Construction Business News ME - November 2016

November 2016

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

Construction Innovation Awards 2016: 21 winners honoured at glamourous ceremony in Dubai attended by 300 construction professionals We design.. we construct.. we build..

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, PO Box 65697 Riyadh 11566 Tel: +966 11 293 1193 Fax: +966 11 293 1170 www.albawani.net

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Editor’s note News Appointments Contracts Cover Story

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Coverage of the Construction Innovation Awards UAE 2016

44 Comment 46 Construction Vehicles Construction Business News test drives the Mercedes-Benz Zetros

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GETTING CLOSER TO THE TOP...

Getting closer to the top of the tallest mountain in the UAE will soon be a lot easier, thanks to the fleet of Volvo construction equipment used in the building of the road to the Jebel Jais mountain. When it’s finished, the route will run from Ras Al-Khaimah right to the 1,910 metre summit. The road has already become a popular destination for motoring enthusiasts, who like to show off what their machines can do. But when the road runs out, that’s where the Volvo operators show off their machines. And it’s impressive to see what they VIDEO http://goo.gl/FPsU43

can do. If you want to get closer to the action, scan the code and watch the video.

Building Tomorrow.

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CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Managing Director Walid Zok walid@bncpublishing.net Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net Group Publishing Director Diarmuid O'Malley dom@bncpublishing.net Group Sales Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706

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Subcontracting in the UAE: Basic Legal Principles

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editor’s note

Celebrating Success Activity in the construction sector remains robust despite a challenging couple of years and the UAE is forging ahead with some incredibly exciting plans as we approach the Expo 2020 in Dubai and the 50th anniversary of the Union in 2021.

The list of world class projects under construction or in development in this country is long and varied. To name just a few they include the spectacular Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, the new midfield terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the world’s largest solar power plant which is making steady progress in Dubai.

Let’s not forget that the development of the entire southern end of Dubai is underway, anchored by mega projects such as Al Maktoum International Airport, the Expo 2020 site and Dubai Parks and Resorts.

These projects cover buildings, transport, infrastructure and future energy needs, and address the ambitions of the UAE leadership to keep the country on the map well beyond 2021, as a place to do business, a place to experience world class entertainment and leisure, and a place to live.

Last month the Construction Innovation Awards UAE 2016 recognised some of the firms and individuals who have, and continue

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to play, a vital part in the transformation of the UAE. The ball room at the Westin Mina Seyahi hotel in Dubai was packed with 300 construction professionals who gathered to celebrate the achievements of those involved in projects across the country.

A total of 21 awards were handed out on the night including a special Lifetime Achievement Award for H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, chief executive officer, Wasl Asset Management Group for his contribution to Dubai’s built landscape over the past decade. Congratulations to His Excellency and to all our worthy winners and thank you for your invaluable contributions to the construction sector in the UAE. It was a hugely successful event and we look forward to hosting it again next year when we expect it to be even bigger and better.

A big thank you to our presenting ally, DU, with whom we are very proud to announce we have signed a Deal for all BNC Publishing’s Events this year. Many thanks also to our gold allies Hill International, FAMCO, and The Venture, our category sponsors Ideal Standard and Cadmate and last but not least, our intelligence partner BNC Intelligence.

Jason o'Connell Editor

NEWS

For News, features and more, Visit www.CBNme.com Follow us on twitter for breaking news: @cbn_ME Follow us on Facebook for up-to-the-minute breaking news Read the latest edition on www.CBNme.com

HH Sheikh Mohammed breaks ground on The Tower

Construction begins on the world’s tallest structure to be ready for 2020

H

is Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has marked the groundbreaking of The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, the brand-new icon that will be the world’s tallest tower when completed in 2020.

Providing 360 degree views of the city and beyond, the Tower will eclipse even Burj Khalifa as the tallest building in the world.

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, The Tower anchors the 6 sq km Dubai Creek Harbour mega-development, located just 10 minutes from the Dubai International Airport, and will serve as a magnet for tourists and visitors from around the world.

The groundbreaking was held in the presence of His Excellency Mohammad

14 construction business news me November 2016

“We are thankful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his generous guidance and support in developing another global icon for Dubai” Al Gergawi, Chairman of Dubai Holding, Mr Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, and other dignitaries.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “We are thankful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his generous guidance and support in developing another global icon for Dubai.

“We are pushing our boundaries in every aspect of this new master-

planned development, one of the largest in the world, which underlines the spirit of positivity and hope that our nation celebrates. We will continue to push the frontiers of engineering and construction to complete the project in time for Expo 2020 Dubai.”

With no similar super-tall structures in the world, Emaar has undertaken a completely new approach to wind-engineering and seismic tests, which have already been completed.

Santiago Calatrava Valls said: “The design and architectural features of The Tower demand unique engineering approaches that are currently being implemented on site. Extensive studies were undertaken in preparation for the ground-breaking, and the learning that we have gained from the experience will add to the knowledge base of mankind.”

DAMAC completes first project in Dubai South

DAMAC Properties has put the finishing touches to the first ever project in Dubai South.

The developer has handed over DAMAC Maison de Ville Tenora hotel apartments and has reached an advanced stage of construction with a second hospitality project in the area - DAMAC Maison de Ville Celestia.

Both projects are strategically located at the heart of the emerging urban area of Dubai that is at the centre of Dubai’s strategic plans for development.

Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, DAMAC Properties, said: “With Dubai’s strategic plan to create a key new hub for business and investment, and complemented by world-class facilities, there will naturally be a need for hotel accommodation in the centre of this vital area of the city.

“Our hotel apartment offering in Tenora and Celestia is uniquely attractive as they benefit from prime, highdemand locations at the centre of Dubai South and a return on investment can be realised immediately leading up to and during the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The free zone of Dubai South is rapidly progressing to become the nerve centre of Expo 2020 Dubai site as well as being home to the world’s largest aviation hub that is served by a vast infrastructure network including Al Maktoum International Airport.

Multiplex appoints quality consultant on Al Maryah Central

Intertek has been appointed as enclosure quality consultant on Al Maryah Central in Abu Dhabi

by Multiplex, the project’s main contractor.

Due to open in 2018, Al Maryah Central is a retailled mixed-use development owned and managed by Gulf Related, the joint venture partnership between Gulf Capital and Related Companies.

Combined with The Galleria on Al Maryah Island – it will become Abu Dhabi's luxury shopping and dining destination covering 2.8 million square feet.

Intertek will implement a quality assurance, testing, inspection, and consulting pro-

gramme to assure the complex building performance requirements of the new mall, and compliance with the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code are fully met.

This includes reviewing and approving the submittals of all façade elements such as glass and glazing, stone cladding, Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Cladding (GFRC) and the different types of skylights to cover 9,000 square meters of glazing on the roof.

Intertek will ensure the stone types used meet the properties required and will provide full time factory quality control inspections for the coating systems of all the façade’s secondary steel structures.

Aldar awards $42mn early works deal for Yas Acres Aldar Properties has awarded the $42mn early works package for its flagship golf and waterfront development, Yas Acres, to Bauer Geotechnical Specialized Foundation LLC. In compliance with the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Law which came into force at the beginning of 2016, the award of

the contract comes within six months of Aldar launching the AED 6bn development at Abu Dhabi’s Cityscape.

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Development Officer, Aldar Properties, said: “This is a clear endorsement of the commitment from Aldar and its partners to deliver a best in class development that

is fully compliant with the new Real Estate Law in Abu Dhabi.”

Sales & Purchase agreements for Yas Acres are the first to have been registered with Abu Dhabi Municipality, underlining the positive impact of the Real Estate Law and its ongoing implementation.

construction business news me November 2016 15

NEWS

Work starts on phase two of $272mn Dubai Design District

Construction has started on the second stage of the AED 1bn ($272mn) Dubai Design District (d3) being developed by Tecom Group.

Phase One, which was completed in 2015, boasts 1.2 million sq ft of offices, studios, ateliers, showrooms, and over 200,000 sq ft of retail space.

In the second phase, a creative community which will house a range of design industry workshops, studios and showrooms will be completed next year.

Located close to Mohammed Bin Rashid City and adjacent to Dubai’s Business Bay, d3 will include a 1.8-km waterfront development which will be populated with food and beverage outlets, hotels, retail outlets and a multi-use outdoor space.

The third phase, due for completion in 2018, will focus on d3’s 2-km-long creek-

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side promenade which will feature hotels, international and regional food and beverage offerings with a wide selection of hospitality and leisure facilities.

“We are happy to announce that we have started construction and foundation works for the second phase of the d3 project, which will include a specialised creative community designed and executed by Foster and Partners,” said Dr Amina Al Rustamani, the chief executive of Tecom Group.

Occupancy levels in d3 rose to 85 percent at the end of last month, with 40 percent of the companies originating from the UAE and 60 percent internationally. Over 160 design companies are currently operational in the zone including 4,500 creative individuals, a number expected to increase to 10,000 during the first stage of the project.

First concrete poured at Qatar’s Al Rayyan Stadium

Al Rayyan Stadium, proposed host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, has hit a new milestone after the first concrete was poured at the location of the stadium’s west stand five weeks ahead of schedule.

The concrete pouring signifies the start of a new phase in the construction of the stadium after starting the foundation excavation and is another significant step forward towards the completion of the stadium by 2019.

Over 100,000 m3 of concrete and 6,700 tonnes of structural steel will be used during this phase of the project.

