Big Project ME November 2017

Publication licensed by Dubai Production City

140

NOVEMBER 2017 meconstructionnews.com

THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION

digital drive Ahmed AlhAmmAdi outlines the ministry of infrAstructure development’s smArt plAns for uAe’s highwAys

© 2017 LACASA Architects & Engineering Consultants All Rights Reserved

Sr. FF&E DESignEr I’m Nadin Alkayyali and I am a

www.lacasa.ae

One of the biggest challenges within any project is ensuring that the materials and finishes selected are translated well from drawings to constructed spaces. Often, clients opt for lower quality finishes at the construction phase as a cost-saving measure. As an FF&E Designer, my role is to advocate for better quality materials while providing a higher value. My selections take into account a plethora of factors including the nature of the space, the authorities’ standards, and the environmental conditions.

Nadin Alkayyali Sr. FF&E Designer

LACASA is committed to providing quality-driven designs within a multidisciplinary environment.

Established in 2006, the firm has grown significantly over the past eleven years. Today, LACASA boasts a diverse portfolio encompassing all types of developments and across the entire MENA region.

While it is said that perfection doesn’t exist, we believe that perfecting design can be achieved by cultivating extraordinary talent.

Contents

Issue 140 November 2017 09

16

20

30

42

68

16 Affordable demand

44 A road map for building green

06 ME Construction News.com ONlINe

The biggest stories from Big Project Middle East’s home on the web

aNalysIs

Manika Dhama examines Dubai’s residential market in Q3 of 2017

08 KSA plans $500bn mega city 20 Ahmed Alhammadi The bIg pIcTure

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces plans for 26,500sqkm development

IN prOfIle

Big Project ME speaks to the director of the Roads Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development

greeN buIldINg

Ibrahim Al Zu’bi provides an in-depth look at how Majid Al Futtaim is integrating green principles across its developments

48 Big Project ME Golf Day eVeNT reVIew

Big Project ME recaps the action at the 2017 Consultants and Architects Cup

12 Emaar India starts new projects 30 Keeping it in-house

58 Top Tenders

14 Dubai sees $55bn in land deals 40 Entering into a BIM reality

62 Construction IT

INTerNaTIONal News

sITe VIsIT

Indian arm of Emaar Properties starts work on projects in the National Capital Region

Big Project ME visits the projects at Sobha Hartland

MarkeT repOrT

bIM aNd VIrTual realITy

DLD report finds that Dubai saw a total value of $55.5bn in real estate transactions in the first nine months of 2017

Steven Anderson and Marc Durand from Atkins on how BIM and VR are combining

TeNders

Big Project ME lists the Middle East’s biggest construction tenders for November 2017 lasT wOrd

Ian Hauptfleisch on why you need the right construction IT tools for your project November 2017 3

Introduction

Return to the Summit

S

o here we are then – November again, and the annual awards season is in full flow. I’m sure people must get quite fed up with the procession of awards that seem to come up during this month. I know I’d be absolutely exhausted!

However, from the other side of the table, it’s been quite heartening to see the response to these awards – well, to our ones at least!

I’m really looking forward to this year’s Big Project ME Awards, as the early indications are that we’re getting quite a few new companies nominating for the categories, which is quite exciting!

Good luck to everyone nominating – and I hope to see you on the night of the 27th.

On the immediate horizon is the second edition of the Middle East BIM Summit. Last year’s event was very successful, so successful that it actually took us a little by surprise!

While we expected a strong response from the industry, I don’t think we quite realised just how hungry people are to learn and educate themselves about BIM. This year, we’re determined to do better. Although I’m writing this two days before the summit, I’m reasonably confident in predicting that we’ve managed to top ourselves this time around – the line-up of speakers and panellists is great, with plenty of new faces to go alongside some of the established experts

MANAGING DIrector RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5471 eDItorIAL DIrector VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 Supported by

M

‫ﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ اﻟﺸﺮق اﻻوﺳﻂ ﻟﺼﻨﺎﻋﺎت اﻟﻄﺎﻗﺔ اﻟﺸﻤﺴﻴﺔ‬

Middle East Solar Industry Association

Empowering Solar across the Middle East

4 November 2017

eDItorIAL eDItor gAVIN DAVIDS gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5480 oNLINe eDItor BEN FLANAgAN ben.flanagan@cpitrademedia.com sUB eDItor AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com

returning from last year’s summit.

Finally, looking at this month’s magazine, I was lucky enough to speak to Engineer Ahmed Alhammadi, director of the Roads Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development. It was fascinating to hear what he had to say about the efforts being undertaken to bring the UAE’s road network up to date, while also adopting new technologies and methodologies for the department.

One of the most interesting things he said to me, however, was that not many contractors know what the Ministry of Infrastructure Development does, and as a consequence it struggles to get the right companies on board for projects.

This was quite surprising to me, and I hope this interview helps shine some light on what this ministry does and how it operates. Hopefully, it’ll give some of you the chance to work with them as well!

Gavin Davids editor gavin.davids@cpimediagroup.com @MecN_Gavin

PhotoGrAPhY MAkSYM PORIECHkIN

FoUNDer DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PrINteD BY PRINtwELL PRINtINg PRESS LLC

MArKetING MArKetING MANAGer SHEENA SAPSFORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498

ADVertIsING coMMercIAL DIrector JUDE SLANN jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5714 sALes execUtIVe tOM BROMLEY tom.bromley@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5496

cIrcULAtIoN & ProDUctIoN DIstrIBUtIoN MANAGer SUNIL kUMAR sunil.kumar@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 ProDUctIoN MANAGer VIPIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713

DesIGN Art DIrector SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com

WeB DeVeLoPMeNt MOHAMMAD AwAIS SADIq SIDDIqUI

PUBLIsheD BY

Licensed by tECOM to registered company, CPI trade Publishing FZ LLC whose registered office is 207 – 209, Building 3, Dubai Studio City, Dubai, UAE www.cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2017 CPI. All rights reserved while the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

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CONSTRUCTION

MeTRO ROUTe 2020 A bOON

Aldar awards $203m contract for The Bridges project

With the drilling work flagged off for the Route 2020 Metro project in Dubai (‘Dubai ruler launches drilling of Route 2020 Metro tunnel’, October 24), people living in some far-flung districts of the city can look forward to a more convenient commute when it is launched in 2019.

The way the city has spread over the years, residents of many communities far from the city centre, or the main commercial areas, find it arduous and timeconsuming to travel for both work and leisure.

With public transport not readily available in areas such as Dubai Investment Park, the next best option for people without cars is expensive taxis.

The Metro Route 2020, when it becomes operational, will not only provide a convenient and economical option for travellers but also integrate these areas on the fringes of the city with its nerve centres. Flyers using the new Dubai World Central airport, where the line will terminate, will also find the new Metro line to be a boon.

Expo 2020 may still be a couple of years away, but its benefits are

CONSTRUCTION

Dubai-Al Ain housing project to span 763 hectares

In pictures: On-site at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, Dubai

CONSTRUCTION

Nakheel awards $45m Deira Islands marina contract

CONSTRUCTION

Dubai to introduce new green building ratings system

CONSTRUCTION

Saudi Arabia plans $500bn mega city 6 November 2017

Video: Five-year time-lapse of Dubai’s Al Habtoor City under construction

starting to roll in already.

Name supplied, via email

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The Big Picture

Saudi Arabia plans $500bn mega city NEOM development will span more than 26,500sqkm in Egypt and Jordan

Independent of the Kingdom NEOM will be independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, the Crown Prince said (image for illustrative purposes only).

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday announced plans for a $500 billion mega city dubbed NEOM. The development’s land mass will include a vast area of Saudi Arabia and also extend across the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, making it the first private zone to span three countries.

“NEOM will focus on nine specialised investment sectors and living conditions that will drive the future of human civilisation: energy and water, mobility, biotech, food, technological & digital sciences, advanced manufacturing, media, and entertainment with liveability as its foundation,” said Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), in a statement.

“The focus on these sectors will stimulate economic growth and diversification by nurturing international innovation and manufacturing, to drive local industry, job creation and GDP growth in the Kingdom. NEOM 8 November 2017

will attract private as well as public investments and partnerships.

NEOM will be backed by more than $500 billion over the coming years by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, local as well as international investors.”

NEOM will be built in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia, and will span over 26,500 square kilometres, according to a statement.

The site will also become the main entrance to the King Salman Bridge linking Asia and Africa, which will add to the zone’s economic significance, the statement said.

Investment and financing will play a vital role in NEOM, set to be spearheaded by the Kingdom’s economy and supported by PIF. NEOM is developed to be independent of the Kingdom’s existing governmental framework, excluding sovereignty, the statement said.

“NEOM will be constructed from the ground up on greenfield sites, allowing it to be distinguished

26,500

NEOM development’s total area, in sqkm, will span three countries – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan

9

NEOM will focus on nine specialised investment sectors and living conditions that will drive the future of human civilisation

$500bn The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will back the NEOM development with investment over the coming years

from all other places that have been developed and constructed over hundreds of years, and we will use this opportunity to build a new way of life with excellent economic prospects. Future technologies form the cornerstone for NEOM’s development: Disruptive solutions for transportation from automated driving to passenger drones, new ways of growing and processing food, healthcare centred around the patient for their holistic well-being, wireless high speed internet as a free good called digital air, free world-class continuous online education, full scale e-governance putting city services at your fingertips, building codes that make net-zero carbon houses the standard, a city layout that encourages walking and bicycling, and all solely powered by renewable energy.

“All of this will allow a new way of life to emerge that takes into account the ambitions and outlooks of humankind paired with best future technologies and outstanding economic prospects,” the Crown Prince added.

The Big Picture

Multiplex wins Address Residences Jumeirah 77-storey mixed-use twin tower development will be completed by Q4 2020 Multiplex Constructions has been awarded the main contract for the construction of the Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa development on Jumeirah Beach Walk, Dubai.

The development was launched in 2016 and is said to have garnered strong investor support from within the UAE and overseas.

The mixed-use 77-storey twin tower development will have an effective built-up area of approximately 257,000sqm.

The project is specified to have three basement levels, ground and podium levels, as well as 77 upper floors including the roof.

“The appointment of Multiplex as the main contractor follows on from the recent completion of the shoring and piling works for the project. We are confident that Multiplex will produce a high-quality product for Al Ain Properties, the owners of the project, and we look forward to the participation of client, contractor and consultant team to make this project a success, adding yet another iconic tower to the already impressive skyline,” added Mike Fraser, managing director of Mirage Leisure and Development, the development manager, in a statement.

The development will feature the Address Jumeirah Resort + Spa hotel with 217 rooms and suites, the Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa serviced ‘La Dolce Vita’ furnished apartments, and the Residences Jumeirah Dubai unfurnished residential apartments.

Residents will have access to more than 100m of beach frontage and several food and beverage concepts within the project, including a lounge at the top level and a sky restaurant.

Marcus Truscott, managing director of Multiplex Middle East, said: “It is an honour to

play such an important role in the construction of this iconic development. We look forward to working closely with the existing team to ensure the successful delivery of Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa.” Enabling and piling work has already been completed on the project and construction work began earlier this month.

The development is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020, and it will be the tallest tower in the Jumeriah Beach Walk skyline, featuring views of the Arabian Gulf, the Palm Jumeirah and Ain Dubai.

“With the commencement of the project’s main works, we aim to deliver this project on schedule and to the highest standards”

~November 2017 9

The Big Picture

Adding to the line The Route 2020 Metro project will add 15km to the Dubai Metro Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station to the site of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Dubai ruler launches drilling of Route 2020 Tunnel boring machine expected to pass across underground station Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the tunnel drilling works of the Route 2020 Metro project.

The route will add 15km to the Dubai Metro Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station to the site of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed the interior design of the new rolling stock of the Dubai Metro and the progress of the project.

He was briefed by Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, on the progress of work on Route 2020.

A tunnel boring machine named Al Wugeisha Expo 2020 will pass across the underground station near Jumeirah Golf Estates in January next year, according to a report by WAM. 10 November 2017

The 103m-long machine is powered by hydraulic cranes to propel the drilling process, the report added. A metal wheel will push through the soil and pipes will extract the mud as the machine crushes the gravel to carve out the underground segments. All activity will be monitored from a control room.

It said that the metal wheel will vary in shape and size, depending on the drilling work required and the type of soil surrounding the site.

Sheikh Mohammed launched the operation of the tunnel boring machine to start drilling works.

The tunnel starts at Discovery Gardens and stretches 3.2km to the Green Community. It features depths ranging from 12.5 to 36 metres. Meanwhile, 11km of the route will be elevated.

Heading from Nakheel Harbour and Tower station, the route will serve an additional

seven stations, two of which will be underground stations, the WAM report said. The new route will bring the total network length of Dubai Metro to 90km.

“In December 2018, all tunnel drilling works will be completed,” the report continued.

“The first of the new Dubai Metro rolling stock will arrive in July 2018, and construction work for the Metro viaducts will be completed in November next year. All railway works of Route 2020 will be completed in July 2019, and the trial run of the Metro will start in February 2020.”

103m

Length of the Al Wugeisha Expo 2020 tunnel boring machine

Sheikh Mohammed was also shown the new interior design of the Dubai Metro carriages, which are being manufactured in France under a contract for the supply of 50 trains: 15 for Expo 2020 and 35 for upgrading the service of the Dubai Metro.

In May 2017, it was reported that the government of Dubai is expected to raise funds needed to extend the city’s Metro through an initial loan of approximately $500 million, which will then be followed by loans guaranteed by export credit agencies (ECAs).

According to banking sources familiar with the matter, the Department of Finance approached banks requesting a loan with a maturity of five years, a Reuters report said. This is half the duration of the loan package which the government had previously discussed with lenders and ECAs, the sources added.

The Big Picture

$1.4bn

1. Dubai HolDing appoints CEo of smartCity malta Deepak Padmanabhan has been appointed CEO of SmartCity Malta, as per a statement from global investment holding company Dubai Holding.

The organisation is working with the government of Malta to develop a 360,000sqm business and technology park adjacent to Valletta Grand Harbour.

Padmanabhan is already a respected figure in Malta’s business economy – he has led local telecommunication company GO as chairman for more than a decade, and has also served on the board of SmartCity Malta since the project’s inception.

