Big Project ME June 2021

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

181 June 2021

MEConstructionNews.com

THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION

Green Ambitions

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS ON THE AGENDA AS THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WAKES UP TO THE POWER OF GOING GREEN, BIG PROJECT ME DISCOVERS

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CONTENTS

June 2021

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16

18

20

26

44

ANALYSIS

FEATURES

INSIGHT

08

The briefing

20

38

Comments

The big picture

Gavin Davids speaks to David Kinniburgh, regional general manager - UAE for GHD, on the company’s mission to change how this region develops its projects

36

Tenders

Progress report

Industry experts discuss energy efficiency in HVAC systems and how they are preparing the region for a sustainable future

12

In profile David Kinniburgh

The industry’s brightest minds share their thoughts on a variety of topics and issues impacting the construction industry

Providing a wrap-up of the biggest local, regional and international construction news stories

26

Big Project ME, in association with ProTenders, provides the biggest tenders for the month of June 2021

16

Market report

Gavin Davids finds out how Sharjah Sustainable City aims to bring sustainable development to the mainstream in the emirate

44

18

Analysis

Knight Frank takes a focused look at Abu Dhabi’s office market in its latest update

Project profile Green Living

Sobha Realty launches Waves at The Waterfront District in MBR City

David Clifton of Hill International, analyses the economic outlook for Qatar as construction work picks up again

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

2

WELCOME

Introduction

Getting the Green Light

P

utting this month’s issue together has been an eyeopening experience as it has highlighted just how far the regional industry’s attitudes have come with regards to sustainability. Just a few years ago, the very idea of sustainable construction was dismissed as nothing more than appeasement to the environmentalists.

After all, who could ever reasonably expect an industry like construction to truly be green?

But now, we’re seeing that sustainability in this industry is certainly possible – if not necessary. And this change is coming right from the top – with climate change a very real threat to our world, the region’s governments have wholeheartedly embraced the decision to work towards a greener future, and as a result, the leading developers are following suit. And where the developers go, the rest of the industry will follow, with consultants, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers now all working with sustainability in mind.

This is certainly evident in my conversation with David Kinniburgh, regional

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

general manager – UAE for GHD. Not only is he a passionate advocate for sustainable development in the region, but the targets he has set himself and his team as they move forward with their growth strategy are an intriguing insight into where the industry is headed. I certainly share his optimism that we’re moving towards a future that is more sustainable, resilient and community focused.

I don’t think any other project typifies this more than our cover feature – the Sharjah Sustainable City. Built off the back of the success of The Sustainable City in Dubai, this mixed-use residential project is fascinating because it’s being developed in partnership with the government of Sharjah, marking the first time, if I’m not mistaken, that a government entity has gotten involved in a sustainability focused residential project. I’m sure it’s not going to be the last.

Before I end, I would like to remind you all that we’ll be hosting our first-ever Construction Intel Summit - KSA later this month. Do remember to tune in from June 21 23. It’s going to be an interesting few days!

Gavin Davids

HEAD OF EDITORIAL & CONTENT gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com @MECN_Gavin MEConstructionNews me-construction-news

4

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

181 June 2021

MEConstructionNews.com

THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION

Group MANAGING DIRECTOR Raz Islam raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com MANAGING PARTNER Vijaya Cherian vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com

Editorial HEAD OF EDITORIAL & CONTENT Gavin Davids gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5480

Green Ambitions

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS ON THE AGENDA AS THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WAKES UP TO THE POWER OF GOING GREEN, BIG PROJECT ME DISCOVERS

Advertising COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Jude Slann jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5714 HEAD OF KEY PROJECTS Andy Pitois andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com +44 7816 843610

Design ON THE COVER

Big Project ME takes a look at Sharjah Sustainable City, a mixed-use residential project that will set sustainable standards for the region.

ART DIRECTOR Simon Cobon simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DESIGNER Percival Manalaysay percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com

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Web Development The publisher of this magazine has made every effort to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the publisher and editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content are published in good faith. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing. Publication licensed by Dubai Development Authority to CPI Trade Publishing FZ LLC. Printed by Al Salam Printing Press LLC. CPI Trade Media. PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE. +971 4 375 5470 cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

WEB DEVELOPER Abdul Baeis abdul.baeis@cpitrademedia.com WEB DEVELOPER Sadiq Siddiqui sadiq.siddiqui@cpitrademedia.com FOUNDER Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015)

Date

From 21 Jun

Venue

Online

VIRTUAL

Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia to lead the region’s construction sector into a new dawn 21 – 23 June 2021, Online

About the

Construction Intel Summit KSA

Insightful

Saudi Arabia’s construction sector was booming in 2020, with a pipeline of projects worth a staggering trillion dollars. However, when the pandemic hit, it caused massive disruption with work stoppages, cash flow squeezes, project delays, and supply chain disruptions.

This event will bring together the industry’s leading minds to engage in discussions and share presentations, all of which you will be able to follow from the comfort and safety of wherever you are.

Discussions

In 2021, the Saudi economy is expected to recover as global conditions improve and the COVID-19 vaccine becomes increasingly available.

While this recovery is undoubtedly good news, it also poses the question about what comes next for the construction sector in the Kingdom. The government aims to cement the role of the private sector by prompting private investment in manufacturing, tourism, and renewable energy, which opens the door to the implementation of parallel reforms that will encourage private sector investment.

Networking

Complimentary

Register now Register for free and stay connected

Get in touch

Opportunity

Contact us

This event presents you with an opportunity to connect with industry decision makers and influencers. There are several ways to sponsor, from interactive live polls to session background branding, and from lead generation campaigns to presentations.

Content

Sponsorship

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

Jude Slann | +971 4 375 5714 jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com

Event Partners GoLD SPonSor

SILVer SPonSor

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© 2021 CPI Trade Media. All rights reserved.

6

ONLINE

MOST POPULAR

FEATURED

CONSULTANT

READERS’ COMMENTS

SIEMENS ENERGY TO

Buro Happold appoints James Bruce as new CEO

REBUILD 400KV SUPER GRID STATION IN IRAQ’S WEST MOSUL REGION

It is easy to take turning on a light switch or being able to wash your children’s clothing for school but this (Siemens

CONSULTANT

Energy to rebuild 400kV

KSA to allow Tadawul-listed firms to buy Makkah and Madinah real estate

super grid station in Iraq’s West Mosul region) story is a reminder that the region still has

EXPERTS: Five key trends for net-zero cities in the MENA region

areas where power is not always available. It is almost tragic that the Nineveh Governorate

CONSULTANT

region of Iraq is still

AESG appoints Siebrandus Wichers as global director of Facades

recovering from years of war. It is absolutely right that strengthening the national grid is a major priority for Iraq as it continues to rebuild its ravaged infrastructure.

Energy security is a hugely

CONSTRUCTION

important piece of the

Wasl properties launches 777-unit residential development in Al Qusais

puzzle when it comes to not only improving the standard of living in the country but also ensuring that Iraq can build a future where businesses can thrive and developments be

CONSTRUCTION

Diyar Al Muharraq unveils new mosque and hall in flagship residential project June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

VIDEO: How Ithra Dubai is revitalising the heart of Dubai

guaranteed success.

Name withheld by request

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8

THE BRIEFING

Technology

Optimising Energy Efficiency in your building facility MIDDLE EAST

Kevin Laidler, MEA sales director for Armstrong Fluid Technology, says that energyefficient upgrades for HVAC systems are vital to creating safer, stronger and more sustainable spaces in our cities June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

B

uilding facilities represent a major portion of energy consumption in the built environment, responsible for about 40% of all energy usage, and a similar proportion of greenhouse gas emissions.

As our cities continue to grow, so does the carbon footprint of our buildings.

Fortunately, however, governments and industry leaders are now placing sustainability at the heart of initiatives for urban development, helping mitigate the environmental impact of building projects. In the Middle East region in particular, sustainability is the driving force behind plans for urban development.

The Dubai Master Plan 2040, for example, outlines efforts to make Dubai one of the greenest cities in the world through transformations in construction,

transportation, and infrastructure.

Every building has a role to play in supporting sustainable development, and the performance of HVAC systems is key to determining the environmental impact of a building, since they account for about 35% of total building energy consumption.

As we work towards the ‘greening’ of our cities, the integration of sustainable practices into the construction industry is no longer a value-added benefit, but rather a requirement for projects to gain acceptance and succeed.

Energy management is one such practice, which is vital to the building services industry. Energy management involves proactive performance tracking, management, and optimization of energy consumption in a building, all with the intent of optimizing energy efficiency. Energy management focuses

40% of all energy usage in the built environment comes from building facilities

9

on delivering energy upgrades that minimise lifecycle carbon footprint, improve occupant comfort and lower installation and operation costs.

For HVAC systems, approximately 5% of their lifetime carbon footprint can be traced to the manufacturing of components. The other 95% comes from energy usage during the operating life of the equipment.

Clearly, the greatest opportunity for carbon footprint reduction lies in improving performance deficiencies.

One challenge we face in managing HVAC systems is ‘performance drift’.

When first installed, and even in the first few months, HVAC systems operate immaculately. Over time, however, for a variety of reasons, component efficiency and system conditions ‘drift’ away from the original levels of performance.

Performance drift ultimately leads to energy waste, higher operating costs, and more greenhouse gas emissions. As performance continues to drift, the changes may also result in reduced comfort for occupants.

Traditionally, HVAC systems have been designed as an assembly of independent components with limited connectivity and performance monitoring technology.

This design approach exacerbates the effects of performance drift.

In the last decade, technology for HVAC pumps has been transformed to deliver effective energy upgrades and provide up to 70% savings. The introduction of demand-based operations, for example, ensures energy is only consumed as required. The use of parallel sensorless pumping technology enables the pump to respond automatically to system load based on efficiency staging.

