Construction Business News ME - February 2020

February 2020

Preferred Bank Partner

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

Feature How Facilities Management Companies are Implementing Sustainable Solutions

Personifying Luxury In Conversation with Jyotsna Hegde, President of Sobha Realty

P64 - This month's unsung hero is Benjamin Thompson

A MEMBERS OF EMIRATES TRANSPORT BUSINESS CENTERS:

CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Director

// contents February 2020 // Issue #60

Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net Group Publishing Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706

Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818

Deputy Editor Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net Art Director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net

14 22 26 32 36 46 50 56 60

News Interview Cover Story Site Visit Feature Company Profile Event Review Sustainability Machinery

Photography Ahmad Khader ahmad@bncpublishing.net

Marketing Executive Aaron Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net

SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 For all commercial enquiries related to Construction Business News ME contact sales@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved Š 2015.

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construction business news me // February 2020 //

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// Editor's note

editor’s note Building Retrofit Program The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has announced the completion of the Emirate’s first Energy Saving Performance Contracting (ESPC) pilot project encompassing eight retrofitted government buildings.

The Building Retrofit program is a part of Abu Dhabi’s Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030, which aims for a 22% reduction in energy consumption and a 32% reduction in water consumption over the next decade.

One of the nine key programs of the DSM strategy, building retrofitting aims for significant cost savings, system reliability and environmental benefits, in line with the vision of Abu Dhabi and UAE’s national strategies for sustainability.

Building Retrofit aims to improve energy efficiency in the buildings while generating savings and reducing costs to building

owners, tenants and the government. Eight government buildings including Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO), Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC), and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), participated in the retrofitting project to study energy efficiency by introducing a number of energy conservation measures.

The pilot project is the first for government/public buildings, which follows the ESPC model and utilises private ESCOs to implement energy and water conservation measures. The pilot will not only improve existing building efficiency but also develop the market for ESCO. The project has shown an initial average energy saving of 38% across the eight buildings, and it is expected to have far-reaching economic impact once the ESCO model is adopted across the board.

On the web Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com

6

// construction business news me // February 2020

Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net

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// Update An update from around the region

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

Performance

Arada reports 33% growth in sales during full-year 2019

Arada has reported an exceptional sales performance in 2019, as the developer took advantage of the stable real estate market in Sharjah and introduced new communities that resonated with local and international buyers. The total value of Arada’s sales rose by 33% in 2019 compared to the previous year, boosted by significant investor interest in Sharjah’s largest mixed-use megaproject, Aljada. The total number of units sold by Arada increased by 86% against the previous year.

HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Arada, said: “2019 was a very strong year for Arada, despite generally adverse conditions in the UAE’s property sector, 14

and our sales results reflect the strength of the Sharjah economy, and its real estate industry in particular.

As well as handing over our first homes in Nasma Residences in May, we have also made considerable construction progress at Aljada and strengthened our executive team as we move towards our goal of becoming a major international developer.”

The total value of sales at Aljada, the AED25bn project located in the heart of Sharjah, rose by 57% in 2019, while the number of units sold increased by 105%. The growth was spurred by the launch of Nest, the Gulf’s first student housing community

// construction business news me // February 2020

in which individual buyers can invest directly, and The Boulevard, a three-tower complex ideally placed near the centre of Aljada.

Arada is on track to hand over the first homes in Aljada in the second quarter of this year.

Aljada is ideally situated on the last major plot of undeveloped land in the heart of the city, and is an all-encompassing district that comprises considerable retail, leisure and entertainment options, in addition to a wide range of residential and commercial offerings.

The total value of sales at Nasma Residences, which is now 95% sold out, edged up by less than 1% against

the previous year. Based in the up-and-coming Al Tay neighbourhood, Nasma Residences, which features nearly a thousand villas and townhouses, saw a 3% rise in the total number of units sold as compared to 2018.

Nasma Residences became Sharjah’s fastestselling community in 2017 when its first phase sold out in less than a month.

Spread over a 5 million square foot area, Nasma Residences hosts a wealth of amenities, including a GEMS international school and a 13-acre landscaped park. Other amenities include a mosque, two retail centres and two smaller community parks.

Financing

Samana Developers Launches Game-Changer 50% Property Financing to Buyers

Samana Developers, a Dubaibased boutique real estate developer and a part of Samana Group of Companies, has announced Dubai’s first of a kind game-changer facility of 50% financing for its investors for its soon to be launched resort-style design award winning Samana Golf Avenue project located in Dubai Studio City and near Dubai Sports City.

The move comes at a time when the Central Bank of www.cbnme.com

UAE, country’s banking regulator, discussed relaxing the existing ceiling of 20% financing by UAE lenders for real estate sector.

Samana Developers is offering the 50% finance facility for its resort-themed Samana Golf Avenue project, located in Dubai Studio City.

The project won the Innovation in Design Award by BNC Publishing, Dubai. The project includes 233 luxury studios, one and two-bed-

room apartments some with private pools and a world class leisure deck featuring a golf putting green.

Alan James Gammon, General Manager of Samana Developers, said: “50% financing is a generous move by Samana Developers, which reflects our rent-to-own approach for homebuyers. Our partnership with the local financial institutions reflects our mandate to create solutions that meet the chang-

ing needs of homebuyers in the UAE. Considering the huge interest for the Samana Golf Avenue project in both the local and international market especially China. We perceive an exceptionally strong demand for high-quality, affordable properties in carefully master-planned, and well located residential communities from homebuyers, ranging from young professionals to larger families.”

construction business news me // February 2020 //

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// NEWS

Projects

Emaar Launches Burj Crown Emaar Properties launched Burj Crown, a new, 44-storey luxury residential tower located on the vibrant Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard with direct views of Dubai Opera and Burj Khalifa. Designed by leading Hong-Kong based architecture firm LWK Partners, the 440-unit tower offers one, two and three-bedroom apartments, all with priceless views of Dubai’s most famous landmarks.

“Burj Crown will undoubtedly become one of the most desirable addresses in Dubai,” said Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar.

“We are delighted with the contribution of LWK Partners, who have designed an exceptional addition to the ever-evolving skyline in the heart of Downtown Dubai.

With exceptional amenities and direct views to Dubai Opera district, Burj Crown presents an unmissable investment opportunity,” he continued.

In designing the concept for Burj Crown, Emaar considered all aspect of residents’ experience. The new tower is within walking distance of attractions including Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, The Dubai Fountains, Burj Park and Dubai Opera; with Dubai International Airport just a 10 minutes’ drive away. The tower also offers direct access from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard with a dedicated drop-off area for residents and taxis.

Residents entering Burj 16

Crown, will enjoy a contemporarily designed reception and lounge area that acts as a refined meeting place.

Moreover, Burj Crown boasts a wide range of amenities gathered at the Leisure Deck – a large outdoor area with green spaces to relax and

// construction business news me // February 2020

unwind. Additional features also include an outdoor children’s playground, a dedicated barbecue area, and a swimming pool for children and adults.

Meanwhile, the ‘Active Roof’ rooftop area offers an opportunity for residents to

enjoy a community outdoor space providing incredible views of Burj Khalifa. Other innovations including a footbridge linking the podium to the adjacent tower, which is clad in a material that appears reflective during the day and transparent at night.

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// NEWS

Projects

DoE paves way for expansion of sustainable buildings in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has announced the completion of the Emirate’s first Energy Saving Performance Contracting (ESPC) pilot project encompassing eight retrofitted government buildings.

The Building Retrofit programme is a part of Abu Dhabi’s Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030, which aims for a 22% reduction in energy consumption and a 32% reduction in water consumption over the next decade.

One of the nine key programmes of the DSM strategy, building retrofitting aims for significant cost savings, system reliability and environmental benefits, in line with the vision of Abu Dhabi and UAE’s national strategies for sustainability.

Building Retrofit aims to improve energy efficiency in the buildings while generating savings and reducing costs to building owners, 20

tenants and the government.

Eight government buildings including Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO), Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC), and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), participated in the retrofitting project to study energy efficiency by introducing a number of energy conservation measures.

As part of the programme a number of smart energy saving solutions were deployed in the buildings to improve the efficiency of cooling, lighting and water components. The project deployed several technologies such as solar rooftop PV installations, smart meters and thermostats, LED lighting, efficient chillers, new Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controlled chilled water pumps and innovative chiller evaporative cooling membrane to meet the targeted savings.

// construction business news me // February 2020

Investments

Masdar Launches First Green REIT in UAE

Masdar has announced the launch of a sustainable real estate investment trust (REIT) – the first ‘green’ REIT to be introduced in the UAE. The REIT was launched at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, by HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market, Khaled Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer of Aerospace, Renewables & ICT at Mubadala Investment Company, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar. The REIT will have an initial valuation of between AED950 million (US$258.7 million) and AED1 billion.

The REIT will be established at ADGM, the award-winning International Financial Centre offering the first private REIT regime in the MENA region as part of its thriving business ecosystem.

It will initially include four commercial properties within Masdar City, the sustainable urban community in Abu Dhabi that is focused on low-carbon urban development. The private REIT will be launched as a Qualified Investor Fund,

open to market counterparties and select clients by private placement. The properties cover a net leasable area of 57,493 sqm, and they have all achieved a rating of 3 Pearls or above on Abu Dhabi’s Estidama Pearl Building Rating System.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar, said at ADSW: “This REIT is a significant milestone for green investment in the region, and demonstrates Masdar’s leadership in sustainable development. This is the first venture of its kind here, and offers investors an attractive option to invest in sustainable income-generating real-estate assets that are helping to contribute to a greater future for all. Investors are increasingly looking for ‘responsible investments’ and are evaluating companies based on specific environmental, social and governance practices criteria. The REIT will contribute to the development and strength of Abu Dhabi’s real-estate sector and bring in greater investment from domestic and international investors that want to make a real difference.”

