Big Project ME November 2013

NOVEMBER 2013

092

ALSO INSIDE ETIHAD RAIL AMBITIONS ENGINEERS IN FLUX IRAQ: THE GROUND TRUTH BUILDING WITH BIM

A network APPROACH Transport infrastructure bringing the GCC together

CONTENTS

M MIDDLE EAST

PAGE 28 Big Project ME examines the impact of investment into transport infrastructure.

NOVEMBER 2013 07 the big picture uae is top destination for construction professionals Survey finds that 51% of respondents prefer the Middle east for work

12 NewS ANAlySiS on the front foot is cityscape Dubai 2013 a pointer to the resurgence of Dubai property?

16 iN profile network generator Dr Nadhem bin taher on the NtA’s ambitions for the etihad rail project

22 Site viSit the way across big project Me profiles the longest cable-stayed bridge in the uAe

28 MAiN focuS: trANSport long road ahead big project Me finds out how investment into the gcc’s transport infrastructure is going to impact the regional construction industry

35 builDiNg with biM maximising returns how the biM success of the Mtb project could inspire the rest of the region

40 eNgiNeerS iN focuS melting pot big project Me finds out what sort of challenges gcc engineers still face

46 couNtry focuS: irAq the ground truth what is holding up the rebuilding of iraq? big project Me investigates

58 SpeciAl feAtureS the special compounds examining the role the chemical industry plays in the construction market and how smart cladding design can increase the longevity of projects

83 coMMeNt consistency is the key to success ian Apsley on the effects of the building codes in Abu Dhabi

93 coNStructive criticiSM artificial hindrances is the drive for nationalisation a good thing in the long run?

62

Al rAhji group profile complete Building solutions

A special look at Al rahji building Solutions Sector’s group of companies

EDITOR’s COMMENT

M MIDDLE EAST

bigprojectMe.COM

Saudi in a slumber As someone reminded me this month, the Saudi Arabian market has always been a six-month on and six-month off place to work. So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised if it is only sluggishly preparing for a winter of activity.

Publisher Dominic De SouSa GrOuP COO naDeem HooD ManaGinG DireCtOr RicHaRD JuDD eDiToRiaL GrOuP eDitOr STepHen wHiTe stephen.white@cpimediagroup.com +971 55 795 8740 DePuty eDitOr GaVin DaViDS gavin.davids@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5480 rePOrter neHa BHaTia neha.bhatia@cpidubai.com maRKeTinG & aDVeRTiSinG

This time last year, the Kingdom was seemingly streaking ahead with its national programme of infrastructure investment. While its Gulf neighbours were still shaking themselves down from the global recession and regional slump, contractors in Saudi were busier than ever.

However the flushing of money through the system has dried up to a drip feed, starving contractors and sub-contractors of cash flow. At the same time the crack-down on illegal foreign workers has caught out hundreds of contractors who had been willing to overlook government worker visa rules to keep on winning work. One of the great untold stories of this region is the growth of the one-man outfit sub-contractor to major player in the Saudi market.

Within a market dominated by a handful of contractors, a huge raft of smaller companies have grown to fill the gaps the big boys could never possibly handle by themselves.

These are not small contractors by your typical definition. While firms such as Saudi Oger and Bin Laden may remain the conductors, there are a bevvy of viruoso sub-contractors that are taking on multi-billion riyal contracts. In turn they are supported by a cast of thousands.

With the money drying up and the labour market in flux, the Saudi market is at risk of grinding to a halt. It could be a long winter ahead.

Stephen White

Group Editor

PublishinG DireCtOr RaZ iSLam raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5483 COMMerCial DireCtOr micHaeL STanSFieLD michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5497 sales DireCtOr caRLo meneZeS carlo.menezes@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5495 MarKetinG assistant BaRBaRa panKaSZ barbara.pankasz@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5499 DeSiGn JuniOr GraPhiC DesiGner peRciVaL manaLaySay ciRcuLaTion & pRoDucTion CirCulatiOn anD DistributiOn ManaGer RocHeLLe aLmeiDa rochelle.almeida@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 368 1670 Database anD CirCulatiOn ManaGer RaJeeSH m rajeesh.nair@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 440 9147 PrODuCtiOn ManaGer JameS p THaRian james.tharian@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 440 9146 DiGiTaL www.BiGpRoJecTme.com DiGital serviCes ManaGer TRiSTan TRoy maaGma Web DevelOPers JoeL aZcuna Janice FuLGencio online@cpidubai.com +971 4 440 9100 puBLiSHeD By

Registered at impZ po Box 13700 Dubai, uae Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 pRinTeD By printwell printing press LLc © copyright 2013 cpi all rights reserved

4

MIDDLE EAST

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.

NOVEMBER 2013

S C C r e v o c s Di

Take a break from your project stress with CCS state-of-the-art software.

For over 35 years, our software solutions have been developed for contractors by contractors. At the leading edge of industry trends, Candy and BuildSmart put you in complete control of your project: from check-in to check-out, a 7-star experience.

CCS proudly partnered with contractors involved in landmark hotel and hospitality projects including Burj Al Arab, Emirates Palace, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Madinat Jumeriah and Atlantis the Palm.

Let us help you find your piece of paradise today. “CCS is the best construction estimating and project control software I have come across. Saving half the time coupled with the accuracy and efficiency it provides, easily surpasses similar software applications.�

David Baker, Estimating Manager, Habtoor Leighton Group, Qatar.

Set yourself free today and call on +971 4 346 6456 or check-in at info@ccsgulf.com

THE BIGGEST PICTURE

DUBAI AND ABU DHABI TOP DESTINATION FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

SURVEY FINDS THAT MIDDLE EAST GETS A 51% MAJORITY VOTE FOR PREFERRED WORK DESTINATIONS

GROSS SALARIES (AED PER MONTH) CONSTRUCTION: ROLE

JUNIOR

MID LEVEL

SENIOR LEVEL

CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR

60,000

78,000

90,000

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

36,500

48,000

55,000

PROJECT MANAGER

28,000

35,000

50,000

DESIGN MANAGER 25,000

30,000

35,000

PROJECT CONTROLS 25,000 MANAGER

40,000

60,000

DESIGN ENGINEER 12,000

20,000

30,000

ARCHITECT

18,000

25,000

45,000

QUANTITY SURVEYOR

15,000

19,000

37,000

HSE ENGINEER

15,000

20,000

30,000

CIVIL ENGINEER

15,000

22,000

30,000

TECHNICAL ENGINEER

10,000

14,000

18,000

SITE SUPERVISOR

7,000

10,000

14,000

ESTIMATION ENGINEER

8,500

15,000

20,000

TECHNICIAN

8,000

12,000

15,000

SOURCE: MORGAN MCKINLEY

DUBAI AND ABU DHABI are now the favourite destinations for construction professionals, a survey by the job portal www.careerstructure.com has found.

The UAE has been rated as the most popular work destination for professionals in the world, the survey said, while the Middle East got a 51% majority in total.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the favourite destinations for construction professionals.

With the project pipeline in both cities continuing to grow, this trend shows no sign of slowing down, the survey said. 95% of all residents in Dubai alone are expats.

“Creating thousands of jobs for construction workers, the UAE offers some of the most exciting, unique and challenging career opportunities in the world,” the job portal said on its website.

With new projects being announced and financial institutions investing in infrastructure at levels last seen in 2008, the UAE’s building boom is set to have a positive impact on employment levels within the construction sector, as well as the industries that supply it.

“As borrowing costs fall and international liquidity rushes back, Dubai in particular has witnessed the revival of

development projects that were shelved during the financial crisis such as the expansion of the Business Bay Canal,” said Trefor Murphy, managing director, Morgan McKinley UAE, in a report by newspaper Emirates 24/7.

“In fact, last year the UAE ousted Saudi Arabia as the biggest construction market in the Gulf with $16.2 billion worth of contracts awarded in 2012, 4% more than the oil-rich kingdom. This has created demand for architects, surveyors, civil engineers and project managers.

The demand for both commercial and domestic property continues to climb, I don’t anticipate this trend reversing.”

Furthermore, salaries are going up, the recruitment firm, Hays said.

The average salary of a project director in the UAE is AED60,000 a month. A senior project manager gets AED50,000, while a project manager gets AED35,000.

A construction director gets AED 60,000, while a construction manager gets an average salary of AED45,000 per month.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

BIG PROJECT ME TALKS TO DR NADHEM BIN TAHER OF THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY – PAGE 16

7

THE BIG PICTURE

BIGPROJECTME.COM

WORLD CUP 2022 TO ENCOURAGE INFRASTRUCTURAL SPENDING WORTH $100BN Qatar’s high congestion and traffic accidents have prompted the country to build railways to alleviate structural hindrances to the event

CEMENT SHORTAGE EXPECTED TO HIT QATAR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Demand to rise to 10 million tonnes per annum QATAR’S CEMENT INDUSTRY is expected to face a ‘serious shortage’ in the near future owing to a lack of capacity additions in the country, challenging their ability to fulfil the rising demand of 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

Solid infrastructure spending by the government is increasing the demand for cement in the country, with the average demand between 2013 and 2015 expected at 5.5mtpa, exceeding the government estimate of 3.5-4mtpa.

With work on mega-projects such as Mshereib’s Downtown Doha and the FIFA World Cup 2022 slated to begin soon, this demand is expected to reach 10mtpa.

“Given the rapid rise in cement demand, Qatari companies are still not ready to gear up capacity to meet the same. With no other major capacity addition announcements, we feel Qatar will face a major cement shortage scenario going forward,” said Global Investment House in its latest report.

Total expenditure during 2013-14 has been set at $57.8bn, up 18% from that in the previous year.

Qatar is expected to spend $140-150bn on infrastructure over the next decade as per recent BMI reports, of which $40bn is dedicated for railways, $15.5 billion for airports, $20bn for roads and almost $4 billion for stadia. Qatar Rail’s construction cost is pegged at $35bn with initial phases to be completed by 2020.

10 MILLION TONNES EXPECTED RISE IN CEMENT DEMAND PER ANNUM IN QATAR

QATAR PLANS TO spend $100bn on roads and railways as part of its infrastructural developments in view of the FIFA World Cup 2022, a new report from the Kuwait Financial Centre has found.

Currently without a railway network, Qatar’s high congestion and traffic accidents have prompted the country to build railways to alleviate structural hindrances to the event.

As per the report by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz), the Qatar Railway Development Company was formed with almost $41 billion worth rail projects in execution or planning phase for this purpose, with the

Qatar Integrated Rail Project, comprising Doha Metro, passenger and freight rails accounting for $37 billion of it.

Other big projects include the West Bay people-mover and Lusail light rail transit.

Markaz added the quality of roads is ‘significantly’ better than other emerging markets, adding there is ‘concern over the current capacity’, with as many as 30 highway projects valued at around $27 billion yet to be awarded. $4.9 billion worth road projects were awarded and about $160 billion worth railway projects were either in construction or planning phase in the GCC in 2012.

RTA TO DIVIDE $544.5MN DUBAI CANAL PROJECT INTO THREE CONTRACTS Canal project will add 6km to the Dubai waterfront, stretching from Business Bay to the Arabian Gulf The Roads and Transport Authority will divide the $544.5 million Dubai Canal project into three contracts because of the ‘enormity’ of the scheme, it has been announced.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, said that the first and second contracts cover building bridges over the canal for Sheikh Zayed Road – spanning eight lanes in each direction – and three lanes on each side of Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road.

The crossings will be built 8.5m above the water to allow boats to pass underneath.

Al Tayer added that the third contract will cover the drilling and landscaping works, as well as the

construction of four pedestrian crossings.

In addition, four marine stations will be constructed for public transport use.

The RTA is set to carry out several improvements on key roads intersecting the canal, as well as surrounding areas, such as Jumeirah and Al Safa, including the construction of roads alongside the canal.

Three pedestrian bridges will cross the canal, in addition to footpaths on all the new main bridges. There will also be tracks for jogging and cycling along both sides of the canal. Landscaping will include green areas, benches and other facilities and touristoriented projects.

The Dubai Canal project will stretch 3km from Business

Bay to the Arabian Gulf, with a width ranging from 80m to 120m. The Canal will cross Sheikh Zayed Road and pass across Safa Park, Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah 2.

The project will add 6km to Dubai’s waterfront and will provide an area of more than 80,000m2 dedicated to public places and facilities.

It will also encompass new shopping and entertainment centres, more than 450 new restaurants and marinas for yachts, four hotels and residences.

Furthermore, at the entrance of the project from Sheikh Zayed Road, a trade centre will be constructed comprising four levels, including one underground and three elevated levels.

8

MIDDLE EAST

BIG PROJECT ME CHECKS OUT THE HODARIYAT BRIDGE IN ABU DHABI – PAGE 22

NOVEMBER 2013

THE BIG PICTURE

HYDER LAUNCHES DESIGN CENTRE IN AMMAN, JORDAN Design centre opened by Jordanian Minister of Trade and UK PM’s Trade Envoy to Jordan The Jordanian Minister of Trade and the Baroness Morris of Bolton, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Jordan, has officially opened Hyder Consulting’s new design centre in Amman on 20 October, 2013.

A number of VIPs attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, including Sir Alan Thomas, chairman of Hyder Consulting and Wael Allan, regional managing director of Hyder Consulting Middle East.

The Amman design centre currently houses highway and drainage expertise and Hyder plans to use it to accommodate its expanding base of expert knowledge as it wins work in new sectors and expands its regional business.

In a statement, the engineering consultant said that the new design centre reaffirmed its commitment to

the Middle Eastern region, and enhanced its reputation as a “long established, trusted organisation delivering high quality engineering to clients across the region.”

In a speech given at a press conference for the visit of the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Wael Allan said that Jordan has a number of resources to offer, through its educated and highly skilled multi-lingual workforce.

He added that Hyder had a pivotal role to play in the local community, creating work and prosperity for Jordanian engineers and designers.

Hyder has built its global reputation for excellence in railway, bridge, tunnelling, water, wastewater and property engineering for more than two centuries. In 2014, the company will celebrate its 110th year of operations in the Middle East.

DUBAI RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SET FOR BOOM Jones Lang LaSalle predicts that by the year 2015, Dubai will see a surge in residential construction as developers look to take advantage of the positive market sentiment to restart stalled developments or handover new ones

Completed Projects

351 units

306

villas

104 units

The Villa Stage 3 DUBAILAND

Burjside Boulevard

by Damac

Suburbia

by Damac

DOWNTOWN DUBAI

DOWNTOWN JEBEL ALI

Future Completions

16,000 units

EMIRATIS TO RECEIVE $353MN IN HOUSING GRANTS

DUBAILAND

3,700

Housing grant allotment is the largest for the year THE YEAR’S LARGEST housing allotment has been approved, with 3,000 Emiratis set to receive housing assistance worth $353 million in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai said that the assistance would come in the form of loans and grants in housing

aid from the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.

“This installment is the biggest of all payments that have been announced before,” said Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and chairman of the SZHP. Of the 2,854 names mentioned in this batch of aid, 260 have obtained final approval for an estimated total of $35.39 million.

units

DUBAI MARINA

3,600 units

50%

DUBAI SPORTS CITY

3,000

Increase in the number of units handed over in the first nine months of 2012

units

364,000

45,000

9,000 Number of units delivered in the first nine months of 2013

Number of units currently under construction that are set to be delivered by 2015

BUSINESS BAY

2,800

Total residential stock in areas monitored by JLL at the end of Q3 2013

units

JUMEIRAH VILLAGE

3,400 Number of units handed over in the third quarter of 2013

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

BIG PROJECT ME EXAMINES THE STATE OF THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN THE GCC – PAGE 28

9

THE BIG PICTURE

BIGPROJECTME.COM

INDIAN EMBASSY IN KSA: 1 MILLION WORKERS LEGALIZE STATUS More than 1 million Indian workers have legalised their status ahead of the deadline, Indian embassy says

THE INDIAN AMBASSADOR in Saudi Arabia has assured the Kingdom’s government that all Indian workers in country would be legalised by the amnesty deadline of November 3, 2013.

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Interior Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Salem, Hamid Ali Rao discussed issues related to the welfare of Indians living in Saudi Arabia and the approaching amnesty deadline.

According to the Indian Embassy, more than 1

million Indian workers have legalised their status so far under the amnesty declared

by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah. Rao said an impressive number of Indians had received final exits or corrected their status.

According to an Arab News report, the deputy chief of the Indian Mission, Sibi George, said the meeting was part of the ambassador’s ongoing consultation during the grace period.

The Indian embassy last month launched the second phase of a massive campaign to help illegal Indian workers correct their status or go back home before the amnesty deadline ends.

It informed 466,689 Indian workers had renewed their iqamas over the last five months of the grace period, 359,997 workers had transferred their sponsorships and 355,035 workers had changed their job titles to legalize their status.

QATAR RAIL AND TRANSPORT PROJECTS VALUED AT $30BN Gulf state is the second largest rail and transport projects market in terms of current development, in the Gulf region, with metro, rail, tram and BRT projects in the country

$2.2

TRILLION

10

MIDDLE EAST

Value of projects under bid, design or study in the entire Middle East

$140 BILLION

Total value of GCC rail and transport projects

NOVEMBER 2013

$27

BILLION Total value of the UAE rail and transport project market

$90

AVIATION PROJECTS IN THE GCC n King Abdulaziz

International Airport, Jeddah n Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai n Abu Dhabi International Airport expansion n Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport, Madinah n New Doha International Airport, Qatar

108

NUMBER OF SEPARATE RAILWAY, METRO, MONORAIL AND BRT PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER BID, DESIGN OR STUDY IN 14 MENA COUNTRIES

2020 SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE FOR ALL THE PROJECTS

BILLION

$50 $40

Value of rail, metro, tram and BRT projects due to be finished by 2020

BILLION

BILLION

Total value of the Saudi Arabian rail and transport project market

Value of rail, metro, tram and BRT projects currently under bid

50

TOTAL NUMBER OF RAIL AND TRANSPORT PROJECTS IN THE GCC

NAKHEEL FLOATS TENDER FOR MALL AND HOTEL COMPLEX Work on the $680 million mall is expected to start in early October, with ground works and piling already underway Endorsed earlier this year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the mall will be built at the northern end of the island’s trunk. Ground preparation and piling work for the project is already underway.

The construction contract for the mall is expected to be awarded by the end of this year, with a separate contract to build a five-star, 50-storey hotel to be built alongside the mall to be awarded at a later date. Contractors have been invited to collect tender documents from Nakheel Contracts and Procurements Department.

Due to open in 2016, The Nakheel Mall and Hotel complex, due to open in 2016, includes five retail levels with more than 100,000 sqm of shop space.

There will also be three basement parking levels, 4,000 parking bays, a 1,000 square metre indoor garden and a 180 metre high viewing deck with views of Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai skyline.

The mall will have 200 shops, including a 4,200 sqm supermarket, two anchor department stores, a ninescreen cinema and six medical clinics.

There will also be a roof plaza with restaurants and cafes as well as a host of eateries inside.

NEWS ANALYSIS

On the frOnt fOOt As Cityscape Global’s industry-approval witnesses a notable spike since its last edition, Big Project ME examines the local appeal of the international property event.

12

MIDDLE EAST

Entisar towEr The Meydan project will have 444 serviced apartments for sale on Sheikh Zayed Road.

NOVEMBER 2013

bigprojectMe.com

T

he traffic outside the World Trade Centre in early October may have slowed, but inside the exhibition halls visitors had a choice of fast moving consumer goods on show at Gitex and fast moving property developments at Cityscape Global. While the high-end gadget show across the foyer has grown used to being the most popular event in town, the busy pavilions of Cityscape were both a pleasant surprise to seasoned visitors and a sign of the UAE’s fast-recovering real estate scene.

The three-day event that ran from 8-10 October, 2013 was the largest Cityscape Global exhibition in four years and hosted more than 220 regional and international exhibitors - this covered six exhibition halls and 25,000 square metres of space at Trade Centre’s premises. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai inaugurated the event, which with its exhibition stalls and conferences was popularly viewed as UAE’s final push

towards globally asserting its contention for the Expo 2020 bid.

“Cityscape Global takes place a month before the announcement of the World Expo 2020 and all eyes will be on the Dubai property market”, said Niall McLoughlin, senior vice-president of DAMAC Properties, “especially serviced living opportunities as the Emirate targets 20 million visitors by 2020.”

Over 30,000 visitors were recorded at the event, with reports estimating it as a 53% increase vis-a-vis last year’s footfall.

The boost to the attendance was clearly welcomed by the event’s hopeful exhibitors.

Numbers announced by the event’s organisers have revealed Cityscape’s footfall in the boom years of 2007 and 2008 was at almost 40,000 visitors, as against 17,000 in 2011, following the crash of 2009. As markets recovered last year, the number of visitors at the event’s 2012 edition also spiked up to 21,000. Most were willing to use this year’s high turnout at Cityscape Global

NEWS ANALYSIS

as evidence for the strength of the Dubai market, with many confident that bust will not follow boom as the UAE’s real estate recovers.

Reports released last month by asset management and marketing consultancy firm Tasweek had predicted that the growth of UAE’s property sector in Q3 2013 could sustain itself through the next year as well.

Rising rental rates and transaction volumes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were major contributors to this growth and the report stated strong economic fundamentals – and not speculation – as a crucial factor behind the soaring market confidence.

“While there has been much debate in recent months that the UAE is entering into another ‘property bubble’, we can see that current market fundamentals are actually far stronger today than they were in 2008”, said Wouter Molman, exhibition director for Cityscape Global. “An estimated 100,000 new residents are added to Dubai’s population every year and a healthy GDP growth of more than 4% will support the recent market growth.”

Further proving the bullish attitude of the UAE property market were the number of projects announced and released at the event by leading developers such as Emaar, Nakheel, Dubai Holdings, Meydan, Dubai World Central, Damac, among many others.

Nakheel announced three sustainable waterfront projects, in the first of which four islands at Deira will be converted into a 16 million sqm mixed-use development.

