project extends over 500,000 square meters and provides four types of low-cost warehouses, including dry and air-conditioned warehouses and chilled warehouses as well as freezer warehouses on a total area of 259,446 square meters.

The project, which has a total built-up area of 273,113 square meters, will have a residential compound for employees, offices, 38 retail shops and a mosque, in addition to all necessary infrastructure, including the construction of 13 substations, internal roads, loading and unloading areas and networks for potable water, fire, irrigation, sewage and their respective tanks. It will also feature surveillance cameras, pump rooms and security rooms.

Barwa Chief Executive Officer Salman Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi congratulated

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the company’s shareholders for signing the leasing of the entire project, which, according to a release, “reflects the commitment of all employees of Barwa to maximize the shareholders’ equity and increase the returns”.

Al Mohannadi stated that the development of the project was completed in record time at a cost of QR450 million, including the cost of design, supervision, construction works, infrastructure and all related services.

“The Mustawdaat project is one of the fruitful outcomes of the partnership with the Qatar government which is a source of pride to all the employees of Barwa Group and it is also an incentive for all of us to do our utmost so as to realize the responsible role of Barwa as one of the pillars of development of our beloved country in light of Qatar National Vision 2030 and under the sponsorship of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir,” Al Mohannadi stressed.

Barwa Real Estate had announced in May 2016 the awarding of the construction of the Mustawdaat project and it is expected to be fully completed in the third quarter of this year.

At a glance: Barwa Real Estate signs the leasing contract of the Mustawdaat project in the Umm-Shahrain area.

• The project is one of the government’s initiatives to fulfill market demands and support overall price reduction.

• It is one of the fruitful outcomes of partnership with the Qatar government.

• The lease period is ten and a half years with a total rental value of QR755 million.

• Completion of the development of the project in record time with a total cost of QR450 million contributes to maximize returns and sustainable revenue growth for the Group’s shareholders.

MILESTONE

Doha Metro project on schedule Doha Metro project on schedule with 62% of work beingwith completed 62% of work being completed

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E the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti has stressed the importance of preparing a list of priorities in the delivery process of the Doha Metro project as scheduled.

We are very pleased with the progress of the Metro Phase 1 Program as it approaches 62% overall completion. Over 280 million man-hours have been clocked and the 10 Metro civil packages have now progressed to the next stage of construction which will see all the 37 stations undergo mechanical, electrical and architectural fit-outs, a colossal undertaking and notable milestone for a landmark project.

The Minister was speaking at a Delivery Alignment Workshop organized by Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) recently as part of its commitment to delivering the rail project on schedule.

The objective of the workshop, attended by both Qatar Rail’s executive management, project delivery team and its project management consultants (PMCs), was to evaluate the extent of progress so far and explore opportunities to accelerate progress and ensure that timely delivery is secured.

At the workshop, Qatar Rail said it had achieved 62% completion of the Doha Metro project and was on schedule.

The Minister thanked both Qatar Rail’s executive management and project delivery team for the achievements to date, expressing his confidence in the delivery of the project as scheduled and within the estimated budget.

He underlined the significance of the Doha Metro project by saying that it would represent the backbone of an integrated public

transit system in Doha.

He pointed out that such projects had been contributing in achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, thus placing the country amongst those that enjoy modern and sustainable public transit facilities.

Strategic initiatives such as the workshop, he noted, reflected the serious commitment from Qatar Rail and the Ministry of Transport and Communications toward development and embracing best practices that aimed to achieve successful projects with regard to transport infrastructure.

The close follow-up from the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, who is also the chairman of Qatar Rail, had a great impact on the ambitious initiatives being implemented by Qatar Rail to continue boosting its performance, the Minister added.

Opening the workshop, Qatar Rail Managing Director and CEO Abdulla Al Subaie said: “We are very pleased with the progress of the Metro Phase 1 program as it approaches 62% overall completion.”

He pointed out that over 280 million manhours had been clocked and 10 Metro civil packages had now progressed to the next stage of construction which will see all the 37 stations undergo mechanical, electrical and architectural fit-outs, “a colossal undertaking and notable milestone for a landmark project”.

“The completion of a 4km trackwork railway test section along the Metro Red Line, together with the extensive progress made at the Main Depot at Ras Bu Fontas, signals readiness for the arrival of the first consignment of trains before the end of the year,” he said.

“The civil structures are 95% complete and are scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The railway systems installation is in progress and the first trains will be tested on the test section of the Red Line before the end of this year.”

In recognition of its unique nature as an infrastructure project in Qatar, the Doha Metro development will undergo a novel and thorough review and inspection process by the competent authorities.

As part of the efforts to build confidence in the timely completion and delivery of the project and nurture a transparent working protocol, Qatar Rail has initiated an early inspection protocol with the competent authorities. An integral part of this effort has been the development of the Pilot Station concept.

ment rooms are being fitted out. The first batch of escalators has been delivered to site for installation with structural concrete works nearing completion.

The pedestrian underpasses are structurally complete without the need for disrupting the flow of traffic on the existing Al Matar road above. The architectural interior fit-out is also at an advanced stage.

The third Pilot Station, Economic Zone, has also witnessed profound progress, currently 78% overall complete.

Three of the 37 Metro stations for Phase 1 has been designated as “Pilot Stations” and they will serve as a benchmark for the integrated station model for Civil, MEP and Systems.

As of the end of June 2017, the civil and structural works are complete while internal architectural works are in progress with a superstructure for walls and vaults completed.

These stations are Al Qassar Station as part of the Red Line North Underground package, Al Doha Al Jadeda Station as part of the Red Line South Underground package, and Economic Zone Station as part of the Red Line South Elevated and At Grade package.

Installation of the glass reinforced panel roof cladding to the main building is more than 80% complete with the glass facade for nearly 70% of the station is in place.

The first Pilot Station, Al Qassar, has witnessed remarkable progress with civil and structural works almost 98% already complete.

The entrance shelter structure has been erected with internal architectural works: the final wall finishes (tiling) has commenced.

For the second Pilot Station, Al Doha Al Jadeda, the trackwork has been installed within the station and the systems equip-

The trackwork has been installed within the station and the systems equipment rooms are being fitted out. All 10 escalators are fully installed.

The pedestrian bridges and access buildings are structurally complete with facade works ongoing. The project has also engaged with Qatar Civil Defense.

“The work is progressing as usual at all construction sites and we are determined to meet our timeline for delivery of what will be a world-class transport system for Qatar,” Al Subaie concluded.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Public Publichealth healthstrategy strategyaiming aimingto topromote promotemental mentalwell-being well-being Mental health and wellbeing is one of the priority areas in Qatar’s Public Health Strategy 2017-2022, with its main focus on encouraging people to speak openly about mental health and to seek help as early as possible

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he mental health objectives of the Public Health Strategy have been designed to complement and build on the National Mental Health Strategy which was launched in 2013 with the vision: Good mental health and wellbeing for the people of Qatar, supported by integrated mental health services with access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

The World Health Organization’s global estimates suggest that mental health disorders affect more than one in four people in the course of their lives and about one in 10 adults at any one time, the most common disorders being depression and anxiety.

Being healthy does not just mean looking after our physical health; it is just as important to take care of our mind.

