Big Project ME December 2022

08 The Briefing

Avinash

Paras Adhvaryu

The Big Picture

Market Report

20 In Profile

Laurent Longuet

26 Project Profile

Qetaifan Island North

32 Event Review

Big Project ME recaps the Construction Intel Summit - KSA , which was held on November 23, 2022 in Riyadh for the first time

38 Event Review

Recapping the events of the 6th CSCEC ME Technical Conference, which was held on November 10, 2022

40 Final Update

Analysis

Fida Kibba of Ericsson Middle East and Africa , says that combatting climate change will take unified, global action

SMC confirms changes to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit ahead of the F1 race’s return next year

The Show Must Go On

Athe time of writing this month’s editor’s letter, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is in full swing in Qatar, and while the tournament has had its fair share of controversies, it’s had some incredible sporting moments – none more so than Saudi Arabia’s defeat of the mighty Argentinians.

By happenstance, the Big Project ME team flew into Riyadh while the game was ongoing. We’d disembarked from the airplane and were in line for immigration when both the equaliser and the winning goal were scored. Hearing the buzz that rippled around the airport and seeing first-hand the joy and excitement of Saudis of all ages and station is something that will stay in my memory for a long time!

However, we were in Riyadh to set up and prepare for the Construction Intel Summit – KSA, which marked our first-ever live event in the Kingdom. The event was scheduled to be on the 23rd of November, and as astute readers may have noticed, that was the day declared as a public holiday across the country in recognition of the win at the World Cup, which certainly wasn’t something we’d expected or planned for!

The reason I mention all of this is because, as our cover story shows, we still went ahead and put together a pretty impressive show, in my humble opinion. Despite the many challenges faced, and the dramatic upset to our plans, we still got a strong turnout in terms of attendees, and a full line-up of speakers and presenters.

This was only possible due to the utmost professionalism and cooperation from everyone involved, and I wanted to use this month’s letter to say thank you to them, and to everyone on the Big Project ME team for coming together and contributing to a fantastic event. Coming up this month is our final event of the year – the Big Project ME Awards 2022. This year has seen a fantastic line up of submissions, with close to 220 nominations submitted! With the winners set to be revealed on December 15th, I’d like to highlight the number of project nominations received, with submissions coming from all over the MENA region. There are some brilliant projects out there, and it’s been a truly exciting process going through them and deciding the winners with our esteemed panel of judges. Good luck to all the nominees, and I hope we can meet on the night!

Gavin Davids HEAD OF EDITORIAL & CONTENT

Future Builders

SAUDI ARABIA’S AMBITIONS ARE THE KEY TO THE REGIONAL INDUSTRY’S FUTURE, THE CONSTRUCTION INTEL SUMMIT - KSA REVEALS

ON THE COVER Big Project ME recaps the events of the first-ever live Construction Intel SummitKSA, which was held in Riyadh on November 23, 2022.

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CONSTRUCTION

PROPERTY

Arada enters Dubai real estate market with launch of Jouri Hills

INTERVIEW: AHS Properties adds two new projects to its portfolio

CONSTRUCTION

INFRASTRUCTURE

MACHINERY

SUSTAINABILITY

Education Design

Multisensory Learning

Avinash Kumar of GAJ shares his thoughts on how education design requirements have changed to take into account changing local and global influences

Several influences have had a significant impact on the education sector within the region and globally in recent years. Everything from the outbreak of the pandemic to the advent of new technology, a desire for soft skills training, decreasing attention spans, a focus on sustainability and other factors have made their mark on the sector.

Discussing the impact these influences have had on client design requirements and, ultimately, design thinking for education projects, Avinash Kumar, Associate Partner at Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) told Big Project ME that one main area of change is the

provision of an innovative and efficient learning space, which is healthy and contributes to the wellbeing of students.

“Air quality and lighting plays a major role in the cognitive performance of students, so we must ensure that we create a healthy environment for them to thrive in,” he elaborated.

Sharing some of the requirements he’s tracked from clients in recent times, he stated, “Clients have a desire for an efficient floor plate to keep the overall flow of students to a minimum. Adequate space planning is always in demand and plays a key role in school design. We have been developing a number of ‘out of classroom’ spaces

2,600

Total number of students at the recently opened The Citizens School in Dubai

MIDDLE EAST

such as extra-wide corridors and atrium spaces that encourage collaborative processes where students are not bound by conventional teaching spaces.”

GAJ is a well-established design entity within the UAE, and, over the years, it has established itself as a significant player when it comes to the design and delivery of education projects. Recently, it handed over The Citizens School in Dubai.

Asked whether the pandemic is still influencing design requirements today, he replied, “There were many COVID rules, such as social distancing, that were put in place during the pandemic – most of these were temporary. However, several of the design protocols including sensor-based sanitary provisions in highly populated spaces, such as washrooms and cafeterias, which were adopted during this period of time, have now become standard in the design of public spaces.”

“That makes sense, as does the continual implementation of highly efficient filters and UV lamps for airhandling units to prohibit microbial growth and airborne contamination for better indoor air quality,” he continued.

DISRUPTING EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Apart from disrupting how educational institutes engaged with their students, the pandemic also significantly

Healthy environment

Avinash Kumar says that creating a healthy environment in schools can help develop students' cognitive development and allow them to thrive.

impacted global supply chains, and this continues to be a challenge today. Kumar noted that supply chain issues have been a concern for many months now, with major shipping delays affecting projects across sectors.

Another innovation that seems to have captured the attention of the built environment and its various stakeholders post pandemic is the Metaverse. Positioned as the next iteration of the internet – one which function as a single, universal and immersive virtual world that is engaged with via the use of virtual reality and augmented reality headsets – a number of built environment stakeholders, and reputed brands, have debated the technology’s potential to be either an add-on to existing offerings or an all-out replacement.

Smart education

The Citzen School in Dubai comes with a number of innovations and smart educational tools to enable teachers to engage with students in a variety of ways.

Commenting on how GAJ is dealing with this challenge when it comes to its education projects, Kumar said, “We rely heavily on locally produced materials, which enables us to avoid some of these problems.

"But there are many others who have been, and continue to be, affected by product availability, labour shortages, and logistics disruptions.”

Asked about his views on whether the Metaverse could replace physical classrooms, Kumar commented, “In one of our recent school projects, we installed digital screens with four smart projectors on two of the walls to enable teachers to share multiple ideas on multiple screens. This was a new approach and has set a new precedent for classroom design, opening the door to a new level of multisensory learning where virtual reality and the Metaverse allows students to enter an environment they can see and feel. The Metaverse will certainly be an added feature within schools in the next few years, but it will not replace the classroom, as there really is no substitute for the physical interaction students experience in a traditional learning environment.” This article originally appeared on MEConstructionNews.com

Investing in Sustainable Partnerships

MIDDLE EAST

In the wake of COP27, which was held in Egypt from November 6 to November 20, 2022, global organisations and governments have announced a raft of sustainabilitylinked measures and initiatives. With the built environment responsible for generating 40% of annual global CO2 emissions, the sector has been proactive in pushing for more effective, productive, and intelligent ways of operation and maintenance across the entire lifecycle of a building.