Palm Jumeirah will also have undergo developments with the creation of a beachclub and park, besides a boardwalk covering the 11km Palm Jumeirah crescent.

Dubai Properties Group exhibited the plan of its beachfront hotel to be constructed at Jumeirah Beach Residence and a new residential twin-tower project in Business Bay, along with its venture ‘Culture Village’, a development containing

residential and commercial projects. Critical joint-venture projects were standouts at Cityscape Global this year and two projects garnered substantial interest and footfall over the three days. The Lagoons, a six million sqm joint-venture project in Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City) was presented by Dubai Holding and Emaar. Built along the Dubai Creek, the plans for this waterfront city were unveiled

by Mohammed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties and Ahmad bin Byat, CEO of Dubai Holding on the first day of the event.

Also planning a development in MBR City are Indian property giant Sobha Group and local developers Meydan, who officially launched the $5.7 billion (AED 21 billion) landmark megaproject called District One. Conveniently situated between Dubai’s three main arteries of Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road and Al Khail Road, the first phase of District One is expected to be completed by June 2016, with the estimated time for total completion set as seven years. Meydan also released its ‘vertical community’ on Sheikh Zayed Road, the Entisar Tower into the market with 444 serviced apartments offered for sale.

CitysCape 2013 Numbers: n 223 - Number of exhbitors

n 25,000m2 - Total exhibition space

n 50% - Larger than previous editions

“i don’t believe that there is GoinG to be a bubble soon”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

“CitysCape Global takes plaCe a month before the announCement of the World expo 2020 and all eyes Will be on the dubai property market”

13

NEWS ANALYSIS

bigprojectMe.com

“Current market fundamentals are aCtually far stronger today than they were in 2008”

14

MIDDLE EAST

In the post-Arab Spring climate of the Middle East, money that would once be used to build hotels in Egypt or roads in Tunisia has found its way to the Gulf state. Understandably, the organisers now pitch the Dubai event as an international investment platform. Consequently, not only were the UAE’s counterparts from the GCC present in large numbers, foreign companies, such as Empire Communities from Canada and the City of Zabrze department from the Government of Poland also stamped their arrival into UAE’s property network.

“Canada is emerging as a market for second-homes in the South-East Asian nationality sector”, said Murtazain Nasser, managing director for the Middle East & South Asia division of Empire Communities, an Ontario-based real estate development and construction company. “We frequently have clients looking to purchase plots and units for their children looking to study in cities like Toronto and Ontario, often with the aspiration of permanently residing there. UAE’s expat population is therefore a naturally attractive market for us.”

Thoroughly prominent at the exhibition were Qatar’s megaprojects.

The Mall of Qatar project, located in the country’s Al Rayyan district and launched in May at Cityscape Doha gained attention from the retail community.

“Following our participation in Cityscape Doha we have now received letters of interest from all of the major regional retailers”, said Shrem Krey, deputy managing director for the development which will open in 2015. “We are also in final discussions with many international brands, some of which will be entering the region for the very first time.”

Qatari real-estate developer, Mshereib Properties, also showcased its Downtown Doha project over the three days. The $5.4 billion (QR20 billion) worth commercial centre aims to recreate Qatar’s historicalstyled communities and Big Project ME has been informed the company is looking to incorporate unconventional building practices, such as the use of

NOVEMBER 2013

stone and avoidance of solar-panels, into the development.

“We hope Msheireb Downtown Doha will inspire countries around the world to sustainably regenerate urban areas”, said Abdullah Hassan Al-Mehshadi, CEO of the Mshereib in a statement.

“It (Downtown Doha) is also a tangible representation of how a city can preserve its architectural heritage and create a distinctive identity away from steel and glass skyscrapers that are so prevalent around the world”, he added.

Cityscape Global’s conferences this year, covering three varied sectors of the property market were yet another crowd-puller at the event. The Global Real Estate Summit covered topics like Dubai’s prospects for 2014, updates and implications of the Expo 2020 and case studies on countries impacted by the Arab Spring. The MENA Mortgage and Affordable Housing Congress focussed on issues such as housing scheme alternatives and the public/private construction debate.

Present in full force and interacting with the crowds from their stalls were UAE’s many governmental departments

and institutions, a large chunk of whom spoke at the Future Cities conference.

Key subjects, such as water management, efficient transportation and green (sustainable) buildings were covered by speakers from the Dubai Municipality, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Ministry of Environment & Water and the RTA. Besides providing insights into the workings of the MENA region’s current and future infrastructure plans, these conferences also made for excellent inter-industry networking opportunities.

Reports released by Cityscape Global’s organisers have stated that while Dubai’s developers at the show had reduced to almost half the previous numbers, they occupied 65% of the exhibition space since they purchased bigger stands this time. It is, however, a debatable statistic to portray the ‘growth’ of the UAE’s markets, as details regarding the purchase of stalls - such as timeline, costs and nearness to event deadline - have not been revealed. Irrespective, Cityscape Global’s recent edition has reaffirmed UAE’s status as a remarkable, influential hub for property markets across the GCC. Whether or not this stronghold over exhibition space - an implication of high budgets and project plans - is retained in next year’s edition of Cityscape Global will hopefully reveal more about UAE’s market growth at the time. n

Proven Performance Trusted Partner

+ State-of-the-art Khalifa Port features

Grace STRUX ® fibre reinforcement.

For more than 35 years, Grace Construction Products has been a trusted partner in the Middle East. Our innovative building materials and technologies solve some of the biggest challenges facing architects, engineers, specifiers and contractors. The proven performance of our products can be found in many of the most important structures around the world. Let us help solve the challenges of your next project.

Let’s talk about your next project.

Visit us at Middle East Concrete Stand # MEC C87

n

Structural Waterproofing

n

Concrete Admixtures and Fibres

n

Specialty Grouts and Injections

n

Architectural Concrete

n

Cement Additives

For our full line of products visit www.ae.graceconstruction.com.

GRACE® and STRUX® are trademarks, registered in the United States and/or other countries, of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.

This is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by PMV Live and The Big 5. This trademark list has been compiled using available published information as of the publication date of this brochure and may not accurately reflect current trademark ownership or status. Grace Construction Products is a product group of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. © Copyright 2013 W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.

IN PROFILE Dr NaDhem BiN Taher

bigprojectMe.com

NeTwork

GeNeraTor Big Project ME speaks to Dr Nadhem Bin Taher, executive director of the National Transport Authority, about the Etihad Rail project.

Gavin Davids reports

T

he National Transport Authority (NTA) is the Abu Dhabi-based, state-wide transportation body that oversees the development of the UAE’s land and maritime transportation systems.

Set up by Federal Law number 1 of 2006 – Article 4, the authority’s responsibilities include the proposal of general policies, bill laws and regulations for marine services and land transport, in coordination with the relevant authorities, and the supervision of their implementation.

Furthermore, the NTA is tasked with overseeing the organisation and improvement of the UAE’s land and sea transport, which in turn includes ‘submitting the suggestions necessary’ for the development of the federal roads construction works.

Obviously, this is a vast scope of work, but with the announcement that the UAE intends to invest $25 billion into its railroads and metro, the NTA’s job just became a whole lot harder. With the Minister of Public Works and the

chairman of the NTA, Abdulla Al Nuaimi, determined to make the UAE a hub for transport and logistics, the pressure is on.

Earlier this year, the authority announced that a new national law would be developed by 2014 paving the way for the mammoth investment into the rail sector. The law is expected to cover safety regulations and operational standards. It is expected to be passed in time for the launch of the country’s first railway line.

One of the men tasked with overseeing the establishment and development of this hydra of laws, regulations and projects is Dr Nadhem Bin Taher, executive director at the NTA. He sat down with Big Project ME to discuss how the NTA is pushing forward with plans for the Etihad Rail project and the wider reaching impact of the project.

Firstly, he clarifies that the $25 billion investment announced by the Ministry of Public Works, is intended to cover the total investment into the rail sector, in the UAE. “We have, in the MENA region, a total of $250 billion. 10% of that is within the UAE, (which is $25 billion). In the rail industry,

16

MIDDLE EAST

“WE WORk as a tEaM BEcausE WE WaNt thE dEcisiON tO BE takEN By thE highER lEVEl, as ENVisiONEd By thE uaE gOVERNMENt aNd thEN cascadEd tO thE lOcal authORitiEs iN thE EMiRatEs”

NOVEMBER 2013

MaN iN chaRgE Dr Nadhem Bin Taher is one of the men tasked with overseeing the establishement and development of the new national law.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

IN PROFILE Dr NaDhem BiN Taher

17

IN PROFILE Dr NaDhem BiN Taher

we have two things; light trains, which includes metros, monorails, trains – and heavy rail, which takes passengers and freight. Etihad Rail is around $11 billion of that investment, and then Abu Dhabi has approved $8 billion for the emirate’s light rail. And then we have an expansion which is worth $2 billion in Dubai, so a total of $25 billion when you take into account inflation rates and new technology. $25 billion is the original budget, which is estimated to be 10% of the total of the MENA (investment),” Dr Nadhem explains.

“It doesn’t have to be just inflation, there are new products coming. The project could be completed within six or seven years from now.

“For sure there are new technologies, and you need to have some spare amount of money available for new tech, new wagons, etc, that may be implemented, so this is (a figure) that is envisioned by the UAE government.”

Some of these new technologies have come from various research trips that the NTA and the various bodies associated with the UAE’s rail projects have undertaken. The collaboration between the country’s regulatory bodies is crucial to the success of such complex operations, Dr Nadhem says, pointing out that the wide range of projects such as

bigprojectMe.com

Etihad Rail makes it difficult for one body to control things.

“We work as the regulator for the rail industry. However, the operator and construction work, the railway infrastructure company and the railway construction company – this is done

by Etihad Rail, which is a government owned company responsible for building, managing and operating the trains,” he says.

“However, we do some teamwork between the federal government and the local government because we have seven departments of transport, so we work as a team because we want the decision to be taken by the higher level, as envisioned by the UAE government and then cascaded to the local authorities in the Emirates.”

“We’ve done some benchmarks in the East and West and seen new technology – in South Korea, Taiwan and China.

We’ve seen the KTX, which is the high speed rail in South Korea and how they’ve developed it from 300km/h to around 350km/h. We also went to China and seen

new technology called Maglev, which is a technology where the speed of the train is around 430km/h. So we’ve seen different technologies and what is the cost and value for money, and what is the supply and demand and how we can bring in people to use mass transportation.”

So that is why the spare money is needed then. Dr Nadhem highlights that the spending is likely to encompass everything from high-speed to light-rail.

However, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t a plan in place. He points out that the NTA and the other regulatory bodies involved are taking the project in phases, with each one being given the attention and concern it deserves.

“All these things are being studied right now and the most important thing right now is the first phase, Habshan, in the west of the region. (It’s a) very strategic project because by moving the sulphur from Habshan, even to the eastern region, takes around 1,500 trucks a day. So by moving 1,500 trucks a day to a couple

“We’ve done some benchmarks in the east and West and seen neW technology – in south korea, taiWan and china”

18

MIDDLE EAST

of trucks by heavy rail, will save money, reduce the number of accidents and fatalities, pollution, etc,” he says, laying out the grand ambitions for the project.

“Then there’s the second and third phases, where we connect (with) the GCC network and when it will be connect with Khalifa port. For all these, the first phase is the backbone of the project. We have the national network and the international network. The international network comes all the way from Kuwait to Oman, this is 2,170km, including the 580km in the UAE network that will take them from the Western region, all the way to Muscat,” Dr Nadhem continues.

This is where things get complicated.

With the rest of the GCC also working on their own railway projects, creating a region-wide railway network is a challenge unlike any that has come before.

NOVEMBER 2013

IN PROFILE Dr NaDhem BiN Taher

bigprojectMe.com

Dr NaDhem BiN Taher Dr Nadhem Bin Taher joined the National Transport Authority in March 2010, to become the director of Roads and Land Transport Department.

His role in the NTA is to supervise the development of federal regulations, legislations, standards and benchmarks on passenger and freight movements in the UAE. His previous work was as an advisor for the Infrastructure and Municipal Assets Sector, in the Department of

20

MIDDLE EAST

Not only do governments have to focus on building their own railways, but they also have to be mindful of their rate of progress, and that of their neighbours.

And that doesn’t even consider the host of other logistical issues, such as travellers across country borders and immigration reform. The NTA is involved in all aspects of this, and it’s clear they’ve got a massive task on their hands.

“Saudi Arabia is working right now, Qatar is working, Oman is working, and we’re working on it. Now we’re studying the connection and interoperability issues, (such as) immigration issues, trip issues, taxes, customs, and all these issues are being studied right now to see how we can go on further.”

“We are working with the GCC members to establish the GCC Railway Authority, which would regulate the

NOVEMBER 2013

Municipality Affairs and the Public Works Department in Abu Dhabi.

Dr Nadhem has a doctorate of Philosophy (Ph D) in Engineering Project Management from Wales in the United Kingdom and has the experience and the expertise in Transport Management, Project and Construction Management, Claims and Disputes Management, Risk Management, Quality Management System (QMS).

He is a Certified Quality Management Systems Trainer and Auditor and has conducted various lectures and seminars on Transport Project Management, Quality Management and Project Claims and Disputes.

Dr Nadhem has contributed to several technical publications including reports, conference papers and presentations in local, regional and international conferences in the field of transportation such as the Federal Road Traffic Accident Study: Causes and

whole interoperability issues and the connections between each country. This has been discussed in the GCC Council and will soon be raised with the GCC Supreme Council, I don’t have the exact date, but this is the plan,” he reiterates.

Citing the example of Europe, Dr Nadhem adds that there are various scenarios and possibilities being discussed across different departments and authorities, such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Immigration, the Customs Authority and the NTA, over the issue of immigration. What would allow for the free flow of travellers across the GCC would be a visa based on the Schengen model, but Dr Nadhem maintains that there is still plenty of work to be done before that is even considered.

“We think that it (a GCC-wide railway) will be coming by 2018. (However), we

Preventive Measures.

Finally, he was also involved as a member, vice-chairman and chairman of several Authorities and Professional Committees at a local and federal level, for example the TTF (Trade and Transportation Facilitation) committee, while also representing the UAE in various forums at a regional level (Gulf Countries Council, Arab League) and international level (ESCWA) in discussing land transport sector topic, issues, and joint initiatives.

can’t control what Qatar (for example) will do. These are operational issues, so the company established for this is Etihad Operations, which will take care of these decisions. We are planning from now, we can’t wait till they finish. What we do in UAE here is to have a vision.

We put all this in a risk matrix and take the issues and tackle them one-by-one, so that by the time the rail is already established, we’ll have all the answers to these questions, such as the fares and the customs,” he asserts.

“What we’re talking about here is to have a complete GCC plan by 2018, so we definitely need to have our own by then. We’re fighting with time, if you will.

Etihad Rail takes care of all these issues and we’re the specialised regulators taking care of the vision of the UAE government.” n

FOAMGLAS® Insulation

Composite Facade System, Mineral Render

Qatar Convention Center and Tower, Doha Architect Murphy / Jahn Inc, Chicago / Berlin / Shanghai Build Under construction 2012 Application of FOAMGLAS® Façade insulation, about 6000 m2, T4+ slabs, 80 mm thick, adhesively bonded and mechanically fixed to the structural wall Finish Lime renders in thick layer 3

4

2

1

Render system 1 Concrete wall 2 Lime adhesive 3 FOAMGLAS® slabs, bonded and mechanically fixed

hiGh RiSE Bu OR iLD EF in D A

GS

ThE BE ST FA C

Qatar Convention Center and Tower have been designed by Murphy Jahn Inc. with a creative and inspirational power, just like other projects for which they are famous, be it Deutsche Post building in Bonn or the Sony Center in Berlin. Qatar Convention Center and Tower will be an iconic symbol for the Doha skyline – a 550 m high tapering obelisk, containing a total of 112 storeys. It will also comprise a 100,000 square metre convention center. When architects are looking for aesthetic quality, it is the chance to explore new insulation system solutions for façades – systems which will have high impact resistance.

No maintenance, no degradation within time and, most important, fire safety – these substantial benefits are only possible due to the specific FOAMGLAS® insulation properties, providing high compressive strength, dimensional stability and non-combustibility.

FIR

E F A ES 6 E13 84, E M AST

4 Reinforcing mesh 5 Lime render layer 6 Final layer of render

Ecological and fire safe, a recommended building material.

Web: www.foamglas.ae Email: info@foamglas.ae Dubai office Tel: +9714 434 7140 Doha office Tel: +974 465 5360

ON SITE HODARIYAT BRIDGE

Project Name

Hodariyat Bridge

Location

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Owner

TDIC (Tourism Development and Investment Company)

Designer

International Bridge Technologies, Inc

Design Build Team

VSL Middle East and AST (Joint Venture)

Contractor

VSL / AST

MIDDLE EAST

22

BIGPROJECTME.COM

NOVEMBER 2013

ON SITE hodariyat bridge

the WAY

longest in toWn The Hodariyat Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the UAE.

ACROSS Big Project ME profiles the Hodariyat Bridge in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s longest cable-stayed bridge and one of the capital’s most striking architectural works

A

s a city, Abu Dhabi is known for many things; it is a hub for international relations in the GCC region, it is the epicentre for the billion dollar oil and gas industries in the UAE and it is a burgeoning business hub that is fast growing and rivalling its neighbour, Dubai.

It is also known for is its art and culture, which is often typified by its extravagant and bold architecture. In fact, the UAE capital is rapidly gaining a reputation for being a city that merges form with function and creates buildings that are unique, revolutionary and functional works of art.

One such sector that perfectly illustrates this is the bridges that link the various islands of the city together, the most famous of which is the stunning Sheikh Zayed Bridge, which was designed by the internationally acclaimed architect, Zaha Hadid.

It is said to be the most intricate bridge ever constructed, with its curved, flowing design and dynamic lighting evoking Abu Dhabi’s heritage and ambition.

Impressive as it may be, Sheikh Zayed Bridge faces a formidable challenger to its title of most iconic bridge in capital.

Last year, the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) announced the completion of the Hodariyat Bridge on the South-Western coast of Abu Dhabi.

Work on the bridge started with a Notice to Proceed in September 2009,

november 2013

MIDDLE EAST

“When you can combine the savings in time and materials, it becomes a very attractive option, and a lot less labour intensive”

23

ON SITE HODARIYAT BRIDGE

BIGPROJECTME.COM

NAVIGATION CHANNEL The bridge builders had to provide a navigational channel more than 200m long to allow ships to pass.

STAKEHOLDERS n Contractor

Engineering Services: International Bridge Technologies, Inc.

n Construction Engineering Inspection: PARSONS

n Formwork for Precast

n Stay Cable Materials: VSL

n Bearings: FIP Industriale

n Expansion Joints: FIP Industriale

n Owner’s Engineers: PARSONS

n Independent

Segments: VSL

n Erection Equipment: VSL

n Post-Tensioning Materials: VSL

Checking Engineers: Tony Gee and Partners

while pile driving began in January 2010.

By the fall of that year, the piers were complete and the approach spans were halfway through, with pre-casting of the main span segments also underway.

Estimates as to the cost of the bridge put the value of construction at $50 million, according to various media reports from when the tender was announced.

24

MIDDLE EAST

“THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE CONTRACT DOCUMENT TO PROPOSE AN ALTERNATIVE DESIGN AND BUILD. WE HAD A LOOK AT THAT AND JOINED HANDS WITH AST, TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING SMART”

NOVEMBER 2013

TDIC said that the bridge was completed six months ahead of schedule.

This is no small feat, when the sheer size of the project is taken into consideration.

The 1.3km-long bridge is the UAE’s largest cable-stay bridge. It provides 29 metres of vertical clearance and carries six lanes of traffic and two walk ways. Its height means that ships are able to pass under it and the water body it spans can continue to be open to marine traffic.

Stephen Burke, deputy general manager of VSL Middle East, was the man tasked with overseeing the project as his company was appointed as the contractor for the project.

“Basically, we had to provide a navigational channel more than 200m long, and provide a clearance for ships crossing, underneath of 21m. So the envelope had to be maintained for the navigation channel,” he comments to Big Project ME. “That obviously governed the geometry of the structure,” he adds, pointing out that when VSL came on board, it joined hands with a local specialist marine construction firm called AST. Together the team came up with an alternative design to the original, in accordance with the contract document, which allowed for proposals.

“There was an opportunity in the contract document to propose an alternative design and build. We had a look at that and joined hands with Overseas AST, to combine our efforts and come up with something smart, in terms of an alternative,” he recollects during the interview, adding that VSL worked on the superstructure and Overseas AST focused on the marine elements of the project.

“So we had a look at that and came up with something smart, in terms of an alternative. We had a look and basically, what we did at the end of the day, was to come up with a stay cable replacement for the conforming bridge, which in terms of commercial considerations, meant that we had to make sure that it was going to fly internally.”

“Of course we had to price the conforming, but also had to put a package together for the alternative. Now, the client loved the alternative, we had no

ON SITE HODARIYAT BRIDGE

The precast piers were designed to resist the friction forces which occur during launching, which could have resulted in an unsymmetrical posttensioning layout. In addition, the pile caps were formed with permanent precast shells that were supported by the pile casings.

WHAT ARE CABLE-STAYED BRIDGES? A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that has one or more towers or pylons, from which cables support the bridge deck.

In the fan design, the cables all connect to or pass over the top of the towers.

There are two major classes of cablestayed bridges, the harp and the fan.

The fan design is considered to be structurally superior, with minimal moment applied to the towers.

In the harp design, the cables are nearly parallel so that the height of their attachment is propotional to the distance from the tower to their mounting on deck.

However, for practical reasons, engineers prefer to use a ‘modified fan’ system on bridge projects where many cables are necessary due to the benefits it offers.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

problems presenting some renderings and technical data that we submitted initially. They liked the look of it and then they opened the commercial and they liked the price. So on that basis, we were awarded the project.”

The total length of the bridge clocks in at 1,300m, which includes the main spans of 396m, and approaches of 425m and 480m. Given that the contractor was working to a fairly tight schedule, it necessitated the use of precast concrete to be used on the project so that costs, schedules and durability goals could be met.