When we feel good in both mind and body, we feel happier, more positive and are able to enjoy our lives fully. Mental health describes our mental state – how we are feeling, what we are thinking, how we get on with others and how well we can cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Our state of mental health does not always stay the same and it can change as our circumstances change.

There are some risk factors that may make someone more vulnerable to experiencing a period of poor mental health, including physical illness, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and challenging life events. But sometimes there is no clear reason why we may find it difficult to cope at a particular time.

The World Health Organization’s global estimates suggest that mental health disorders affect more than one in four people in the course of their lives and about one in 10 adults at any one time, the most common disorders being depression and anxiety. Globally, the total number of people with depression and anxiety is estimated to exceed 300 million. In Qatar the estimated prevalence (2015) for depression is approximately 5.1% and for anxiety 4.2% of the population.

The levels of mental health awareness in Qatar are relatively low and many misconceptions exist around the causes of mental health conditions and the capabilities of people with a mental illness.

Susan Clelland, Acting Executive Director of the National Mental Health Program, feels that mental illness is very often misunderstood and is frequently surrounded by negative attitudes due to the low levels of awareness.

“Mental illness should be seen just like any other physical condition that requires treatment and support,” she says.

Providing people with positive messages about mental illness and raising people’s awareness through education and information are critical to supporting a better understanding of mental illness and reducing its impact. Raising public awareness about mental health will dispel misconceptions and encourage positive attitudes about mental health.

By reducing the stigma associated with mental illness, we can build a responsive community that understands mental health and creates a society where people can actively seek help and support without any fear of stigma or discrimination. Raising awareness is important for the whole community but particularly important for those that are most likely to come into contact with people experiencing mental health issues.

We want to build a community where people can identify the signs and symptoms of common mental illnesses early and support

people to access the right care, at the right time and in the right place.

If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, experiencing emotional distress or mental health issues, the most important first step is to talk to someone.

Trained professionals, services and support for mental health are available in Qatar.

Whether a person is experiencing symptoms for the first time, has had repeated episodes or needs additional support for a diagnosed condition – help is available and seeking support early ensures the greatest chance of recovery.

For mild to moderate conditions, the first step is to access the mental health services offered by trained family physicians in Primary Health Care Centers across Qatar.To make an appointment at your designated Primary Health Center, call Hayyak 107, which is available 24 hours/7 days a week.

A consultation survey for receiving the public’s view on priorities for the Public Health Strategy 2017-2022 has been launched.

“This creates stigma and can cause individuals and their families to suffer in silence, preventing them from seeking the necessary help they may need,” she says.

“The impact on family relationships and community life can also be greatly affected.

We therefore need to encourage a positive, open dialogue about mental health issues in Qatar and drive forward major change in people’s attitudes,” she points out.

Millennials: MeetMeet the next of cybersecurity Millennials: the generation next generation of cybersecurity

M

illennials, the name given to the demographic cohort born, roughly speaking, between 1980 and 2000, are members of what is now the largest living generation.

As they mature into 20- and 30-something professionals, they are taking over the helm from their parents across all sectors.

But with a predicted shortage of 1.8 million workers within information security by 2022, the gaping employment gap means the influx of a millennial workforce will be critical - and may well reshape the industry.

Mind the skills gap According to Stephen Cobb, a senior security researcher at ESET, the cybersecurity skills gap is the result of surging demand, thanks to rising cybercrime, as well as a lack of, among newbie tech professionals, the historical enthusiasm of previous generations to maintain and secure existing systems.-

Cobb wrote recently: “A lot of experienced security professionals are reaching retirement age, while many of today’s students find the potential rewards of building tomorrow’s technology more appealing than the task of securing yesterday’s.”

However, with headline-grabbing cyberattacks such as WannaCryptor, which went global recently, the importance of information security couldn’t be higher on the agenda.

Meaning there can only be increased emphasis on and interest in finding the best solutions to stem the disruption.

Rebalancing the industry Into the vacuum left by retiring baby boomers will step “the most diverse group of information security workers” ever, according to a recent study from the Center for Cybersafety and Education (CCE).

Which is important, as research repeatedly shows that diverse workplaces outperform non-diverse alternatives, and it appears that information security is heading that way.

According to the CCE, 78% of baby boomers in the industry identified as being Caucasian. For millennials it’s only 65%.

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According to the CCE study, millennials aren’t just a diverse workforce - they’re positive and open-minded about change, too.

Further, an influx of young blood may help rebalance the gender skew. As of 2015, women held only one in 10 computer security positions.

It found that 58% of millennials were optimistic about their companies’ performance metrics a year after a breach (compared to 48% of boomers); and that they’re more likely to voluntarily change jobs -not due to low job satisfaction, but to find better professional perks.

“As women make up more than half the population, and almost half of the current workforce, this means that our industry could be failing to reach skilled professionals who may not even be aware of the possibility of a career in computer security,” writes ESET researcher Lysa Myers.

Their research showed that millennials are keen on training programs, mentorship between experienced and new employees, and flexible working arrangements. That means that employers mindful of the skills gap would do well to offer such things to attract millennials.

Unlocking talent and encouraging people from all backgrounds to see information security as a career path is one means of helping the employment rate keeps up with retirement rate.

Broader research suggests millennials would prefer high-paying, skilled and diverse jobs at companies they believe in - which means that both remuneration and integrity are important.

Reports show demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing 3.5 times faster than the overall IT job market, and 12 times faster than the total labor market.

How exactly the future of the industry will be shaped remains to be seen. But the aforementioned study revealed that 37% of young adults are now more likely to consider a cybersecurity career than they were a year before.

But a 2014 survey by Raytheon and NCSA found that 67%of men and 77% of women in the US said no high school teacher or career counselor had ever mentioned the idea of a cybersecurity career.

24

Positively different

And so, while it’s certainly concerning that there is a significant gap in cybersecurity talent; enthusiasm for, and interest in this burgeoning and increasingly important and relevant industry, is on the increase. Things are changing. The millennials are coming.

NEWS

New Port Project Newand PortAlJaber ProjectEngineering and AlJabersign Engineering sign contract to establish securityfood facilities contractfood to establish security facilities

T

he New Port Project (NPP) Steering Committee and AlJaber Engineering (JEC) have signed a contract for designing and constructing food security facilities and warehouses at Hamad Port at a cost of QR1.6 billion.

HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and Chairman of the NPP Steering Committee, witnessed the signing ceremony, held at the Ministry headquarters.

The facilities will be developed and constructed on an area of around 53 hectares (about 530,000 square meters).

The project consists of specialized facilities for the processing, manufacturing and refining of rice, raw sugar and edible oils.

These products will be available for local, regional and global use.

The project includes bulk storage silos with their associated infrastructure and conveyance equipment, in addition to the fundamental structures fully equipped for asso-

ciated operations of handling, processing, packaging, reloading and transport.

A feature of the project will be a specialized facility for the recycling of waste products arising from the processing of basic commodities to create animal feed. Those facilities will operate as a fully functional standalone terminal, while 500 meters of the wharf of the port will be dedicated for the berthing and discharging of the ships of the new project.

As per the agreement, food security facilities and warehouses will be built and equipped in collaboration with international consultants, observing the best international practices and standards for manufacturing and quality such as German Ipro and Global Port – two prestigious global companies in the field of storage and world ports design.