Given their consumption of electricity and the fluorocarbons used as refrigerants, HVAC systems are a major contributor towards global warming, particularly in rapidly developing economies, where the growing demand for air conditioning is likely to have an increasingly severe effect on climate change.

Therefore, as a major player in the global HVAC space, Daikin has pledged to alleviate the effect its products have on climate change, and to provide energy-efficient solutions that will not

only reduce emissions, but also help it to recover, recycle, and destroy fluorocarbons during all stages, from production through to final product disposal.

To find out more, Big Project ME spoke to Paras Adhvaryu, Applied Business general manager at Daikin Middle East and Africa.

What are the challenges and opportunities in the regional HVAC market?

Across the UAE, GCC and broader Middle East, traditionally the HVAC growth has been driven by the harsh climatic conditions coupled with increasing no of high rise, glass façade buildings are driving growing demand for cooling solutions.

At the same time, regional governments have set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions and reach net zero in the coming decades. To achieve these challenging targets, it is vital that buildings, which are the source of 27% of all carbon emissions, become increasingly energy efficient. At Daikin,

Paras Adhvaryu of Daikin Middle East and Africa speaks to Big Project ME about the HVAC manufacturer and supplier’s sustainability achievements and contribution to regional efforts to combat climate change

our sustainability target is to reach net zero by 2050, in line with the UAE’s target as well. So, our energy-efficient HVAC systems are designed to ensure energy efficient building with excellent IAQ. With high-level government strategies supporting the development of greener, more sustainable buildings, we now need government policies to promote the spread of energy-efficient air conditioners. We have been meeting with government officials in both UAE and Saudi Arabia to support these policy developments in support of more sustainable cities.

What is Daikin’s roadmap for the next five years in the region?

Daikin Middle East & Africa has already been developing and promoting a solution approach instead of just a product sales approach in the region. This is evident in all our solution offerings across different verticals: Modular Chiller plants, Pump Skids, Turnkey Refrigeration projects, Factory Mounted controls in AHUs, Various IAQ solutions, Cloud Services and other IoT solutions to better serve our customer needs.

At the same time, we had already embarked on an aggressive localisation drive for past three years. Besides expanding our offices in UAE and Saudi Arabia, we have established Daikin’s direct presence in Egypt, Qatar, Nigeria, and Morocco.

The localisation has not only been limited to Sales and Service presence, but we have also increased our manufacturing footprint by establishing a 10,000 square metre factory in Saudi Arabia, in addition to our existing Dubai factory. This localisation drive will continue across other regions of Middle East and Africa ensuring that best solution and service reaches our customers and end users.

What are some of the sustainable practices adopted by Daikin in the Middle East and Africa?

We strive to reduce the environmental footprint of our products. In fact, we are working to reduce the environmental footprint of our products and activities across the entire value chain as we work toward achieving net zero by 2050.

Our core sustainability practice is to aggressively promote energy efficient

HVAC technology utilising inverters in chillers, DX and VRV, as well as EC fans for AHUs and FCUs. Our CSR department is also actively working with various government environment and energy regulatory bodies in order to support them in formulating standards and labelling programs.

As an extension of our Global initiative to reduce GHG and minimise our carbon footprint, we have established local manufacturing facilities in UAE and Saudi Arabia. The supply chain has also been designed to maximise the utilisation of our local vendor network and reduce imports from outside the country.

We have introduced products with low GWP refrigerants like R32 & R1234ze. We are also working towards promoting heat pump heating solutions to replace traditional fossil fuel or electric heating to contribute towards decarbonisation.

In fact, our sustainability practice has started from our own headquarters and AHU factory building in Jebel Ali. Daikin and Yellow Door Energy together commissioned a 515 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar plant this year which is expected to generate 826,000 kilowatthours of clean electricity in the first year of operation. Close to 1,000 solar panels have been installed on the roof of Daikin’s facility, meeting more than 80% of the energy consumption needs.

Sustainable practice

Daikin has partnered with Yellow Door Energy to power its regional HQ with solar energy.

This is in line with our Environmental Vision 2050 and supports the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and Clean Energy Strategy.

What are some of the CSR activities carried out in this region by Daikin?

We have a dedicated department for CSR, and we are committed to creating value for people, cities, and the earth. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact in support of the urgent climate action needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. We are working to deliver energy-efficient solutions that support sustainable cities. And we support a healthy lifestyle in support of economic productivity and advancement.

In line with these efforts, we pursue partnerships that can help create value for societies. We work with universities, researchers, and other stakeholders to develop new solutions to improve the quality of life. In partnership with ETIWA TECH LTD/GTE, we have established our first training centre in Nigeria with the aim of expanding our expertise and know-how to further build the skills and knowledge in the growing African market. We consider that building a generation of well-equipped technicians and installers in Nigeria is an essential step towards transforming our environment into a cleaner and more sustainable space for our customers.

How is Daikin contributing towards the UAE’s smart city ambitions and its overall sustainability vision?

We plan to achieve a 30% reduction in net greenhouse gases by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050. As of 2021, we achieved a 10% reduction rate of net greenhouse gases, demonstrating that we are on track to achieve our targets.

In support of the UAE’s decarbonisation efforts, we have just launched a new solar plant to power our regional Dubai-based headquarters, additionally, we have opened a new Smart Excellent Centre at our Dubai headquarters.

This is a Remote Monitoring Centre for our smart HVAC equipment across the country. Our AHU factories also offer Smart AHUs with factory programmed and installed control systems.

2050

Daikin aims to achieve a 30% reduction in net greenhouse gases by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050

Value Partnerships

Daikin works in partnership with universities, researchers and other stakeholders to develop new solutions, says Adhvaryu.

Eagle Hills unveils $2.5bn super yacht project in Albania

Eagle Hills has announced a $2.5bn development in Albania. Billed as the largest super yacht marina in the world, the Durrës Yachts & Marina will be in the ancient city of Durrës, 34km from Albania’s capital of Tirana.

The project will offer 12,000 luxury marina homes, a state-of-the-art marina; a terminal for international cruise liners; premium open-air retail experiences with shopping and dining concepts; parks and open spaces; luxury hotels and branded hotel residences; world-class wellness clubs and spas, and exclusive beach and marina clubs.

02 EGYPT

Alstom to design and build first driverless metro in Africa

French mobility giant Alstom has signed a framework agreement with Egypt’s National Authority of Tunnels (NAT) to design, build, and maintain Line 6 of the Cairo Metro.

In a statement issued at the COP27 Summit, Alstom said the 35km-long line will be the first driverless metro in Africa and will accommodate around half a million passengers. The line will run north to south through the Greater Cairo neighbourhoods of Shubra El-Kheima and New Maadi, ending at the beginning of Ain El-Sokhna Road, Al-Khosos. It will include 27 stations, with 12 of them underground.

03 KUWAIT

Kuwait’s TEC says tourism projects set for mid-2023 completion

Kuwait-based Tourism Enterprises Company (TEC) has said that steady progress is being made on its prime tourism and entertainment projects, with the projects on track for completion by mid-2023 as per schedule.

