construction week - issue 303

SAUDI ARABIA BAHRAIN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES QATAR OMAN KUWAIT

ConstructionWEEK NEWS, ANALYSIS, PROJECTS,

TENDERS, CLASSIFIEDS, ANDJOBS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

JANUARY 9–15, 2010 [303]An ITP Business Publication CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM

INSIDEBURJ LAUNCHLive picture coverage of the opening of the Burj Khalifa in DubaiPAGE 14

SITE VISITCW takes a trip down to Sahara Livings in Dubai Industrial CityPAGE 22

WASTE LEGALLYFind out inside what the law requires you to do to manage wastePAGE 26

CITY FOCUS The latest news, projects and tenders from Ras Al KhaimahPAGE 38

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CITY FOCUS The latest news,projects and tenders

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CONTENTS

12 EMAAR BOSS PRAISES THE BURJ BUILDERSMohamed Ali Alabbar praised the efforts of the 12,000 staff ahead of the Burj Khalifa’s opening.

14 BURJ KHALIFA PICSImages taken from the opening of the world’s tallest building.

REGULARS2 ONLINE4 MAIL

FRONT11 BURJ DUBAI RENAMED BURJ KHALIFAMajor announcements were revealed at the launch of the world’s tallest building.

FEATURES16 TOP TIPS FOR 2010Industry experts offer business advice to construction fi rms.

22 SITE VISITCW visits Sahara Livings, a residential project in Dubai, to fi nd out what progress has been made so far.

26 SPECIAL REPORTAn investigation into how fi rms are tackling waste management.

DIRECTORY32 TENDERS33 PROJECTS 34 SPECIALIST SERVICES

BACK38 CITY UPDATEThe latest news and projects from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

40 DIALOGUEAbu Dhabi Education Council section manager for facilities design Alberto Treves, discusses some exciting new plans to build schools in Abu Dhabi.

JANUARY 9-15, 2010 | ISSUE 303

1JANUARY 9–15, 2010 CONSTRUCTION WEEK

22

CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 9–15, 20102

FEATURESFM

SERVICING ISSUESPMV magazine drops in at a mobile crane rental fi rm to fi nd out what it takes to keep heavy machinery in full working order.

PMV

MACHINE MONTHStories you might have missed from the world of plant, machinery and vehicles in the last month or so.

Construction Week has been covering the Burj Khalifa ever since it was first announced to the world. In the runup to the official launch, this coverage only intensified. Have you ever wondered what Dubai looks like from (near) the top of the world’s tallest tower? Find out with our tour of ‘At the Top’ the observation level located on Burj Khalifa’s 124th floor. If you’re interested in knowing what Emaar chairman Mohammed Alabbar thinks about the Burj, read ‘Emaar boss praises those who built the Burj’. Those of who you who love hard engineering statistics should check out ‘Top 10 Burj Khalifa facts’ and ‘Top 10 Burj Khalifa facts: Part 2’. For more images and stories, visit www.ConstructionWeekOnline.com

IN PICTURES: ‘AT THE TOP’ OF THE BURJ KHALIFA

ONLINEwww.ConstructionWEEKonline.com

MOST POPULARTOP 10 TIPS FOR 2010COULD THE BURJ DUBAI BE A ‘STORM MACHINE’?TOP 10 BURJ KHALIFA FACTSEMAAR BOSS PRAISES THOSE WHO BUILT THE BURJWORLD’S TALLEST RENAMED BURJ KHALIFA

TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK’S SPOT POLL GO TOwww.ConstructionWEEKonline.com

HAVE YOUR SAYWHAT DO YOU THINK 2010 WILL HOLD FOR THE INDUSTRY?What are you looking forward to in terms of projects – and what are you worried about?

JOBS OF THE WEEKSenior Designer Hospitality, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesBranch Manager, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesHealth & Safety Engineer, Doha, United Arab Emirates

ONLINE POLLWHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO BUILDING MATERIAL PRICES IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2010?

58.0%Costs should be pretty steady.

23.2%Prices will plummet.

18.8%They’ll go through the roof.

MEP

IN POLE POSITIONA closer look at Septech, which was shortlisted at the MEP Awards 2009.

FM

DUBAI’S STRATA LAW: STILL COMINGAnother look at Dubai’s delayed strata laws, which are still going to come onto the books at some stage.

EFR

AIM

EV

IDO

R/I

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MAIL

WRITE TO THE EDITOR Please address your letters to: Post, Construction Week, PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE or email [email protected]. Please provide your full name and address, stating clearly if you do not wish us to print them. Alternatively log on to www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com and air your views on any one of a number of the latest Middle East business articles.

Thank god we have a safe opening of the tallest building. I wish all of the people involved the very best. They should all be awarded irrespective of any working grade. I hope I get the chance to enter the building in the near future.ALAUDEEN

RE: COULD THE BURJ KHALIFA BE A ‘STORM MACHINE’?This is unlikely since a real chimney effect is only possible if the entire structure is fully airtight, which would prevent simple equilibrium of pressures as you go from the ground to the top. LAITH

the government for their roads, which keep digging them up for a metro that takes twice as long as a car journey and goes nowhere, needs to get real. This is one of the wealthiest and least densely populated regions on earth and it is slightly repugnant to hear people self righteously demanding that everyone “lives it up” or suffers a miserable quality of life. This the biggest scam in history - the congestion charge in London was bad enough, but this is plain robbery in a region where we came to save money for retirement or education.ADAM

One of the main reasons I moved to Dubai was the tax free salary, but I soon learned that you are taxed in every other way than income tax. SIF

If the RTA wants to reduce traffic, then Salik should charge for peak times only. Or, if the RTA needs money then charge for Salik at all times of the day.A

Perhaps we need to give it a deep thought - shall we stay on and pay more changes or shall leave this place with a peaceful mind. With the current economic condition, obviously it’s not wise for the government to enforce such tariffs at this junction. When things get tough, the tough get going. We choose to be in Dubai even

RE: TOP 10 BURJ KHALIFA FACTSIt’s not just a structure that could weather any storm, it’s the result of greatness and visionary leadership, which helped complete this tallest tower despite the recession.KINGSTON

Thanks to the recession, the Burj Khalifa will hold the title as the tallest structure for a longer period and other contenders will delay their projects. RAJ

RE: EMIRATES ROAD SALIK PROPOSAL DIS-MAYS CONTRACTORSAnyone who thinks the expatriates are here to pay

during hard times, but if the government chooses to let us go we will leave the place.ME

RE: DUBAI PROPER-TIES SHAKES UP MANAGEMENTWhen are they going to commence the projects, which are on hold and have been stopped at the half way mark?MAHESH

RE: NAKHEEL CONFIRMS REDUN-DANCIESAs an ex-Nakheel employee who was made redundant about a year ago, I can assure you that based on my ongoing contact with my ex-colleagues, the fi gure of 1000 employees is low and that the real fi gure is more like 1500 to 2000 employees from the original total work-force of about 3200. I cannot quite fi gure out why Nakheel should not be transparent and give some real details instead of constantly rubbishing the claims.JAN

RE: CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE DECADE: YOU DECIDEThe Dubai Metro is definitely the project of the decade due to its usefulness to thousands of commuters. It enhances the beauty of our marvelous city and, above all, the planning and execution of this difficult project was immaculate.K A ANSARI

RE: AT ‘THE TOP” OF THE BURJ KHALIFAI can’t wait to be up there. I am looking forward to the experience so much. I thank the experts behind this for giving us ordinary folks an opportu-nity to view the building, which, I’m sure, is going to be spectacular.

FARIDA YUSUF

The opinions expressed in this section are of particular individuals and are in no way a refl ection of the publisher’s views.