These innovations allow pumps to operate at optimum levels and consume energy only on a need-based basis. By consuming energy more intelligently, we can reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and consequently, lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Another key innovation to preserve energy efficiency is Active Performance Management services. This combination of digital capabilities and services relies on cloud-based technology and embedded intelligence to optimise the efficiency of HVAC systems.

Optimum Levels Technology for HVAC pumps has transformed how they operate, allowing them to reach optimum levels and consume energy only on a need-only basis, says Kevin Laidler.

Making a difference By embracing innovative energy saving solutions in the building services industry, the HVAC sector can make a difference in sustainable building construction.

Active Performance Management provides real-time and historical data to deliver an accurate system performance analysis and directly demonstrate efficiency and savings. With the advent of sensorless variable speed control, the industry has come to understand that intelligent pumps are highly accurate flow meters that provide valuable insights for building managers and operators.

Data from connected pumps can be used to maintain energy efficiency and manage operating costs through sustained, optimised performance.

Adding Active Performance Management capabilities to your HVAC systems is beneficial for preventing,

and even reversing, the loss of system efficiency. Without the ability to analyse data, buildings managers and operators cannot effectively optimise mechanical systems. The software also helps to create safer and more comfortable indoor environments by enabling predictive maintenance. Systems can provide alerts when they detect issues, allowing for early detection to prevent system failures or disruptions.

The reason building operators may hesitate to upgrade is because more sophisticated systems require investment.

However, the returns from using more efficient systems are impressive. Simple payback on energy upgrade projects is usually reached within three to five years. Furthermore, the energy savings continue for the life of the system.

Properly executed energy upgrades deliver up to 40% savings on energy consumption related to HVAC operation.

If we embrace innovative energy saving solutions in the building services industry, then we can begin to make a difference. Currently, we are experiencing a global shift towards sustainable building construction. As green building legislation becomes increasingly prevalent, mandatory energy reporting seems inevitable. Employing systems with the in-built capability to optimise energy efficiency is extremely beneficial for creating indoor spaces will that support occupants and our planet for generations to come.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

10

THE BRIEFING

Leading

by Example MIDDLE EAST

Murad Nazar, UAE business manager, ABB – Electrification Business, shares how the technology leader is helping the region prepare for a sustainable future

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

With cities and countries coping with the challenge of increasing urbanisation and a desire for a low-carbon future, how is ABB answering the call?

At ABB, we are committed to working in collaboration with our customers and suppliers to reduce their own emissions, as we aim to achieve carbon neutrality in our own operations by 2030.

By far the biggest impact we can have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is through our market leading technologies, which reduce energy use in industry, buildings, and transport – sectors that together account for nearly three-quarters of global energy consumption. As part of our 2030 Sustainability Strategy,

ABB has set itself the ambitious target of helping customers to reduce their annual CO2 emissions by more than 100 megatons by 2030. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of 30 million combustion cars. A great example of this energy saving in action is our variable speed drives for electric motors that can reduce electricity consumption by up to 25 percent.

ABB also wants to lead by example by achieving carbon neutrality in its own operations. We will do this by continuing to transition to renewable sources of energy, improving energy efficiency across our factories and sites, and converting our vehicle fleet to electric or other non-emitting alternatives.

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Commiting to do better ABB aims to continuously seek opportunities to reduce emissions, says Murad Nazar.

80% ABB aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 80%

We have currently identified areas that can reduce our CO2 emissions by at least 80% and as technologies evolve, we will continuously seek opportunities to do more. By 2019, 30% of the electricity consumed by ABB was generated by renewables and we had cut our emissions by more than 40% compared with a 2013 baseline.

ABB’s commitment to protect the environment is evidenced by its investment and research on e-mobility where we are now the global market leader in e-mobility charging solutions while developing our market share in Europe, Asia Pacific and the US. Further investments such as a new global R&D centre in the Netherlands and the acquisition of Chargedot are helping to cement our position in the market.

The current focus is not just on the research and development of new and innovative charging technologies, but also on the electrification of industrial and commercial fleets and how to adapt the load of the vehicle to the availability of energy in the grid. With these developments ABB is leading the way to a zero-emission mobility future.

In the region, we have also helped install the EV charging infrastructure across various countries like Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia.

How can smart, digitally connected services and products help improve the efficiencies and performances of utilities, systems, and networks?

Being a leader in substation protection and control, ABB is on track to tackle the current challenges for the utility sector: integration of renewable energy, microgrids, energy storage, power conditioning and power quality.

At the centre of this is ABB Ability, our digital platform which combines ABB’s entire digital portfolio, bringing together over four decades of industrial digital leadership, advanced connectivity and the latest digital technologies.

This is being achieved through strategic investment in the development of a new generation of products capable of connecting with the cloud and other devices. From advanced diagnostics

that prevent unplanned downtime to the control of individual coal-fired boilers to power plant fleets and to cybersecurity solutions, ABB Ability™ enables utility providers to know more, do more and do better, together.

A study of the evolution of the utility sector in Europe is a way to anticipate Middle East trends, which will see in the next few years. A decade ago, the utility sector used to largely be an integrated model, from conventional utility generation to distribution and supply. The energy landscape, as seen over the years, is a very diverse and impermanent sector. Specialised solutions are replacing aging utility distribution systems and we are also seeing the emergence of pure supply utilities, dedicated to dealing with energy.

Many European and Chinese utilities and investors are transforming the Middle East utility sector, while the speed of change will depend on the regulatory authorities.

How can the democratisation of data help improve operations and performance? What is ABB doing in this regard?

As mentioned, ABB Ability solutions allow our customers to combine ABB’s deep domain expertise with

connectivity and software innovation to empower real-time, data-driven decisions for safer, smarter operations that maximise resource efficiency. Our extensive portfolio of digital solutions helps organizations automate, optimise and future-proof their business to achieve new heights of performance and drive sustainable progress.

What are some of the projects ABB is working on and how are they examples of utilising digitally connected services and solutions to create a smarter future?

In the UAE, we work across buildings, utility firms, oil and gas installations and food and beverage manufacturers to help our customers such as VTTI Fujairah Terminals, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) and Pure Harvest Farms to understand their energy consumption and manage their energy needs.

ABB Ability Energy and Asset Manager, built on Microsoft Azure, increases operational resilience and energy efficiency from the ground up.

This intelligent cloud solution provides real-time data on energy consumption, power quality, and the health of your electrical system equipment - all in one intuitive dashboard.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

12

THE BIG PICTURE

01 CANADA

03 UNITED KINGDOM

Wenco acquires SmartCap Technologies

Buro Happold appoints James Bruce as new CEO

Wenco International Mining Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, has announced the purchase of SmartCap Technologies Pty Ltd, makers of fatigue monitoring wearables used in the mining, trucking and other industries.

The Vancouver-, Canada based Wenco said it has purchased all assets and intellectual property of SmartCap and added that “this purchase is an important step for the continued growth of the SmartCap fatigue technology”.

Based out of Brisbane, Australia, SmartCap has over 5,000 users globally in various sectors.

02 UNITED STATES

CRTKL launches CLIMATESCOUT for more sustainable buildings CallisonRTKL (CRTKL) has announced the launch of CLIMATESCOUT, an open-source climate analysis and educational platform that will help users create more sustainable buildings.

Through a combination of data and images, CLIMATESCOUT connects climate with architecture, allowing users to design buildings that respond to their environment by providing climate- specific design advice using the Köppen-Geiger climate classification and building scale design strategies from Architecture 2030’s Palette.

Buro Happold, the UK-headquartered international, integrated engineering consultancy, has announced the appointment of James Bruce as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Bruce has said that he plans to grow the business, which is active in 26 locations worldwide. His plans include doubling the workforce from 2,000 to 4,000 employees in six years and creating a better balance and resilience across regions.

Buro Happold will be driving expansion through acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships in key regions, he added.

04 UNITED KINGDOM

06 JORDAN

Mace appoints new regional heads for FM business

Eagle Hills Jordan appoints Farah Experience for Saraya Aqaba Waterpark

Mace has appointmented new regional leads to its facilities management business, following a year of transition.

CEO for Operate Ross Abbate announced that Parris Ullrich will assume the role of operations director for the Middle East, overseeing established businesses within the region to retain current projects and win business. Meanwhile, Paul M’Crystal will be responsible for growing Mace’s operations within Asia Pacfic, utilising the company’s experience across the property lifecycle to secure projects with new and current clients.

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

05 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

DP World to begin development of DR Congo deep seaport Following an agreement on amendments to an initial contract with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), DP World is poised to start development of a new deep seaport at Banana. The port will be the DRC’s first deep seaport along its 37km coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

The development of Banana Port is expected to take two years and is expected to bring significant cost and time savings to the country’s trade, as it will attract more direct calls from larger vessels from Asia and Europe.

Eagle Hills Jordan, one of the largest developers in Jordan, has announced the appointment of Farah Experiences, a subsidiary of Miral Asset Management, the Abu Dhabi-based firm, to undertake the operations and management of the Saraya Aqaba Waterpark in Aqaba, Jordan.

The Saraya Aqaba Waterpark will be the first of its kind in Aqaba, and the largest in the Kingdom. It is set to be one of the key attractions within the larger Saraya Aqaba project, and will feature a range of rides, experiences and water sports.

01

02

THE BIG PICTURE

13

03 04

06 07 08

09

05

08 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

07 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

SEWA completes major project linking Shees to Khorfakkan main grid Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) has announced the completion of a major project linking the Shees area of the emirate to the main electrical grid of Khorfakkan through the tunnels.

SEWA said that the key milestone of the operation of the 11/33 kilovolt tunnel station will replace and cancel the current diesel-generated power station.