The Ras Al Ard club is a key project –spread over an area of 35,000sqm – the club will feature a variety of recreational and sports activities for different age groups such as multi-use sports courts, F&B outlets, as well as paved walkways and a boardwalk, in addition to swimming pools.

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) has unveiled plans to invest US$13.3 billion into the development of 21 integrated entertainment destinations, with over 150 innovative attractions, that will be developed in partnership with prominent international brands across 14 cities in the Kingdom.

The wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) said that construction works of SEVEN’s first entertainment destination in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh have already begun.

KSA to invest $704m to develop Darin and Tarout

Island

Saudi Arabia has announced the accrediting of a development approach for Darin and Tarout Island. Located off the coast of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, in the Arabian Gulf, the island is home to 120,000 people. The development approach will include the setting up of a new development cooperation for the island. US $704 million will be invested across the island, with the aim of improving the quality of life and developing its GDP.

The investment aims to take advantage of the island’s heritage, environment and tourist aspects.

EMICOOL inks deal to increase solar capacity by 238%

Emirates District Cooling Company (EMICOOL) has inked a power purchase agreement (PPA) with solar specialist Emirates Electrical Engineering (EEE). The agreement will see Emicool increase its solar capacity by 238% within its District Cooling Plant 1 (DCP1), along with its head office boundaries, located in Dubai Investments Park 1.

The joint venture aligns with strategic objectives of maximising the penetration of clean and renewable energy into their processes, while supporting the transition into low carbon emissions.

04 SAUDI ARABIA

SEVEN to invest $13.3bn into KSA entertainment destinations

06 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

05 SAUDI ARABIA

Etihad Rail and Borouge sign partnership agreement

Etihad Rail has reached an agreement with UAE petrochemical company Borouge, to transport 1.3 million tonnes of polyolefins annually from its petrochemical complex in Al Ruways Industrial City for export.

With this new partnership agreement, Borouge has become one of Etihad Rail’s main customers.

The deal also includes the development of a rail freight terminal in Al Ruways Industrial City, extending over an area of one million sqm. The terminal will handle loading and unloading, as well as storage and maintenance of shipping containers.

08 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Omniyat

inaugurates

ORLA on Palm Jumeirah

Omniyat has inaugurated the ORLA, Dorchester Collection in Dubai, which is situated on a beachfront plot at the apex of Palm Jumeirah’s crescent, it has announced.

Designed by Foster + Partners and managed by the Dorchester Collection hospitality brand, the luxury property is situated on a 29,000sqm plot and features 86 two- and four-bedroom residences, three sky palaces, and one of the largest mansions on Palm Jumeirah. Each residence will feature oversized terraces and doubleheight ceilings of up to six metres and will be fitted out with European appliances.

09 OMAN

Hatta reservoir project more than 75%

complete

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that more than 75% of the work has been completed on its Hatta Water Reservoir project and is due for completion –fully on-schedule – in April 2023.

With a construction cost of US $23.4 million, the Hatta project has a storage capacity of 30m imperial gallons of water. DEWA is implementing the project as part of efforts to store six billion gallons of water in aquifers that can be retrieved as and when needed.

07 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Industry outlook

Curtailed Activity in the Kingdom

CBRE’s Saudi Arabia

Real Estate Market

Review Q3 2022 finds that limited stock has constrained activity KSA’s real estate market

Lack of stock availability has impacted activity levels in Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector during the third quarter of the year.

Taimur Khan, head of Research – MENA at CBRE, commented: “We are seeing limited levels of suitable stock curtail activity across the Kingdom. We expect this trend to continue in the short run where activity levels are likely to remain somewhat subdued and performance indicators continue to trend up, almost uniformly across sectors and major metropolitan areas.”

OFFICES

Looking at Saudi Arabia’s office sector figures, the majority of activity remains centred towards Riyadh, with occupancy levels now reaching

99.0% and 98.7% for Grade A and Grade B stock respectively. Constrained supply levels have continued to support growth in rental rates, where in the year to September 2022, average Grade A and Grade B rents in Riyadh increased by 5.9% and 3.5% respectively.

In Jeddah, we have seen an uptick in demand with most requirements favouring serviced office offerings, as average Grade A rents increased by 8.2% when compared to Q3 2021. In the Eastern Province, Grade A rents in Dammam and Khobar registered an increase of 3.9% and 8.2% respectively over the same period.

RESIDENTIAL

Residential transaction volumes in Saudi Arabia fell by 15.5% in Q3 2022, compared to a year earlier, with the total value of transactions also slightly decreasing by 0.8%. Overall, the number of residential transactions totalled 37,743 and the value of transactions totalled SAR 25.6 billion this quarter.

With regards to transactions on a regional level, the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) was the only region to record growth in transaction volumes with an increase of 12.0% in the year to Q3 2022. Riyadh and Jeddah have maintained their downward trend in their total transaction volumes with their total diminishing by 31.1% and 19.3% respectively over the same period.

Average apartment prices across Saudi Arabia have increased by 7.8% in the 12 months to September 2022, with prices in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Khobar increasing by 13.1%, 8.9%, 5.6% and 3.7% respectively.

HOSPITALITY

Looking at Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector, the second half of 2022 has seen a strong rate of recovery underpinned by a rebound in religious tourism, the continued growth in the number of entertainment initiatives enacted across the country and the sharp rebound in conferences. As a result, the Kingdom’s ADR and average occupancy rate increased by 19.5% and 17.6% respectively, in the year to date to September 2022, with its RevPAR also increasing by 74.9%. In Riyadh, the average occupancy rate has improved by 5.0 percentage points when compared to the year to September 2021, posting notable growth of 23.4% and 35.1% in terms ADR and RevPAR respectively. In Jeddah, the hospitality market has also fared well, with the ADR and occupancy rate recording growth of 19.6% and 6.5 percentage points in the year to date to September 2022, where its RevPAR grew by 35.2%. In the holy cities of Makkah and Medina, the meaningful return of religious tourism has meant that RevPARs saw a marked increase of 266.6% and 214.6% over the same period.

SAUDI ARABIA

A prestigious recognition of excellence of the foremost building contractors in the region

About the The Event

Winning a Big Project Middle East Award is a well-recognised badge of excellence amongst clients and peers.

The Big Project Middle East Awards of Excellence are a long-standing part of the regional construction calendar.

This year’s edition of the awards will focus on the companies and organisations that provide vital services to the construction industry. Whether you are a main contractor or a subcontractor, a developer or an infrastructure solutions provider – your presence at the annual event will give you an opportunity to network with peers, reward your teams, entertain clients and even find new ones!

We welcome submissions from across the MENA region, covering all aspects of the construction industry – from major residential and commercial towers, through to vital infrastructure and utility projects – the Big Project ME Awards of Excellence will reward those who showcase the bold and pioneering spirit that this region is known for.

Judged By Professionals

Built around the concept of transparency and clarity, the awards are decided upon by an independent panel of judges from across the spectrum of the industry.