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FOREWORD

WRITE TO THE EDITOR Please address your letters to: Construction Week, PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE or email [email protected]. Please provide your full name and address, stating clearly if you do not wish us to print them. Alternatively log on to www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com and air your views on any one of a number of the latest articles.

“THE NEW YEAR OFFERS THE CHANCE TO HAVE A NEW, MORE POSITIVE OUTLOOOK ON THINGS TO COME”

CONRAD EGBERT [email protected]

Last week’s opening of the tower formerly known as the Burj Dubai was nothing short of a spectacular event. All Dubai haters (and we know there are many) can lash out as much as they want, but going by the amount of people present on Monday night to witness the event, I’d say that bitter sect of the expatriate community is clearly the minority (and no! I wasn’t paid any extra to write this).

Even though Burj Dubai had a ring to it and renaming the tower Burj Khalifa conjured up mixed emotions in me, in retrospect it perhaps isn’t so surprising.

With the UAE now moving towards a clearer federal model, this acknowledgement by Dubai’s ruler has cemented the emirates’ efforts to further strengthen the federation.

Of course, the announcement has seen many scrambling to make quick changes to incorporate the new brand. These potentially include the entire Downtown Burj Dubai development, which has the Burj Dubai logo emblazoned on every sidewalk in Dubai, post cards and memorabilia, advertising and marketing material for Emaar, brochures, and the list goes on. But then if one goes by the multi-billion dollar cost of the development or even the amount spent on the inauguration celebrations, which is anybody’s guess, changing the Burj Dubai logo to Burj Khalifa isn’t that daunting a task.

As the fi reworks erupted up along the façade of the building on Monday night in the most awe-inspiring fashion with crowds cheering on, it wasn’t easy to accept that this small city, despite all the recent gloomy predictions, had delivered the tallest superstructure known to this world. It was a pretty humbling experience.

The year that has passed has been horrible for many of us in the construction industry and that’s a fact that can never be changed. It’s history, so let’s treat it the same. The New Year offers the chance of a new beginning. It also offers the chance to have a new, more positive outlook on things to come. It may be hard at the beginning but let’s give this city a chance. Let’s give the industry a chance.

On behalf of the entire Construction Week team, I take this opportunity to wish you all the prosperity and success in this New Year.

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The offi cial opening of the world’s tallest tower surprised the world with two major announcements last week.

The tower, previously known as ‘Burj Dubai,’ was renamed ‘Burj Khalifa’ and its fi nal height was revealed as 828m, a good 300m taller than the previous record holder. The fi nal height of 828m was 10m higher than pundits had been predicting.

The announcement was made in front of thousands of people who had squeezed into Dubai’s downtown area to witness one of the world’s biggest fi rework displays.

The UAE vice president and prime minis-ter and ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Moham-med bin Rashid Al Maktoum renamed the tower in honour of the president of the UAE

FRONT

BURJ DUBAI RENAMED BURJ KHALIFAby CW Staff

and the ruler of neighbouring Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The opening coincided with the fourth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Mohammed as ruler of Dubai.

Emaar Properties revealed on Monday’s opening night last week, that the fi nal cost of the tower would be $1.5 billion, with 90% of the building pre-sold.

The renaming of the tower has attracted a lot of debate in the international press and the wider construction industry, but according to Bloomberg, senior Dubai offi cials have said that the change in name is a refl ection of the unity of the UAE federation.

“Sheikh Khalifa is one of the UAE’s sym-bols,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al

Maktoum, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Fiscal Committee.

“There is no doubt that the success of the UAE is the direct result of Sheikh Khalifa’s vision,” said Dubai billionaire and Mashreqbank owner Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair.

“He is the one credited for the civil and economic progress and Sheikh Mohammed renamed the Burj as acknowledgment.”

The new name is “very appropriate,” said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE minister of higher education and scientifi c research and a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family.

“Who else should it be named after except the president of the UAE?” he added.

THE TOWER FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE BURJ DUBAI WAS OPENED LAST WEEK AND HAS BEEN RENAMED AS BURJ KHALIFA.

SEE NEXT WEEK’S SPECIAL ISSUE ON HOW THE BURJ WAS BUILT!

Emaar boss praises those who built the Burj 12Pictures from last week’s Burj Khalifa opening 14Top 10 tips for 2010 16CW visits Sahara Livings project in Dubai 22


FRONT

Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Dubai-based developer Emaar, praised the efforts of the 12,000 staff, including the machine operators and engineers, ahead of the Burj Khalifa’s offi cial opening last week.

“One of the great things was that we had over 60 consultant fi rms, [with staff from] over 100 countries; everyone had intelligence to contribute,” he said.

Speaking to CW Online on the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa on the morning of the offi cial open-ing, the chairman added that the complex and often record-breaking machinery and technical processes needed to build to the sky was more of a challenge than a hindrance: “Perhaps the most interesting [aspect of the project] is that it did push design, technology, construction to the maximum – and we pushed the boundaries of knowledge.

“It was really something, [to know] that human beings were so capable and they reached something that had never been reached before.”

The project is opening over a year later than origi-nally scheduled, yet Alabbar is philosophical on the subject.

“This building is here for hundreds of years and cycles come and go. This is our time and this is a time to share it with the world – the world has been through a crisis which is now passing [and] we are passing this crisis, so we must march on.”

The offi cial opening ceremony was held last Mon-day and the level 124 viewing area, referred to as ‘At the Top’, is now open to the general public.

EMAAR BOSS PRAISES THOSE WHO BUILT THE BURJBy Greg Whitaker

MOHAMED ALABBAR THANKED THE 12,000 PEOPLE WHO WORKED TO MAKE THE BURJ KHALIFA A REALITY.

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828The

building’s fi nal

offi cial height,

in metres

BURJ IN NUMBERS 22,000,000

Number of man hours it took to build

the tower

5,670,000Total built up area of

the tower, in square feet

330,000Amount of

concrete used to build the tower, in cubic metres

39,000Amount of

reinforced steel used to build the tower, in

metric tonnes

103,000Volume of glass used for exterior

façade, in square metres

15,500Volume of stainless

steel used for cladding, in

square metres

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BURJ KHALIFA LAUNCH 2010

1. UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of

Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

arrived at around 7.45pm and was escorted to the front of

the Burj Khalifa.

2. The colourful dancing strobe lights were visible on the

tower after the smoke from the fi reworks display had

cleared.

3. The fi reworks began at the base of the tower and ran

up the entire length emphasizing the sheer size of the

structure, ending in a multicoloured crescendo of bursts

on the top.

4. At about 8.15pm, the fi reworks display sent crowds

packed into the Downtown area into a frenzy.

5. The launch of the world tallest tower was marked with

one of the worst traffi c situations experienced in Dubai

over the past two years.

6. Before the fi rst fi reworks display, a team of sky divers

jumped from an aircraft that fl ew over the Burj Khalifa and

glided down in parachutes carrying the colours of the UAE

national fl ag.

7. At around 7pm, roads leading to the Burj Khalifa were

jammed with bumper to bumper traffi c and parking lots

inside Dubai Mall were cordoned off.

8. A vantage point in Safa Park offered one of the most

spectacular views of the inauguration ceremony.

5

6

7 8


CW talks to industry experts to fi nd out what you should do in

TOP 10 TIPSA NEW YEAR REPRESENTS THE PERFECT TIME TO TURN

OVER A NEW LEAF, TO START AGAIN WITH A BLANK SLATE AND, LET’S BE HONEST, FEW IF ANY IN THE INDUSTRY

WILL BE SAD TO SEE THE BACK OF 2009. BUT HOW BEST TO APPROACH 2010? HOW CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT

12 MONTHS ARE SUCCESSFUL? CONSTRUCTION WEEK ASKS SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS…


> For more top 10s visit www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com

FOCUS ON YOUR STAFFDuring boom times, it was all most companies could do to keep employing

enough workers to meet ever-increasing demand. With a slowdown also comes the opportunity to focus on employees, HR and training.