The area surrounding the stadium has also seen major progress in recent weeks with the completion of excavation for the metro by Qatar Rail.

Works on the road connecting the stadium with the nearby mall and other services surrounding the precinct are also nearing completion.

The main contractor for Al Rayyan Stadium is a Joint Venture Company of a local company Al-Balagh Trading & Contracting Company and Indian construction company Larsen & Toubro.

The 40,000 venue will be reduced to 21,000 seats after the tournament for legacy use. The top tier will be dismantled and donated to developing football nations.

WSP PB acquires Dubai Properties set to open Marasi Business Bay promenade Mouchel Consulting Dubai Properties will open the Marasi Business Bay Promenade this month to coincide with the opening of the Dubai Water Canal being built by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).

More than 10 km of the 12 km canal promenade and surrounding infrastructure, including paving of open areas has been completed.

Marasi Business Bay Promenade will have a number of options for entertainment, leisure, retail with and outdoor public facilities.

Abdulla M. Lahej, Group CEO of Dubai Properties (DP) said: “The Business Bay landscape will be redefined with the opening of the Marasi Business Bay Promenade and the Dubai Water Canal.

“Visitors and residents in this area,

for $91mn

which has been known more for its commercial activities, will now have a unique venue in the heart of the city where they can enjoy a new active, urban lifestyle at the city’s next iconic fitness and leisure destination.”

Phase 1 of the Marasi Business Bay destination, comprising The Marina and The Park, is on schedule for delivery in Q4 2017 while the full development should be complete by 2023.

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has agreed to purchase UK-based Mouchel Consulting from Kier Group for approximately GBP 75mn ($91.4mn).

Mouchel Consulting has approximately 2,000 employees, mostly located in offices across the UK and Ireland, as well as a presence in the Middle East.

The firm is known for its broad expertise in the transportation and infrastructure sectors, particularly in highways and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Mouchel also has an expertise in the land referencing and regulated water market segments.

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff’s said the acquisition fits with its 2015-2018 growth strategy to become a top-tier player in each of the regions and sectors where it operates.

construction business news me November 2016 17

NEWS

DP World invests in Hyperloop One DP World has announced a multi-million dollar investment in US based Hyperloop One that will provide backing for the continued research and development into the revolutionary technology.

The Dubai-based port operator is now a significant stakeholder in the firm with DP World Group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem being elected to its Board of Directors.

As part of the investment, Hyperloop One will benefit from DP World’s expertise in complex cargo handling operations and experience accumulated across its global portfolio of 77 marine and inland terminals in six continents, DP World said in a statement.

The move follows the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies to carry out feasibility studies for using Hyperloop systems in the UAE. Phase 1 of the MOU announced in August has an initial focus on moving containers from ships docked at DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port via the Hyperloop system to a new inland container depot in Dubai.

The study will also focus on efficient handling of containers, costs, benefits, and demand and volume patterns of

moving cargo using the new technology.

DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “DP World and Dubai are at the forefront of technological innovation in the transport and logistics industry and we continue to seek opportunities to invest in and utilize our expertise to

develop disruptive technology.

“We are exploring many innovations in our sector and our collaboration with Hyperloop One is just one example illustrating our support of creativity and our commitment to research and development, using technologies to make our operations more efficient.”

Farnek invests $40mn in smart staff accommodation UAE-based total facilities management (FM) company Farnek, is investing over AED 150mn ($40mn) in a new state-of-the-art staff accommodation centre in Dubai Investments Park.

The new smart centre, which will become home to 8,000 employees, is situated opposite the Expo 2020 site, close to Al Maktoum International Airport-Dubai World Central, the sprawling development branded as Dubai South.

Farnek has already purchased the

18 construction business news me November 2016

freehold plot, which cost more than AED 50mn and has appointed multidisciplinary architectural and engineering firm, Arif & Bintoak to create and build the design at an additional cost of AED 100mn. The company expects to break ground next summer and complete by December 2018, said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.

“It will be a massive benefit for us to work with the team at Arif & Bintoak, highlighting our capabilities at the design stage, rather than retroactively,

typically through benchmarking and auditing,” Oberlin said.

“Relocating our staff to DIP will also enable us to optimise our operational efficiency, by capitalising on opportunities that the building boom in Dubai South will present to us. This will be especially true in the near term as the Expo 2020 draws closer and the site begins to take shape. Having up to 8,000 technicians just minutes away, will certainly give us a competitive edge.”

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NEWS

Manitowoc awards Kanoo Machinery in KSA Elite Dealer status

Kanoo Machinery, Manitowoc’s longstanding distribution partner in the Middle East, has been awarded Elite Dealer status for its Saudi Arabian operations, one of only four dealerships to receive this designation in the Middle East.

The Elite Dealer award recognises dealers that excel in their parts and services standards, raising those standards at an international level.

“Awarding Kanoo’s Saudi Arabian operations Elite Dealer status was an easy decision for Manitowoc, given the

company’s efforts to elevate the technical level of its aftersales engineers and technicians over the past year,” explains Yannick Richaud, Manitowoc’s Middle East Crane Care director.

“It has both a first-class facility and team that has worked hard to achieve the various criteria for the award. We are confident that Kanoo will continue to drive and maintain these high standards.”

Established in 1890, Bahrain-based YBA Kanoo is one of the largest, family-

owned companies in the Middle East.

The machinery division has been selling and supporting the Grove mobile crane range in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain for almost 50 years, providing equipment to some of the Middle East’s largest companies.

In addition to Grove mobile cranes, Kanoo Machinery represents many leading international brands that cater to diverse industry segments, including lifting, material handling, construction and power generation.

Atkins appoints MD for transportation and infrastructure Leading design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins has appointed Phil Malem as managing director for its transportation and infrastructure business, Middle East & Africa.

Malem will head up a new team of 600 employees who will focus on providing “agile and integrated solutions” for Atkins’ transportation

and infrastructure clients in the region.

Simon Moon, Atkins’ chief executive officer, Middle East & Africa said: “Phil has the drive to lead this team and help develop our business in the transportation and infrastructure sector in the Middle East and Africa.

“Having previously lead one of our energy businesses, Phil brings with him a

20 construction business news me November 2016

wealth of broad industry experience, strong capabilities in strategic client engagement and successful business leadership.”

Malem has been with At-

kins for seven years and was previously managing director of Atkins’ power and renewables business.

“This is an exciting time to be moving into this part of the business,” he said. “We have an established rail and metros business, excellent capability within highways, water and power and a vast amount of experience in the growing aviation sector.

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Appointments

Wael Allan takes the helm at Drake & Scull Drake & Scull International has promoted Wael Allan to the rank of chief executive officer (CEO) of the company, replacing Khaldoun Tabari who tendered his resignation in August.

Wael’s step up from the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) marked the final phase of a six-month transition process initiated with his appointment in the first half of the year, the engineering, procurement and construction firm said in a statement adding that Tabari would continue to serve DSI as a non-executive board member, member of the executive committee, vicechairman and a major shareholder.

Wael Allan is an industry veteran with more than 26 years of global management experience spanning EPC and

construction across the USA, Europe, Far East and the Middle East. Prior to his appointment at DSI, he served as the CEO for Arcadis Middle East, and progressed through senior management roles for reputed firms including Hyder Consulting, Skanska USA Buildings, Washington Group International and Raytheon Engineers and Constructors, amongst others.

“I am confident that Wael Allan’s vision and commitment will help DSI emerge stronger, leaner and more efficient through these challenging times, drawing on his considerable 26 years of global engineering and management experience.” said Majid Al Ghurair, Chairman of DSI. Khaldoun Tabari said: “As we mark 50 years of our Middle East operations, I believe this is the right time to hand

over to Wael Allan and the senior team that will now chart the future course of the company. I believe that our fundamentals remain robust and our clients and partners continue to value our experience and pioneering innovations in our key markets.”

KEO bolsters top team KEO International Consultants has strengthened its management team with the appointment of its first ever Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Reporting to the President and CEO, Donna Sultan, Abdol Hagh will be responsible for leading the design related business in KEO, including the delivery of all architectural, engineering, planning and landscape architecture services. He will also have a far reaching role in business development in all of KEO’s markets with a mission focused

on winning and delivering major projects, to grow and expand KEO into new markets and new services.

Prior to joining KEO, Hagh spent eight years with AECOM in a series of high pro-

file positions, including being Project Director of the $30bn Riyadh Metro project.

His career previously including 25 years with Weidlinger Associates where he rose to the rank of Managing Director for seven years with full P/L responsibilities.

“The opportunities lying ahead of us, in this part of the world, are enormous.

So are the risks,” said Hagh. “We need to focus our attention to deliver creative, innovative and timely solutions that our clients demand of us. This is the key to our success.”

Currie & Brown names new director International physical assets management and construction consultant, Currie & Brown, has appointed Michael James as director of project management (Middle East).

James has over 33 years’ experience in the construction industry, the last decade of which has been spent in senior positions in the Middle East. Prior to joining Currie & Brown, he ran major national building projects for an international project management consultant.

Focused on the buildings sector, he has a strong track record in setting up the successful delivery of ambitious, technically complex 22 construction business news me November 2016

and time-sensitive mega-projects across the MENA region for both the public and private sectors, Currie & Brown said in statement.