The awards are targeted at the contracting and development segments of the construction industry; the editorial team take considerable efforts to ensure that nominees are assessed by consultants, academics and regional and international bodies who have a chance to assess nominations both individually, and in a group discussion. This ensures that winners are chosen on the basis of the work they do over the course of the year, and on the reputations, they develop with the industry. We are proud to state that our awards are unbiased, transparent and fair, with no external influences on the decisionmaking process.

Award Nomination Enquiries

Gavin Davids | +971 4 375 5480 gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com

Table Booking & Sponsorship

Raed Kaedbey | +971 4 375 5715 raed.kaedbey@cpitrademedia.com

THE RITZ CARLTON JBR / DUBAI / UAE

About Annual Event

Winning a Big Project Middle East Award is a well-recognised badge of excellence amongst clients and peers and are a long-standing part of the regional construction calendar, with nominations coming from across the MENA region.

About Sponsoring

Raise your brand profile, establish yourself as a thought leader and utilise this opportunity to encourage new business and empower your sales teams to generate effective new leads.

2022

Awards Categories

CONSTRUCTION AWARDS

Contractor of the Year

MEP Contractor of the Year Fit-Out Contractor of the Year Sustainable Contractor of the Year Civil Contractor of the Year Developer of the Year Off-site Contractor of the Year

PROJECT AWARDS

Project of the Year Sustainable Project of the Year Fit-Out Project of the Year Infrastructure Project of the Year MEP Project of the Year

E nergy Project of the Year HSE Project of the Year

COMPANY AWARDS

Skills Development Programme of the Year Sustainability Programme of the Year Supplier of the Year Construction SME of the Year Sustainable Government Department of the Year

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Big Project ME Executive of the Year Big Project ME Professional of the Year

2022

Event Partners

PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY CATEGORY SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR BRONZE SPONSOR

ANALYSIS

Climate Change

Climate Change:

MIDDLE EAST

Fida Kibbi, vice president and head of Marketing, Communications and Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says that we must treat the threat of climate change with the same level of caution and focus that the COVID-19 pandemic received

A pandemic we must address collectively now D

uring the recent COP27, which took place in Egypt, world leaders grappled over what must be done to curb global warming. Seven years ago, world leaders signed an international treaty to limit global warming to well below 2°C. Nonetheless, efforts remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

The ramifications and severity of climate change vary depending on where you live. Given its geography, the impact of climate change has been noticeable across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region with devastating consequences including the floods in Pakistan, Nigeria, droughts in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, and the wildfires in Turkey for example.

Climate change needs to be seen as a critical matter and dealt with in the same manner as a pandemic. The actions we take today will determine the scale and impact of the ramifications. In treating it as a pandemic, we must remember some of the lessons and act accordingly. A key lesson is that collaboration is key to making a difference and we must deal with this challenge in an ecosystem driven approach.

AN ECOSYSTEM CONCERTED AND SUSTAINED APPROACH

Governments: Governments play a key role in defining the nation’s agenda to address the climate challenge by defining policies that will help drive sustainability and reduce activities that endanger the planet. Regulations in

various sectors will ensure adherence and create actionable outcomes. Some nations across the MEA region have addressed the climate challenge by making it front and centre on their national agendas, setting ambitious clean energy targets for the coming decades and implementing initiatives to control emissions and increase energy efficiency.

It was very inspiring to hear about those initiatives and plans at COP27 in Egypt and as nations across the regions are gearing up as well for COP 28 which is set to be hosted in the United Arab Emirates next year. Having the Middle East hosting the global leading forum is a testament to the region's ambition to play a more decisive role in the climate crisis.

Organisations: Organisations, no matter how big or small, define how their operations and value chains impact climate change and what they can do to mitigate the effects. At Ericsson, we have prioritised the elimination of sources of greenhouse gas emissions within our own activities and value chain which follows a 1.5°C reduction trajectory as part of our Net Zero target for 2040. Organisations need to take a bold step in investing in digitalisation. This will help reduce carbon emission as well as drive efficiency in every sector of the economy.

Individuals: Individual responsibility and dedication are critical in addressing climate change concerns. Decisions such as choosing to invest pension funds in organisations that are environmentally responsible will put pressure on providers to help fight the climate crisis. Cutting down on business travel is another good example of how companies and individuals can make an impact on reducing carbon emissions.

LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS

Technology can play a major role in supporting global climate action. These could include solutions that help various sectors manage their emissions and data driven insights that can help make informed decisions affecting climate. At Ericsson, our 5G technology is supporting industrial sectors such as energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, towards a low-carbon economy.

In the coming years, connectivity and advanced technologies will play a key role in transitioning the region to a more knowledge and service-based economies. Technology will also help the region in effectively monitoring, measuring, and delivering sustainability initiatives while accelerating the growth of renewable energy and enabling the energy transition.

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT

Partnerships between the private and public sectors with a common goal and purpose can help advance climate action. In line with Sustainable Development

Act with urgency

The

Goal (SDG) 17, Ericsson has partnered with stakeholders, including governments, agencies, the international community, and research institutions, in our various markets, to find lasting solutions to climate change. In some countries across Africa, we partnered with our customers to find innovative solutions that address environmental sustainability.

ANTICIPATE MULTIDIMENSIONAL IMPACT

Similar to the pandemic, climate change has a multidimensional impact. It has the power to derail the progress we have made in sustainable development, further deepen the economic divide, and harshly affect the marginalised in society. Understanding the worst-case scenario will help us address the challenge effectively.

In summary, the fight against climate change cannot be won alone. It will require collaboration from the entire ecosystem, along with the use of technology and innovation across all sectors of society. This will then need to be combined with the proper policy direction and specific solutions to achieve a 1.5°C future target.

Multidimensional impact

Climate change has a multidimensional impact, with the power to derail progress and further increase divides in humanity.

We need to think of climate change as a looming pandemic. Our individual actions today and the interventions by all stakeholders will determine its scale and impact. We have the power to drive this change, and we must act with urgency.

world must address climate change like it would a pandemic and work urgently to address it, says Fida Kibbi.

Leveraging the Power of the

ver the course of the past year, SirajPower, the UAE-based solar energy provider has seen a surge in business, with a number of major contracts signed for a host of projects across the country. Amongst the many highlights in 2022, a few that stand out are the recent partnership with master developer Nakheel to deliver nine projects in the UAE, as well as the completion of a 1.9MWp solar project at Kings School Al Barsha.

However, perhaps the most intriguing deal was one with the Abu Dhabibased Cleanco Waste Treatment. The ten-year contract will see SirajPower develop a unique, fully financed 2 MVA solar-diesel-battery that will provide reliable power to Cleanco’s Al Dhafra-based plant via a hybrid system consisting of solar PV technology, a diesel generator, and a battery.

This solution will allow the diesel-powered waste treatment plant to reduce its fuel consumption, operational expenditures, and carbon footprint, in line with the UAE’s

sustainability vision. This was all done without Cleanco committing to invest in the system, but instead only purchasing the electricity produced by the system.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cleanco has the following main advantages: firstly, the electricity produced by the system will be cheaper than the electricity produced by the current setup. Secondly, the company’s carbon footprint will be significantly reduced since a significant amount of electricity will be generated by solar energy.

