The big picture

01 CANADA Wenco acquires SmartCap Technologies

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.

04 UNITED KINGDOM Mace appoints new regional heads for FM business

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.

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.

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.

03 UNITED KINGDOM Buro Happold appoints James Bruce as new CEO

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.

06 JORDAN Eagle Hills Jordan appoints Farah Experience for Saraya Aqaba Waterpark

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.

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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.

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08 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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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.

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. 14 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Lootah Real Estate Development appoints new CEO

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.

17 INDIA Aster Volunteers to help build 50-bed field hospital in New Delhi

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. 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.

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.