There will also be work with global foodstuff processing and storage companies, including Bühler, a leading global Swiss-German food industries company; German BIA, the world’s top in designing and constructing raw sugar plants, sugar packaging and storage; and C M Bernardini, a leading global Italian company specialized in the design and supply of equipment and plants for oils and fats industry.

HE Al Sulaiti stressed that Qatar viewed food security as an integral part of its national security.

“This new project springs from the wisdom and insightful vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on the importance of the strategic stockpile for food se-

curity and giving it a very important place in the country’s strategies and plans and at the top of its priorities,” Al Sulaiti said.

“It also springs from the close follow-up from HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani.”

The Minister said Qatar had, over the past few years, remarkably managed to handle its strategic stockpile for food security and expanded its investment in this regard in several world countries.

He noted that such an expansion would make Qatar preserve its consumptive market over the coming years regardless of the circumstances it encounters.The Minister said that the food security warehouses project at Hamad Port would provide a stockpile for three million people for two years for each commodity being processed and stored.

He added that the project would be constructed in accordance with best international practices and standards and would provide a high capacity for storage, packaging, conveyance, handling and utilizing latest world technologies. Adding to what the project would be achieving for the strategic stockpile for food security, the Minister said that it came as part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ efforts to encourage Qatari private sector’s contribution to transport projects to harness the expertise and applied technology, as well as achieving the vision of HH the Emir.

The aim is to increase Qatari private sector’s contribution to development endeavors by promoting that contribution to become a source for our national economy.

AlJaber Group of Companies Chairman Mohammed Sultan Al Jaber said: “We are thankful to The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the New Port Project Steering Committee for trusting AlJaber Engineering with the design and construction of the Strategic Food Security Facilities Project.

“Being a Qatari company, we are proud to have been chosen for this strategic project for the State of Qatar. AlJaber Group of Companies shall provide full support to the project team to ensure high standards of quality and delivery of time.” The contract was signed by Maisar Jamil El Qutami, Project Executive Director, New Port Project, and Osama Hadid, CEO, AlJaber Engineering. The signing ceremony was attended by Swiss Ambassador Etienne Thevoz, German Ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel and Italian Ambassador Pasquale Salzano.

Qatar Development Bank Qatarlaunches Development Bank launches state’s first Entrepreneurship Award state’s first Entrepreneurship Award

T

he Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has launched the first Qatar Entrepreneurship Award 2017 for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners. The award, under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, aims to encourage entrepreneurs to compete and offer their best innovations, projects and initiatives.

applications, a thorough verification and review will be conducted. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a QDB team to allow for a further winnowing of suitable candidates. A specially-comprised panel of judges will then conduct their final review and select the winners, who will be announced during a grand ceremony, scheduled to held on November 15 this year.

The application process for the award is open to all eligible organizations in Qatar.

The award comprises five categories: the Best Microenterprise, the Best Scale-up Business, the Best Start-up Business, the Best Exporter and the Best Local Market Self-sufficiency.The registration period for businesses to apply for the awards this year opened on July 17 . Following the receipt of

The Entrepreneurship Award function will be held during the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), “thus contributing holistically to fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation locally”, according to a QDB release. Held each year, GEW-Qatar is a local chapter of the international expo series designed to connect start-up owners, investors, research-

ers and policymakers in a weeklong exhibition, comprising networking opportunities, training workshops and other development activities.

Addressing a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel marking the launch of the award, QDB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa said: “Over the years, we, at QDB, have been grateful for His Highness the Emir’s patronage of the SME community as well as the broader local private sector. Through his actions, his directions and his speeches, he has long stressed the importance of this sector and motivated SMEs to increasingly occupy centerpiece of the economy for a self-sustaining future.” He said QDB launched the first edition of the Entrepreneurship Award “to propel entrepreneurs to compete and offer their best innovations, projects and initiatives to enrich the business community with new and innovative projects that serve the Qatari community”.

Al Khalifa stressed that QDB provided SMEs with a myriad of financial and non-financial assistance, including advisory support and international matchmaking support, to consolidate their footprint in the local market and help them expand to foreign markets in the interest of a blooming, self-reliant local economy.

Companies applying for the Entrepreneurship Award will have to demonstrate their ability to meet set criteria to qualify for participation. The common requirements include the ownership of the company must be registered under a Qatari citizen;

the holding of a commercial registration license (except for Microenterprise Award); the ability to demonstrate an organizational disposition for innovation; the understanding for the social, economic and environmental impacts of one’s business; and a long-term vision for strategic growth. Additionally, contingent upon on the specific award for which an application is lodged, participating businesses must be in operation for varying minimum number of years and possess clear achievements to qualify.

The Best Microenterprise Award mandates eligible companies be in operation for more than a year and have the capability to demonstrate a clear vision for growth and market expansion; the Best Start-up Business Award necessitates a market presence of more than two years and a capability to demonstrate unique organizational traits of innovation; the Best Scale-up Business Award demands the best emerging company have more than five years of operation and a clear growth plan to build on its successes; the Best Exporter Award requires companies to have a successful track record in regional and international trade over a set number of years; and the Local Market Self-sufficiency Award stipulates that companies exhibit that their products actually cover the critical needs of the local market.

The launch of the Entrepreneurship Award is the latest in a series of initiatives that QDB has undertaken to encourage local SMEs and entrepreneurs to develop their businesses and play a prominent role in the national economy.

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25

TENDERS

ASHGHAL TENDERS AND

AWARDED TENDERS http://www.ashghal.gov.qa • • •

• •

Companies Eligible to Tender: Qatari Companies Only Joint Venture (JV) Companies, which includes a Qatari Company having a minimum of 51%, share holding of the JV Non-Qatari Companies Not Applicable * All financial values are in QAR

Tender No.

Type

Tender Title

Participants

Issuing Date

Closing Date

Category

PWA/STC/071/2017

STC

License and Support Services Renewal of Server Virtualization ISD/2017/SY/122/S

Qatari Companies Only

11-Jul-17

7-Aug-17

ICT

PWA/STC/070/2017

STC

Supply and Installation of Data Center Components ISD/2017/SY/106/S

Qatari Companies Only

11-Jul-17

7-Aug-17

ICT

PWA/STC/067/2017

STC

Doha & Rayan Sewerage Scheme, Miscellaneous House Connection Works, on Call Contract OC#01/2017, AA/DOM/2017/M/1842/S

Qatari Companies Only

11-Jul-17

7-Aug-17

Drainage

A/STC/074/2017

STC

Training for General English Language – 6 Groups HR/2017/T/006/S

Consultancy and Specialized Services

18-Jul-17

14-Aug-17

Consultancy

PWA/STC/073/2017

STC

Service Contract for Environmental Lab Equipment QSD/2017/M/003/S

Qatari Companies Only

18-Jul-17

14-Aug-17

Procurement General Services

PWA/STC/072/2017

STC

Qatari Companies Only

18-Jul-17

14-Aug-17

Procurement

PWA/ITC/004/2017

ITC

Qatari Companies Only

8-Mar-17

20-Aug-17

Drainage

PWA/ITC/026/2017

ITC

Construction of Package 11-Al Wakra Health Centre

Qatari Companies Only

18-Jul-17

20-Aug-17

Building

A/ITC/024/2017

ITC

Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) Contract for TSE Tanker Filling Stations at Doha West STW & Lusail STW Sites IA/2017/C/027/I