The Shees area has been supplied with electricity since 1982 through a production station operated on four diesel generators.

The station’s capacity was 1,220 kilowatts.

ADHA unveils new $344m residential housing development in Al Dhafra A new housing complex featuring 410 villas has been launched by the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority (ADHA) in collaboration with Musanada.

The Al Mughira Housing Complex is being developed at a cost of $344m and will be spread over an area of two million sqm in the Al Mirfa City, in the Al Dhafra region.

Design plans and specifications for the overall project includes integrated community facilities such as schools, shopping malls, parks and open areas, supported by roads and infrastructure work.

09 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

AECOM appoints Amer Mneimneh to lead U+P practice Amer Mneimneh has been elevated to VP of Urbanism + Planning (U+P) for the Middle East & Africa at AECOM. In his new role, he will lead 93 staff within AECOM’s U+P practice and will drive growth by ensuring clients receive the best of the firm’s technical practice, quality design and innovative thinking, a statement from AECOM said.

Mneimneh is currently the operations director for the U+P practice and the Dubai Design Studio Lead. He is taking over from Janus Rostock who is leaving AECOM in mid-June to take up an opportunity in his home country of Denmark.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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THE BIG PICTURE

11 12

13 15

10

14 16

17

10 SAUDI ARABIA

12 KUWAIT

KSA to allow Tadawul listed firms to buy real estate in Makkah and Madinah

Egis signs new contract with Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has granted permission to companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) to buy real estate in Makkah and Madinah – a major move for the Kingdom’s real estate sector.

The announcement comes following the approval from the Council of Ministers to amend Article 5 of the Law of Real Estate Ownership and Investment by non-Saudis, under which listed Saudi companies are exempted from the prohibition of non-Saudis owning real estate within the borders of Makkah and Madinah.

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

11 IRAQ

Siemens Energy to rebuild 400kV super grid station in West Mosul, Iraq

Siemens Energy has signed a contract with Iraqi authorities to rebuild a 400kV super grid station in the country’s West Mosul region, which will provide reliable and efficient power supply to around 70,000 Iraqi citizens in the north of the country, particularly the Nineveh province.

The station will supply approximately 30 stations with voltage levels of 132-kV, thereby helping to tackle the severe shortage of power supply in the Nineveh province.

The project will be financed by the German state-owned development bank KfW.

Egis, in a joint venture with SSH International, has recently signed a new contract with its long-time client, the Ministry of Public Works of Kuwait to provide supervision services for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of Al Ghouse Road from 7th Ring Road till Fahaheel Ahmadi (RA 265), one of Kuwait’s major collector road distributing local traffic and running parallel to roads 30 and 40.

The project is set to start mid-June 2021 and will last for a duration of 39 months.

18

THE BIG PICTURE

15

14 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Lootah Real Estate Development appoints new CEO 13 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Nakheel soft launches Circle Mall in JVC Nakheel has announced the soft open of Circle Mall in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). The mall is billed as a familyfriendly destination for residents of JVC and nearby areas and will feature leading retailers, food and entertainment brands.

The mall spans an area of 532,000sqft and will have up to 80 stores and restaurants by Q4 2021. It also feature a 17,000sqft family entertainment centre with an arcade, trampoline, cross fit for kids, children’s salon and more.

It is expected to attract visitors of all ages and notes the rooftop will be home to the first community club in JVC.

Raja Alameddine has been named the new CEO of Lootah Real Estate Development (LRED).

He will now be responsible for expanding the company’s regional footprint and driving a new vision within the organisation.

Alameddine’s extensive experience in various asset classes, includes masterplanned cities, mixed-use communities, and innovative lifestyle developments.

This will allow him to leverage his investment banking experience to further enhance Lootah Real Estate Development’s real estate offerings.

15 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Empower network grew by 10% in 2020 Emirates Central Cooling Systems (Empower) announced that the length of its district cooling transmission network in Dubai increased by 10% in 2020. The company said the network’s length of 350.4km is 423 times the height of the Burj Khalifa.

The firm noted that its new pipeline technologies contribute to reducing carbon emissions and reducing water and energy consumption, by providing efficient and environmentally friendly district cooling services that allow it to maintain cooling, without being affected by external factors and high temperatures. In 2020, the firm said it awarded contracts worth $69.4m.

17 INDIA

Aster Volunteers to help build 50-bed field hospital in New Delhi 16 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

AESG appoints Siebrandus Wichers as global director of facades

AESG has appointed Siebrandus Wichers to the position of global director of Facades.

Wichers will leverage his established expertise and position in the global facades industry to grow AESG’s portfolio of high-end, complex facade design and engineering projects. He will also work to deepen the synergy between the Facades team and other AESG divisions to help clients realise the full value of the company’s multi-disciplinary approach, and to further the company’s leadership in emerging trends such as net zero developments.

Aster Volunteers has announced that it has signed an agreement with Al Shifa Multispecialty Hospital in New Delhi. The agreement will see the firms work together to deploy a 50-bed field hospital to meet the shortage of beds for COVID-19 patients.

Aster will enable the development of the medical facility and ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place, while Al Shifa will be responsible for operating the hospital.

Funds will be used to purchase patient beds, medical equipment and other items needed to operate the field hospital.

18 AUSTRALIA

Marr Contracting helps bring down iconic Sydney landmark Marr Contracting has partnered with Mirvac as part of an international team including Robert Bird Group and critical infrastructure specialists Kordia Solutions to dismantle one of Sydney’s highest and most recognisable structures.

The team will work together to dismantle the former TCN-9 TX transmission tower at Willoughby. Preparatory works will begin in May 2021 with completion in early 2022.

The television tower has been part of lower north Sydney’s skyline for nearly six decades. It is set to be replaced by hundreds of new apartments.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

16

MARKET REPORT

Industry outlook

Abu Dhabi Office Market Update UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Knight Frank report finds that activity in Abu Dhabi’s occupier market is expected to remain subdued with new take-up likely to be driven by public sector entities and smaller businesses

A

s at Q1 2021, average Prime Office rents across Abu Dhabi were recorded at AED 1,725 psm, 3.9% up on Q4 2020, meanwhile, average Grade A office rents stood at AED 1,192 psm at the end of Q1, -0.9% down on Q4 2020, while Citywide rents fell to AED 897 psm, from

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

almost AED 940 psm during Q4 2020.

Market wide vacancy in Abu Dhabi’s office market registered at 21.7% at the end of Q1 2021, down slightly from 21.9% at the end of last year, meanwhile Prime office space registered a vacancy rate of 25.6% at the end of Q1 2021, down from almost 29% in Q1 2020. Grade A offices currently have a vacancy rate of 22.3%, while 15.4% of Grade B space across the city is vacant.

“Activity in Abu Dhabi’s occupier market is expected to remain subdued with new take-up likely to continue being driven by public sector entities and smaller domestic businesses. The latter are looking to capitalise on the weaker conditions by consolidating operations, or upgrading offices, where possible, but average space requirements remain relatively small amongst this costconscious cohort, who will find Prime rents remaining firm,” said Faisal Durrani, head of Middle East Research at Knight Frank.

Abu Dhabi’s GDP contracted by 6% in 2021, after growing by 1.9% in 2019. The headwinds to growth induced by the pandemic whilst severe, were less of a drag to growth compared

to neighbouring Dubai. A recovery in global oil demand in late 2020 helped to reverse some of the economic losses, but growth was still below the historic average of 2.6% p.a. Growth is expected to resume in 2021, fuelled by an opening up of the economy and a world leading vaccination programme.

The UAE’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which tracks business confidence in the country’s private non-oil economy, recorded a reading of 52.7 in April, the highest level since June 2019 and the fifth consecutive month a reading over 50 has been registered, indicating continued business expansion.

The improving conditions have been linked to the speed of the national vaccination programme, although the rate of improvement is below the 12-year historic average.

Overall employment in Abu Dhabi contracted by 7.0% during 2020 as the impact of the pandemic slowed growth and drove headcount reductions globally. Employment levels are expected to rise by 2.4% this year, aided by the government’s Ghadan-21 AED 50 billion stimulus package, which is driving innovation and business growth.

MARKET REPORT

17

1,725

ABU DHABI OFFICE RENTS, Q3 2017 – Q1 2021 (AED/SQM) PRIME GRADE A CITYWIDE

Prime office rent Q1 2021

2000 1600

1,192

1200

Grade A office rent Q1 2021

800 400 Q3

Q4

Q1

2017

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

2018

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

2019

Q3

Q4

Q1

2020

897

Citywide office rent Q1 2021

Market wide vacancy in Abu Dhabi’s office market registered at 21.7% at the end of Q1 2021, down slightly from 21.9% at the end of last year, meanwhile Prime office space registered a vacancy rate of 25.6% at the end of Q1 2021, down from almost 29% in Q1 2020”

5.5%

ABU DHABI OFFICE RENTS, Q1 2020 – Q1 2021 YEAR-ON-YEAR % CHANGE PRIME GRADE A CITYWIDE

Prime office rent Y-o-Y change

10

-2.3%

5

Grade A office rent Y-o-Y change

0

-7.3%

-5

-10

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

4.07

ABU DHABI OFFICE SUPPLY, TOTAL MILLION SQUARE METRES FORECAST EXISTING

Total stock 2022 (million sq m)

5.0

3.75

4.0 3.0

Source: Knight Frank

Citywide office rent Y-o-Y change

Total stock 2022 (million sq m)

2.0

3.74

1.0 2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Total stock 2022 (million sq m)

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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ANALYSIS

Qatar

Rising Optimism QATAR

David Clifton of Hill International shares his insights into Qatar’s construction landscape and the economic outlook for the country ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

A

t more than 20%, construction represented a significant part of Qatar’s GDP in 2020 (due in part to the contraction of GDP and the ongoing major programmes) and has been growing as a net contributor significantly with 20%+ growth per annum from 2014 until 2018 (23% in 2014, 20% in 2015 and 18% in 2016).