Simon Andrews, Currie & Brown’s chief operating officer in the Middle East, said: “As the project management business leader and an executive member of the Currie & Brown Middle East team, Michael’s judgement, leadership and analytical expertise, combined with his comprehensive knowledge of the industry and his capacity for entrepreneurial insight will provide an important asset to our clients and expand Currie & Brown’s service offering in the region.”

Contracts

RTA pens $2.8bn metro extension contract

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially signed the AED 10.6bn ($2.8bn) contract to extend the metro to the site of Expo 2020. Expolink, a consortium of Alstom of France, Spain’s Acciona and Turkey’s Guler-

Dubai Contracting Company to build 29 storey tower

mak, was awarded the deal in July. The project covers the extension of the Red Line of Dubai Metro 15 km from Nakheel Harbour & Tower Station to the site of Expo 2020, as well as the supply of 50 trains.

Hill wins $6.4mn contract in Qatar Hill International signed a contract with Qatar Electricity & Water Co. (Qatar E&W) to provide project management services in connection with the design and construction of a commercial development in Qatar. The four-year deal for the project in Lusail City, just north of Doha, has an esti-

mated value to Hill of approximately $6.4mn. The development will feature two towers, 47 stories and 27 stories, with a total built-up area of approximately 220,000 square meters (2.4 million square feet). A third 7-story structure will include retail space and parking accommodations.

AE Arma-Elektropanç wins Al Maktoum Airport MEP contract

AE Arma-Elektropanç has been awarded the MEP works for Al Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal Building Expansion Project.

The Turkish firm was appointed by main contractor Al Jaber LEGT Engineering and Contracting (ALEC).

24 construction business news me November 2016

Under the agreement, the first phase of this project, which will more than double the built up area of the passenger terminal to 145,926 sqm, will be completed by June 2018 when the airport will be able to handle up to 26.5 million passengers per year.

Dubai Contracting Company has won the contract to build the Marquise Square development in Downtown Dubai. Developer SRG and global property investment firm Select Property have launched sales in the exclusive development which is scheduled for completion in Q4 2018. The 29-storey building will address the shortage of studio apartments in the area by providing 237 studios as well as 59 onebedroom, 70 two-bedroom and 8 threebedroom apartments.

DEWA awards tender for 3D printed lab Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded Convrgnt Value Engineering (LLC) the tender to design and construct the first building in the UAE to be fully printed onsite and the first 3Dprinted laboratory in the world. The facility will be built as part of the Research & Development (R&D) centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, and will conduct research on drones, and 3D-printing technology.

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Contracts

HOK to design new Kuwait University buildings HOK has been selected to design Kuwait University’s new College of Architecture and College of Computing Sciences and Engineering buildings at the Sabah Al-Salem University City campus at Shadadiyah. Totaling 477,000 square feet, these buildings will complete the initial build-out of the 64.6 million sq ft. Sabah Al-Salem Kuwait University City campus, which was decreed in 2004 and is southwest of Kuwait City.

Doosan HI and ENGIE win $1.2bn Saudi power plant deal French utility Engie and Doosan Heavy Industries of Korea have won a contract with Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to build a 1,504 megawatt (MW) power plant at an estimated cost of $1.2bn. The deal for the Fadhili power plant was awarded by SEC in partnership with national oil giant Saudi Aramco. Scheduled to be operational by November 2019, the Fadhili power plant will be owned 30 percent by Saudi Electricity, 30 percent by Aramco and 40 percent by private sector partners.

DIP contracts MWH to design stormwater drainage network

Dubai Investments Park (DIP) has contracted MWH to design a new drainage network aimed at preventing flooding of low-lying areas within the development during heavy rainfall. The project started in August and will be completed in four months and connected to the main Dubai Municipality drainage network for Dubai South and adjacent communities. Approximately 147km of pipeline, 2,000 manholes, five ponds and five lift stations will be involved in the network.

26 construction business news me November 2016

Arab Contractors bags $15mn hotel deal in Dubai Egypt’s Arab Contractors has signed a AED 55mn ($15mn) contract with UAE-based Al Ghurair Properties to develop two hotel buildings in downtown Dubai. The contract involves the first phase of a larger project in the UAE worth AED 600mn. Each building in the hotel projects consists of a basement and four levels.

Keller wins $73mn Port Said geotechnical contract

Keller Group, the world's largest geotechnical contractor, has been awarded a major contract in Port Said, Egypt. The contract for ground improvement works forms part of the development by the Egyptian Government of the eastern shore of Port Said, along the newly created navigation channels of the Suez Canal. The contract is for a value of around GBP 60mn ($73.5mn) with work expected to commence imminently and to be completed by the third quarter of 2017.

Awards 2016

Construction Innovation Awards Me 2016

Gold Sponsors

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intelligence pa rt n e r

T

he winners of the Construction Innovation Awards 2016, presented by DU, were crowned on 19 October at a glamorous ceremony at the Westin Mina Seyahi hotel, with 300 construction industry professionals in attendance.

Twenty-one winners took home prestigious Construction Innovation

Awards, with H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, chief executive officer, wasl Asset Management Group scooping the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award for his special contribution to Dubai’s built landscape over the past decade.

Applauding the innovative sector in the region, Wissam Younane, CEO, BNC Publishing commented: “Our

second annual Construction Innovation Awards is part of BNC Publishing’s dedication to showcasing exceptional leaders in the region. It was an honor to recognize the work and effort of our winners who are building the Middle East of the future.”

H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, CEO of wasl Asset Management has

construction business news me November 2016 29

Awards 2016

Lifetime Achievement Award H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, chief executive officer, wasl Asset Management Group

Master Developer of the Year Dubai South been the driving force that has taken wasl Asset Management Group to its position as a world-class asset management company.

In just eight years, since wasl was established and he was appointed as CEO, H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim has overseen a transformation from its previous incarnation as The Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC), to its current status as one of the region’s 30 construction business news me November 2016

Contractor of the Year Trojan General Contracting best known and highly-regarded property development and management organisations.

His stewardship has resulted in the company owning and managing more than 40,000 residential units across Dubai, including community malls that host more than 400 retail units, 5,500 industrial plots in 27 zones across different parts of the city, a hospitality portfolio that comprises of 14 hotels

containing 5,500 rooms, with plans for an additional 15 hotels which will incorporate 4,500 rooms. wasl has recently successfully launched four huge projects; wasl 1, wasl Gate, wasl Tower and Nad Al Hammar Gardens – all of which were inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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Awards 2016

Developer of the Year Azizi Developments

Commercial Project of the Year Citywalk by Meraas

The award for Master Developer of the Year went to Dubai South. As everyone knows Dubai likes to think big. But even by the standards of this emirate, no one has ever conceived anything on such an ambitious scale.

Dubai South is developing a 145 sq. km. master-planned city with a future population of 1 million, the world's largest airport in the making – the Al Maktoum International Airport – and 32 construction business news me November 2016

the site of World Expo 2020. Hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of construction contracts have been handed out and the first residential projects have just been handed over.

Contractor of the Year was won by one of the fastest growing construction firms in the UAE. Since its launch in 2009, Trojan General Contracting has won and executed a portfolio of major construction projects in almost

all sectors of real estate and infrastructure development. Its recent projects include construction of 5,000 Villas in Al-Ain, the Mira Oasis town house project in Dubai and the prestigious Palm Tower Project in Dubai.

Azizi Developments chief executive Farhad Azizi walked away with the award for Developer of the Year. The company has been on a roll recently and has built up a $2bn property

Project Management Firm of the Year Parsons

MEP Contractor of the Year ALEMCO

portfolio spanning luxury residential, commercial and hospitality projects with more than 20 projects under construction.

The Commercial Project of the Year award went to Citywalk by Meraas for the way it seamlessly blends retail and F&B with a new residential component in an outdoor lifestyle setting.

Omar Delawar – chief projects officer at Meraas was there to accept the

award.

Parsons was named Project Management Firm of the Year. Pierre Santoni, land development director at Parsons accepted the award for the company which is recognised as a global leader in the management of large, complex, multisite programs and has been involved in a multitude of big projects across the GCC. The MEP Contractor of the Year

award went to a company that has built a very strong reputation in the market for delivering highly complex, quality projects to a select group of key clients which include the UAE’s major airports. Robert McDonnell accepted the award for ALEMCO, part of ALEC. Paul La France – chief projects officer, DXB Entertainments picked up the award for Leisure Project of the construction business news me November 2016 33

Awards 2016

Leisure Project of the Year Dubai Parks and Resorts

Consulting Firm of the Year Hill International

Fastest Growing Company KBW Investments Year on Behalf of Dubai Parks and Resorts. Currently undergoing a phased opening, the multi component theme park is set to bring an exciting new dimension to the tourist scene in the UAE. The winner of the Consulting Firm of the Year award was Hill International. Vastly experienced in the Middle East, the firm is currently involved in projects in a number of key cities across the region including the Rixos 34 construction business news me November 2016

Saadiyat Island Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Doha Metro and Lusail Tram in Qatar and the Jabal Omar mixed-use development in the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Dubai-based KBW Investments was named Fastest Growing Company.

Headed by founding Chairman HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, together with Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, the company has rapidly built a portfolio over the past two years

spanning manufacturing, construction, engineering, project management, automation, technology, and more.

The winner of Hospitality Project of the Year has been one of Dubai’s busiest developers over the past 12 months. Nakheel took home the honour for its landmark 52-storey hotel and residential complex at the heart of Dubai’s world-famous Palm Jumeirah.