“At Halcrow, we’ve had to change our mindset. At one point, we would have built a trench around the offi ce if we could have, as we had more business than we could cope with. Now it’s different – devel-oping business, relationship building. We have to have extra focus on clients,” comments Halcrow regional HR director Rhyan Anderson.

“You don’t simply stop training and developing, however,” Anderson adds.

“We’ve seen before that if you stop graduate recruitment, you don’t feel the negative effects now, but in fi ve years’ time. We have to develop our staff with different skill sets; at Halcrow, we’re developing our ‘A-Team’ – growing our own, as we already know whether they’re a ‘Halcrow man/woman’ or not.”

EXPLORE NEW TERRITORIESWhile Dubai may still be suffering and the situation in the rest of the UAE is

not looking quite as rosy as it was 18 months ago, there are still plenty of opportunities. According to a recent report from Deloitte Middle East, entitled ‘The GCC Powers of Construction 2009’, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi are demonstrating the strongest potential regionally.

“The publication’s release comes at a time when many countries in the Gulf found that their high ambitions for real estate and con-struction were challenged due to the impact of the global fi nancial crisis,” comments Deloitte UAE audit partner and construc-tion industry leader Cynthia Corby.

“We have brought together expertise from Deloitte as well as key regional players such as Arabtec and Construction Products Hold-ing Company (CPC) to give valuable insight into the impact of the crisis on the con-struction sector in the region, as well as prospects for future growth and demand. The overriding message is one of many opportunities still to be found.”


HAVE YOU CONSIDERED OFF-SITE CONSTRUCTION?

Initially viewed as a quirk or fad, off-site construction is here to stay and, with a huge amount of benefi ts – not the least of which are time and money savings – it could be the great innovation in construction in the next decade.

Off-site, pre-cast, pods…are you involved?“High-rises and hotels are perfect, but they’re also

ideal for big villa developments if the villas are based on a repeated template. In villas, the developer might choose a heavier wall, such as concrete, while lighter steel pods make high-rises and hotels much easier,” says Unipods sales and marketing director Mike Usher.

“If you’re physically building bathrooms and kitchens on-site, it leads to so much waste – both direct and indirect,” adds Othmar Wutscher, CEO of Al Rajhi Holding.

“Then there’s the quality control element – on-site simply can’t compare. Kitchens and bathrooms require so much interaction between all the professionals, no two constructed on-site will ever be the same.“The quality of pods is always identical and exactly on spec.”

GRAB SOME TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHTFor obvious reasons, as the belt tightens during a tough economic

climate, the budgets for certain departments are seen as unnecessary luxuries. Marketing is usually the fi rst; however, the marketplace in full of giant brands who took their place at the top of the pile by spending wisely and bravely during poor economies and, therefore, increased their market share.

“Restructure your business and focus your marketing plans, so that you can last, and grow, through the recession. This means for some, becoming extremely creative in their marketing approach,” explains Landscape Success Systems president Jeffrey Scott.

“A down time is the perfect time to grow market share, by increasing your public exposure, through advertising, public rela-tions, networking, events, etc. Now is the time that forward-thinking companies will grow share of mind and market share.”


THINK HEALTH AND EDUCATIONWhile giant city and island projects are less fashionable than knitwear and residential demand has bottomed out,

there is still a huge need across the whole region for education and health facilities.

UK fi rm Stride Treglown, recognised for its portfolio of public sector buildings, for example, has just opened an offi ce in Abu

Dhabi. “We reviewed a number of global locations for our fi rst step into the international market, and after a couple of adven-tures in the Caribbean and Europe, we determined that the UAE provided the greatest opportunity for us,” explains the fi rm’s Richard Philipson.

Kuwait has announced plans to build eight new hospitals worth an estimated US $3,1bn; Abu Dhabi will construct 18 schools in 2010, and, over the past year, more than 200 schools have been renovated in Jordan, with 300 more to come.


INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE STILL GOING STRONGThroughout a generally gloomy year,

manufacturers of general construction equipment have actually seen sales rise in their road building range. Chinese conglomerate LiuGong is best known in this region for a long-established line up of wheel loaders, but according to the general manager Huang Zhaohua, it has been the fi rm’s line-up of vibratory drum rollers that have seen the largest increase in sales over the last year.

“This type of equipment has seen a 30% rise in sales over the last year, against a downturn of 30% in the market generally.”

Major road building contracts are currently being offered in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with a number also being tendered in Oman.


TRANSPARENCY IS STILL KEY

When troubles fi rst hit the industry, everyone involved in the industry jumped on the transparency bandwagon and, should things improve in 2010, it’s important that those calls are not swept under the carpet. An honest, interoperable, transparent industry is a successful industry.

“As we fi nd ourselves in this challenging economic climate, I, among others, have talked about the need for greater transparency, fi nan-cial reforms, increased support by governments and adopt-ing a ‘time to act’ approach,” says Damac chairman Hus-sain Sajwani.

QUALITYCOUNTSThe only thing as certain as the fact that 2009

was a terrible year for the industry is the fact that the economy will improve. And the most savvy companies are now making sure they’re ready to be fastest out the blocks when it does. One way of doing that is gaining a reputation for quality.

“With a few building collapses over the past three months, the quality of construction has become a big issue for the DMA. Such happenings cause a lot of dam-age to the construction sector and real estate market.

Who would want to invest here when the quality of

construction is suspect?” asks Abu Dhabi DMA’s

Matthew Plumbridge.“In the next two or

three years, I’m sure we’ll see a massive increase in the number of dedicated refurbish-ment companies, as the corners being cut start

to come apart – refur-bishing is expensive and

labour intensive,” adds Al Rajhi’s Wutscher.“We can compromise a little

in price at the moment, but we can never afford to compromise

on quality.”


TIME TO TAKE BIM SERIOUSLYSimply put, it doesn’t matter where your place in the building process is,

the quicker and better you understand Building Information Modelling, the more profi table your business will become.

“You simply get better bids with BIM, as you can accurately demonstrate the complexity of projects. The scope is better defi ned and it gives you an accurate tonnage right from the time of bids – all at the touch of a button,” says Thornton Tomasetti principal Kyle Krall.

“The more people who are involved in the process, the greater the chance of introduc-ing mistakes, which have cost implications, as you have to spend more time reproducing project information manually. Then work has to be redone, material is wasted, or material is missing at the last minute. Changes or modi-fi cations have to be effected on-site,” adds Ruggero Valsecchi, export sales manager for Progman Oy.

“BIM means time, energy and cost savings are inherent because you already have all the information in your model, and do not need to recalibrate manually.”

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

Don’t just put your head down and keep doing the same thing. A new year is a great time to reassess and ensure that

your business is maximised and optimised. Could you benefi t from using the latest technology, for example?

“In most industries, technology has played a major role in helping to man-age and control business processes and risk. Unfortunately, for many years the construction industry has proven an exception to the rule; a fact that is surprising when you consider that many construction projects actually cost more than the total annual turnover of most medium to large sized compa-nies,” says Causeway COO Paul Madeira.

Or are you throwing money away on PMV?“Auction prices are, if not lower, at least avoiding the middle-man’s cut.

It is a cash-quick settlement business and provides immediate availability to fi ll an immediate need,” states Keith Lupton, general manager World Wide Auctioneers.