Khalid Al Malik, chairman of SmartCity Malta and chief real estate officer of Dubai Holding, said: “We are committed to the development of SmartCity Malta, and are pushing ahead with the next phase of development.”

“Padmanabhan brings a wealth of expertise, including experience in mergers and acquisitions, strategy and business development, transformation and longterm value creation.”

SmartCity is the international arm of TECOM Investments business parks.

12 November 2017

Construction of a $1.4bn, 30m telescope on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano has been approved by the state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources

2. Emaar inDia starts work on nEw projECts Emaar India, the Indian arm of Emaar Properties, has said it is working on a number of new projects in the National Capital Region (NCR), with work on ongoing projects expected to be complete by the end of 2019.

In a report in the Khaleej Times, Sanjay Malhotra, CEO of Emaar India, said the developer has “expedited all its projects to be

able to deliver close to 11,000 units by the end of 2019”.

“This would complete all our existing projects,” he said, adding that Emaar India has raised $383.7 million to expedite the execution and completion of its ongoing projects. He added that buyer queries were gathering momentum.

Malhotra said the company will announce new projects with a total inventory of 1,600 units.

“This will be a mix of new projects and expansion of existing projects and will be announced very soon,” he said, pointing out that new projects may not be in the premium category.

Finally, Malhotra said positive traction in the market has been seen in the wake of recent policy interventions by the Indian government, like the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera).

1

The Big Picture

30,000

4. DC pro ExpanDs in australia as grEEn DEmanD grows

Hungary’s construction sector is short of about 30,000 workers, and those positions can only be filled with a labour force from abroad

2

3

$600m

Tenders have been submitted from Australia’s biggest builders for a $600m mixed-use project in Sydney 4 3. abu DHabi funD in $1bn inDia infra agrEEmEnt India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has signed an investment agreement worth $1 billion with a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), according to UAE state news agency WAM. As part of the agreement, ADIA will become the first institutional investor in NIIF’s Master Fund

and a shareholder in National Investment and Infrastructure Limited, the NIIF’s investment management company.

NIIF CEO Sujoy Bose said, “This agreement marks the culmination of an extensive process of collaboration with ADIA to develop an investment structure that is attractive to international investors while remaining closely aligned with the NIIF’s objectives.”

The NIIF, an institution sponsored by the government of India, is a fund manager that seeks to create long-term value for domestic and international investors seeking to invest in energy, transportation, housing, water, waste management and other infrastructure-related sectors in India. It acts as a collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors.

DC Pro Engineering has opened offices in Perth and Melbourne, as per a statement from the firm. The UAE firm says the new offices will allow it to service the growing demand for renewable energy from across the country. The offices will work with public and private entities spanning the east and west electricity grids.

DC Pro Engineering has identified Australia as a key territory for growth opportunities, noting that a desire to be part of the country’s green vision led the firm to open its new offices.

Marcus Wearing-Smith, a representative of DC Pro Australia, said: “District energy systems are being considered as a necessary component of Australia’s energy future. The emergence of renewable energy micro grids is essential to cater for the geographically disparate energy profile of the Australian continent. Traditional electricity grids are failing.”

Direct Energy Australia (DEA), an engineering firms that offers services to government and private enterprises, will partner with DC Pro Engineering on office coordination and client relations.

November 2017 13

Market Report

DLD sees $55.5bn worth of reaL estate transactions Dubai Land Department says figure achieved through 52,170 transactions

Dubai Land Department (DLD) has announced that the total value of real estate transactions for the first nine months of 2017 reached $55.5 billion, a figure that was achieved through 52,170 transactions.

transactions worth $27.7 billion, along with 2,838 other transactions worth $3.81 billion.

“The data clearly shows an increasing demand across all property categories, including land plots for various forms of real estate development, as well as buildings and residential units, which means that we are attracting a wide variety of investors,” said HE Sultan Butti bin Mejren, director general of the Dubai Land Department.

In its latest report, the DLD said that there was a total of 37,633 transactions for land, residential units and buildings, generating a value of more than $23.9 billion.

There were also 11,699 mortgage

“We expect the market to remain on this upward trajectory of sustained growth, and to see demand continuing to diversify across various real estate categories. The momentum of the market is being driven and sustained by several factors but particularly the upcoming launch of Expo 2020 Dubai,” he added.

$39.04 billion worth of investment, achieved from 11,169 transactions across sales, mortgages and other transaction categories.

Building sales generated 5,014 transactions with a total value of $3.46 billion, while 36,000 transactions for residential units of all types crossed the $13.2 billion mark.

Land Superiority Areas in High Demand

The latest DLD report shows that the land category attracted

The report also reveals the

DUBAI REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2017

AED 204

52,170 TRANSACTIONS

BILLION OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

SALES QTY

:

VALUE

(AED BILLION)

:

MORTGAGES

37,633 88.20

QTY VALUE

: (AED BILLION)

:

OTHERS

11,699 102.24

QTY VALUE

TOP REAL ESTATE SALES AREAS

: (AED BILLION)

:

TOTAL

2,838 14.45

QTY VALUE

: (AED BILLION)

:

52,170 204.89

VALUE (AED MILLION)

1

2

3

4

5

BURJ KHALIFA

BUSINESS BAY

DUBAI MARINA

6,239

5,570

5,357

HADAEQ SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID

AL BARSHA SOUTH FOURTH

3,069

Source: Dubai Land Department

4,470

Source:

14 November 2017

Market Report

top ten real estate sales areas in Dubai, with Burj Khalifa taking first place in terms of value with 1,650 transactions worth $1.69 billion.

Business Bay followed in second place with 2,754 transactions worth $1.51 billion, while Dubai Marina took third place with 2,596 transactions totalling $1.45 billion in value.

Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid came in fourth place with 1,495 transactions worth

52,170 Total number of transactions in first nine months of 2017

37,633 Transactions for land, residential units and buildings

$1.21 billion and Al Barsha South Fourth 5 ranked fifth through 2,418 transactions exceeding $816.8 million in value.

The other five places went to Al Thanyah 5, Al Yufrah 2, Jabal Ali First, Madinat Al Mataar and Al Yelayiss 2.

In terms of mortgages, Palm Jumeirah topped the list with 578 transactions exceeding $3.09 billion in value, followed

by Business Bay with 596 transactions worth $1.26 billion.

Dubai Marina ranked in third place with 777 transactions worth over $816 million, Burj Khalifa came in fourth place with 434 transactions worth nearly $544.5 million, and Al Thanyah 5 placed fifth with 796 transactions worth $481.9 million.

The other five places went to Al Thanyah 4, Al Barsha South Fourth, Jebel Ali First, Al Yelayiss 1 and Al Thanyah 3, the Dubai Land Department report concluded.

“We expect the market to remain on this upward trajectory of sustained growth, and to see demand continuing to diversify across various real estate categories. The momentum of the market is being driven and sustained by several factors but particularly the upcoming launch of Expo 2020 Dubai”

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www.balmoraltanks.com November 2017 15

Analysis

AffordAble demAnd Manika Dhama, a senior consultant at Cavendish Maxwell, examines Dubai’s residential market in Q3 2017 In 2017, residential property transaction prices traded within a close range of $340,321 to $408,385 for apartments and $462,836 to $571,739 for villas/ townhouses. Lower-price inventory continued to enter the market in locations such as Dubailand for villas and Dubai South, Jumeirah Village Circle and Al Furjan for apartments, thus impacting price dynamics for existing developments.

Developers launched more efficient unit sizes to keep ticket prices attractive, along with offering incentives such as Dubai Land Department (DLD) fee waivers and aggressive payment plans. For established developers with alternate sources of project financing (such as equity from conglomerate businesses or raising debt from the market), margins can be protected or enhanced as these payment plans allow them to attract buyers without discounting prices.

The majority of new plans on offer are structured with posthandover payments such as 40/60 and 25/75 schedules, where the bulk of the payment (60% and 75% in the above examples) is due after construction completion.

Additionally, mortgages have become more accessible as banks 16 November 2017

downward trend The downward trend over the last 12 months for the prices of apartments and villas has created a wider gap in the price performance of quality stock in established areas, with limited upcoming supply, against that of newer developments in emerging locations.

Analysis

“The sluggish growth in the white-collar worker population, combined with new supply, is impacting rents and contributing to high vacancy levels in some emerging communities� are also offering newer products to this segment. The DLD reports that for property transactions in Dubai, the value of mortgage transactions increased to $16.3 million in the first six months of 2017, from $13 million in the same period last year. These factors are together helping expand the buyer base for residential properties in Dubai.

worker population, combined with new supply, is impacting rents and contributing to high vacancy levels in some emerging communities. Over the next two years, job creation ahead of Expo 2020 is expected to attract additional labour to the emirate, though it remains to be seen what percentage of that will be white-collar and hence translate into housing demand.

Housing Demand

Housing demand in Dubai is primarily becoming a factor of affordability as well as population growth, particularly of the white-collar labour force, as blue-collar workers are housed in speciality accommodation in line with the 2014 decree and subsequent 2016 announcement.

According to recently released data from Dubai Statistics Centre, the total population of the emirate in 2016 was 2.7 million, up nearly 16% since 2014, the last residential market peak. In comparison, the white-collar population increased by 5% over the same period to reach 1.1 million in 2016, and the percentage of the white-collar workforce in the total population declined from 44% in 2014 to 40% in 2016.

While investor demand for residential properties in Dubai continues to remain strong, as witnessed in transaction levels over the last 18 months, sluggish growth in the white-collar

Price and Rent Performance

Prices in established communities with limited upcoming supply have held stronger than emerging locations even as marginal price declines continued in Q3. According to the Property Monitor Index, the 12-month change in prices for key communities in Dubai registered marginal declines of 1.2% for apartments and 1.4% for villas/ townhouses as of September.

This downward trend over the last twelve months has created a wider gap in the price performance of quality stock in established areas with limited upcoming supply, against that of newer developments in emerging locations. Factors such as proximity to the central business district, social infrastructure like schools and supermarkets, and build quality and developer track record will continue to play a larger role in maintaining price levels in the Dubai residential market.

November 2017 17

Analysis

Dubai Apartment Transactions, 2016-2017

Sales volume (secondary market transfers)

Sales volume (off plan)

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

Sept 2016

Oct 2016

Nov 2016

Looking at the rental declines for residential properties in Dubai, we see that they have been more pronounced than price declines over the last 12 months. During this period, rents in Dubai have declined by 2.8% for apartments and 3.5% for villas/townhouses, according to the Property Monitor Index.

This results from a combination of factors, including new project handovers, especially of lower-price inventory, as well as readjustment of salaries and job losses in some key sectors. In response, to limit void periods on their properties, landlords have begun offering incentives such as the first month rent-free and the option to pay through multiple cheques. According to Property Monitor, four cheques annually are now the average, compared with the earlier practice of single-

Dec 2016

Jan 2017

Feb 2017

cheque payments being prevalent in the Dubai residential market.

Transactions Overview

Property Monitor data shows that more than 8,900 residential property transactions were recorded in Q3, with July accounting for nearly 40%.

Off-plan sales continued to drive residential market activity in the third quarter, accounting for 77% of the total with nearly 6,850 transfers.

The current momentum in sales activity is driven by a larger proportion of end users than before, particularly firsttime buyers entering the market enthused by lower prices and encouraged by attractive payment plans offered by some developers.

The introduction of new innovative mortgage products by some local banks has also

Dubai Villa/Townhouse Transactions, 2016-2017

Mar 2017

Apr 2017

May 2017

Jun 2017

contributed to this increased activity. Prices and accessibility criteria for a home mortgage, traditionally the two biggest barriers for new entrants to the property market, have been lowered, resulting in an uptick in market activity.

Residential Supply

As of September 2017, approximately 32,000 units are scheduled for handover for the remainder of the year, though actual completions may vary significantly. Approximately 11,800 residential units have been handed over across Dubai this year. New supply continues to exert pressure on rents, which have been declining at a faster pace than prices over the last 12 months. Some developers have begun responding to this market reality by phasing

July 2017

Aug 2017

Sept 2017

the delivery of projects.

Additionally, master developers are also differentiating between asset classes within their master plans, such as residential, retail, schools, hotels, etc, to launch and begin construction for projects in line with prevailing absorption trends. The profile of transacted properties is also driving unit size and mix optimisation within residential projects, to match end user demand more closely.

According to the Property Monitor Supply Tracker, upcoming supply for the remainder of 2017 is largely concentrated in Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Sports City, Al Quoz and Business Bay. All these locations have more than 2,000 units projected to be handed over in the last quarter of the year.

Sales volume (secondary market transfers)

Sales volume (off plan)

1,000

750

500

250

Sept 2016

Oct 2016

18 November 2017

Nov 2016

Dec 2016

Jan 2017

Feb 2017

Mar 2017

Apr 2017

May 2017

Jun 2017

July 2017

Aug 2017

Sept 2017

In Profile

20 November 2017

In Profile

“We Work With the local municipalities to knoW their future plans. it depends on the expansion of the population, and the commercial and residential projects that come up. from that, We build our master plan and We try to Work With it�

Big Project ME speaks to Ahmed Alhammadi, director of the Road Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, to understand how the ministry is marrying technology and data to improve efficiency and performance

November 2017 21

In Profile

i

n August 2017, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development in the UAE announced that it had developed a new index to help it assess and measure the condition of bridges across the country.

The Advanced Bridge Condition Assessment Index was developed in collaboration with the University of Sharjah. This system ensures the periodical inspection of bridges by following a theory of algorithms, whereby every material used in the construction of a bridge is assessed in order to determine whether or not it needs maintenance – without impinging on the conditions of other materials used, the Ministry explained in a statement to WAM. Engineer Ahmed Alhammadi, director of the Road Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, says data received through the Road Asset Management System sets the priorities of maintenance for the country’s road networks.

“The results to be delivered by the innovative index will play a significant role in determining the use of building material in roads constructed at the federal level nationwide, in accordance with best international practices and standards,” he explained at the time, stressing that the development of the index was a reflection of how keen Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, was to ensure the ministry’s sustained support for development.

Alhammadi points out that such indices contribute to 22 November 2017

contributing to the uae’s success Engineer Ahmed Alhammadi says that the development of indices like the Road Asset Management System helps to maintain international best practices and standards.

leveraging the country’s ranking in global competitiveness reports.