Unusually, the approach box girders consist of a single cell box girder, with a maximum width of 36.3m, while typical spans are 55m. The width of the segments, which is amongst the widestever produced, required the use of precast struts that were designed to distribute the deck loads to the webs.

This unusual width, combined with the launched construction methods, required a careful distribution of the longitudinal post-tensioning, over the width of the top slab.

Meanwhile, the approach piers were made of precast segments, cast by the long-line method.

“We went for a precast option and so set up a precast yard adjacent to the bridge site, on the waterfront there,” says Burke. “We cast a lot of innovative things. For instance, normally the foundations would require us to sheathe the piles and pump out the water. We came up with a precast block that we dropped over the foundation piles, then pumped out the water and cast the foundation for the piers.”

The reasoning behind this method was that it was the fastest and most efficient way to complete the project on time and within budget, says Burke.

“It was about speed and savings in materials,” he says, “When you can combine the savings in time and materials, it becomes a very attractive option, and a lot less labour intensive.

So basically, for the structure itself, we did the technological incremental launching for the back span, then for the centre span. This was a precast balanced cantilever segmental, which kept the stay cable in position, along with the large pylons. It’s really a very attractive looking structure,” he adds.

With the main bridge superstructure consisting of a precast segmental box girder, it is supported by a central plane of cables. Meanwhile, the main bridge cross section has been developed in a similar manner to the approaches, but with thinner webs, which reflect the lower shear demand.

The cables themselves are deviated at the solid pylons through VSL designed SSI saddles, which include a maximum of 109 strands. The balanced cantilever that Burke mentions was erected with a beam and winch system.

With the handover the bridge now complete, work on the Hodariyat Island project continues. Last year, TDIC completed the Al Bateen Beach project, which is located close to the bridge.

It consists of a beachside park that overlooks 800m of coastline and includes a number of amenities for visitors, such as extensive picnic areas, football and volleyball grounds, play areas and food and beverage outlets.

Much remains to be done, but clearly a gap has now been bridged and more will follow. n

25

TRANSPORT FOCUS

BIGPROJECTME.COM

LONG

With billions being invested into the development of transport infrastructure, Big Project ME spoke to some of the leading experts to find out where the GCC is headed.

Gavin Davids reports

28

MIDDLE EAST

NETWORK EXPANSION The GCC will invest more than $119bn into infrastructure projects over the next 10 years.

NOVEMBER 2013

ROAD

AHEAD

TRANSPORT FOCUS

investment in the infrastructure is the core driver of the economy of any city worldwide,” Al Tayer says.

Not only are road networks being expanded and developed, but the region is seeing an increased interest in the development of rail transport. The success of the Dubai Metro has inspired other cities in the region to adopt rail technology as a solution to their mass transit woes.

Neil Walmsley, an associate director at Arup, leads the consultant’s transport sector activities in the Gulf. He points out that it’s very much a chicken and egg scenario for transport infrastructure in the region, where people are investing to accommodate existing growth, while also investing to encourage economic growth.

“To encourage economic growth requires investments in networks connecting cities together, and networks providing for movement of people and goods within cities,” he explains during a telephone interview.

“Transport investments are supporting investments – they facilitate other economic activities. They are not meant to generate income, but to facilitate economic growth. The value of connecting the region for movement of people and goods by rail can be seen in terms of improvements in cost efficiency,

“TRANSPORT INVESTMENTS ARE SUPPORTING INVESTMENTS THEY FACILITATE OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES. THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO GENERATE INCOME”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

W

hen it comes to planning out the transport network for a city, it’s not as simple as saying that the system will run from point A to point B, with a dozen stops in between.

While most engineers would love for it to be that easy, the reality is that the development of any transport network, be it a road, metro or light rail, is often one of the most complex urban planning tasks undertaken by a city.

The Middle East is undergoing this transformation as we speak, with cities all across the region planning an expansion of their road networks and railway systems. Leading this charge is Dubai, which is in the process of revamping its already massive road network and developing a tramway to complement its Metro system. There are also plans a foot for the RTA to expand the Metro even further.

In fact, the UAE is expected to spend as much as 13% of its total construction spend on transportation projects, Deloitte’s GCC Powers of Construction 2013 report says.

Within the country, road and bridge projects are currently underway or at the planning phase. They amount to a total of $58 billion. Meanwhile, the $11 billion Etihad Railway is well underway and will link up with the wider GCC railway network, which is itself valued in excess of $100 billion.

In January of this year, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority said that it would spend $1.68 billion in 2013 on 45 new development schemes, ‘spanning roads, marine transport, public transportation and operational buildings’.

It would also fund the completion of another 55 projects currently underway at the time, Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the RTA said.

“The Dubai Government is continuing with the development of the infrastructure, including road and transport projects, as it recognises that

29

TRANSPORT FOCUS

BIGPROJECTME.COM

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT VALUE BREAKDOWN PER SECTOR n 13% Transport n 62% Commercial n 3% Industrial n 19% Energy & Resources

n 1% Healthcare n 2% Residential

UAE

n 20% Transport n 8% Education n 17% Industrial n 47% Energy & Resources

n 6% Social Infrastructure

n 1% Commercial

KSA

n 1% Healthcare SOURCE: BMI

environmental impacts, safety and resilience,” Walmsley adds.

Vasile Olievschi, a railway specialist with the National Transport Authority in Abu Dhabi, and formerly the lead railway specialist for the World Bank, agrees with this and explains that the UAE in general has a pretty well developed road and shipping network, but that developing a railway could be the final missing link in creating a transportation network that would serve the entire region.

“What could be the goal of the UAE? It would be to shift part of the freight and passengers, which are transported by road today, onto the railways. If we could reach, I don’t know, 20% to 30% of the total market share, shifted from road to rail, that would be a very good achievement and it would bring huge benefits to the country,” he says.

“What we need now is to develop a comprehensive strategy for putting together all these modes of transport. We don’t talk about ‘competition’ (between

the three forms of transport), we talk mainly about cooperation. These three modes of transport (road, shipping and rail) are actually complimentary to each other, because each of them are addressing, in the best way, specific segments of the transport and logistic chain,” he adds.

“So for railway, there are programmes in place, for interconnection with the big ports. Jebel Ali for example. The distribution and the feeding of the port could be done not only by roads, but also by railway. And in the same approach, at some so called ‘dry ports’, we could create logistic centres in different locations in the country, in order to concentrate transport on roads and railways. Jebel Ali is a big port and so supported by the rail distribution chain, it could penetrate into the regional transport in the GCC area.”

With this in mind, perhaps it’s worth remembering the size of the task facing those responsible for heading up these transportation projects. Consultants will have to work especially closely with both contractors and clients to ensure that the best possible project is delivered at the first time of asking, since going back and fixing it isn’t really an option.

Peter Dawson is the president of Bechtel Civil Infrastructure. His company was awarded (as part of a consortium consisting of Bechtel, Almabani, Consolidated Contractors Company and Siemens) a $10 billion contract by the High Commission for the Development of ArRiyadh, to design and build two rail lines of the Riyadh Metro network.

The team will be responsible for the development of Lines 1 and 2, which will be part of the six line metro system that will form the backbone of the city’s public transport network.

NEIL WALMSLEY ON SMART CITIES

30

MIDDLE EAST

Smart Cities are more than just technologically advanced cities. They are cities that are both efficient and resilient. A key element of this is land use planning, and the interface with transport systems.

NOVEMBER 2013

In transient cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, there is a huge opportunity to transform urban travel behaviour by providing the ever changing population with new ways to travel, and by applying policy measures to discourage the

prevailing dependence on private car trips.

The Dubai Metro has demonstrated that mass transit can be successful in the GCC region. In the city today we know that many employers

see accessibility by metro as a key criteria in choosing officer locations. The knock on effect is that employees choose to live close to the metro too, so that they can adopt a less car dependent lifestyle.

GRX2 DATA COLLECTORS Maximum Versatility in RTK Applications

The GRX2 has built-in internal Bluetooth that allows the user to choose their data collector model and software ®

Maximum Versatility in RTK Applications

Maximum Versatility in RTK Applications

• Fully Scalable • 226-channel GPS+GLONASS+Galileo • Integrated UHF+Cellular+ • Voice Navigation • Compact, Watertight and Rugged

SHC250

Ultimate in Versatility

GNSS Receivers

MESA

GSX2 Interference-free Data Communication

Leading Edge Technology in a Rugged Design

Controller software that will increase your productivity and connect you to others in the field as well as in the office.

Waterproof, Rugged and Operator Friendly

Topcon Positioning Middle East and Africa FZE Versatility and Flexibility

E-mail : marketing@topcongulf.com Website : www.topconpositioningmea.com

The Formwork Experts.

Panel floor formwork Dokadek 30 The beamless hand-set system for fast erection and dismantling Speed Safety Simplicity

Stand Scan here for more information on Dokadek 30 www.doka-me.com

717-1

Hall 1

TRANSPORT FOCUS

you, you can impact them by choking off their access, you don’t have to physically touch them,” Bangash adds, illustrating another challenge that contractors developing transport projects face, citing the example of Salam Street in Abu Dhabi, which caused large amounts of ire during its development.

“If you recall when Salam Street was being excavated, a lot of businesses, even though they weren’t affected by the excavation, they weren’t happy because access was cut off to their businesses and people couldn’t come and shop. So we’ve got to deal with those.”

“You have the traffic diversions impact, which of course we’ll have to deal with. The other way that you impact a lot of these businesses is typically by ground movement, especially when you’re doing tunnelling work underneath,” he warns.

“If you look at CrossRail in London, we have a huge interface with old buildings and businesses. Because we’re working in clay and it moves during excavation.

That element here is less risky because we’re in limestone and the movement should be negligible.”

“You can have a pocket where materials are different, but from a stand point of physically affecting them through ground movements, we don’t see a significant risk.”

“Now you’re really down to where we have a job and we’re physically affecting another developer. We’ve got a station that’s excavating and right next door there’s a building that’s going up. It’s something that we have, through the negotiation phase, we’ve brought up.

It’s something we’ve discussed with the client and they’ve agreed that as a contractor, you can’t really control the award of (a project). So from a government standpoint, we’ll manage

GULF RAIL SPENDING n 29% GCC Railway n 12% KSA n 28% Qatar n 8% UAE n 11% Kuwait n 7% Oman n 5% Bahrain

it, but private developers, they’ll have to help us. That’s one of those things we can’t handle on our own.”

With plans for a regional GCC transport network, Vasile Olievschi is quick to point out that if the GCC wants to develop a regional wide transportation network, then it needs to embrace this spirit of cooperation, or the entire enterprise would be doomed before it even began.

“You cannot develop our transport network without having in view the whole GCC area, because we need to have open trade and open transport in the whole region, which means that we have to work with the other member states of the GCC,” he warns.

“It is being done already, under the GCC umbrella, for the harmonisation of technical characteristics of the transport networks and the harmonisation of the border crossing rules, the immigration rules, safety regulations and licensing rules,” he adds.

“So in order to have mutual recognition of all these procedures, we could have a similar market in the whole region. There are technical and economic committees in the GCC working on these aspects, so it’s only a matter of time to put them in place,” he concludes optimistically. n

“YOU CANNOT DEVELOP OUR TRANSPORT NETWORK WITHOUT HAVING IN VIEW THE WHOLE GCC AREA, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE OPEN TRADE AND OPEN TRANSPORT IN THE WHOLE REGION”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

“I think one of the drivers, if you look at Saudi Arabia, is obviously population growth and industrialisation,” Dawson tells Big Project ME. “It’s definitely a big deal for the region. It would be the largest direct contractor package that we have done in Saudi Arabia for a while, probably the largest in our history in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

“If you look at it as being $10 billion, you could say that about 20% of that would be systems, the tracks, the traction, the trains and so on. So you’ve got about 80% of it being civil work,” he says, outlining its scale and complexity.

Amjad Bangash, managing director of Bechtel’s global rail business, is intimately involved in the project as well, and he’s perhaps the ideal person to illustrate the scale of the challenge the consortium faces when it comes to the Riyadh Metro.

“It’s complicated by several factors.

First of all, utilities are never where they’re shown on a drawing. There’s a history of them being moved or the ‘as built’ being wrong. There’s a history of new utilities or even old utilities that have not been traced. So that’s definitely something that we have to watch out for, in terms of unexpected utilities that will have to be relocated to clear the land. I think the key here is to minimise. We’re looking at how to design our work so that we minimise the amount of utilities that we touch. That’s the key.”

“If you look at the lessons learnt from other big cities, when you start dealing with utilities, the solution isn’t always to move them. You can keep them in place and you can hang them, quite often as well. It’s easier when it comes to fibre optic cables and electrical cables and the like, but it’s harder to do when you’re talking about sewer pipes. So then you have to come up with a different solution.

Depending on the type of utility, the solution changes and that’s where the engineering optimisation has to be quite critical,” he asserts to Big Project ME during an interview at Bechtel’s new Centre of Excellence in Dubai.

“Now let’s talk about the type of interfaces. We’ve discussed utilities, but when you look at challenges or interfaces with the local guys that are surrounding

33

Building with BiM

bigprojectMe.com

Gavin Davids talks to the men tasked with showing the Middle East how BIM can be used to develop large-scale infrastructure and transportation projects in ways that far eclipse mere building design and clash detection

A

bu Dhabi Airport Company’s Midfield Terminal Building has rapidly gained a reputation as one of the most challenging aviation projects currently being built in the Middle East, if not the world, since construction commenced in August of last year.

Not only will it be one of the largest terminal buildings in operation, but with a site area of more than 700,000m2 once complete, the project is also one of the most structurally complex buildings ever undertaken by a contractor.

Costing an estimated $3.2 billion, the project will provide passenger and cargo facilities, duty-free shops and restaurants for up to 40 million people per year. The X-shaped structure is located between two runways, which presents a challenge for those providing engineering, construction and procurement services.

As a result, the project owner, ADAC, required a totally BIM-driven lifecycle to facilitate the project’s delivery.

In a previous interview with Big Project ME, Dr Ozan Koseoglu has pointed out that the sheer size of the project and the level of detail required meant that the builders, a joint venture consisting of Arabtec Construction, TAV Construction and Consolidated Contractors Company, had to embrace Building Information Modelling as an entirely new concept.

Traditionally, developers and contractors in the Middle East have looked at BIM just as a tool to design buildings and avoid clash detection.

However, the capabilities of the technology go far beyond that and the men planning the MTB project were quick to realise it.

“WiTh The SUcceSS of ThiS joiNT veNTUre iN deliveriNg The clieNT’S reqUiremeNT, iT’ll be a WakeUp call ThaT bim iS reqUired”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

bim leader Dr Ozan Koseoglu is one of the leaders of the BIM team working on the MTB project.

MAXIMUM reTUrNS

35

Building with BiM

36

MIDDLE EAST

Speaking during the Year in Infrastructure 2013 Conference in London, Issam El-Absi, manager, IS – Automation and Engineering (BIM, Civil and GIS) and BIM Centres Manager at CCC, says that the MTB project will serve as a benchmark for the regional construction industry towards the ability of BIM. “With the success of this joint-venture in delivering the client’s requirement, it’ll be a wakeup call that BIM is required. It’s an achievement and everyone is realising they need the technology,” he says on the sidelines of the event.

The construction contract was awarded to the joint venture team in accordance with the project requirements. The team developed comprehensive BIM for all disciplines involving subcontractors and manufacturers. The BIM implementation covered engineering and design, project controls and planning, contractual and quantity surveying, manufacturing, site logistics, and installation works.

So successful has the JV been in implementing BIM across the project, they were nominated for, and won, the Innovation in Comprehensive BIM award at the 2013 Be Inspired Awards, which were held at the London Hilton Metropole Hotel on 30 October, 2013.

“Everyone knows what is happening in Abu Dhabi,” El Absi says in relation to the conference and awards. He points out that winning the award could have further benefits, not just for the JV and the MTB project, but also to the further adoption and development of BIM in the region.

“We’ve spoken at many conferences about this project, so (knowledge) is spreading and the awareness is growing between audiences. They can see the tangible benefits of having BIM.” Dr Ozan Koseoglu, the BIM leader for TAV Construction and the man tasked with working with the joint venture partners to develop the BIM team for the project, adds that the collaboration between all stakeholders on the project helped drive its success.

“The client is looking for something that they can operate after project completion, so we needed to understand their requirements, how they use it and so on. You can’t ‘specify’ everything in

NOVEMBER 2013

bigprojectMe.com

the specifications. We needed to identify issues throughout the process. That’s why TAV’s knowledge was essential.

We operate many airports and have interfaced with a number of airport authorities, so bringing this knowledge into the BIM world was essential for the project, from our side,” he explains.

On the subject of collaboration, Issam El Absi says that it was never something that caused the joint venture team too much of a challenge given the extensive amount of experience that each firm brought to the table.

“We are partners in other projects so there was already harmony. We cooperate very well, and it’s not the first time that we’ve had this challenge,” he adds.

“When the client drafted his specifications, he demanded that we as a joint-venture, would be able to deliver BIM. However, we never felt the need to direct him, we just wanted it to be better structured. We do suffer from a lack of specifications, such as FM and OM solutions, but we have an operator on the JV who knows the business (TAV), so it wasn’t difficult for us to use this experience and knowledge and to elaborate on it.”

Project cooPeration The JV partner’s experience helped them to work together.

Building with BiM

“The awareness is growing beTween audiences and They can see The Tangible benefiTs of having biM”

Koseoglu adds that a crucial part of the BIM process on the MTB project, and one that is currently ongoing, is the selection of the right team members to work on the massive project.

“From a BIM point of view, to bring these guys into the project and into the process, is not easy, it’s quite challenging.

But now, we can transfer this knowledge into various projects. Currently we have many projects in the region, mostly airports, as we’re airport contractors, so that brings a lot of knowledge to diffuse into our projects, with our engineering skillsets and BIM levels,” he says.

“In the meantime, what we face is the process. You can add technology, mobility

AD

and so on, and that’s good, but in this project, what we face is that the challenge stays on site. How are we going bring our people in? The guys who are keeping the process all together, so we can achieve this task. That will bring knowledge to us, for other projects. And this scope will also give us airport management skillset, because there’s a FM aspiration.

“We’re looking at BIM in a broad perspective: engineering, construction and then facilities management. So this scope will also give us the ability to transfer it to other projects.”

El-Absi adds that BIM collaboration work on the project started a year before any actual construction began so as to give the joint venture team ample time to meet the client’s demands.

“If we hadn’t done it early, it would have been difficult to achieve what we’ve been achieving from day one. Our client was asking for BIM, not only for construction, but he was interested in

HALF PAGE

BuIlDIng with BiM

facilities management and maintaining and running it,” he explains.

“We have created the infrastructure although the challenge was that the client never really identified what system (was going to be in use). We worked hard with the partners who had the work experience to capture their knowledge in facilities management and try to make basic rules so that once the client has defined or decided on which system they want to use, we only use that and it won’t be like starting from scratch.”

“Recently, we’ve started talking to the client and have started to have operations and maintenance from TAV involved in the process to add their knowledge dimension. As a BIM team, we know what the dimensions of the requirement might be, so we created an infrastructure that can host this information for ease of management later on, for ease of restructuring or reorganisation later.

We’ve created these base requirements to capture these elements so that we can accommodate them later,” El-Absi says.

bigprojectMe.com

Be InspIred award wInner n Innovation in Comprehensive BIM

n Consolidated Contractors Company on Behalf of TCAJV

n Midfield Terminal Building - Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi, UAE The $3.2 billion Midfield Terminal Building of the Abu Dhabi Airport is a 750,000m2 project that will provide passenger and cargo facilities, duty-free shops, and restaurants for up to 40 million people per year. The X-shaped structure is located between two runways, presenting a challenge for engineering,

construction, and procurement.

The owner, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, required a totally BIM-driven lifecycle to facilitate project delivery.

The construction contract was awarded to the joint venture team of TAV Construction, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), and Arabtec. In accordance with the project requirements, CCC developed the comprehensive BIM for all disciplines involving subcontractors and manufacturers.

BIM implementation covered engineering and design, project controls and planning, contractual and quantity

It’s clear then that the approach taken towards BIM more than justifies the JV’s win at the Be Inspired Awards, but the challenge that now remains is for the project to inspire others in the Middle

38

MIDDLE EAST

“As A contrActor, you see whAt mAny contrActors Are doing And you wAnt to do thAt, And As A consultAnt you wAnt to eliminAte problems being creAted by uncoordinAted work”

NOVEMBER 2013

surveying, manufacturing, site logistics, and installation works.

CCC leveraged its 17 years of experience with Bentley BIM solutions to integrate Bentley products with their in-house platforms. In addition to Bentley’s structural, architectural, mechanical, and electrical design software, CCC used AECOsim Building Designer, MicroStation VBA, ProjectWise, and InRoads.

The client, stakeholders, subcontractors, and nearly all joint venture team departments and disciplines had access to Bentley technology or benefited from the services of the joint venture’s BIM department.

East to follow its lead and embrace BIM across all levels.

With billions of dollars of projects in the midst of construction or planned, there is a crucial need for BIM adoption and both El-Absi and Koseoglu are optimistic about how this project can inspire greater uptake of BIM technology.

“In the UK it’s mandated that by 2016 everyone should be using BIM. If I’m not mistaken, the UAE government, or the Abu Dhabi government, now says that BIM must use BIM on all big projects,” says Hassan Dajani, managing director, Building and Construction, Middle East, for Bentley Systems.

“In fact, all our tenders ask for BIM,” say Issam El-Absi and Ozan Koseoglu.

According to the pair, all this growing awareness and this project in particular (MTB) will lead to the next phase, “which will see a similar set up to the UK and Singapore, with more and more projects looking for it”.

“It’s not a matter of you using BIM, all contractors will. It’s a matter of when you adopt it. Whether it’s today, tomorrow or ten years later, ultimately you will be the return on investment is tangible and you’ll save money,” adds Dajani.