“If you have a project that will last two to three years, why buy new equip-ment that has a guarantee for ten years, but will have its biggest depreciation value [over this initial period]? Why not buy second-hand?” reasons Tom Cornell, managing director Europe, Iron Planet. So, make sure your assets and resources are all working for you.



As 2009 unfolded, the confidence industry experts had in Dubai’s construction sector took a few knocks. Projects were halted

if not cancelled and then came the news that Dubai World, whose subsidiary is con-struction giant Nakheel, would seek delays on billions of dollars of debt obligations,

leaving many suppliers discouraged from investing in the emirate.

But, one construction company that still has faith in the troubled city is World Wide Project Management, the client representative for a whopping 19 proj-ects worth US $1 billion (AED3.7 billion) under construction and progressing in Dubai.

One such project is Sahara Livings, a resi-dential development consisting of 84 villas

WORLD WIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ITS SAHARA LIVINGS DEVELOPMENT PROVE THAT, EVEN AFTER A TOUGH YEAR, DUBAI’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO PROGRESSBy Sarah Blackman; Photos by Aziz Shah

PUSHING ONspread across an area of 18,116m² in Dubai Industrial City.

Reem Dubai Contracting was given 548 days to complete the project after being awarded the main construction contract in February 2009 and, so far, 15% of the development has been completed and 78 villas are currently under construction.

“Right now we are working on substructure and superstructure. In four months time, all the superstructure of the villas will be

CONSTRUCTION OF SAHARA LIVINGS IS 15% COMPLETE AND SUBSTRUCTURE AND

SUPERSTRUCTURE WORK IS ONGOING.


completed. We have also started block works and internal plastering on some villas,” says World Wide Project Management manag-ing director Abdel Wahab Talaat.

Infrastructure, including narrow roads, internal MEP works and internal lighting, is being completed by Reem Dubai in parallel with the superstructure work and is set to be fi nished within six months.

And, so far, superstructure work for 40 of the two-storey villas has been completed.

“We will soon pick up the pace because once you are above ground everything

saved the client, Sahara Living, around $1 million in construction costs before mobili-sation began on March 1.

In the past, however, the use of cheap materials has led to several on-site accidents and fatalities in the Middle East, but Talaat is adamant that the quality of the building materials used for Sahara Livings has not been compromised.

“We ensure that the project is constructed on time with the right materials and that the fi n-ished project is of high quality,” he insists.

“Health and safety is very important to us because during construction you are exposed to a lot of accidents. We have onsite safety offi cers and there have been a minimum percentage of injuries during the construction. Also, the authorities have checked that we are implementing safety on site and that we are doing our job in a safe way.”

Despite predictions that material pric-es are to rise this year and the growing popularity of setting up projects in other Middle Eastern cities, such as Doha and

progresses fairly quickly,” Talaat adds. But, in such troubled times, how has Sahara

Livings been able to continue without delays? World Wide Project Management, which supervises and monitors the delivery of the project, believes the answer boils down to low construction costs.

“We have an advantage of low prices of materials,” says Talaat. “We are seiz-ing this opportunity by continuing with our projects.”

As a result of the reduction in material prices, World Wide Project Management

WORLDWIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT MANAGING DIRECTOR ABDEL WAHAB TALAAT.BLOCK WORK AND INTERNAL PLASTERING HAS COMMENCED ON SOME VILLAS.

FAST FACTS

CLIENT Sahara Livings

CONSULTANT Dimensions Engineering Consultants

PROJECT MANAGEMENT World Wide Project Management

MAIN CONTRACTOR Reem Dubai Contracting

MEP Aikah Electromechanical Works

PLUMBING CONTRACTOR Dimensions Engineering Consultants

TENDER DATE November 2008

MOBILISATION DATE March 1, 2009

CONSTRUCTION START DATE April 7, 2009

CONTRACT PERIOD 548 days

COMPLETION DATE October 7, 2010

PROJECT VALUE US $27 million

CONSTRUCTION COST US $16.6 million

“WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF THE DOWNTURN. WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE ARE COMMITED TO DUBAI”


Riyadh, Talaat expresses full confi dence in Dubai.

“We are not afraid of the downturn. We need to show that we are still commited to Dubai,” he says.

“We need to restore the trust to encourage investors to come back. It will take time, but we are confi dent in the vision of the city and of the UAE as a whole.”

And, with the progression of several of his Dubai projects in full swing, Talaat has every right to be optimistic.

Three developments on Palm Jebel Ali, for example, are currently at design stage

and enabling works contracts are expected to be awarded next month.

Work is set to begin on Nathalie Tower, Blue Moon Tower and Noah’s Arc Tower immediately after the contract is awarded.

“We are currently in negotiations with Sharaf Foundations and Geo Foundation,” explains Talaat.

“Other bidders included IFG Foundation and Italian Foundation.”

When asked, Talaat could not reveal the value of the bids.

The client for the three projects is Almasah Real Estate and smaller clients

such as Sahara Living come under the fi rm’s umbrella.

Each of the three-bedroom villas at Saha-ra Livings, which are targeted at middle-income investors, include a small garden and the project’s community pool will be surrounded by plants and trees.

On the surface, it sounds like a green project, but in an area apply surrounded by desert, how sustainable is the Sahara Livings development?

Talaat admits that there will not be any green building initiatives implemented in the project.

“For this project, we have not put in place any green building regulations. I’m not objecting to green building – it is a good thing. But, implementing green ini-

ITEMITEM NO. OF VILLAS FINISHEDNO. OF VILLAS FINISHED NO. OF VILLAS IN PROGRESSNO. OF VILLAS IN PROGRESS NO. OF VILLAS NOT STARTEDNO. OF VILLAS NOT STARTED TOTALTOTAL

Substructure 51 27 6 84.00

Superstructure For Ground Floor

47 14 23 84.00

Superstructure For First Floor

40 7 37 84.00

TWENTY-SEVEN VILLAS ARE AT THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF DEVELOPMENT. HERE LABOURERS PUT IN PLACE COLUMNS WHERE CONCRETE WILL SOON BE POURED.

PROGRESS REPORT

“SO FAR WE DON’T HAVE ANY PLANS TO EXPAND OUTSIDE OF DUBAI BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH PROJECTS HERE”


tiatives is very costly. Also, you need con-sultants to help advise you about green building and this costs too much money,” Talaat explains.

“For a project we are developing in Jume-riah Village we are paying more than $2.7 million for the green building consultant and we have to pay them extra to imple-ment the design, which fi ts the green build-ing requirements. We also have to pay the contractor extra to meet the green building requirements.”

But what about the long-term benefi ts that green building can bring to a project such as reduced energy consumption and, in turn, decreased utility costs?

Talaat explains that to introduce green initiatives into ongoing projects would have serious effects on construction costs and would cause severe delays to the comple-tion of a development.

“The problem is, green building has come in suddenly to the market and we don’t have enough time to prepare ourselves because we have already fi nalised the designs for

most of our projects. So, to implement the green initiatives we would have to redesign our developments,” he says.

“If I know from the beginning I have regu-lations to be implemented in my design I would prepare myself. Also, I would prepare my consultant to implement green initia-tives from the beginning so I am not wast-ing my time and not paying more money for the new consultant and the redesign of the project.”

Talaat says that the introduction of green regulations has been the most diffi cult chal-lenge his company has faced over the past six months. He wishes to implement the initiatives into future projects but, right now, the focus is on fulfi lling promises of on-time project delivery in Dubai – a rarity in today’s climate.

“So far we don’t have any plans to expand outside of Dubai because we have enough projects here that we need to fi nish but maybe in the future we will.”

The next step for Sahara Livings is the completion of block works and the entire project is scheduled to be completed by October 7 this year.