The Palm Tower comprises 504 luxury residences and a five-star, 289-room

Hospitality Project of the Year The Palm Tower by Nakheel St Regis Hotel occupying the first 18 floors, with an array of facilities, including one of the world’s highest infinity pools, located 210 metres above ground on the 50th floor. The award was collected by Mohammed Rashid Bin Dhabeah, managing director, Nakheel Development.

Residential Project of the Year went to developer Shaikhani Group for the AED 220mn Gardenia Residency in Jumeirah Village Circle. The winning

Residential Project of the Year Gardenia Residency by Shaikhani Group

project is part of a property portfolio numbering 11 real estate projects worth close to $1bn in various stages of development in areas such as Dubai Sports City, Jumeirah Village Circle and Dubai Silicon Oasis. Mahmood Abu Baker Shaikhani, managing director of Shaikhani Group was there to accept the award.

Engineer of The Year was presented in recognition of an outstanding individual who is respected by their

employers, peers and clients. May Faraj, Associate Director at Arcadis, clinched the award for, among many other achievements, creating an odour assessment framework for the UAE based on similar desert environments around the world.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation M.E. bagged the award for Infrastructure Initiative of the Year.

The company is one of the top construction contractors in the world and construction business news me November 2016 35

Awards 2016

Engineer of The Year May Faraj, Arcadis

Infrastructure Initiative of the Year China State Construction Engineering Corporation has built a rich CV over more than a decade of activity in the Middle East.

On the night it was recognised for its $230mn improvement of the Emirates Road for Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) under the supervision of International Consultant CDM Smith and Al Turath Engineering Consultant.

The winner of Facilities Management Company of the Year was EFS Facilities Services, a leader in deliver36 construction business news me November 2016

ing integrated facilities management services across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Turkey that has amassed a contract backlog of AED 3bn this year. Group Chief Executive Officer Tariq Chauhan took to the stage to accept the award.

Select Group took home the Project of the Year award for a trio of new residential towers situated at the north end of Dubai Marina. The Residences

at Marina Gate will consist of 1,400 exclusive units ranging from studios to three bedroom apartments, podium level duplex villas and half and full floor penthouses.

The issue of sustainability has grown in importance in the Middle East in recent years and is now firmly on many government agendas. The award for Sustainable Project of the Year was a prime example of this shift in mindset.

Facilities Management Company of the Year EFS Facilities Services

Project of the Year The Residences at Marina Gate by Select Group

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construction business news me November 2016 37

Awards 2016

Sustainable Project of the Year Ted Jacob Engineering Group

Health and Safety Initiative of the Year Arcadis Ted Jacob Engineering Group took home the award for its role as lead consultant and project manager for the design and construction phases of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) Solar Innovation Centre which is currently under construction at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

In the construction industry, the health and safety of the workforce is paramount. Arcadis won the award for Health and Safety Initiative of the Year for developing a handbook to improve health and safety awareness and competence levels across its business.

Kuwait-headquartered Kirby Build38 construction business news me November 2016

ing Systems won Engineering Solution of the Year. In operation since 1976, the company maintains a strong reputation for providing steel buildings manufactured across five plants, including in Kuwait and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and has supplied over 75,000 units worldwide.

Leading Formwork Company of the Year went to Doka Gulf for its role in the $1.6bn Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) developed by the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) to relieve the burden on the existing sewerage network in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Doka provided a range of innovative form-

Engineering Solution of the Year Kirby Building Systems work solutions for a significant component of the project – including casting of the shaft liner walls.

Last, but not least, the Innovation of the Year award went to Kimmco, a company with a proud history of supplying energy efficient insulation and HVAC solutions to projects across the region including some of the most prestigious in the UAE such as Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Etihad Towers. Its latest innovation CLIMAVER, is a lightweight pre-insulated ductwork system which enables the designers to meet the stringent thermal, acoustic and fire performance requirements of the HVAC market.

Leading Formwork Company of the Year Doka Gulf

Innovation of the Year Kimmco

QUALITY INTERIOR DOORS

Intermetal Ltd. P.O.Box 474039, Dubai, U.A.E. Tel: +971 4 884 1650 sales@intermetal.com www.intermetal.com www.verdadoors.com construction business news me November 2016 39

Awards 2016

Full List of 2016 Winners: Lifetime Achievement Award

H.E. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim - chief executive officer - wasl Asset Management Group

Master Developer of the Year

Dubai South

Contractor of the Year

Trojan General Contracting

Developer of the Year

Azizi Developments

Commercial Project of the Year

Citywalk by Meraas

Project Management Firm of the Year

Parsons

MEP Contractor of the Year

ALEMCO

Leisure Project of the Year

Dubai Parks and Resorts

Consulting Firm of the Year

Hill International

Fastest Growing Company

KBW Investments

Hospitality Project of the Year

The Palm Tower by Nakheel

Residential Project of the Year

Gardenia Residency by Shaikhani Group

Engineer of The Year

May Faraj, Arcadis

Infrastructure Initiative of the Year

China State Construction Engineering Corporation

Facilities Management Company of the Year

EFS Facilities Services

Project of the Year

The Residences at Marina Gate by Select Group

Sustainable Project of the Year

Ted Jacob Engineering Group

Health and Safety Initiative of the Year

Arcadis

Engineering Solution of the Year

Kirby Building Systems

Leading Formwork Company of the Year

Doka Gulf

Innovation of the Year

Kimmco

40 construction business news me November 2016

KIMMCO awarded “Innovation of the Year” at Prestigious Construction Innovation Awards 2016

www.kimmco.com

Construction Innovation Awards – UAE staged by CBNME, presented KIMMCO with “Innovation of the Year” award.

KIMMCO was selected by elite panel of judges from the construction industry for the launch of the innovative and advanced preinsulted Duct System named “CLIMAVER”.

CLIMAVER is a lightweight preinsulated duct fully developed on

glass wool only. The performance of the duct system enables designers to exceed the stringent thermal, acoustic and fire-performance requirements of the HVAC market in order to provide high comfort and safety to the end users. CLIMAVER is an all-in-one solution. It helps to save energy, lesser installation time and saving on overall cost in comparison to other traditional duct systems.

Comment

Fire Rated Cladding

Shaji Ul Mulk, Founder and Chairman of Mulk Holdings, on the virtues of Glass Reinforced Composites.

Fire rated facades are a necessity in today’s building structures, especially considering the cuurent emphasis on building safety. The trade-off between design freedom and functional safety is relevant for today’s architect, more than at any time in the past. In this regulatory context, one wonders if there are enough product choices which can satisfy fire rated requirements and yet add character to the building façade. The answer to this question is yes and the list of available products seems to be growing by the day. However it is important to consider products which not only satisfy the fire ratings and function requirements, but also offer flexibility of application to the installer.

Glass Reinforced composites offer the right blend of benefits to a building designer. Their properties can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a variety of applications. The mechanical and thermal properties of a composite generally follow the rule of mixtures. As glass fiber is the major component at 70–75 percent by weight (50–60 percent by volume), selection of the correct glass product is critical. The composites follow the functionality of glass, while offering a variety of design options as per the project requirement.

Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is an ideal option as a fire resistant product, with aesthetic properties, high impact resistance, ease of installation and weight savings for the project. The material is custom built 44 construction business news me November 2016

“Glass Reinforced composites offer the right blend of benefits to a building designer” and can be used to make different kinds of shapes and facades. Another suitable product is Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP), a composite laminate of glass fibres in a polyester resin matrix. GRP is a highly versatile material for facades as well as structural load bearing elements. Glass Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) is a moulded product with a high strength to weight ratio, which replaces the traditional art of plastering with pre moulded GFRG composites.

When it comes to glass reinforced composites, application plays a key role in the end project realisation.

Hence, it is important for building suppliers to go the extra mile and provide design, optimisation and even installation support for project designers and owners. This is the only way to ensure that the solution and its requirements do not get diluted as the project progresses towards realisation.

That is why we provide complete turnkey solutions right the way through from project idea discussions, planning of new buildings and renovation of existing buildings to the installation of the product. This helps us control the quality of execution and the delivery timelines of the product.

We, at Mulk Holdings, have introduced a range of A2 fire rated cladding products based on glass reinforced composites as part of Globe clad Fire resistant panels, a group company and an A2 variant of our flagship Alubond USA aluminium composite panels.

Shaji Ul Mulk is the Founder and Chairman of Mulk Holdings FZC, a multinational conglomerate with business interests in Construction, Healthcare and Renewable Energy sectors in UAE, Europe, US, India, China, Oman and Sri Lanka. Alubond USA, one of the world’s leading fire rated composite panel systems with brand presence in more than 80 countries, is the flagship brand of Mulk holdings FZC.

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Vehicles

Muscle and might The new Zetros 3643 AS launched in the Middle East last year.

Construction Business News travels to Germany to find out why it is proving to be popular with construction and oil and gas companies in the region.

By Matthew Treanor

A 6X6 version of the Woerth plant-built vehicle, Zetros 3643 AS, launched in the Middle East last year.

C

onstruction Business News Middle East magazine was treated to a driving experience courtesy of MercedesBenz during its recent visit to the IAA commercial vehicles event in Hannover and got to experience first-hand why the Zetros is building a reputation for robust reliability in the oil & gas and construction sectors in the region.

The Zetros was first launched in 2008 with military and extreme offroad applications in mind. Check the original spec-sheets and you will see that it needed to be able to fit inside a C-130 Hercules air carrier and bears a rounded roofline suitable for the giant aircraft’s hold. It’s front-end also boasts a distinctive cab behind the hood design that one test driver told Construction Business News Middle

46 construction business news me November 2016

East has helped protect United Nation crews from mine impacts.