“As a contractor, you see what many contractors are doing and you want to do that, and as a consultant you want to eliminate problems being created by uncoordinated work.” n

EnginEEring RePoRt

melting

Pot

40

MIDDLE EAST

Big Project ME speaks to engineering experts to find out what sort of challenges engineers still face in the GCC, despite the region being the world’s biggest construction market.

NOVEMBER 2013

bigprojectMe.com

I

n the wake of the global financial crisis, a huge number of industries around the world were brought to their knees and it has taken years for them recover.

In fact, some of them still haven’t.

Others, however, were quicker to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and as such managed to position themselves to take advantage of the recovery when it came.

Construction is one such industry.

When the bottom fell out of the American and European markets, we saw an influx of construction firms into regions such as the Middle East, East Asia and Australia. Furthermore, those firms that were already established in those regions put more effort into winning projects and securing contracts.

While there have been undeniable hardships faced by construction firms as

ENgINEErINg REPORT

still developing The Middle East has come to be regarded as the biggest construction market in the world, but best practice and methods are in their infancy.

“When you can combine the savings in time and materials, it becomes a very attractive option, and a lot less labour intensive”

“There is a considerable regional emphasis on large programmes of work, which are subsequently leading to the implementation and adoption of cutting-edge IT platforms and systems,” he adds.

One such example is the Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi, which were completed for the Abu Dhabi Investment Council in 2011. The project required the use of frontline technology and IT platforms in order to: provide a unique shading system, reduce carbon emissions in the face of an uncompromising location and conditions, and to provide state-of-the-art commercial and technological spaces.

“Another good example is the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre

kingdom seeks saudi engineers The Saudi Council of Engineers has launched a website to recruit Saudi engineers to replace expatriates leaving their companies because of the expiry of the amnesty period on November 3rd.

According to the site supervisor, Abdul

Nasser Al Abdul Latif, more than 800 engineers, the majority of them Saudi Arabian, have applied for jobs since the SCE launched the website.

The site will allow recruiters to check applicant’s qualifications and work experience. It

will also list jobs that are available at local companies.

Al Abdul Latif added that most of the applicants were looking to change jobs rather than being unemployed.

He said a significant number of women had applied for jobs.

november 2013

MIDDLE EAST

they struggled to grab a piece of the pie, there have also been tangible benefits visible to the industry, the firms and the regions they targeted.

The Middle East has come to be regarded as the biggest construction market in the world, but given its relative infancy, there remains much to ensure that best practices and methods are followed. However, given its inhabitants’ ambitions to have the biggest and best of everything, it affords construction engineers the opportunity to shape the way their industry does business.

Nic Alford, deputy director for Middle East and North Africa at the Mace Group, points out that the GCC market has secured significant ongoing investment into construction and engineering projects in the region.

Countries like Qatar and the UAE have received significant interest and there are a large number of infrastructure and engineering projects in these countries that are either in the planning process or have begun construction, fuelling the demand for engineers and the very highest of standards.

“Given the high levels of regional investment and an ongoing focus on global iconic projects such as ‘the world’s tallest’ or ‘the world’s most inclined’, there are new and significant engineering and technological solutions being developed regionally,” says Alford.

41

EnginEEring REPORT

42

MIDDLE EAST

(ADNEC) Capital Gate Hotel in Abu Dhabi which is currently the world’s furthest leaning man-made tower with a unique ‘twisted’ diagrid design.

Diagrid technology has been used on only a few high-profile international buildings and is truly innovative in that the system requires less structural steel than a conventional steel frame, which reduces costs as well as benefits the environment,” says Alford, highlighting some of the challenges construction engineers face when it comes to fulfilling client’s demands in the regions.

Brian J Leavitt, managing engineer for the Middle East at KJWW Engineering Consultants, adds that post-crisis, he has seen a marked shift in the way engineering is perceived in the region.

“People call it a financial crisis, but it was more of a slow-down and a chance for everybody to collect their thoughts and really look at their projects and see if they were financial feasible and if they were meeting their mission statements (in terms) of what they wanted to accomplish,” he tells Big Project ME during a phone interview.

“What we’ve seen as (markets) start to recover is that people are starting to use more time for their planning and for their feasibility studies. Previously, it was put groups together, as fast as you can, and move the project out of

NOVEMBER 2013

bigprojectMe.cOm

70 engineering jobs created by abu dhabi airport contract Irish engineering firm, Kelly Steel Engineering, has secured a $21.4 million contract at Abu Dhabi Airport.

The contract will see the firm build a 3,500 tonne baggage handling facility.

Work is expected to begin in January

of next year, the company said.

John O’Kelly, MD, said the company would be recruiting upto 70 people to work on the project, including project managers and engineers.

April 2016 is the scheduled completion date.

the door as fast as you can. Build as fast as you can because everyone else is building and you want to be there first.

Now there’s more of a team (ethos) and that team usually consists of one or more international partners and one or more regional partners, who spend more time in the planning stages and making sure that the result is really what you wanted.”

With this shift towards a team-based work ethic comes a move towards the adoption of new engineering technologies and techniques, which is often driven by the international partners. However, this poses its own challenges because despite being a relatively ‘young’ construction market, the Middle East can remain stubbornly traditional in certain matters, Alford explains.

“As management consultants with over 15 years’ experience, we have found that introducing new engineering technologies or techniques can be difficult as this change is not always embraced. It can sometimes prove difficult for local authorities to see the benefit in the actual innovation or new technology before it is implemented.”

Challenges such as these are often overcome through the employment of expert third parties who can communicate the benefits of new technologies and create an image of how it will benefit both the client and the local authority in the long term, he adds.

Leavitt agrees wholeheartedly with this, but claims there is now a gradual evolution towards modernity underway.

“We’re bringing some of the best, cutting edge engineering technology from different parts of the globe and bringing it to the Middle East, but we’re working under some of the existing processes and policies that have been in place for a long period of time, in the region,” he says.

“Sometimes the policies and procedures need to change along with

“It can sometImes prove dIffIcult for local authorItIes to see the benefIt In new technology before It Is Implemented”

EnginEEring REPORT

bigprojectMe.cOm

“There seems To be conTinued sTabiliTy in a majoriTy of Gcc counTries and This should promoTe developmenT”

44

MIDDLE EAST

the technologies to allow them to work hand in hand. It’s not just taking a new piece of technology.

“You need to have the processes related to how to have that installed and how it relates to the other systems.

So I see the processes changing over time and we’re in the evolution period right now, things are changing in the public market and in the government ministries,” Leavitt asserts optimistically.

What would speed up this evolution is communication, both engineering experts say. With cities such as Dubai and Doha turning into melting pots of cultures, there is an opportunity for engineers to communicate and learn from each other.

“I would like to see a continued acceptance of technological change in the GCC and subsequently the creation of a construction environment that promotes innovation better, improves efficiency and enhances the delivery of developments,” says Alford.

“I believe that the industry will maintain a focus on the oil and gas economies.

NOVEMBER 2013

“We do see natural eight to ten-year cycles within each GCC country and these may be driven by large global events such as Expo 2020. Since 2011, there seems to be continued stability in a large majority of GCC countries and I believe that this should promote development in the construction industry further.

“With this ongoing investment, I hope to see the GCC continue to be a melting pot of international contractors and consultants that will help to drive and develop new initiatives and technologies.”

“There’s so much we can learn from each other. But because of cultural barriers or language barriers, it sometimes takes a little bit longer to communicate, but as long as we don’t give up on each other, and we keep working towards the dreams and goals that the region has, it’ll benefit not just the region, but it’ll be a great accomplish that the people of the Middle East should celebrate. They’re doing something and they have capabilities that the rest of the world can’t,” concludes Leavitt. n

GCC infrastruCture n $600 billion - Value of infrastructure projects planned over next six years

n $220 billion - Value of railway projects

melTinG poT The GCC continues to be home to an enviable talent pool of engineers.

MARKET REVIEW IrAQ

THE

Ground

TruTH

46

MIDDLE EAST

As various Iraqi delegations from the public and private sectors approach UAE markets to attract investors, Big Project ME looks for the causes stymying the country’s infrastructurerebuilding.

NOVEMBER 2013

bigprojectMe.com

A

lmost two years since American troops’ final withdrawal from the country in 2011, Iraqi forces – divided by sectarian and ethnic differences – continue to struggle in creating a fresh, unified national identity.

In light of the Shia-Sunni conflict and the need for co-existence between Arabs, Kurds and various other minorities, it has become essential to ensure Iraq’s future growth that solid governance, economic factors and laws are in place.

Integral to this equation are the infrastructural facilities of Iraq, a country whose national population is expected to grow to 38.9 million by 2020. Mohammed Al-Derajy, Iraq’s Minister of Construction and Housing, has stated the country plans to spend $9.5 billion on roads, bridges and housing by the end of 2018. Attributing the lack of infrastructure to three decades of political unrest in the country, Derajy has hinted the Iraqi market is an ample opportunity for investors given its numerous

MaRKeT Review IRAQ

Market interest in iraQ Keeping with current market interest in Iraq’s infrastructure markets, Emaar has launched a $3bn development, called ‘Erbil Downtown’, in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Relatively unaffected by the political

Real state Iraq’s real estate faces major threats of land availability and the lack of infrastructure to manage buildings postconstruction.

instability, Kurdistan is viewed as an attractive investment hub, especially in the energy sector.

The project, covers an area of 541,000 sqm, is expected to reach completion in five years or sooner, if market factors permit.

lasting impacts on the militarily-drained country’s internal situations.

Investment in Iraqi oilfields, therefore, becomes a highly integral area of operations for both foreign and local investors in the country. Iraq dedicates a significant portion of its investment budget to the oil & gas sector, with $15 billion set aside for energy spending in 2013 - a value that accounted for 33% of the total investment budget for the year.

Understandably, the market - worth an oil output of 3.3 million bpd of crude - has lured international players like Saipem, Habtoor Leighton Group and Foster Wheeler into continuing investment in the country over the next two decades. Dubaibased Drake & Scull has a $359 millionworth pipeline contract in Zubair, a highly lucrative outfield located west of Basra in southern Iraq.

Oil exports at 2.484 million bpd account for 90% of the government revenue, earning Iraq $83 billion in 2011. With expectations that oil production will increase to 3.9 million bpd by the end of this year and 4.5 million bpd by the end of 2014, the country’s rehabilitation programme greatly depends on the smooth

“the ex-RegiMe’s laRge MilitaRy speNdiNgs haVe led tO a lack Of these pROjects iN the cOuNtRy.”

NOVeMBeR 2013

MIDDLE EAST

current and future projects that have scope for materials, manpower and services such as design and project management.

“Since 2010, the country has had no infrastructure for industries such as housing, healthcare, education and so on,” says Derajy. “The ex-regime’s large military spendings have led to a lack of these projects in the country.”

Iraq needs to build 2.5 million new housing units by the end of 2016, he informed, adding he estimates only 130,000 of those will actually get built, of which the private sector will construct 100,000. Essentially, the country’s housing sector needs to attract capital, find sustainable alternatives and incorporate cost-efficient designs into a housing plan that leads to social development in the country. Foreign investment and PublicPrivate Partnerships (PPP) remain the primary financing objectives available to the sector; however, the lack of advanced designs and mediocre performances in the past are furthering the unavailability of investment in the country. Expansion of Iraq’s real estate faces major threats of land availability and the lack of infrastructure to manage buildings postconstruction – such as maintenance facilities – continues to stall growth in the Iraqi housing sector.

Chronologically, Iraq has dwindled from one internal conflict to another, and the decreased violence – if any at all – following the departure of American troops was only followed by sectarian clashes that now had a freer, more impressionable environment to thrive in. With a Shi’ite bloc establishing government in the country, concerns linger regarding their eventual, possible dependence on and alliance with Iran - a nation with not only the world’s highest Shi’a population, but a similar aversion to American foreign policy as well.

The geopolitical conundrum Iraq could possibly find itself in is evident from a basic map of its neighbouring countries alone.

Largely attached to Iran in the east, with predominantly-Sunni Saudi Arabia to its south and highly volatile Syria on its west, Iraq shares its borders with highly eventful and sensitive Middle Eastern powerhouses.

The slightest change in relations with any of these countries could go on to have

47

MARKET REVIEW IRAQ

bigprojectMe.com

shortage Iraq remains desperate for contractors to fulfill its infrastruture needs.

48

MIDDLE EAST

functioning of this sector - a process that will primarily require great immunity to domestic and foreign politics.

Subsequently, it is increasingly clear to investors and developers that a plan to cope with and counter Iraq’s political and economic challenges is a pre-requisite; not only while carrying out operations in the country, but also to weigh the diplomatic repercussions of their actions and operations while in Iraq. Unarguably, though, Iraq is a market brimming with growth for potential investors, should they succeed in creating such an airtight plan.

Bora Yildiz, vice president of Turkish contracting and development group E.I.D Construction is of the view that Iraq’s infrastructural challenges are not insurmountable. While unstable legalities and slow bureaucracy plague the country’s developments, foreign companies maintain low confidence regarding their investments in the country. “Challenges exist in terms of security, logistics, international labourers, suppliers and so on. Logistical problems persist when the need for getting machinery, materials and manpower into the country arises.

“We signed a contract with an Iraqi provincial government for hospital in 2011 and at the same time, we signed a contract for an airport for the American Embassy in Iraq”, Yildiz said. “Five months later, the land was delivered and we began creating the designs for the hospital project. The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Baghdad were consultants for the project who eventually approved our designs.

“In August, the government informed

NOVEMBER 2013

CHALLENGES n Security n Logistics n Machinery shortages n Lack of manpower n Low market confidence

“Challenges exist in terms of seCurity, logistiCs, international labourers, suppliers”

us they had changed the laws and hired a new consultancy company from London for this project”, he continues. “We contested claiming the MoH had already okayed our work, but we had to eventually redo the approval process, which took until December 2012 to finish since the new company altered all our designs.

“We finished constructing the airport for the embassy in this duration, but no groundwork on the hospital project – for which we payed a year’s worth of expenses – happened in the duration. That is how bureaucracy delays work in Iraq”, Yildiz rues.

Iraq’s need for reconstruction translates into a major need for investment across all sectors of its economy. As per 2012 statistics, the country’s 31 million strong population has only 36,850 hospital beds – a daunting number for a people with the average life expectancy of 70.5 years. The country needs, as per Al-Derajy’s estimates an additional 500 bridges and 7000 km of roads and all Iraqi airports need vital revamps to ensure the transport sector facilitates trade as is expected of it. The country’s energy plan requires 24,400MW of new capacity to be built between 2012 and 2017, which includes 2,000 MW of thermal power stations and 400MW of renewable energy resources - half of this total is already under construction. With a limited government budget despite its oil revenues, Iraq’s demand for international funding - through institutions such as World Bank and private investor alike – continues to hit the country’s nascent markets.

All perceived risks associated with business in the country boil down to a lack of government reforms and efforts.

Security and political concerns demand better guarantees from the leadership and dicey contract validity and execution need a stronger, less anarchic legal framework to function within. Yildiz claims Iraq is in a dire need of long-term relationship-building with companies as against the current short term profit-driven market trend.

Irrespective of how many such initiatives the Iraqi government takes to inform and invite foreign investors, the onus remains on them to first improve their own legal and political systems to ensure companies do not shy away from participating in Iraq’s journey to recovery. n

NOVEMBER 25, 2013 JUMEIRAH Emirates towers, dubai

www.bigprojectme.com/awards/2013

THE INDUSTRY EVENT

THAT HAS THE WHOLE REGION TALKING Recognising Industry Excellence

PLATINUM SPONSOR

NOMINATION ENQUIRIES

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

GROUP EDITOR Stephen White | +971 4 375 5477 stephen.white@cpimediagroup.com

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Michael Stansfield | +971 4 375 5497 michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com

GOLD SPONSOR

CATEGORY SPONSORS

 

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

Endorsed by

GOLF DAYS

BIG PROJECT ME GOLF DAY

Out on course Big Project Me hosted its second Golf Day in 2013 in October, proving that consultants have the sharpest putters in the industry Big Project Me hosted its Golf Day on 24 October, 2013 at Faldo Course, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.

The Consultants and Architects Cup was attended by representatives from the region's leading construction companies, such as Sweett Group, WS Atkins, Arabtec, Doka Gulf, Hill International, and many others. Michael Stansfield, commercial director of the Construction Division at CPI was extremely pleased with the industry's turnout at the event.

"By bringing together various market professionals through a friendly competition, the second Golf Day has

successfully proven itself as the effective networking tool we hoped it would be."

Paul Madeira, Christopher Watson, Chris Webb and Andre Naude were the winning team with an impressively low net score of 54.8, and a net score of 56.2 put David Dole, Ian Osbaldeston and Steve Riding on the second position.

Derek de Kock, Andrew Robertson, Duncan Parkinson and David Stringer made third place with a nett score of 58.5.

The Consultants and Architects Cup was the second golfing event organised by Big Project ME, and followed the event's first edition held in March earlier this year.

24TH OCTOBER, 2013 Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, Faldo course

CONSULTANTS AND ARCHITECTS CUP

 50

MIDDLE EAST



NOVEMBER 2013

BIG PROJECT ME GOLF DAY

walk in the park Over 70 players participated at last month's Big Project ME's Consultants and Architects Cup.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

The Global Leader in Managing Construction Risk

51

INTERVIEW SPIDER AccESS

oVER

THE

bigprojectMe.com

EDGE

52

MIDDLE EAST

Meet the team at Spider Access a superhero collective that reaches the parts other access specialists cannot reach

NOVEMBER 2013

INTERVIEW SPIDER ACCESS

high climbers Spider Access recruits from Nepalese well versed in climbing the Himalayas.

W

hen Spider Access needs to recruit, only the highest place in the world will do, says managing director Mazen Harake.

The PR brief describes Spider Access as a Gulf-based multipurpose contracting entity that offers a broad range of accessrelated services for use on high rise structures.

While apt, it doesn’t capture the range of training and planning behind the operation, or the sheer cahonies needed to hook yourself to a harness and step over the edge of some of the tallest buildings on the planet.

Psychologically and physically demanding, this is a job that is not for everyone. Standing with one of its teams at the base of the Index building in Dubai it’s easy to see why most of its team are Nepalese. Few people are fit enough, or brave enough to attempt what this crack outfit manage on a daily basis.

Starting in the midst of the downturn in UAE in 2009 was tough, says Harake, but this unique and daring operation has been typically courageous.

“We probably started at the worst time, but we managed to grow,” he explains, adding that the company opened an office last year in Kuwait. “And we’re starting to expand across the GCC.” Cleaning and maintenance work in the Gulf as elsewhere is often conducted by a combination of AWPs and BMU (Building Maintenance Units) cradles. The hot, sandy and dry conditions play havoc on

the glass facades that are so popular in the region’s cities; and contractors and FM companies face a formidable task to keep them clean and well maintained.

The wind-factor is a particular problem at height, he adds. If the windspeed is up, the covers go back on the BMUs. “It’s always windy and sandstorms in Dubai,” he explains. “So there is higher demand for window cleaning. Especially in areas like Business Bay, around the Burj Khalifa (situated in the downtown area of Dubai which is home to one of the world’s largest and busiest shopping centres, the Dubai Mall), and the Palm Jumeirah – where you always want to keep the buildings clean.”

He argues that the differences between specialist equipment and his rope access operation are largely a question of logistics and flexibility.

“The BMU systems are being used all over the place but the buildings are still dirty,” he says. “The time factor it takes to clean the building with two guys and one cradle – and they can only cover 3m at a time. Our guys can cover the same area each. We have nine or ten guys working at any one time – and at the same time you get rid of all the headaches relating to maintenance, spare parts for the BMUs (if you have to wait a day for parts that’s one day you’re not working) and you don’t have to wait for third-party inspection.”

In a city that is full of architecturally complex buildings, Spider Access is often called in to reach the parts of a structure

november 2013

MIDDLE EAST

“When you can combine the savings in time and materials, it becomes a very attractive option, and a lot less labour intensive”

53

INTERVIEW SPIDER ACCESS

“When We first started, We had no experience of rope access, of regulation of safety. it took us a While to establish ourselves”

BMU BUST Many design features on Dubai’s iconic towers make areas of the buildings virtually inaccessible for BMUs, says Harake “The major problem is the designers are designing a building without considering its sustainability afterwards.

54

MIDDLE EAST

“The BMUs they are installing cost millions of dirhams [he estimates 2 or 3 million AED] to install and are often useless at the end of the day. The Infinity Tower for example was using a BMU – now they’re using rope access with me.”

other alternatives approaches cannot reach. Many design features on Dubai’s iconic towers make areas of the buildings virtually inaccessible for BMUs. “I was telling a guy earlier today, that the major problem is the designers are designing a building without considering its sustainability afterwards. I’m going to do this really weird shaped building, then, oops… This is a reason why the BMUs they are installing cost millions of dirhams [he estimates 2 or 3 million AED] to install and are often useless at the end of the day. The Infinity Tower for example was using a BMU – now they’re using rope access with me.”

Beyond simply cleaning, the teams are also trained to conduct maintenance and repairs, often spotting damage to the façade that may have previously gone unnoticed.

“We do a lot of maintenance in terms painting. We did the re-painting for the Dubai Creek Golf Club’s 20th anniversary from the bottom to the top, for example.

It was a tough job because you needed access from underneath. We do aviation lights, glass replacement, anything that needs or has difficult access we can do it. So it’s not always cleaning, but it is probably the most common operation as we do have a lot of buildings here!”

NOVEMBER 2013

bigprojectMe.Com

Fit and lean-looking Harake is the sort of man that looks like he could carry a BMU on his back. Unsurprisingly he tells CMME that he used to a lot of mountaineering. It explains in part why when he looked at the Dubai skyline, he saw an opportunity. Disappointingly he wasn’t up halfway up a Himalayan peak when the idea struck, but he instinctively realised there could be a way of turning his pastime into a fully-fledged business.

“I love mountain climbing and I thought maybe I can apply this method to cleaning windows,” he says. “To be honest, when we first started we had no experience of rope access, of regulation, of safety. It took us a while to establish ourselves and determine how to proceed.”