Rather than solely relying on diesel, the system will also include extremely reliable batteries, which will act as a backup generator that will provide

continuous power in the event of a malfunction with the diesel generator.

“As a company, this project is an extremely important step, and it has taken a lot of hard work to produce these kinds of hybrid and grid solutions,” says Laurent Longuet, CEO of SirajPower to Big Project ME

“While this is the first major project we are undertaking, there are many similar projects in progress at present. In other words, for SirajPower, this is an important innovation being implemented. Furthermore, our incredibly cost-effective solutions provided under a fully financed scheme will also enable us to reach many businesses in the region who are hesitant to move to solar energy.

The project has now been fully installed, with the solar system installation and electric network modification completed, he points out, adding that final tests were being conducted at the time of the interview. Longuet highlights that these tests are indicative of the amount of time, energy, and attention the company has spent on analysing and testing the system to ensure its security and stability.

Off-grid solutions

SirajPower offers solutions that combine with BESS to benefit projects that are off-grid completely.

This extra care will be crucial to the success of the project as the Cleanco’s site is off-grid and will not be connected to the grid anytime soon. Due to this, the site is currently entirely powered by diesel, and by installing a modest solar system, which will be used in addition to the diesel generator, the facility will be able to maximise its energy savings.

No need to invest SirajPower offers its clients the ability to purchase the electricity produced by the systems they install, rather than committing to invest in the solutions themselves.

However, Longuet points that this approach does not offer many advantages, as the size of the solar system must be reduced if it is to be linked to diesel without a storage system. This must be done to avoid interference and instability, he explains.

“For this reason, at SirajPower, we firmly believe that when creating a hybrid solar system, it’s crucial to include battery storage as well as solar panels as a source of energy. This way, the system can be stabilised, allowing for the installation of much bigger solar systems. The nature of Cleanco’s site necessitates implementing this type of solution, as we are firmly convinced that this is the most effective way to provide our clients with the most benefits,” he asserts.

“We want to ensure that when the system is turned on, it is 100% reliable from the very beginning. If needed, we will extend the test; our goal is not to rush, but to ensure that the system is highly stable when it

starts,” Longuet asserts, adding that Cleanco will soon reduce its diesel consumption and be able to cut 685 metric tonnes of emissions annually.

“As far as day-to-day operations are concerned the operators won’t notice a difference. The true impact will be in the long-term advantages a solar energy system installation brings to any firm: When the solar system is in operation, the cost of electricity they consume will begin to decline. This is because, once again, a sizable portion of the energy will be produced by solar energy, the most affordable source of renewable energy in the region,” he adds.

THE GROWING ROLE OF BESS

The significance of the project cannot be underestimated given the increased role Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are beginning to play in the renewable energy space. While this is a relatively new technology in the region, the applications for it are

enormous, and Longuet is adamant that SirajPower will be leading the charge.

“Recent years have shown that Battery Storage Power Stations and Batteries Energy Storage Systems are extremely useful and have a lot of value across many applications. For example, if you run on diesel and add solar energy without a battery, then you’re very limited in how much solar energy you can generate and consume. Adding a solar battery will help you increase the amount of electricity produced by solar very significantly,” he says, adding that BESS is being used worldwide on grid projects.

“BESS is an extremely well-run and fast-growing business worldwide, and we are confident that the same acceleration will take place with SirajPower in this region as well. Having said that, in order for that to be accomplished in the region, there needs to be a number of milestones or conditions that have to be met,” he points out.

Reducing

9

Number of projects SirajPower will deliver for Nakheel as part of its partnership

“The first is that many businesses and governments in this region are normally cautious and prefer that new innovative solutions be put to the test before being implemented. In fact, we have already seen this happen to a certain extent, and our hybrid solardiesel energy project at Cleanco is our attempt to raise awareness, acceptance, and popularity of such solutions.

“Secondly, battery storage is relatively expensive in general. When it comes to solar, most companies do not always have the financial resources to add a battery system, even if this would help them make a profit considering the reduction in the cost of electricity.

“Typically, companies prefer to retain their cash to operate their businesses and not to produce electricity. Here’s where we step in to help realise this potential. SirajPower provides comprehensive financing alternatives for solar system installations, including BESS systems. We have very long-term contracts with our clients that are dependent on the amount of power we can generate.

“The final challenge is for regulations to be open to financed solar solutions. If you are looking for a hybrid solar solution, regulation is generally not a problem. However, if you wish to implement some solutions for grid connected systems, these are regulated. We will have to adapt these regulations in different countries within the region to allow for such a solution,” he outlines.

THE FEASIBILITY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Despite these challenges, Longuet remains confident in the viability of renewable energy in the Middle East, pointing out that over the last ten years, there have been several major projects developed in the region.

The UAE has been a pioneer in this field, with projects such as Shams 1 in Abu Dhabi coming up in the 2010s, while Dubai has seen the ongoing development and growth of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park. Wider afield, there are several similarly large-scale projects being implemented across the region – in Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

“In my opinion, the demonstration of renewable energy being feasible is

now behind us. We are aware that it is feasible, as many projects provide evidence on a daily basis. It is also well known that solar and wind energy are the most competitive forms of energy generation worldwide,” states Longuet.

“We know that it works, we know it is extremely competitive. Considering the number of sunny days that we have in this part of the world; I am highly optimistic that the adoption of solar energy will continue faster and faster.”

Elaborating on his theme, he explains that in the solar energy business, there are essentially two segments, one of which is grid-scale or utility-scale. This involves developing very large solar plants or wind farms, to provide electricity to the grid.

We know that it works, we know it is extremely competitive. Considering the number of sunny days that we have in this part of the world; I am highly optimistic that the adoption of solar energy will continue faster and faster”

685 The Cleanco facility will be able to cut 685 metric tonnes of emissions annually

While this is a booming business in the region, it is more of a governmentto-government (G2G) business, so SirajPower, as a private company, has no stake in that, he says.

“However, the second segment is what we refer to as distributed energy, and here’s where we come in. Distributed energy is about providing directly to the end users, whether they are businesses, schools, malls, private residential communities, a complex, and so on. SirajPower’s strategy from the start was to offer any private player in the region green energy. That is, energy derived partially or entirely from solar power.

“Since our inception, we have expanded geographically by proposing similar solutions within the region, and we are currently operating in Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, adding people to the ground and undertaking additional projects. In the future, we intend to expand across the entire region,” he reveals.

For the time being, however, the company is happy to continue developing its project pipeline in Dubai, where it recently announced the acquisition of three more projects from a reputed client. In the hybrid business, the company started up five more projects at the end of October, expanding that aspect of their business.

Along with these notable successes, the recent partnership with Nakheel

has catapulted the company to another level. The agreements cover projects such as the 3.1MW solar rooftop for The Gardens residential complex, as well as Dragon Mart 2 and 6, Discovery Gardens, Dubai Islands, the International City Pavilion, the Jumeirah Park Pavilion, the Discovery Gardens Pavilion, and the Al Furjan Pavilion South.

