The Big Picture

01 UNITED KINGDOM Cundall names Carole O’Neil as Global Managing Partner

Carole O’Neil has been announced as Global Managing Partner for multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Cundall. O’Neil assumes the role on 1 July, 2022, taking over from Tomás Neeson, who served as Managing Partner for eight years and will now act as Chair of Cundall’s Partners.

O’Neil first joined the firm in 2007 and is said to have helped Cundall grow from 450 people to over 1,000 people in 21 offices. She has been a part of Cundall’s Management Board for over a decade and has played a pivotal role supporting the business’s leadership over the years.

04 EGYPT SNC-Lavalin wins four-year contract for $1.8bn SaudiEgypt power project

SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a four-year project management office (PMO) and engineering design review services contract by The Saudi Electric Company and The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Corporation. The deal will see the firm support the Saudi-Egypt power grids project.

The firm’s PMO mandate includes supervising the design and execution of the project, and involves supervision of contractors throughout the engineering, construction and commissioning phases.

02 NORWAY Oslo tops overall sustainable city index

The fifth edition of Arcadis’ Sustainable Cities Index (SCI) has revealed that Oslo has clinched the first spot in its ‘Overall’ ranking. Stockholm, Tokyo, Copenhagen, and Berlin were ranked at second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The SCI ranks 100 global cities on three different pillars of sustainability: Planet (environmental), People (social), and Profit (economic). The report noted that Oslo ranked first in terms of Planet, 17th in People and 39th in Profit.

The top five cities in the Planet pillar were: Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Berlin.

05 EGYPT ACWA Power consortium to develop 1.1GW wind project in Egypt

A consortium led by ACWA Power has announced the signing of a project agreement to develop a 1.1GW wind project in Egypt, at an investment value of $1.5bn. The consortium, comprising of ACWA Power and Hassan Allam Holding, will work together during the development phase to complete the site studies and secure the financing of the facility.

The wind project is the largest single contracted wind farm in the Middle East region and is one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world.

03 SWEDEN Husqvarna Construction introduces new range of demolition robots

Husqvarna Construction, part of Husqvarna Group, has launched a new range of demolition robots, the DXR 145, DXR 275, DXR 305 and DXR 315.

The new range offer on average, a power increase above 20%, allowing the user to get more demolition work done, faster and in a more efficient manner. The machines are also expected to improve power levels in difficult conditions. They also feature an all-new remote-control unit that enables more precise operation and gives an overview of machine status.

06 SAUDI ARABIA Abengoa begins commissioning for 600,000cu/m Jubail 3A desal plant

Abengoa has announced that commissioning has started on the 600,000cu/m day Jubail 3A desalination plant for ACWA Power. The firm said the project is being carried out in a consortium with engineering and construction firm SEPCOIII.

The Jubail 3A desalination plant has already started pumping seawater to the pre-treatment successfully as part of the tests at the start of commissioning. Once this phase has been passed, as well as all required contractual tests, the plant will enter commercial operation.

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07 SAUDI ARABIA Umm Alqura for Development & Construction announces 71,000sqm Masar Mall

$719mn will be invested into a new shopping destination according to Umm Alqura for Development & Construction Company. The 71,000sqm Masar Mall is due for completion in 2026.

The strategic partnership is with Saudi-based Hamat Holding.

The retail development will provide more than 130,000sqm of shopping space, suitable for various activities.

08 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES WSP Middle East announces two senior appointments to Property & Buildings business

WSP Middle East has announced two leadership appointments within its regional Property & Buildings business. The move follows the creation of the dedicated Integrated Design Delivery (IDD) and Integrated Construction Delivery (ICD) teams.

Russell Hughes is the of Head of Integrated Design Delivery – Property & Buildings, while Graham White has taken on the role of Head of Integrated Construction Delivery – Property & Buildings.

09 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES JIIC awards CSCEC ME $60m Souk Al Jubail contract

The Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC) has awarded a contract worth $60mn to the Middle East unit of China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) for the construction of townhouses within the Souk Al Jubail community on Jubail Island in Abu Dhabi.

As part of the contract, CSCEC will undertake a range of infrastructure works, including sub-structure, superstructure, MEP works, finishing, facades and landscaping, amongst others, over a 22-month contract.

Souk Al Jubail is located in the heart of the $2.72bn Jubail Island project.

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10 SAUDI ARABIA NEOM awards contracts for transport and utility infrastructure projects

NEOM has awarded drill and blast tunnelling contracts for work on one of the largest transportation and utility infrastructure projects in the world.