Fortunately a lot could be learned from the oil and gas industry in the UAE. Many of the regulations and HSE procedures it follows stems from the use of rope access on O&G platforms.

“We are under the IRATA which is based in the UK and all our technicians are certified by IRATA. We are in the process of certifying the company as a member.”

Certification under IRATA for the technician falls into three grades. The highest level – grade three – requires 3000 hours of rope experience. As part of its audit IRATA, will check all the management procedures, how it buys and maintains equipment; in the end every single bit of Spider Access’ equipment tagged in the inventory will be checked. n

on the fly repairs Spider Access will often carry out repairs like painting and facade maintenance.

Post-Tensioning ▲ Cable Systems ▲ Bearings ▲ Expansion Joints ▲ Ground Anchors ▲ Heavy Lifting CROWNE PLAZA EXTENSION Kuwait

NAN NING DA QiAO BRIDGE China

For more than 40 years, OVM has been a leading systems supplier and specialist contractor in the field of prestressing and other specialist construction techniques.

With a global reputation for reliability, professionalism and innovation, OVM systems have successfully been been applied in buildings, bridges, highways, high-speed railways, tunnels, harbours, dams and nuclear power plants.

OVM was among the first Chinese prestressing and multi-disciplinary

PRESTRESSING SYSTEMS

engineering products manufacturers to be awarded the CE-marking, allowing its products and services to be sold across the EU. It operates under ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:1999.

OVM’s facilities are under continuous inspection and quality-assurance routines from Germanischer Lloyd. OVM systems have been implemented globally, in projects conforming to almost all major standards; AASHTO, BS, EN, GB, JIS, ETA, FIP. Its systems have been approved for implementation in many projects by:

BRIDGE BEARINGS

PC STRANDS & WIRES

Dubai Municipality, Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Saudi Ministry of Transport, Algerian Ministry of Public Works, etc.

With a solid financial standing and an impeccable technical grasp of pre-stressing technology, OVM has carefully engineered and implemented a plethora of its products in several hundreds of projects, including 240 projects worldwide of which 58 were in the GCC countries and a further 26 within the MENA region.

EXPANSION JOINTS

enquiries@ovm-mena.com www.ovm-mena.com OVM Middle East & North Africa FZE, P.O.Box 42624, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

| Tel: +971 6 526 4795

GROUND ANCHORS

THE BIG PICTURE

DE M ON ST RA TI ON S

LI VE

BIGPROJECTME.COM

10

MIDDLE EAST

Raz Islam Islam Raz PublishingDirector Director Publishing raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com Mobile:+971 +97150 50451 4518213 8213 Mobile:

OCTOBER 2013

Michael Stansfield Stansfield Michael CommercialDirector Director Commercial michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com Mobile:+971 +97155 55150 1503849 3849 Mobile:

16-20 February February 2014 2014 16-20

DAMMAM DAMMAM

Dhahran International International Exhibition Exhibition Center, Center, Dhahran Dammam, Kingdom Kingdom of of Saudi Saudi Arabia Arabia Dammam, Show timings: timings: 9:30-12:00 9:30-12:00 and and 16:00-22:00 16:00-22:00 Show

TheConstruction ConstructionMachinery MachineryShow Show2014 2014isisthe thelargest largestheavy heavy The constructionmachinery machineryevent eventininthe theregion, region,showcasing showcasingaawide wide construction varietyofofproducts productsranging rangingfrom fromheavy heavyequipment equipmenttotomachinery, machinery, variety fromlighting lightingtotogenerators generatorsas aswell wellas asdealers dealersand andservice serviceproviders. providers. from

actionvia viaits itsprogramme programmeofoflive livedemonstrations demonstrationsand andthe thelargest largestever ever action showcaseofofits itstype typeininthe theMiddle MiddleEast.

East. showcase

Theevent eventwill willprovide providean aninvaluable invaluableplatform platformfor forcustomers customersininthe the The Arabworld worldbringing bringingtogether togethermanufacturers, manufacturers,distributors distributorsand andbuyers. buyers.

Arab

In2014, 2014,the theConstruction ConstructionMachinery MachineryShow Show2014 2014isisteaming teamingup up In withleading leadingSaudi Saudiexhibition exhibitionorganiser, organiser,Dhahran DhahranInternational International with ExhibitionsCenter Center(DIEC).

(DIEC).This Thisyear’s year’sshow showwill willrun runininconjunction conjunction Exhibitions withthe thepopular popularBUILDEX BUILDEXevent, event,now nowininits its16th 16thyear. year. with

TheConstruction ConstructionMachinery MachineryShow Show2014 2014isisalso alsothe theonly onlyevent event The theregion regionwhere wherebuyers buyerscan cansee seeaahuge hugerange rangeofofequipment equipmentinin ininthe

Bothevents eventswill willattract attractworldwide worldwideindustry industryexperts, experts,investors investorsand and Both buyerstotothe thelargest largesttradeshow tradeshowininthe theEastern EasternProvince.

Province. buyers

GoldSponsor Sponsorr r Gold

SPECIAL FEATURE CHEMICALS

bigprojectMe.CoM

Big Project ME digs deeper into the GCC’s speciality chemicals market and its role in the construction industry.

T

EC

M

R

OU

MIDDLE EAST

ecent reports have suggested the current GCC construction market is predicted to achieve a sector growth of 19% in 2013, further adding the region’s completed projects could be valued at $81.6 billion for the year.

Given their requirement at every stage during the construction and development of a project, chemicals play a vital role in this growth process; the GCC’s coatings market alone accounts for 10% of construction costs across the region.

“The Middle East region is growing rapidly,” says Zakia Bahjou, general manager, advanced materials, Dow Middle East & Africa. “Local governments are committed to making the strategic investments that are needed to ensure sustainable economic growth and provide a high standard of living for their growing populations.”

The burgeoning rate of construction, therefore, adds to the need for a deeper understanding of how the region’s chemical industry functions. The ever-growing UAE market, preparing for a period of continued boom in its property sector may create a heightened demand for construction materials that are not only of high-quality or economical, but also environment-friendly.

“Categories requiring construction chemicals include infrastructural projects, building projects and civil engineering projects,” says Alwyn Santhumayor,

58

NOVEMBER 2013

AL

head of procurement (GCC) for Sika UAE. “The construction sector basically requires chemicals across two segments – construction chemicals and coatings and paints. Construction chemicals are those that go into the creation of the actual structure, such as with concrete, bricks, waterproofing and so on,” he continues.

“Coatings and paints are visible externally, and require a different set of chemicals for preparation and application.”

Despite clear demarcations are made across chemicals required at the many different phases of project development, a key factor common across the board is the demand for sustainability made of them.

“The industry can’t function purely on the ideology of thinking and building green; it requires regulations to monitor all market players equally participate in the process of making buildings sustainable,” says Santhumayor. “In this regard, the Dubai Municipality’s Green Building Code is a good move to ensure all competitors are on par in terms of pricing and quality of products.”

Bahiou also feels local governments are driving the trend towards sustainable construction. “Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia currently offer voluntary standards that may well become mandatory in the near future.

Qatar is also establishing new standards for building and construction ahead of massive planned investments in its infrastructure.

SPECIAL FEATURE CHEMICALS

Mapping out Mapei A quick Q&A session with Stefano Iannacone, managing director of Mapei UAE on why the company is exhibiting at the Big 5, the challenges Mapei faces in the market and where the industry is headed in 2014.

by focusing on our strengths and leveraging our strong fundamentals.

How has the year 2013 been for Mapei?

Mapei has recorded significant growth over the past few years and we expect this trend to continue in the future given the steadily increasing demand for our products. In 2012 our turnover was $2.8 billion and the group now counts 68 subsidiaries with 63 production facilities in operation over 31 countries.

Currently, Mapei has over 55,000 customers and we expect this growth to continue.

Why is Mapei participating in The Big-5 exhibition? What will your stall feature?

2013 will be Mapei’s ninth consecutive year of participation and the event remains a very important networking platform, reinforcing our marketing strategy in the Middle East. As one of the largest industry events in the region, it is a valuable platform to spread brand awareness.

This year, we will demonstrate “LIVE” build up combined systems between most of the Mapei products on same panels that people are seeing and using in a daily basis, for example: home balcony, street road, home roof, kindergarten, etc.

How did Mapei deal with the challenging market conditions in recent times?

The last few years were challenging for businesses around the world owing to the global financial crisis. This affected the construction industry across the region. Despite this, we were able to overcome the market challenges

What are your thoughts about the industry at present – any predictions for 2014?

The construction industry in the GCC, especially the UAE, is definitely seeing a revival with several projects slated to commence soon and over the next few years. This presents a very promising picture for all in the industry, including Mapei.

product according to customers’ and endusers’ needs.”

USA-based Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), is the country’s exclusive trade association dedicated solely to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry. SOCMA defines speciality chemicals as those ‘manufactured on the basis of their performance or function. They can be single-chemical entities or formulations whose composition influences the performance and processing of the end product. (They) differ from commodity

chemicals in that each one may have only one or two uses, while commodities may have dozens of different applications for each chemical’.

The exclusivity of a speciality chemical’s functions makes for an interestingly competitive market, and manufacturing companies, to gain contracts, often have to undergo an extensive process that links all parties involved in a project’s development.

“Most project approvals on our level as manufacturers and service providers depend on the consultants,” says Santhumayor. “The developer begins

Stefano Iannacone “We were able to overcome the market challenges by focusing on our strengths and leveraging our strong fundamentals”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

“We are seeing an increase in the number of renewable energy power plants to help meet the sharp rise in energy demand; this is a positive development for the region,” she adds.

Those required by the construction industry are popularly referred to as ‘speciality’ chemicals, and a large part of their production – and subsequent application – is differentiated across the product board based on the extent of research invested in reworking existing solutions to meet project specifications as against being off-the-shelf options.

Additionally governing the manufacture of construction materials, besides their sustainability-quotient, is the region they will be used and applied in.

“There are several factors that shape the development of a product,” says Bahiou.

“There are specific requirements in every region. In the Middle East, you have to take into account local regulations. For starters, Dubai Municipality’s Green Building Code (comes into effect in 2014) touches upon everything from improved indoor air quality to water efficient irrigation.

“The local climate can also impact the durability of a product,” Bahiou adds. “Weather conditions in the Middle East vary widely. If you take the GCC as an example, heat and humidity have a significant impact on the formulation of a product. Performance and durability are also key, as buildings need to withstand the continual exposure to the sun and sand. Manufacturing companies adjust the

59

Special FeaTURe

Zakia BahiOu Manufacturing companies adjust the product according to customers’ and end-users’ needs.

bigprojectMe.com

by employing a consultant, who in turn depends on a contractor to source the materials that will be required in the duration of the project’s completion.

“The contractor approaches companies with the product specifications as per stipulated by the consultant. This is where companies like Sika reach out to, and we are required to provide samples, test results, guarantees and so on before a final decision is taken,” he adds.

As is common knowledge, most transactions in the construction market rely heavily on the principle of credit; accompanying it is the risk of non-payment, and chemical manufacturers in region are not spared of it either.

“It is a domino effect,” explains Santhumayor. “When the client can’t pay the consultant, the contractors and manufacturers will also suffer a loss of time or money – perhaps even both. It was this vicious circle that hurt the country’s economy in 2008.

“There is often a stipulated period – like 90 days, for example – by which the final payment has to be made. This can extend to 120 or even 180 days; yet, there is no guarantee the transaction will be completed by the end of the extended period too,” he continues. “Banks have also tightened the grip on loans and overdrafts. In the larger picture, these factors that restrict or delay cash inflows affect us, especially in terms of making payments to suppliers. Gradually, only those with deep pockets survive.”

Materials manufacturing, at least for Santhumayor, extends beyond mere handover and application of products. “For a year after the project’s completion, any structural flaws – cracks, for example – are our responsibility, irrespective of whether the payment has been made or not. It is only after a year’s period when the maintenance company handles such concerns.”

UAE has been a highly ambitious region in terms of construction for over a

60

MIDDLE EAST

“ThE iNdusTRy caN’T fuNcTiON puREly ON ThE idEOlOgy Of ThiNkiNg aNd BuildiNg gREEN; iT REquiREs REgulaTiONs.”

NOVEMBER 2013

CHEMICALS ‘Like’ us on

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

decade. Not only are the country’s modern developments architectural spectacles in their own right, they are also revenuegenerating developments that offer returns on investment. Consequently, there is constant pressure on the materials industry to keep up with the demand for products that can withstand the vision of UAE’s ambitious leaders and developers.

Bahiou is optimistic about the chemical markets’ ability to deliver services and value that match these requirements.

“As more large-scale projects come online, particularly in the GCC, we expect to see the demand for chemicals grow in step with the pace of construction.

Estimates suggest over $4 trillion will be invested in construction projects across the MENA region by 2020, mostly to develop its residential, commercial and industrial infrastructure. In fact, nowhere in the world do you see the type of ambitious and exciting projects that the Middle East is planning.”

With the UAE’s bid to host the Expo 2020 gaining approval from across the world, the FIFA World Cup 2022 scheduled to be held in Qatar and the massive investments from across the GCC into the development of a landmark region-wide rail system over the next decade, it is understandable that the MENA region’s construction sector will continue to grow – this bullishness extending to every part of the sector, including materials manufacturers, could aid in creating the solid real estate market is aiming for. n

61

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

BIGPROJECTME.COM

STRENGTH FROM

WITHIN

Al Rajhi Building Solutions – A leading sector of Al Rajhi Holding

I

62

MIDDLE EAST

n an era of unprecedented progress in the GCC, the region’s construction industry has seen the emergence of individuals and companies that understand the fundamental needs of developers, architects and contractors.

At the forefront is Al Rajhi Holding Group (RHG), a well-established and diversified business group, with a clear vision of becoming a leading conglomerate in the region.

The Group focuses on high growth sectors such as Building Solutions, Real Estate Development, Contracting and Infrastructure and Industrial Sectors. RHG

NOVEMBER 2013

is currently focused on the MENA region with plans to expand across new markets through a well-executed expansion strategy.

Whether it’s the supply of gypsum products, waterproofing products, precast concrete elements, pre-fabricated steel building, façade technologies or providing the finishing touch with interior fit-outs, the Building Solutions sector of RHG is now able to offer a complete range of building solutions from design and production to delivery and installation.

Most of RHG’s Building Solutions sector companies are project-based, working in

partnership with contractors, developers, consultant, designers and government institutions.

Convenience, quality, value and speed are shared values across all the companies.

With the ability to contribute to every aspect of construction, consistency in quality has become a major priority.

With a client centric approach, the group maintains a high level of client satisfaction in every step of the process.

The Group continues to enhance its operating platform with a commitment to best practices earning certifications such as ISO 9001, 14001, OHSAS, and more.

RHG’s Building Solutions sector continues to heavily invest in its human capital by providing extensive training and employee development initiatives. Its strict adherence to human capital has allowed the Building Solutions sector companies of RHG to be recognised amongst the leading players in the MENA region paving the way to become one of the strongest partners to contractors, developers, consultants, and government institutions for many decades ahead.

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

mabani steel llc

This provides a peace of mind by dealing with only one supplier.

The company follows strict work standards which comply with several ISO certificates, such as: ISO9001-Quality Management Systems, Mabani ISO 14001-Quality Environmental and ISO 18001-Health & Safety.

In 2012, the Mabani Steel factory was awarded the Environmental Performance Certificate by the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water in recognition of its effort to comply with environmental production standards.

Mabani Steel has recently announced the Certificate of Product Conformity from Dubai Municipality, which will extend the company services in Dubai.

One of the company’s in-house programmes is SmartPEB, a computer design tool that reduces the cycle time of engineering design for a building that improves the productivity, quality and accuracy of the design. SmartPEB means better competition in the market for short delivery projects. At Mabani, the motto is to ensure: “The customer’s project is completed on time and on budget and this is our commitment”.

MABANI STEEL KEy projEcTS n Emirates Sky Cargo at DWTC. Dubai, UAE

n SIBCO Mega Plant.

Jeddah, KSA;

n Factory building for Air liquid at Maritime City, RAK, UAE

n Mirfa depot project for Etihad Rail.

Abudhabi, UAE

“We believe that a happy satisfied customer is our reference and future business, from that We created our theme (We build your future), We build trust, commitment and strong relationships With our customers, their future is ours.”

- timothy lefebvre, president

november 2013

MIDDLE EAST

impressive record Mabani Steel has supplied more than 2,000 projects for steel buildings in more than 43 different countries.

We build your futiure Mabani Steel was established in 2006.

The company’s head office and factory is located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Mabani Steel is wholly owned by Al Rajhi Holding Group.

The company has a solid track record of supplying steel buildings and structures to more than 2000 projects in over 43 countries across the Arabian Gulf, Africa, South Asia and Far East.

Mabani Steel specialises in PreEngineered Buildings (PEB) and Hot Rolled Steel Structures (HRSS), and the company’s factory has a total production capacity of 72,000 metric tons per year of PEB and 48,000 metric tons per year of HRSS. The Project Management Team (PMD) at Mabani is committed to attend to clients queries during the project phase, ensuring that the client requirements is well communicated with concerned departments and the job is being executed properly.

Full service capability is offered by Mabani from the foundation reactions, structural design, approval drawings, shop detailing, fabrication, delivery to site and erection.

63

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

BIGPROJECTME.COM

ELSEWEDY CABLES LTD

PRETECH LLC

64

MIDDLE EAST

SAVING CONSTRUCTION TIME WITH CONSISTENT QUALITY Precast Technologies Company (PreTech) was established in 2006 as a 100% owned company by RHG. PreTech has its modern, state-of-the-art production facility with sales and administrative office in Yanbu.

Meanwhile its technical and sales office in Jeddah boasts proficient architects, structural engineers, designers, estimators and sales staff. Few precast companies share PreTech’s comprehensive range of precast solutions with the company providing services ranging from design through to manufacture, supply and erection – to total customer satisfaction.

The in-house engineering design teams have the capability to assist and advise owners, consultants, architects, engineers, and builders in the design of project using hollow core slabs (HCS) and other precast concrete elements. Pretech has an annual production capacity of 1 million m2 of HCS and 45,000 m3 of other elements such as wall panels, beams, columns, staircase, minarets, domes, foundations, boundary walls, girders, barriers, and decorative members of precast.

Pretech’s solutions save 20-25% of construction time compared to traditional techniques. It supports its customers with state-of-the-art design and technical services to ensure conformity to specifications, time and allocated budget.

All raw materials and finished products are tested per international standards in its own fully equipped laboratory.

NOVEMBER 2013

PROVIDING SAFE ENERGY With roots going back over 70 years, Elsewedy is one of the oldest and most successful industrial and trading business groups across the MENA region.

One of the most experienced manufacturers operating in the Middle East, it successfully operates 23 production facilities in 12 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.

Elsewedy Cables is Al Rajhi’s joint venture with Elsewedy Electric from Egypt and exports a wide range of high quality and safe products to more than 110 countries worldwide.

The company built its factory in 2006 over an area of 104,000m2 in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia with an initial planned annual capacity of 35,000T/year.

A proficient supplier that focuses on client demand and requirements, Elsewedy Cable’s product range includes low voltage Cables ( 0.6/1 (1.2) kV Cables) and control cables and medium voltage cables (6/10

(12) kV, 8.7/15 (17.5) kV. Over the last 12 months, Elsewedy Cables has entered new markets in different regions within Saudi Arabia. This expansion has coincided with sales increasing by 20% and market share by 10%.

The company’s growth has also been complemented by Elsewedy Cables gaining approvals from different parts of the government and private sector for its range of products.

Elsewedy Cables will also produce the Low Smoke Zero Halogen Cables (LSOH), which are currently finding a strong demand in the market due to new safety measures implemented by consultants and civil authorities.

In 2014 Elsewedy will implement plans to develop its specialty in providing total telecom solutions, turnkey projects and wind energy generation, solar energy while also continuing to develop its MV & HV product lines.

“CONTRIBUTING OUR BEST EFFORTS AND EXPERIENCE TO FULFILL THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE SAUDI MARKET.” - ELSEWEDY CABLES LTD

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

“THROUGH CREATIVITY AND DEDICATION, CLADTECH BECAME AN INDUSTRY LEADER IN PROVIDING CLADDING SOLUTIONS” - MAJDI GAMMOH, PRESIDENT

CLADTECH LLC

n Double skin active walls

n Conventional curtain wall

n Unitized curtain wall n 3d metal structure n Metal cladding n Spider walls

n Sliding & casement windows, doors

n Shop fronts, doors, windows, balustrades

n Skylight n Domes n Grills & claustras n Rolling shutters special

Competitive pricing and built-in cost savings ensure the success of client’s ventures in both the short- and long-term.

Its range of services include fabrication and manufacture of the curtain wall components (stick and unitised curtain wall), the installation of all the aluminun works including supervision, tools and equipment as well as the packing and transportation of components to site by its fleet of trailers.

Due to this strength in logistics, manpower, storage, warehousing, Cladtech is able to finish works within schedules that meet client’s demands.

Besides the Middle East, Cladtech names Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, US and the UK as other potential markets.

REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE Cladtech’s skilled craftsmen can produce 600 bespoke panels per day to the highest quality.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

CLADTECH KEY PRODUCTS FOR 2014:

THE GCC’S CLADDING SPECIALIST Cadtech International LLC was established in 2006 and has emerged as the region’s leading building envelope specialist.

Backed by Al Rajhi Holding, a distinguished building solutions firm, the company strives to provide clients with comprehensive answers to their needs.

Cladtech’s vertically integrated business structure, including design, development and processing capabilities, allows clients to meet all their construction requirements.

The aluminium, metals, cladding and glass divisions offer a full range of services including the very best in customer care. The company’s skilled craftsmen are capable of producing more than 600 bespoke, unitised wall panels per day to the highest standard of quality.