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// Interview

Standing Tall Kasun Illankoon spoke to Wassim Salem, Infrastructure Director, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Khatib & Alami, on the role he plays and how the infrastructure segment is improving for the company As published by Global Competiveness Report 2019, the UAE is ranked among the top 25 competitive economies in the world with infrastructure development being one of the main reasons.

In addition to this the UAE government’s own Vision 2021 has seen a boost in infrastructure spending.

It is not surprising that Khatib & Alami, one of the region’s leading design, engineering and project management consultancies with more than 6,500 locally-based staff, have set their eyes on the infrastructure sector in UAE. To escalate this the company appointed Wassim Salem as Infrastructure Director for Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Wassim’s wealth of experience and knowledge has brought him great success in every organisation that he’s been a part of.

Wassim’s role includes, developing and implementing the Infrastructure supervision business strategy, restructuring the supervision department to optimize its delivery and productivity, positioning the company for growth with clients seeking with alternative delivery methods, and setting up strategic ties with leading clients and contractors.

Wassim stated he is proud to have been part of Khatib & Alami’s impressive recent success in Dubai and Abu Dhabi infrastructure markets.

“Of course K&A is already well 22

established in the UAE, with a strong reputation for high quality delivery.

From these foundations, we have been able to double the infrastructure business in terms of revenue within the last year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and next year’s target is to maintain our strong momentum and keep building on our fantastic client relationship.”

“The leadership of the UAE is always moving quickly and looking ahead.

The infrastructure segment is still growing especially with RTA and semigovernmental entities,” said Wassim.

“The UAE is a bit different from anywhere else, the pace of projects is quick, you need to be proactive and pragmatic, and you need to be ready to solve major challenges as most of the work ranges from large to major projects. Projects will be presented, awarded, executed and delivered faster than anywhere else in the world, and the quality must be to best international standards,” explains Wassim.

Technology Even though new technologies have been emerging at a breakneck pace, contractors are quite resistant to change. But a shift from the physical to the digital world is extremely beneficial and the construction industry seems to be slowly coming to this realisation.

Contractors need to review their

// construction business news me // February 2020

long-standing methods and recognise that the development of such old measures will soon be replaced by more digitised solutions. Digital technology is the answer to global trends and here are some trends that are particularly driving the change.

Khatib & Alami has had a long history when it comes to being the pioneers of implementing technology in their projects. In 1979, Khatib & Alami introduced a fully equipped computer centre that would quickly transform the way the company approached projects, and it has always taken pride in being an early adopter of new technologies.

“We select technology that can fulfil our ambitions by minimising the potential to make mistakes and helping to ensure efficiency and productivity on site,” said Wassim.

Wassim explains for example how the usage of drones have been beneficial to Khatib & Alami and there is no denying its impact in the construction industry as it does speed up the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects.

“Drones can give you accuracy, can generate time lapses on a project, and you can control quantities in a better and more efficient manner. Plus, surveying a large area now becomes easier as a result of a drone compared to the traditional avenues,” said Wassim.

www.cbnme.com

construction business news me // February 2020 //

23

// Interview

Health & Safety With so many risks associated with the construction industry, it makes perfect sense for any and all sites to implement and adhere to proper health and safety protocol. This involves regular risk assessments, analysis of any dangers present and the necessary steps to minimise or eradicate these threats.

Technology is playing an important role here as well. For example. Khatib & Alami has developed a safety management app which is accessible by all project stakeholders for reporting, 24

statistics and knowledge sharing.

“By improving transparency and visibility about health and safety, and providing real-time reporting, we can bring a oneteam approach which will keep driving standard on every site,” add Wassim.

Training also plays a significant role in how well a construction company can implement health and safety measures on their sites. Employees should be provided with the relevant training so that they’re aware of how to spot potential risks on site and how to work alongside these risks in a way

// construction business news me // February 2020

that will keep accidents and illnesses to a minimum.

In any of Khatib & Alami projects, Wassim points out that all the senior individuals at the site are OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration's) certified. There is no doubt about the fact that the human asset is the key intangible asset for any organization, something that Wassim believes in as well “We know that the people who work for us are our biggest asset and we have to ensure that they are safe,” Wassim concluded.

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// Cover Story

Personifying Luxury In Conversation with Jyotsna Hegde, President of Sobha Realty

By Kasun Illankoon Headquartered in Dubai, arguably the luxury capital of the new world, Sobha Realty brings an exquisite and rare collection of coveted real estate at the most sought-after locations in the world.

One of the leaders tasked in ensuring Sobha maintains its high standard is Jyotsna Hegde, President of Sobha Realty, who has 16 years of experience and operational expertise in change management, strategic sales, business development and international development of the brand.

“I began my career with Sobha India, spearheading several key initiatives in senior management positions across various verticals,” said Jyotsna.

Over her career she has worked under the leadership of the Founder and Chairman, PNC Menon, whom she highly regards for his leadership and mentorship.

“At Sobha Group, we are blessed to look up to such a visionary leader who inspires us to continue to explore new heights and opportunities and leads by good virtue and passion towards his business. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that our Chairman has provided me to excel in my career and 26

share the same ambition to achieve perfection by not only aligning with the market needs but also respond to the intuitive needs of our customers,” said Jyotsna “Our goal is to set the benchmark for the world’s finest real estate and redefine the art of living through our unique intuitive design philosophy that is geared to delivering thriving and sustainable communities.”

At Sobha Realty there is a continued reinforcement to position themselves as one of the most trusted and respected real estate organization both regionally and globally.

“By pioneering innovative global projects and transforming perceptions of quality, we work to challenge the existing standards to ultimately enrich communities,” said Jyotsna 2019 has been an overall good year for Sobha Realty. In September 2019, the company reported sales of over AED1bn and has reached its sales target for the year with AED2bn for its mega Sobha Hartland project.

During the course of the year, Sobha Realty sold 1491 units, comprising a net area of 1.23 million sq. ft., with Sobha Creek Vistas emerging among

// construction business news me // December 2019

the most popular projects within the development, followed by Hartland Greens and Hartland Estate villas. The year to date results mark a 165 per cent increase in sales value over the same period in 2018.

Among the top investors, Chinese represented 36 percent, Emiratis 17.11 percent, Saudis 9.75 percent, and Indian buyers made up 8.35 percent.

“The consistent and significant sales that Sobha Realty accomplished during the year reinforce the success of Sobha Hartland as a concept. Each of the projects has been developed to embody our intuitive design philosophy and our commitment to creating sustainable living communities. The high uptake from investors across the portfolio has also supported the launch of more projects within the masterplan and consolidates Dubai’s position as a popular global real estate market,” said Jyotsna.

Sobha Hartland Inspiring lifestyle, comfort and luxury living in every detail, Sobha Hartland is an 8 million sq. ft waterfront community of luxurious apartments, beautiful villas, and high-end garden

Jyotsna Hegde, President of Sobha Realty www.cbnme.com

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// Cover Story

houses. Presenting, luxury homes that come with expanses of lush green spaces, world-class amenities and a slew of mouth-watering eateries, retail centres, and entertainment facilities.

Experience the new definition of luxury with Sobha Hartland. Dwell in Dubai’s only freehold community, situated in the iconic Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, minutes away from the Burj Khalifa.

“Within Sobha Hartland, we launched two new projects; One Park Avenue earlier in March 2019 and Creek Vista Reservè in September 2019, both the projects have seen great responses from interested buyers,” Jyotsna added.

With this being the flagship project for Sobha, Jyotsna points out why the project is unique and how it encapsulates the vision of Chairman of Sobha, PNC Menon.

“Passionate to the point of being obsessive about perfection, Sobha Realty is born out of the vision of PNC Menon, whose legacy of building the finest palaces and homes in the region over the last four decades is legendary.

Sobha Hartland is no different and is a product of insightful planning adhering to what consumers are looking for today.”

To achieve such high quality and perfection the company chooses to do everything in-house which will not waiver on the quality of the product they put out.

“We are a backward integrated company and choose to do everything in-house to maintain the promise of Sobha’s quality and craftsmanship. Whichever market we choose to expand in, we will be involved in all aspects of delivering the project and maintaining the standards we are renowned for,” said Jyotsna.

“Given that mixed used developments are a trend now, we offer a complete experience to our residents and allow for easy accessibility, something that everyone prefers. Within the development of Sobha Hartland we 28

At Sobha Group, we are blessed to look up to such a visionary leader who inspires us to continue to explore new heights and opportunities and leads by good virtue and passion towards his business.

Jyotsna Hegde have a vast portfolio of projects that appeal to all categories of buyers. The range starts from studio apartments and goes all the way up to 6-bedroom luxury villas.”

The residential buildings at Sobha Hartiand are all focused on placing the comfort and well-being of resident’s first. For example, measures such as noise protection, spatial flexibility and indoor air quality account for a major share of the company’s planning and

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implementation efforts. Even so, along with low running costs and value stability, it is the quality of accommodation itself which plays a central role for our buildings On the sustainability front, Sobha Hartland is unique in the sense that it is the only master-planned community with over 30% land value dedicated to green open spaces. Within Sobha Hartland, specifically in the Forest Villas community, over 300 species of trees and plants are being planted by Sobha Realty to surround the homes, including ghaf trees which will be planted in the open space and park areas Luxury Market Reports for luxury property sales in 2019 have been very positive. According to a recent report by Property finder The Dubai luxury housing market, which includes any property above $2.7 million (AED10m), registered 194 transactions in H1 2019, up from 115 transactions for the same

period last year.