The first contract was awarded to FCC Construction/China State Construction Engineering Corporation/Shibh Al-Jazira Contracting Company Joint Venture (FCC/CSCEC/SAJCO JV); while the second contract went to a JV between Samsung C&T Corporation /Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd/ Saudi Archirodon Company (SHAJV).

13 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Lynnette Sacchetto joins Allsopp & Allsopp as first director of Data & Digital Transformation

Lynnette Sacchetto has joined Allsopp & Allsopp as Director of Data and Digital Transformation. The move is in line with the company’s push to make an impact on the betterment of the Dubai real estate market. It is the first UAE brokerage to take the step to invest in data and research.

The appointment follows the recent announcement from the Dubai Land Department that all real estate data will be open to the public.

12 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Azizi begins handover of Creek Views I in Dubai Healthcare City

Developer Azizi Developments has secured both civil defence and building completion certificates for its Creek Views I developer in Dubai Healthcare City, thus commencing handover proceedings to investors.

The handover of units is scheduled for the coming weeks. Creek Views I consists of a total of 634 residential units, comprising of 396 studios, 218 one-bedroom units and 20 two-bedroom apartments, as well as 33,341sqft of retail space.

It added that Creek Views I is one of 42 projects – comprising of a total of 8,895 units – that it plans to complete this year.

11 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DAMAC and de GRISOGONO launch Safa Two tower

DAMAC Properties has announced the launch of Safa Two, also in association with Swiss luxury jeweller, de GRISOGONO.

The 80+ storey twin-tower development will feature designs based off de GRISOGONO’s signature styles and there will be an underlying scarlet theme, a statement said.

Designed as one, both towers will be interlinked at the base, middle and crown by unique defining features, including a ‘ruby heart’ at the centre, up on the 60th floor, which will feature a floating pool with views of the Dubai skyline.

16 INDIA JLG appoints GMMCO Limited as distributor in South and Eastern India

JLG Industries has announced the appointment of GMMCO Limited as its distributor for South and Eastern India. GMMCO Limited will be responsible for sales, marketing, training and after sale service for the full range of JLG products.

GMMCO Limited, which has its headquarters in Chennai, will serve rental companies as well as end users in construction, manufacturing, and logistics. The partnership will focus on enhancing safety protocols and regulations at work sites.

14 OMAN IKEA opens doors to first flagship store in Oman

IKEA opened the doors to its first flagship store at Oman Avenues Mall on June 19, 2022. The two-storey, 25,000sqm outlet includes ‘cutting-edge customer experience technology and will offer inspirational and unique home furnishing ideas.’

In light of the changing retail landscape, the Oman Avenues Mall has embarked on an all-encompassing transformational journey to stay relevant, Al Taher Group, the developers behind the mall, said. This has included macroscale infrastructure augmentation, a statement from the group noted.

17 SOUTH KOREA Hyundai expands heavy construction range

Hyundai Construction Equipment has introduced two articulated dump truck models to its growing line of heavy construction and earthmoving equipment.

The HA30A and HA45A have rated payloads of 28 tonnes and 41 tonnes respectively.

Aimed at the popular 30 and 45-tonne sectors, the HA30A and HA45A are built around a full-time six-wheel drive concept, with front and rear limited slip differentials and a longitudinal differential that can be manually locked, for maximum drive and traction on difficult terrain.

15 IRAQ Dewan launches design competition for Iraqi rehab centre

Dewan Architects + Engineers has invited architects and engineers from around the globe to submit building design proposals for a rehabilitation centre for terror victims in Iraq.

The competition is part of the Tamayouz Excellence Award programme.

The first prize of six-months employment at Dewan is renewable up to one year with a salary of $2,720 month or a cash alternative of $6,000.

The second prize is $3,000 plus a certificate of award and the third is $1,000, plus a certificate of award.

18 JAPAN Komatsu to acquire Swedish attachments manufacturer

Komatsu Forest AB, a wholly owned subsidiary in Sweden, Komatsu Ltd, is set to acquire Bracke Forest AB, which develops, manufactures, and sells applicationspecific attachments for silviculture.

The company said in a statement that it is planning to close the acquisition on 1 July 2022, on the condition that all necessary procedures for closing are completed. Since 2014, Bracke and Komatsu have engaged in joint development by sharing respective technologies and experience accumulated over the years, respectively in forest and construction machines.