Put it in civilian clothes however and the two features ensure superior ride comfort, permanent car-like control and the possibility of using the roof to install equipment like radio antennae or a tachograph. Eight years on from its first introduction, you are essentially left with the best of both worlds: the robustness of a military-grade vehicle with the versatility of a commercial offroader. It is incredibly versatile too and is an able workhorse for remote construction, mining and oil and gas operations. Two early Mongolian buyers of the 2733 A even outfitted the 6x6 version of the all-wheel drive truck with a marble-floored bathroom, bedroom and seating for eight passengers (as well as two flat screens and a gun

safe). But that’s a different story.

Mercedes-Benz feels the Zetros is the culmination of its decades-long experience of developing its truck line. In the Middle East, the German truck-maker describes its distinctive look as Abu Booz-style meaning a serious-looking face, and up close it resembles a square-jawed muscle man.

The German company also says the Zetros demonstrates “its superb ruggedness and reliability wherever paved roads are scarce and extreme weather conditions are the norm. And the many attachment and body variants make the Zetros a professional which meets any goal you set for it”. With a new variant (the Zetros 3643 AS, more on that later) recently launched in the region, Construction Business News wanted to take them up on the challenge.

Just a few minutes into a ride up, over and beyond the near-vertical cliffs of Mercedes-Benz’ test track in Oetigheim you realise why the Zetros tears over the parts other trucks would never reach.

Indeed, while Mercedes-Benz recently celebrated its 100,000th sale of the Actros in the Middle East only its Zetros boasts the grunt to be able to travel across the entire continent.

Mercedes-Benz has designed the Oetigheim track to replicate the many conditions its heavy trucks are expected to negotiate. It was almost disappointing then that the 1833 4X4 version of the Zetros negotiated the course’s rocky paths, 60% inclines and deep water pools (fording is rated at 0.8m and can be modified to 1.19m) with consummate ease despite a 2t payload - in admittedly dry ground conditions.

It helps that you have an engine capable of 326hp and torque of 1,300Nm at your disposal. In the hands of an expert driver able to run through the 2-stage gearbox like a Rubik’s Cube in the hands of Usain Bolt, you have a vehicle that can confidently take on most conditions.

At the heart of the Zetros’ driveline and transmission is the VG 1700 transfer case which has been -- and is -- used on the all-wheel drives of the Axor and the Atego for on-, off-road and differential lock purposes. The offroad gearing has been tuned to a ratio

The veh is design icle ed for perfect o ff-r conditio oad driving special r ns with a chassis a e-enforced n high gro d extremely und clea rance, big appr o and dep ach artur angles. e

of 1.69 from 1.403 on their beefed up cousin giving the Zetros a Gorilla Tapelike traction at low speeds and on steep inclines. At one stage at Oetigheim, the Zetros veered over a huge slope only to grab hold of the track beneath. Feeling 10t crawl to a near stop while peering over its nose was breath-taking.

Supporting remote oil and gas or construction operations in the Middle East pushes some drivers to exhaustion and here is where the Zetros excels. Fitting the engine in front of the cab means it remains relatively steady when rolling over rugged terrain. Mercedes-Benz also believes that placing the driver so

far back improves handling and keeps hazards away from the windscreen. You also gain easy access to the engine components with a further knock on benefit of a more even weight distribution between the axles than, say, placing the driver over the engine.

The Zetros is equipped with three mechanical differential locks as standard, and these were easily selected by the driver using a rotary control during the ride. (This rotary control shows the logical sequence in which the locks should be engaged as the terrain becomes more difficult: first inter-axle, then inter-wheel at the rear construction business news me November 2016 47

Vehicles

and finally inter-wheel at the front.)

Most workshop managers will be pleased to learn that in terms of service, maintenance and repair, the truck uses standard Mercedes-Benz truck parts and components.

Clearance at the front also lends the vehicle a 34o approach angle gifting you extra space on steeper dunes and mountain tracks.

The test track was also a good opportunity to test the optional tyre pressure control system which showed reassuring deflating speed on the run, an important consideration when traversing sandy conditions. A differential lock, which is controlled via a rotary switch on the dashboard, can be applied to both the rear and front axles ensuring nippy and continuous movement even in adverse conditions.

A 6X6 version of the Woerth plantbuilt vehicle, the Zetros 3643 AS, launched in the Middle East last year (it went into production in May 2015) for non-military applications. Christopher Grigoleit of Mercedes-Benz Trucks tells Construction Business News: “(The Zetros was) launched in the MENA region as a truck for civilian special applications, such as oil and gas and heavy construction in 2015.”

The 3643 AS shares much of the same rugged structure of the base 4X4 model tested in Germany, including its steel-based suspension, but features a more powerful 16-speed, 12l (listed displacement is 11,697ccm) Euro 3 engine. Torque has also been improved too with the 6 cylinder inline engine producing a muscular 428hp and 2,100Nm. Meanwhile the gross vehicle weight stands at 36t with axle loads of 9t possible on the front axle and 16t on each of the rear axle.

Several different PTOs (power take-offs) are available for the Zetros range. The manual transmission PTOs are gearbox-dependent and ‘shiftable’, which Mercedes-Benz claims is a low-cost variant for driving a hydraulic pump without an additional propshaft. The installation of larger hydraulic pumps, should you require them, is possible thanks to the large centre distance of the spur gear drive. The 48 construction business news me November 2016

The Zetros was launched in the MENA region as a truck for civilian special applications, such as oil and gas and heavy construction in 2015.

automatic transmission PTOs utilise a deployment-oriented system solutions, and feature individually selectable PTO gear ratios, selectable available permanent PTO torque.

Cabin variants can be altered to suit two to seven passengers and strapping the extra axle to the chassis opens a number of possible variants and applications. As you might expect the crew cab is much larger than the standard ‘M-Cab’ with it extending as far as 2.53m in length compared to the latter’s 1.92m. Both cabs have an interior width of 2.05m and a height of 1.4m.

As the run-out in Oetigheim proved,

vibration on the inside remains low even in back-twisting environments and the visibility is excellent -- as you might expect from the elevated seating position. Once again, the cab-behindthe-hood design is an advantage, taking away the need for an engine tunnel and granting the cab even more room.

According to Grigoleit, the cooling system of the engine and the filters have also been designed for the extreme conditions in the MENA region.

The Zetros has been warmly received by a number of sectors since launch with the three-axle semitrailer truck able to be configured to suit the

The Zetros benefits from a smooth ride experience thanks to its all-wheel drive and cab behind the hood design.

The Zetros was launched in the MENA region as a truck for civilian special applications, such as oil and gas and heavy construction in 2015.

needs of fire and rescue teams, material transporters and much more.

The previous flatbed version of the truck peaked at a maximum weight of 27t but by supplying the tractor head into the region, Mercedes-Benz is able to meet demanding loads at far higher weights. In theory this is a truck that can pull a gross combination weight in excess of 110t (Mercedes lists it at 116t) placing it into the realms of mining and quarrying as well as some haulage operator’s needs.

The new Zetros received its major launch in the region at the Idex 2015 defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi, and

according to Grigoleit, the truck is beginning to prove popular in the Middle East region.

“We received the first orders for the newly launched product shortly after the launch but the first larger volume deals we received during 2016,” he says.

Grigoleit describes the buyers of the trucks as being diverse, suggesting the German automaker has succeeded in its goal of broadening its appeal. Mercedes is offering a boxed and tanker version of the truck to transport operators. Oil and gas owners can also use the truck for equipment transportation and mining operators may want to use

it for material extraction. For heavy construction purposes, the tractor head can be hitched to a tipper as well as function as a dump truck. This could be your next truck if you are working on remote and demanding projects.

“The vehicle is designed for perfect off-road driving conditions with a special re-enforced chassis and extremely high ground clearance, big approach and departure angles. The vehicles are suitable and used for heavy construction operations in very challenging environment (off-road) with all kinds of bodies including tippers, drilling machinery and many others.” construction business news me November 2016 49

Case Study

1/JBR

A case study for a BIM-based design process

By Ivar Krasinski – founding partner and design director of EDGE.

I

f necessity is the mother of invention, then process is the uncle. It applies to all fields of human endeavour where methodology determines the outcome. In experimental science the proper setup of controls allows the result to be reliable. In fitness, the program is adjusted depending on the desired result.

The process of physical development is designed to reach specific goals.

It is also true of architecture. The process is everything. A well-designed process allows the making of the right decisions consistently. On the other hand, a poorly-designed process results in missed opportunities which are not even noticed by the architect.

Therefore, it is crucial to design the process prior to conceiving the project.

We live in an exciting age where fantastic innovations occur several times a day.

The impact of hardware and software on design outcomes is well-known to anyone who has participated in architectural projects in the last 20 years. What is often missed, however, is a hierarchy of decisions pre-arranged to ensure the optimal outcome for any given stage of the project.

As an example, consider a conceptual design. Designing a unique door jamb detail may be the right thing for certain

50 construction business news me November 2016

projects, but spending the team’s time on working out details while walls are still moving by meters in the beginning of the design is wasteful, and has an adverse impact on the project. It makes the work hours put into the project ineffective. In addition to this, spending time on the wrong items reduces the number of alternatives considered and produces a less optimal result.