“There is an optimistic sentiment and a positive trend being witnessed across the real estate market in UAE. Through the launch of legislative reforms and initiatives, it has created a conducive global real estate investment hub and increased interest in the market. Dubai’s real estate market offers stability, peace of mind, security and safety to both residents and visitors alike, thus encouraging investment” said Jyotsna.

Known for its differentiated offerings, the market ranges from studios to mega mansions, thus providing buyers with a multitude of options to choose from basis their preferences. Even with the market’s diversity, Dubai has created a niche for itself in the luxury www.cbnme.com

property offering, and its name has become synonymous with quality, design, and innovation “With the market becoming more buyer/investor -friendly, rapidly gaining a reputation for being an accessible market that can generate strong returns for investors, more and more people are headed towards the luxury trend, actively seeking for added value and quality, as well as the ultimate living experience,” Jyotsna added.

In terms of expansion, timing is everything due to the dynamics of the industry changing rapidly.

“Expansion is always part of the plan as with any other international organization. USA and UK are very lucrative markets for Sobha Realty because of its transparent policies and

the growing real estate industry. However, we have prioritized our targets and should be able to reach them in the next two years,” said Jyotsna.

“Our priority in the UAE at the moment is Sobha Hartland and all the projects within the development. The plan is to focus all our energy and resources towards the successful delivery of various projects within Sobha Hartland.”

Focus on Sustainability Over the past two decades, the emergence of sustainable building practices has led to an evolution in the curation of the built environment. Sustainable development and green building practices are now more popular than ever.

The vision for most projects begins

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// Cover Story

with the developer. It is this vision that architects and engineers execute.

It is during the design process that architects and engineers have the opportunity to show the pros and cons of certain green building elements. Ultimately, it is the developer who makes the final decision as to the direction of the project and whether to establish a sustainable building philosophy as part of the overall concept of a project.

Sobha Hartland also boasts ecofriendly features within its buildings from natural stone cladding to recycled rubber insulation, water saving plumbing fixtures and solar water heating systems The environmentally-friendly features offer user optimized comfort and a superior quality of life, making Sobha Hartland a truly large-scale sustainable urban district.

Leveraging a luxury developer’s approach towards promoting a sustainable and efficient lifestyle, Sobha Realty demonstrates an outstanding commitment to meeting high sustainability standards across its projects and implementing Dubai Municipality’s green building regulations.

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// construction business news me // February 2020

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// Site Visit

IMPACT PLAYER - ASU ASU’s Project Director Mina Labib gave us an insight into the key role that they play in the construction of the IL PRIMO project Scope of Project This prestigious project was awarded to ASU early 2019 by EMAAR, a leading property developer, with project management Mace and main contractor TAV Construction Group.

Il Primo is located in the middle of Downtown Dubai’s Opera District, the flourishing cultural centre that houses the magnificent Dubai Opera.

ASU scope includes all electrical works (Power, Lighting, Fire alarm and Central Battery ), HVAC, Plumb-

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ing, Fire Fighting, LPG and Special systems as of ICT, home automation, lighting control, BMS, Access control and CCTV work including supply, install, testing & commissioning and authorities handing over till the client satisfaction.

Features of the Project Il PRIMO is 77 floors, residents will experience the life in spacious apartments consists of 4, 5 Bedrooms and duplex units ranging

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from 5,253 sq ft to 11,550 sq ft. with ready access to prime luxury amenities includes Infinite pools, gym, cigar lounge, a games room, library, movie theatre, golf simulator and much more can be experienced with direct access to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard The generous living room at Il Primo is a gorgeous place for entertaining, dining or simply taking in the awe-inspiring vistas of Downtown Dubai. Floor-to-ceiling win-

dows bathe the rooms with natural light during the day and boasts uninterrupted views of the stunning cityscape below.

A podium of amenities, on-site dining and retail destinations guarantees the absolute comfort and ease with an infinity pool right at the foot of the iconic Burj Khalifa and take in the spellbinding views Innovation ASU implemented prefabrication methodology in this project which allows to fabricate the whole floor offsite and shift it to onsite on a weekly basis, that methodology improved noticeably the quality since prefabricated modules occurs in a controlled manufacturing environment and follows specific standards, the subassemblies of the modules are built to a uniform quality and accordingly reduces the time duration of MEP fabrication and installation (ASU workshop fabricating 1 whole floor weekly with a capacity of 45 modules/week).

Since modules are fabricated in a factory-controlled environment utilizwww.cbnme.com

ing dry materials, there is less risk for problems associated with moisture, environmental hazards and dirt occurs on the construction site.

Modular construction is often commended for energy efficiency and sustainable construction. Traditional construction methods require extra materials that lead to increased waste. However, since prefabricated sub-assemblies are constructed in a factory, extra materials can be recycled in-house.

That methodology definitely required a very strong engineering team with a lot of coordination with other parties and ID to create the 3D coordinated model prior to start.

ect and pre-scheduled trucks arrivals and movement to the site.

2nd Challenge for ASU was 3D modeling completion prior to start the work at site which required an extensive efforts of engineering plus the coordination with ID aspects and other contractors. To a large extent, this model was based on computer aided techniques. Supported by numerical engineering methods, during which the achievement of a final product accuracy was essential.

3rd Challenge was the time constraints of completing very luxurious high rise tower in specific short schedule. Every corner of Il Primo’s apartments exudes refined elegance.

Challenges 1st Challenge for the project team was the logistics of the project due to constraints of the project location surrounded by Burj Khalifa, Dubai mall and Dubai Opera, a complicated logistics plan was implemented in coordination with the main contractor by applying a daily materials trips shifting from offsite stores to the proj-

Prime Location Il Primo’s spectacular location assures residents are only steps away from Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest fountain, Souk Al Bahar, the vibrant sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard and the iconic Dubai opera. It is five minutes to Dubai International Financial Centre DIFC and ten minutes to

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// Site visit

Dubai International Airport.

Il Primo overlooks one of the world’s most stunning iconic structures, Burj Khalifa. This glittering beauty will be the backdrop to a promising mornings and glamorous nights. Step onto the balcony, you can witness the spectacular aquatic symphony of The Dubai Fountain, enjoy the serenity of the verdant Burj Park and the glistening waters of the Arabian Gulf on the horizon

Il Primo project rendering

HSE ASU has a robust HSE management system which uses proactive measures and leading indicators to control the activities at the site. The nature of those activities are high risk in nature such as installation of heavy chilled water pipes in shafts, working at height, hot-work, energization of ELV rooms and leading edge works.

Those proactive measures are detailed method statements coupled with the use of risk assessments, daily site inspections, and health monitoring and quarterly audits to identify hazards in order to eliminate risks by implementing appropriate control measures.

ASU is always up to date with the legal requirements and international and regional guidelines/standards and future and present technologies with regards to HSE. Also our Engineers and Manpower are highly competent and experienced in their areas of expertise, trained and eager to cooperate with HSE department to implement a safe system of work and a safe environment to our workforce, interested parties and the public which shows in our HSE statistics as per the vision of the higher management. Finally, ASU's HSE management system is in line with the requirements of the ISO 45001 which led us to obtain the certification in September 2019 giving us a competitive edge in a fierce market.

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// construction business news me // February 2020

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// Feature

Sustainability has become a serious factor and a necessity for a number of companies hiring facilities management professionals for leading, implementing, educating and enabling sustainable practice within their business. Sustainability in facilities management is about making smart decisions that will reduce business's negative impact on the environment.

Furthermore, there have been a number of initiatives taken by the UAE government to ensure that buildings follow the best sustainable practices. For example, The Department of Energy (Abu Dhabi) announced the completion of the Emirate’s first Energy Saving Performance Contracting (ESPC) pilot project encompassing eight retrofitted government buildings.

The Building Retrofit programme is a part of Abu Dhabi’s Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030, which aims for a 22% reduction in energy consumption and a 32% reduction in water consumption over the next decade.

We find out from some of the leading facilities management companies in UAE about their approach to sustainable FM and how technology plays a role in it.

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Sodexo I Hestia

Ben Edwards, General Manager at Sodexo I Hestia

Sodexo | Hestia provides Integrated Facilities Management services representing two well respected regional (ALEC Engineering and Contracting LLC) and global (Sodexo) companies in the United Arab Emirates.

Principle to Sodexo | Hestia as an Integrated Facility Management provider, is the partnership arrangement we take with our clients. This partnering requires us to be a responsible part of their business, which includes sustainability, implementation of innovation, and the use of new technologies to the benefit of their business, the environment in which we operate, and of course, the UAE. www.cbnme.com

We, therefore, need to identify areas of energy-saving, which is now an essential requirement, but also how the client business can use global facility management advances in a local context.

For example, we utilize new technologies, products, and systems from all around the world to make the client facility more efficient and better/safer place to work, with: • A more sustainable method to improve efficiency (reducing energy use) but also improves quality for better health and safety control • Smart technology in the office which can assist in driving change and

reducing the carbon footprint • Measuring variables to improve service frequency and optimum consumable use to ensure staff comfort • Monitoring tools to minimize waiting time, improve efficiency, and provide a clear plan to the client These are just a few examples of technology and innovation that can help a client’s operational efficiency and cost-saving, plus it also assists local and regional sustainability and reduces carbon footprint. This is what a pure IFM partner, such as Sodexo | Hestia brings to the service offering as value: to the client and to the UAE.