Using the latest technologies and techniques, they ensure Cladtech products continue to enjoy a reputation for excellence, from the production facility in Ras Al Khaimah. Situated on a 90,000m2 plot, the facility – one of the biggest in the region – has a covered area of 40,000m² and an uncovered area of 50,000m², including worker accommodation. Managed by some of the most experienced and reputable personnel within the curtain walls industry, it provides aluminium, glass, doors and windows, high-tech curtain wall packages, including project management, design, production and installation, complemented with in-house state of the art anodizing and powder coat finish.

Expert teams of engineers and consultants can enhance projects with unique integrated solutions through value assessments and site management.

65

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

MADA GYPSUM COMPANY LLC

66

MIDDLE EAST

A SOLUTION SUPPLIER, A COST LEADER Mada Gypsum Company is a Saudi Arabia-based company fully owned by Al Rajhi Holding. MGC was established in Yanbu Industrial City, which is located on the west coast of the Red Sea, near the major port city of Jeddah with an investment of 130 million SAR. MGC started production towards the end of 2007 with an annual production capacity of 150,000 tons of stucco and 10 million m2 of plasterboard. This capacity increased by 240,000 tons of stucco and 24 million m2 of plaster board in 2011, taking the annual plaster board manufacturing capacity to 34 million m2.

Total capital investment in the plant today exceeds 400 million SAR. MGC is now one the largest producers of plasterboard in the GCC region. MGC also has its own rock quarry in Umluj, near Yanbu.

This helps MGC to have full control of the most important raw materials; maintaining quality and cost and ensuring a sustainable supply.

MGC’s product range includes Plasterboard, PVC Facing Gypsum Ceiling Tiles, Standard Plasters, High Value Added Plasters, Renders and Jointing compound. The plasterboard range is one of the most diversified in the KSA including high performance plasterboard such as Acoustic, Impact Resistant and Shaft board in addition to Regular (RG), Fire Resistant (FR), Moisture Resistant (MR) & Fire & Moisture Resistant (FMR) plasterboard.

The products comply with international EN and ASTM standards.

MGC products are tested and certified by some of the major laboratories such as UL, Intertek, Al Hoty Stanger, Exova to name a few. MGC will further boost its product portfolio by introducing cement boards in the beginning of 2014, the commission of which is already ongoing.

MGC is currently focusing on the upgrade of its present factory in Yanbu, KSA, with which it aims to become the leader in dry lining/ gypsum systems.

A mass producing solutions supplier, MGC aims to provide best quality and service to our customers at the lowest

NOVEMBER 2013

BIGPROJECTME.COM

“THE R&D TEAM ENCOMPASSES THE IMPROVEMENT ON OUR CURRENT PRODUCTS TO MEET AND EXCEED THE BEST BENCHMARKS FOR EACH PRODUCT” STEFAN TROJER, PRESIDENT

KEY PROJECTS : n KAPSARC, Riyadh n King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh

n Princess Nora University, Riyadh

n Jabal Omar, Makkah

prices. Cost Leadership is the key focus for all areas of value chain to provide its customer best quality and the most competitive prices. MGC has become a reference of quality for plasterboard and related products in the KSA market.

MGC has delivered and is currently delivering in the some of the most prestigious projects in the KSA such as Princess Nora University, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, King Abdullah Financial District, Jabal Omar, to name a few. In addition MGC is also in the approved vendor list of all concerned ministries in KSA, SaudiAramco etc.

After having successfully cemented its position as the market leader in KSA, MGC is aggressively expanding presence in the Middle East, Africa market; its key growth market for the future.

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

UNIPODS KEY PROJECTS :

TECHNOBIT LLC

n ARAC Hotel, Makkah

n Jizan Housing project, Jeddah

n Porto Arabia, Qatar n Villas and townhouses at The Pearl, Qatar

n D1 Tower, Dubai

UNIPODS LLC

CONSTRUCTION SIMPLIFIED Unipods is one of the leading companies in off-site construction technology in the GCC, specialised in bathroom pods.

Unipods modular bathrooms offer the best of both traditional and modular construction since they provide the advantages of modular construction, but can also be easily integrated within traditional construction projects.

Since bathrooms are one of the most complicated and time-sensitive part of a construction project, building with bathroom pods will provide many advantages such as reducing a construction schedule by 20-30%. With time and money becoming increasingly important, customisable, fully-equipped, factory-made bathroom pods can help increase efficiency and decrease costs.

Pods can be built off-site, saving valuable

installation time on site, and ensuring consistently high quality levels. This means that contractors can meet more demanding build schedules and there is less need for skilled labor.

The age-old problem of coordinating services, such as plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling, joinery and painting is no longer an issue. All the services are installed before the pod is delivered, and decoration is also carried out off site. All that needs to be done on site is to crane the bathroom pods into position and connect them up. One of Unipods’ recent projects, “ARAC Hotel”, was the first hotel in Makkah to use bathroom pods and is a good example of the benefits that Unipods is capable of providing to their clients.

Construction in Makkah requires an extensive amount of time rockdrilling due to the terrain; therefore, using a bathroom pod shortens their completion time by two to three months.

ARAC Hotel is one of the many successful projects executed in the Middle East; moreover, Unipods is expanding beyond the region into new growing markets such as, India, where it is supplying bathroom pods for both Premier Inn hotels in Pune and Goa. All of Unipods’s modular bathrooms are built to exact client specifications, including the size, layout, fixtures and finishes of the bathroom.

“OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY WORK, ON TIME, AND AT COMPETITIVE PRICE MAKES UNIPODS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR EVERY SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPER, CONSULTANT AND CONTRACTOR.” - PHILIPPE AKL, PRESIDENT

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

CUSTOMER-FOCUSED TECHNOLOGIES Established in 2006, Saudi Waterproofing Company (TechnoBit), a fully-owned entity of Al Rajhi Holding, launched its commercial operations in 2008 using the very latest technology available.

Within less than five years, TechnoBit has established a strong presence in the waterproofing market. Its range product range including Technomat, Technoguard, Technogum, Technoprotect are specified by most projects in KSA. The factory at Yanbu Industrial City features European state of the art technology and manufactures a wide range of bitumen membranes which comply with global standards such as ASTM, UEAtc, and others. TechnoBit provides comprehensive solutions to clients from the project design stage to completion with preand post-technical support offered to clients. Longevity is ensured and many products are guaranteed for ten years with proper application. Other products of TechnoBit include: APP and SBS-modified Bituminous Membranes, SBS-modified self-adhesive Membranes and Primers.

TechnoBit’s continues to introduce new lines by launching membrane variants and liquid products in 2013.

67

AL RAJHI BUILDING SOLUTIONS

bigprojectMe.cOm

al Qasr, madinat Jumeirah, dubai

al murooj Rotana, dubai

Romeo INTeRIoRS LLC

68

MIDDLE EAST

FIRST CLaSS, oN TIme, oN budgeT The progress of Romeo Interiors from a small furniture shop 32 years ago to one of the region’s leading interior firms has been startling.

For over three decades, Romeo Interiors has been putting the finishing touches on some of the region’s most prestigious buildings for over 30 years and should be considered a pioneer in interior fit outs, manufacturing and contracting.

In an increasingly complex design and contracting environment, Romeo Interiors formula success is simple: deliver first class quality, on time and on budget.

In order to further increase its efficiency and labour productivity, the company opened a brand new state of the art and climate controlled 12,000m2 production facility in Ras Al Khaimah, serving the hospitality, residential and commercial industries. What makes the company really stand out is its understanding of success and client relationships. Romeo Interiors truly understands that success depends on partnerships built on the principles of interdependence.

Its business model and philosophy is based on creating business partnerships based on mutual trust and professionalism. From design to finish Romeo Interiors is committed to give

NOVEMBER 2013

burjuman Rotana, dubai

the best to each of its clients. Romeo Interiors is in prime position to compete in the market and is identifying business opportunities that are consistent with its enhanced operating platform. It is one of the few interior firms able to fully deal with client’s needs.

The company has recently implemented an ERP system that brings all departments to bear on a project; streamlining business processes, providing a united view of the business as well as helping comply with regulations and allowing for a central data management and information sharing across the business.

The company is currently involved in an array of projects overseas – being ISOcertified ensures requirements for imports and exports are met.

Romeo Interiors is currently involved in marquee projects across the GCC, including: the Novotel in Dubai, the Movenpick in Riyadh, the Al Aqeeq in Madina, as well as the Tamkeen Tower in Riyadh and Anantara Island in Qatar. n

ROMEO KEy pROJEcts :

atlantis, dubai

n Atlantis, Dubai n Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai

n Dubai Airport n Kempinski Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

n Emirates Hills, Dubai n American University, Dubai mag 218 Residential, dubai

“We WILL keep eNhaNCINg ouR INTeRNaL deveLopmeNT aNd maINTaIN The Same phILoSophy ThaT bRoughT uS heRe: ‘buILdINg ReLaTIoNShIpS ThRough peRFoRmaNCe.’” - SadIg abuagLa, head oF maRkeTINg

Overview For over 35 years, ACROW has been designing, developing, manufacturing and installing of formwork, faslework, scaffolding and steel structure. The company operates from various locations nationwide (Alexandria, Port Said) and has its international branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco & Oman. Demand for ACROW products has also led to a burgeoning international export market including lucrative markets in Africa and the Middle East.

Egypt Tel: U.A.E Tel: Fax: Mob:

(+202) 23690 616- 23690 739 (+202) 23695 700- 23699 976 (+971)43439498 (+971)43439598 (+971)528228811 (+971)509410873 Khaled.amin@acrow.co

E-mail: K.S.A: Tel Jeddah: +96626391624 Riyadh: +966112160504 Qatar Tel: +974 4582357 Libya Tel: +218914116873 +218913319367 Kuwait Tel: +9654813127 +9654817289 Oman Tel: +96822027682 Algeria Tel: +213021755474 +213021755463 +213021755464 Morocco Tel: +2120670369961

www.acrow.co

SPECIAL FEATURE CLADDING

BIGPROJECTME.COM

t how u o s d E fin ing design M t c e oj dd f Big Pr lanning cla longevity o p e smart p ensure th and other l s can he rtation hub res. Charles o u transp raffic struct t heavy reports Martin

E R U T U F D E F O O R

70

MIDDLE EAST

P

NOVEMBER 2013

SPECIAL FEATURE CLADDING

I

LONG TERM VISION Choosing cladding material needs to be done with longevity in mind.

FIRE SAFE CLADDING REQUIRED Flammable cladding, which has been reportedly used in the construction of over 500 skyscrapers in the UAE, is attributed with the rapid spread of fire across building structures.

The Abu Dhabi International Building Code will require facades to undergo a series of rigorous testing procedures

that focus on the ability of building panels to resist fire.

“There is need to create awareness about the usage of certified fire-rated or fire resistant panels,” says Ankur Singh, marketing manager of Dana Steel.

More than 3,359 fire incidents were reported in the UAE last year alone, civil defence said.

There is also strong need for passenger rail, especially between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. So whatever the UAE builds has to last a long time.

There is money in consultancy and so the government of the UAE will not be short of advice. But an early offer of advice comes from manufacturer of interior solutions, SAS International.

They advise that the design of new transport hubs need to ensure longevity.

“Vision is being driven by the need to think about long-term capabilities and flexibility for future change. Individuality of each station design is important but one detail that is key is the importance of materials to create the final look to enhance architectural vision and to ensure future generations will benefit from the facility,” explains Andrew Jackson, director at SAS International.

“It is paramount that materials chosen for the interior fit-out of transport hubs need to be durable to handle increased crowd pressure forecast in the coming years. If materials do not have robust qualities potential damage can occur when accessing services for essential maintenance,” comments Jackson.

Offered purely altruistically this is the purest of information but Mr Jackson is of course pitching for business: “Steel is being supplied to projects in the region because of its durable and versatile qualities which offer a cost-effective and sustainable solution. In transport environments this robust material is being used for applications such as cladding, wall panels and ceilings.”

“INDIVIDUALITY STATION DESIGN IS IMPORTANT BUT ONE DETAIL THAT IS KEY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF MATERIALS TO CREATE THE FINAL TO ENSURE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE FACILITY”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

f you think about it, railway stations affect the lives of thousands of people.

Not just the lives of those passengers who use the station, but those that meet there, eat there and sometimes even live there.

Many of the great stations of the world have become iconic. They are the gateways of the cities they serve and are often the first memories of those moving to the cities.

They are also statements of power. In many cases station such as Union Station in Chicago are also emblems of wealth and stability. Many stations have high ceilings and art deco interiors. In fairness the art deco part was because that was the fashion as railways grew in use and power.

But one thing that the world’s stations have in common is the lavish use of materials. Marble floors and the use of hardwoods are common in these behemoths. This is not just for the sake of lavish interiors; stations have a heavy footfall of traffic. Waterloo Station in London welcomes more than 91,750,382 passengers a year through its hallowed halls.

The UAE has made some modest statements in architecture. The Emirates Palace Hotel has the largest number of Swarovski crystal chandeliers in the world.

Up until now the UAE has had no rail infrastructure. But it’s going to. Recently the UAE’s Minister of Public Works Dr Abdulla Mohamed Al Nuami announced in Dubai that approximately $25bn is to be invested in rail projects in the GCC over the next ten years.

Arguably it is only recently that the UAE has looked at long-term projects. Railways are long-term projects. The UK has the oldest railway system in the world. It started in the 1840s.

The UAE has a great use for a railway system. It is a country that does not on the whole celebrate heavy haulage by road. So using a railway for goods transport is obvious.

71

Special Feature Cladding

bigprojectMe.Com

“One expert in the UAe hAs estimAted thAt 70% Of the high-rise bUildings there hAve pAnel fAcAde clAdding mAde Of A cOmbUstible thermOplAstic cOre held between twO sheets Of AlUminiUm”

cladding benefits n Increases Service life n Increases revenue and value of a building

n Improves appearance of the structure

n Improves thermal, acoustical and natural daylight performance

n Optimises the use of considerable thermal mass

72

MIDDLE EAST

fire prOOf Fire retardent cladding can help save lives and property.

NOVEMBER 2013

He continues: “We are a design led manufacturer. Understanding that all projects are unique, the company ensures that solutions manufactured and installed provide for the long-term whilst meeting environmental credentials and offering greater design flexibility. If architects and contractors work closely with manufacturers it is easier to ensure design and performance specifications are met.”

In fairness SAS International has supplied architectural metalwork to transport hubs around the world including, Queen Alia International Airport, New Doha International Airport (NDIA) and London’s Waterloo Station.

It is easy to make mistakes with station design. You have a lot of people passing through every day. You must be aware of offering egress in case of emergency. But acoustics are also a strong consideration.

Eliminating sound reflection from walls is particularly important for a number of environments and acoustic wall panels provide acoustic absorption for a number of sectors including education, leisure and transportation.

If working areas do not have sufficient sound absorption communication and concentration becomes difficult.

Applying acoustic wall panels reduces reverberation levels by absorbing sound reducing the level of sound which is reflected back into the environment.

SAS have this covered (literally).

They point out that “A combination of plain sound reflecting tiles and perforated sound absorbing panels can be used to create the preferred acoustic environment. Panels can be supplied with a number of backings, reinforced with high density board to achieve specific impact resistance criteria or perforated with acoustic inserts to provide sound absorption,” he says.

So cladding has an important role in controlling the acoustics in a built environment. But nobody in Dubai needs reminding of the importance of cladding in construction.

The Tamweel building in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) provided a spectacular reason to pay special attention to your local cladding representative. According to some media reports, faulty air-conditioning caused the accident, while others have blamed it on sub-standard cladding material. But the important point here is that bad cladding can add to the possibility of roast people, a salutary lesson to all of us but more so to our construction companies.

The BBC reported in May this year that: ‘One expert in the UAE has estimated that 70% of the high-rise buildings there have panel facade cladding made of a combustible thermoplastic core held between two sheets of aluminium. When the panel ignites, fire spreads rapidly, racing to the top of the building and sending flaming debris hurtling to the streets below. “Like a Roman candle” is how one observer described it.’

So potentially around 500 buildings have flammable cladding according to Thom Bohlen, of the Dubai-based Middle East Centre for Sustainable Development, told the BBC. We can’t go back to the start and rebuild every high rise in the country. But back to the start of the article with Andrew Jackson, Director at SAS International. We can make sure that when we build now we use the best materials available to us.

We live in a country where many of the inhabitants are actually older than the UAE. Where some of us have watches and clothes that are older than the country.

We live in a country with very little past.

Bu it does have a future.

The government has a great chance to build for the future. We are a young country but a relatively rich one. We can afford to invest in our long-term future and use the oil money we have now to build from the best materials.

And when the oil does run out we will have buildings and infrastructure that will stand the test of time. And if the worst comes to the worst we can always cut back on the Swarovski chandeliers. n

74

MIDDLE EAST

THE BIG 5 2013 PREVIEW

NOVEMBER 2013

THE BIG 5 2013 PREVIEW

BIGPROJECTME.COM

IS THE BIG 5 BACK? The Big-5 returns this month. What does returning positivity in the market mean for the region’s biggest industry event?

The event’s timing, thus, coincides with a phase of strong sector recovery and the industry is optimistic about The Big-5’s potential to promote the buoyed market sentiment. Over 60,000 visitors were recorded at the exhibition in 2012 – a number that could rise at this year’s edition given the newly-added events and features – relevant to current business trends – to the event schedule.

The Big-5’s standout seminars will return this year, beginning with the Sustainable Design and Construction Conference which will host speakers like Mohammad Ayoub, associate vice president of HDR Architecture and Mario Seneviratne, Director of Green Technologies at DEWA. The Dubai Municipality marks its presence at the conference this year, where it is scheduled to provide updates about the emirate’s new sustainability initiatives.

With the Municipality’s new set of building directives, the Green Building Code, expected to be made mandatory across residential, commercial and industrial construction early next year, the

governing body is hoping to capitalise on The Big-5’s appeal to inform the industry about the new norms.

“We are ready; our testing and certification centres are ready,” Eng. Abdulla Rafia, assistant director-general of engineering at the Dubai Municipality said. “We want to ensure that the industry is also ready and has access to the relevant training and information they require in advance of the launch.

“The Big-5 provides an excellent platform for us to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and communicate this key information,” Rafia added.

The Gaia awards, launched in 2008 to honour sustainability-conscious companies, will also be conducted at The Big-5 this year. The collateral damage caused by construction to the environment is being met with marked concern, and GCC countries are subsequently investing valuable time and money to ensure local property sectors comply with their green building codes and directives.

The Awards intend to acknowledge and appreciate these efforts and have

“I HOPE WITH THIS REAL ESTATE BOOM IS THAT THE FUNDAMENTALS HAVE CHANGED. I HOPE PEOPLE WANT TO INVEST HERE AND LIVE HERE BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.”

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

W

ith Cityscape Global’s recent success announcing a rejuvenated construction sector in the region, all eyes will now be on the 34th edition of The Big-5 exhibition as it returns to the city this month. To be held between 25 and 28 November, the expo will cover all presentation halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre, making it one of the region’s largest events for the construction industry.

Over 2,300 companies exhibited across 32 national pavilions at the 2012 edition of the exhibition which ran summits such as the Green Build Conference, the World FM Congress and the Gaia Awards, alongside the independent and equally-regarded Middle East Concrete and PMV Live events.

The region’s construction sector maintains its upward movement and reports suggest the MENA’s sector growth has increased by 19% – contracts worth $81.6 billion are already underway and an additional $64.5 billion are expected to be granted by the end of 2013; completed projects for the year are estimated to be worth $81.6 billion.

75

W N OR E SE A KSHW M ND O PS IN AR S

GET YOUR FREE VISITOR PASS

Register online at www.thebig5.ae/bp16 to save AED 100 on the entry fee and to get FREE access to The Big 5 Exhibition and educational events.

Dubai World Trade Centre 11:00 - 19:00 Daily

8 DEDICATED PRODUCT ZONES

Supported by

Diamond Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Information Services Partner

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsor

Free Zone Partner

Official Broadcast Partner

THE BIG 5 2013 PREVIEW

BIGPROJECTME.COM

“WE ARE READY; OUR TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CENTRES ARE READY. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE INDUSTRY IS ALSO READY AND HAS ACCESS TO THE RELEVANT TRAINING AND INFORMATION THEY REQUIRE IN ADVANCE OF THE LAUNCH”

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS Educational events at Middle East Concrete and PMV Live willcover topics such as the Concrete Repair Workshop and Asset Maintenance Workshop.

INDUSTRY PREPARES FOR BIG 5 2013 n “We get the opportunity to display our new product line and meet people from the industry looking for better options for manufacturing high quality products.” - Jemima Caberte, Quality Control Inspector, AMI - exhibiting MAS green logo awarded lowemitting VOC at The Big 5 2013

n “With industry specific professionals

attending the exhibition, we get direct approach to the right kind of audience.” - Laurence Brown, manager, Hempel Paints UAE exhibiting zero-VOC products at The Big 5 2013

n “Politek wants to be in the MENA

market and we believe The Big 5 is the best way to do it.” - Kemal Berker, Politek Sanitary Wares (Turkey) - exhibiting new line and design products at The Big 5 2013.

is an effort on behalf of the organisers to ensure visitors effectively manage their time while scanning relevant products and services.

Some major announcements have already been made leading up to the event and more are expected around the duration of the show. Hempel Paints will exhibit their new range of environmentfriendly zero VOC products, recently developed under their Hempel Green profile. Water cooler and room airconditioning manufacturer Blue Star will introduce energy-efficient products that exclusively cater to the MENA market, such as the ‘Digital Scroll Variable Refrigerant Flow System (DVRF)’ and ‘Instant Water Chillers’. Marble and ceramics dealer Emirates Ceramic will also exhibit their new collections created with their partners from India and Saudi Arabia.

Similar launches and developments are expected at the Middle East Concrete and PMV Live shows this year. Companies such as Al Wasit and Nixon High are expected to mark their presence at the exhibitions this year and Terex-Genie will display the world’s largest boom in the region for the first time. The shows will also feature international heavyweights as part of national pavilions from Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Germany and the like.