“When we get to a certain point of con-struction we will move the site offi ce into a villa or rent land outside the plot so we can start work on the landscaping.”

Other developments under World Wide Project Management’s belt include the $13.6 million Judi Place and the $49 million Jouri 5, both located in Jumeriah Village.

“Our main objective is to deliver on what we have promised to our investors,” says Almasah chairman Abou Taleb Talebi.

Mobilisation works on Judi Palace started on November 1, 2009 and the project is expected to be delivered in 17 months.

Jouri 5 will take 20 months to deliver and will include 511 units spread over 16 fl oors. �

“WE WILL SOON PICK UP THE PACE BECAUSE ONCE YOU ARE ABOVE GROUND EVERYTHING PROGRESSES FAIRLY QUICKLY”


With the d r i v e for sus-tainable building in the M i d d l e

East continually gaining strength, every aspect of a project’s construction is now scrutinised for its ‘green’ credentials. One of the growing focuses is that of waste manage-ment: optimising the amount of materials needed for a project; increasing the use of recycled materials; and lowering waste produced, have all become concerns.

The current economic downturn is also increasing the focus on waste management as fi rms seek ways to lower project costs, while maintaining build quality. But what is required by law and how can your fi rm ben-efi t from minimising construction waste?

REGULATING WASTEThe fi rst factor that construction fi rms must consider in terms of waste management is what is required by law. So what should you be adhering to?

One of the fi rst points to note is that regula-tions differ according to the area or country in which a project is underway. “Waste management in construction sites have clear regulations in the UAE. However it would be diffi cult to generalise the regulations in UAE, let alone the Middle East, since each Emirate has its own set of rules and regulations,” reports Tariq Ibrahim, sales manager, Mohammed Tayyeb Khoory & Sons Waste Management Division.

The rules covering the removal and dis-posal of waste are clear in each of the dif-ferent countries. “Dubai Municipality has allocated a dump site for construction waste in Jebel Ali, with clear instructions on how

WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE REGION’S SUSTAINABILITY DRIVE, CONSTRUCTION WEEK INVESTIGATES WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW AND HOW FIRMS ARE TACKLING THE ISSUE IN PRACTICE

By Alison Luke

WASTEDELEMENTS

FUTURE EVENTThe Middle East Waste Summit 2010 is

scheduled to take place in Dubai Airport

Expo Centre on 18-20 May 2010. Organised

by Dubai Municipality, the summit will

be a platform for sharing strategies,

investigating global best practice and

showcasing fi rms that can deliver suitable

waste management solutions to the region.

The event will include a conference and

exhibition. The conference is expected

to have a wide programme of keynote

sessions and roundtable discussions

hosted by industry experts. Conference

themes include construction and waste

management, landfi lls, industrial waste

management and zero waste inaccuracies

and realities.

www.wastesummit.com

to dispose of construction waste; waste management centre, Abu Dhabi has also made clear regulations on the disposal of construction waste,” states Ibrahim.

“Regarding the removal and dumping of waste in Dubai for example, Dubai Municipal-ity has made a set of guidelines for the same (Local Order No 7 of 2002 on Management of Waste Disposal Sites in the Emirate of Dubai),” adds Habiba Al Marashi, Emir-ates Environmental Group chair and board member of UN Global Compact. “Gener-ally the construction companies give out the responsibility of the waste disposal to a subcontractor who has got a permit from the Municipality to transport the waste to a designated place. As per the above guide-lines, there are fees for the type of waste dumped at landfi lls,” she explains.

One common aim of the individual regu-lations is to provide environmental protec-tion for the individual countries, including protecting resources and eradicating any dumping, with the adverse effects this causes. “We have several laws that were passed to


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“There are no laws regarding recycling at all,” concurs Envac regional president for the Middle East and India and group vice president, Graham Bell. “Separation and collection of recyclable materials during construction seldom happens; it is more common after a project is complete and is built into the master plan,” explains Bell.

At present, relatively little recycling is carried out for construction waste. Ibrahim reports: “Less than 20 % [of construction waste is currently being recycled].” But, this may be set to change for several reasons. “[Recycling] is something there is a growing interest in and more developers are building around this theme,” reports Bell.

This growth in interest can be accredited to an increased awareness of the benefi ts that recycling can bring construction fi rms: from cost savings to green credentials. “Recycling of construction waste in the UAE is essential and can be of substantial value if initiated in a practical manner,” stresses Ibrahim. “The advantages of recycling construction and demolition (c&d) waste can help in the recovery of useful materials including steel, paper, plastics and other construction materials that can be useful in many other ways,” Ibrahim explains.

“[Incentives to construction fi rms include] the benefi ts they can achieve by reducing waste generation, followed by being able to reuse some of the waste material and the monetary gains that could be achieved via selling the waste as raw material to another party,” states Mario Seneviratne, director, Green Technologies. “Further, the costs associated with purchasing new materials is also reduced when reusable materials

are salvaged from the waste generated,” stresses Seneviratne.

But as well as the potential benefi ts to themselves, construction fi rms should also be considering the advantages that such practices will bring to the countries in which they are operating. “It’s their responsibil-ity to handle waste responsibly,” stresses Kumar. “With recent concepts and regu-lations on sustainable buildings, recycling helps fi rms to get certifi ed, which in turn benefi ts them fi nancially,” he adds.

“The main incentive of recycling site waste is to bring about an effective waste management system which has a positive impact on the environment by saving its natural resources,” states Al Marashi. “[Recy-cling] will in turn reduce demand for virgin resources and the need for landfi ll space...thus increasing the lifespan of landfi lls in our country. This is the basic responsibil-ity of all construction companies towards the environment,” she stresses.

The issue of landfi ll sites is becoming rising in the agenda as the region develops and grows. “With the cities in the UAE expand-ing there is always a scrutiny of the landfi ll sites that occupy vast areas,” agrees Ibra-him. “Construction and demolition (c&d) waste is generally bulky and requires vast areas for disposal,” he reminds.

“The 2005 State of the Environment Report estimated that up to 940 tonnes of con-struction waste was being dropped each day at Abu Dhabi ‘s largest disposal site at Al Dhafra, which covers 16 square kilome-ters,” reports Mike Merriman, Envac Middle East director marketing & sales. “Another site in Moqatra, Al Gharbia, received 5,000 tonnes a day. Both amounts will increase signifi cantly as Abu Dhabi continues to develop,” stresses Merriman.

In order to prove useful, any waste should be separated according to the type of items and given for recycling accordingly. “Separa-tion or segregation of recyclables at source

HABIBA AL MARASHI, EMIRATES ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP CHAIRPERSON AND BOARD MEMBER OF UN GLOBAL COMPACT.

“WE HAVE SEVERAL LAWS THAT WERE PASSED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, HOWEVER FEDERAL LAW 24 (SERIES 1999) WAS A LANDMARK DOCUMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY”

protect the environment, however Fed-eral Law 24 (series 1999) was a landmark document for environmental protection and development in the country,” says Al Marashi. “There have been several revi-sions of this law, but it provides the core for environmental protection in the country,” she says. Pollution of water sources, air and the overall environment are covered within Federal Law 24, as are sustainable development and methods of waste man-agement, disposal and recycling.

RECYCLING RESOURCESWhat do such regulations mean in practical terms and is recycling becoming a standard practice in the region? “Any recycling or resource recovery from waste is entirely dependent on entities functioning onsite,” says Ajay Kumar, Dulsco Waste Management Services’ senior manager operations. “[Recycling is not required] as per any prevailing regulations; any recycling is at the discretion of the company on site.”