“We are a unique company in the region in the sense that we are established by a respected local family with a strong heritage and are the only locally owned company in Dubai licensed and certified to offer under the same umbrella

Supporting objectives

The solutions offered by SirajPower highlight the company’s dedication to supporting regional renewable energy objectives.

both Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC), O&M, and financing solutions,” Longuet says.

“Aside from growing our business, we are dedicated to supporting UAE’s initiatives along with our founding organisation Green Coast. The UAE government, as well as Dubai, have made some very bold commitments regarding the development of renewable energy.

“It’s the same in Saudi Arabia, where a strategic plan has been outlined by the Crown Prince. To support these objectives, we are in the process of organising the company to be capable to deploy enough capital, therefore being able to develop more projects. We will complete the details of this operation by the end of the year, but we are preparing the organisation to be able to move to the next level in terms of the scale and speed at which it will deploy additional renewable energy systems in the region,” he outlines.

Leveraging partnerships

SirajPower will continue to leverage its successful collaborations and partnerships to better serve its customer base.

“However, we expect to continue complimenting the growth of the solar power industry in the region and building on the same success that we have seen for our company this year by continuing to leverage of our successful collaborations and partnerships, which have assisted us in better servicing our customer base as we look forward to being part of and complimenting this strong regional growth,” Longuet concludes.

ocated off Lusail City in Qatar, Qetaifan Island North has been designed to be a future iconic destination for the Gulf country. Spanning approximately 1.39 million square metres, with 129,296 square metres of water park alone, the island is set to become an exciting entertainment destination, with attractions for the whole family.

In addition to diversified waterfronts, distinct neighbourhoods, luxurious hotels, pedestrian friendly streets, living gardens, the destination comes with world class facilities that make it a modern, globally competitive community with a unique design that is inspired by the rich culture and nature of the region.

The main artery of the island that links all the zones together is the Linear Park, while there is also a man-made salt lake that links to the sea, allowing visitors to enjoy fishing, boating, and other activities. Spread around the lakeside are community facilities such as snack stalls, prayer rooms, and seating, along with meeting and game rooms, and a kid’s club.

220 Number of BIM360 users on the project

The retail units on the island include canal-side cafes and a range of restaurants, ranging from quick service through to exotic fine dining, the developer says. The retail and festival area includes 92 units located next to a 6,500-capacity waterpark area; it adds, highlighting that the waterside retail, café and restaurant units are in three adjacent locations, built around the world-class waterpark, a five-star luxury hotel, and the entertainment and souq area.

The total area for all of this is 12,300 square metres along the banks of the canal, and it comes with 1,400 parking spaces. Furthermore, the development

will offer seven private beaches, and a clubhouse that will offer an assemblage of activities, the developer says.

In 2017, Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, was appointed the Lead Designer for multidisciplinary design consultancy and masterplan services for Qetaifan Island North (QIN) Phase One. The consultancy was given a mandate to create the masterplan for a visionary, blended urban development on a man-made, remediated island in the Arabian Gulf.

“When it came to being awarded this project, it was all about trust. The client felt that only Atkins could deliver a project of this scale in the region and in the time frame, based on our decades of experience and our presence in the Middle East and working on largescale, complex projects such as the Doha Metro,” says Barton Ferguson, Operations director at Atkins Qatar.

He explains that the QIN project required collaboration across global teams, multiple subcontractors and time zones. In 2018 Atkins was also appointed as Lead Consultant for the development, from concept to detailed design and construction supervision of Phases Zero and One, including building and infrastructure design and supervision for site-wide infrastructure, beach club, waterpark, linear park, hotel, souq, retail plaza and mosque.

Phase Two of the project, which includes residential development and

Global community Qetaifan Island North has been designed to be a world-class, global community inspired by the culture and history of Qatar and the region.

When it came to being awarded this project, it was all about trust. The client felt that only Atkins could deliver a project of this scale in the region and in the time frame, based on our decades of experience in the Middle East”

a school, is now underway. Atkins has been awarded the supervision contract for this phase, extending the company’s involvement through to the end of 2023.

TRANSFORMING DESIGN AND DELIVERY TOGETHER, WITH DATA

Ambitious design, detail and complexity, time frame and high client expectations combined to make this challenging project a flagship for design and collaboration at scale. Atkins’ multidisciplinary design team took the previous iterations of the masterplan back to the drawing board, reworking the design and leveraging the latest digital technology to ensure delivery.

The masterplan comprised of numerous projects within a

Projects within a project

The masterplan comprised of a number of projects within the project, bringing in teams and stakeholders from around the world.

project, pulling in multiple teams and stakeholders from around the world. These included teams from locations as diverse as Doha, Dubai, Epsom, Hong Kong and India, along with subcontractors in Canada, US, UK and France.

Coordinating and collaborating efficiently on a project of this scale with global teams and stakeholders could only be achieved with a fully integrated digital solution.

92The retail and festival area includes 92 units

“Introducing and leveraging digital technology to this degree, and implementing a common data environment, has set a benchmark for design in the region. This project was unique in the number of people from around the world who were able to

collaborate using the common data environment, towards one goal,” says Anastasios Dimas, Regional Digital Delivery director, Atkins Middle East.

The complexity of calculations and functions required for the project meant that existing digital tools needed to be optimised and processes automated. The design team pushed REVIT, a building information modelling software tool, one step further, with automation scripts through Dynamo, an end-toend cloud platform, for elements such as the hotel design. Dimas points out that the project also led the way

in having full-team LOD300 detailed design, the phase where a design begins to accurately resemble what will be installed, and the implementation of a BIM360 common data environment (CDE) as a centralised platform, accessible to all global teams.

The design team alone comprised of more than 220 BIM360 users. Now a staple for buildings projects, the introduction of the CDE was key to efficient collaboration and set the benchmark for future urban development projects in the region.

All subcontractors had to be on board with BIM360 and LOD300

requirements to prevent breakdowns in workflow, Dimas and Ferguson add.

Working in the CDE enabled global teams to work consecutively according to time zone, each having access to a constantly updated model, creating a 24-hour workflow. Using the CDE, teams could predict and mitigate potential bottlenecks, a level of efficiency that proved integral to delivering a project of this scale and complexity at pace.

The project also marked the transition from 2D to 3D design in the region, with comprehensive 3D modelling across every aspect of the design, including utilities and roads, which could then be reviewed in the CDE with the client.

Now common practice, virtual reality technology was introduced to walk the client through elements of the infrastructure, such as the hotel.

KEY DEVELOPMENT

Qetaifan Island North is an important flagship project for Qetaifan Projects, which is owned by Katara Hospitality; a leading global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar.

In terms of fulfilling the company’s own sustainability agenda and sharing the sustainability targets of the Qatar National Vision 2030, the project is a key development for both country and company.

Implementing a common data environment, has set a benchmark for design in the region. This project was unique in the number of people from around the world who were able to collaborate towards one goal”

Working consecutively Working in the CDE allowed global teams to work consecutively across time zones, creating a 24hour workflow.