“The UAE came first for the fourth year running under the Road Quality Category at the Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2107, published by the Davos World Economic Forum – which is a world testament to the integrated infrastructure boasted by the country, as part of the 2021 Vision.”

To Alhammadi, the development of these indices is part and parcel of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development’s evolution. As the head of the Roads Department, he tells Big Project ME that part of his remit is to ensure that the department is up to date with the latest technologies and methodologies.

“Here in the Road Department, we’re involved with roads projects, their execution and management.

Management-wise, we have the Road Asset Management System and we’ve included the bridge

“The sustainable solution that we’re looking for now is by the bridge management system. We’re now looking to have maintenance plans of five years for the full network of bridges”

management system this year.

We’re the first government body that is implementing such type of management for bridges.

“We’ve developed, in collaboration with the University of Sharjah, a bridge index that is specialised for the types of bridges in the federal network. Also, we’ve developed the slope management index, with its own equations which are based on the weather, climate change and so on. We’re developing indices that suit the UAE and the GCC countries, in the management of system assets.

“The issue that we faced previously was that some bridges in the federal network are more than 20 or 30 years old. We don’t have the design or maintenance plans for them, and when we inspect them visually, what amazes us is that the bridges are in a very good situation, but we started to implement the bridge management system to know the maintenance plan of those bridges, in case we wanted to develop or change them.

“Most of the decisions now are to demolish and rebuild, which is not sustainable. The sustainable solution that we’re looking for now is by the bridge management system. We’re now looking to have maintenance plans of five years for the full network of bridges, which is around 800 bridges and culverts,” Alhammadi says.

As the UAE moves forward with its plans for further growth and development, Alhammadi says part of the Road Department’s job is to work with the local governments of the various emirates to support their expansion plans. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development is responsible for the Northern Emirates – Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah – including everything from the federal roads that link the emirates

In Profile

“The results to be delivered by the innovative index will play a significant role in determining the use of building material in roads constructed at the federal level nationwide, in accordance with best international practices and standards” and the major cities, through to federal buildings, schools, police stations and hospitals.

As such, Alhammadi says the Road Department tries to coordinate with local governments in the emirates when it comes to developing road networks.

“We work with the planning departments or the local municipalities to know their future plans. We try to make our master plan [based on those discussions], especially for the roads. It depends on the expansion of the population, and

the commercial and residential projects that come up. From that, we build our master plan and we try to work with it. We update it continuously, as per the data and information from the local government,” he stresses, adding that government authorities coordinate well with the Ministry.

On the road network side, the department is investing heavily in the development of intelligent transport systems, in line with the UAE’s vision of having smart cities and smart transport solutions. All this is

part of the Road Department’s plan to develop performancebased maintenance contracts in a smart way, says Alhammadi.

“It’s a way to have everything under our control – the cars, the places where they’re moving – we have call centres that handle emergencies, such as any defect in the road networks. We even have mobile applications.

“We have a circle, which is Masar Cars [an initiative that involves deploying vehicles to monitor federal roads and carry out daily inspection

patrols to record any damage to asphalt layers and arrange for it to be fixed], the call centre and the mobile applications.

These feed into our system for maintenance management.

“So any time we receive a notification of any defect, each item has a certain number of hours to be fixed. For example, with a steel guard rail – we have for this, if I’m not wrong, two hours to be fixed. Once we have a defect on the system, we have three colours – red, yellow and green. Yellow is to show that

developing its The Road Department is investing heavily in the development of intelligent transport systems, in line with the UAE’s vision of having smart cities and smart transport solutions.

November 2017 23

In Profile

it’s under maintenance, red indicates that the contractor still hasn’t looked at it, and green means that the job is done.

“Whatever is green, we have to check it and see if it’s fixed properly or not. Also, we have started to take calls from road users at the same time, and we’re starting to try and fix the defects on the same day. There’s a clear channel of communication between us, the road users and the contractors.”

Furthermore, Alhammadi reveals that the Road Department

is working towards developing traffic management solutions that use smart technology to improve the performance of road networks.

“We’ve started now with a small control room centre, but in the future we hope to have a professional one that will include the whole road network of the UAE. Right now, we also have counting stations and have implemented 27 of them.”

In September, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development announced the renewal of a deal for the maintenance of

25 Vehicle Counting Stations installed in 2012. This project has the first five VCS for weighin-motion use – a high-speed weighing system for weighing and classifying vehicles according to type. This can be carried out on a prepared lane so that there is no need to stop vehicles.

The scope of the contract includes the supply and installation of radar-based counting stations, as a complement to Vehicle Counting Stations.

“Regarding the counting stations – we have 27 of them,

with five of them being weighin-motion stations – the ministry today receives updated data of the number of vehicles that pass through counting stations every minute,” says Alhammadi, adding that the data is collated and used to help improve systems and performance.

“We have started to develop so many smart ideas for our network systems. We’ve started developing safety ideas too. Regarding the Intelligent Transport Systems, we’ve implemented the smart tower, which is an all-in-one

“We have started to develop so many smart ideas for our network systems. We’ve started developing safety ideas too. Regarding the Intelligent Transport Systems, we’ve implemented the smart tower, which is an all-in-one, newly developed idea” counting cars 25 Vehicle Counting Stations were installed in 2012. This project has the first five VCS for Weigh in Motion use - a high speed weighing system for weighing and classifying vehicles according to type.

24 November 2017

In Profile

introducing smart towers The Road Department has introduced smart towers, all-in-one systems that include traffic counting, radars, climate and fog sensors, amongst many other functions.

newly developed idea. We’re the first ones to develop such type of towers, which include all traffic counting, radars, climate and fog sensors and so on. Rather than having multiple tools of intelligent transport solutions, we have all the tools in one,� he asserts.

With regard to safety, Alhammadi points out that the UAE is the first country in the Middle East to implement tailgate dots. This initiative has been implemented on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Umm Al Quwain, from exit 103 to exit 110.

The initiative was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior’s challenge to reduce road fatalities in the UAE by 21% between December 15, 2016 and February 15, 2017. Initiated on January 1, 2017, the project includes the drawing of white

November 2017 25

In Profile

dots on the road and fixing side boards with phrases on them, such as “leave safety distance” and “maintain at least two dots distance”. It aims to disseminate awareness among road users and urges them to leave a safe distance between vehicles, he explains.

“All our roads are highspeed roads, and that’s why we need to educate people and make them aware of the distances that they should keep.

“Unfortunately, we did a survey and the majority of the responses told us that the distance they had to keep at 120km/h was the distance of a car length, which is totally wrong! We should be keeping a distance of at least 62 metres between two cars.

“We’re trying to implement as much as we can, safety-wise.

We’re looking at new studies and developments in our federal networks, we’re doing safety audits for our federal roads.

“Some of them were built in 1972, so there’s natural wear and tear there. There’s been many changes, especially with safety.

We needed so many changes, and we’ve started to do them,” Alhammadi concludes.

ready for change Engineer Ahmed Alhammadi says that the Road Department is implementing a number of changes across the board as it looks to maintain and upgrade the UAE’s road and transport networks.

Current projects being undertaken by the Road Department – Ministry of Infrastructure Development Project Title

Total Cost

Development and upgrade of Bade’a Intersection on Emirates Road (E611)

$41,441,203

Construction and upgrade of new extension of Emirates Road (E611) in Shaml and Suhaila

$18,510,120

Construction of new road connecting Sheikh Khalifa Road (E84) and E99 (Phase 1)

$7,688,596

Construction of internal roads of new households in Northern Emirates

$7,187,389

Construction of new internal roads in Butain Al Samr – Ras Al Khaimah

$7,005,760

Development and upgrade of Ittihad Road (E11) in Umm Al Quwain

$2,894,144

Maintenance and development of Hamad bin Abdullah Road in Fujairah

$69,960,767

Construction of internal roads for new households in Southern Area of Sharjah

$7,186,922

Construction of internal roads for 306 households in Al Raqayeb area

$3,567,928

Performance-based maintenance contract for federal road network in Northern Emirates

$15,447,736

Construction of pedestrian bridges and crossings in Northern Emirates

$6,339,484

26 November 2017

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Shaping The Future

Site Visit

30 November 2017

Site Visit

Keeping it in-house

Big Project ME visits Sobha Hartland to see how developer Sobha Group is controlling every aspect of construction and delivery of the mammoth project

November 2017 31

Site Visit

i

n summer 2017, the Sobha Group announced that Phase 1 of Sobha Hartland was 90% sold out and on track for completion in December 2017, with Buildings 1 and 4 of Hartland Greens – part of Phase 1 – completed, and Phases 2 and 4 set for completion in December 2018 and October 2019 respectively.

Most recently, the developer announced the launch of Building 5 of its Hartland Aflux neighbourhood within the Hartland Greens development.

The 12-storey property is being

developed as part of Phase 3.

In addition, Gardenia Villas were also recently launched as part of Phase 2, creating a hive of bustling activity all across the project site.

With work in full swing, Big Project ME was invited to tour the development and get up to speed with the progress of some of the key projects currently being built – the Villas Phase 1, townhouses and Greens Phase 1.

“If you talk about Hartland, it’s a total of 743,224sqm and we’ve launched three key projects – the apartments, the villas and the townhouses. These three projects are the key projects in the residential market that we’re catering to now,” says Francis Alfred, CEO of Sobha Group.

“The construction is underway for the villas, townhouses and apartments, and the first

“Given today’s mechanised world of construction, you actually don’t want to have a large number of workers. You’d rather look at mechanisation, and we always look into how we can use technology to our advantage”

project that will be handed over to customers will be the apartments. Our schedule is for Q1 2018, and we’ll have the first deliveries by then. In Q2 we’ll be delivering the villas, and by Q4 we’ll deliver the townhouses.

“At the moment, construction is going at the right pace.

It’s a greenfield project, so that includes everything: infrastructure, the buildings, the landscape. Everything is underway. Our model of construction is that of backward integration. This is something that helps us deliver things as per the schedule,” he explains.

Rather than relying on an external contractor or consultant, Sobha Group looks to keep everything in-house, using its own contractors, architects and workforce. This approach extends to all its projects.

going at the right pace Construction at Sobha Hartland is going according to schedule, says Francis Alfred, CEO of Sobha Group, with the backward integrated model helping keep projects on track.

32 November 2017

Site Visit

Ready for handover Elements of the development will be ready for handover to customers within the next six months.

Alfred asserts that this gives the developer a significant advantage, particularly in terms of keeping to the delivery schedule, as it doesn’t depend on the contractor’s schedule or other external delays.

“Construction is in full swing.

There are 1,500-1,600 workers on-site at the moment. It’s going to ramp up. By mid-next year, there’s going to be around 3,000 people. Given today’s mechanised world of construction, you actually don’t want to have a large number of workers. You’d rather look at mechanisation, and we always look into how we can use technology to our advantage.”

To this end, the group has set up a Quality and Technology department mandated to looking into new technologies and products that will help improve and maintain quality, Alfred says. He points out one example, where the company adopted a technology from Germany that has substantially reduced the labour used for laying reinforcement.

Returning to the development, he says some areas of the project will be ready for handover within the next six months. Design is now in place for the next phases already announced, he adds, pointing out that design is completed for Phase 2 and 3

apartments and Phase 2 villas, and that construction has started on Phase 2 apartments, with construction on Phase 3 apartments imminent.

“We’re quite bullish on what things are happening. We’re getting a good response from the market. The recent project that we launched a couple months ago, we’re just going ahead and starting the construction.

Phase 3 is also starting. The new Gardenia Villas should also be starting the last quarter of this

year, so things are going well,” Alfred says, adding that by the end of next year, there could be as many as 4,000 people doing works alone in Hartland.

Of course, having so many people involved on multiple projects makes managing worker health and safety even more difficult. However, Alfred insists that Sobha’s backward integrated model comes into play again here, giving the developer greater control and accountability across the board.

“We want to make sure that what we do is of very high quality, and that there is no reason for it to be a lesser product. We want it to be the ultimate product, and to do that, we understood that we needed to have our own workforce. When you have so much of an internal workforce, it comes with a lot of responsibility in terms of health and safety, with respect to skills training and all of that.

“What we do is assess the people who come into our projects. There’s a very stringent filtering out of people, a screening of people when they’re recruited. Once they’re recruited, we then assess them and understand their skill sets to see what they’re lacking. We then give them specific training on skills, on health and safety requirements, and there’s also periodic training in place.

“On a very global level, this is what we do. But also on a micro level, we have what is called a daily quality talk, a daily safety talk – this is done for every

Bullish about the market Alfred says the response from customers has encouraged Sobha Group to be bullish about plans for the Hartland development.

November 2017 33

Site Visit

worker and technician in the company, they get training every day on quality and safety. It’s all about the training and imparting the knowledge and monitoring the process. We have a monitoring process that’s very stringent, in fact we have an audit function, which is a team employed by the client (the development arm of the group),” he says.

The auditors are a team from Germany and Alfred explains that their job is to ensure that there’s no compromise on all the requirements for the project.

“With the training, we get the level of people upgraded to the right level, but the audit ensures that there is no complacency or dilution. It’s all about putting in place the right processes. This is a well-proven process for Sobha.

We’ve mastered it over the last 40 years, and we know how it works and will continue to work.”

Furthermore, Alfred explains

Maintaining quality Sobha Group has hired a team of auditors from Germany to ensure that there is no compromise on all the requirements for the project.

that keeping everything inhouse allows the developer and project teams to manage coordination and logistics on-site more efficiently. Working with in-house companies has lessened the time taken on projects, while also ensuring that there are fewer clashes and reworks.

“What happens is that right at the design stage, we do a lot of

Management made easy Keeping everything in-house allows Sobha Group to manage coordination and logistics on-site more efficiently.

34 November 2017

coordination, a lot of workshops and brainstorming sessions, where we ensure that everything is coordinated on the drawings.

It’s not like the contractor comes in and gives us 10 issues which the designer must fix; most of the time it has been sorted out at the drawing board itself.

“Because we’ve got these in-house companies, the

participation is much more engaging. It’s driven by one goal and one objective – to ensure that there is a very highquality, value-based product created. So it’s been much easier for us, as compared to the conventional model.”