Qatari Companies Only

11-Jul-17

27-Aug-17

Drainage

PWA/ITC/023/2017

ITC

Interim Improvement of Main Roads in Al Nasr Area IA/2017/C/049/I

Qatari Companies Only

11-Jul-17

27-Aug-17

Roads

PWA/ITC/023/2017

ITC

Interim Improvement of Main Roads in Al Nasr Area IA/2017/C/049/I

Qatari Companies Only

11-Jul-17

27-Aug-17

Roads

PWA/ITC/025/2017

ITC

On Call Consultancy Services for Highway Structures AA/ ROM/2015/071/P1/I

Consultancy and Specialized Services

11-Jul-17

10-Sep-17

Roads

Supply of Spare Parts for Environmental Laboratory Equipment QSD/2017/SY/005/S Refurbishment and Upgrading Works for Various Sewage Pumping Stations - CP 771 IA/2017/C/017/I

General Conditions of Tenders •

• •

•

Full Documents for the Tender can be obtained from Contracts Department (CD) against a Non–refundable fee paid to PWA Account No. (0013-001813-052), Qatar National Bank together with a copy of the Company Registration and a Company Authorization letter.

Project document may be examined at Al-Faisal Tower(1), Ground Floor, Al Corniche before purchasing from PWA. Each Tender must be accompanied by a Tender Bond, either in the form of a “Certified Check” or a “Tender Bond’’ issued by a Bank acceptable to the PWA” in the amount mentioned above valid for (120 days). Any Tender received without the proper guarantee will not be considered.

The Tender shall be submitted in two separate sealed envelopes (technical and financial offer) and both

envelopes must be enclosed in a third sealed envelope which shall bear the tender number, subject and closing date.

• All Tenders shall be submitted in original and one copy or they will not be acceptance.

Tenders shall be delivered at or sent to arrive not later than 1.00pm local Doha time on the closing date and deposited in the relevant Tender Box of concerned Tenders Committee’s Chairman at PWA. • The successful Tenderer shall provide a Performance Bond in amount of ten (10%) percent of the Contract Price endorsed by an approved local bank in Qatar.

• For further queries about any of the tenders, please communicate in writing to the Contracts Department

by Fax.: (+974) 44950777

New Orbital Highway and TruckHighway and Truck New Orbital Route set to enhance traffic flow Route set to enhance traffic flow

Q

atar’s Public Works Authority (Ashgha) has opened Phase 1 of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route. Phase 1 included opening of roads with a total length of 125 kilometers, extending from Hamad Port to Al Shamal Road, up to Lusail and Al Khor.

Ashghal has accelerated the implementation pace to complete the road ahead of schedule because of its importance in providing a direct link between the strategic Hamad Port through the G-Ring Road, the Industrial Area, Salwa Road, Dukhan Highway and Al Shamal Road, and reaching Lusail city and Al Khor.

This will improve the transport of merchandises and goods from the south to the north of the country, especially since the port accommodates more than 2,500 trucks daily.

Orbital Highway provides a direct link with a number of stadiums such as Al Rayyan, Al Khor, Lusail and other sports facilities.

The new 69-kilometer long part of the road will enhance traffic flow from south of the country to the north from Mesaieed and Hamad Port to Al Khor and Lusail, going through G-Ring Road, the Industrial Area, Salwa Road, Dukhan Highway and Al Shamal Road.

Road users can also go for the first time from Mesaieed to Al Khor directly without having to go through Doha, having a positive impact on goods movement from Hamad Port.

The new sections include the opening of three lanes in each direction of the 18-kilometer road linking Mesaieed to the G-Ring Road, as well as Dukhan Highway to Al

26

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Shamal Road and reaching Lusail.

Moreover, five lanes in each direction were opened on the 33 kilometer road connecting Dukhan Highway to Al Shamal Road up to Al Khor.

The opened road traffic capacity will reach around 6,000 vehicles per hour in each direction out of around 12,000 vehicles total per hour expected to be reached after the completion of the Orbital Highway consisting of seven lanes in each direction.

The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route project is considered as an important addition to the road network in Qatar. It will serve as a vital link between the southern and northern areas in the country.

The project includes the construction of 21 main interchanges, including tunnels and flyovers that connect the Orbital Highway with the highways and main roads such as G-Ring Road, Salwa Road, Dukhan Highway and Al Shamal Road.

This will significantly enhance the flow of traffic and shorten the journey time through the Orbital Highway by around 50% on average, compared to the time spent in the same journey using the existing roads.

Achievements Linking road from Hamad Port to Doha and the Industrial Area: Ashghal opened a number of sections of the Orbital Highway in 2017, totaling 56 kilometers. Last June, Ashghal announced the partial opening of a 14 kilometer section of the linking road from Hamad Port to Doha via G-Ring Road and the Industrial Area.

SITES

Four lanes were opened in the direction from Hamad Port to the Industrial Area, and works are going on to complete the opposite direction from the Industrial Area to Hamad Port, which will open during the next period.

Hamad Port Road will provide road users with a direct shortcut route as an alternative to Al Kharrara Road or Al Wakra Road.

It is expected to shorten travel times by more than 15%.

The new road extends from Mesaieed Road, passing through the G-Ring Road, up to the East Industrial Street, through the recently opened underpass on the East Street 33 Interchange (formerly Al Watan Roundabout). It will establish a free-flowing connection between Hamad Port, Hamad International Airport and Salwa Road.

37-kilometer from the G-Ring Road to Dukhan Highway and Mesaieed Road:

In April 2017, Ashghal opened 37 kilometers of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route to traffic. The opened parts included a 29-kilometer linking road from the intersection of Orbital Highway with FRing Road, up to the intersection of Orbital Highway with Dukhan Highway, through Salwa Road.

The opened parts included eight kilometers of Mesaieed Road, extending from the south of Al Wakra to Hamad Port.

Linking road from Hamad Port to the Truck Route: The Public Works Authority opened in February 2017 about five kilometers of the road that links Hamad Port to the Truck Route, enhancing trucks’ movement between Hamad Port and the Truck Route and to Doha and other areas in the country.

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Manufacturers of Polyurethane Sandwich Panels in Qatar

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Body Builders of Refrigerated and Dry cargo Vehicles

Exclusive Dealers of Hwasung Thermo Engine Driven Transport Refrigeration Units Tel : +974 44783012 • 44127502 Fax : +974-44781646 Mob : +974 30911922 • 74747669 • 30050105 Email : info@fabricastqatar.com www.fabricastqatar.com

P.O. Box. 40820 Gate No. 45 Street No. 29 Industrial Area Doha - Qatar

Q

Industrial Area Street No.44, Gate No.124 P.O.Box: 3781 Doha - Qatar

Tel :+974 4416 7431 Fax :+974 4416 2053 Email: sales@dspqatar.com www.dspqatar.com

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FASTENERS

Q Fasteners, surpassing expectations in Construction Fastening Solutions with Technichal Expertise in Products International Standards Compliance and application.