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// Feature

Al Fajer Facilities Management Deputy CEO, Sangeetha. B

When we talk about the future, it is now often prefixed with the word 'sustainable'. The consequences of unbridled carbon emissions have reoriented the entire globe’s perspective on how our world should function henceforth. Al Fajer FM is also steadfast in our commitment towards a new ecofriendly vision for facilities management, which is compatible with a sustainable and green world.

Modern FM contends with 3Cs; customer experience, climate change and competition. The greatest challenge that the industry faces is in addressing stringent regulations, the need for enhanced operational efficiency and reduced carbon footprints, while remaining profitable. Some effective strategies to achieve this include: Energy management FM is increasingly assisting in the creation of net-zero energy buildings, by becoming involved early in the design of infrastructure, as well as through deploying innovative solutions that transform the energy utilization of existing building stock. Replacing legacy management software and installing smart meters, CAFM timers and motion sensors can now enable unprecedented energy management.

Integrated data-driven management Breakthroughs in cognitive technologies such as AI, IoT and ML are paving the way for integrated and data-driven FM. The resulting insight-led operations reconcile customer centric facilities with reduced inefficiencies, downtime and greenhouse gas emissions. Innovative use of RFID and related technologies allows for real time monitoring of built environments and associated automation and workforces, to optimize resource utilization.

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Waste management Recycling and waste management are a crucial aspect of sustainable practices.

Facility managers can make massive impact by recycling plastic, fertilizing landscaped areas using composted waste, and even the deployment of waste-toenergy projects, where appropriate.

Decarbonization Mechanized assets in buildings result in the emission of copious amounts of greenhouse gases. Digital retrofits are one way for Facilities Managers to increase the energy efficiency of this infrastructure. Since early 2017, Al Fajer has been taking a series of steps, which target the reduction of our environmental footprint by 20%.

Eco-friendly cleaning Recent studies have substantiated the harmful effects of several chemicals that are widely-used in cleaning products. Apart from increasing the toxicity of a built environment, chemicals

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can seep into soil and contaminate groundwater. Innovative practices such as using deionized water, steam cleaning and robotics hold great promise in ensuring high standards of hygiene, which are achieved using green practices like nano technology & bio – mimicking.

Besides the above, companies can also encourage more sustainable business practices by motivating employees to live closer to their workplaces and investing in technologies that empower remote working, where applicable. Service logistics is another area in which the creation of efficiencies contributes significantly to sustainability.

Considering the fact that they host most human activities, eco-friendly buildings and FM practices translate directly into radical improvements in sustainability. Effective and innovative facilities management can unlock huge potential for the transformation of our world, while also enhancing profitability, occupant experiences and brand value for CREs.

Awtad FM

Naiju Anselam, General Manager Sustainability is becoming more important for all companies, not only facilities management industries. It is built on the assumption that developing such strategies foster company longevity. Businesses are affected by an external environment as much as they are affected by the competitors.

More companies are managing sustainability to improve processes, pursue growth, and add value to their companies rather than focusing on reputation alone.

Many facilities management companies have publicly committed to innovate towards environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The understanding of life cycle costs and sustainability practice can lead to a drastic reduction of the total cost of building ownership. LEED certified buildings have been shown to provide many economic benefits, including lower construction costs, reduced site preparation and landscaping, lower waste disposal costs, reduced operating costs, reduced maintenance costs, higher building valuation, optimize material usage and lower utility costs.

In addition, improved lights, building controls, windows, implementing paper less system and other technologies make it easier than ever to achieve savings and increase productivity. And hence the facilities managers involve since the design stage of the building.

It was the old time when business companies were only concerned about their profits and revenues. With the change in time, many innovations and modifications cropped up. Today, more than ever, integrating sustainability into facilities management is important to future-proof business.

Although reducing energy use is important, the truly exciting prospects for managing building energy is www.cbnme.com

attributable to incorporating renewable energy resources into the built environment.

The Government is driving change.

At the same time, consumers and organisations are increasingly including sustainability in their buying decisions.

The triple bottom line highlights the social, environmental and economic benefits of adopting a sustainable approach to facilities management. It is one of the main systems being used

by FM companies to assess the profits they are making through their corporate sustainability solutions.

The UAE has built the enablers which correspond to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out by

the United Nations for 2030. In addition, the UAE committed more than USD 840 million (AED 3.1 billion) to renewable energy in more than 30 countries. The UAE government aims to invest AED 600 billion by 2050 to meet the growing energy demand and ensure a sustainable growth for the country’s economy.

I believe it is increasingly necessary for companies to recognise the importance of sustainability and its application in every aspect of FM by developing forward-thinking sustainability policies. This is a highly competitive market and requires FM professional who will actively contribute to that triple bottom line.

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// Feature

EFS Facilities Services Group

Dr. Ravi Tahilramani, Director – Transformation and Service Assurance, EFS Facilities Services Group From smart buildings to sustainability, the new decade a defining era for FM. We are already experiencing the fourth wave of technological advancement, following the lean revolution of the 1970s, the outsourcing trend of the 1990s, and the automation that took place in the 2000s. At EFS, we have been an early adopter of emerging technologies as an enabler for impacting a sustainable future; improving productivity and performance; making better decisions; reducing operational risks; addressing global sustainability & environmental concerns, and complying with regulations. Disruptive technologies are creating new business transformation opportunities for everyone involved in our business value chain, which is enabling us to transcend beyond the traditional approaches towards initiatives such as energy management, paperless operations, data analysis, and so on.

There is a vast amount of data being generated by buildings and assets we manage – thanks to various sensors, IoT technologies, building management systems, edge devices, and numerous networked or silo applications. It is critical to harness this data to attain sustainability in FM. Most of us have, however, been typically dealing with 1st principles, physics-based analytics - this was good enough with relatively small amounts of data manageable by humans. More than 90% of digital data that exists today was created in the past two years. To keep up with the exponential pace of data generation, EFS is leveraging on cloud computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to overcome the limitations of calculations that can be performed by humans, and achieve truly “predictive analysis”. This is, however, not be possible 40

without “domain experts” and “experienced FMs” who work along with (if not as) the so-called “data scientists” to help in digitizing their knowledge of critical assets, the underpinning failure modes and maintenance strategies. We need to continue involving the views of these experienced domain experts while channelling critical asset and operational data and effectively organizing it in “data lakes” or AI-ingested data.

While growing computing power is important, the rise of smarter software algorithms is emerging as the indus-

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try’s secret ingredient, with software ingenuity that will keep the virtuous circle of ingested data going strong.

So, who wins in the process? Winners will not just be solution providers. They will also be asset owners, manufacturers, assurance providers, FM providers, regulators, insurers, and other industry stakeholders. Leveraging on innovation and technology in FM is a team sport; EFS is, therefore, collaborating closely with stakeholders and strategic partners to dramatically upscale insights for efficiencies towards a sustainable future.

Enova

Renaud Capris, Chief Executive Officer

At Enova, a continuous drive for innovation is an integrated value: 'Innovative to be Sustainable' means across our organization we strive for new ideas and methods that add value to our clients and their customers, while preserving the world’s natural resources. In addition to analyzing building, client and end-user requirements, Enova pioneers by creating solutions of tomorrow before concrete needs manifest. Current enhancements also focus on an internal digitalization with the ‘digital employee’ and safe and efficient processes across the business at its center.

At the core of our excellence guarantee stands the smart monitoring platform Hubgrade, which currently monitors and analyzes data from over 15,000 data points and 2,500 assets across the region. In addition to powering custom-made B2B and B2C dashboards that enable automated reporting and increased awareness, Hubgrade is also entirely integrated with operational tools and the mobile applications for enhanced efficiency and environmental performance. For Enova’s Energy Performance projects, Hubgrade serves as M&V tool and www.cbnme.com

allowed to guarantee more than AED 38 million in utilities savings in 2019, equivalent to 37,000 tons of CO2 avoided.

By providing an integrated solution combining Energy and Facilities Management tailored to client and end-user needs, Enova offers two key benefits. On the one hand, the buildings’ appeal is increased thanks to guaranteed healthy and comfortable conditions profiting the people that use it – be it passengers in an airport,

shoppers in a mall, or hotel and restaurant guests. On the other hand, the increased efficiency reduces the consumption of precious resources and waste production, leading to a lower environmental impact of the buildings while simultaneously cutting operational costs. Hence, it is a win-win for both the clients and their end-users as well as the environment.

As residents of the MENA region spend up to 90% of their time indoors, Enova highlights Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) as one of its focus areas for the near future. The trend shows that an increasing number of clients make Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) a priority and Enova has developed a cost-effective, integrated approach to satisfy this need: putting the building occupants at the heart of the services offer, by maintaining a healthy and optimized indoor environment.

For Enova, the digital transformation and sustainability go hand in hand, as digital solutions play a crucial role in increasing the environmental performance of buildings. Enova’s digital suite targeting increased sustainability has secured multiple awards over the past years.

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// Feature

Farnek Markus Oberlin, CEO

Overall the role of facilities management is to ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone, protecting the value of the real estate asset, through optimum building performance and lifecycle longevity.

However, one of the most important aspects of FM is sustainability, which can reduce carbon emissions as well as save money – it’s a win-win solution.

There are many ways to achieve this, in an ideal world, the early introduction of FM services can significantly minimise the impact of poor design and build issues, particularly in terms of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), by ensuring the ‘maintainability’ and ‘operability’ of the building, for the life span of the development. If this is not possible, FM can still help to reduce existing expenses as well as future cost implications through retrofitting.

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For developments that have not implemented environmentally friendly measures, retrofitting all elements of HVAC is imperative to become more sustainable. Enhancing Building Management Systems (BMS) to allow for more accurate monitoring and analysis of energy consumption is one of the first steps in major energy and cost savings.