For comparison, in KSA this figure is 6%, UAE 9% and UK 7%. With sector spending set to increase through the Vision 2030 $16.4 billion stimulus already committed, positive signs are ahead as we move past Q2 and into Q3 and beyond.

We can realistically expect a rebound from 2019 and 2020’s contraction in market scale to

recording reasonable expansion providing the capital hits the ground.

Contract awards year to date are disproportionately higher the total quantum of awards in 2020 and 2019 (which were $13.4 billion and $12.1 billion respectively – a 10% decrease year on year) standing at c.$19 billion, although this figure is skewed by QatarGas awards of over $14 billion.

As growth returns to the economy in the second half of 2021, we forecast net awards of c.$20-$22 billion driven primarily by infrastructure.

With a 2021 budget surplus based on an oil price breakeven of c.$40 per barrel, Qatar looks certain to run a significant surplus in 2021. With the pandemic’s effect tailing off economically and if the

Infrastructure driven Infrastructure contract awards will drive Qatar’s economy forward in the second half of 2021.

20%

of Qatar’s GDP in 2020 was from construction

ANALYSIS

Government follows well-established stimulus precedent, a further wave of infrastructure development may see further industry expansion. This is considered highly likely as it aligns to the long-term objectives of the country.

With a net project pipeline of over $130 billion, there is still a significant basis for growth planning. Currently, construction represents just over $42 billion of GDP in 2020, although we forecast this rising to over $75 billion by 2025 where we see a GDP growth of 3.8% in 2021, 3% in 2022 and 2.5% in 2023. Whereas the construction sector is expected to recover slightly slower in 2021 at 3% but accelerate above GDP rates of growth from 2022 to 2025.

With consumer price inflation negative in 2020, similar to most GCC countries, knock on decelerations have been felt within the industry as clients look to future and past budget cuts, where price points have been under significant and constant pressure, even in existing contracts. This trend won’t halt in terms of negotiations in the short term, although we are now seeing significant input price increases across commodities globally as economies start opening back up and demand begins the path to recovery.

This will in turn feed into all supply chain areas and thus will have to, at a point, be passed on to the end projects and clients. This can be seen in the growing costs of iron ore which has feed through to rebar prices and will continue to have pressure until capacity catches up.

The industry has, based on the future data forecasts, got a potential capacity issue. Having weathered the global financial crisis (GFC), companies now cut harder and faster in terms of employees.

Coupled with the 30% reduction in non-national staff in government entities, the market does not currently have the ability to absorb a strong uptick in demand. This will ultimately place pressure on salaries, which may represent over 25% of the development cost. Which has previously been seen with the existential growth from the award of the World Cup. At a macro level, when looking at construction, we must understand the impact of job losses on the economy.

Not all the roles in the economy are

19

Currently, construction represents just over $42 billion of GDP in 2020, although we forecast this rising to over $75 billion by 2025 where we see a GDP growth of 3.8% in 2021, 3% in 2022 and 2.5% in 2023” Growth planning David Clifton says that with a net project pipeline of $130bn, there is still significant basis for growth planning in Qatar.

$130 billion Qatar’s net project pipeline

as productive as each other. If we take construction as an industry worldwide, productivity is c.21% (with only agriculture being less productive at 19%).

Secondly, as we have moved through the economic cycle from the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and experienced one of the longest growth periods on record, we see businesses and governments become increasingly inefficient and the addition of ‘nice to have’ positions, departments and entities that Qatar is currently disbanding and hence taking away consumer and infrastructure demand.

Thirdly, positions that are shed, may be replaced (certainly in the GCC) with lower

paid staff – if nationalisation is not an option – or merged with other positions to create a hybrid. The replacement of high salaried expatriates has been ongoing since the GFC. C-19 is only likely to accelerate this (this is partially due to economic growth but mostly due to capacity building having been achieved in many vertical markets).

The outlook for 2021 and beyond is positive. Qatar still has the highest GDP globally and in QIA, there are $295 billion worth of assets, which is c.$1m per citizen. The deployment of some of this capital locally and attracting alternative finance (such as ECA’s / PPP’s) will be key for mid-term growth again.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

21

IN PROFILE

GHD

Creating a Legacy DAVID KINNIBURGH, REGIONAL GENERAL MANAGER – UAE FOR GHD, TELLS BIG PROJECT ME THAT THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION POWERHOUSE IS COMMITTED TO MAKING THE REGION’S DEVELOPMENTS MORE SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

22

IN PROFILE

n a recently released report entitled ‘Shaping the Future of Abu Dhabi’, the Australian-owned multinational, technical professional services firm GHD states that the people living and working in the UAE capital must be at the core of any urban strategy that the government may have.

As it looks to become a leading global city, Abu Dhabi must work to foster communities that will attract and retain a skilled workforce, the report says, while also encouraging a culture of innovation that will make it an investment destination where investors will feel like they’re making a real difference to the city and the wider world.

Having operated in Abu Dhabi for more than 20 years, GHD has certainly played its part in furthering that people-focused urban strategy, working on projects as varied as the Hudayriyat Leisure and Entertainment District on Hudayriyat Island, New York

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

Although it’s been a difficult year, it’s also an opportunity to reassess and look very carefully at what the needs of the market are.

They are changing rapidly and we’re changing with them at the same time” Driving growth David Kinniburgh has been brought to the region to drive GHD’s strategic growth in the region and bring to life its sustainability agenda.

25

Years spent with GHD

University, advising within Agri-tech as part of Abu Dhabi’s Food Security ambitions and helping bring the Jubail Mangrove Park to fruition last year.

With the company stepping up the pace of its evolution in the region, it appointed David Kinniburgh as regional general manager – UAE in July 2020.

As a member of the GHD family for more than 25 years, he has been brought on board to drive GHD’s strategic growth in the region and bring to life the company’s stated ambitions of making water, energy, and urbanisation sustainable for generations to come across the GCC. Previously GHD’s Transportation

Market leader – Northern Hemisphere, Kinniburgh has been instrumental in the strategic growth of GHD’s transportation offerings in Australia and North America, having been involved in major programmes and projects such as the Western Sydney Airport, Sydney Light Rail, and Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail.

Having arrived in the UAE as the COVID-19 pandemic began hitting countries across the globe, his role over the past year has no doubt been challenging, to say the least.

However, he asserts to Big Project ME that the pandemic presents a major opportunity to both the company and the UAE itself.

“The traditional markets for us – property and building – have been suffering one of the biggest global downturns since the Global Financial Crisis. That has been challenging for us. We are fortunate that we had some good backlog at the start of the year and that we’ve been able to continue working on those projects, but the slowdown on the part of the developer community in particular, has been difficult for us, though we’re now starting to see that shift and change a little.

“This has really given us a reason to accelerate our diversification into other markets – this includes other growing sectors of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider region, particularly in the

IN PROFILE

energy and water markets. We’re also doing quite a bit of work in food security at the moment as well. (Our diversification) is very much about empowering an overall self-sufficiency agenda, which is something we’re seeing being driven very strongly by governments and leaders,” he says.

“Although it’s been a difficult year, it’s also an opportunity to reassess and look very carefully at what the needs of the market are. They are changing rapidly and we’re changing with them.”

With the company working on projects such as NEOM and Diriyah

Gate, as well as major industrial facilities such as the King Salman Energy Park, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a major focus for their geographical expansion.

Given the opportunities present in that country, GHD is stepping up its recruitment plans, with a particular focus on strengthening its capabilities in the future energy space, as well as the industrials and transportation sectors.

Kinniburgh adds that Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman are also key markets for the company,

Self-sufficency The UAE leadership is driving the country’s self-sufficiency agenda.

40%

Growth in Abu Dhabi’s population by 2030

23

with the latter offering some very interesting energy- and waterfocused project opportunities.

“Our focus is on two particular areas – what we call future communities and future energy. Future communities encapsulates everything from physical infrastructure to transportation and buildings, community facilities and so on. In that particular area, we are building up our architectural practice, which is diversifying to become more conceptual based. Historically, we have been known more as an architect of record, but we’re moving ourselves MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

24

IN PROFILE

into a very different phase as far as that is concerned. We’re repositioning ourselves in the marketplace to get more involved from the beginning, from the start to the very end, which is very satisfying because with the issues that we would like to have a positive impact on, we need to be there from the very beginning.

“Future energy is the other area where we see a significant amount of support and real ambition across the region, particularly as it pertains to hydrogen as an energy source. We’ve already seen that NEOM is about

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

to deliver the world’s largest green hydrogen plant, and we have been doing a lot of work around the world, with a range of clients, in that sphere.

“We have recruited several people in the future energy space as we call it. No matter where you are in the world, hydrogen and decarbonisation of existing assets is going to happen.

Whether it happens today or over the next ten years, there is a lot to do, both in planning and design. There will be cultural changes as well when it comes to decarbonising industry as we know it, and the shift towards a net-zero

Community focused Kinniburgh says that GHD strives to work on projects that focus on community, sustainability and resilience.

20

Number of years GHD has been in Abu Dhabi

carbon future – or in some cases, zerocarbon future – will not necessarily be driven by government, but by industry. It’s very real and is definitely happening here,” Kinniburgh asserts.

He believes that sustainability, adaptability and resilience will be three key themes for any developer or entity seeking investment in their projects at the moment. Without focusing on them, he insists that it will be difficult to attract the interest of global investors.