Focusing on Assurance and Consistency in products selections comes with your requirements in mind.

Geotechnical, Geological and Material Testing Services

We Build, Connect & Construct.

Laboratory testing services Environmental Testing Geophysical Surveys Hydrological studies Geological mapping Onshore and nearshore ground investigations Probehole surveys Mineral Resource assessment In-situ testing Concrete investigations Petroleum Products Testing

"Approved and Licensed by Ministry of Education and Higher Education."

Industrial Area, Gate – 174, ST-17.

P.O Box: 40756 Doha – Qatar Tel: + 974 44118684 Fax: +974 4450 5194

E-mail: info@q-fasteners.com Website: www.q-fasteners.com

Address: Madras Management Training Institute #25, Third Floor, Al Ikhaa Street, Bin Mahmoud, Doha, Qatar #58, Street 752, Zone 54, Al Ameer Street, Aspire Zone, (Next to Madina Dental care), Qatar Toll Free: 8002029; Tel: 44414412, Mob: 66186329 Email: info@mmt-institute.com Web: www.mmt-institute.com

HVAC - Plumbing & Drainage - Fire Fighting - Electrical & ELV - Energy Centers - Street Lighting - Maintenance - Facility Management Established in 1974, TRAGS Engineering is recognized as the leading Grade-1 MEP Services, District Cooling and Facility Management Contractor in the State of Qatar. The scope of activities covers all aspects of building services including design, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of multi-service installations. In addition, the company offers 24/7 Facility Management Services to government buildings, corporations, educational, healthcare, industrial, commercial and residential sectors.

ENGINEERING

TRAGS Electrical Engineering & Air Conditioning Co. W.L.L Jaidah Tower Ist Floor, Abdul Aziz Bin Ahmed Street P.O. Box 470, Doha – Qatar Tel +974 44 41 42 11, Fax + 974 44 41 33 06 tragseng@tragsengineering.com

www.tragsengineering.com CONSTRUCTION

SITES

AUGUST 2017

27

CAREER SITES

Three tools to to Three tools organize youryour hiring organize hiring activities activities

A

s a recruiter, a hiring manager, or an HR professional, it does not have to be a dreadful task to look for one – or even 500 – employees. There is no need to stretch out your muscles beyond the maximum or get lost between a million candidates.

Technology is the closest thing to magic, and if you use leading online job sites, such as Bayt.com, for your talent sourcing and acquisition needs, then you already know this much! You can put the powerful tools to use and let technology search, filter, navigate, sort, organize, share, save, print, or perform any other essential command you can think of to help you hire efficiently and whenever you have a vacancy.

Time is precious and we are aware of that.

But when you are working against deadlines, running hundreds of search queries, and trying to manage piles of applicants for different positions at your company, things can become quite messy!

Consequently, Bayt.com has developed and introduced even more solutions that help companies find and hire talent as smoothly as possible.

Saved searches Supposing that you want a candidate for a digital marketing position, who is located in Doha, with three to five years of experience, speaks English and Arabic fluently, is a citizen or holds a work permit in Qatar, has a bachelor’s in marketing or a related field, and within 26 and 35 years old.

Don’t be scared! This can all be specified in your search. By inputting the data, you will be able to retrieve highly relevant results.

What’s even better is that you can save your searches to avoid spending your precious hours next time you look for a candidate with the same qualifications. Just name your saved search and access it a week later – or even years later!

QATAR

CAREERS

Apply to these jobs and more on Jobs.QC-Sites.com

Email alerts Besides being able to save your search criteria and running it whenever you need, you can also choose to use auto Search. This feature allows you to receive emails whenever there are new posted CVs that match your criteria. How convenient is it to have the latest CVs delivered right to your inbox? Of course, you can choose the frequency of such emails; whether daily, weekly, monthly, or none.

CV folders Between different positions, departments, and candidate files, your hiring activity can easily lose organization. You have the option of using CV folders for organizing the search results. Using the CV search platform, you can export, mark, print and save CVs into folders for later use.

CV searches are smoothly saved into folders and can be re-accessed at any time. Employers have the option of creating the folders and sorting CVs based on position, relevance, or any other criteria. This can further simplify the process of selecting the right person to hire among many candidates.

With access to more than 29 million CVs in the Middle East and North Africa, this powerful CV search tool relieves every recruiter’s nightmare and gives companies the highest number of relevant CVs in the entire region – no matter what field they’re searching!

Architect Grade A Artan Holding

General Foreman Hassanesco Trading and Contracting

Qatar | Mid Career | Min: 8 Max: 12

Qatar | Mid Career | 10 years exp

Civil / Hardscape Engineer Sidra Agriculture Company

Installation Supervisor Parsons International Limited

Qatar | Mid Career | Min: 5 Max: 15

Qatar | Mid Career | Unspecified

Construction Supervisor – Civil IRM Offshore Services

HVAC Services Sr. Sales Engineer UTC Building & Industrial Systems

Qatar | Mid Career | Min: 3 Max: 7

Qatar | Mid Career | 3 years exp

CAD Technician – Infrastructure; Road/Highway and Structural Parsons International Limited

Civil Engineer ARAB ENGINEERING BUREAU

Project Manager United Development Company

MARBLE AND GRANITE DRAUGHTSMAN Land Trading And Contracting

Qatar | Mid Career | 5 years exp

Qatar | Mid Career | 2 years exp

Draftsman Curtain Palace & Dreams Decoration W.L.L.

MEP Coordinator Hassanesco Trading and Contracting

Civil Foreman/Supervisor Adecco Middle East

Structural Planning Engineer Artan Holding

Qatar | Mid Career | Min: 8 Max: 15 years exp

Qatar | Management | Unspecified

IXL T&C Engineer Alstom

Senior Proposals Engineer I-Expatriate

Qatar | Mid Career | 5 years exp

Qatar | Mid Career | 10 years exp

Project Controls System Manager Hassanesco Trading and Contracting

Assistant Resident Engineer Parsons International Limited

Qatar | Management | 10 years exp

Qatar | Mid Career | 10 years exp

Qatar | Mid Career | Unspecified

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Qatar | Management | 5 years exp

About Bayt.com: Bayt.com is the #1 job site in the Middle East with more than 40,000 employers and 29,900,000 registered job seekers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the globe, representing all industries, nationalities and career levels. Post a job or find jobs onwww.bayt. com today and access the leading resource for job seekers and employers in the region.