How so? For any given project there is a finite timeline. Even if flexing the delivery dates, we hopefully all agree that no project can go on forever. For any given team there are a finite number of worker hours available. Every minute spent by the team has an impact on the design budget and the profitability of the organisation as a whole. Every bit of time spent has an impact on the client’s bottom line.

It can be either positive or negative. An inefficient design, or one that costs too much, can entirely destroy a project’s financial model and feasibility. On the other hand, a design which keeps good track of the data, allows adjustments to be made, correcting course and, allowing success as an outcome. When considering all these facts, it becomes evident that the proper use of the time available is crucial to a project’s success.

We are lucky that in the last two de-

Stage 4 - Final design

construction business news me November 2016 51

Case Study

cades, Building Information Modeling (BIM) software became widely available.

In case you aren’t familiar with BIM, it is a way of keeping track of all project data in a comprehensively built 3d model. The geometry of the model can be used to adjust the statistics and data, and inversely, editing the data changes the geometry of the model. As the design evolves, with the right setup the software continuously improves the numbers, giving us real-time feedback about the project’s ability to meet criteria. The data can then be optimised to fit into the project's criteria, allowing the best possible result.

There are many different BIM software options, but I have no preference over which ones to use. Revit, Bentley and ArchiCad are among the most popular, but there are many other competing BIM platforms available.

For The 1/JBR design, we used BIM, which itself is not that unusual anymore.

What is crucial is the way BIM is implemented in the process of design. The 1/ JBR project became a BIM project immediately after the napkin sketch stage.

That might not seem like a big deal, but considering the way most firms use BIM, this approach is vastly different. In general, unfortunately, today most projects are modeled in BIM after the last stage, Design Development, begins. Until then, the team works in inaccurate 3d models, or even worse, 2d design software. This means that statistics aren't tracked at the crucial time when the biggest decisions are made. Such a process wastes a lot of BIM’s ability to help sharpen the design team’s pencils early on, and contribute to making better pre-concept decisions.

It is understood by some, that a project’s success depends on a strong preconcept, or at latest, concept stage. Making the wrong big moves early in the design process can quickly result in a project which underperforms or fails entirely. It all leads to the conclusion that it is important to have some statistical feedback right from the start, optimising a building’s areas, construction methods, façade design, parking, and construction cost. A construction cost which is too high can quickly end a project, or if it is too low, result in a design which doesn’t meet the quality of expectations of any 52 construction business news me November 2016

Stage 1 - Pre-concept

Stage 2 - Concept

given market segment causing poor sales.

1/JBR is a 46 story building in an incredible setting, with views over Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai, Skydive Dubai, and Palm Jumeirah. It was crucial that views to these points of interest were maintained as much as possible, and while the project aims high regarding market segment, the costs had to be controlled while maintaining maximum quality.

1/JBR has overcome all these challenges, due to the use of BIM right from the

start. The modeling process began with multiple options and iterations of each option. These alternatives were continuously tracked, keeping all views, areas, quantities and costs constantly in check. In the beginning, the team explored a range of options, of which some were more flamboyant than others. The models started off very modestly, with a minimum representation of each idea. Instead of trying to solve every design to a high level of detail, the options were continuously adjusted to ensure overall optimisation.

“1/JBR is a 46 story building in an incredible setting, with views over Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai, Skydive Dubai, and Palm Jumeirah” – Ivar Krasinski

At the end of this Pre-Concept stage, all options contained clear information about the key parameters. These included: • Uninterrupted views to all of the points of interest around the location • Specific sizes of each unit exactly matching the goals stated in the client’s brief • The ratio between net area (the part of the building which can be sold or rented) vs gross area (that which is required to operate the sellable part,

but cannot itself be sold, such as the elevator core, fire stairs, public corridors and services) • Structural efficiency • Minimised length of the MEP services Due to the data tracking for each option, it quickly became evident that keeping the design more minimal achieved better unit layouts, better efficiency, and tighter construction cost while maintaining high finish quality. At the end of preconcept, the team had considered seven

different arrangements. We discarded the most extreme options and chose one to continue into the concept phase.

This is key. Before, not after, the concept stage the optimal arrangement of units, core, structure and services was narrowed down to one scheme, which both client and design team agreed was best.

Since so much information was available early on, the statistics didn’t change significantly in the subsequent stages. Since the team focused on one option only for the concept phase, and since much of the

Case Study

design was already considered in pre-concept, this allowed a much more thorough investigation and documentation for all subsequent design stages.

Thanks to this approach, many critical design statistics became finalised in the concept stage. These included: • Uninterrupted views to all points of interest from every single room in each unit (excluding toilets) in all of the apartments.

• A very high floor plate net/gross efficiency • A high Gross/Built Up Area efficiency • Semi-private elevator lobbies (for the lower 2/3rd of the floor plates), meaning that on these floors only two units use each lift lobby • Private elevator lobbies in the upper 1/3rd of the floor plates, meaning on these levels every lobby is part of the sellable area of each apartment, ensuring privacy • Private express lifts for both penthouses, providing total separation.

All of these criteria were achieved due to the efficient use of time from the start, thanks to the BIM design process. In the schematic stage, the model gained a lot of detail, allowing even more accurate area calculations and cost estimates.

The size of the model at this point exceeded 250 Mb, meaning that if it were one file, it would be near impossible to work with due to the high amount of data crunching required by the server with each adjustment. This necessitated the use of work sets (a term meaning that the parts of one central model are opened in partially or entirely separate models for architecture, interiors, facade, structure, and MEP. Due to these models being separate, it is possible to edit any one of them more easily since the time required to open the model and parse the data can be significantly reduced compared to that needed to perform the same tasks on a single large model).

This is because each person worked on a much smaller model which contained only part of the overall information.

Work sets also ensured disciplines could not edit each other’s files so that the design can remain intact and only 54 construction business news me November 2016

Stage 3 - Schematic Design be modified and adjusted by each expert team. This is significant because one of the largest time wasters in BIM is the unintentional changing of one part of the model while trying to work on another, by persons who aren’t familiar with what the other specialists in the team may be doing. Avoiding this abortive work allowed more time to focus on the best possible outcome.

Due to the early use of BIM, the end of the Schematic stage resulted in a model which had the level of resolution that comparable projects usually only have in 50% Detailed Design. Having a lot of the small variables locked in at the end of the Schematic stage allowed the team to use the Detailed Design stage to investigate the design in minute detail, optimising

the model with every step. The Detailed Design stage consisted only of detailing the agreed scheme, rather than scrambling frantically to improve the numbers.

1/JBR is going to rise out of the ground shortly. When visiting the finished product, the building will show clear evidence of an efficient design process, thanks in large part to the use of BIM in the earliest stages. The interiors are clean, minimal and elegant, while the exterior creates an iconic presence in the area.

I strongly recommend that designers put their schemes into BIM as early as possible. The improved decision making and efficiency resulting from this approach allow the creation of a very welltailored building. Everyone will be doing this in a few years, so why not start today?

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Legal viewpoint

Subcontracting in the UAE – Basic Legal Principles A delay or failure by the subcontractor is deemed, in the eyes of the employer, as a delay or failure by the main contractor, says Heba Osman, Partner, Fenwick Elliott.

Heba Osman, Fenwick Elliot LLP

S

ubcontracting has become a necessity for modern construction projects due to the increased complexity and specialized nature of projects. Imagine a modern day project without subcontractors, where the main contractor would be required to maintain and pay a huge number of employees and workforce with various capabilities and specialisations regardless of the main contractor’s actual workload. This is simply unsustainable economically.

The use of subcontractors has hugely benefited the construction industry as it allowed main contractors to reduce their costs (and thereby

56 construction business news me November 2016

contributed to overall reduction of project costs) and to mitigate risks through the sharing of these risks with the subcontractors.

The UAE law recognizes the main contractor’s need to subcontract the works. In fact, the UAE allows the main contractor not to only subcontract certain parts of the works but rather the whole of the works, unless (1) the construction contract contains a provision to the contrary or (2) where the contractor has been chosen for his person. This is provided for in Article 890 (1) of the UAE Civil Code reading: The contractor may subcontract the performance of all or part of the work

to another contractor unless a condition in the contract prohibits him for doing so, or unless the nature of the work is such as to require him to do it in person.

In respect of the first prohibition, most standard main construction contracts prohibit the main contractor from subcontracting the whole of the works, and in many instances also require that the main contractor obtain the prior approval of the employer or the engineer on the appointment of the subcontractor. For example the FIDIC 1999 Red Book provides clearly in its Sub-Clause 4.4 that [T]he Contractor shall not subcontract the whole of the Works.

apply. The answer will depend on how clear is the wording of the provisions incorporating these terms.

A clear wording would be something along the lines of “It is agreed between the parties that the terms of document X will apply by incorporation and will be deemed part of this subcontract”.

As such, it is quite important for subcontractors to ensure that they are aware of the terms being incorporated as part of their subcontract and must insist on being provided with such terms.

In respect of the second prohibition, it is quite unusual that a contractor be chosen for his person in the context of a construction contract.

This prohibition usually applies in the context of a personal service contract such as a contract for an artist to draw a painting or a singer to perform in a concert.

As such, it can be said that the general practice in the UAE construction industry is to only subcontract certain parts of the works. These subcontracts are generally governed by the same legal principles governing the main construction contracts. However, due to their nature, subcontracts contain some peculiar provisions

and/or give rights to the employer or subcontractor vis-à-vis one another, which are worth considering in this article.