“All global investors want to see ecologically sustainable design at

IN PROFILE

the centre of what you’re doing. If you’re a global city like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other places like that in the region, not adopting a sustainabilityoriented agenda, or a resiliency-focused agenda, would be a negative step to take. While we recognise where the market currently is at, we also listen to what other stakeholders are saying around the world and we’ve found that it’s particularly important to be a good global citizen, with People, Planet and Profit all in balance.”

He highlights the work GHD is carrying out in NEOM as being an example of the company’s commitment to these ideals as it focuses on conservation, tourism and the protection of biodiversity.

“It sends very strong signals about the shift towards sustainability and doing the right thing. The other work that we’re doing in Saudi Arabia is more around buildings, where we’re building a new facility that will be the community heart of Diriyah Gate.

“It’s retail, religion and also medical focused, but the international standards that are being adopted, whether it’s LEED or otherwise, in the design, planning and construction implementation, is right at the heart of what we try to deliver,” he explains, adding that he is also glad to see that a number of GHD projects in the UAE – particularly government backed ones – have ESTIDAMA and other sustainability standards as part of their targets.

As the company celebrates its 20th anniversary in the UAE, Kinniburgh is keen to underline GHD’s commitment to providing a legacy to the country, not just through recent community focused projects, but also via a range of other projects that will set the country on a more sustainable and resilient path.

“We are well and truly committed to this region – the whole self-sufficiency agenda that is being driven here, off the back of the COVID pandemic, is of particular interest to us. There is a recognition (that the country needs to be self-sufficient), whether it be in food security in the agricultural sector, or technology advancements, desalination, vertical farming,” he continues.

25

The country is becoming far more mature in its ability to deliver very complex buildings, which is a great thing to see. We’re starting to see gains in modularisation and a real push for efficiency in building is emerging”

2.6km Length of boardwalk at Jubail Mangrove Park

Sustainable future GHD is eyeing the Saudi Arabian market with interest, with projects underway in NEOM and Diriyah Gate.

“Another area that’s of particular interest to us is what’s happening in the construction sector itself, and how the local industry is becoming far more self-sufficient and resilient.

There are so few international constructors here and the country is becoming far more mature in its ability to deliver very complex buildings and infrastructure, which is a great thing to see. We’re starting to see gains in modularisation and a real push for efficiency in building is emerging. There’s an embrace of digital technologies in the construction space that, which I think will take off faster here than in other parts of the world.

“We see great opportunities here, particularly in the digital future for the built environment. It’s a space that we work in as well, and we look forward to being a part of that. Finally, another area that we see significant opportunity in, is in the development of our advisory business, which is a new addition to the market for us.

Whether it’s asset management or optimisation, or even business case development, sustainability will be a part of that offering as well. As the country gets older, so are its assets, and we need to look at how to optimise them and make them more efficient,” he concludes.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

PROJECT PROFILE

27

Sharjah Sustainable City PROJECT NAME: Sharjah Sustainable City DEVELOPERS: Sharjah Investment and Development Authority and Diamond Developers PROJECT SIZE: 668,902sqm PROJECT COST: $544.5 million MAIN CONTRACTOR: JEET Building Contracting

Green Living YOUSIF AHMED AL-MUTAWA, CEO OF SHARJAH SUSTAINABLE CITY, PROVIDES BIG PROJECT ME WITH AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT PROGRESS ON A MEGAPROJECT THAT WILL PUT THE EMIRATE ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MAP MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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PROJECT PROFILE

ver the last few years, there has been a considerable shift in attitudes towards the concept of sustainable development, particularly in the GCC region. Where developers were once disdainful about the need to create efficient and effective communities and buildings, the success of some pioneers has shown that there is a growing appetite for developments that have been built with the future of the planet in mind.

Although the movement towards sustainability has been a long time coming in the UAE, the country’s Vision 2021 has clearly set out its ambitions to transition towards a green economy.

The initiative aims to enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness and making it possible to achieve long-term economic while protecting the environment.

Given how serious the UAE is about achieving the targets it has set out, it is no surprise to see that developers are following suit, with a plethora of new

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

The project has been designed with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint in the emirate and will be fully powered by renewable energy that is produced by solar panels, while recycling water and waste” Highest standards Sharjah Sustainable City has been designed to meet the highest standards of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

70%

Percentage completed for first phase of the project

projects either launched or recently completed that embrace a vast variety of sustainable development goals.

It is this growing awareness that led the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to collaborate with Diamond Developers, the pioneers behind The Sustainable City in Dubai, to create the first global mixed-use residential project in the Emirate of Sharjah that will achieve the highest sustainability requirements.

Costing $544.5 million and covering an area of 668,902 sqm, Sharjah Sustainability City is being developed with the goal of lowering the emirate’s carbon footprint through its use of

100% solar energy and its recycling of 100% of water and waste. Having been designed to meet the highest standards of social, economic and environmental sustainability, the city offers residents a range of amenities and facilities. These include agricultural products grown in greenhouses onsite, and electric mobility solutions, which include charging stations and 2.4 kilometres dedicated to autonomous electric vehicles.

In order to find out more about this intriguing project, which recently passed the 70% completion mark for its first phase, Big Project ME spoke to Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, chief executive officer of Sharjah Sustainable City.

PROJECT PROFILE

How did the concept and idea for Sharjah Sustainability City come about?

Sharjah Sustainable City was conceptualised and developed as a partnership between Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers to create a project that meets the finest sustainability standards. This was formalised in an MoU signing ceremony between Shurooq and Diamond Developers in March 2018, and we broke ground in 2019.

The project is part of a global movement which embraces a lifestyle that is better suited for the future, providing practical lifestyle solutions due to the increased demand for

food, water and natural resources, which have doubled in the past 50 years. The city is designed to cover all three elements of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.

We modelled the city after the success of the iconic ‘The Sustainable City’ in Dubai, and aim for it to be another premier, fully sustainable, and happy society in the UAE. It represents the next phase in the development of sustainable cities and allows us to benefit from and implement our learnings from The Sustainable City.

What lessons were learnt from the development, launch and operation of the Sustainability City in Dubai and how did

Evolved version Sharjah Sustainable City has been developed using the acquired knowledge from The Sustainable City in Dubai.

2019

Year in which the project broke ground

29

those lessons learnt inform and improve the work done on Sharjah Sustainability City?

The Sustainability sector is constantly evolving in line with scientific innovations across multiple industries, but it is only when you implement these innovations in a real-world environment that you see their effectiveness. That is why we benefited greatly from The Sustainable City in Dubai and used that acquired knowledge to develop an evolved version of the city in our plans for Sharjah.

The Sustainable City in Dubai was delivered in 2016 and since then technology has evolved and construction practices have been enhanced, so we are confident that our project will represent MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

30

PROJECT PROFILE

a fundamental change in the concept of future cities and urban planning.

More than 50% of work has been completed on the first phase – can you outline the construction and design process for the project till date, and what have been some of the major construction challenges encountered so far and how have they been overcome?

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

Fundamental change The project will represent a fundamental change in the concept of future cities and urban planning.

Sharjah Sustainable City is an inclusive community of three, fourand five-bedroom villas designed to combine high quality standards of living with minimum impact upon the natural environment.

The city also models an economic solution making sustainability widely accessible. It offers modern, smart homes, that use sustainable materials, sustainable design and renewable

energy production, which reduces utility bills and operational costs.

There is 100% recycling of waste and water on site as well as environmentally friendly mobility options such as electric vehicles and an autonomous shuttle bus. Leafy green vegetables and herbs are produced in bio-domes and with vertical farming and there is an emphasis on wellbeing with shared sporting facilities and open areas. Phase

PROJECT PROFILE

one comprises 280 villas that are due to be handed over later this year.

In terms of the challenges, the biggest one has of course been the ramifications of the global pandemic, which affected everything from supply chains to work hours. We saw construction come to a necessary halt in the official lockdown in March last year and had to manage the reduced manufacturing output. This of course

is not unique to us, as the real estate sector across the world has been hit hard, and we are delighted that we are now back on track and pushing ahead.

Who are the main contractors, consultants and subcontractors working on the project?

Why were they chosen? Do they have a track record in sustainable construction?

280 Number

of villas in phase one

31

Our primary contractor for the project is JEET Building Contracting, which has over two decades track record of delivering successful projects including The Sustainable City in Dubai. We have various other suppliers and subcontractors working on different aspects of the project, and all of them are working around the clock to deliver Sharjah Sustainable City.

They all utilise the latest technology,

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

32

PROJECT PROFILE

The Sustainable City in Dubai was delivered in 2016 and since then technology has evolved, so we are confident that our project will represent a fundamental change in the concept of future cities and urban planning” tailor-made to our sustainability needs, and are the team best suited to deliver the first fully sustainable residential community in Sharjah.

How are you going about making sure that the construction process is sustainable and environmentally friendly?

This is a great question, because many developments are only concerned with the sustainability elements of the finished project, however there is of course a carbon footprint to the actual building process as well.

We are building Sharjah Sustainable City with the highest standards of sustainable products and materials, following the footsteps of The Sustainable City in Dubai but with the latest best practices.

For example, our building envelope uses Precast Wall Panels, reducing construction waste volume compared to cast-in-situ, and lowers the total Embodied Carbon. Also, the villa orientation avoids the sun and maximizes shading, while most south-facing facades are closed to reduce heat gains.

We had no real logistical challenges, only a few understandable delays due to the global pandemic. Despite these challenging times our priority has always been focused on the safety of our employees whilst minimising the impact on our construction milestones and timelines.

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

PROJECT PROFILE

What is in the project pipeline for the remainder of the year and beyond?

We are currently focused on delivering Phase I of the project, and that is due to be handed over later this year. We have already sold over 60% of the first phase and completed over 70% of its construction, which puts us in good stead to launch Phase II in the near future, so we have an exciting period ahead.