For example, temperature and humidity sensors can be installed on every floor to transmit information to the management system which then decides whether mechanical and lighting equipment, should be activated or not.

There have also been several buildings equipped with ice storage/making facilities that make ice at night when electricity is cheaper, and then melts during the day to cool the building, Burj Khalifa uses such a system.

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Greener restroom facilities can be achieved by using the most advanced and innovative technologies, IoT sensors, machine learning, AI and cloud architecture to promote air quality, identify water leaks and spillages. It can also monitor washroom usage as well as consumables, to offer the best possible cost and energy-efficient customer experience. Solar panels to heat water and provide lighting can also be installed on the roof for added benefits.

Other simple steps that can be taken include, installing LED lights, air conditioning modules and tap aerators, to help save electricity and water.

Tinted crystalline films can be fitted on windows to reduce the heat generated by sunlight, while using light-reflecting paint on the outer walls and the roof can help to cool exterior walls.

MEFMA

Eng. Ali Al Suwaidi, Vice President of MEFMA In the world of facility management (FM), the sustainability concept encompasses these three dynamic fundamentals: environmental, economic, and social. Meeting the sustainability triple bottom line requires the effective use of available technologies and innovations.

Take for instance the social aspect of sustainability. In FM, this means ensuring the welfare of employees and actively engaging with customers. Sustainability is achieved once we have guaranteed the satisfaction of customers and the safety of employees, who are also trained to strictly follow good work ethics. In this regard, next-generation tools come into play.

Technologies and innovations can also make a difference in our sustainability initiatives and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, as well as in the efforts to build transparent relations and create a strong connection with customers and colleagues. Such efforts have led several companies to introduce the geofencing technology, which promotes effective collaboration and utilization of the right tools.

For the economic and environmental aspects, these two are more aligned.

Through our sustainability initiatives, we become more mindful of our carbon footprint and the use of resources.

The latter leads to substantial savings for both FM companies and their customers. For example, several FM companies have leveraged next-generation tools, including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), to promote efficient energy consumption and deliver cost-effective maintenance services. Through these technologies, companies can monitor the performance of every aspect of the facility, including equipment and other systems.

They can also integrate the operations www.cbnme.com

system into the energy monitoring system to save at least 20 per cent of the overall operational and energy costs.

At the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), we have been raising awareness on and emphasizing the significance of various technologies that help FM companies achieve the triple bottom line of sustainability. We believe in the crucial role of technologies in delivering accurate FM services. For example, FM service providers can use

modern tools to measure the building’s performance, including energy and water use, monitor its behaviour, and track the patterns. Is it over-occupied or under-occupied? Is it economical to use a technology occupancy sensor and counting machine for toilets? Are we optimizing resources during peak hours and days?

Technologies are the key to establishing trends and patterns, thus helping FM companies optimize the building’s operations and maintenance.

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// Feature

SNC-LAVALIN

Mohamed Youssef, Senior Vice-President, Infrastructure, Middle East & Africa, SNC-Lavalin Developing facilities with low ecological footprint is becoming top of mind for developers and asset managers in the Middle East. Hence, sustainability planning and green standards are key pillars of the design and construction process that delivers the efficient operation and maintenance (O&M) of new and existing builds.

This requires a comprehensive approach that integrates key sustainability standards, from conceptual design stages and throughout the asset lifecycle. A proper selection of assets that will deliver the desired benefits is essential. The choice of materials and equipment that can positively impact not just the asset’s sustainability but all aspects of its development is also important.

Another key factor to enhance sustainability in facilities management is training the workforce on best practices, policies and procedures to ensure effective implementation of sustainability strategies put in place.

Also, raising awareness among endusers about these practices and their impact on the environment is pivotal to drive long term impact.

However, sustained progress can be achieved through progressive regulation and initiatives focused on promoting a green culture. For example, the UAE-based Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) help promote a standardized framework for sustainable facilities management strategies to be adopted by key stakeholders in the construction industry across the region. SNC-Lavalin works closely with clients across the region to establish the framework for sustainable strategies, policies and working practices for facilities management.

This is achieved by providing appropriate guidance in design reviews and 44

material selection, ongoing staff training and awareness campaigns, data monitoring, and management systems.

In brief, driving sustainability planning and implementation in facilities

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management require collaboration between key stakeholders to adopt effective strategies and promote health and safety practices towards creating sustainable communities for the future.

Tafawuq Facilities Management Michael Nicholas, General Manager, Tafawuq Facilities Management Sustainability is firmly on the business agenda around the world as seen during this month’s WEF gathering of political and business leaders in Davos, and the efficiency of buildings has naturally come under the spotlight.

As technology becomes increasingly popular, facilities management (FM) companies are making use of the technology to achieve sustainability.

Climate adaption, energy efficiency, sustainable development and green growth are societal challenges for which the FM industry can collectively devise and develop solutions and make positive contributions to communities. The concept of Sustainable Facilities Management has developed and the need to balance the three strands of sustainable development social, economic and environmental – has become apparent.

Leading figures within the FM profession have identified the need for both change and practical sustainability goals; with facility managers at the forefront of organizational behavioral change and in a position to influence the behavior of individuals working in business, government departments and public services within the facilities they are responsible for.

The use of smart technology in FM can help achieve sustainability. By integrating smart technology into retail premises, offices and residential communities, operational efficiency can be optimized as building automation is able to carry out more and more checks and adjustments without the need for human interference.

At Tafawuq, we place great importance on sustainable operations as key component of our 5 year strategic plan. We constantly monitor our operations to identify where our work negatively impacts the environment, www.cbnme.com

and work on solutions to those problems. Since 2014 we took the first step by implementing an Integrated Management System (IMS) that comprises ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System – all of which are international standards while all EHS operations conducted by Tafawuq Facility Management align with the Abu Dhabi Environmental Health and Safety Management (AD EHSMS) Regulatory Framework, and Dubai Municipality Technical Guidelines.

The IMS Forces us to regularly evaluate our environmental impacts, ensure proper precautions are taken on site, track our environmental data, and ensure we are aligned to federal and local regulations on the environment.

Technology has also improved our sustainability track record. Since we introduced our maintenance mobil-

ity tool Tafawuq GO in Q1 2019, our maintenance teams have reduced the use of paper by 100% on most sites, as the end to end maintenance recording process is now paperless.

Tafawuq teams work with their clients to monitor and proactively reduce utility consumption on the assets that the company maintains, as energy generation is one of the most significant sources of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. These initiatives have resulted in millions of dirhams being saved during 2019 across our project portfolio and Tafawuq is proud to have taken part.

As we look forward to 2020, a number of new initiatives will be launched to help us strive further on the road to sustainability. Remote utility meter monitoring, energy performance dashboards, IOT sensors will all allow Tafawuq to enhance the efficiency of the assets it maintains, ultimately leading to lower energy consumption which helps the environment.

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// Company Profile

Breaking Records Transguard Group breaks its Own Records during 2019 with AED 1.6 billion in secured contracts, 1.4 million hours of staff training and multiple new services lines being the biggest achievements of 2019

With AED 1.6 billion in secured contracts, more than 1 million hours in staff training and earning a number of major awards, 2019 was a year of record-breaking expansion and growth against a landscape of challenging economic circumstances for Transguard Group.

“While this was a terrific year for us, I do not believe it was a coincidence that 2019 was also our self-proclaimed year of the customer,” explained Greg Ward, Managing Director. “While customer centricity has always been at the heart of how we operate, this year we took a closer look at what it means to focus on our customers, 46

which was followed by taking solid steps to ensure that every member of the Transguard team, at every level of the business, understood how to think and act along the lines of customer satisfaction. This has had a ripple effect on not only how we do business, but who we do business with; as our 2019 results show, we’re continuing our upward trajectory.”

Successes in Security “Our Security division made major in-roads not only with major malls in the UAE, but also with large tourist attractions and with several embassies, including both of the British embassies

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in Abu Dhabi and Dubai,” said Tim Mundell, Chief Security Officer.

Transguard’s security team was also out in force at many of the year’s major events, including the recent Race to Dubai and the Emirates Airlines Rugby 7s, among others. Launched a year ago, Transguard’s Executive Protection division tripled its reach in 2019 and added a number of high net worth individuals, A-list Hollywood celebrities and international fashion designers to its roster of clients. “Our K9 division also experienced impressive growth this year due to new contracts with several major international airlines and freight carriers; this division was also

showcased during September’s AVSEC exhibition, which brought international attention to our world-class Explosive Detection Dogs,” Mundell continued.

The completion of Transguard’s state-of-the-art control room was another highlight for the company’s Security division: The technical build of this command centre involved bringing together the world’s most cutting-edge technology, including secure data centres, security information management, www.cbnme.com

digital information display and physical access control systems; each aspect of this technology offers its own blend of cutting-edge innovation, delivery excellence and product quality.

Facilities Management Division Sets the Standard for Service Property Management, a new service line from Transguard’s Facilities Management division, helped to expand the reach of Transguard Group into

new areas, while its consumer division, Transguard Living, doubled its size and expanded its service offering into Abu Dhabi. “A year after expanding into the Northern Emirates with an office in Ras Al Khaimah, Transguard Living has deepened its core offerings with a revitalized approach to its Move service and a new team of highly trained technicians,” said Stephen Beesley, Chief Operations Officer.

“We were also gratified to see our new division, Property Management, honoured with its first award – Property Management Company of the Year – which is quite the accomplishment considering that 2019 was the first year of its operation. We look forward to continuing to grow the market in this division in 2020.”