1.39m Total size of the project, in sqm

Construction Intel Summit

– KSA debuts in Riyadh

The first-ever Construction Intel Summit – KSA to be held live in Riyadh concluded on November 23, 2022, at the Al Faisaliah Hotel.

Focusing on three key themes: Visionary Designs: Design Considerations and Procurement Strategies to achieve Vision 2030; Project Interfaces: Integrating Multiple Contract Packages and Sequencing Workflows on the Kingdom’s Megaprojects; and Enabling Saudisation:

Providing Pathways of Growth and Development to Saudi Construction Professionals, the summit saw a strong turnout on an unexpected public holiday, with well over a hundred and twenty attendees attending with the hope of connecting with the panellists and presenters on stage.

Following a welcome address by Gavin Davids, Head of Editorial and Content at Big Project ME, the day-long event was kicked off by Joe Tabet, the Managing Director of JT+Partners. He set the theme for the following

sessions by outlining the scope of the Kingdom’s ambitions, highlighting the opportunities and possibilities that Vision 2030 would bring, and what the construction sector needs to do to be better prepared for the coming economic and societal changes.

Rachel Willacy, Regional Head of Procurement at Compass Project Consulting then led a panel consisting of Daniel Orti, Middle East Director of ACCIONA Cultura; Clive De Villiers, Managing Director of C-Quest International; Sean Doherty, Head of Project and

Program Management MEA at JLL; and Min Lee, Architecture Director at Red Sea Global, in a conversation about how people and companies can help bring Vision 2030 to life. This panel outlined the many challenges facing the Kingdom’s supply chain as it looks to deliver Vision 2030 and the many projects fuelling the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s economy and society. Amongst the topics discussed were capability constraints, resolution of legacy issues around capital and cashflow, and coping with increasing price pressures.

Big Project ME recaps the inaugural live event of the Summit, which was held at the Al Faisaliah Hotel on November 23, 2022, and saw more than 120 attendees join in for a day of discussion and knowledge sharing

“I was joined by significant players from across every facet of the built environment, including developers, consultants, and contractors. Their expertise spanned procurement, cost and commercial management, architecture, and design development, through to programme delivery and construction management,” Willacy said.

“The widespread and far-reaching discussion offered considerations, insights and vital lessons learned when developing giga projects at scale, pace and against a challenging global backdrop. Some of the key challenges explored by this panel included human-centric design, alternative procurement strategies attraction of young talent, fasttrack becoming the norm, modern methods of construction, and the global geopolitical landscape.

“The exploration of humancentric design means that there is a requirement for developers to

think strategically, engage more holistically, and embed the endcustomer in design decisions,” she added. “Alternative procurement strategies also enable early contractor involvement to consider constructability, value engineering, and supply chain innovations.”

Hervé Hamelin, General Manager International for Kairnial, and Dhawal Armarkar, Regional Manager – Middle East, for Techture, then followed up with presentations on their respective companies and technology offerings. Hamelin focused on the importance of on-site quality and compliance for 2D and BIM projects, while Armarkar shared insights into how Techture is helping to fuel the digitalisation of the construction space in the Middle East.

SESSION TWO

The second session of the day kicked off with David Clifton,

Regional Director – Middle East and Africa for Faithful + Gould, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, moderating a discussion focused on the integration of multiple contract packages and sequencing workflows. He was joined by Adrian Dobbe-Holman, Regional Director – Middle East and Asia for Capital Consulting International; Fernando Freitas, director at Omnium International; Haitham Altebani, Principal Consultant at Asite Saudi Arabia; and David Watkins, Chief Delivery Officer at Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

Over the course of a wideranging discussion, the panellists covered a number of issues and topics concerning the volume of work in the Kingdom, and how to best achieve targeted schedules and deadlines.

With more and more construction companies looking to enter Saudi Arabia due to the number of opportunities available,

Fernando Freitas pointed out that international contractors would need to be brought in to handle the amount of work available but warned that they would need to be afforded a learning curve, so as to get them up to speed in a challenging market.

However, both David Watkins and Haitham Altebani argued that the construction sector needed to embrace technology and evolve with the times, as companies didn’t have the luxury of time, given the accelerated delivery schedules.

“We need to look at what we can offsite – not only to help with the labour situation, but to also help with the quality levels,” Watkins said, while Altebani pointed out that there needed to be a shift in mindset from within the construction sector as the new generation of Saudis understand the value of technology and want their projects to be state-of-the-art.

“With a knowledgeable and

engaging group of senior industry individuals, the panel discussion was likely to be engaging and interesting. They didn’t disappoint in their content, opinions, and actions to consider for major programmes in the Kingdom,” said David Clifton. “Whilst the day was also an impromptu national holiday due to the superb exploits of the country’s football team in the World Cup over Argentina, the audience was still significant for what was a day off for all. This is testament to the topics and contributors that were engaged across the conference.

“Panel highlights ranged from discussing how as a consultancy industry we make ourselves redundant over the medium term to the coaching and development of the next generation, which whilst focusing on Saudi Nationals, is equally applicable in any organisation across the globe.

“My personal highlights were the continued revisiting of the notion of improved collaboration

and the requirements to become fairer and more reasonable in the treatment of contracted parties. This is especially true in a growing market with capacity and capability constraints that makes KSA more of a sellers’ market.

“Although it was noted that the construction awards have yet to ‘move the dial’ to the level expected. In this regard, the conversation around tender fatigue due to too much work (or not enough awards), quantum of opportunities in the market and the concept of cover pricing was an honest and insightful overview of what is actually occurring in the country and the industry at this time,” he highlighted.

Once the panel discussion was over, Altebani returned to the stage to elaborate on his comments and discussed the importance of effective data leverage in a keynote presentation for Asite. He was then followed by Fady Kobersy, Head of Sales and Customer Success –

MENA for RIB CCS, who provided the final presentation of the day, where he laid out how to build and enable a digital strategy roadmap for the construction industry.

SESSION THREE

The final panel of the day was an all Saudi-affair, with Khalid Saleem Abdallah, Director, Strategy and Development, Saudi Arabia for Faithful + Gould, a member of SNC-Lavalin Group taking charge of a discussion featuring Mouse Mashraqi, Vice President, Human Resources and Shared Services at AECOM Arabia; Fahad AlBalawi, Head of Construction at AMAALA; and Mona Althagafi, KSA Countyr Director for SERCO.

This fascinating and open chat was a highlight of the Construction Intel Summit – KSA as it featured a slightly different format, with ongoing engagement with the audience throughout the discussion. The panel focused on a number of key topics around Enabling

Without a clear Saudisation strategy, all efforts end up being adhoc or fragmented, bringing less value and ROI to businesses and stakeholders”

Saudisation, with a number of development and graduate training programmes mentioned.

However, they also frankly and openly discussed the challenges facing Saudi graduates, mentioning the difficulties of overcoming stereotypes and cultural perceptions, along with the importance of showing that there was a pathway to leadership and growth within organisations – both private and public.