The Subcontract and incorporation of terms It is not rare that subcontractors get hired through the issuance of a letter of acceptance, purchase order or similarly named documents. Such documents tend to set out the basic terms of the subcontract and in many instances incorporate either the standard subcontract form and/or the main contract itself.

The question that sometimes arises is whether these incorporated terms

Privity of Contract The principle of privity of contract is a cornerstone concept of the UAE law. This principle means that the rights and obligations arising from a contract are only enforceable between the parties of that contract and no third party may exercise such rights or obligations. In the context of a subcontract, which is a contract between a main contractor and a subcontractor, this means that the employer being a third party to this subcontract has no rights or obligations in relation to this subcontract.

However, due to the nature of construction projects and the employer’s need to be in control of certain aspects of the project, the employer in practice does retain some rights (through the contract) in respect of the subcontract such as the requirement for the subcontractor to provide certain warranties for the work carried out directly to the employer or if the employer retains the right to have subcontracts assigned to him if the main contract is terminated. These terms are usually found in the main contract rather than the subcontract itself.

Main Contractor Responsibility Although UAE law allows the main contractor to subcontract the works, this does not diminish the main contractor’s liability for the work. In this construction business news me November 2016 57

Legal viewpoint

respect, Article 890 (2) of the Civil Code provides that the main contractor responsibility vis-à-vis the employer shall remain as it is in respect of the subcontract works.

As such, any delay or failure by the subcontractor is deemed, in the eyes of the employer, as a delay or failure by the main contractor. This is, of course, unless the main contract provides otherwise. The FIDIC 1999 Red Book provides main contractors with the opportunity to divert of this position, and provides in Sub-Clause 4.4 that The Contractor shall be responsible for the acts or defaults of any Subcontractor, his agents, employees, as if they were the acts or defaults of the Contractor unless otherwise stated in the Particular Conditions.

As such, the basic position is that the main contractor remains responsible for all acts and defaults of any subcontractor vis-à-vis the employer, and therefore carries the burden of ensuring that subcontractors are properly selected, managed and controlled.

Domestic v Nominated Subcontractors In this context, and while the basic position is that the main contractor remains fully liable for acts and defaults of his subcontractors, it is worth discussing domestic and nominated subcontractors.

Nominated subcontractors are those subcontractors that are named as such in the main contract or which the engineer instructs the main contractor to employ. The UAE law does not differentiate between “domestic subcontractors” and “nominated subcontractors” and therefore from a legal point of view, and absent any contractual conditions to the contrary, the main contractor’s liability for nominated and domestic subcontractors is the same.

However, the differentiation between domestic and nominated subcontractors usually emanates from the contract. For example, the FIDIC 1999 Red Book deals with the issue of nominated subcontractors in its Clause 5 and provides that a main contractor is under no obligation to hire a nominated subcontractor if (1) there are 58 construction business news me November 2016

reasons to believe that the nominated subcontractor does not have sufficient competence, resources or financial strength to carry out the works, or (2) the subcontract itself does not provide for certain indemnifications to the main contractor, provided that the main contractor promptly notifies the employer of his objection: If the employer insists on the contractor hiring this nominated subcontractor despite the main contractor’s objection and agrees to indemnify the main contractor from the consequences of the matter objected to, then the main contractor is obliged to hire this nominated subcontractor but due to this employer’s indemnity, it can be said that the main contractor’s liability has been shifted either in full to the employer or in part (depending on whether the matter indemnified materializes or not).

Another difference between domestic and nominated subcontractors is payment. The main contractor, under the terms of the main construction contract, has a general obligation to evidence that payment was made to the nominated subcontractors and if he fails to do so, then the employer has a right to make direct payments to the nominated subcontractor.

Payment and back to back provisions The main position under the UAE law, is that the subcontractor has no rights vis-à-vis the employer unless is

referred to the employer by the main contractor in accordance with Article 891 of the UAE Civil Code.

It is common in the UAE that subcontracts include back-to-back obligations or pay when paid provisions. In many other jurisdictions, back to back payment provisions appear to be considered illegal and/or have been nullified by courts. However, this does not appear to be the position adopted by the Dubai Courts that has upheld back-to-back payment provisions on the basis of the principle of freedom of contract. Nonetheless, from a practical point of view this position can spiral down causing damages to the smaller players in the market and in certain jurisdictions the regulator has interfered to prohibit these provisions and/or require the main contractor to provide the subcontractors with guarantees to ensure that payment would be made on time.

However, in the UAE, subcontractors may have the option to suspend carrying out the works under Article 247 of the UAE Civil Code on the basis that if one of the parties fails to perform his obligation, the other party is entitled to suspend the corresponding obligation.

Not all subcontracts are created equally. It is important that a subcontractor considers the actual provision of the subcontract agreement and ensure that it contains some form of guarantee for payment, or at least may allow it recourse against the employer.

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Palm Jumeirah Projects A look at some of the biggest projects being developed on the famous mad made island.

Royal Atlantis

Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) unveiled plans for the $1.4bn Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences in 2014. The 800-room hotel managed by Kerzner International will rise to 46 storeys on the waterfront with a pool 90 metres above the ground on the crescent of the man-made island near the existing Atlantis the Palm Resort.

The project will also include 250 luxury residences and retail offerings. The property is scheduled for completion by 2017. New York-based architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, which is behind Abu Dhabi’s Midfield Terminal, is designing the building.

60 construction business news me November 2016

Alef Residences Construction contractor Al Futtaim Carillion has topped out the structure of the exclusive Alef Residences project on the west crescent of Palm Jumeirah.

Currently under construction on a 46,840 m2 plot of land, the fully funded AED 2bn ($544mn) project is scheduled for handover in Q2 2017. Developed by Al Sharq Investment on a site alongside a W Dubai managed hotel, Alef Residences will contain just 104 units, also serviced

by W Dubai, spread across eight mansions. A duplex apartment costs up to AED 51mn while a mansion will set you back AED 268mn.

Nakheel Mall and the Palm Tower Image provided in May 2016

Construction of the AED 1.2bn Nakheel Mall on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah reached 50 percent completion in May this year and the mall is expected to open in 2017. It will have five retail levels with 350 shops, restaurants and leisure attractions spread across 1.2 million sq ft of leasable space. Alongside the mall will be The Palm Tower – a five-star, 52-storey hotel and residential complex – for which a separate construction contract was awarded last year.

A St Regis hotel will occupy the first 18 floors, with 504 luxury residences above. Due for completion in 2018, the tower will also boast a trio of rooftop attractions, with one of the world’s highest infinity pools on the 50th floor, a 51st floor restaurant and a viewing deck, 220 metres above ground, on level 52.

construction business news me November 2016 61

TAKE 10

The Pointe Nakheel’s AED 800mn waterfront dining and leisure destination is located at the top of the trunk of the Palm opposite the Atlantis hotel. The Pointe spans 1.4 million square feet and will feature fountain shows, a 1.5 km promenade and nearly 150 restaurants and retail outlets and a Reel Cinema multiplex. Like Nakheel Mall further down The Pointe will be accessible via The Palm Monorail, which is connected to the Dubai Tram and Dubai Metro. The Pointe will open mid-2017.

Palm Gateway The Palm Gateway will be a threetower residential, retail and beach club complex located in Palm Jumeirah that will include 1,265 luxury homes. In February Nakheel awarded a construction contract worth AED 1.4bn to Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The towers will be constructed on top of the existing Palm Monorail terminal, which includes 14 levels of parking spaces.

Work is expected to take around two years to complete.

62 construction business news me November 2016

One at the Palm Omniyat’s AED 2bn project is located at the first plot on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah and houses 90 apartments starting at AED 14m and going all the way to AED200m for a penthouse. Contractor Multiplex is pushing ahead with construction of the G+23 LEED Silver building with a gross construction area of 107,795 m2 and is expected to reach 15 levels by the end of the year. The property, due for completion in 2018 is designed by New York architects SOMA.

Viceroy China State Construction Engineering Corporation, the project’s main contractor and a key investor, is putting the finishing touches to the $1bn Viceroy Dubai Palm Jumeirah development, however opening of the first Viceroy hotel in Dubai has been delayed until next year. Developed by SKAI Holdings, Viceroy Palm Jumeirah will include 479 spacious rooms and suites, with 222 signature Viceroy Residences. The beachside property will host ten restaurants, as well as a gourmet market and bakery. In addition, the hotel will also have a spa, indoor fitness facilities and three outdoor swimming pools.

Palm 360 Nakheel launched the twin-tower hotel and residential project on the western crescent of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah at the recent Cityscape Global in Dubai. Soaring more than 220 metres above Palm Jumeirah, the project includes two boutique hotels with 110 rooms between them. Palm 360’s unique features include a rooftop infinity pool and speciality restaurant complex connecting the two buildings at the 30th floor, more than 170 metres above ground.

At 135 metres, the pool is longer than a football field. There will also be two further pools located above a range of beachfront restaurants. The Nakheel is anticipating completion in 2020.

construction business news me November 2016 63

TAKE 10

Azizi Mina Azizi Developments launched its flagship AED 750mn ($204mn) hotel apartments project in August. Set on a plot area of 120,989 sq ft on the crescent part of the man-made island, the G+9 property will be complete in 2018. The project will offer 120 one bedroom and 58 two-bedroom units as well as four luxury penthouses. Announcement of the project took the value of the developer’s Dubai portfolio to AED 7.3bn for a total of 20 projects including the Royal Bay Palm Jumeirah, a block of 90 apartments due to be completed in March 2017.