Logistically, each project team is tasked with managing its own time schedule, requirements

Site Visit

“We want it to be the ultimate product, and to do that, we understood that we needed to have our own workforce. When you have so much of an internal workforce, it comes with a lot of responsibility in terms of health and safety, with respect to skills training and all of that” and so on. However, there is a logistics team managed by the main contractor whose job is to look at logistics management, central safety management and the security of the sites, Alfred explains.

“When you have so much construction happening, it’s important to have the right controls in place. We have a system in place. We’ve been doing this on the other master developments also. We have a central system that’s all monitored by CCTV cameras.

In fact, everything is quite sophisticated – if I’m sitting in my office, I can see what’s happening with the project. We have enough systems in place [to monitor the project].”

This should come as no surprise, he says – Sobha Group has always embraced the use of technology, with the group’s R&D team tasked with finding products and technologies that will improve performance and efficiency both during and after the construction phase.

“We also use BIM – it’s become almost a requirement for this scale of projects.

Without it, it becomes very difficult to manage. Our design studio is BIM-enabled. We have more than 70-75 people employed in the design studio,

and there is a BIM team that works on and produces all the models and plans.”

Finally, asked what impact he expects these projects to have on the market, Alfred is quick to point out that there has been a strong response already. He asserts that the launch of Phase 3 for the apartments and Phase 2 for the villas is an indication that the market is ready to back Sobha Group’s investment and boldness in development.

“We’ve put up some good show villas for customers to see, and the reactions have been very good. People have been extremely happy with the design, the quality of the interior space, the construction. We feel that this has been enabled through a very distinctive model. We know what we’re creating, and we control every aspect of its creation.

“Whatever we’ve launched, be it Phase 1, Phase 2 or Phase 3, things are moving in the right direction and there’s been a good customer response.

“We’re a good brand that’s been in place for a long time.

We have been getting a lot of referral customers, and people clearly feel that Hartland is not just a building or a development, but a community,” he concludes proudly.

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November 2017 35

BIM and Virtual Reality

EntEring into a bim rEality

Steven Anderson and Marc Durand from Atkins explain how digital technology is transforming engineering design with the implementation of BIM and VR technologies

38 November 2017

Over the last two decades, there have been many digital transformation initiatives in the Middle East to drive the region forward as part of the smart agenda. Numerous implementations – e-commerce platforms, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, data analytics, 3D printing, robotics and artificial intelligence applications – have

BIM and Virtual Reality

required, and Atkins, one of the world’s most respected design and engineering and project management consultancies, is at the forefront of this movement.

Adoption of BIM

been developed and trialled as part of the quest to become a digitally advanced region.

The rise of disruptive digital technologies has also become prominent in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. With buildings becoming increasingly complex in design and execution, traditional approaches are no longer suitable.

Radical new innovations are

As a leader in the use and integration of technology, Atkins has been helping to shape the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) – the digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building – since its inception. The team has been strategically proactive in leading the exploitation of BIM to implement better integrated design solutions for clients’ projects since recognising long ago that BIM represents the future for the industry.

When the design and build contractors consortium appointed Atkins in 2006 to deliver the multi-disciplinary detail design for the civil works elements on the Dubai Metro project, BIM systems were not commonly used in mainstream civil engineering, despite their roots going back to 1963.

Using Revit 2008, Steven Anderson, a product manager at Atkins, led a small team to drive BIM implementation and develop multi-discipline design models to demonstrate buildability and coordination on the Green Line section of the project.

Commenting on the process, Steven says: “We learned new skills and used technology which allowed us to resolve design problems within the models rather than on-site.

In 2008, BIM was mostly undercover, as we were also learning how to use and best implement the technology, solving design challenges and building models virtually before building them. This also gave

learning new skills Steven Anderson says that his team at Atkins learned how to use BIM to resolve design problems within the model, rather than on-site.

“In 2008, BIM was mostly undercover, as we were also learning how to use and best implement the technology, solving design challenges and building models virtually before building them.

This also gave the client and the construction teams an understanding of how the stations and other facilities would be put together”

the client and the construction teams an understanding of how the stations and other facilities would be put together, with all the internal systems fully integrated.”

This visionary project was the catalyst for the planning and implementation of new metro networks across the GCC. BIM has redefined project delivery in the design and engineering industry, changing everything from the design workflow and the software used by engineers, to the design skills required and the visualisation of the project with clients.

When implementing BIM, Atkins focused on four areas: policy, process, people and technology. Atkins is involved in more than 50 projects around the world where BIM is being successfully applied to deliver projects more efficiently and effectively than traditional methods would have allowed. These projects are primarily delivered through a design-build process. With this approach, the use of BIM has proven invaluable to the project team, beginning with the design phase and continuing through planning to a project’s construction, commissioning and operation.

In 2011, Atkins was appointed lead designer for King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, one of the largest and most complex airport projects in the world.

This was the first major multi-disciplinary project where BIM was embraced across the Atkins group, and information management started to gain traction. At this stage, the maturity of BIM was mainly driven by the requirement to coordinate design and provide material quantities for the

November 2017 39

BIM and Virtual Reality

site construction teams.

Massive shift to VR and AR

As a result of these early initiatives, Marc Durand, director of digital disruption for MENA, believes Atkins is at the forefront of innovation and drives digital transformation in the construction industry.

Atkins uses digital tools to drive new and innovative ways of working with clients, by mixing software and technology into product delivery.

An example of this is MR (mixed reality) technology, which offers the possibility to bring members from anywhere into a project eco-system, linking all the visualisations with engineering innovations.

Using virtual reality (VR) to engage stakeholders in the design helps ensure clear, comprehensive understanding between the client, the design intent and contractor. In

greater integration With the capabilities of clients growing, there will be more rapid growth and adoption of digital tools, meaning more integration and thirst for knowledge.

the past, projects in the Middle East have required numerous design changes as a result of problems understanding 2D drawings.

Immersive environments help demystify the understanding of data. Not everyone can do coding or manage databases, but everyone can quickly learn to navigate a virtual model

taking the first step Atkins implemented BIM on the Dubai Metro project back in 2008, marking the first time the technlogy was used extensively on a major project for the consultant.

40 November 2017

and access data through it.

Marc adds: “Atkins will continue to put a lot of resources into developing a whole line of products, to drive further innovation within the organisation.�

The impact of future digital innovation

With this in mind, as clients

become more educated, technology will enable more co-creation with clients on projects. With the capabilities of clients growing, there will also be more rapid growth and adoption of these digital tools.

There will be more integration and thirst for access to information, even

BIM and Virtual Reality

before a project has started.

The latest computer technology will allow real-time rendering with better graphics and displays, to enable better engagement with clients. This will also make it easier to immerse clients in the design ecosystem to make sure they fully understand the design intent. It will enable the industry to ultimately design with clients in real time, with real-time output, by placing clients into a simulation before buildings are built.

Clients are moving into faster understanding, acceptance and

immersing clients in the design Marc Durand says the latest computer technology will allow better engagement with clients.

decision-making, including deep dives into topics, without limiting the number of design possibilities.

In the past, Atkins research and development teams have made a number of other important contributions to both the company legacy and the wider industry.

Working with early computer technology in the 1950s, Atkins developed stress analysis tools, project planning programmes and one of the first optimised structural computer-aided design packages in the industry, eventually supporting its

teams in putting computers to work across the business.

Development in computer services also helped to quickly design things that were cheaper – but still needed the engineer to fit all the answers together.

Computers were so cutting-edge that most of the time was used to test exactly what could be done to benefit the business.

Today, this legacy of innovation remains in the Atkins culture, enabling teams to meet the technical challenges of clients’ most complex infrastructure projects.

“Immersive environments help demystify the understanding of data.

Not everyone can do coding or manage databases, but everyone can quickly learn to navigate a virtual model and access data through it”

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www.hochiki.ae November 2017 41

Sustainability

Creating a road map for green building development Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, head of Sustainability at Majid Al Futtaim – Holding, provides an in-depth look at how the retail developer has integrated green building principles across its properties

do your research Before setting or reviewing internal policies, a comprehensive review of international best practices must be conducted to help shape the contents of relevant policies.

42 November 2017

Sustainability

The environmental impact of buildings and the construction sector is indisputable. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), buildings contribute up to 40% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions and approximately 25% of water consumption. At the same time, construction uses more raw materials globally than any other sector, per statistics released by the World Economic Forum in 2016.

These figures are troublesome at best, especially given the coexisting threats to global resources that climate change poses. The good news is that regulators and key property sector players are becoming increasingly aware of the issue, as demonstrated by the emergence of numerous green building certifications, including LEED, BREEAM and Estidama, in recent years.

In addition to minimising water and energy consumption and waste production, green buildings generate their own energy through on-site renewable sources while taking into consideration their socio-economic contribution to surrounding areas. Essentially, integrating green building principles in property ensures that a development has a favourable impact on customers and tenants – how they shop, how they work and their lifestyle decisions.

For Majid Al Futtaim, this definition has informed the way we operate, and over the years we have attained numerous green building milestones.

These include LEED Platinum certification at City Centre Me’aisem and My City Centre Al Barsha, Earth Check certification at 11 of our hotels, LEED Gold at Hilton Garden Inn in Dubai and BREEAM Communities accreditation at Al Zahia – a first for the region.

“Across our assets, our operational portfolio has experienced a reduction in like-for-like energy and water consumption of 139.7 million kw/h and 1.9 million m3 between 2010 and 2015.

We have also had an 18% improvement in recycling rates across our hotels and a 17% improvement at our malls”

The benefits of green buildings are not purely environmental.

They extend to long-term financial benefits in terms of both income and reduced operating costs. For example, across our assets, our operational portfolio has experienced a reduction in like-for-like energy and water consumption of 139.7 million kw/h and 1.9 million m3 between 2010 and 2015. We have also had an 18% improvement in recycling rates across our hotels and a 17% improvement at our malls, and the installation of LED lighting across our malls is expected to save the business $816,860.

To shape our journey of integrating green building principles across our assets, we have established a green building excellence toolkit comprising six key elements.

At its core, this toolkit can be adapted and used as a road map for green building development.

1. Conduct market research

Prior to setting or reviewing any internal policies, a comprehensive review of international best practices must be conducted to help shape the contents of relevant policies, the procedures that support their implementation, and the manner in which their performance is tracked and monitored.

2. Set and review policies

Policies are the foundation of the green building strategy. Majid Al Futtaim has established five main policies to support our goals in this realm. Each policy is reviewed on an annual basis and updated in accordance with international best practices.

Green Building Policy: Our Green Building Policy sets out a series of objectives for each of our business units to support the development and operation of

November 2017 43

Sustainability

green buildings. Critically, it sets out our commitment to achieving LEED Gold or equivalent on all new construction projects.

Energy Management Policy: Our Energy Management Policy ensures the application of electricity and water efficiency concepts in design and development, and throughout the operational lifecycle of our properties. It aims to limit and control electricity and water wastage, minimise electricity and water costs, and reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact.

Labour Standards Policy: This policy sets out the standards we apply to our own employee workforce, and which we expect our direct suppliers and contractors to meet – for example those building and operating our assets – to ensure the protection and enhancement of labour standards.

Procurement Policy Framework: The framework sets guiding principles to ensure that all suppliers perform in line with a host of

criteria around environmental protection, energy conservation and social considerations.

Green Star Ratings: Majid Al Futtaim’s Green Star Rating system is a market first. It assesses the sustainability credentials of store fit-outs; last year, 343 green star ratings were awarded across our portfolio. All mall tenants must achieve a minimum of three stars.

3. Establish best practice procedures

Best practices act as howto guides, to ensure clear ownership and understanding of the way policies should be applied, tracked and interpreted across different asset classes.

Examples of key procedures which support Majid Al Futtaim’s green building goals include: Community Engagement Guidelines: This charter, and the accompanying guidelines, ensures that we consistently maintain an inclusive, engaging approach towards our key stakeholders to understand their needs and develop longterm mutually beneficial

establish best practice procedures Best practices act as how-to guides, ensure clear ownership and create understanding of the way policies should be applied, tracked and interpreted.

relationships in developing and operating our assets.

Sustainability Implementation Plan: This project-based tracker enables us to apply our highlevel commitments across all our developments and tailor them to the specific conditions at each site, to ensure meaningful

sustainability objectives are delivered for every scheme.

Labour Audits: We conduct regular health and safety audits of the supply chain workers on our construction sites and in our assets, and labour accommodation audits for staff that receive labour accommodation provisions.

These audits ensure that all direct suppliers and contractors abide by our Labour Standards Policy, and provide a formal opportunity to collaborate to improve conditions.

4. Communicate goals to key stakeholders

tracking performance Establishing a monitoring system is vital to ensuring that the desired results are delivered against green building objectives.

44 November 2017

Once a set of policies and procedures is established, it is important to consider how best to communicate them to the wider business. The combination of communication channels used depends on the nature of the policy or procedure being publicised. However, it is important to bear in mind that the continued success of any sustainability campaign relies on the sustainability strategy being relatable and easily communicable.

Sustainability

5. Track performance

Establishing a monitoring process is vital to ensuring that the desired results are delivered against the green building objectives. One means by which Majid Al Futtaim consistently measures performance is via our environmental performance tracking process, which comprises: Construction Environmental Data: We consistently collect data across all our new construction sites to ensure that we can measure, understand and manage the environmental impact of our developments.

Tracking our socio-economic performance: Twice a year, we audit the accommodation our contractors provide to construction workers, to ensure the accommodation provided meets the requirements stipulated.

“Integrating green building principles in property ensures that a development has a favourable impact on customers and tenants – how they shop, how they work and their lifestyle decisions”

Big Project Middle East Due: 08/23/2017

Tracking Operational Environmental Performance: We collect electricity, gas, water and waste data for 100% of the assets over which we have operational control, the results of which inform our asset-level environmental improvement plans and help us understand the impact of our green building certifications on actual performance.

6. Collate, review and share lessons learned

Taking stock of lessons learned along the way, and building on the findings of performance tracking, is critical to ensuring the best possible return on investments in green buildings.

Developers must make concerted efforts to innovate internally and externally. For example, consider establishing a working

group tasked with challenging the business to lead by example and pioneer leading standards.

The same working group would support decision-making and demonstrate the business case for green buildings through collating and reviewing lessons learned.

