The big picture

01 UNITED STATES US scientists develop rapid self-healing concrete prototypes

Scientists at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, USA have developed self-healing concrete prototypes.

During their research, the scientists found that adding the carbonic anhydrase (CA)enzyme to concrete powder before the material was mixed and poured, created a reaction with the CO2 in the air to produce calcium carbonate crystals. This would then fill in tiny cracks that may appear in the concrete. Following extensive tests, the scientists concluded that this new concrete mixture could repair its own mini cracks within a period of 24 hours.

04 SERBIA Emirates Stallion Group completes $71m Serbian resort

Emirates Stallions Group, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company, and a major engineering and construction group, has said that it has completed construction work on Viceroy Kopaonik, a $71 million resort located in the mountainous region of Kopaonik in Serbia.

Built for Viceroy Hotels and Resorts, the resort is located close to one of Serbia’s largest national parks.

Emirates Stallions Group added that it had provided development consulting services for the project through its unit, Royal Development Company.

02 UNITED STATES Bentley Systems launches new education program

Bentley Systems has launched a new education program which encourages the development of future infrastructure professionals for careers in engineering, design, and architecture.

The programme was designed to create world-class talent that could rise to the challenge of improving quality of life and positively changing the world.

It will initially be available in the UK, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, and Lithuania, with plans to expand to the US, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and India by mid-summer.

05 TURKEY RMJM Milano to design Sanko HQ in Istanbul

RMJM Milano has announced that it has won a competition to design the new Sanko Headquarters, one of Turkey’s oldest group of companies, in Istanbul.

In a statement, the firm said that its design was selected amongst other prestigious firms for its sustainable and innovative features. The studio said that it used creative and innovative ways to implement sustainability in every design and project they create.

It was thus crucial to utilise the local resources in the best sustainable and innovative way possible, it added.

03 UNITED KINGDOM WorldGBC annual report highlights positive movement towards net-zero

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has announced the latest version of its annual Advancing Net Zero Status Report highlighting steps taken by industry stakeholders around the globe in the move towards net zero.

The report showcases examples of GBCs, businesses and governments scaling action towards achieving WorldGBC’s vision for a decarbonised built environment and serves as a net zero ‘myth busting’ resource to improve the understanding of net zero.

06 EGYPT Egypt and Saudi Arabia begin work on electrical interconnection project

In coordination with Saudi Arabia, Egypt will soon launch its electrical interconnection project, a major scheme that will increase grid capacity to 2,000 megawatts.

The Egyptian Minister of Electricity, Mohammed Shaker, said that Egypt and Saudi Arabia had signed a co-operation agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project.

The project is set to be the main axis in the Arab electrical linkage, which aims to create an infrastructure for electricity trade.

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07 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ADNOC awards $510m EPC contract to Saipem

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has awarded a $510m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Saipem. The deal outlines an increase in capacity for ADNOC’s Shah sour gas plant by 13% to 1.45-billion cubic feet per day by 2023.

The investment supports its objective of enabling gas self-sufficiency for the UAE and underpins growth in gas production, in line with its 2030 strategy. More than 50% of the award value will flow back into the UAE’s economy under ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) programme.

08 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Voltas commissions first solar project in Dubai

Voltas has announced that it has successfully commissioned its first solar project in Dubai at the Misterlight Electrical Installation Items Trading warehouse within the National Industries Park.

The project was implemented in co-ordination with SirajPower, which is responsible for the financing, operation and maintenance of the facility. The newly installed rooftop solar project will generate clean and green electricity, catering to 85% to 90% of the power required by the facility, while reducing 100 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions per year for Misterlight.

09 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HKA appoints new director and quantum expert

Igor Corelj has joined HKA’s Middle East expert team as director, the firm announced.

Corelj has been based in the Middle East since 2009, during which he has led large multidisciplinary teams with great success. He has also worked across the supply chain, giving him thorough insight into the diversity of contractual arrangements and issues arising out of them. His proficiencies include on-site contracting experience, commercial management of large infrastructure projects at the head office level and consultancy services.