Prior to the PMV Live event, group editor Stephen White moderated an

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

contributed in a large way to the marketing of these green products. Open to all companies – Big 5 exhibitors and non-exhibitors alike – whose products get distributed within the MENA region, the Gaia judging panel consists of representatives from esteemed organisations such as Atkins, DEWA and Green Technologies FZCO. Following the economic crisis of 2009 which brought about a sharp divide in the market – where some companies thrived in the competition whilst few others faded out of the picture – Middle East Concrete and PMV Live are expected to provide manufacturers with ample market exposure to effectively find buyers.

With investments across the GCC expected to reach $452 billion over the next decade, 80% of which will be directed into UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar alone, both events are expected to cater to the fast-increasing demand for these products and solutions.

More than 130 educational seminars will be held at The Big-5, most of which are open to visitors free-of-charge for participation. These events will feature speakers from various sectors of the construction and machinery industries, such as the Society of Engineers – UAE, Dubai World Central and the Dubai Municipality, informing crowds about topics such as arbitration, trading practices in the UAE, Dubai’s Green Building Code and so on.

Besides the International Concrete Sustainability Conference covering topics such as lifecycle assessment, green concrete and new concrete technologies, educational events at Middle East Concrete and PMV Live will shed light on a range of related topics such as the Concrete Repair Workshop and Asset Maintenance Workshop. Involving over 40 free-to-attend seminars, these events will also include live demonstrations to further exhibit products and technologies.

Various exhibitors from across product categories - such as coatings, adhesives and sealants; HVAC; marble, stone and ceramics; steel; water technology and windows, doors & cladding, besides general construction– are expected to be present at The Big-5. The breakdown of exhibition space based on product sectors

77

THE BIG 5 2013 PREVIEW

BIGPROJECTME.COM

event including a group of machinery dealers and manufacturers. Ahead of this month’s event the mood was positive in comparison to previous years.

Event director Nathan Waugh told the panel that the show has seen the return of strong local support.

“Seven weeks from this year’s event we were practically sold out,” he remarks. “We obviously talk to a lot of exhibitors during the course of the year. My feeling is we’ve seen a change from cautious optimism last year to genuine optimism this year.”

The winner of the World Expo in 2020 will be announced later this month, the panel comprised of exhibitors at The Big5 and PMV Live said that awarding it to the country and host city Dubai could be a game changer for the market in 2014.

“During the peak time, there was something about Dubai everyday – Burj Khalifa, the world’s most expensive hotel,

Atlantis, etc. Then there was the crisis. I think for Dubai it is a chance to say, hey, we’re here, the dream is still alive and we will do it better,” said Jens Bawidamman of concrete pump specialist Putzmeister.

“One thing about Dubai for me is that I’m proud to call it home,” said Martin Kirby of crane rental company Wolffkran Arabia.

“And I hope with this real estate boom is that the fundamentals have changed. I hope people want to invest here and live here because it is a great place to live. Look around everywhere is in crisis, look at Syria.

Everyone is looking for a place that is safe, that has a hospital, that has schools, where you can do business. That is Dubai.”

The organisers of The Big-5 also announced the Middle East Stone show aimed at uniting the global markets for stone, marble and ceramic products.

Mark Goodchild, event director for the show expects to launch on 1st June 2015.

“The region’s architects and contractors will now have direct access to a multitude of global materials as well as the latest technologies,” he said Most GCC countries have set 2030 as their target year for achieving varied infrastructural goals which, for some projects such as the GCC-wide rail network, need joint efforts from all their property sectors. Saudi Arabia’s capital spending program is estimated to be worth $400 billion over the upcoming decade; Qatar’s successful bid for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and Dubai’s relativelyoptimistic chances of winning the Expo 2020 bid each create a massive need for the construction industry’s products and services. As the region prepares for a period of unparalleled expenditure, events like The Big-5 are essential for their ability to facilitate and unite an industry fuelled by potential and ambition. n

NEWCOMERS TO THIS YEAR’S BIG-5 COUNTRY

INFORMATION

PULTRON COMPOSITES

UAE

Pultron composites’ product is unique to this environment, made locally and cost competitive. It has a long life span and is better suited to many building environments than steel. The company also manufactures and designs bespoke products for customers requirements.

JABAL AL SHAMS GENERAL TRADING

UAE

Launching thermoplast thermal break profiles to the market, thermal strips which can be used in windows and facades and save up to 30% on energy bills. Also to introduce its latest innovations for the facade and fenestration sector in the middle east and beyond.

WORLD HORIZON GENERAL TRADING

UAE

Launching its latest water heating technology developed by seisco. The name of the product is ‘tankless water heaters’.

SHANTHARI EXPORTS PVT LTD QUARRIERS, PROCESSORS & EXPORTERS

India

Launching its new thin stone veneer, cobbles (machine cut and hand-cut).

ECO SYSTEM IND. AND TRADE

Turkey

Hvac exhibitor with products aimed at energy saving.

BLOCK 95 CONTEMPORARY DOORS

Greece

Looking to expand business in middle east.

ECO EGYPT GROUP

Egypt

Marble and granite manufacturers looking to expand business in the gulf.

SEMS METAL SAN VE TIC AS

Turkey

New company, launching its products to the middle east – including its selection of wooden tiles, metal ceilings and expand its export market.

RABEL SYSTEMS

Cyprus

Launching new super thermal series for zero energy buildings

PESTAN

Serbia

Will be updating existing customers with new info and introduce potential customer to its product portfolio, including its molded pvc fittings, up to diameter dn400, and welding fittings up to dn500.

CONLUX ME

UAE

RGENAU INDUSTRIES

Germany

MIDDLE EAST

78

EXHIBTOR

NOVEMBER 2013

Looking to expand its network, strengthen its brand and name in the market, and showcasing its solar streetlight.

Launching two new products targetting the sanitary industry, and showcase new technologies in surface technology. Another one is currently in project status and will be presented to attract possible partners and investors.

Visit us at the Big5, Dubai, with Fawaz Refrigeration & Air-conditioning at Hall 3 Stand C141 Automated Logic PO Box 61368, Dubai Tel +971 4 877 1941 Fax +971 4 881 6618

TIME & MONEY TRIMBLE

BIGPROJECTME.COM

Helping you make the smartest decisions

PROJECT HARMONY

Big Project ME speaks to Peter Hedlund, regional director – Middle East and India, about how Trimble can provide solutions that fit the needs of their clients, who include governments, municipalities and project managers

80

MIDDLE EAST

PETER HEDLUND

Although best known for developing GPS technology, Trimble has long been involved in the development of systems that enhance the planning, design, build and operations on a construction project.

Their software systems cover a vast range of services, including architecture, MEP design, project/programme management, BIM and document management.

The company has always been extremely client focused and has consistently collaborated with their

NOVEMBER 2013

clientele to provide systems that best serve their needs.

Over the last two years, the company has stepped up its efforts, as it seeks to widen its market share and create more dialogue with its customers, says Peter Hedlund, regional director – Middle East and India.

As such, Big Project ME sat down with Hedlund to find out how Trimble’s software can be best applied to the vagaries of the Middle Eastern construction industry.

TIME & MONEY TRIMBLE

“WE PROVIDE TECHNOLOGIES THAT COVER THE PROJECT LIFE-CYCLE, FROM FIELD DATA, INTO THE BACK OFFICE, IN AN INTEGRATED AND HARMONIC MANNER”

WHAT SORT OF LARGE SCALE PROJECTS HAS TRIMBLE BEEN INVOLVED IN?

Trimble’s solutions have been used on a number of remarkable megaprojects, involving several government and semigovernment entities, as well as large scale Program Managers, such as AECOM, TURNER and so on.

One of many reference projects is the Burj Khalifa which was built on Trimble technology.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT TRAINING PEOPLE TO USE TRIMBLE’S SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS?

We help clients become much more efficient in their work. That way, they can deliver their projects faster, within budget and with less risk and errors.

We focus on ease of use and linking data from the field back to the back office and then back out to the field again, using multiple interfaces. We also adapt into existing business processes within organisations rather than changing them.

This makes it easier to establish the environment required to run our solutions and because we are construction niched and adapt into existing processes this will reduce the amount and effort required for training.

also link 3D, 4D and 5D design to time and cost to give more accurate progress reporting.

CAN TRIMBLE’S SOFTWARE BE ADAPTED TO BE USED ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS?

It is easy to adopt thanks to its ease of use, multiple interfaces, such as mobile, web and office. For example, we ensure design coordination and clash detection by leveraging BIM and collaboration, where we are the leading solutions provider in the industry.

We also provide tools for constructability analysis to be used in these scenarios and provide configurable solutions that fit the client’s needs.

Our solutions are also capable of easily interfacing with other solutions that might already exist with a client.

Bear in mind that under the Trimble Buildings message of DBO (Design – Build – Operate), we try to furnish an end to end solution to large scale clients and projects.

This means that we provide technologies that cover the project lifecycle, from field data, into the back office, in an integrated and harmonic manner. n

CONSTRUCTION TOOLS One of the many solutions Trimble provides to the construction industry.

EASY INTERFACE Trimble’s solutions are capable of easily interfacing with other solutions used by clients.

SCOTT PROKOP / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

HOW CAN TRIMBLE’S SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS HELP CLIENTS ACHIEVE OPTIMUM RESULTS ON PROJECTS?

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

Amongst a range of things, there are five things we look at: 1) Standardisation, 2) Automation, 3) Collaboration, 4) Visibility, and 5) Better decisions made based on historical analysis.

By providing collaboration between different parties, standardization and automation of processes, real time reporting and KPI measurement, proactive alerting and risk reporting, we

81

LAY 700 BLOCKS A DAY USING MORTAR, OR LAY 1600 BLOCKS A DAY USING THIS.

Masonry Adhesive

• • • • •

Fast acting adhesive for brick, block and stone An innovative alternative to traditional mortar No need for mixing, water or power supply Forms a high strength bond in just 10 minutes Suitable for internal and external applications

Tremco illbruck L.L.C

PO Box 450539 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Sealing • Bonding • Innovation

www.tremco-illbruck.com Tel.: +971 4 423 2012 Fax: +971 4 423 2054

COMMENT BUILDING CODES

IAN APSLEY

Consistency is the key to success Ian Apsley, board director at global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan looks at the effects of building codes on the industry in Abu Dhabi

n Cheap energy Reduces the importance of incentives.

n Development

Current codes of practices require negotiation.

n Resistance

Some may question whether the new building Codes are needed.

SETTING STANDARDS Schemes such as Masdar City and new villa communities on Yas Island where Broadway Malyan has been involved prove sustainability is now higher priority.

F

“BETTER QUALITY, MORE RESILIENT PROPERTIES CAN ONLY BE GOOD NEWS”

standard, this cross-office global working will become much easier – improving the efficiency and speed of the design process and delivering greater value to developers and investors. In a competitive global market, where consistency and reliability of regulations are crucial, this will make Abu Dhabi an even more attractive location to invest. Speak to any Abu Dhabi resident and they will tell you that the its plentiful and cheap energy supply is one of the great advantages of living and working here. However, for those involved in designing and engineering Abu Dhabi’s future buildings, a cheap energy supply does little to incentivise the creation of energy efficient buildings, compared with Europe and the US. Although sustainable new projects are being built, the Codes reinforce the importance of designing sustainable, resource-efficient buildings. That is to be welcomed as it will encourage the design and delivery of buildings which not only have a less severe impact on the environment, but which are more attuned to the demands of international occupiers. Better quality, more resilient properties can only be good news. The Codes will inevitably attract a few grumbles from those who question whether Abu Dhabi really needs them.

While in many areas, the regulations do reflect the standards required in the current international best practice codes, as we saw in the tragic Villagio Mall fire in Qatar last year, devastating incidents can still occur in markets with high standards of design and construction. The Codes demonstrate to the world that it is not resting on its laurels; it is actively shaping its real estate market to respond to current challenges and ensure it remains one of the best to investors. Familiarisation with a new set of regulations is a small price to pay for this continued success. n

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

CHALLENGES

rom October 2014 all government building projects in Abu Dhabi will be required to conform with six new Building Codes. This throws up new, positive challenges for developers and their consultants, as does the recent announcement from the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) that it will cooperate with private sector and strategic partners to seek wider take-up of the new regulations. The Codes will undoubtedly strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a world-leading centre for real estate investment and development, and that is to be welcomed. While Codes of Practice are widely used in the UAE, there are often ambiguities which require consultants and building owners to negotiate with the various municipalities on application and interpretation. While this negotiation rarely causes severe delays to new schemes, it can be a sticking point and is often unnecessary. The Codes reduce this element; creating a faster and smoother development approvals process.

The changes will also make the design process for new properties more efficient. In common with many global design practices, Broadway Malyan has the capacity to allocate resources and different skill sets from a number of different offices to specific projects across the world. For example, colleagues in our UK offices worked on the new Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium mixed-use scheme in Abu Dhabi as they had the expertise and skills that were needed, despite being located thousands of miles away. By introducing a new consistent and transparent building

83

COMMENT DESIGN AND BUILD

BIGPROJECTME.COM

SIMON MILLMAN

Cutting Through the Misconceptions Faithful + Gould’s Simon Millman, associate director of Commercial Services, asks how long the Design and Build procurement route has been practised

D

esign and Build contracts have been used for several decades outside of the UAE, but are not commonly practised in the Middle East at present. FIDIC, JCT and NEC contract suites have specific Design and Build options that can be modified to support this type of procurement entirely or by way of partial design liability being passed to contractors.

THE BASIC APPROACH TO PROCURING

UNCOMMON PRACTICE Design and Build contracts are not commonly practised in the Middle East.

A DESIGN AND BUILD CONTRACTOR: Stage 1 - The employer (client) appoints a design team to develop the design and specification, known as employer’s requirement. This is usually to at least

concept or RIBA Stage C, but can be further developed as required.

Stage 2 – The employer tenders their Employer’s Requirements and the contractor offers a lump sum which includes a fee for completing the design.

The contractor may also respond to the Employer’s Requirements (ERs) with their contractor's proposals (CPs) or alternatively confirm that their CPs are as the ERs. Alternatively, at the tender stage the employer may also request that the contractor continues to employ their design team to complete the design if they wish, novating the design team to the contractor by agreement.

Stage 3 – the contractor completes the design and construction for the lump sum offered in Stage 2.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF

84

MIDDLE EAST

DESIGN AND BUILD TO EMPLOYERS? No procurement route offers a solution to all issues: it is always a compromise. All procurement routes have advantages and disadvantages, and these are some of the benefits that Design and Build can offer: n Construction can start earlier, reducing the overall project delivery time - from inception to completion n A lump sum can be obtained before the design is complete n The employer only has one organisation to deal with - one point of responsibility once the Design and Build contract is awarded n The employer can engage with the contractor and their specialists subcontractors and suppliers early in the design process to get a more practical build-able solution

NOVEMBER 2013

COMMENT DESIGN AND BUILD

n The possibility of reducing overall costs as contractors may be able to design specialist elements at a lower cost than professional consultants n The ability to adopt a two stage procurement approach n The ability to novate the design team to the design and build contractor

“THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THIS TYPE OF PROCUREMENT IS TO STOP THINKING THAT DESIGN AND BUILD OPENS UP THE DOORS FOR CONTRACTORS TO DELIVER AN INFERIOR BUILDING”

WHAT POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Will my building be of a lower quality than traditional full design?

Design and Build should definitely not be seen as a route that brings lower quality. The quality of any finished building is not attributable to any one factor. When projects suffer from low quality, we have to take in to account other influential factors.

The key to understanding this type of procurement is to stop thinking that Design and Build opens up the doors for contractors to deliver an inferior building.

What can Employers do to make Design and Build work to their advantage?

One of the key ways of ensuring buildings are delivered for the best value for money and are finished to a satisfactory level of quality is to ensure that the design is focused and developed in the areas that are important to the employer. In

addition it is critical that the Employer’s Requirements are written in a way that protects the employer. There is often no value to an employer paying for a full design if a contractor can design some of the elements more efficiently.

If I chose this route does it mean less control?

Absolutely not - less control is another -misunderstanding. The employer has just as much control to make decisions and changes along the Design & Build procurement route as with traditional procurement. Off course adequate control mechanisms should be put into place to ensure this is possible, like a robust pricing document. I would usually advocate using the scheme design cost plan as the pricing document. From the employer’s perspective this acts in the same way as a detailed BOQ but costs much less to produce.

ON WHICH PROJECTS IS DESIGN AND BUILD AN OPTION? This procurement route can work successfully in almost any type of new build project. Faithful + Gould has delivered projects in these sectors:

n Residential n Commercial office (new build and Cat A / B fit out)

n Hotel and leisure n Pharmaceutical n Industrial

Like any contract - not just construction - ambiguity leads to problems and disputes. Successful Design and Build contracts will succeed if the employer’s Requirements are clear and unambiguous.

For success, the contractor should be given the scope to use their expertise where you want them to. This may be in areas that are performance rather than aesthetically driven. In areas that are aesthetically important, the Design and Specification should be developed prior to contractor appointment, to a level that removes any scope for ambiguity.

IN SUMMARY In the Middle East, true Design and Build procurement may require a better understanding of the advantages for employers; before they accept this as usual practice.

It is interesting to note that, in the Middle East, most projects are procured traditionally under the FIDIC Red Book, with a full design. However Employers may well miss out on the advantages of a full design, as elements of design liability are regularly passed onto the contractor to complete the design, post award.

It would therefore appear from a design perspective, that many Employer’s Requirement documents reach tender stage incomplete to some extent, So Employers may unknowingly be involved in a project that has elements of ’Contractor Design’ already.

Perhaps once this is understood more widely, employers may conclude that true design and build is not such a big step after all. n

Some applications are less suited to this type of procurement. For example, where complex projects require cost certainty prior to tendering.

Simon Millman is the associate director of Commercial Services at Faithful + Gould Middle East. He can be reached at Simon.

Millman@FGould.com.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

SHOULD EMPLOYERS BE AWARE OF? n If the specification is too open to interpretation, the contractor may exploit this to their advantage, proposing specifications for products that are the lowest grade possible to achieve the basic requirements in the specification n Tender returns may be difficult to compare if an inadequate pricing document is not included with the Tender Documents n The employer may pay more if they ask the contractor to take on an unreasonably high level of risk due to a lack of design clarity at the point of tendering n The quality may be compromised if the Employer’s Requirements do not protect the employer adequately by way of ensuring specifications are adhered to

85

TENDERS

BIGPROJECTME.COM

TOP TENDERS REGION Qatar

PROJECT NAME: ABRAJ KUDAI MIXED-USE TOWERS PROJECT

CLIENT Ministry of Finance

DESCRIPTION Construction of Northgate Mall comprising a podium with two levels of car park, a three-level shopping mall and six five-level office buildings

REGION Saudi Arabia

STATUS Current Project

BUDGET $3,500,000,000

DESCRIPTION Construction of Abraj Kudai mixeduse towers comprising a total of (12) buildings ranging in height from 30-45 storeys STATUS Current Project

PROJECT NAME: NORTHGATE SHOPPING MALL PROJECT

BUDGET $290,000,000 CLIENT Al Afaq Real Estate Equinox WLL

DESCRIPTION Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract to build new refining units, as part of the Clean Fuels Project STATUS Current Project

PROJECT NAME: SITRA PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX EXPANSION PROJECT

BUDGET $1,500,000,000 PROJECT NAME: REFINING UNITS CONSTRUCTION - CLEAN FUELS PROJECT

BUDGET $200,000,000 CLIENT Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC)

REGION Kuwait

CLIENT Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company BSC REGION Bahrain DESCRIPTION Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build a new ammonia plant, a granular urea plant and a urea granulation unit with total production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, as part of a petrochemical complex expansion project STATUS New Tender

PROJECT NAME: BASRA GENERAL HOSPITAL PROJECT

BUDGET $40,000,000 CLIENT Ministry of Health REGION Iraq DESCRIPTION Construction of a general hospital comprising (100) beds equipped with a further (22) rooms for special care in Basra

STATUS Current Project

INTEGRATED ESTIMATING, PROJECT CONTROL AND ERP SOLUTION FOR CONTRACTORS

86

MIDDLE EAST

www.ccsgulf.com | Tel: +971 4 346 6456 | info@ccsgulf.com

NOVEMBER 2013

TENDERS

BIGPROJECTME.COM

MIDDLE EAST TENDERS SPONSORED BY

PROVIDED BY Tel +9712-6348495 Web www.MiddleEastTenders.com Email sales@MiddleEastTenders.com

Tel +9714 346 6456 Web www.ccsgulf.com Email info@ccsgulf.com

UAE

TENDER CATEGORIES: Hotels, Prestige Buildings TENDER PRODUCTS: High-rise Towers, Hotel Construction

AL MANAZEL CREEK PROJECT - CULTURE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

THE RIBBON MALL PROJECT MOTOR CITY

PROJECT NUMBER NPR031-U TERRITORY Dubai CLIENT NAME Dubai Properties ADDRESS Bldg No. 15, Dubai Internet City CITY Dubai POSTAL/ZIP CODE 500424 COUNTRY UAE PHONE (+971-4) 391 1114 FAX (+971-4) 390 4640 EMAIL info@businessbay.ae WEBSITE www.dubai-properties.ae DESCRIPTION Construction of Al Manazel Creek comprising 76 three-to-four-bedroom apartments and featuring retail on the ground floor STATUS New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES Leisure & Entertainment, Prestige Buildings TENDER PRODUCTS High-rise Towers, Residential Buildings, Retail Developments

ENTISAR TOWER PROJECT SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD PROJECT NUMBER: NPR030-U TERRITORY: Dubai CLIENT NAME: Meydan LLC

PROJECT NUMBER: WPR056-U TERRITORY: Dubai CLIENT NAME: Union Properties PJSC (Dubai) CITY: Dubai POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 24649 PHONE: (+971-4) 885 1555 FAX: (+971-4) 885 2666 EMAIL: contactus@up.ae WEBSITE: www.up.ae DESCRIPTION: Construction of a new shopping mall comprising 11 retail units and 16 new food and beverage outlets STATUS: New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES: Construction & Contracting, Leisure & Entertainment TENDER PRODUCTS: Commercial Buildings, Retail Developments (Dubai) ADDRESS: Meydan Racecourse, Al Meydan Road, Nad Al Sheba CITY: Dubai POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 9305 PHONE: (+971-4) 327 0000 FAX: (+971-4) 327 0007