“Saudisation programs are ensuring the sustainability of the various businesses in KSA and the GCC – due to not only regulations, but also cultural-fit job factors, overhead cost efficiencies, knowledge – transfer mandates, and certain job profiles and categories,” said Khalid Saleem Abdallah.

“Without a clear Saudisation and localisation long-term strategy, all efforts end up being ad-hoc or fragmented, bringing less value and ROI to businesses and stakeholders.”

“A lot of firms have launched internal initiatives for fresh graduates and professional Saudi staff, such as collaborating with various universities and adjusting the curriculum to suit job market demands. There is also formal training that is classroom based, to go alongside on-the-job coaching and mentoring, which is often site-based. Other arrangements include incubation with twinning and buddy engineers,” he added, pointing out that succession planning on all levels is necessary, but that it should be supported by a solid, well-thought-out strategy.

“The most successful programs are particularly associated with the following features: A clear strategy supported and committed to by the senior leadership of an organisation; internal governance and performance monitoring; and a Saudisation program that is aligned with, and takes care of, the social, young family needs, and cultural circumstances.

Finally, Abdallah pointed out that the future trends of Saudisation programs indicate that woman’s engagement, job-profiles, and productivity is trending upwards. He asserted that a solid, well-through out strategy, good governance and performance monitoring is essential in this regard.

“I’m very pleased with how our first-ever live version of the Construction Intel Summit – KSA went,” said Gavin Davids, Head of Editorial and Content at Big Project ME in conclusion.

“This was a challenging event to put together as it was our first foray into the Kingdom, and we had to overcome many unexpected obstacles, but I am delighted we took the chance to come here.

“I have been delighted by the passion, commitment, and knowledge present in the Kingdom, and I can assure you that we will be back again soon,” Davids said in conclusion.

Alternative procurement strategies enable early contractor involvement to consider constructability, value engineering, and supply chain innovations”

Amplifying Sustainable Solutions

Big Project ME recaps the events of

a successful sixth CSCEC ME Technical Conference, which was held on November 10, 2022 at the Five Hotel in Dubai

China State Construction Engineering Corporation

Middle East and the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction at HeriotWatt University in Dubai successfully held the 6th CSCEC ME Technical Conference on 10th November 2022 at the Five Hotel Palm Jumeirah Dubai.

Supported by regionally renowned institutions such as the American Concrete Institute

(ACI), SITECH and Big Project

Middle East, the event was built around the theme of: ‘Amplifying Sustainable Solutions Through Green Construction’.

The event saw topics around environmentally friendly and greener approaches in construction discussed.

It featured nine notable keynote speakers from highprofile industry and academia organisations such as Emirates Environment Group and ACI, and was co-hosted by Mansour

Faried, Chief Engineer at CSCEC ME, and Dr Anas Bataw, director of the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction at HeriotWatt University Dubai.

Yu Tao, president and CEO of CSCEC ME, opened the event by delivering the welcome address. During his speech, Tao highlighted the obligation shouldered by China State Construction as the largest contracting company in the world to build a better future for the earth and for upcoming generations.

“The significance of sustainability is emerging day after day, and it has become a solid belief in China State Middle East Culture,” he said. “Today’s event is an opportunity to learn from each other, and to share our knowledge for the common good. When we collaborate and work together to be more green and less harmful to our environment, no doubt we are all winners.”

The conference centred around core contents concerning the industry trend, tackling

with the digital transformation, decarbonisation, and sustainability, and demonstrated this with presentations based on key business practices and academic expertise.

The establishment of the agenda embraced diversified mindsets and cuttingedge technology, as well as the prevailing sustainable mentality, involving topics such as green concrete, zero waste, decarbonisation technology and more.

The event was able to bring together nearly 120 participants at the physical venue. These attendees came from government sectors, prominent client entities, colleges and academic organisations, media representatives, environment groups and other relevant stakeholders in the industry.

The event also featured a live broadcasting platform which also

attracted 400 online viewers from the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

Amongst the presentations was a motivating talk from Habiba Al Marashi, founder and president of the Arabia CSR Network and co-founder and chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group.

During her presentation, she stated that: “Global Environmental Sustainability is not a one country or few entities game. If everyone does not start taking critical actions, climate change related disasters, migrations, insecurities will only rise.

“These discussions are platforms where governments, corporations, academia, and individuals come together.

“This is true by looking into our event targets where we have jointly merged all relevant key players to achieve our theme of this year into a long-term plans and actions,” she asserted.

After six years of development, the CSCEC ME Technical Conference has gradually grown from an internal technical event to a significant annual conference on construction technology in the Gulf region. The rising recognition of the conference has captured extensive attention across the industry and has built it into a socially renowned industrial conference, which convenes relevant government agencies, corporate organisations, and individual experts to come together for a better industry and better world.

The wide extent of the conference arrangements has made it possible to build a highquality conversation platform for regional construction technology development. Furthermore, this has helped consolidate the corporate image of CSCEC ME as one of the leading CSR entities in the Middle East region.

The significance of sustainability is emerging day after day, and it has become a solid belief in China State Middle East Culture. Today’s event is an opportunity to learn from each other, and to share our knowledge for the common good”

Final update

SMC confirms changes to Jeddah Corniche Circuit

Circuit changes

consultation with F1, the FIA, and drivers. They aim to improve driver sightlines in specific areas of the circuit, while also refashioning a variety of kerbs, so as to deliver a ‘smoother, safer, and more exciting race’, with a new era of cars, the SMC noted.

and drivers

The Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), the promoter of the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabia Grand Prix 2023, has said that further changes will be made to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit ahead of the return of the race in March 2023.

The changes have been made in cooperation with Tilke GmbH, following

Amongst the most significant changes is the addition of ‘Rumble Lines’ at turns three, 14, 19, 20, and 21, SMC said. A Rumble Line is defined as an adhesive on the ground similar to ones used on highways giving the driver notice that they are out of lane – in F1 terms this effectively ‘shakes’ the car which causes traction to be lost, subsequently slowing it down.

Bevelled kerbs have also been added in place of steel ones at turns four, eight, 10, 11, 17 and 23. The changes come in line with new recommendations

Improved experience

50

brought about after the introduction of the new F1 cars at the beginning of the year, the statement added.

SMC said to further improve driver sightlines and visibility, turns 14 and 20 have shifted the fence wall on the right- and left-hand sides respectively by 7.5m (T14) and 5m (T20), with an additional Rumble Line implemented in the verge between the white line and fence wall of these widenings. Additionally, the fence wall has been adjusted at turns eight and 10 to give drivers more visibility of the turn ahead.

Finally, turns 22 and 23 – one of the main ‘action’ sequences on the circuit – has seen its ‘S’ shape squeezed via the adjustment of the fence at T23 and addition of a bevelled kerb, with the aim of slowing down the drivers by approximately 50km/h

Drivers will be slowed down by 50km/h on turns 22 and 23

have been made in cooperation with Tilke GmbH and with input from F1, FIA

The changes to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit will deliver a ‘smoother, safer, and more exciting race’, SMC said.