Can you outline some of the technologies and methodologies being deployed on the project to ensure reduced carbon emissions and wastage during the operational phase (i.e.: renewable energy usage, water recycling, etc) As mentioned, the project has been designed with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint in the emirate and will be fully powered by renewable energy that is produced by solar panels, while recycling water and waste. Most of the agricultural products will be grown in it using modern technology such as vertical farming in green houses, helping to create a self-sustainable community.

There will also be an extensive network of walking and cycling paths to promote an active lifestyle and clean mobility, thereby reducing emissions.

This includes 11.8 kms of rubberized jogging tracks, 1.6 km cycling tracks, 8.4 kms of pedestrian sikkas.

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Residues from the biogas plant will be dried and used as fertiliser for landscaping, while a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to treat wastewater will produce Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) for landscape irrigation, achieving 100% water recycling, and avoiding emissions associated with tankers.

Near future With construction on phase one on schedule, work on launching phase II is in the near future for the project.

11.8

kilometres of jogging tracks are available in the city

The city features electric mobility solutions, including charging stations for electric vehicles and 2.4 kms dedicated to electric autonomous vehicles. We aim to improve the quality of life for residents without compromising the requirements of future generations, as well as providing opportunities for research on how residential communities can reduce carbon emissions.

Even waste is utilised in order to create a circular economy. A biogas plant treats organic waste (food waste, green waste, and sludge) and converts a waste problem into a resource (electricity and/or thermal energy).

How will this project impact the future of real estate development in the UAE and wider region?

Projects like Sharjah Sustainable City will act as pioneers for the industry to showcase how you can build sustainably without compromising on lifestyle.

A sustainable city improves the environment, ensures rich biodiversity, reduces air pollution, helps water storage, dampens noise and help cooling down in warm periods. All real estate developments can benefit from these best practices even if they are not fully sustainable, as they can still have sustainable elements within them.

In addition, the UAE government has been keen to encourage opportunities for investment in green projects by creating an attractive investment environment, legislation, regulation, and management, as well as by promoting partnership initiatives between the public and private sectors and relevant international organisations.

That support from the top level means the future is definitely promising for the sector.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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PROJECT PROFILE

Masar

Masar: Bringing a Smart Development Perspective to the Future of Makkah SAUDI ARABIA

Advanced infrastructure, an integrated transportation system, and digital and innovative systems will enhance the quality of life and enrich the experience of pilgrims in Makkah, says developer Umma Alqura for Development and Construction June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

M

akkah is undergoing accelerated development in line with the leadership’s ambitious plans to advance the national economy, improve infrastructure and public services, and meet the growing requirements in various economic and commercial sectors to increase the number of Umrah pilgrims to 30 million by 2030 as envisaged in the Saudi Vision 2030 plan.

Perhaps one of the most prominent model projects currently being developed in Makkah is the Masar megaproject, which is owned and developed by Umm Alqura for Development and Construction (UAQ). Spanning 1.25 million square meters, it is set to become an urban front landmark and gateway to the Holy Mosque from the western side of Makkah.

The destination stands out among real estate development projects in the Kingdom as it focuses on implementing an integrated development structure that adopts the concept of comprehensive

access to effectively serve Makkah residents and pilgrims and facilitate their arrival to the Holy Mosque through different means of transport. Around five million visitors and residents are expected to benefit from this development annually during peak times.

Masar begins at the borders of the Third Ring Road at the entrance of the Makkah-Jeddah Highway from the west until the First Ring Road at the Jabal Omar on the outskirts of the Haram Al Sharif. It is 3,650 meters long and 320 meters wide and connects the first, second, and third ring roads to Abdullah Arif and Mansour streets. King Abdullah Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks in the destination, spanning 141,000 square meters.

Over the last few years, UAQ managed to demolish 3,626 properties in the unplanned neighborhoods of Al Hafayer, Al Hindawiyah, Al Tandabawy, Mansour Street, Jabal Ghurab, Al Raseefa, and Al Zahareen, with compensations totaling more than

Serving Makkah Masar will be a landmark and gateway to the Holy Mosque from the western side of Makkah.

Investment environment The destination aims to create an investment environment in the area to improve the quality of life for Makkah residents.

1.25m

Total area of the Masar project, in square metres

PROJECT PROFILE

SAR 10 billion, which is an unprecedented achievement in demolition works.

Work commenced on the megaproject in 2015 and is currently underway around the clock in all areas of the destination simultaneously. Experts and engineers are making daily progress on the infrastructure, including mountain paving, excavation works, and the preparation of various transport pathways.

UAQ put in great effort to overcome the challenges it faced in implementing the infrastructure. It coordinated with all relevant authorities, such as the Saudi Geological Survey, to deal with the groundwater and ensure its safety and sustainability successfully and professionally.

The project establishes an integrated development structure by providing investment opportunities, diversifying economic activity, and enhancing Makkah’s position among the bestdeveloped cities, the developer says.

In order to achieve this vision, the destination relies on the concept of full movement by creating a development and investment environment around the Holy Mosque area, in addition to developing new choices that improve the lifestyle and quality of life of Makkah residents, guests, and pilgrims.

To achieve its strategic plans based on these comprehensive development objectives, UAQ designed groups of buildings across Masar, including international hotels such as Taj,

35

MASAR creates a development and investment environment around the Holy Mosque area, in addition to developing new choices that improve the lifestyle and quality of life of Makkah residents, guests, and pilgrims” Full movement The development has been built to express the concept of full movement with several pathways for pedestrians and road traffic.

2015

Work began on the Masar project

Kempinski, Hilton, and Hyatt Regency, as well as residential, commercial, office, and service sectors.

The destination’s plan was built to express the concept of full movement on which the destination is based by including several pathways, including the pedestrian walkway 3,650 meters long and 60 meters wide, which separates the two directions of the main road for cars without intersecting with it, thereby representing the natural extension of the Holy Mosque plazas. The destination includes additional pathways such as the bus network and the Makkah metro.

On the other hand, the Masr destination is being developed based on a main two-way road 80 meters wide (40 meters in each direction) to and from the Holy Mosque. It is separated by the pedestrian walkway, which is 40-60 meters wide, to connect visitors to the Holy Mosque from the western entrance of Makkah.

Once completed, the project is expected to receive around 60% of arrivals to Makkah through Jeddah and King Abdulaziz International Airport, as well as those coming from Madinah and Jeddah through the Haramain High-Speed Railway.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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EXPERT VOICE

Land Sterling

Prepared for the Future MIDDLE EAST

Hamza Betraoui, managing director at Land Sterling, tells Big Project ME that the real estate consultancy’s planned diversification will position it as a market leader in a digitallyenabled future

What expertise does Land Sterling have in the regional market and what are the types of services it offers clients?

Land Sterling is a market leader in real estate consultancy based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.

Being in the industry for 12 years, Land Sterling was able to provide professional property expertise cutting through various regions including the Middle East, North Africa & Europe.

We help our clients with analytical and research-based advice to make informed property decisions, reducing risk and improving overall success. Land Sterling offers a full range of property consultancy services in accordance to RICS and International Valuation Standards across different industries.

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

You’ve recently announced that the company intends to diversify its offerings. Why you are you doing so and what benefits do you envision this bringing to your client base?

As a company based in the service industry, what keeps us progressing is our steadfast resolve to develop, be part of the global transformation and most importantly to serve our clients better. With over a decade of presence, we wanted to be able to support the client’s necessities at various levels.

Diversity of offering has allowed us to learn and assist with the client’s needs entirely and also create viable business alterations for long-term development.

Land Sterling is a one-stop shop for all the real estate requirements and our clients can rest assured of being in the right place and with

the best team. Our diverse and highly experienced team is well equipped to understand and advise right from Technical Consulting, Advisory & Management Services for the Built Environment, Property Valuation & Strategic Consulting, Plant & Machinery Valuation and Capital Markets to Building Innovative Solutions. Our latest diversification helps our clients with familiarity and convenience, saving them the hassle of scouting and dealing with multiple service providers in the same product line.

With technology playing an increasingly important role across the economic spectrum, how is Land Sterling developing and utilising technology to improve services?

The world we live in today is

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Please visit the Land Sterling website at: www.landsterling.com continuously emerging as a result of technological advancements. With the changing market dynamics, the reliability of the internet, technology, mobile applications etc. is constantly increasing. We believe that the role of technology in business will only see an upward growth and this changing trend has enabled us to make use of the latest technological resources to provide the finest services most efficiently.

As Artificial intelligence continues to act as a technological avant-gardist for the foreseeable future, we believe it is essential to make use of it to the best potential. Our highly skilled IT and software development team makes sure we are up and about in the technological world to make the Land Sterling experience as quick and competent as possible for our esteemed patrons. This can be seen through the breakthrough AI technologies we have introduced in our line of business.

What are some of the other innovations and USPs that Land Sterling offers in comparison to its competitors?

We believe in putting our customers first. Being there for our clients has been our motto which has helped us withstand the changing market dynamics.

Our team is keen and accessible round the clock to ensure the client’s requirements are met and serviced in the highest standard and in an economical way. In line with Land Sterling’s strategic vision to be future-ready, we have introduced advanced technology into our systems. We have, as a start, introduced a new department – “Building Innovation Solutions” (BIS) to explore, identify and source innovative technology & AI-driven solutions with groundbreaking applications for the building & infrastructure sector.

For this, the Product list of BIS is dynamic and will get updated as solutions get identified and

sourced. BIS is started with BrainBox AI - an energy-saving solution. We have more products lined up which also includes “AI Water Intelligence” – a leak management system.

Our Strategic Consulting and Valuations department has been able to make use of the technological progressions interjected in the system. The developments have served our consultants and surveyors to provide swift and high-quality real estate services using inhouse software and web-based technology. Also, our new telecommunication system assures everyone in the team is reachable wherever they are with the introduction of mobilebased software linked with the landline. This has enabled us to be approachable to the clients at any time during the day.