Dukes Dubai Dubai developer Seven Tides is on track to hand over its DUKES Dubai hotel and apartments project on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah by the end of the year, with construction work now more than 83% complete. The project comprises 279 hotel rooms and 227 hotel-managed studios and one-bedroom apartments. Demand for the apartments has been strong since the project was launched in 2015, with over 90 percent of the 227 units sold to date. Prices start from AED 2.04mn.

64 construction business news me November 2016

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SUPPLIER News

World’s most efficient LED light bulb launched

Al Ghurair Steel to double output

D

A

ubai Municipality and Philips Lighting have launched the world’s most energy efficient commercially available LED light bulb.

Dubbed Dubai Lamp, the 200 lumen per watt bulb would allow households and enterprises to cut energy used for lighting by up to 90 percent and has an average lifespan of up to 15 times longer than conventional bulbs.

The product, which will be widely available in Dubai before the end of the year in four versions, could potentially replace 80 percent of conventional bulbs in Dubai homes. Dubai Municipality and Philips Lighting are preparing for the supply of two million bulbs for residential and professional use across the city in 2017, potentially increasing to 10 million by 2021.

The bulb was unveiled in October at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2016)

66 construction business news me November 2016

at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Speaking at the launch, Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has always been keen to promote such green initiatives designed to encourage sustainable development, which contributes significantly towards the national economy and benefits future generations. It is very encouraging for the clean energy sector to see such unique achievements led by Dubai providing a role model for the world.”

Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting said : “This focused and result-driven partnership with Dubai Municipality is a prime example of how a publicprivate partnership can deliver innovation that is practical and cost-effective for both consumer and professional markets while helping to combat the serious issue of climate change.”

l Ghurair Iron & Steel will double steel production to 400,000 tonnes of galvanized steel per year to meet growing demand in the Gulf and combat dumping by countries such as China, India and Turkey, according to the company’s CEO. Abu Bucker Husain told a press conference last month that regional steel demand remains strong despite lower oil prices, thanks partly to major upcoming events including the Dubai Expo 2020 and the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

About 55 percent of the company's production is exported while the remainder is sold within the UAE, Husain said adding that Al Ghurair Iron & Steel is increasing its output partly to avoid losing market share to the dumping by producers in China, India and Turkey.

"A lot more can be done to stop this dumping, which puts us domestic producers at a huge disadvantage," he said. "When we export to other countries we pay duty, so it is not fair and we need a level playing field."

Al Ghurair Iron & Steel has invested $280mn in its steel plant which began operating in 2009.

Al Naboodah orders 50 lighting towers

M

orris Site Machinery has won its first major order in Dubai with Al Naboodah Group Enterprises company Swaidan Trading for 50 lighting towers.

The UK-based company will supplying Swaidan Trading the SMC TL90 LED lighting towers for use on construction projects in the lead up Expo Dubai 2020.

The deal was sealed by Morris Site Machinery chief executive Chris Morris and International Business Director, Phil Winnington.

“We are delighted to have begun what

we hope will become a long standing, mutually beneficial relationship with Al Naboodah Group Enterprises and Swaidan Trading. This is an important order for us as it represents our first sales into Dubai, a territory where we are now looking to build our business. Hot on the heels of this sales success a further order for lighting towers has now been placed for this territory. Exciting times!”

The fuel-efficient TL90 LED has been specifically adapted to improve heat reflection and ensure operation in high temperatures – ideal for the Middle East territory. The tower is

compact and easy to use with five powerful 240W LED lamps which give a strong and even light. It has a lamp life of 50,000 hours. It also features a mains changeover switch to effectively run a unit from a mains power or alternatively link three machines together using only one engine. It can function in all climatic conditions.

Morris is currently exporting to over 20 countries worldwide with the largest share of the business in Australia where it has established its robust TL-90 range of lighting towers over the past 12 years.

Michelin launches new earthmover tire

M

ichelin has unveiled a new range of tires designed for rigid dump trucks operating in surface mines.

The new MICHELIN XDR3 responds to the needs of mine operators by incorporating three key innovations, which together increase tire life by a minimum of 10 percent compared to its predecessor, the MICHELIN XDR 2.

Compared with its predecessor this new tread pattern offers multiple benefits, including better endurance.

An exclusive new mixing process ensures a more

uniform composition of rubber compounds and a superior level of carbon black dispersion that increases wear resistance.

High-strength steel cables used in the tire’s casing are 10 percent stronger than in the XDR2 and are en-

cased in rubber to prevent the spread of corrosion within the casing, which extends the life of the tire.

The MICHELIN XDR3 is also MEMS1 ready, meaning it is possible to quickly and easily install stateof-the-art data sensors to capture and transmit temperature and pressure information in real time.

Michelin’s R&D teams spent more than six years developing this new tire to ensure that it fully meets the expectations and needs of customers and during the extensive testing process more than 25 million kilometres were travelled, which is the equivalent of circling the earth 625 times.

construction business news me November 2016 67

SAVE THE DATE

Mark your calendar

Construction Business News ME picks the latest and most sought-after exhibitions, conferences and seminars coming up in the construction industry

Light Middle East

October 31 – November 2 Dubai World Trade Centre The 11th edition of Light Middle East is set to illuminate the regions lighting industry with a spectacular array of exhibitors and an outstanding line-up of conference speakers. The three day event offers a comprehensive interactive platform for manufacturers, architects, designers, consultants, engineers, construction companies, hospitality industry professionals, government officials and more.

Big 5 Dubai

November 21-24, 2016 Dubai World Trade Centre Network and do business with more than 3,000 exhibitors from across the globe. The Big 5 continues to be the number one choice for construction industry professionals, so don’t miss out on the chance to source key suppliers, products and technologies all under one roof.

Middle East Concrete

November 21-24, 2016 Dubai World Trade Centre Middle East Concrete is the only event dedicated to concrete in the region. The event connects professionals with leading global suppliers of high-quality concrete and precast machinery, chemicals, consultants, and a range of other products and services. Co-located with PMV Line and The Big 5 at Dubai World Trade Centre, MENA’s largest building and construction event, the three events together form a complete platform for all buyers across the construction spectrum.

68 construction business news me November 2016

PMV Live

November 21-24, 2016 Dubai World Trade Centre PMV Live is the most important heavy machinery event in the Middle East. The event connects professionals with leading global suppliers of high-quality heavy construction machinery, plant equipment, commercial and construction vehicles, consultants, precast machinery, and a range of other products and services.

Bauma China

November 22-25, 2016 Shanghai New International Expo Centre Bauma China, the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles, takes place in Shanghai every two years and is Asia’s leading platform for experts in the sector.

Bauma Conexpo

December 12-15, 2016 Huda Ground, Gurgaon, Delhi BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA—the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles—provides the construction industry in India with a professional platform for networking, investment and the exchange of ideas and information.

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March 7 – 11, 2017 Las Vegas, Nevada Where every major construction industry is represented amongst 2,500+ exhibitors over 2,500,000 square feet and more than 140 education sessions including asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining, utilities and more.

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Editor's pick

Paving the way

Asphalt firm, Ammann ramps up production to meet the demands of a big project

T

he orbital highway is an essential corridor in the city of Doha, Qatar – and an Ammann plant is helping to make the project a success.

The road will connect the main city of Doha with the ports of Qatar and the Saudi border. The highway project is about 40 km long with seven lanes. It is divided into four phases, with the current phase requiring the production of about 3 million tonnes of asphalt.

“It is the biggest project in terms of quantity of asphalt in Qatar at the moment,” said Youssef Ghadban, Plant Manager for Al Jaber & Makhlouf, which is manufacturing the asphalt. The company is a regional leader and has a significant presence in Qatar, where it operates five plants, and in Lebanon, where it operates four.

Productivity was a must on the largescale road construction project. The 3 million tonnes of asphalt will have to be manufactured within two years.

“It was a challenge for us because we were producing around 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes yearly,” said Roger Makhlouf, Managing Director of Al Jaber & Makhlouf. “Now it will be an average of 1 million to 1.5 million yearly, so it’s a big move and it was a big challenge for the company – and for Ammann too because we had to customise plants for this project.”

The production demands made plant reliability crucial. The ability to make varied mixes was another requirement.

Al Jaber & Makhlouf utilised 2 Ammann ABA 340 UniBatch Asphalt-Mixing Plants on the ring road project. The company credits Ammann support and the as1 Control System for helping it keep pace with the demanding highway project.

“The as1 is the number one program,” said Rabih El-Kattar, Plant Manager at Al Jaber & Makhlouf. “It’s easier. It’s not complicated, especially when changing parameters. If you have any problem with this plant, the computer can show

70 construction business news me November 2016

you how to fix it.”

The UniBatch plants and as1 Control System helped the company meet demands for varied recipes, as different mixes were required for base, intermediate and wearing courses.

Quality was essential as well. “The government is always looking for the best quality to apply on the road on the projects,” said Ghadban. “Together with our partner, Ammann, we are looking

to achieve the type of quality they are asking for.”

“We consider Ammann to be our partner,” said Roger Makhlouf. “We have full support from them. We are connected on a daily basis, and we have their full backup and full support at any time. We believe the software that they have is one of the best and is giving us high precision in our production and very high consistency.”

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