Manpower Grows from Strength to Strength The Hospitality division of Transguard Group experienced global gains at the end of 2019 with the signing of a framework agreement with a major international hotel chain: “Our experienced Hospitality team is already supporting 60 five-star hotels across the UAE, so

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// Company Profile

we consider our presence within an internationally known hotel brand as further recognition of the high standard of our training and excellent performance record,” said Alex MacDonald, Senior Director – Manpower and Mobilisation. “We’ve experienced 50% growth with hotels this year; to put this in perspective, teams are responsible for cleaning 73,000 kitchens and 5 million hotel rooms, which offers a glimpse at the size of our footprint in the UAE.” Workforce Solutions, the white collar staffing unit of Transguard Group, launched its Executive Search division in the first half of 2019, and counts several globally renowned companies as clients, including a major cosmetics and skin care label.

Transguard also began an innovative partnership with one of the UAE’s most prominent airline to provide chauffeur services to its Business Class passengers.

Welfare Initiatives Gain Momentum Transguard’s residential facilities received a number of upgrades over the last 12 months, including the addition of three “T-Mart” convenience stores, with three more in the pipeline 48

for 2020. Unlimited in-room wifi has also been implemented in a number of Transguard’s accommodations, including the newly opened Jebel Ali 7: At seven stories tall, this massive residential building is capable of housing 10,000 residents, making it the largest of its kind in Dubai.

This year also marked the launch of Taste of Home, Transguard’s own catering company, which was developed out of the desire to produce quality food at an affordable price for sitebased employees. Officially opening at the end of December, Taste of Home is capable of producing 100,000 meals per day out of its kitchens in Dubai Investment Park.

Editor’s note: More information about Jebel Ali 7 and Taste of Home will be released in the coming weeks Finally, with nearly 3,800 recreational activities taking place in Transguard’s accommodations, including the “TG Olympics” and Transguard Carnival (with the most recent of which welcoming a record 5,000 attendees), keeping our site-based employees happy and engaged at work and at home continued to be a driving force for our CSR team. “You will often hear

// construction business news me // February 2020

a Transguard employee say, ‘Work hard, play hard,’ because that’s truly our mentality,” said Lena ter Laare, Director – CSR & Marketing. “At every level of the company we encourage our employees to invest just as much in their leisure time as they do in their working hours because we appreciate the value of balance. This helps foster an incredibly positive environment that also encourages team work and creative thinking.”

A Mindful Approach to the Environment Efficiencies in Transguard’s approach to energy and water consumption also led to exceptional savings, with the company recording a 14% reduction in year-on-year utility costs. In addition, the installation of more than 1,200 solar panels are expected to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by nearly 500 metric tons.

In May 2018, a paperless initiative began in Transguard’s headquarters, including the elimination of paper invoices to clients. To date, the company has saved 1.5 million sheets of paper; this equates to nearly AED 100,000 in savings in ink and paper.

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// Event review

INTERSEC 2020 CBNME covers the latest stories to come out of Intersec 2020 in Dubai The world’s leading security, safety and fire protection experts gathered in Dubai for the 2020 edition of Intersec, the world’s leading trade fair for security, safety and fire production, to probe the latest technology solutions transforming the global security industry.

More than 1,100 exhibitors for 50plus countries, including the majority of the world’s top 50 security manufacturers will be displaying the latest security solutions across the three days.

The exhibition is a window to disruptive technology shaping the international security sector, Intersec’s three-pronged conference series 50

brought together change-makers from more than 50 countries, including representatives from 35 governments, trade associations and non-profit organisations to shape the future landscape of the global industry.

Prior to the event, anticipation is also building for the all-new Intersec Arena, a dedicated tech centre for excellence at the show, which will focus on solving digital security challenges through innovation and education.

Andreas Rex, Show Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Intersec organisers, stressed the Arena has been introduced to assist industry professionals in addressing today’s

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security challenges, which go well beyond public sector providers.

“Businesses today operate in a dynamic threat landscape; security professionals are required to work ahead of the curve, to be predictive and not reactive. The Arena provides a space for industry experts, tech insiders, and security practitioners to share their approaches to achieving resilient, responsive and secure operations,” said Rex. “We are in a time of unparalleled change – the future of cities and customer interactions are changing rapidly in line with developments in new technology. As organisations rush to

embrace digital transformation, security professionals have questions that they would like to have answered.”

The Arena has attracted one of the most powerful speaker line-ups seen in the region with industry thought leaders from across the Middle East, Europe and the USA, spanning multiple sectors, from hydrocarbon, banking and finance, municipal affairs, civil defence, customs and healthcare.

Launch of SPA Another key highlight was the launch of the Security Professionals Association (SPA), a group that fosters technological innovation and operational excellence.

This project has been developed by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) and industry stakeholders to support global best practice and innovation in the security industry.

“It is with great pride that we anwww.cbnme.com

nounce the launch of the first security professional association in the region that will offer excellent ways to stay current on the best security practices.

SPA for SIRA will open strong networking opportunities between security professionals and organisations and will offer an environment where learning is given the utmost importance to motivate professionals to continue to pursue their goals,” said Eng. Khalid Al Hammadi, Chairman of SPA. “Our goal is for SPA for SIRA to be an organisation that embodies professional standards that far exceed international benchmarks.”

Intersec 2020 is seen as a watershed event in the evolution of the security industry. “The conventional security areas are being massively disrupted by technology, but security is now increasingly touching on the everyday lives of people – with cyber security key to operating in a safe, secure

environment for all,” added Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s Rex. Expo 2020 Impact The countdown to Expo 2020 Dubai has begun and with only 10 months to go before the curtain raises on ‘The World’s Greatest Show’, Expo organisers have pledged to make visitor safety a top priority at a mega event set to redefine security benchmarks.

With the world’s eyes due to fall on Dubai for six months starting 20 October 2020, Expo 2020 Dubai will host around 60 live shows averaging more than 15 hours of daily entertainment. As 190 participating countries and an anticipated 25 million visitors ready to descend on the emirate, there is a lot at stake for Dubai and the UAE as it hosts the first World Fair ever to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

The organising committee made its stance on safety and security plain

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// Event review

from the offset. “We are looking for cutting-edge innovations and the latest technologies that will support the delivery of a safe and secure World Expo,” said an Expo 2020 Dubai spokesperson. And it quickly backed the statement up with a call to smallto-medium enterprises operating in the security sector to help deliver the goal. They were invited to a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event to learn more about Expo 2020’s security requirements and the opportunities for participation, and to pitch their products and services directly to the Expo Team.

And while SMEs were urged to innovate, multinational corporations were encouraged to play a part in ensuring that security would be paramount throughout the event’s Dubai South site, which will have one of the world’s largest installations of smart building technologies.

The regional contingency of Chinese video surveillance giant, Hikvision Middle East, which is now advancing AI-driven and machine learning technologies for super advanced security is also readying to make its presence felt at Expo 2020 Dubai. Its Regional President Binson Xu said the show will set the scene for future security at major events and will headline the entertainment and tourism propositions of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

With a keynote on security and crowd protection at the Expo 2020 Dubai due to be delivered by Colonel Ali Khalifa Al Ghais, the event’s Senior Vice President Security, the session has attracted a platform of high-profile speakers to outline steps being taken to ensure the world’s greatest show also becomes the world’s safest.

Eng. Arif Aljanahi, Director of Operations & Security Services of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA Dubai), will outline SIRA’s site-wide security methodology at Expo 2020 while also serving on a panel discussion to highlight inter-team collaboration being undertaken to achieve optimum safety and security at the event.

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“Security, success and reputation management go hand-in-hand,” explained Andreas Rex, Show Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec. “The lessons of Expo 2020 Dubai can be learned even before the visitors arrive and will make for a solid foundation for neighbouring Gulf countries which are increasingly moving into the international events arena.”

Top cybersecurity trends With the Middle East cybersecurity market expected to grow at a com-

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pound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5% during the period 2018-2024, Honeywell’s cybersecurity professionals shared insights and expected changes resulting from more open, connected and smart building systems.

At Intersec, Honeywell’s experts provided advice on how businesses can better safeguard their assets against cyber threats as facilities continue to undergo digital transformation.

George Bou Mitri, vice president and general manager for Honeywell Building Technologies in the Middle

Four key predictions for 2020 include:

East, Turkey and Africa, commented: “Honeywell’s software, hardware and data analytics capabilities are helping to shape the future of the region’s smart buildings and cities, and we are proud to be helping businesses create robust cybersecurity strategies to protect Operational Technology (OT) across key industries. 2020 is likely to be a transformative year for building technology as businesses make great strides toward optimizing their OT systems and securing them against increased cyber threats.” www.cbnme.com

MEA biometrics forecast to double The Middle East and Africa biometrics market is being forecast to surge at a 21.25% compound annual growth rate until 2027 with cloud-based biometrics identified as a growth driver.

The bullish forecast has come from international analysts InkWood Research which says the UAE will lead the regional biometrics market drive to serve its expanding infrastructure and construction sector while in terms of revenue generation, Saudi Arabia will dominate the market.

• Buildings will likely see an increase in cyber related threats as they become more connected, putting data and reputation at potentially greater risk. According to Gartner, buildings will account for 81% of all connected things in 2020. Still, connected buildings often remain a less-guarded entry point and cybersecurity has oftentimes not been a primary focus when managing OT. • Cybersecurity for OT is expected to become a key safety and security metric for many businesses in 2020 as digitalization and the interconnectivity of systems potentially opens up new routes of access for cyberattacks. As buildings become smarter, they generally produce more and more connected data, and therefore oftentimes attract more potential threats.

• Demand is expected to increase for a new type of security professional as OT and IT responsibilities often overlap.