WASTE MANAGEMENT FIRMS

DULSCODulsco’s Waste Management Services

(WMS) was the fi rst waste management

fi rm in the UAE to be integrated

management system (IMS) certifi ed.

The company collects and disposes of

hazardous and no-hazardous solid waste,

including construction and demolition

waste, to landfi ll and treatment facilities

in compliance with the Municipality’s

Environment and Safety regulations.

www.dulsco.com

ENVACEnvac is a global leader in automated

waste collection. The fi rm develops and

sells underground network systems for the

transportation of municipal and commercial

waste, which comprise fully automated,

safe and environmentally friendly solutions.

Based on vacuum technology, the Envac

aimed at the water, electricity, roads,

transport and construction sectors.

The fi rm now offers a wide range of

electromechanical, construction and waste

management equipment and solutions to

fi rms in the Middle East.

www.mtkhoory.com

TRASHCOWaste collecting fi rm Trashco began

operating in the UAE in 1977 and currently

operates around 60 vehicles from its base

in Dubai for the collection of domestic,

commercial and hazardous waste. The

fi rm also offers recycling and industrial

cleaning services. It is incorporated by

Waste Alliance and the global energy,

water and waste management group

Suez Environment and holds several

certifi cations including ISO 9001.

www.trashcodubai.com

waste collection system supports source

separation. The fi rm’s system is adapted

to meet local standards in more than 30

countries and it takes full responsibility from

the planning phase to installation, including

the system operation and maintenance, plus

training of operators in the use of the system

and how to separate waste according to

national standards and regulations.

Globally Envac has 34 offi ces in 17

countries; in the UAE there are several

operational systems both in Abu Dhabi

and Dubai, with another six systems under

construction. The same situation applies in

both Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

www.envac.net

MOHAMMED TAYYEB KHOORY & SONS Mohammed Tayyeb Khoory & Sons was

established in 1972 with a product portfolio

AJAY KUMAR, DULSCO WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES’ SENIOR MANAGER OPERATIONS.

GRAHAM BELL, ENVAC REGIONAL PRESIDENT FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND INDIA AND GROUP VICE PRESIDENT.

“[RECYCLING IS NOT REQUIRED] AS PER ANY PREVAILING REGULATIONS; ANY RECYCLING IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY ON SITE”

“LESS THAN 20 % [OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE IS CURRENTLY BEING RECYCLED]”

strain of a rapidly growing population and construction boom.

“Literally millions of tyres are dumped throughout the Emirates and this in its self creates a major environmental hazard,”

stresses Merriman. “Discarded tyres are highly fl ammable and if they catch fi re, given that the conditions at dump sites lend this to be easily done, once ignited they are very diffi cult to extinguish. When the Al Ain facility is fi nished, the recovered rubber will be used to make a range of products

is very essential because it brings down waste handling costs to a large extent,” explains Al Marashi.

WASTE FACILITIESAs the emphasis on waste management increases, so too do the facilities available to construction fi rms. “There is now a number of recycling factories in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah Free Zone,” reports Al Marashi.

In 2008-09, two major projects were under-taken by the Abu Dhabi government aimed at construction waste and old vehicle tyres, with the latter being recycled for use in the construction sector. Merriman explains: “The Abu Dhabi Government funded two projects: fi rstly, approximately AED1.1 bil-lion (US $300 million) has been awarded to build and operate a demolition (construc-tion waste) recycling facility in Abu Dhabi; second, funds have also been awarded to modernise and operate a recycling plant in Al Ain that is already capable of pro-cessing 20,000 tonnes of old tyres a year.” Once operational these facilities will divert large amounts of waste from landfi lls and disposal sites that have fi lled under the


including irrigation pipes, insulation and fl ooring solutions, and heat-resistant plastics for traffi c signs,” reports Merriman.

Recycled materials from the new construc-tion waste recycling plant is expected to include aggregate stone and sand, which be reused to pave roads and make new or recycled bricks for use within the construc-tion industry. “The plant will be similar to an already operational facility in Sharjah that handle 9000 tonnes of construction waste per shift,” explains Merriman.

Dubai and Sharjah also have relatively new facilities for the disposal of c&d waste. “There was a launch of a recycling plant for c&d waste by Al Rostamani and Dubai Municipality in 2007,” reports Ibrahim. “Sharjah has a plant for recycling construc-tion waste; the AED40 million (US $11 mil-lion) Saja’a waste management factory is developed and run by Emirates Environ-mental Technology Company under super-vision of Bee’ah, a limited liability joint stock company, partly owned by Sharjah Municipality,” adds Ibrahim.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGThe surge in investment for sustainable and ‘green’ buildings has meant a greater focus on waste management on construction sites

in recent months. Many clients now request that their projects meet the requirements of ratings systems such as the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

“Sustainable buildings, if constructed in its true essence, should use a signifi cant percentage of the construction material from recycled materials,” stresses Ibrahim. “There are likely to be regulations in the construction sites of these proposed green buildings,” he adds.

Local governments are also applying minimum standards that follow the same guidelines, with more stringent regulations expected to be announced in the coming years. “Essa Al Maidoor, assistant director-general of Engineering and Planning Sector, Dubai Municipality revealed recently that the law on green building will be announced early [2010],” reminds Al Marashi. “This law will contribute greatly to addressing the environmental challenges of the Emir-ate by reducing building impacts on human health and the environment.”

Such changes in regulation are already having an impact on construction work in the region and creating new opportuni-ties for fi rms in the wider market. “Due to the Government’s direction of all projects requiring to be built to recognised green building standards it has been necessitated that the opportunities for recycling waste and reducing waste generation on the whole has opened up,” confi rms Seneviratne. “With more and more projects pursuing green building certifi cation under various rat-ing systems, especially LEED, the waste management industry is also growing and the growth has been quite conspicuous in recent times,” he adds.

“The rulers are pushing the issue [of green building] and this seems to have a big impact and cuts through red tape you would get in other societies,” states Bell. “The larger, more professional developers are looking at this issue seriously,” Bell confi rms.

A number of points can be gained in the LEED system by managing waste on a project and using recycled materials (see box ‘LEED requirements’). These should be consid-ered early in the construction process if full benefi ts are to be achieved. “Projects can achieve these LEED points by considering and incorporating the LEED requirements

LEED REQUIREMENTSThe requirements as per the US Green

Building Council’s LEED rating system.

LEED for New Construction and Major

Renovations V 2009 with regards to

managing waste on site are as follows,

reports Mario Seneviratne:

• MRp1: Storage and collection

of recyclables – required to be

complied with;

• MRc1.1: Building reuse – maintain

existing walls, fl oors and roof – one

to three points to be gained if

complied with;

• MRc1.2: Building reuse – maintain

interior non-structural elements – one

point to be gained if complied with;

• MRc2: Construction waste

management – one to two points to be

gained if complied with;

• MRc3: Materials reuse – one to two

points to be gained if complied with;

• MRc4: Recycled content – one to two

points to be gained if complied with;

• MRc6: Rapidly renewable materials -

one point to be gained if complied with.

MARIO SENEVIRATNE, DIRECTOR, GREEN TECHNOLOGIES.

MILLIONS OF TYRES ARE DUMPED THROUGHOUT THE EMIRATES – AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD.

“THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PURCHASING NEW MATERIALS IS ALSO REDUCED WHEN REUSABLE MATERIALS ARE SALVAGED FROM THE WASTE GENERATED”

at the very initial stages of the project’s design and by ensuring that the design, construction and operations strategies are implemented,” explains Seneviratne.