WEBSITE: www.meydan.ae DESCRIPTION: Construction of Entisar Tower comprising more than 100 storeys offering 444 serviced apartments, including a 112-key hotel STATUS: New Tender

SAHIL, QUSAHWIRA, MENDER FIELDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - PHASE 2 PROJECT NUMBER: MPP1490-U

INTEGRATED ESTIMATING, PROJECT CONTROL AND ERP SOLUTION FOR CONTRACTORS

88

MIDDLE EAST

www.ccsgulf.com | Tel: +971 4 346 6456 | info@ccsgulf.com

NOVEMBER 2013

TENDERS

TERRITORY: Abu Dhabi CLIENT NAME: Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) ADDRESS: Corniche Road CITY: Abu Dhabi POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 270 PHONE: (+971-2) 604 0000 FAX: (+971-2) 666 5523 WEBSITE: www.adco.ae DESCRIPTION: Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to develop Sahil, Qusahwira and Mender fields to expands onshore crude production by 143,000 barrels a day (b/d) PERIOD: 2019 STATUS: New Tender FEED CONSULTANT: WorleyParsons (Abu Dhabi) TENDER CATEGORIES: Oilfields & Refineries, Gas Processing & Distribution TENDER PRODUCTS: Gas Exploration & Production, Gas Processing & Separation, Oilfields Exploration & Development

HILTON GARDEN INN & DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON PROJECT - RIYADH FINANCIAL DISTRICT

BIGPROJECTME.COM

Hilton Garden Inn hotel comprising 260 rooms and Double Tree by Hilton comprising 110 serviced apartments PERIOD: 2015 STATUS: Current Project MAIN CONTRACTOR: Mawten Hospitality LLC (Saudi Arabia) TENDER CATEGORIES: Construction & Contracting, Leisure & Entertainment, Hotels TENDER PRODUCTS: Hotel Construction

WEST BEACH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - PALM JUMEIRAH PROJECT NUMBER: MPP2836-U TERRITORY: Dubai CLIENT NAME: Nakheel PJSC (Dubai) ADDRESS: Jebel Ali CITY: Dubai POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 17777 PHONE: (+971-4) 390 3333 FAX: (+971-4) 390 3314 EMAIL: info@nakheel.ae WEBSITE: www.nakheel.ae DESCRIPTION: Development of West Beach scheme comprising 14 waterfront restaurants, a swimming

pool, gymnasium, lounge, seating deck and terracing, including parking for 340 cars and nine buses STATUS: New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES: Construction & Contracting, Leisure & Entertainment, Marine Engineering Works & Seaports TENDER PRODUCTS: Construction & Addition Works, Gardens/Parks Development & Maintenance, Marina Development, Marine Civil Works, Retail Developments

SAUDI ARABIA JUBAIL CARBON DIOXIDE UTILISATION PLANT PROJECT

PHONE: (+966-3) 341 2758 FAX: (+966-3) 341 8348 DESCRIPTION: Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build a carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization plant with ability to compress and purify 1,500 tonnes a day (t/d) of raw CO2, with an estimated CO2 emissions of 500,000 tonnes a year (t/y) and capable of producing 200 t/d of liquid CO2 PERIOD: 2015 STATUS: Current Project MAIN CONTRACTOR: Linde Arabian Contractors Ltd. LINARCO (Saudi Arabia) TENDER CATEGORIES: Industrial & Special Projects TENDER PRODUCTS: Chemical Plants C

PROJECT NUMBER: MPR1437-SA TERRITORY: Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME: Jubail United Petrochemicals Company - JUPC (Saudi Arabia) ADDRESS: C/o Saudi Basic Industries Corporation CITY: 31961 Jubail Industrial City POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 10040

PROJECT NUMBER: BIP152-SA TERRITORY: Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME: Hilton International (Dubai) ADDRESS: Dubai Internet City, Bldg. 15, Office 101-111 CITY: Dubai POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 500200 PHONE: (+971-4) 391 5100 WEBSITE: www.hiltonworldwide. com DESCRIPTION: Construction of

KING ABDULLAH MEDICAL CITY PROJECT

MIDDLE EAST

90

NOVEMBER 2013

Y

CM

MY

PROJECT NUMBER: MPP2697SA TERRITORY: Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME: King Abdullah Medical City (Saudi Arabia) CITY: Makkah 21955 POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 57657 PHONE: (+966-2) 554 9999 FAX: (+966-2) 553 2239 EMAIL: info@kamc.med.sa WEBSITE: www.kamc.med.sa DESCRIPTION: Construction of King Abdullah Medical City.

BUDGET: $2,500,000,000 CLOSING DATE: November 12, 2013 PERIOD: 2016 STATUS: New Tender ENGINEERING CONSULTANT: RTKL Healthcare Development Holding

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

M

CY

CMY

K

Yas Waterworld is the latest example of ALEC’s ability to deliver complex projects to high standards:

• • • • • • • • • •

Boasting 43 superb rides, slides and attractions 40,000m2 of artificial rockwork 130km of underground electrical cabling 28km of underground hydraulic piping completed by ALEMCO 180km of unique/themed rope work Installation of the world’s first 6-person hydro magnetic ride 6km of themed timber hand railing Project delivered in 75% of the time when compared to international waterparks (22 months) Without a single Lost Time Incident over some 7,000,000 man-hours Received the Leading Edge Award in Las Vegas from World Waterpark Association

ALEC – CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR 2012 www.alec.ae

A I R P O RT S

|

T H E M E D PRO J E C T S

|

H OT E L S

|

R E TA I L

|

CO M M E RC I A L

|

R E S I D E NT I A L

TENDERS

Company (Saudi Arabia) ENGINEERING CONSULTANT-1: Saudi Diyar Consultants (Saudi Arabia) TENDER CATEGORIES: Medical & Healthcare, Construction & Contracting TENDER PRODUCTS: Hospital Construction

FADHILI GAS PLANT PROJECT PROJECT NAME Makkah Holiday Inn Project PROJECT NUMBER MPP1705-SA TERRITORY Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME InterContinental Hotels Group (UK) ADDRESS 67 Alma Road, Windsor CITY Berkshire SL4 3HD COUNTRY United Kingdom

BIGPROJECTME.COM

PHONE (+44-1753) 410 100 FAX (+44-1753) 410 101 WEBSITE www.ihgplc.com DESCRIPTION Construction of Makkah Holiday Inn comprising 1,238 rooms PERIOD 2016 STATUS New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES Construction & Contracting, Hotels, Leisure & Entertainment TENDER PRODUCTS Hotel Construction

PREFABRICATED HOMES MANUFACTURING PLANT PROJECT - KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY

PROJECT NUMBER MPP2806-SA TERRITORY Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME Red Sea Housing

Services Company (Saudi Arabia) CITY Jubail POSTAL/ZIP CODE 1531 COUNTRY Saudi Arabia PHONE (+966-3) 362 4544 FAX (+966-3) 361 4490 EMAIL info@redseahousing.com WEBSITE www.redseahousing.com DESCRIPTION Construction of a manufacturing plant to produce a total of 1 million square metres of prefabricated homes STATUS New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES Industrial & Special Projects TENDER PRODUCTS Factories

JUBAIL CARBON DIOXIDE UTILIZATION PLANT PROJECT

PROJECT NUMBER MPR1437-SA TERRITORY Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME Jubail United Petrochemicals Company - JUPC (Saudi Arabia) ADDRESS C/o. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation CITY 31961 Jubail Industrial City POSTAL/ZIP CODE 10040 COUNTRY Saudi Arabia PHONE (+966-3) 341 2758 FAX (+966-3) 341 8348 DESCRIPTION Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build a carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization plant with ability to compress and purify 1,500 tonnes a day (t/d) of raw CO2, with an estimated CO2 emissions of 500,000 tonnes a year (t/y) and capable of producing 200 t/d of liquid CO2.

PERIOD 2015 STATUS Current Project MAIN CONTRACTOR Linde Arabian Contractors Ltd. - LINARCO (Saudi Arabia) TENDER CATEGORIES Industrial & Special Projects TENDER PRODUCTS Chemical Plants

WATER STORAGE RESERVOIRS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT – JEDDAH PROJECT NUMBER MPP2825-SA TERRITORY Saudi Arabia CLIENT NAME National Water Company (Saudi Arabia) ADDRESS Abu Zeid Al Faisaliyah Tower, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10th Floor, King Fahed Road, Olaya Area CITY Riyadh 11421 POSTAL/ZIP CODE 676 COUNTRY Saudi Arabia

INTEGRATED ESTIMATING, PROJECT CONTROL AND ERP SOLUTION FOR CONTRACTORS

92

MIDDLE EAST

www.ccsgulf.com | Tel: +971 4 346 6456 | info@ccsgulf.com

NOVEMBER 2013

TENDERS

PHONE (+966-1) 440 9444 FAX (+966-1) 440 9595 WEBSITE www.nwc.com.sa DESCRIPTION Construction of (8 Nos) cylindrical reservoirs of reinforced concrete, which each will have a capacity to hold 188,000 cubic metre of water.

BUDGET $587,000,000 PERIOD 2014 STATUS New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES Water Works TENDER PRODUCTS Tanks (All Types), Water Storage

SOHAR PURIFIED ISOPHTHALIC ACID PLANT PROJECT

PROJECT NUMBER MPP2490-O TERRITORY Oman CLIENT NAME Takamul Investment Company (Oman) ADDRESS Bayt Muscat Bldg., Mezzanine Floor, Al Ghubra CITY Muscat 130 POSTAL/ZIP CODE 1951 COUNTRY Oman PHONE (+968) 2452 9000 FAX (+968) 2449 4986 EMAIL info@takamul.com WEBSITE www.takamul.com DESCRIPTION Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a purified isophthalic acid (PIA) plant STATUS New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES Industrial & Special Projects TENDER PRODUCTS Chemical Plants

PROJECT NUMBER: S/ MKE/43/2013/14-K TERRITORY: Kuwait CLIENT NAME: Ministry of Health ADDRESS: Ministry of Health Building, Jamal Abdulnasser Street, Al Solaibeykhat Area CITY: Safat 13001 POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 5 COUNTRY: Kuwait PHONE: (+965) 2487 7422 FAX: (+965) 2486 5414 EMAIL: health@moh.gov.kw WEBSITE: www.moh.gov.kw DESCRIPTION: Construction of a new 955-bed annex to Farwaniya Hospital that will offer 30 emergency rooms and 27 operating rooms BUDGET: $1,000,000,000 TENDER COST: $8,930

CLOSING DATE: November 12, 2013 PERIOD: 2016 STATUS: New Tender SPECIALIST CONSULTANT: Dar Saleh Al Qallaf Engineering Consultant (Kuwait) TENDER CATEGORIES: Construction & Contracting, Medical & Healthcare TENDER PRODUCTS: Hospital Construction

LEBANON PHOTOVOLTAIC FARM PROJECT - BEIRUT RIVER SOLAR SNAKE - PHASE 5

PROJECT NUMBER: ZPR1213-LE TERRITORY: Lebanon CLIENT NAME: Lebanese Centre for Energy Conservation (LCEC) ADDRESS: 1st Flr, Room 303, Corniche du Fleuve, CITY: Beirut PHONE: (+961-1) 569 101 FAX: (+961-1) 565 108 EMAIL: energy@lcecp.org.lb WEBSITE: www.lcecp.org.lb DESCRIPTION: Construction of a photovoltaic farm with capacity of 9 MW of power, covering 6.5 kilometres of solar panels PERIOD: 2018 STATUS: New Tender TENDER CATEGORIES: Power & Alternative Energy TENDER PRODUCTS: Photovoltaic Plants

KUWAIT FARWANIYA HOSPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT

INTEGRATED ESTIMATING, PROJECT CONTROL AND ERP SOLUTION FOR CONTRACTORS

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

www.ccsgulf.com | Tel: +971 4 346 6456 | info@ccsgulf.com

93

DIARY NOVEMBER

BIGPROJECTME.COM

NOVEMBER

HAPPENING THIS MONTH...

PMV LIVE / MEC 2013

6TH ANNUAL BRIDGES MIDDLE EAST CO-LOCATED WITH TUNNELS MIDDLE EAST THE RITZ CARLTON DOHA, QATAR NOVEMBER 11 – 13, 2013 The 6th Annual Bridges Middle East Co-located with Tunnels Middle East is the region’s leading event dedicated to designing, planning, delivering and maintaining world-class bridges and tunnels.

MODERN AIRPORTS AFRICA 2013 NAIROBI SERENA, KENYA NOVEMBER 18 – 21, 2013 Evolving from the fouryear track record of Airport Expansion and Development Africa, the Modern Airports Africa 2013 conference will discuss the latest in airport modernisation in Africa and connect leading regional and international stakeholders.

DICEC, DUBAI, UAE 25 NOVEMBER – 28 NOVEMBERT DATE PMV Live is the premier regional showcase for the construction machinery and vehicles industry. Held in Dubai, the perfect hub to attract visitors from across the region, PMV Live offers a wide mix of international products and technology as well as a range of features to inform and inspire thousands of visitors. Middle East Concrete will bring together the buyers

and sellers within the concrete industry to experience and interact with the full range of concrete products, share information and technical knowledge, and participate in ground breaking discussion on a global scale.

of Excellence recognise regional leaders in the fields of architecture, engineering, design, FM, software, materials supply and consultancy.

BIG PROJECT AWARDS 2013

JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS, DUBAI, UAE 25 NOVEMBER 2013 The Big Project Middle East’s Construction and Sustainability Awards

THE BIG-5

DICEC, DUBAI, UAE 25 NOVEMBER – 28 NOVEMBERNT

DATE

The BIG-5 is the largest trade show for the Building and Construction industry in the Arabian Gulf. For more than 30 years, The Big-5 has served as a business and networking platform for the industry and proved to be an ideal opportunity for buyers and sellers from around the world.

With its continuous growth, the construction market in the Middle East is offering huge potential to international exhibitors who are looking develop their business and The Big 5 is the perfect place to cultivate new opportunities from within the region.

PILING & DEEP FOUNDATIONS 2013 AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY PARK, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA 26 – 28 NOVEMBER, 2013 This year’s event will discuss the latest challenges, opportunities and solutions to optimise site investigation and ground improvement techniques which will assist you in selecting, designing and installing the best pile types for your projects. Uniting some of the industry’s leading experts, the event will attract piling professionals from across all disciplines involved in the process. This is your opportunity to network and discover how these people are currently innovating and shaping the future of piling and deep foundations in Australia and overseas.

NOVEMBER 2013

MIDDLE EAST

BRIDGES: DESIGN AND PRESERVATION 2013 CONVENE – MIDTOWN EAST, NEW YORK, USA NOVEMBER 18 – 19, 2013 Bridges 2013 is a must for DOT’s, general contractors, construction companies and engineers. The 5th edition of this popular event features two days of speaker sessions, panel discussions, and workshops. The main themes of the event include procuring funding, budgeting, building strategic partners, retrofitting, and the latest technologies.

95

EVENT REVIEW INFRA OMAN

INFRA OMAN 2013 REVIEW INFRA OMAN 2013 CONFIRMS ITS RENOWNED HIGH REPUTATION AS THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE EXHIBITION IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN

96

MIDDLE EAST

AS ONE OF THE most promising markets of the region, the Sultanate of Oman has just hosted, from the 30 September–02 October, one of the leading infrastructure exhibitions in the GCC, closing with a big success not only in terms of numbers, but also from the point of view of quality and standards achievements.

Accordind to the organiser, after reviewing on-site interviews, post show questionnaires, media reports and key-persons’ remarks, from all perspectives, the feedback is that the Infra Oman 2013 was a success and is indeed the mandatory platform for doing business in the Sultanate of Oman.

Infra Oman has proved to be an ideal starting point not only for the local companies, but also for foreign entities that are more determined to be part of this growing market.

As a highlight this year, for

NOVEMBER 2013

the first time an exhibition in Oman had a Japanese Pavilion which showcased the traditional Japanese tea drinking ceremony at the show. Infra Oman also included country pavilions from Egypt, Germany, Iran, Italy, Turkey, UAE and UK which increased their total area by 40% compared to last year.

The World famous JCB Dancing Diggers dazzled and delighted the crowds in Muscat once again as the stunt team returned in the third edition of Infra Oman, which is one of the top highlights of the Exhibition.

Exhibitors displayed a complete range of products, granting a full coverage of the industry segments and presenting, at the same time, the newest solutions and designs for each product category.

3,612 professional visitors from 30 different countries attended the event, with more visitors coming from GCC, and other European and American

BIGPROJECTME.COM

countries recording the largest percentage increase in visitors’ attendance.

At the same time, the highest numbers of foreign visitors came from countries like Bahrain, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and many more.

From the exhibitors’ point of view, an important result can be drawn from 2013 edition. A high-quality attendance kept the halls busy during the three days.

The survey shows that 70% of the companies regarded Infra Oman visitors as good-quality visitors.

Among them, 30% classified the audience quality from very good to excellent. This tells a lot about the opportunities that the show offers in terms of business relations and brand exposure, and about the outstanding increase of the show quality standards. The majority of the visitors included ministry officials, CEOs and senior managers, agents and distributors; manufacturers and professional buyers were well represented as well.

According to the visitors’ opinion, taking part in Infra Oman is a smart investment.

79% of the visitors declared to be satisfied or very satisfied with the show, and the percentage of visitors planning to return for the 2014 edition is the best testimony of the event’s achievement in meeting attendees’ high expectations.

Infra Oman was organised in

co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The exhibition was also supported by EuroMediterranean Association for Cooperation & Development e.V. (EMA), German Industry & Commerce Office (AHK), German Near & Middle East Association (NUMOV), Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC), Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (OMRAN), Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Spanish Economic & Trade Office, Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA), Embassy of the United States of America, International Private Water Association (IPWA) and Vietnam Association of Construction Contractors (VACC).

Indeed, Infra Oman was not only a wide platform to reach out to the industry professionals, but also an ideal stage for products and services to be showcased to the most valuable potential business partners, enabling companies to play a prominent role in the country’s development.

Infra Oman was once again a success for the whole industry and confirmed itself as a mustattend event in the GCC region.

The next edition of Infra Oman will be from 20-22 October 2014 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, Seeb. n

“A HIGH-QUALITY ATTENDANCE KEPT THE HALLS BUSY DURING THE THREE DAYS SAID ORGANISERS”

3rd SESSION

EXHIBITORS IncludeAttachments, Components, Accessories & Spare Parts Building Material Production Building & Construction Machinery Concrete, Concrete Production & Concrete Products Construction Materials Construction Services Health & Safety

BLOG

#intermatme

Heavy Machinery & Equipment Lifting & Elevation Machinery Quarrying, Mining & Aggregates Rental Companies Roads & Transport Infrastructure Machinery Scaffolding & Formwork Site Equipment & Products Technology

www.intermatme.com

Your Contacts

Organised by

France Office

UAE Office

Asmaa CHERRAF +33 (0)1 76 77 12 08 asmaa.cherraf@comexposium.com

Matthew ROBARTS +971 4 4356101 matthew.robarts@clarioneventsme.com

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

BIGPROJECTME.COM

GAVIN DAVIDS

Artificial Hindrances Gavin Davids says that the drive for nationalisation in the GCC could hamper the development of the construction industry at a crucial time

98

MIDDLE EAST

LATE IN OCTOBER, Oman’s official news agency announced that from the start of this month it would suspending visas for new foreign workers in the private sector for six months.

The reasoning behind this freeze is because the Omani government plans to conduct a drastic overhaul of the domestic labour market, and create increased job opportunities for the local employment market.

While the decision will exclude so-called ‘first class’ companies and those involved in consultancy activities and in government projects, it is set to hit smaller companies right where it hurts, in the pocket.

Like the rest of the GCC, Oman is heavily dependent on foreign workers to fill out its rapidly expanding labour market. As such, this decision is set to have an impact on the Sultanate’s burgeoning construction market, which is set to see billions of dollars of work commence in a very short amount of time.

While the Ministry of Manpower has said that the decision was made with a view towards reorganising the labour market and ‘evaluating its actual needs of

NOVEMBER 2013

expatriate labour’, I can’t help but feel that Oman is making a massive mistake.

Although it is commendable that the government is trying to explore new avenues of job creation for the local Omani population, I can’t help but draw a parallel between this artificial initiative and the troublesome Nitaqat programme in Saudi Arabia.

With the Kingdom implementing its localisation (or Saudisation) programme over the last year or so, there has been considerable outcry from local contractors who say that the artificial barriers put up by the government has impacted their profit margins and performance.

According to Abdullah AM Al Khodari Sons Company, the government levy on foreign workers has increased costs of productions and lead to a 44% drop in net profit from last year’s figures.

The KSA government currently charges $640 per foreign worker in excess of Saudi nationals working in a company.

This obviously accounts for a major chunk of profits, as do the associated expenses and funding costs that are naturally part of the package.

To me, these sort of employment measures come across as artificial and likely to cause more problems than they’re worth. While I agree that there should be greater representation for the local workforce, I think these places should be earned on merit, rather than be handed out as part of some ‘government scheme’.

What this creates is a situation where companies are forced to forego talented individuals from other foreign countries in favour of local employees who may not have the necessary qualifications or abilities. Alternatively, in order to balance costs, companies could be forced to hire foreign staff that aren’t as skilled, but are cheaper to employ, so as to balance the books.

Neither of the two scenarios are ideal in a market that is on a constant upwards growth trend. The danger is that companies will no longer consider countries imposing these restrictions as viable markets, especially when their neighbours offer better opportunities.

To paraphrase a very wise man; “it’s about values and qualities, not about passports”. So if the GCC countries are serious about developing and allowing their construction industries to flourish without artificial hindrance, then perhaps it’s time to focus on the former and not the latter. n