By 2021, IoT security service spending will more than double to nearly $2.1 billion, according to Gartner. As cyber threats evolve and the demand for OT cybersecurity grows, the role of the security professional is often changing. OT and IT functions have been increasingly working together to prepare for and respond to cyber-attacks, but in 2020 the industry will likely see more individual professionals with both OT and IT capabilities.

• A global standard for cybersecurity is expected to become a top priority across industries. 2020 will likely bring a greater focus to standardization for building cybersecurity, and we expect to see at least one framework emerge as a leading guide for securing a building’s OT system.

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French technology company, IDEMIA, says biometric technologies will play a growing role in securing our identities and physical safety in the world.

“These technologies, including facial recognition, are essential to effectively securing our identities.” explained Richard Mikhael, President, Middle East & Africa, IDEMIA. Mikhael highlights that thanks to biometrics, our everyday lives are simpler and safer. “Examples of biometrics at its best can be seen in ubiquitous daily activities such as entering a building securely and attending a sports event. From applying for a visa, securing access to buildings or networks to attending a match in a crowded venue, biometrics play a key role in every step of this journey.”

Working closely with customers in180 countries around the world, IDEMIA, is a major security technology provider to numerous countries in the Middle East and Africa. It is highlighting its latest technology solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence, to the region via Intersec, the world’s leading trade fair for security, safety and fire protection, which will run at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 19-21 January.

Combining Artificial Intelligence and IDEMIA’s own algorithm expertise, the company offers video analytics solutions to accurately identify silhouettes, such as the colour and type of an individual’s clothing, height, physical build, gender and age, faces and plate number. This serves to make conventional video security systems a thing of the past.

“Traditional video security systems only capture and store footage, leaving the task of threat detection to human operators. This task is time consuming, tedious and runs a risk of error due to human fatigue,” explained Mikhael.

“To automate these actions and to make them more efficient, we developed advanced video analytics algorithms to transform simple footage into 54

George Bou Mitri, vice president and general manager for Honeywell Build

Richard Mikhael, President, Middle East & Africa, IDEMIA

IDEMIA’s award-winning biometric technology, the MorphoWave Compact, powered by Artificial Intelligence (1)

an automated, efficient and accurate process. Not only can a video analytics platform be used in a context of securing commercial and government summits or sports events, the technology is also useful for the day-to-day securing of vulnerable parts of a building or a city.

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“It can also be used by corporations to protect their own premises. The best news yet is that the new generation video analytics can be easily integrated into existing CCTV systems to create a truly safe premise and on a larger context, a safer city city.”

// Sustainability

Green Building Standard

Jourdan Younis, Managing Director at Alpin Middle East, gives his view on green buildings in Saudi Arabia and what the Industry Looks Like in 2020

If you’re wondering what green building looks like in Saudi Arabia and where the industry is headed in the future, look no further. You’ll learn exactly what green building in Saudi Arabia is all about (and the rapid changes that lie ahead).

How is Saudi Arabia positioning itself?

First things first: What is green building? Green building is all about constructing modern buildings that are both environmentally friendly and self-sustaining.

And this is the future of the construction industry. After all, green buildings perform better than other buildings.

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As studies show: Green buildings are rented and sold at higher prices. There’s more commercial interest in green buildings, for example in the form of financing.

If implemented in the design stages, green buildings reduce construction costs. Green buildings have lower maintenance costs and save resources like energy and water.

Plus, with the challenges created by global warming, the construction industry, which is one of the world’s most polluting industries, has to come up with more sustainable solutions.

The best part? Developing green buildings doesn’t even have to come at a higher price. Green buildings cost the

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same or even less than other buildings.

Green building in Saudi Arabia is a relatively new sector. It got its start with the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building in 2009.

As our Country Manager in Saudi Arabia, Yousef Zakaria, who has seen the change happen in real-time, puts it: “The industry started around 2008 with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Jeddah. It was the first LEED-certified project in Saudi Arabia. Since then, other projects started following the same path, although they were limited to government projects.”

But over the past few years, the

industry has made big advances. For example, 15% of all green building projects in the Arab world are implemented in Saudi Arabia. The investments that Saudi Arabia makes in green buildings are the biggest of their kind worldwide.

At Alpin, our mission has always been to work for a more sustainable world. For example, we were the first LEED Gold certified project in Masdar City, where we’re headquartered. Our headquarters are also the first WELL certified project in the Middle East.

As green building consultants in Saudi Arabia, we’ve been at the forefront of the change that’s happening in Saudi Arabia. For example, we’ve been involved in projects like the Riyadh metro, SABB headquarters, King Khalid International Airport, the Pepsi Cola Mega plant, Nahdi Warehouse, Asharqia Chamber of Commerce tower and many other projects for Saudi Aramco.

LEED certification in Saudi Arabia LEED is in a special position in Saudi Arabia because the country has the highest concentrations of Gold and Platinum LEED-certified buildings in the Middle East.

The LEED certification, which is developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), is one of the most popular green building certification programs globally. It includes rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, neighborhoods, and cities.

As green buildings in general, the ROI of LEED builds on factors like the energy savings a project achieves and higher building valuations.

Particularly, we’ve seen that there’s clearly more interest in LEED today compared to even a few years ago.

For example, the SPARK (ARAMCO) project, which we talk more about below, shows this.

What is the future of green building in Saudi Arabia?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is increasingly focusing on smart and www.cbnme.com

green buildings. With Vision 2030 objectives, mega projects, supporting events, and numerous initiatives by the Ministry of Housing, Saudi Arabia is set to continue growing its green building sector.

The country is currently building a megacity, NEOM, which is a Vision 2030 initiative. The city is planned to be completely powered by renewable energy. Another is Aramco’s King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), which is the first LEED pre-certified industrial city in the world.

King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) is a new mega project developed by Saudi Aramco. SPARK will be a fully integrated city. It’s designed for efficient and sustainable operations in an integrated world-class energy hub.

As GBCI puts it, “It is master planned to seamlessly intertwine an industrial area, dry port and logistics zone, with vibrant residential, educational, and commercial areas. By using an inte-

grative planning and design process, sustainability is embedded in its development from the very first planning phases all the way through completion and management of the project.”

At Alpin, we recently participated in the reception ceremony held by the USGBC in Atlanta, USA during the Greenbuild conference for the purpose of awarding SPARK the LEED pre-certification for cities and communities.

By achieving pre-certification under LEED v4.1 for Cities and Communities: Plan and Design ahead of full certification, the project will share key project details and planning initiatives throughout the development process.

As Yousef puts it: “Certifying cities like SPARK under LEED for cities and communities rating systems will encourage other cities to follow the lead and get LEED-certified as a city.”

As you can see, projects like SPARK will continue to take green building in Saudi Arabia to the next level.

Jourdan Younis

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// Sustainability

Net Zero Cundall has announced its commitment to become Net Zero business by mid-year 2020

2020 will be a defining year for the world’s built environment, marking the dawn of a decade of action in which the industry will be transformed by the UN’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

With only ten years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, world leaders at the SDG Summit in September 2019 called for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, and pledged to mobilize financing, enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve the Goals by the target date of 2030, leaving no one behind.

The UN Secretary-General called on all sectors of society to mobilize for a decade of action on three levels: global action to secure greater leadership, more resources and smarter solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals; 58

local action embedding the needed transitions in the policies, budgets, institutions and regulatory frameworks of governments, cities and local authorities; and people action, including by youth, civil society, the media, the private sector, unions, academia and other stakeholders, to generate an unstoppable movement pushing for the required transformations.

Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, Cundall, has named 2020 the ‘Year of Net Zero’, announcing its commitment to achieving net zero carbon throughout its own business operations, incorporating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into every element and leading the way for others to do the same.

Richard Stratton, Managing Director & Partner MENA commented: “Sustainability permeates through every aspect

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of Cundall, achieving net zero is a huge part of that, and with COP26 in Glasgow later this year, we are committed to not only achieving net zero carbon throughout our own offices globally, but to sharing our learnings and leading the conversation around net zero carbon projects that started in 2019 and will likely only become more vociferous as COP26 draws closer.

“When we launched our latest Sustainability Roadmap in late 2018, we were under no illusions that achieving our ambitious net zero goals would not be straight forward. Net zero is a complex issue that needs the type of technical solution that we, as engineers, are best-placed to provide, and it is through the process of continuously learning from our project experience, developing our approach and adjusting our methods that we can succeed.”

Cundall has also announced its resolution to collaborate with industry bodies to revolutionise the built environment’s approach to net zero.

Cundall will work alongside the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MOID), Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), the UK Green Building Council, the Greater London Authority (GLA), and the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) to help unify the industry and define targets for achieving net zero carbon in both new and existing buildings.

As a Board Director of EGBC, Cundall is undertaking an ambitious approach to drive the Net Zero Carbon agenda across the UAE and beyond.

Hala Yousef, Head of Sustainability

MENA at Cundall, said: “The region’s leadership is showing the industry the roadmap that we all must follow in the next 10 years through the UAE’s Green Agenda 2015-2030 and National Climate Change Plan of the UAE 2017-2050, with no space given to climate change sceptics. It’s incredible to see the progress being made across all the Emirates and the on-going work the industry is committing to.”

“Ultimately, achieving net zero is an engineering problem that needs a technical solution, and we are dedicated to helping the industry achieve it.”

Cundall Australia has led the charge to net zero, achieving certification in late 2019 and setting the bar for Cundall’s other offices around the globe to follow suit by June this year.

Once this is achieved, the practice will continue along the path to being 115

per cent carbon positive by 2025.