In conclusion

As the economies of the MENA region grow, so will the strain on key resources such as water and energy. This challenge will be further augmented by the region’s climate. More than ever, resource efficiency is critical to long-term sustainability.

For property development, integrating green building is an effective way of reducing energy consumption, improving water management, reducing waste and attaining financial gains.

September Issue

November 2017 45

Event Review

Big Project Me golf Day – consultants anD architects cuP 2017

Construction professionals descended upon the Emirates Golf Club to tee off

on course A total of 72 plays from the region’s top consultant and engineering firms joined Big Project ME at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.

With the last dregs of summer behind us, it was time for another edition of the Big Project Middle East Golf Day – Consultants and Architects Cup. The 2017 edition returned to the familiar and iconic Emirates Golf Club in Dubai on October 18.

This year’s event welcomed a total of 72 players from the region’s top firms, and although the players had to contend with a bit of humidity, the event was competitive, friendly and exceptionally well received.

“CPI Trade Media is proud to host another edition of the Big Project ME Golf Day – the only event which gives the best and brightest in the construction industry a chance to enjoy a

spot of golf and network with their peers. With this edition, we again recorded growth in the number of attendees, which is a clear sign that the industry values these twice-yearly events. I’d like to offer special thanks to our sponsors and partners for all their support,” said Raz Islam, publishing director at CPI Trade Media.

The 2017 Consultants and Architects Cup was sponsored

by EireGulf, Electric Mirror Truelux, Fagerhult, Hill International, Interface, Intertek, LACASA, Metsec, Multiplex, Nora, RMD, Stretch Ceilings and Meat Company.

On the grass, several winners were recorded over the course of

the day: in first place, the team of Petar Mladenovic, Nick Petricola, James Casserly and Gary Swan; in second place, Hentie Burger, Francois van Niekerk, Jason Griffin and Daniel Gothammar; while Shane Fairfield, Daniel Potts, Paul Murnaghan and Maurizio Gambini rounded up proceedings in third place.

The team that placed first walked away with four trophies and four Green Fee vouchers for the Emirates Golf Club, provided

by Big Project Middle East.

Meanwhile, the secondplace team picked up four Meat Company vouchers, while the third-place team walked away with four golf shoe bags from ProGolf.

Thanks to all our sponsors

46 November 2017

Francois van Niekerk and Tom Pashley managed truly spectacular shots on the greens, with the former nabbing the ‘Nearest to the pin’ prize, and the latter smashing the ball for the ‘Longest drive’ prize.

Congratulations also go out to the winners of our sponsors’ competitions. George Gillbert, Jamie Platt, Neil Serridge and Tom Pashley won the Stretch Ceiling ‘Hit the bullseye’ contest, while Martin Geskes won the Truelux Group ‘Straightest drive’ competition. The Electric Mirror ‘Closest to the pin in two’ was won by Tom Hoban and Shane Fairfield.

All in all, it was an exceptional day out for all involved.

Event Review

November 2017 47

Show Review

Restatex CitysCape Riyadh deClaRed a huge suCCess Confidence in the Saudi Arabian real estate industry was high, say investors and exhibitors as the curtain closed on the first ever show in the Kingdom

C

M

Y

CM

MY

an ideal platform Restatex Cityscape 2017 provided exhibitors with the ideal platform to network, with more than 6,000 participants walking through its doors.

CY

CMY

The foundation has been laid for a promising future for the real estate sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the conclusion of the first ever Restatex Cityscape Riyadh, which saw more than 6,000 participants walk through its doors.

The exhibition, which was held from September 27-30, 2017, was the result of a partnership between Ramtan Exposition & Conference, organisers of Restatex real estate events in KSA, and Informa Exhibitions, organiser of Cityscape.

Over 35 exhibitors, comprising developers, brokers and consultants from the Kingdom and across the Middle East – including a few from Europe – convened at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre last week to display their projects to Saudi investors and homebuyers.

“Dozens of new projects from across the property spectrum were 48 November 2017

unveiled at this year’s inaugural exhibition, illustrating the real estate potential in the country,” said Ahmed Zakaria, exhibition director at Restatex Cityscape Riyadh.

“It has been an effective first edition of Restatex Cityscape Riyadh and we believe it will successfully stimulate real estate development and investment in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

The exhibition also saw real estate experts come together under one platform to provide updates and advice, and discuss critical issues facing the country’s real estate sector at this year’s Restatex Cityscape Riyadh Workshops.

The workshops addressed issues ranging from regulations to white land tax and partnerships with the private sector.

Abdallah Qassem of SGE, an exhibitor at this year’s event which showcased its residential compound in Saudi

Arabia, said: “The exhibition was a useful experience for our company, especially being new to the Saudi market.”

Exhibitors agreed that the exhibition provided an ideal platform to network. Amlak International maintained that the exhibition was “a great experience to acquire clients”, while Janet Marji from Comatec said the event provided the company with the opportunity to meet with big-name players in the real estate sector.

Meanwhile, exhibitor Aqarmap stated that the inaugural event had a successful start with high-quality visitors and that the company was looking forward to next year’s show.

Hussain Farraj, CEO of Ramtan, co-organisers of Restatex Cityscape Riyadh, said: “The success of this year’s first ever Restatex Cityscape Riyadh reveals the dedication to the real estate industry in the

country and the demand from the country’s population for attractive real estate offerings.

We look forward to repeating this success next year in Jeddah.”

Restatex Cityscape Jeddah takes place from February 6-9 next year, at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

Restatex Cityscape Riyadh was held under the patronage of His Excellency Majed Al-Hugail, Minister of Housing, Saudi Arabia, and was sponsored by: Main Sponsor – Dubai Properties; Diamond Sponsor – Jabal Omar; Founding Sponsor – Aldar Properties; Inaugural Sponsor – Al Akaria; Gold Sponsors – Amlak International, Al Ahli, Etqaan Real Estate Co; Silver Sponsors – KPMG, Samba, Al Rajhi Bank.

For more information, please visit Restatex Cityscape’s website: www.restatexcityscaperiyadh.com

K

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ProjectView digitizes the full sPectrum of construction management

Efficiency, Compliance, Performance, Collaboration, Quality, Transparency, Cost Control and Personalised Business Intelligence on site and office

We are a software solutions provider that pioneers in digital construction management, providing real answers to cost and schedule control, risk management, project documentation, quality and HSE.

DANAOS Projects enables construction, infrastructure and facilities management companies, along with shipyards and building maintenance managers, to increase efficiency by coordinating works in the office and on-site while enhancing administrative transparency.

Over the last 25 years, we have launched solutions across construction sites in multiple sectors that are geographically dispersed, and with a varying degree of sophistication, from smaller construction firms and subcontractors to international construction conglomerates such as VINCI and J&P. Specially architected and provided to engineering and project management companies for EPC or PPP projects, ProjectView, our flagship software solution, orchestrates management, planning, accounting, HR, procurement and engineering under one hood.

When connected and integrated with Primavera, it enables digital collaboration and mobility.

• ProjectView is cost management software that helps construction companies, contractors and any project oriented company to control

50 November 2017

Who can help and how ?

ProjectView Available on all devices desktop and mobile, installed either on-premise and/or cloud providing real-time awareness.

and monitor the cost of their projects, and the digitising of their daily tasks and processes.

• ProjectView is the right tool for planners, cost controllers, site managers, project managers and accountants.

ProjectView has a costcentric philosophy that allows our clients to monitor materials, labour, machinery and subcontractor costs along with progress, associated to WBS and/or cost-codes, by synchronising on-site and office data, on-demand.

ProjectView assists in the decision-making process by using QlikSense Business Analytics and Business Intelligence.

Corporate management can view consolidated advanced reporting, KPIs and graphical charts along with alerts and warnings via personalised dashboards that fit into their role in the organisation.

Furthermore, an online view of budget versus cost is available to users at any time, from any location.

Advantages of ProjectView:

• User-friendly and intuitive interface (desktop and web) • Multiple companies/projects/ sub-projects/departments • User management with groups, roles and personal credentials • Tendering, budgeting, BOQ, cost accounts, WBS association • Ease of allocation of resources • BOQ versioning for comparing multiple proposals • Electronic procurement for suppliers and subcontractors • Integration with Primavera P6 and MS-Project • Full dashboard capabilities for effective projects monitoring • English and Arabic version • Integration with BIM

• Planners: Unlimited breakdown analysis, 10 horizontal cost categories, easy and effective BOQ analysis, immediate access to historical financial and cost data • Cost Controllers: Online budget versus cost monitoring, full control of orders, subcontractor contracts and certifications • Site Managers: Easy data entry of everyday cost data on-site (employee transactions, machinery, materials on-site, etc) • Procurement Managers: Full control of requisitions, quotations, orders, in cooperation with budgeted quantities and prices. Full workflow acceptance circuit.

Evaluation procedures for the best price and capability of use of historical data • General Managers: Full overview of projects, KPI and cost reports For further information about our software products, please visit us at our website: www.danaos-projects.com or get in contact with us: Christos Emmanouilidis Chief Commercial Officer Tel: +30 210 4196607 Mob: +306932470595, Int. Mob. +37 254389932 Email: Sales@danaos-projects.com

Digitize and monitor construction and field costs with

PROJECTVIEW the best tool for Planners, Cost Controllers, Site Managers, Project Managers and Accountants seamlessly connected with Primavera

Come and visit us in Dubai Big-5, 26-29 November at our stand which is located in HALL Zabeel 6 / BOOTH Z6G36.

Website: www.danaos-projects.com | E-Mail: sales@danaos-projects.com

Time&money

Helping you make the smartest decisions

$13m+ investment in innovation and improved efficiency

Big Project ME speaks to Allan Joyce, MD at Balmoral Tanks about how the company is raising the bar in the storage tank industry

At a time of unprecedented uncertainty for global businesses, and the manufacturing sector in particular, a well-known UK-based tank company is bucking the trend in terms of investment in R&D, people, facilities, processes and product development.

Balmoral Tanks, which has design and production operations in Llantrisant, South Wales, and

52 November 2017

Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is recognised as being a key longterm supplier to the Middle East’s water, wastewater, fire fighting and processing industries.

The company, a division of engineering stalwart Balmoral Group, has earned a global reputation for being able to provide an industry-leading portfolio of water/wastewater

storage and processing products including GRP and steel sectional tanks, cylindrical bolted and epoxy coated tanks and has carried out installations on major projects across the MENA region including hotels, hospitals, shopping malls and the utilities sector.

Political upheavals and global disruption have forced many

manufacturing companies to either scale back their staffing levels and operations or, in the worst case scenarios, close the doors altogether. In stark contrast Balmoral Tanks has invested more than $13m in a purpose designed factory in the UK and an upgrade to its manufacturing processes for its range of epoxy coated and concrete tanks.

of quality and observation of health and safety legislation.

Allan Joyce, managing director at Balmoral Tanks, said: “Having built up a strong balance sheet over the years we are in the enviable position of being able to invest in new technology.

As an engineering company at our core, we have designed a plant and installed processes that will be at the very forefront of coated tank technology.

“As a privately owned company, we are committed to a programme of ongoing R&D which leads to innovation and market-leading solutions.

Supported by highly trained and committed personnel from technical sales and design through manufacturing, quality and installation, we offer these

services either direct or through a network of strategically placed global agents including Dubai, Qatar and Oman.

“While on that topic if there are any companies interested in working with us, please don’t hesitate to contact me via our website.”

The company says it has raised the bar in the storage tank industry by having the vast majority of its products accredited to industry standards including ISO 9001; LPCB; FM Global; and WRAS, while manufacturing facilities are capable of meeting AWWA standards. New approvals such as NSF 61 will be pursued as a result of the investment in the new facility.

The huge momentum at the company is behind the

Balmoral Growth Initiative which puts the customer at the heart of everything. Simon Scott, Balmoral Tanks’ exports sales director, explains: “I have worked extensively with various companies around the world but have never experienced such a focus on customer service than that practised by Balmoral.

“A commitment to personnel development and the finest available manufacturing plant means that we consistently deliver on our brand promise of being ‘not just another tank company’.”

For further information, please contact: Balmoral Tanks LTD. Balmoral Park, Loirston, Aberdeen, AB12 3GY, Scotland Tel: +44 (0)1224 859000 www.balmoraltanks.com

“As a privately owned company, we are committed to a programme of ongoing R&D which leads to innovation and market-leading solutions”

The new facility, due to open its doors in Q4 2017, will house a brand new epoxy coating line, in-line shot blasting as well as featuring the latest laser cutting technology and fabrication facilities.

This improved production technology will mean more cost effective products while retaining the highest standards

new facility Balmoral Tanks’ manufacturing facility is capable of meeting AWWA standards.

November 2017 53

Show Preview

French construction sector back For the big 5

Business France provides a guide to the French construction firms that are exhibiting at the latest edition of The Big 5, from November 26-29, 2017 To enable French companies to seize new opportunities or reinforce their existing presence, Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, will once again be running three French pavilions at The Big 5, dedicated to special construction in Sheikh Saeed Hall, construction tools and building materials in Zabeel Halls 1-3, and MEP and building interior in Hall3 1-4. 26 French companies from the industry’s various sectors will present their products, services and expertise to local businesses.

The French construction and finishing industry has undeniable strengths in sectors where technical sophistication, innovation, quality and design play an essential role.

With its highly fragmented business ecosystem of 409,500 companies generating total turnover of $146 billion, France has the capacity to play an important role in the industry across the world, and is home to one or more of the global leaders in every segment, including VINCI, Bouygues, Saint Gobain, Lafarge and Schneider Electric, to name just a few.

France boasts a highly diverse offering when it comes to the building trades – from structural engineering and finishing works (carpentry, roofing, insulation, sanitation, air conditioning, smoke detectors, etc) to interior fittings (wall and floor coverings, luxury tapware, home automation, etc) – supplied by companies of all sizes.

54 November 2017

Presenting to local businesses 26 companies from across the construction sector will be presenting their products and wares at the Big 5 this year.

According to the French Construction Federation, these firms make $9.98 billion in foreign markets ($6.8 billion from structural construction and $3.13 billion from finishing works).

France tends to export products that are technologically advanced or which place an emphasis on quality and design (innovative insulating materials, facades that allow light to pass through, false ceilings, terracotta tiles, natural paints, decorative fireplaces, etc).