We believe that the role of technology in business will only see an upward growth and this changing trend has enabled us to make use of the latest technological resources to provide the finest services most efficiently”

What does the future of property valuation look like and how is Land Sterling is positioning itself to be at the forefront of this change?

Real estate is a dynamic market.

Property valuation being one of the core services offered, we can see the changing subtleties in the market every day. Being an RICS regulated company, we keep ourselves abreast of the latest trends, standards, rules and regulations in the structure and look into incorporating the latest technology to keep up with the growing demand for the service, especially in these uncertain times.

The Futures report, published

by RICS, outlined the key drivers of change for the land, real estate and construction sectors and the shift from transactional to advisory roles, stating that: ‘… disintermediation, triggered by access to information and the processing power of technology, is causing parts of agency, brokerage, valuation and cost estimation roles to take on a more servicesand advisory-based approach.’

The figures from the research show that valuation is among the most likely to be affected in the (near) future due to emergent digitisation. We foresee a future that is rely heavily on data (including big data), blockchain, artificial intelligence and automated valuation models.

We have our in-built valuation software which enables us to prepare accurate and comprehensive valuation reports. We are steadily improvising our database and the way how our research is carried out.

Introducing AI into the valuation and consulting department is on the anvil and we are confident and prepared for the change. We believe with our relentless drive for training and development of our team, coupled with the technological enhancements in the operation, we are well equipped and prepared for the future in the best interest of all the stakeholders.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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COMMENT

Industry insight

NAJI ATALLAH AUTODESK

Finding solutions to Inefficiency

O

ne of our biggest construction challenges is that a third of all project resources goes to waste. This includes material being thrown away and idle man hours. These inefficiencies cost the industry billions each year and along with demolition add up to 30% of the world’s solid waste. A major contributor to the problem is the typical disconnect between design and construction. The industry still assumes roles that are sequential so a designer’s data and models do not always take constructability into consideration.

The result is that a lot of contractors and sub-contractors cannot correctly consume the models that are presented to them, creating delays and budget over-runs.

The issue is magnified by the type of contracts that govern the industry in the region: separation of scope, reducing contractual liability and retaining one’s intellectual property are held in higher regard than better project outcomes that the owner, design and contractor can share.

This also results in a lack of feedback from the construction phase back to the design team. With the wealth of information that is generated on-site, it is imperative that this information gets back to the designers to enrich future designs. The great benefit here is that the owner retains these insights, and the knowledge can also be shared with other stakeholders and filtered into future projects as well. The good news is that the technology and processes to address the challenges have been around and proven for a few decades now.

Building Information Modelling, or BIM, with its more recent cloud extensions, gives project stakeholders the ability to one single source of

June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

truth, a validated and data rich 3d model. This improves communication and coordination issues, vastly reducing rework and waste material on site. The quality and safety record of BIMenabled projects tends to be higher in projects that follow collaborative methodologies than those that keep stakeholders in isolation.

It also helps project owners and contractors engage with the designer early on and throughout the design process, ensuring ongoing constructability and ease of operations and maintenance and resulting in much better project outcomes and, usually, much lower project costs.

Projects on the higher end of innovation have started to use Machine Learning for risk prediction too. Algorithms project data and identifies high-risk areas that impact design, quality, safety, or project controls. Those algorithms can learn from anonymous data of other projects across the world. Patterns that are similar before an issue are identified so a human mind can decide on how to address them.

With the capability to better predict risk, companies can take corrective measures early in the project and avoid costly delays.

Naji Atallah is Head of AEC and Manufacturing at Autodesk.

MATTHEW TRIBE CALLISONRTKL

Five key trends for building Net-Zero MENA cities

W

ith governments across the region pursuing key clean energy strategies over upcoming decades, including the UAE’s

Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Green Saudi Initiative, enabling net-zero development across the region is a key aspect of driving wider sustainability savings.

The MENA region is globally recognised for pioneering new technological sustainability solutions, yet with the region’s climate and economic growth strategies, enabling net-zero cities presents a challenge for planners in the Middle East to overcome. Therefore, our vision for regional sustainable development is premised on collaboration across the architecture and design sector, using data-focused digital tools to drive industry-wide learning and understanding.

Here are five key trends for enabling net-zero cities in the region, according to CallisonRTKL’s experts: 1. ZERO EMBODIED CARBON One of the central barriers to net-zero development can be in the selection of construction materials that developers are using.

Mining, transportation, and manufacturing building products have significant environmental costs: concrete, iron, and steel production produce around 9% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Not only do materials have environmental costs created solely in their production. They may be inefficient in helping a building optimise its energy consumption and can also be environmentally costly to dispose of.

Net-zero developers in the region have to take into consideration a significant range of factors when designing buildings, choosing materials which are not environmentally costly to produce, transport, or dispose of. While in other regions, materials such as timber are to enable net-zero development, the Middle East has to be innovative in adapting and reinventing products to be able to offset carbon emissions during manufacture.

2. PERFORMANCE DRIVEN DESIGN The whole process of design has to be driven by enabling social, economic, and environmental impact throughout the design phase. When designing a net-zero city, architects cannot neglect one aspect for the benefit of another: no-one wants to live in a sustainable city that has no community spirit or reside in an economic powerhouse that has no concern for green space.

Using smart, digital design tools to able to foster performance driven design is a critical enabler of wider sustainable development

COMMENT

across the Middle East region. Using computational models to be able to assess building’s lifetime energy consumption and development’s construction requirements can enable wider environmental savings in the future while meeting community’s needs today. Fostering and enabling design based on environmental performance is an additional central aspect of wider net-zero development.

3. AVAILABILITY OF DIGITAL DESIGN TOOLS When designing for net-zero, the requirement for careful planning is compounded, as designers not only have to consider the energy required to construct a building, but also for its operation, alongside its eventual decommissioning. Such a level of planning for the entire lifecycle of a building requires thousands of individual data points to be conceptualised, creating significant challenges for any planner.

Advanced digital and computational tools can help ease the pressure on architects, with modern software now able to match the complex planning requirements of a net-zero project.

The evolution and proliferation of such tools among the architecture and design community will have major ramifications for how regional planners create net-zero cities in the Middle East.

4. KEEPING THE MIDDLE EAST COOL As a region with extreme temperatures, the Middle East has long been reliant on air-conditioning to be able to sustain dayto-day life. For regional planners, being able to innovate new ways to keep cool is a key aspect of designing the net-zero city.

When considering this, there is a key solution embedded in the region’s past. The iconic wind towers of the Gulf region have been tools used for the past three thousand years to increase ventilation into buildings and keep homes cool.

By updating traditional structures to match 21st century requirements, we can leverage technology to use wind to cool water, which then circulates through pads in buildings to keep areas cool compared to external temperatures.

Combined with other construction techniques that can enable cooler climates, including solar responsive windows and filtered daylight, these cooling systems can create net-zero climate control in the Middle East. While the technology still needs to be developed further before being able to replace conventional air

conditioning, it nevertheless represents an exciting opportunity for sustainable based climate control in the MENA region.

5. INDUSTRY WIDE COLLABORATION Enabling both regional and global net-zero development is a task that is greater than any design and architecture firm, both in its ethical imperative and its scale of technological and logistical co-ordination. Planners and architects from across the region have been, and will be, coming in closer cooperation with one another to solve key challenges that presented in the task of net-zero development.

Matthew Tribe is principal at CallisonRTKL.

BETHANIE BUERGER BENTLEY SYSTEMS

Why Should Digital Twins Be Used in Construction?

D

igital twins and digital twin methodologies apply to all phases of an asset’s lifecycle.

“The earlier that a project starts using digital twins, the richer that the data and insights will be.

Digital twins serve many purposes. Different stakeholders interact with digital twins from different perspectives and derive different types of value,” says Rich Humphrey, Bentley’s vice president of construction.

“And with Bentley's SYNCHRO Construction technology, you can plan, manage, and control the on-site construction of your project virtually and visually with a 4D model.”

In terms of construction, we can aggregate the source data into a construction digital

39

twin, which includes the design data and the construction information added during preconstruction planning. With the use of mobile devices for data capture, we can receive feeds from the construction operation including sensors, drone capture and overall site progress.

Also, we can easily break down linear design models of a project into design components or parts and use these to create a construction schedule based on, for example, how many people we need and when we need them. We can use digital twins for quantity take off to estimate what manpower and material you will need to get your project off the ground. This labour and material cost determination, which is usually done manually, can now be automated to calculate cost estimates for material quickly and easily.

With all construction-related information is available in one place, including asset tags, work orders, maintenance records, inspection records, and work schedule details, everyone involved in the project can exchange project data and information between the construction site and the office and access it at both locations.

The project team has all the tools and information needed to perform analysis and use the intelligent data to make informed decisions.

In the case of digital twins applications, they extend over the entire lifecycle of the project, from planning to execution and operation, so that users can make more informed decisions and achieve better results in all phases and essentially improve collaboration.

All the sources of data discussed, some static but many near real time, make up a rich project digital twin valuable for linear projects and horizonal construction projects. A digital twin allows for project visualization, which enables users to quickly run construction sequences and simulations so that they can identify and correct errors before construction starts. Project teams reduce the overall time on site by conducting the project analyses before going to the construction site and, thus, reducing the costs for the client.

Additional benefits of digital twins are enabled workflows such as 4D planning and simulation, 5D-model-based quantity take off and estimating, progress and real-time resource tracking, and improved business intelligence. All these functions result in a step function improvement in productivity.

Bethanie Buerger is Director Product Management, Project Delivery at Bentley Systems.