Cundall is currently working with the GLA to launch new standards for whole life carbon for all referable schemes by early February, simultaneously setting out a proposed roadmap and targets for all developments in the next decade. The next step will be to set intensive targets for whole life and embodied carbon and mandate compulsory reporting for all building projects.

At the same time, the practice is also collaborating with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) to help unify the industry on setting operational energy intensity targets for all building types. Once agreed the aim will be to get these included in legislation for both new and existing buildings so that we can meet our net zero carbon targets.

Richard Stratton, Managing Director & Partner MENA

www.cbnme.com

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Machinery & Vehicles Neal Manufacturing Updates Full Line to Tier 4 Final

Neal Manufacturing, a division of Blastcrete Equipment LLC and a leader in asphalt pavement preservation equipment, announces all their machines are Tier 4 Final compliant, including the DA 350 Dual Sealcoat Applicator and High-Volume Road Maintenance Vehicle.

“As a customer-focused company, Neal Manufacturing is continually innovating, making sure our products employ the latest technology to meet or exceed all equipment stan60

dards,” said Tripp Farrell, president of Neal Manufacturing, a division of Blastcrete Equipment LLC. “Updating our line for Tier 4 Final compliance is just one of the many ways our team helps keep customers jobsite ready.”

The DA 350 offers a 100 gpm hydraulic piston pump, for a robust, versatile application vehicle capable of handling pavement preservation products with heavy aggregate loads. The threewheeled self-propelled se-

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alcoating machine features a built-in, high powered blower and AutoTrim, an automatic cutting-in attachment, allowing contactors seven times the productivity on prep work along curb-andgutter streets. A 35-horsepower Yanmar Water Cooled Diesel Tier 4 final engine powers the DA 350.

For high-quality results on large road projects, the High-Volume Road Maintenance Vehicle features Neal Manufacturing’s Generation IV pump that deliv-

ers infinitely variable outputs from 0-150 gpm, even with larger aggregates mixes. The Road Maintenance Vehicle is available with a Yanmar 3TNV88C, 35-horsepower Tier 4 Final engine. Individually or in combination with the DA 350 as part of Neal Manufacturing’s Asphalt Road Preservation Package, the High-Volume Road Maintenance Vehicle features innovative, productivity enhancing options for lasting sealcoat applications.

Kingsbury Gulf to ink manufacturing deal with Saftech

Kingsbury Gulf, a leading provider of advanced European machine tooling equipment, exclusively inked a deal with Saftech Engineering Works, a leading UAEbased engineering goods, machining and fabrication services company, during the 16 edition of SteelFab 2020, the region’s premier steel and metal industry event.

A growing force in supply chain of the UAE’s rapidlyexpanding manufacturing sector ; Kingsbury Gulf has been awarded a contract by Saftech to supply the UAEbased firm with a C400U 5 Axis milling machine; the www.cbnme.com

latest and most advanced equipment for high performance, large-scale and high accuracy machining.

The C400U is one of a wider range of 5-axis milling machines - Computer Numerical Control machines (CNC) - produced by the German manufacturer Hermle.

"Manufacturing is a critical thread in the economic and social fabric of an economy, being a vital source of innovation and competitiveness, and a vehicle for productivity that helps to drive and sustain the wellbeing of societies,” said Richard Kingsbury, managing director of Kings-

bury. “As with other spheres of businesses, the manufacturing sector is undergoing a transformational period with digital transformation as the combustion engine of the new industrial revolution.

“Kingsbury recognises the UAE to be a worldwide leader in harnessing the power of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technology and embracing a transformational approach to shaping the future of manufacturing.

"Our latest deal with Saftech - a regional heavyweight in supplying manufacturing needs - shows the commitment of the UAE and the

wider Gulf in investing in manufacturing innovations to ensure it remains at the forefront of sustainable economic and social development.”

Kingsbury Gulf - launched in 2018 as the official representation of the UK company Kingsbury in the Gulf region - officially signed the deal with Saftech during SteelFab 2020, which took place at the Expo Centre Sharjah from January 13 to 16. The event brings together leaders of the steel industry locally and regionally, as well as the world's leading manufacturers and those specialised in the steel industry.

construction business news me // February 2020 //

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// Machinery

Volvo CE drives construction into the future with ambitious showcase at CONEXPO 2020 Displaying solutions for today and tomorrow Volvo CE will present its industry-leading range of products and services across 5,574 m3 (60,000 ft2) of show space in Las Vegas, from March 10-14. More than 30 machines and related uptime and productivity services will be featured, including a number of global and regional launches, at a new location in the outdoor Festival Grounds, booth F3432.

The scope of the Volvo

Group represented in the ConExpo booth shows comprehensive solutions for the construction industry with a commitment to being number one for customer uptime Volvo CE will

be joined by sister companies Volvo Penta, Volvo Trucks and Volvo Financial Services, who will be presenting the latest engine, truck and financial offers.

Likewise, Volvo CE’s other

equipment brands Terex Trucks and SDLG will be present at the show.

Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE, said: “Our presence at ConExpo is set to be our best yet – with a fully immersive technology experience to highlight the changing face of construction. Innovation has long been a part of our DNA, and we are especially proud to be bringing it to the mainstream with the unveiling some game-changing launches at this year’s show.

SDLG enters heavy-duty motor grader market with new G9290 model Leading Chinese construction equipment manufacturer SDLG is proud to announce the latest addition to its range of motor graders, the G9290.

With a base operating weight of 22.9 tonnes and a 14” wide blade as standard, the impressive productivity of blade down force and blade pull makes the SDLG G9290 the best in its size class.

The new G9290 is the first motor grader from SDLG in the heavy-duty size class, its strength and capacity making it ideal for mining haul road maintenance, infrastructure projects, road construction, highways and airports.

The robust design of the 62

new G9290 motor grader builds on the proven reputation of its smaller brothers – the G9138, G9190 (VHP) and G9220 (VHP) – when it comes to the moldboard, circle turn,

// construction business news me // February 2020

drawbar, front axle and rear tandems.

However, the G9290 adds a new level of quality with its Volvo-supplied engine and Volvo-designed transmission. A member

of the Volvo Group since 2007, SDLG draws on the strength of the group to incorporate high-performance designs and technologies into its products where appropriate.

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Unsung Hero

T h o mps o n Benjamin Thompson, Senior Director – Communications, Khatib & Alami, tells us about his role and how he is helping contribute to Khatib & Alami’s success Goals and Objectives At any given time, K&A’s 6,500 people are working on so many fantastic projects which are making a positive difference to the region on behalf of our clients. The most exciting part of my job involves telling these stories through a compelling and consistent narrative which will improve understanding about the business – who we are, what we do and why we do it. We have historically been quite shy when it comes to marketing and communications, so it’s great to be able to open the door and start gaining recognition for our vast expertise and accomplishments.

Positioning Renault Trucks as Market Leaders Our starting point is always to make sure that everything we do in the marketing and communications department is closely aligned with the vision and strategy of the business. This helps us prioritise our efforts and focus on what’s most important and impactful, whether it’s for internal engagement of our people or for choosing which events, conferences and industry awards to take part in.

We try to find the right balance to ensure the business is well represented across our different markets and sectors, and we work with the media to find the right platforms for our experts to talk about key issues such as health and safety, sustainable design and the digital transformation. We share news and thought leadership across our social media channels, and are looking forward to making the most of our new website, which is in the final stages of development.

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We also bring the K&A brand to life with the help of a great graphic design team who create advertising, marketing materials, audio-visual and digital content, as well as supporting bids and proposals.

therefore have to tease information out of people and then translate what is often seen as technical jargon into material that the audience will not only comprehend but choose to engage with as well.

Attributes I’ve been working in the built environment sector for most of my career, so even though I’m not an engineer or architect, I think I’ve learned to speak their language pretty well. People who are brilliant engineers are not necessarily brilliant communicators, largely because they can’t recognize the mindblowing genius behind their achievements – as far as they’re concerned, they are just doing their jobs! You

Importance of Teamwork I’m fully aware of my own limitations, so am grateful to have an amazingly talented team who are always bursting with energy and creative ideas.

Pretty much everything that we do invariably involves drawing on the expertise of at least two or three different team members, which also presents the opportunity to delegate, build leadership skills and support each other to achieve more.

// construction business news me // February 2020

// Save the date

Save the date Mark your calendar

IFI Congress & General Assembly

February

26-28

February

24-26

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Dubai, UAE The IFI Congress & General Assembly intends to identify and debate challenges affecting the field of interiors, as well as the potential for design to impact and promote positive change in society. It provides an important platform for sharing current research and design solutions advancing innovation at both local and global levels and features premier thought leaders from the global interior architecture and design profession.

Automechanika Riyadh Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Automechanika Riyadh is set to significantly boost access for international players into Saudi Arabia’s two largest automotive aftermarkets. According to research gathered by the organisers, Riyadh holds a 45 per cent share of the Kingdom’s spare parts market, while the Eastern region, including the cities of Dammam, Dhahran and Al Khobar, comprises 35 per cent of the auto aftermarket.

// construction business news me // February 2020

February

3-7

February

28

World of Concrete Las Vegas, USA World of Concrete is the industry's only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries.

WOC features indoor and outdoor exhibits with the industry's leading suppliers showcasing innovative products and technologies, exciting demonstrations and competitions, and a world-class education program.

The Home Show Brisbane, Australia The Pacific Rim Real Estate Society Annual Conference will provide the attendees with the opportunity to gain insights relating to topics such as Housing Markets, Economics and Policy, Green Buildings & Environmental Policies, Corporate Real Estate, Asset, Property & Facility Management, IT and Real Estate, International Real Estate, Marketing & Communication in Property.

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