Stands to watch: Projiso Projiso, an expert in manufacturing and marketing spray systems, offers a large range of products with multiple highperformances properties: thermal, fireproofing and acoustic.

• Fibrexpan fire resistance, thermal insulation, acoustic correction and reduction.

• Fibrofeu fire resistance, acoustic correction.

• Fibrogaine fire resistance.

• Firespray fire resistance.

All of these applications are covered by EU regulations and their products carry the CE marking.

Research, development and innovation form a crucial part of Projiso’s strategy.

The company is constantly seeking to improve its products, offer new systems and enhance its range of solutions.

GV2 - VEDA France GV2 – VEDA France is once again attending The Big 5 to increase and consolidate its presence in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and beyond.

VEDA France designs, manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of firestop systems and joints for the construction industry: expansion joints, control joints, joint covers, firestop systems, stair nosings, etc.

Its solutions are suitable for

all types of buildings (shopping malls, hospitals, schools, industrial buildings, airports, etc) for both standard and seismic joints.

As a specialist manufacturer of building joints, its savoir-faire is widely recognised by architects, engineering firms, general contractors and subcontractors.

The presence of VEDA France in the Middle East has grown, mainly thanks to the certification of its products and systems by local authorities like the UAE Civil Defence, the Qatar Civil Defence, the Kuwait Fire Department and many more across the region, as well as through the company’s participation in the 2016 Big 5 Dubai exhibition.

For more information, feel free to contact Business France: Miryem Oukas Messidi head of Communications – Middle East Mobile: +971 (0)55 478 32 15 Email: miryem.oukasmessidi@ businessfrance.fr

FRENCH PAVILION BIG 5 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION SHOW UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DUBAI 26 - 29 NOVEMBER 2017 Halls 1 et 4, Hall Sheikh Saeed and Hall Zabeel

Building Envelope & Special Construction HALL SHEIKH SAEED 2

Booth

Icopal ....................................................................SS2F81 Cemom Moatti .....................................................SS2F80 Mantion ................................................................SS2E81 Mpm .....................................................................SS2F82 Ô Concept Mosaïques ....................................... SS2G80 Odice ....................................................................SS2E87 Plâtre.com ............................................................SS2F86 Projiso ...................................................................SS2F87 Simonin ................................................................ SS2G86 Business France .................................................. SS2G82 Construction Tools & Building Materials HALL ZABEEL 1-3

Booth

Amaya .................................................................. Z20126 ARaymond .......................................................... Z2M127 Business France ................................................ Z2M123 DSI Concrete Accessories ..................................Z2N121 Diager ................................................................. Z2M121

Sidi ACHOUCHI Head of Industies & Cleantech sidi.achouchi@businessfrance.fr

Gys .......................................................................Z2N127 Haemmerlin .........................................................Z2N126 Le Lorrain............................................................. Z20120 Serge Ferrari........................................................Z2N124 Thirard ................................................................. Z20122 Mep Service Building Interiors & Finishes HALL 1-4

Booth

Ademka ..................................................................3F146 Ata Medical ............................................................3E141 Business France .....................................................3F150 Cleia ........................................................................3E147 Francem ..................................................................3E145 GV2 Veda France ...................................................3E151 Kemica ....................................................................3F154 Ispo .........................................................................3E157 Tecofi Middle East .................................................3F140 Wirquin ...................................................................3F142

Miryem OUKAS MESSIDI Head of Communications miryem.oukasmessidi@businessfrance.fr

@BF_MiddleEast

Tenders

Top tenders Central Business DistriCt – new Capital City projeCt Budget $3,000,000,000 project number MPR1556-E territory Egypt Client Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Development (Egypt) address 1, Ismail Abaza, El Kasr El Aini Street City Cairo phone (+20-2) 2792 1441 Fax (+20-2) 2792 1423 email pppw-ww@mhousing.gov.eg website www.moh.gov.eg Description Establishment of a central business district covering a total area of about 500,000sqm status Current Project

Main Contractor China State Construction Engineering Corporation (China) tender Categories Construction & Contracting, Hotels, Leisure & Entertainment, Prestige Buildings tender products High-rise Towers, Hotel Construction, Residential Buildings

wahat al Zaweya Villas (aryaF) projeCt - sheBiBi preCinCt Budget $500,000,000 project number WPR2460-U territory Al Ain Client Wahat Al Zaweya Real

interConneCting pipelines projeCt – jeBel ali reFinery

Client Emirates National Oil Company Ltd – ENOC (Dubai) City Dubai phone (+971-4) 337 4400 Fax (+971-4) 313 4402 website www.enoc.com Description Construction of various interconnecting pipelines between the refinery’s processing units, the storage tanks and the berth facilities within Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) status Current Project Main Contractor Overseas AST Company LLC (Dubai) tender Categories Oilfields & Refineries tender products Crude Transportation/Storage & Distribution, Oilfields Exploration & Development

Budget $100,000,000 project number WPR2334-U territory Dubai

al-saFawi solar plant projeCt

Estate Development (Abu Dhabi) address Marina Village, Villa A58 City Abu Dhabi phone (+971-2) 222 2588 Fax (+971-2) 222 2599 website www.wahatalzaweya.com Description Construction of 217 residential villas, each comprising two floors period 2019 status Current Project Main Contractor Bin Ham Engineering Projects (Abu Dhabi) tender Categories Construction & Contracting tender products Villas Construction

Budget $95,000,000 project number WPR2389-J territory Jordan Client Abdul Latif Jameel Group (Saudi Arabia) address Amir Majed Street City Jeddah 21471 phone (+966-12) 628 4444 Fax (+966-12) 672 2753 email contact@alj.com website www.alj.com Description Construction of a photovoltaic plant with a capacity of 51MW period 2018 status Current Project Main Contractor TSK Electronica (Spain) tender Categories Power & Alternative Energy tender products Photovoltaic Plants, Solar Energy

INTEGRATED ESTIMATING, PROJECT CONTROL AND ERP SOLUTION FOR CONTRACTORS www.ccsgulf.com | Tel: +971 4 346 6456 | info@ccsgulf.com

56 November 2017

PROJECT INTELLIGENCE, TENDERS & SUPPLY CONTRaCTS IN ThE MIDDLE EaST

MiddleEastTenders.com is used by: • Contractors & Sub-Contractors • Consultants, Design, FEED & EPC Companies • Manufacturers, Suppliers & Traders • Service Providers, Insurance & Banking Sectors • Recruitment, Logistics & Facilities Management and many more....

Tel: +971 2634 8495 Fax: +971 2 631 6465 Email: sales@middleeasttenders.com www.MiddleEastTenders.com

Tenders

Middle East tenders UAE MixeD-use tower projeCt – DuBai MeDia City project number MPP3138-U territory Dubai Client Al Fahim Group (Dubai) address Office No. 205 (A), Al Samhan Bldg City Dubai phone (+971-4) 283 3330 Fax (+971-4) 283 3382 email afir@emirates.net.ae website www.alfahimrealestate.com Description Construction of a new mixed-use tower comprising 43 floors Closing Date November 19, 2017 status New Tender Main Consultant AECOM Middle East (Dubai) project Manager LL MENA (Dubai) Foundations/enabling/ piling Contractor National Services & Contracting Company – NSCC (Dubai) tender Categories Prestige Buildings tender products Commercial Buildings, High-rise Towers, Residential Buildings

Bu haseer oFFshore oil FielD DeVelopMent projeCt project number MPP3139-U territory Abu Dhabi Client Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) address Corniche Road City Abu Dhabi

phone (+9712) 606 0000 Fax (+9712) 626 6005 website www.adnoc.com Description Development of an offshore oil field status New Tender tender Categories Gas Processing & Distribution, Oilfields & Refineries tender products Oilfields Exploration & Development

Saudi Arabia airport ConstruCtion projeCt project number MPP2982-SA territory Saudi Arabia

Client Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu (Saudi Arabia) City Yanbu Industrial City phone (+966-4) 321 6000 / 6021 Fax (+966-4) 321 3402 / 6092 / 396 8001 email smcontract@rcyanbu.gov.sa website www.rcjy.gov.sa Description Construction of a new airport under publicprivate partnership (PPP) status New Tender specialist Consultant KPMG International (Saudi Arabia) legal Consultant King & Spalding LLP (Saudi Arabia) tender Categories Airport,

Construction & Contracting tender products Airports Development & Management

Dr sulaiMan al haBiB MeDiCal Center projeCt – juBail inDustrial City Budget $20,000,000 project number WPR2399-SA territory Saudi Arabia Client Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group (Saudi Arabia) address Riyadh King Fahad Highway – Al Olaya City Riyadh

INTEGRATED ESTIMATING, PROJECT CONTROL AND ERP SOLUTION FOR CONTRACTORS www.ccsgulf.com | Tel: +971 4 346 6456 | info@ccsgulf.com

58 November 2017

Tenders

phone (+966-1) 462 2224 Fax (+966-1) 463 3582 email info@hmc.co.sa website www.hmc.com.sa Description Construction of an integrated hospital, specialised centres and residential complex for staff along with a number of support service centres, including a major conference hall and educational events period 2019 status New Tender Design Consultant Consolidated Architectural & Engineering Consultants (Saudi Arabia) tender Categories Construction & Contracting, Medical & Healthcare tender products Hospital Construction, Residential Buildings

noVotel suites projeCt – jeDDah

Bahrain CoMMerCial tower projeCt – Bahrain Bay project number WPR2478-B territory Bahrain Client Bahrain Bay Development BSC address National Bank of Bahrain Tower, 22nd Floor, Government Avenue, Bab Al Bahrain City Manama phone (+973) 1750 5555 Fax (+973) 1750 5550 email info@bahrainbay.com website www.bahrainbay.com Description Construction of a commercial tower comprising 50 floors period 2019 status New Tender Main Consultant Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (UK) Design Consultant Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (UK)

tender Categories Prestige Buildings tender products Commercial Buildings, High-rise Towers

solar power plant projeCt project number MPP2661-B territory Bahrain Client Ministry of Electricity & Water (Bahrain) address King Faisal Street City Manama phone (+973) 1754 6666 / 1799 6888 Fax (+973) 1753 3035 website www.mew.gov.bh Description Construction of a solar power plant with capacity of 100MW period 2019 status New Tender tender Categories Power & Alternative Energy tender products Photovoltaic Plants, Solar Energy

Oman MixeD-use DeVelopMent projeCt – MaDinat al irFan project number WPR2473-O territory Oman Client Al Jarwani Group (Oman) address Bait Al Reem, 6th Floor, Al Khuwair City Muscat PC 102 phone (+968) 2469 2883 / 2469 2887 Fax (+968) 2469 2889 email sidi@sidioman.com website www.sidioman.com Description Construction of a mixed-use development period 2020 status New Tender tender Categories Construction & Contracting tender products Mixeduse Developments

project number WPR2459-SA territory Saudi Arabia Client name Accor Group (Dubai) address API World Tower, 12th Floor, Sheikh Zayed Road City Dubai phone (+971-4) 332 3236 Fax (+971-4) 332 3246 website www.accor.com Description Construction of a 4-star hotel comprising two basement levels, a ground floor, a mezzanine floor and 8 additional floors offering 200 guestrooms period 2019 status New Tender Design Consultant Architectural Design Consultant Architect & Engineering (ADC) – Dubai tender Categories Construction & Contracting, Hotels tender products Hotel Construction

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November 2017 59

Last Word

Construction IT – using the right tool for the job Ian Hauptfleisch, general manager – Construction Computer Software (Gulf), explains why having the right IT tools is crucial for any project Accuracy, safety and efficiency of resources on a construction project are considered paramount to contractors. If we don’t use the right tools, equipment, systems and processes, then quality, speed and safety will be compromised.

So why don’t we apply the same notion to the IT solutions we choose to implement in contracting organisations?

The purpose of IT is to streamline business processes, increase accuracy and efficiency, provide auditable and accurate information, reduce cumbersome and error-ridden manual capture(s), collation and analysis, and most importantly to save you time and money.

Can this be said of the IT solutions you have in place right now?

IT is in essence just another tool – but an essential one, considering its widespread application in all aspects of a construction business.

60 November 2017

“The construction industry is unique, considering the many variables associated with it, and it is for this very reason that the IT solution(s) procured and implemented to manage these challenges are best of brand and fit for purpose”

Admittedly, software doesn’t make people work, but rather vice versa – the cliché ‘what you put in is what you get out’ rings true. However, software must be purpose-oriented and provide the necessary platform, features, functions and ease of use to make input a formality and timely, reliable and accurate output a reality.

IT solutions are either earning or costing you money. The construction industry is unique, considering the many variables associated with it, and it is for this very reason that the IT solution(s) procured and implemented to manage these challenges are best of brand and fit for purpose.

The standard accounting data that most systems can provide is not sufficient, relevant or timely enough for effective control of construction projects.

Processes and procedures imposed by companies are often there to compensate for

the inadequacies of the software solutions in place. The overhead involved in implementing and complying with these superfluous processes and procedures is costly.

If the software is fit for purpose, the best practice processes and procedures should be intrinsic to the software itself.

Considerations when reviewing an IT solution for the construction environment: • Be cautious of the ‘we’ll customise it for you’ pitch. If the software fits the purpose, no or minimal customisation should be required.

• Don’t be sold on dreamware. See the software work and arrange to meet existing users.

• Be wary of funding the IT vendor’s research and development costs. If the system is fit for purpose, no further R&D should be necessary.

• Does the IT vendor

•

•

•

•

•

understand your business intimately?

Quality and locality of support – get existing users’ impartial opinions on their support and service experience.

Access to development staff, not just salesman or technicians.

Expect to pay – if a system is worth it and has the credentials to prove it, the savings made and reduction of losses will easily and quickly offset the cost.

It doesn’t happen overnight – there is a learning curve and settling-in time associated with any new software application.

Last but not least: Software doesn’t make people work, people make software work.

Implementing the best solution in the market but not having the right buy-in and personnel to drive and champion it is akin to having the best F1 racing car – driven by a jockey.