In partnership with

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2017 CALENDAR OF EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS EVENTS

Cityscape Global Organizer: informa exhibitions Event date (s): 11 – 13 September Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre Location: Dubai, UAE Tel: + 971 4 407 2528 Email: delegate@informa.com Website: www.cityscapeglobal.com

4th Annual Future Interiors Qatar Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings Event date (s): 25 – 26 September Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Email: opportunities@acm-events.com Website: www.futureinteriorsqatar.com

Light Middle East Organizer: Mese Frankfurt Event date (s): 17 – 19 October Location: Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 389 4500 Email Address: light@uae.messefrankfurt.com Website: www.lightme.net

4th Annual Future Landscape & Public Realm Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings Event date (s): 30 – 31 October Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Email: opportunities@acm-events.com Website: www.futurelandscapeqatar.com

PPP Solar Energy Summit 2017 Organizer: PPP Experts Event date (s): 2 – 3 October Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +44 (0)203 137 0436 Email Address: info@pppexperts.com Website: www.pppsolar.com

Power Qatar Summit (Incorporating Solar Qatar) Organizer: Expotrade Middle East FZ-LLC Event date (s): 30 – 31 October Venue: The Ritz Carlton Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 4542135 Email: info@expotrade-me.com Website: www.powerqatar.com

GITEX Technology Week Organizer: DWTC Event date (s): 8 – 12 October Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre Location: Dubai, UAE Email: gitexsales@dwtc.com Website: www.gitex.com

Qatar Sustainability Week 2017 Organizer: Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) Event date (s): 28 Oct – 4 Nov Venue: Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4454 0242 Email: qgbcconference@qf.org.qa

Health & Fitness Expo 2017 Organizer: Qatar Expo Event date (s): 1 – 4 November Venue: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4465 0211 Email: fitness@qatar-expo.com/info@qatar-expo. com Website: www.fitness.qatar-expo.com

Hospitality Qatar Organizer: IFP Qatar Event date (s): 7 – 9 November Venue: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4432 9900 Email: info@ifpqatar.com Website: www.hqshow.com

Index Qatar Organizer: dmg events Event date (s): 13 – 15 November Venue: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4445 3727 Email: JaafarShubber@dmgeventsme.com Website: www.index-qatar.com

2nd Annual Qatar HVAC Contracting Organizer: IQPC Event date (s): 7 – 9 November Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 364 2975 Email: enquiry@iqpc.ae Website: www.qatarhvaccontracting.iqpc.ae

The Big 5 International Building & Construction Show Organizer: dmg events Event date (s): 26 – 29 November Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre Location: Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 4380355 Email: dmgdubai@dmgeventsme.com Website: www.dmgeventsme.com

4th Annual Future Drainage and Stormwater Networks Qatar Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings Event date (s): 5 – 6 December Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Email: opportunities@acm-events.com Website: www.futuredrainagenetworksqatar.com

Building Services Qatar 2018 Organizer: dmg events Event date (s): 30 Jan – 1 Feb 2018 Venue: Doha Exhibition Convention Centre Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 445 3639 Email: patrickgedeon@dmgevents.com Website: http://buildingservicesqatar.com/aboutus.html

CONSTRUCTION

SITES

AUGUST 2017

29

PROJECT FOCUS

To know more about GCC project data, visit & register at www.qc-sites.com Project Title

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

1.

C6 - LUSAIL

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

165,540,000.00

Design stage

MIXED USE BUILDING

2.

FOXHILLS - A29

FURSAN REAL ESTATE

NA

20,091,000.00

Design stage

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

3.

C5 - LUSAIL

RABBAN GROUP

NA

126,319,000.00

Design stage

MIXED USE BUILDING

4.

FOXHILLS - A30

FURSAN REAL STATE

NA

32,627,000.00

Design stage

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

5.

C4 - LUSAIL

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

108,070,000.00

Design stage

HOTEL APARTMENTS

6.

FV7 - MULTI PURPOSE HALL/ART CENTRE

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

67,500,000.00

Design stage

COMMERCIAL

7.

FV9 AL ASMAKH HEAD OFFICE IN SUSAIL

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

38,000,000.00

Design stage

OFFICE BUILDING

8.

FOXHILLS - A21

MR. NASSER SHAREEF ALEMADI

NA

22,505,000.00

On-going

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

9.

FOXHILLS - D49

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

29,299,000.00

Design stage

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

10.

FOXHILLS - D21

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

27,472,000.00

Design stage

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

11.

FOXHILLS - D04

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

25,273,000.00

Design stageE

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

12.

FOXHILLS - A13

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

24,918,000.00

Design stage

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

13.

FOXHILLS - D14

REGENCY REAL ESTATE

NA

23,150,000.00

Design stage

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

Project Title

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

1.

CBQ Boulevard

CBQ

HBK

N/A

Under Construction

Commercial, Bank, Office Plaza

2.

Doha Festival City (Package 3250,3100 and 7500

Basrec

GCC/ALEC JV

N/A

Under Construction

Retail Mall

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building - Tower

3.

Commercial Tower on Plot Com/49 Al Sedian Company

Yousuf Al Mahmoud

Al Balagh Trading & Contracting Co. W.L.L.

4.

Office Tower (3B+G22+ Floors) Plot Com50- at Lusail Marina

Qatar Trading Agency

Redco - Al Mana

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

5.

Qatar Sidra Village Project

Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Development QSC

Sinohydro Group Limited

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

6.

Office Buildings (3B+G22+) at Lusail Marina District

Sh. Hamad Bin Faisal Al Thani

REDCO – Al Mana

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

Holiday Inn at Business Park

He Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani

Man Enterprises Qatar, WLL

7.

MADINAT ASH SHAMAL

AL GHUWARIYAH AL KHAWR

UMM SALAL

AL JUMALIYAH

N/A

Under Construction

DOHA AL RAYYAN

Hotel

Project Title

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

1.

Blusail Furnished Apartment at Lusail (3B+G+10)

H.E SH Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Thani

Matta Contracting Qatar

89.5

Under Construction

Residential Building

2.

E's Hail Communication Network Building at Duhailiyat Camp

Qatar Armed Forces

ITCC

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

3.

Development of Ooredoo TEC Complex at Industrial Area

Ooredoo

Not appointed

N/A

Design Stage

Commercial Complex

4.

Private Villa at Pearl Qatar

Private Client

Not appointed

N/A

Design Stage

Villa

5.

Doha Education Centre

Doha Education Centre

Not appointed

30-50 Million

Design stage

Education

6.

Step 1 International Academy

Step 1 International Academy

Not appointed

20-40 Million

Design stage

School

Project Title

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

1.

Mix 11 Hotel Tower at Lusail City

Real Estate Services Group

N/A

600 Million

Design Stage

Hotel

2.

Al Jassasiyah White Beach Palace

UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC)

N/A

400 Million

Design Stage

Mixed-Use

3.

Marina Com 05 Tower at Lusail City

Private Engineering Office / Mashour Real Estate Group

N/A

315 Million

Construction Stage

Office / Commercial

4.

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Building

Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry

N/A

270 Million

Design Stage

Office

5.

Com 02 - Barwa Bank Headquarters at Lusail City

Barwa / Hilson Moran

N/A

250 Million

Design Stage

Office

6.

National Cyber Security Center

Ministry of Interior / Al Ali International

N/A

180 Million

Design Stage

Office

AL WAKRAH

MESAEED

JARIYAN AL BATNAH

NOTE: Whistle we take pride in keeping our Consultants Database with the most up-to-date information, please note that the above information is provided by the Consultants mentioned in the list; therefore QCS is not responsible for any incorrect data.

Fixin g Systems

30

AUGUST 2017

CONSTRUCTION

SITES

Project Title

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

1.

Fiber Glass Factory at New Industrial Area

German Tech Fibre Glass WLL

N/A

N/A

Tender stage

Factory Building

2.

Kitchen equipment factory at New Industrial Area

Justa Kitchen and Cookers

N/A

N/A

Tender stage

Factory, office Building

3.