With waste management and recycling included in green building ratings systems like LEED, it seems certain that the prac-tice will be increased in the region. “With the requirement of sustainable buildings and LEED certifi cation, companies will be forced to look into recycling,” predicts Kumar. “It will become mandatory for builders to recycle and reuse waste mate-rials to get certifi ed and to maintain it,” he concludes. �

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DIRECTORY

JANUARY 9–15, 2010 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 31

32 TENDERS33 PROJECTS

SPECIALIST SERVICES34 Building materials35 Construction chemicals/concrete36 Education & training/fl ooring37 Recruitment/steel

CITY UPDATE38 Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

TENDERS | PROJECTS | SUPPLIERS | CITY UPDATE


�TENDERSFREE TENDERS AND SERVICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRYTO INCLUDE YOUR TENDERS IN THIS SECTION EMAIL TENDER DETAILS TO [email protected]

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BAHRAIN

Issuer: Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: 348/2009/5310Description: Supply of 200,000m of 11KV XLPE underground cable.Closes: January 13Fees: BD50Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Issuer: Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: 349/2009/5310Description: Supply of 11KV SF6 ring switches.Closes: January 13Fees: BD50Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Issuer: Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: 350/2009/5310Description: Supply of air circuit breakers.Closes: January 13Fees: BD15Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Issuer: Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: 365/2009/5310Description: Supply of 70,000m of LV XLPE cables.Closes: January 14Fees: BD50Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Issuer: Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: 345/2009/5310Description: Replacement of defective meters and faulty current transformers.Closes: January 20Fees: BD15Bond: BD500Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.bh

EGYPT

Issuer: Egyptian Railways Integrated Services CompanyDescription: Engineering, design, installation and commissioning of four stationary train washing systems in Cairo.Closes: January 24

Fees: EP5000Bond: EP200,000Contact: The Railways Workshops, Al Farz, El Sharabiya, Cairo

OMAN

Issuer: Ministry of Transport and CommunicationTender No: 339/2009Description: Design and construction of Wadi Al Hiltl Road in the Wilayat of Sohar.Closes: January 11Fees: OR1500Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Ministry of Transport and CommunicationTender No: 338/2009Description: Construction of Al Sihrah Road in the Wilayat of Sohar.Closes: January 11Fees: OR600Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Ministry of Transport and CommunicationTender No: 338/2009Description: Design and construction of roads from Al Lajal to Buwah junction to Halban in the Wilayat of Nakhal.Closes: January 11Fees: OR1050Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Public Authority for Electricity and WaterTender No: 335/2009Description: Construction of water distribution network.Closes: January 11Fees: OR1500Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

QATAR

Issuer: Public Works AuthorityTender No: PWA/GTC/050/09-10Description: Construction, completion and maintenance of a primary health care centre in Al Roda.Closes: January 12Fees: OR2500Contact: Contract Department, Public Works Authority

Issuer: Public Works AuthorityTender No: PWA/GTC/048/09-10Description: Construction, completion and maintenance of a health care centre in Al Nuaim.Closes: January 12Fees: QR2500Contact: Contract Department, Public Works Authority

SAUDI ARABIA

Issuer: Ministry of FinanceTender No: 1195Description: Expansion of Al Batha outlet substation.Closes: January 10Fees: SR1000Contact: www.mof.gov.sa

Issuer: Royal Commission for Jubail and YanbuTender No: 840-S37Description: Maintenance of buildings in Jubail Girls College and facilities in Jubail Industrial City.Closes: January 11Fees: SR1500Closes: Directorate General of the Royal Commission in Jubail

UAE

Issuer: Dubai Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: CNE/0114/2008(R)Description: Construction of water intake channel (onshore and offshore sections), and an outfall system.Closes: January 25Contact: The Chairman, Board of Directors, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Issuer: Dubai Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: CNE/0488/2009Description: Construction of four accommodation buildings at Jebel Ali Power Station.Closes: February 24Fees: AED2000Contact: The Chairman, Board of Directors, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

Last year Oman saw a significant number of contracts awarded by the Ministry of Transport and Communication. In June, for example, the department announced more than US $1.5 billion (OR577.5 million) in airport infrastructure to companies around the world. One such contract included the construction of Muscat International Airport, which was awarded to Turkey’s TAV Construction and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company.

This year, the country can expect to see more contracts being rolled out. Currently, the body is requesting eligible construction companies to bid for the design and construction of roads running through cities like Sohar and Nakhal. �

Tender focus

OMAN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

SEVERAL ROAD CONTRACTS ARE OPEN FOR BIDDING IN OMAN.

> For more tenders check online at www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/tenders

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�PROJECTSA QATAR DATABASE - BUILDING PROJECTS FOCUSTO LIST YOUR PROJECTS IN THIS COLUMN EMAIL DETAILS TO [email protected]

The project calls for the construction of the US $407 million (QR1.4 billion) Al Shaqab Equestrian Academy in Qatar. The academy will include an equine breeding facility, an equine hospital, an Olympic standard indoor arena with adjoining outdoor arena, a members’ clubhouse and stables for members’ horses, staff accommodation, entertainment facilities, a museum and supporting infrastructure works.

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community awarded Leighton Contracting Qatar the main construction contract in June 2006. Construction is in progress and is expected to be completed in April this year. �

Project focus

AL SHAQAB EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY

LEIGHTON CONTRACTING WILL BUILD THE US $407 MILLION ACADEMY.

PROJECT TITLE CLIENT CONSULTANT MAINCONTRACTOR

VALUE(US$MN)

STATUS

QATARAL RAYYAN RESIDENTIAL TOWER Sheikh Mishaal Bin Hamad

al-Thani/MaryamGHD Global Al Darwish Engineering 59 project under construction

AL SADD OFFICE TOWER Sheikha Nela Sadd Al Misned Cansult Maunsell HBK Contracting 44 project under construction

AL ATTIYAH OFFICE BUILDING Sons of Abdulla Bin Hamed Al Attiyah

Arab Engineering Bureau Construction & Reconstruction Company

27 project under construction

AL WAKRA HOSPITAL Public Works Authority GHD Global Joannou & Paraskevaides Overseas


AL REFAA RESIDENTIAL TOWER Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani GHD Global Al Darwish Engineering 31 - 100 project under construction

MODEL SCHOOL AT NAJMA - SCHOOL NO: 23 Public Works Authority In House Inshaa Contracting Company 11 project under construction

AL EMADI TWIN TOWERS Mohammed Esmail Al Emadi Arab Consulting Engineers Not Appointed 101 - 250 project under design

AL MAJID RESIDENTIAL TOWER Ahmad Mahdi Ali Al Majid Arab Engineering Bureau Al Seal Contracting 57 project under construction

SIDRA MEDICAL & RESEARCH CENTRE Qatar Foundation Cesar Pelli & Associates/Ellerbe Becket

OHL/Contrack International 2400 project under construction

LIBRARY FOR QATAR UNIVERSITY Qatar University Arab Architects Group Tadmur Contracting & Trading Establishment


RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN FOX HILLS Buzwair Real Estate/QDREIC Faim Design Not Appointed 2.5 - 15 project under design

APARTMENT BUILDING AT AL SADD Nasser Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Nasser

Consulting Engineering Group Not Appointed 16 - 30 award awaited for the main contract

PALM TOWERS Dar Investment & Development Company

MZ & Partners Al Seal Contracting 218 project under construction

BUSINESS PARK & HOTEL FACILITIES IN NAJMA Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani

Arab Engineering Bureau Redco Construction 101 - 250 project under construction

LABOUR ACCOMMODATION AT WAKRAH - PHASE 2 Public Works Authority Al Aqsa Consulting & Engineers Ramco Engineering 5 project under construction

RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN PEARL QATAR - PARCEL 8A The Land/UDC Callison Architects/KEO International

Al Arrab Contracting 31 - 100 project under construction

NDIA-ATC BUILDING NDIA Steering Committee Bechtel/Khatib & Alami Consolidated Contractors International Company


DOHA HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDING Sheikh Saoud bin Mohd bin Ali Al Thani

Consulting Engineering Group China State Construction Engineering Company


RESIDENTIAL TOWER IN THE PORTO ARABIA - PLOT NO:10B

The Land/UDC Callison Architects/KEO International

Al Arrab Contracting 31 - 100 project under construction

> For the latest projects information visit www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/projects


�SPECIALIST SERVICESCONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MADE EASY IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK’S DIRECTORYTO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL +971 4 435 6473, OR EMAIL [email protected]

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Rubber World Industries (RWI) produces a range of rubber insulation products under the name of Gulf-O-Flex around the Gulf and South-East Asia. These products are supplied to the oil and gas, construction, shipping and automobile industries. Established in 1993 and part of the international conglomerate - the Memon Group of Companies, the manufacturer supplies 56% of the region’s requirements for rubber insulation pipes and sheets, and other rubber-derived products.