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INTERIORS & FIT-OUT REPORT

grand designs

Big Project ME looks at the performance and development of the fit-out and interiors sectors in the GCC

Industry Insight

GoinG Above And beyond With demand growing, Al Shafar Interiors provides insight into the growing fit-out and interiors market in the UAE

Following the award of some mega-scale projects in 2017, and even larger anticipated contracts in 2018, there’s certainly greater demand for interior fit-out in the construction sector. The interior fit-out industry is valued at its highest, forming around 10% of construction budgets.

UAE infrastructure, hospitality and retail sector growth will all continue to boom in the years to come, and since 2016 we’ve seen increased investment in the interiors market. But in a market that’s more competitive than ever, contractors must go above and beyond to deliver a project on time and within budget.

On a project by project basis, ASI works hand in hand with clients. The key benefit of this approach is that we forge strong client relationships and in the long run guarantee repeat business. In today’s cutthroat market, this approach is certainly crucial to the success of any fit-out contractor.

In view of Expo 2020, we are anticipating good opportunities in primary markets like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, particularly in the hospitality and retail segments. Hospitality and 64 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

Forging strong relationships ASI says it works hand in hand with clients to forge a strong relationship that will guarantee repeat business in the long run.

Industry Insight

Taking account Clients are taking an increasing interest in health, safety and sustainability in the fit-out contracting market.

leisure will remain quite strong in 2018. In a market where fit-out services are increasingly in demand, the need for fit-out contractors will continue to grow.

Health, safety and sustainability are rapidly growing segments in the fit-out contracting market. Clients are taking more and more account of the sustainability impact of their developments. This will result in fit-out experts adopting a greener approach in their projects.

2017 has witnessed a number of ongoing hotel refurbishments, and this trend will likely continue in 2018, with clients focusing on redefining the guest experience.

One of the biggest trends that will shape the hospitality industry is affordable luxury. Affordable hotels are beginning to look into enhancing the overall guest experience through a holistic approach to design and fit-out. There is also increased investment in communal areas and creating lasting experiences that reverberate beyond the duration of the guest’s stay.

With budget belts tightening in the region as regional oil prices continue to decline, developers and owners are increasingly looking for fit-out contractors who can bring alternatives to the table. Good design no longer implies deep pockets. With that in mind, ASI will continue to offer a value-driven approach while still maintaining the integrity as well as aesthetics of the fit-out.

Some of the opportunities we foresee are increased demographic growth that will drive residential fit-out demand.

A backlog of projects yet to be awarded in 2018 will also create demand in the interiors industry.

Finally, with the boom of the non-oil economy, ASI foresees that the lasting effects of 2017’s overall economic improvements will likely begin to emerge.

Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017 65

Opinion

Design and FitOut Trends in the Regional Market 2018 Daousser Chennoufi, chairman and key architect of the Draw Link Group, predicts how the fit-out market in the region will shape up in 2018, as client demands change Design and fit-out trends have become more detail-focused in the last few years, with the introduction and adoption of comfortable furniture, low-maintenance and durable materials, natural elements, richly textured furniture, commercial kitchens, etc, predominantly inspired by hospitality design.

Even though the main concept of each design project remains the client’s vision, design and fit-out consultants work closely with the client to introduce and illustrate trends to be incorporated into commercial and private projects. This is followed by development and detailing of areas based on functionality of the space in keeping with the main scheme.

The current concept of design has been redefined into modernminimalist with a smart focus on key elements to create an accent and

“The current concept of design has been redefined into modernminimalist with a smart focus on key elements to create an accent and focal point in a space, from ‘top’ to ‘expensive’”

66 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

focal point in a space, from ‘top’ to ‘expensive’.

Functionality plays a vital role alongside style, finish, colour and design.

Here are five design and fit-out trends for 2018: Eco-Friendly

As an interior designer and fit-out specialist for different kinds of projects ranging from commercial to hospitality and retail, sustainable and ecofriendly interior design solutions based on essential design components are favourable. From wallpaper to zero-VOC paint to cork flooring and sustainable concrete, environmentally apt materials are frontrunners in the 2018 trend list of designs and fit-outs.

Earth and Neutral Colour Palettes

Stepping back from a vibrant 2017, 2018’s colour palettes take a subtle step into neutral and earthy choices. Earthy room colours serve well for cosy

and warm spaces. Smart decorating choices also include blends of purple and red, wine colours, terracotta shades and the ever-classic white hues and grey tones.

Sparkling details in metal grey or golden beautifully enhance quiet and comfortable room colours of 2018 while balancing modern colour schemes.

Majestic copper and bronze are stylish materials which add warmth and chic to decorating modern interiors.

Comfort and Space

Cosiness plays a big factor in selection of pieces and choices for 2018. Partitions and nooks for activities like reading make for popular choices. Apart from improving contemporary homes and offices, these additions to space promote relaxation and a calm atmosphere. Sectioning off focus areas in a space also encourages multifunctionality. An increasing

number of designers are taking the minimalist route when designing multifunctional spaces.

Star Materials

Classic returning favourites are marble, metal (trimmings and finishes) and wood. Considered the most favourable for 2018, the use of minimalisticdesigned marble in functional forms will dominate the design and fit-out trend list. Coming second in unison are metal and wood, with their smart composition and ability to be manipulated into various forms that cater to all.

Smart Home Automation

With IoT on the rise, the use of technology in the home and office space has become a crucial aspect of the daily routine. Next year, we will be seeing more and more creative ways of incorporating charging docks, smartphones and device-friendly areas into the design of a space.

Case Study

Inspired by history The store design was inspired by chocolate factories and the grand chocolate stores of the early 19th century.

68 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

Case Study

BoutIque Le ChoCoLat – artIsanaL ChoCoLate at Its fInest ALEC FITOUT provides a look at the development of the highend interior fit-out of Boutique Le Chocolat in Citywalk

The Brief:

Boutique Le Chocolat celebrates chocolate in all its glory, offering a truly unique retail platform for over 60 award-winning chocolatiers and chocolate brands from across the globe. Located in the heart of Citywalk in Dubai, the store opened its doors in September 2016. Store design was inspired by the chocolate factories and the grand chocolate stores of the early 19th century, giving the customer the same experience of entering an haute couture atelier where you can expect to receive a custom-made artisanal product.

Every aspect of the interior design was customised by the Meraas in-house design team. ALEC FITOUT was the specialist fit-out contractor appointed to deliver this project.

The brief required ALEC FITOUT to develop, detail and coordinate the approved concept design and deliver, from shell and core, a complete fit-out solution. The scope of works included structural, specialist facade (design/build), MEP,

kitchen equipment, FF&E and fit-out of all finishes.

The Work:

The project included innovation and execution of specialist design features, in particular the specialist façade and the electrified track shelving system.

The specialist façade, a first for the region and only the second time achieved globally, features 112 bespoke metal fins, 13m high and 6mm thick, bent into three dimensions.

ALEC FITOUT was responsible for reference image and schematic drawings, and translated this into a working concept incorporating structural calculations, material selection, specification and design aesthetics, in conjunction with the Meraas design department.

The main challenges were the selection of fin thickness and subsequently the manufacturer’s ability to bend and twist them into a three-dimensional shape. Through optimising the structural support design, ALEC

Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017 69

Case Study

FITOUT was able to select thinner fins, which resulted in the following benefits: Quicker manufacturing process due to reduced thickness and faster bending/twisting process.

Weight reduction of 25% for the full structure, resulting in reduced cost of raw materials.

Faster installation process and reduced load to the main building structure.

In another first for the region, ALEC FITOUT used electrified tracks to create a modular shelving system. The tracks are electrified and seamlessly integrated into the wall panels and the shelves use an integrated LED light which lights up as the shelves are placed into the tracks regardless of the location, giving the end user the ability to change shelf locations for different design and display requirements.

The Challenge:

ProjeCT DeTails Client: Meraas Project Value: AED 25 million interior Designer (retail): Retail Access interior Designer (F&B): Harrisons Project start: March 2016 Project Finish: August 2016 Project area: 20,500ft 2 engineer: WSP

The major challenge for any fit-out project is to realise the concept design and deliver a high-quality solution matching design intent. Using a combination of in-house resources with preferred local and international partners, the ALEC FITOUT team successfully delivered in a timely manner and exceeded client expectations in terms of quality.

The contract required flexibility from ALEC FITOUT in terms of providing design build for certain disciplines while also working with the interior design created by the in-house Meraas team. Design for all disciplines was managed by the ALEC FITOUT team, ensuring coordination between all trades and interfaces.

The Delivery:

The ALEC FITOUT team worked closely with the in-house

Meraas design team and project stakeholders. This collaborative approach to problem-solving and project delivery saw client and contractor work effectively and ensured all issues were dealt with in a timely manner.

Furthermore, open and honest communication resolved issues to the satisfaction of all project stakeholders.

The UAE’s retail sector is expected to reach $54.45 billion by 2017, growing by 5% on average each year, according to recent analysis by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Outlet growth is driven by a mix of expansion of existing chains and new brands and concepts entering the UAE market.

Boutique le Chocolat has positioned itself at the premium end of the market, providing a unique and personalised experience to each guest.

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open and honest communication ALEC FITOUT says that open and honest communication helped ensure that all issues were resolved in a timely manner.

70 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

Show Preview

Dubai Design week is back

Returning for its third year, DXBDW is set to be a celebration of design and creativity for the region, held at d3 from November 13-18, 2017 Design capital of the Middle east Dubai Design Week will see many international and regional designers coming down to showcase their work to visitors from around the world.

Dubai Design Week (DXBDW) is the Middle East’s most important design event, held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and in partnership with Dubai Design District (d3) and supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Now in its third year, DXBDW is set to be the most comprehensive and accessible celebration of design and creativity ever staged in the region.

The 2017 DXBDW will see over 200 activities staged in locations across the city. The free six-day event will attract designers, architects, thought leaders and creatives drawn to Dubai Design Week through a high-calibre design programme, including: 1) The fifth edition of Downtown Design, the Middle East’s leading high-quality 72 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

design trade show featuring 150 contemporary design brands from 25 countries, doubling its size 2) Global Grad Show, with twice the number of universities taking part – 200 of the brightest ideas brought to Dubai from 90 universities across 40 countries 3) Abwab, returning with an impressive pavilion designed by Fahed + Architects using recovered bedsprings to create a showcase structure for 45 products by designers from across the region 4) A programme of over 90 events taking place at d3, the hub of Dubai Design Week 5) Original content staged by over 80 businesses, designers and organisations across the city, including venues such as Etihad Museum, DIFC and Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre 6) Talks programme led by Sir David Adjaye, one of the world’s most influential architects;

Mauro Porcini, PepsiCo chief Design Officer; and Elmar Mock, inventor of the Swatch watch.

William Knight, Head of Design – Dubai Design Week, says: “Dubai Design Week is a focused time to celebrate Dubai’s creativity, an increasingly important part of the city’s economy and identity.”

“The programme reinforces the city’s position as the design capital for the Middle East, with international and regional designers complementing the increasingly influential design industry here in Dubai.”

Downtown Design Downtown Design is the commercial heart of Dubai Design Week and the region’s leading design trade show, held at the new d3 waterfront event space.

In 2016, the show attracted 12,500 visitors, over 80% of whom were trade professionals.

Doubling in size this year with over 150 exhibitors from across 25 countries, the 2017 edition of Downtown Design features 70 new high-end international and regional brands and will also debut eight emerging design brands from the UAE region.

The series of live events at Downtown Design features an opening keynote from Londonbased avant-garde design duo Fredrikson Stallard and includes key speakers such as Abbie Chung, senior associate at international architecture studio 5+ Design, along with design and panel discussions featuring George Fleck, vice-president and global brand management & marketing – Le Méridien, Renaissance & Westin; Tom Arnel, managing director at hospitality specialist Bull & Roo; and the Delhi-based architects Manit and Sonali Rastogi of Morphogenesis.

Advertorial

Get hot over savinGs

Quooker’s instant hot water systems aim to reduce energy consumption and water usage across the board, as Jakob Johannsen explains In the UAE, kitchen water is often supplied from pipes coming from a main water heater, which can result in running the tap for some time before the hot water becomes available. Quooker tanks bring both instant hot (50-60°C) and boiling (100°C) water from a highly insulated tank installed under the kitchen sink. By choosing this solution, contractors can save on the installation of a kitchen water heater. The energy consumption is as low as just 5 fils per day in standby usage, which makes it energy-efficient and water-saving.

The convenience of instant boiling water from the kitchen/ pantry tap is a breakthrough for cooking and cleaning in an efficient way. When boiling water in a kettle, you often boil more water than needed, which results in more energy used and a waste of water. Saving on the carbon footprint by eliminating plastic bottles is also an advantage, as the boiling water is filtered and drinkable directly from the tap.

The Quooker range also includes filters for cold water, which makes the drinking of filtered and clean tap water a sustainable and healthy solution.

The company also offers sustainable glass bottles for storing and drinking the filtered tap water for residential or commercial, with branded bottles.

Many projects struggle with the amount of load they can install in a building or tower. Quooker helps with that by cancelling the water heater and sharing the power outlet with other white goods such as the dishwasher, through the use of a specially

to the UAE. We had to educate people about the benefits of instant boiling water in kitchens, offices and the hospitality sector, and so on. We have also started working with property developers. Although we are a high-end brand and our price is not cheap, people are excited by what we’re offering.

reducing energy consumption By using Quooker taps, energy consumption can be reduced to as low as just 5 fils per day in standby usage.

Have you had to overcome any particular challenges with the UAE market?

BENEFITS Time-saving for household or staff Less energy and water consumption – clients save up to 50% in energy and water Cost-saving for the management, no more water from plastic bottles More environmentally friendly and sustainable profile – reduces C02, eliminates plastic waste, reduces toxic chemicals and carbon footprint – saving money at the same time

developed intelligent power switch. Cancelling the water heater above the celling not only saves on costs but also reduces the cost of maintenance, thanks to the lack of equipment and materials.

To understand the technology, Big Project ME speaks to Jakob Johannsen, managing partner of Quooker Emirates.

What is the history of Quooker?

Quooker is a 35-year-old company and has more than 50 patents in developing the boiling water tap, including the HiTAC (High Temperature Activated Carbon) water filter in the boiling water tank, which purifies the water.