Sand witch panel factory at New Industrial Area

Doha Sandwich Panel

N/A

N/A

Design stage

Factory Building

4.

Oil recycling plant at New Industrial Area

QAR Oil Recycling

International Work Group

N/A

Under construction

Oil recycling plant

5.

Cements product factory at Industrail Area

Al Simeh Cements Products

N/A

N/A

Design stage

Factory

6.

Accomodation and Store at Industrial Area

Ramco Trading and Contg.

Ramco Trading and Contg.

N/A

Tender stage

Acco. And Store

7.

Precast Factory - M IND AREA

Al Ghariya Precast

N/A

N/A

Design stage

Factory

8.

Oil Recycling plant - M. IND AREA

Gulf Oil Recycling

N/A

N/A

Design stage

Recycling plant

9.

Gulf Pallet Factory - MIC

Gulf Pallet WLL

N/A

N/A

Design Stage

Factory and office

10.

Abdul Noor Block factoryMIC

Abdul Noor Block Factory

N/A

N/A

Tender stage

Factory and office

11.

Switch Gear Factory - MIC

Q- TECH WLL

N/A

N/A

Tender stage

Switch gear

12.

Warehouse and Store MANATEQ

Quality Group of Companies

N/A

N/A

Design stage

Store and Warehouse

Project Title

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

1.

Police College Academy

MOI

Not Appointed

N/A

Tender Stage

Educational Complex

2.

Health Care Centers (Pacakge 4 & 5)

PWA

ITC/UCE

600

Under Construction

Medical Centers

3.

Villas Complex (Al Fardan 9) at Abu Sidra

Danat Qatar

Ramaco

300M

Construction Stage

Residential Building

4.

Multi-level Cars Park at Hamad International Airport

Qatar Airways

N/A

N/A

Tender Stage

Cars Park

5.

Logistic City

Qatar Navigation

Ramco

450M

Under Construction

Warehouses

6.

4 Nos. Parks at Various Locations in Al Daayen Municipality

Ministry of Municipality & Environment

N/A

N/A

Design Stage

Landscaping & Parks

7.

Construction of 8 Nos. Buildings Complex and Club House

Sheikh Khaled Bin Hamad

Insha Company

200M

Under Construction

Residential

8.

Headquarter of General Directorate of Borders Passports, Expatriates Affairs, Nationality & Travel Documents Department

MOI

Al Aali International

800

Under Construction

Offices & Services Building

Seasonal sales highlight e-commerce potential in Qatar With online consumer activity set to spike across the MENA region during the religious festivals of Ramadan and Eid, Qatar is looking to encourage e-commerce, as part of a broader push to catalyse private sector development.

By Oxford Business Group (OBG)

Shipping initiatives At the end of May, Qatar Postal Services Company (Q-Post) slashed shipping charges by as much as 35% for customers using its “Connected” e-commerce service throughout Ramadan, in a bid to spur online retail during the annual gift-giving that marks these holidays.

Launched in April of last year, Connected provides users with an “international shipping address” allowing them to shop at select global retailers that ordinarily restrict shipping to Qatar, thus easing postal wait times.

Last Ramadan, online sales across the MENA region rose 18% during the fortnight ahead of the festival and peaked at 66% in the month’s third week, averaging out to a 51% rise over the entire period, according to an analysis by technology marketing firm Criteo.

Q-Post’s move is part of broader efforts to modernise the country’s mail system and spur ecommerce in response to market changes and shifting consumer habits.

In March it inked an agreement with Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre to develop a pilot for Tasleem, a new e-commerce platform, to support on-demand delivery services both locally and regionally. The partners are now working to finalise an initial platform, with the aim of a large-scale launch at a later stage.

The following month, Q-Post signed a deal with Turkish Post to develop a joint e-commerce platform to facilitate online shopping and shipping between Qatar and Turkey.

The Communications Regulatory Authority has meanwhile been working to create a business environment more conducive to e-commerce.

“We are already working on assessing the sector’s dynamics and how to balance policies and regulations, taking into consideration their impacts on service providers, over-the-top services, platforms and applications,” Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, its president, told OBG.

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

Sheikh Mohamed Jassem

Not Appointed

198,500,000

Design Stage

Commercial

E-commerce in the Gulf has lagged much of the rest of the world, as the region’s retail space continues to be dominated by malls.

5-Star Hotel at Ramda Signal

Babishtar Group W.L.L.

Bab Ishtar

70,000,000

Under Construction

Hospitality

3.

Office Building ECQ-D29 in Lusail

Abdulla Abdulrehman Abdula Heidar

Not Appointed

22,400,000

Design Stage

Office

With estimated revenues of $5.3bn in 2015, e-commerce contributes just 0.4% of the GCC’s GDP, far below the 3% figure in comparable markets, according to a 2016 study by consultancy AT Kearney.

4.

Residential Apartment Tower in Marina District, (RES 22) Lusail

Al Mohannadi Group

Not Appointed

81,000,000

Design Stage

Residential

5.

Residentials Building MU / P08 at Fox Hills, Lusail

Qatari Real Estate Group

Not Appointed

22,000,000

Design Stage

Residential

6.

Cold Stores & Meat Processing Facility at Industrial Area

Zad Holding

Qatar Mega Building

51,000,000

Under Construction

Industrial

7.

Twin Tower 13A & 13B at the Pearl

Sh. Nasser Bin Falah Al Thani Group

PLQ (Powerline Qatar)

482,500,000

Under Construction

Residential

8.

Modification and Furnishing of Behavioral Healthcare Center HQ, Doha

Behavioral Healthcare Center BHC

Not appointed

35,000,000 QAR

Design stage

9.

Stafford Sri Lankan School, Doha

Stafford Sri Lankan School

Not appointed

42,000,000 QAR

Design stage

Project Title

Client

1.

Commercial Tower in Marina District, Lusail (COM 17)

2.

Growth potential

One reason for the slow uptake is that many consumers prefer to physically inspect and compare items before purchasing, according to Shamsuddin Olakara, chairman of Quality Group International.

“E-commerce offerings are also lacking from the retailers’ side,” he told OBG. “More diverse payment options should be introduced to enhance both customer satisfaction and security.”

Further obstacles to growth include regulatory challenges, poor payment and logistics infrastructure, security, and consumer trust, AT Kearney noted.

Nonetheless, the report added, given high personal income levels the GCC could become one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for e-commerce, with the potential to nearly quadruple online sales to $20bn by 2020.

This scope for growth has caught the attention of international giants like Amazon, which in March announced a deal to acquire Dubai-based online retailer Souq.com for at least $650m.

Moves to open the market to smaller-scale enterprises have also been made, and in early March the Qatari government launched the Qatar National E-commerce information portal.

The platform provides the latest information on the e-commerce scene in Qatar, as well as tips, guidelines and best practices for enabling businesses to grow through e-commerce and for helping consumers to stay safe online. The stated aim is to help small businesses access global value chains through e-commerce.

ICT investment

HVE

DXE

ø10 (M6) ÷ ø24 (M16)

ø12(M8) ÷ ø15(M10)

VS

HXE

ø8 ÷ ø16

ø8 ÷ ø10

AJE

ø8 ÷ ø20

DSE

ø8(M6) ÷ ø16(M12)

Another positive sign for e-commerce growth is greater commercial use of technology. As Qatar-based firms become more aware of how technology can help grow their sales, total business spending on ICT is forecast to rise from $1.9bn in 2015 to nearly $2.8bn by 2019, according to a 2016 report by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Almost half of businesses surveyed for the report said ICT helped them access customers in new geographies and expand their potential markets.