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10 EGYPT Mitsubishi Power signs long-term service agreements for Egypt’s power sector

Mitsubishi Power has signed three simultaneous 16-year long-term service agreement (LTSA) in Egypt covering six M701F gas turbines, with two each delivered to Cairo North GTCC, Sidi Krir and El Atf power stations. The subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group said the plants operate natural-gasfired gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) generators with a rated output of 750mW.

Mitsubishi Power said it has been mandated to ensure stable, highavailability operation of the facilities.

11 IRAQ Iraqi authorities award contract for Nasiryah Airport

A contract for the development of a civilian airport in Iraq has been awarded to a Chinese group by Iraqi authorities. The new Nasiriyah Airport will replace the existing military base in the capital of the southern Dhi Qar governorate.

The as yet unnamed Chinese group’s scope of work includes the construction of a cargo building, as well as roads linking the airport to the city’s town centre. Once complete, the Nasiriyah Airport will be able to handle 750,000 passengers per annum. The airport is expected to be complete within a three-year period.

12 SAUDI ARABIA Losberger De Boer delivers Jeddah Superdome

Losberger De Boer, the supplier of temporary and permanent buildings for events, public, commercial and industrial applications, said that it has delivered the record-breaking Jeddah Superdome venue in Saudi Arabia on time, having handed over the dome’s frame three days ahead of schedule and completing the project despite disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement said that Jeddah Superdome has claimed the Guinness World Records™ titles for the world’s largest geodesic dome and largest dome with continuous roof.

13 SAUDI ARABIA TRSDC appoints ARCHIRODON to design and build crucial bridge

The Red Sea Development Company has announced the appointment of ARCHIRODON, the EPC global group, to design and build a 1.2km bridge that will be part of the 3.3km crossing to the megadevelopment’s main hub island of Shurayah.

ARCHIRODON will provide engineering, procurement and construction support to complete the building of Shurayrah bridge. It will stretch a total of 1.2km across the Red Sea, with two small 36m sections at each end of the crossing to allow for movement of marine mammals.

16 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AECOM names new lead for Civil Infrastructure businesses in MEA

AECOM has promoted Asif Shafi to lead its Civil Infrastructure business in the Middle East & Africa, which comprises water, transportation and environment. He will focus on the delivery of existing major projects and drive growth by ensuring clients receive the best of the firm’s technical expertise and innovation.

Shafi has led AECOM’s successful pursuit of several major programs in the region, including the NEOM backbone infrastructure design and NEOM Bay Phase 1 PMC.

14 SAUDI ARABIA GE Renewable Energy unit wins major contract for Saudi IWP plant

GE Renewable Energy has announced that its Grid Solutions unit has won a major contract from Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company to build a turnkey substation that will power the Yanbu-4 independent water producer (IWP) plant.

This is the first integrated, seawater reverse osmosis project in the Kingdom that uses clean energy. Scheduled to be operational in 2023, Yanbu-4 will have a capacity of 450,000 cubic meters per day of fresh water to be supplied to households in Makkah and Madinah.

17 OMAN Oman moves forward with Port of Khasab development

Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has said that it is pressing ahead with plans for the development of the Port of Khasab.

In a statement, the ministry said that the plans build on tenders issued earlier to manage, operate and develop Khasab Port, including aspects related to supplying vessels with fuel, operating piers, connecting the port with global terminals and granting lands for investment in the logistics and light industries’ fields.

15 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AFET launches Energy Management and Sustainability division

Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies (AFET) has announced the launch of its new Energy Management and Sustainability division as a dedicated business unit, aiming to supply its client-base with new and holistic energy reduction solutions using its proprietary technologies as well as its Certified Energy Team.

The Al-Futtaim Group company said that with launch of the new division earlier this year, it is following the group’s direction of “perpetuating various energysaving initiatives” and making progress in sustainability and energy management.

18 CHINA Dubai’s RTA signs MoU with China’s Zhong Tang Sky Railway

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an agreement with the Chinese group Zhong Tang Sky Railway, a leading company in the development of suspended railways, to explore the development of a futuristic suspended transportation network.

The MoU comes as part of Dubai’s endeavours to find and develop innovative solutions for a futuristic suspended transport network, aimed at increasing the mobility of people, providing affordable mobility solutions, as well as encouraging community members to use them.