We started Quooker Emirates in 2015 with the aim of bringing a totally new product and brand

There is a large discussion regarding the water in the UAE. However, the fact is that the tap water from DEWA is perfect to drink. Of course, we need to explain to all our clients about the water quality here in the UAE. We offer water tests to clients and have never had any tests not approved. In fact, the tap water in the UAE is better for the Quooker than the water in many other countries, because the hardness is low, so there is no lime scale.

How is the product customised for individual units/designs?

We have four different taps and seven different finishes, all either round or square. We also have three different tanks for boiling water and seven different chillers for chilled and sparkling water.

What’s next in the product development pipeline?

We have the new FLEX tap with pull-out function, and new finishes like brass, patina brass and black gunmetal. In 2018 we will launch a new exciting tap, but I’m not allowed to talk about it right now!

Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017 73

Case Study

Working with a tight deadline Abanos had to work with a tight deadline for the d3 project, starting in December 2014 and completing works by September 2015.

Designing D3

Abanos provides an exclusive case study for Big Project ME on its ambitious interior fit-out and joinery project at Dubai Design District (d3), the master plan development dedicated to nurturing the local design community The story of Dubai Design District (d3) begins in 2013 when the UAE’s Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum, unveiled his vision to create a purpose-built design district capable of nurturing local talent and providing a home for the region’s creative thinkers.

The design industry in the Middle East had been rapidly evolving leading up to that moment, playing an ever more important role in the economy,

74 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

with some estimates at the time valuing the sector in excess of $2 billion. The interior fit-out and joinery contract for this project was understandably of significant interest to a large number of companies in the region. Abanos was excited to pitch for it, and thrilled to be awarded the contract in December 2014.

Abanos is one of the largest and most reliable holistic interior fit-out and joinery companies in the UAE, with a track record

of delivering high-quality and tailor-made projects, all fabricated at its state-of-the-art production facilities. With the eyes of the region focused on d3, the interior fit-out and joinery works needed to be of exceptionally high quality, a task that presented Abanos with an abundance of unique challenges and opportunities.

Working against the clock

First and foremost, this remarkable project had a very

short timeframe for completion–Abanos began the project in December 2014 and competed the works in September 2015. This timeframe covers all 111,483sqm of the Business Bay project. Abanos was able to draw on its vast history of working on large-scale projects with strict deadlines, and despite a number of obstacles, the team successfully delivered on time.

Part of the reason for Abanos’ success in this regard is the company’s experience, size and

Case Study

resources. Established in 1985, the company has expanded steadily since its early days and now operates throughout the UAE and GCC and employs over a thousand dedicated people handselected from various parts of the world. Furthermore, it operates a 10,000sqm manufacturing facility in Dubai Investment Park, with state-of-the-art machinery for wood cutting, moulding, carving, veneering, laminating and painting, capable of meeting the ambitious requirements of clients across a diverse range of sectors.

the timeframe for completion, this was a significant test. Many of the materials selected for d3 needed to be delivered from Europe, particularly Spain and Italy. Keeping in mind the sixmonth timeframe, this created an imperative to make strong decisions at the beginning of the project, especially as many of these imports required a 10-week lead time.

About Abanos

Overcoming unique challenges

One of the most interesting challenges the Abanos team faced on the d3 project came from the innovative large-scale seating required for the main public area in the core building. These initial designs were extremely innovative and aesthetically striking, but were presented to the Abanos team in a format resembling an artist’s sketch, without clear dimensions or 3D modelling.

To overcome this challenge, the Abanos team decided to approach the seating in the same way an artist would approach a sculpture. The team began fabricating the structure based on the sketches, and held meetings with the consultants to review and update the live progress – modifying the furniture millimetre by millimetre in its state-of-theart manufacturing facility.

Working in this way, the Abanos team was able to realise the creative vision of the client while drawing on a wealth of knowledge to ensure the final product was of the highest possible standards.

Because Abanos has manufacturing and warehousing facilities of 21,000sqm, coupled with an investment in modern machinery, the company has

A combination of resources and skills Abanos was able to deliver on the d3 project thanks to a combination of its investment in modern machinery, coordination, off-site manufacturing and creativity.

the capacity to handle various large projects simultaneously and is capable of meeting international standards of quality and lead times.

As a result of this combination of resources and skills, this particular challenge was accomplished to the satisfaction of the client and the seating has become a symbol of the creativity d3 is known for.

Attention to detail

One of the key reasons Abanos

was selected for this project was the company’s attention to detail on every project it undertakes, and its impeccable performance in delivering and executing state-of-the-art projects on time and within budget – d3 was no exception.

The desired materials required to complete the job to the satisfaction of both the Abanos team and the client demanded the highest quality materials for every aspect of the project. Considering

Abanos has extensive experience completing projects in a wide variety of fields, including fivestar hotels, high-rise towers, royal palaces, shops, banks, offices, department stores, hospitals, schools, public spaces and private residences. As part of its ongoing commitment to excellence, Abanos holds many international industry certifications covering diverse areas of business including quality management, sustainability and safety.

The vision of the Abanos team is to maintain its position as one of the largest and most reliable holistic interior fitout and joinery companies in the UAE, with a track record of delivering high-quality and tailor-made projects, all fabricated at its state-of-theart production facilities. d3 has grown to become an extremely well-known destination for creatives from all over the Middle East, and is still evolving in tandem with the reputation of Dubai as an internationally renowned design hub.

As Abanos moves forward with more exciting projects in the region, the whole team is pleased to see the status, quality and reputation of interior fit-out and joinery projects in the region advancing successfully in line with international best practice.

Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017 75

Opinion

Protection is better than cure

Francesco Pettenon, managing director of FILA Surface Care Solutions, writes about how surface protection can prolong the lifespan of interiors in kitchens or bathrooms

When meeting with architects, consultants and interior designers, I often get asked about how to fix acidic stains on kitchen countertops or how to prevent stone bathroom worktops from being spoiled by water marks, soap or toothpaste. My reply is always the same: you should start by protecting all these surfaces. There are cleaning solutions, but it’s much easier to apply the right protection during the fit-out phase of the project.

Today, you can find high-level protection for many different types of surfaces and it can be particularly useful in kitchens and bathrooms, where damageable stains are more likely to occur. When considering surface protection, there are a few things that should be verified.

First, the protection should be specified for the material you are using and

for the environment it will face. Some protections are recommended for indoor use, others for outdoor use, some protect surfaces from discoloration from UV rays, or from all types of stains: there is a large variety of solutions. Some protections work with multiple surfaces, but if a specific protection exists for the material you are using, make sure which to use.

Another important point is that the product should be certified as suitable for contact with foodstuff, particularly if used on kitchen worktops or floors.

The food safe certification should be clearly visible on the packaging and on the technical data sheet.

Last but not least, when considering your workers and the regional legislation, make sure the surface protection you will specify is in full compliance with VOC (volatile organic compounds) regulations

76 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

and with green building requirements, like the Estidama in Abu Dhabi or the Dubai Green Building Regulations. All of these requirements can be met by the best protection, but unless you specify them, you might end up with hazardous – though cheap – chemical protectors.

Still, when you use the right protection for marble, granite, tile or ceramics, you ensure that the beauty of each surface is safeguarded, but you must also recommend the proper maintenance product for each surface. Today, the best maintenance products are adapted to each surface and are harmless to the environment: they are non-metallised to prevent water pollution, have a perfectly adapted PH level for each surface, do not contain formaldehyde, hypochlorite, toxic or carcinogenic substances, and are solvent-free.

For high-end projects, I strongly recommend

specifying the use of proper maintenance products on all surfaces to prolong the beauty of the building even more.

The perfect design takes into consideration both the aesthetics of the project and its daily use.

This explains why, so far, quartz-resin and marbleresin have often been the preferred choice for kitchen countertops, as they offer good resistance to scratches and also stand up to aggressive acids like lemon, wine, soda and limescale removers, which could potentially damage other materials.

Yet this may change soon as, in terms of beauty, nothing compares to natural stone – provided it is properly protected.

The surface protection industry has made tremendous progress in the past years. We at FILA have just launched a brand-new acid- and stain-resistant protective treatment for marble and

natural stone worktops.

It provides high acid and stain resistance for delicate surfaces subject to daily wear and tear, such as tables and areas that are frequently in contact with food or acidic substances.

Its technical properties also mean it is very safe and suitable for contact with foodstuff. As it is resistant to UV rays and thermal shocks, it can be used on both new and pre-treated materials, including outdoor surfaces. It does not discolour or go yellow with age or sun exposure; it also gives the treated surface a highly polished finish, improving on the gloss of untreated materials.

This means marble can now be used in kitchens without worrying about its long-term look, as it will be perfectly protected.

There is a lot to be taken into account when it comes to the protection of kitchen and bathroom surfaces and floors.

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Industry Insight

a change is coming The construction industry is likely to see some major changes in the imminent future, thanks to the rise of technologies like 3D printing and modular construction.

Ready foR change

Big Project ME speaks to Dimitri Papakonstantinou, managing director of Plafond, to understand how it views the regional market for fit-out contractors 78 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

What are the biggest trends in the fit-out industry going into 2018?

What are the biggest challenges facing the industry?

I believe that the construction industry will see some major changes in the imminent future. From 3D printing to pre-cast and modular, we will soon have to review how we do things. As a company, we want to keep up with the changes that are on the horizon and we have adopted BIM on several of our projects, as well as set up a modular MEP facility.

Nothing in the construction industry comes easy, unfortunately. The main parties (client, consultant, contractor) are often very polarised, which has an adverse effect on the project. There is often mistrust between these three key players, which leads to unnecessary documentation, personnel and time, which offers little value to the end result on the project.

Industry Insight

“It is key for us to have the trust of the client and designer, and to demonstrate that we have the success of the project at heart.

I believe that this is rewarded with return business” It is therefore key for us to have the trust of the client and designer, and to demonstrate that we have the success of the project at heart. I believe that this is rewarded with return business, and traditionally Plafond’s workload is predominantly with repeat clients.

The other obvious challenge of our industry and of the region remains general liquidity, compounded with

clear communication The key to success for any project is having clear communication between all the stakeholders involved with the project.

earning trust It is key that there be trust between the fit-out contractor, the client and the designer.

the fact that contractors are still required to sign up to onerous conditions and timelines, which puts extreme pressure on many companies.

What are your major ongoing projects in the region?

Some of our recent projects include Reel Cinemas Dubai Mall, the Opus hotel and serviced apartments, One at Palm Jumeirah, DMCC – Burj 2020 sales centre

and refurbishment work in Almas Tower and One JLT. How does Plafond work with the other stakeholders on a project in order to achieve the client’s aims and objectives?

The success of any project is correct communication between the stakeholders. This avoids misunderstandings and failed expectations on all sides. Our staff identify and communicate, via weekly reports, dashboards

and other documentation which we regularly prepare for each live project, any delays, important information and the impact this has on completion.

What impact will the introduction of VAT have on the fit-out industry?

Not only the fit-out industry, but the entire market will need some adjusting to the VAT implementation. I don’t believe this should be too complicated though.

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Last word

Interiors fit for the future Giuseppe Fiore, head of Specifications and Marketing for Lindner Middle East, discusses how the firm is responding to clients’ demands for specialist requirements in interior fit-out projects With work environments changing at a stunning pace, more clients and architectural practices around the globe opt for open floor plans for new buildings and major refurbishments.

Rather than designing space for temporary specific requirements at hand, they aim for more long-term flexibility to secure their investments.

It is up to specialist fit-out companies to provide corresponding holistic solutions for interiors which are of outstanding quality, sustainability and adaptability, and nonetheless functional and safe.

At Lindner, in-house specialist departments ensure that general and individual requirements regarding room and building acoustics, fire protection, structural engineering and thermal building physics are met.

We manufacture all our systems in-house, which

gives us complete control, starting from raw material selection and ending with timely delivery of the finished product.

A large number of checks on quality, dimensions and appearance at different stages of the production process ensure perfect results on our metal ceilings, demountable partitions, doors, raised floors and special integrations of custommade solutions.

Development and research on new materials and new design allow us to offer alternatives to the more traditional ranges, like custommade perforations for metal ceilings, lockable or heated and chilled ceiling and raised floor panels, or blast-enhanced products able to prevent system debris from becoming detached from the structural supports in case of explosion.

All our products can

80 Fit-Out & Interiors Report 2017

be almost unrestrictedly combined with each other, offering designers a huge range of options and removing the problems generated by interfaces among different manufacturer systems during design stage or installation.

Our demountable partitions offer technical and design solutions for any demands, including fire rating and high acoustic features.

Modular room-inroom space management systems such as Cube and textile-clad CAS rooms are dedicated to master open-plan areas and feature an integrated demountable and relocatable combination of partitions and ceilings.

Lindner’s calcium sulphate raised floor system boasts superlative structural and physical properties: incombustible, exceptional load bearing capability, outstanding soundproofing and 99%

recyclable. It can be finished (ex-factory or on-site) with almost any covering, making it the ideal product for any field of application.

Steel, aluminium or composite suspended ceiling systems can be supplied in projectspecific sizes and shapes, perfectly matched to the installation situation and function.

A wide range of decorative finishes and spectacular customdesigned solutions create a perfect visual performance, while often invisible but highly effective measures, such as surface perforations with sound-absorbing lining, make sure the rooms are acoustically regulated for their intended purpose as well.

Clients benefit significantly from Lindner’s engagement and level of innovation: thanks to continuous lifecycle assessment in the factory

and professional supply chain management, they can be sure of the outstanding properties of any Lindner product.

Furthermore, we have lately been awarded Cradle-to-Cradle Silver Certified status for our NORTEC calcium sulphate raised floors and LMD metal ceilings.

The Cradle-to-Cradle certification assesses products according to their performance in Material Health, Material Reutilisation, Renewable Energy & Carbon Management, Water Stewardship and Social Fairness.

NORTEC is the first system floor worldwide to achieve the Cradleto-Cradle certificate As part of the company’s environmental and climate protection campaign, we have set the goal of making our production facilities waste-free and CO2-neutral.

Interiors Top to bottom

Coeur Cologne, Germany

Lindner is sure to have the right solution for every room. Combining longstanding experience and extensive manufacturing capabilites, we deliver the ultimate in technology, quality and design: perfect ceilings, partitions and raised floors for thriving business environments.

Middleeast@Lindner-Group.com www.Lindner-Group.com