“ICT underpins the growth of every industry in the 21st century,” Zong Yan, CEO of Huawei Qatar, a global telecoms & ICT company, told OBG. “We have observed in other countries such as China that there is a direct correlation between GDP growth and investment in ICT.”

Fixin g Systems

CONSTRUCTION

SITES

AUGUST 2017

31

SITES C o n s t r u c t i o n

Rania Queen St. Amman- Jordan Tel: +9626 5356616 - Fax: +9626 535 6606 - P.O.Box: 622 - Aljbeha: 11941 watan_newspaper@yahoo.com

Monthly construction news, tenders, project focus, and forthcoming exhibitions in Qatar Tel.: +974 4469 3280 - Fax: +974 4451 0428

Issue No. (121) August 2017, Doha - Qatar

Bright future seen for LED lighting Bright future seen for LED lighting

T

he LED technology is witnessing a major expansion across the market, replacing conventional lighting systems in most of the applications worldwide, according to Nizar Nasreddine, General Manager of Beyond Lighting, an ISO-certified company that is a pioneer in its field in Qatar.

the near future and it has already proven that when looking at the trends graph for the past 10 years. LEDS now have a longer life and are more efficient, specially amidst the worldwide race between the manufactures to increase the efficiency ratio of the LEDs Lumen per watt; thus, you have high return on investment.

Beyond Lighting was established in Qatar in 2011 as a company specialized in the lighting domain, offering lighting solutions, products and engineering services for high- and mediumlevel projects.

It is more resistant to the surrounding temperature so it overcame the big challenge of outdoor use in GCC and it can replace all conventional lighting applications, including sports events lighting.

“LED can make a big impact on our energy use and play a big role in fighting global warming,” General Manager Nasreddine points out in an interview.

Moreover, in terms of fees, all new technologies’ rate is often high at the beginning, then start to drop within time; the same scenario applies to LED lights whose prices are falling down to become very close to the conventional lighting for the standard commercial products.

Most of the conventional lighting demands we are having these days in Qatar are for old specs projects, and it is expected that within the coming two years the use of conventional lighting will stop completely.

The demand for smart lighting systems, he stresses, is increasing due to their energy management, convenience, and safety.

Full text of the interview: QUESTION: What lighting technology are you offering?

in their homes like smart home appliances, mirrors, showers and lights. Moreover, smart lighting systems provide unlimited solutions giving lots of commodity to our lives, and the lighting system can now be connected to our mobile devices through Bluetooth and mobile apps.

The demand on smart lighting systems is increasing due to their energy management, convenience, and safety.

If I want to explain the idea scientifically, for example, our body responds to the white color by secreting some hormones, so the bright white represents the morning and the work time, while the warm white represents the sunset time and relaxation time.

Several manufacturers have started using in the past few years variable white technology, which you can control to have the color rendering that represents the right time of the day, and this technology is being used and highly recommended for the healthcare sector, so it has a very good effect on patients with complicated health problems who stay for a long time

ANSWER: Speaking about lighting nowadays, the first thing that comes to mind is the LED technology which is invading the lighting domain in all its applications and uses and this is the main technology we offer now.LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are semiconductor devices that produce visible light when an electrical current pass through them. LEDs are a type of Solid State Lighting (SSL), as are organic lightemitting diodes (OLEDs) and light-emitting polymers (LEPs).

A: There are a lot of developments and technologies expected in the lighting market. One of the main technologies expected to be very bold in the upcoming years is the OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) which is a very thin LED film. OLEDs are composed of a layer of organic material situated between an anode and a cathode and deposited on a substrate. When voltage is applied to the OLED cell, the injected positive and negative charges recombine in the missive layer and create electroluminescent light.

The LED is not a new lighting technology anymore. However, there are a number of advanced technologies on top of the LED that Beyond Lighting is offering. The concept of lighting isn’t just about emitting light anymore.

It’s being a major factor of beauty, comfort, security and data. Technologies such as Li-Fi can transmit data 100 times faster than regular WiFi by modulating the light, which would mean you could download the entire set of Star Wars movies in around one second. The Li-Fi technology works by pulsing the LED light at extremely high frequencies which is undetectable to the human eye.

A modern OLED device may use many layers to improve efficiency, but the basic functionality remains the same. This technology has been already launched in recent years, but there are a lot of researches and investments to develop to a mature commercial lighting solution.

This technology has started to be used for the screens and IPhone is adopting it in the new IPhone versions.

Q: What business challenges are you facing and what are you doing to overcome those challenges?

Q: What are the main differences between an LED and a standard fixture?

A: LED lighting is characterized by having a much longer life span and by its low maintenance, less temperature emission, its high ROI rate in relative to conventional lighting and its higher flexibility in terms of controlling it.

LED uses less electricity for the same light output - 85% less electricity is consumed when compared to conventional lighting. Worldwide, around 20% of electricity is consumed in lighting. LED can make a big impact on our energy use and play a big role in fighting global warming.

Q. How would you characterize current and future demand for LED lighting in the new commercial building market in Qatar?

A: In line with the worldwide directions towards green and sustainable energy solutions, the use of LED lighting will increase drastically in

Q: What are the major technological advances expected in this market in the next five years?

A: The main challenge is mainly offering competitive quality products.

Q. What’s driving the market shift toward LEDs in the region?

A: The LED technology is witnessing a major expansion across the market, replacing conventional lighting systems in most of the applications worldwide.

It has been proven that LED lighting is a more reliable solution, has a longer life and is characterized by intelligent control. LED prices are also declining steadily. Those are the main reasons why the market is shifting towards LED lighting.

Q: The LED technology has the added benefit of enabling “intelligent lighting” because of its application of software and analytics. How can you see this enlightening people’s lives in the region?

A: People are keen to use smart technologies

in the hospital. Therefore, lighting technologies nowadays are affecting remarkably people’s lives.

Q: Can you share some background insights on current challenges in LED light?

A: There were some major challenges that the LED lights were facing but in the recent years, we have seen the LED lighting succeeding in overcoming those challenges mainly when it comes to cost and the thermal management for outdoor use. AUnlike the conventional lighting which uses a filament that is heated to emit light, the LED is a light source which uses semiconductors, but it is sensitive to heat which consists the main challenge for the outdoor applications in the GCC area. However, most of the reputable manufactures are managing this issue.

We’ve all seen examples of poor-quality LED retrofits that make a shop, cafe or office look dreadful, all for the sake of saving energy.

But the Wild West of the LED market is being tamed, and people who work in such industry are now adopting a wiser approach, focusing primary on quality.

Q: What are the future plans? Do you have any plans of further increasing your product portfolio in the next two to three years?

A: Beyond Lighting is mainly covering all the products and applications in its portfolio. As for our future plans, we aim to expand outside Qatar and to be a key advocate of sustainable lighting solutions in Qatar and the area that inspires the use of green lighting not only from a business perspective but also from the perspective of social corporate responsibility.