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

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TENDERS

Middle East tenders UAE OIL & GAS

Umm Shaif Field Long Term Development Plan (Phase 1) TERRITORY Umm Shaif, UAE CLIENT ADNOC Offshore BUDGET $400 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of a long-term development plan (LTDP-1) located at Umm Shaif, Abu Dhabi. A Long-Term Development Plan that aims to de-bottleneck the capacity constraints in the existing Umm Shaif infield pipeline network and includes several new offshore facilities. The project also includes three new wellhead towers, one riser platform, new alpha towers, other associated infrastructure, installation of multiple pipeline segments, de-bottlenecking of

the existing pipeline network, water injection facilities, improvement works for 30 wells on existing wellhead towers and other associated infrastructure.

ADNOC aims to sustain and further increase oil production from the field to 360,000 barrels per day from the existing and undeveloped reservoirs. The development plan is implemented as Umm Shaif ’s current oil production of 275,000 barrels per day is expected to decline in the coming years. The Abu Dhabibased giant is expected to execute several phases for the further development program at Umm Shaif over the next 10 years. The first development phase (LTDP-1) is expected to sustain the offshore field’s plateau production from 2024 to 2028. The project is part of the Abu Dhabi energy major’s strategic objective to achieve 4 million BPD of overall oil output spare capacity by 2020-end, and 5 million BPD by the end of 2030.

COMPLETION 31/12/2024 MIXED-USE

City Tower 1 TERRITORY Dubai, UAE CLIENT Galleria Investments

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of work consist of a logistic park located at Mussafah, Abu Dhabi.

The project includes warehouses, showrooms, residential buildings and associated facilities.

COMPLETION 30/09/2022

SAUDI ARABIA AVIATION

BUDGET $410 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the renovation of an 83-storey high-end commercial and residential tower located at Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. The building will replace the existing City Tower 1 on the same location.

It also includes 4,650 square meters of office area, 705m2 retail area, parking facilities for 1,253 vehicles and associated facilities.

COMPLETION 30/03/2025 INDUSTRIAL

ICT Logistic Park (Phase 2) TERRITORY Mussafah, UAE CLIENT International Capital Trading (ICT) BUDGET $260 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope

Red Sea International Airport Landside Package TERRITORY Tabuk, Saudi Arabia CLIENT The Red Sea Development Company BUDGET $350 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of an landside package of Red Sea Tourism Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The scope covers construction of a terminal, hangar, ancillary buildings, offices, baggage handling systems, catering building, car parking facilities, road works and associated facilities. The capacity of the airport is estimated at about a million tourists annually at a peak of 900 passengers per hour.

COMPLETION 30/12/2024

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

42

TENDERS

ENERGY

Renewable Energy Program (Round 3) Layla 80MW Solar Plant TERRITORY Al Aflaj, Saudi Arabia CLIENT Renewable Energy Project Development Office BUDGET $130 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of 80 megawatts solar photovoltaic plant located at Layla, Al Aflaj, Saudi Arabia. The project also includes two solar power plants, solar panels, transformers and laying of transmission lines.

COMPLETION 30/12/2023

Line will be completely free of cars and streets, with residents given access to nature and all of their daily needs within a walking distance of five minutes. furthermore, the team behind the project says that the linear development of hyperconnected AI-enabled communities will be powered by 100% clean energy. Located in NEOM, linking the coast of the red sea with the mountains and upper valleys of the north-west of Saudi Arabia.

COMPLETION 01/01/1935

OMAN INDUSTRIAL

NEOM The Line

Tire Chip Storage Handling & Dosing Facility

TERRITORY NEOM, Saudi Arabia CLIENT Public Investment Fund BUDGET $100 billion DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of a 170 kilometer (106 mile) belt of communities connected without the need for cars or roads. Described as ‘a revolution in urban living’, the project has been put forward as a blueprint for how people can co-exist in harmony with the planet. The

TERRITORY Oman CLIENT Oman Cement Company SAOG (OCC) BUDGET $30 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of a warehouse for tire chip storage handling and dosing system, fire water system, fuel gas system, flare system and associated facilities in Oman.

COMPLETION 30/09/2023

MIXED-USE

floors located at Barka, Batinah South Governorate, Oman. The project includes a three-star hotel (263 rooms), a four-star hotel (247 rooms), restaurants, lobby lounge, an executive lounge, parking facilities, installation of elevators, safety and security systems and associated facilities.

COMPLETION 30/05/2024

HOSPITALITY

Shatti Beach Resort TERRITORY Muscat, Oman CLIENT Eagle Hills Properties (Eagle Hills) BUDGET $50 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work consist of a resort located at Muscat, Oman.

COMPLETION 31/12/2020 HOSPITALITY

Hayy Al Sharq Hotels TERRITORY Barka, Oman CLIENT Muscat National Development & Investment Company (ASAAS) BUDGET $155 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work consists of 2 buildings each comprising 8

BAHRAIN OIL & GAS

Debottleneck Gas Distribution Network (Phase 1) TERRITORY Bahrain CLIENT Tatweer Petroleum BUDGET $45 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of de-bottle-necking of gas distribution network in Bahrain.

The scope also includes laying of 6.1km pipeline from Hidd Metering Station (HMS) to Wharf Valve Station (WVS), installation of valves, receiver and launcher, inter-connecting pipelines, instrumentation, mechanical and electrical works.

COMPLETION 30/09/2023 INFRASTRUCTURE

Dynamic Reactive Power Compensation Substations TERRITORY Manama, Bahrain CLIENT Bahrain Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) BUDGET $100 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of a three 200MVar, 220kV STATCOMs, one at each of the new Hidd, new Riffa and Manama 220kV substations in Bahrain. The scope also includes an installation of reactive power compensation equipment at 12 TSE pumping stations. These systems will help to mitigate voltage instabilities and minimize June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

TENDERS

the probability of having blackout and load shedding.

COMPLETION 30/03/2024 AVIATION

Bahrain Aircraft Engine Run-up Facility TERRITORY Bahrain CLIENT Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) BUDGET $50 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of an aircraft run-up facility, aircraft parking facilities, warehouses, administrative space, workshops, jet blast deflector and associated facilities at Western Apron in Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain.

COMPLETION 30/12/2023

of an administration building, a guardhouse, sewer lines, water supply systems, storage facilities, parking facilities and associated facilities in Doha, Qatar.

COMPLETION 30/09/2024

TERRITORY Northern Qatar CLIENT Public Works Authority (ASHGHAL) BUDGET $20 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves road improvement works, site clearance works, earthworks, pavement works and associated facilities in the northern area of Qatar.

COMPLETION 30/12/2023 INFRASTRUCTURE

QATAR COMMERCIAL

Al Dhow Harbour TERRITORY Doha, Qatar CLIENT Public Works Authority (ASHGHAL) BUDGET $75 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction

COMMERCIAL

clearance works, earthworks, pavement works, construction of safety barriers and associated facilities in various areas of northern areas, Qatar.

COMPLETION 30/12/2023

Boubyan Bank Data Center TERRITORY Kuwait City, Kuwait CLIENT Boubyan Bank BUDGET $15 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the construction of a 3-storey data center and parking facilities in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

COMPLETION 30/12/2023

INFRASTRUCTURE

Doha Northern Area Road Works

Qatar Northern Areas Road Improvement Works TERRITORY Northern Qatar CLIENT Public Works Authority (ASHGHAL) BUDGET $25 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the road improvement works, site

43

KUWAIT OIL & GAS

Gas Gathering Centre 32 Flowlines

CORPORATE

TERRITORY Kuwait CLIENT Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) BUDGET $25 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work involves the reroute flowlines, cathodic protection system, valves associated with Gathering Center 32 in Kuwait.

COMPLETION 30/12/2023

Boubyan Bank Headquarters TERRITORY Kuwait City, Kuwait CLIENT Boubyan Bank BUDGET $80 million DESCRIPTION The project's scope of work consist of a 34-storey headquarters building (4B+G+2M+31) located at Kuwait City, Kuwait.

The facility includes convention halls, office cabins, reception area, parking facilities and associated facilities. The design concept of the building was inspired by Boubyan Bank’s logo. The headquarters will be home to convention halls, public area, cafeteria, meeting rooms, storage rooms, parking facilities, visitors zone and spacious offices.

COMPLETION 30/09/2024

MEConstructionNews.com | June 2021

44

PROGRESS REPORT

Final update

Sobha Realty launches Waves at The Waterfront District Private developer adds 35-storey residential tower to its Sobha Hartland portfolio

S

obha Realty, the Dubai-based private real estate developer, has announced the launch of Waves – a residential tower at The Waterfront District in Sobha Hartland, the 734,224sqm freehold master development in Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City.

Scheduled for completion in September 2023, Waves will comprise of 35 residential floors, coupled with bestin-class amenities, the developer said.

Offering panoramic waterfront views, the

The Waves tower is an iconic addition to the Sobha Hartland portfolio and will see the introduction of the Waterfront District within the master development.

This tower will become a destination for residents” June 2021 | MEConstructionNews.com

tower has a total of 592 units of varying sizes – including one- and two-bedroom apartments – and 12 retail units.

The first project in the newly launched Waterfront District, Waves is strategically located to offer residents maximum view of the picturesque waterfront feature and the Dubai skyline including Burj Khalifa.

Of the 592 units, there will be 287 single-bedroom apartments, 150 units of single bedroom with study units, a total of 150 double-bedroom apartments, and 5 units of double bedroom apartments with maid’s room.

“Following the success of Creek Vistas and Creek Vistas Reserve, the Waves tower is an iconic addition to the Sobha Hartland portfolio and will see the introduction of the Waterfront District within the master development. This tower will become a destination and serve as a magnet for residents,” said Jyotsna Hegde, president of Sobha Realty.