International exports of RWI’s high quality products to the Middle East, Canada, Southeast Asia, South Africa, East Africa, Far East Asia and Europe, has also been a major contributor to the company’s achievement. Recently, the company has been awarded contracts to supply its prod-ucts to several projects including Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, Dubai’s Motor City and Ajman’s Horizon Tower.

RWI caters to the rubber insulation needs of companies from more than 90 countries, including the US, Ger-many, Russia, Canada and Singapore. Gulf-O-Flex is a closed cell electromeric insulation and an environmen-tally friendly, CFC-free and fl exible material, which can withstand severe environmental conditions. It can retard heat gain and prevent condensation or frost formation on refrigerant lines, cold water plumbing and chilled water systems. �

Supplier focus

RUBBER WORLD INDUSTRIESMANUFACTURER OF RUBBER INSULATION

RUBBER WORLD INDUSTRIES CHAIRMAN ABU BAKER SHAIKHANI.


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> For directory information visit www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/directory

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CITY UPDATERAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE

New construction activity makes the most of the city’s picturesque environment by focusing on hospitality and real estate. A raft of projects have broken ground over the past few years that are expected to attract tourists, GCC nationals and expa-triates alike. Such projects include Mina Al Arab, a coastal development, which will extend some 4.5km into the sea from the mainland.

In the beginning stages of development, where some regions looked to oil and gas reserves to boost their econo-mies, Ras Al Khaimah turned to its mountains, where lime-stone, gabbro, silica and other

clays would provide a foundation for the cement, ceramic and glass industries. Now, thousands of manufacturers of these very products are located in the city’s industrial areas. RAK Freezone, for example, which was established in 2000, currently accom-modates some 5000 companies.

In recent years, the emirate has once again turned to its natural surroundings, but this time, for a whole new purpose.

Another waterfront development, Al Mar-jan Island, is destined to become a place for luxurious living. Five coral islands are being developed off the coast of the emir-ate, which will be home to residential areas and resorts.

Construction in RAK remains strong, according to offi cials. “RAK has never been over-hyped but the Crown Prince, HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, has played a key role in encouraging business to

Moving mountainsNATURAL SURROUNDINGS AND ROCKY RESOURCES HAVE SHAPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF RAS AL KHAIMAH

By Sarah Blackman

ABOVE: AL MARJAN ISLAND WILL BECOME HOME TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND RESORTS.

“RAK HAS NEVER BEEN OVER-HYPED BUT THE CROWN PRINCE HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN ENCOURAGING BUSINESS TO THE INDUSTRIAL EMIRATE”


WORK ON THE US $2.7 BILLIION MINA AL ARAB PROJECT, WHICH WILL EXTEND SOME 4.5KM INTO THE SEA FROM THE MAINLAND OF RAS AL KHAIMAH.

.

BAB AL BAHR BEACH RESORT WILL BE LOCATED ON THE PENINSULA OF AL MARJAN ISLAND PROJECT.

TOP PROJECTS US$Mina Al Arab 2.7 bnAl Marjan Island 1.8 bnBab Al Bahr 1.2 bn

‘the industrial emirate’ and, therefore, we’re not reliant on speculators,” says Rakeen manging director Ghassan Youssef.

However, the confusion remains over the US $1.4 billion La Hoya Bay development that was supposed to be delivered in 2008. In September 2009, a RAK court ruled in favour of some 800 project investors and appointed RAK-based property developer Rakeen as judicial custodian of Khoie Prop-erties, the project’s original developer, until the completion of the project. Khoie has denied rumours of insolvency.

Despite setbacks, demand remains in most northern of the UAE’s emirates. All industries are attracted to RAK through excellent leadership and that means that we’re not responding to a bubble, but to an increase in industry and production,” says Romain Felber, general manager of RAK’s Al Hamra Village development. �


DIALOGUEALBERTO TREVES

What are your future plans for the construction of education establishments in Abu Dhabi?We will build thirty schools in the next thirty years and we have plans to renovate about 15 schools each year. We are using three model designs, which we are adapting to different geographies and building confi gurations. We are also introducing new types of classrooms that didn’t exist before, such as music rooms, and expanding the use of the libraries – we will have libraries on wheels that can move to different parts of the school. The fi rst phase of the programme will see the construction of 18 schools starting in June.

When will construction tenders be released?We are now in the middle of the design process and we expect to fi nish some time in March. We will call for construction bids immediately afterwards and we expect the [fi rst phase of ] schools to be ready in September, 2011. Of course, these are not the last group of schools we are going to build – we will carry on with more designs and construction projects.

How has Adec progressed since its establishment in 2007?We have created something from nothing. Before, the schools were very small and dark and were designed for a unidirectional way of teaching. We felt that these types of classrooms were not practical so we hired consultants from around the world and had very intensive discussions with the local authorities who decided to adopt our new ideas. We are determined to carry out these concepts.

What makes building a school different from any other project?It is imperative to engage with local

School of thoughtAbu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) section manager for facilities design Alberto Treves discusses some exciting new plans to build schools in Abu Dhabi

By Sarah Blackman

communities when building a school. Discussions with the teachers, school administrators and of course, the students is also very important when it comes to constructing a school.

Why is there such a high demand for schools in Abu Dhabi?There is a high demand for three reasons. One is because of the growth of the population, two because new educational ideas need to be adapted and fi nally, buildings are getting old and we need to replace them.

How sustainable will the new schools be?We believe that the better we design the schools the longer their life-cycle will be. It is better to invest money in good quality systems and materials. We are adopting a lot of sustainability concepts and we want to achieve three pearls with the Estidama rating system for all the schools we build. We are in partnership with the Urban Planning Council and Estidama to write our own rating systems for schools. This will happen in the next couple of months.

How will you achieve three pearls?We will need to reduce the consumption of energy and water and recycle materials. Also we are encouraging the teachers

and students to change their behaviour because sometimes they leave the classrooms with the lights on and the blinds open or they open a window when the air conditioning is on.

What challenges have you faced with your plans so far?It is an innovative process and we have to work through some resistance. People are not always open and ready for new ideas but we have received good feedback and we are excited about getting to where we want to be.

Treves graduated as an architect from

the University of Buenos Aires, and has

contributed to the planning and designing

of educational facilities for over 20 years.

His projects span through the Americas,

to Eastern Europe and Africa. Specifi cally

in the Middle East, he has been involved

in school design projects in Jordan,

Gaza and Abu Dhabi. He is currently the

manager of the Design Section of the Abu

Dhabi Education Council.

www.terex-cranes.com

© Terex Corporation 2009 · Terex is a registered trademark of Terex Corporation in the United States of America and many other countries

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