Construction Sites | July Issue no. 96 by Qatar Construction Sites

SITES C o n s t r u c t i o n

I ssue N o .96 - J uly 2015

Monthly Construction news, tenders, project focus, and forthcoming exhibitions in Qatar

EXCLUSIVE interview with Paul Véron, Director, UIC Coordinator for the Middle East: Development of rail infrastructure and transport in the region

Updates on Qatar Rail’s tunnel boring phase Kahramaa wins global energy award Hamad Port: World’s largest greenfield port project

Construction

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Confidence in Qatar’s business environment at an ‘all-time high’ Confidence in Qatar’s overall business environment is at an all-time high, according to the Business Optimism Index (BOI) released by Dun and Bradstreet. However, respondents expressed a cautious optimism for the overall outlook given the many challenges faced in key areas. The outlook for the construction sector has witnessed a slight moderation with the composite BOI declining from 52 in the first quarter to 46 in the second quarter. Whereas the composite BOI for the transport & communications sector is lower by nine points to 40 in the second quarter. The composite BOI for the finance, real estate & business services sector has retracted significantly from the record highs achieved in the first quarter. Despite these challenges, Qatar’s economy continues to thrive and drive business to all sectors. According to the BOI report, the overall business environment outlook has improved in both the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon sectors. A total of 27% of hydrocarbon and 39% of non-hydrocarbon firms expect no negative factors to impact business operations in the second quarter, compared to 22% and 23% respectively in the previous quarter. Yousuf Al Jaida, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the QFC Authority, said: “It’s no surprise that Qatar’s overall business environment outlook has improved in both the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon sectors. “The challenges we see cited as concerns by respondents are indicative of a maturing economy. We are seeing that companies are rising to the challenges presented by a growing private sector.” According to the report, the reason for the composite BOI reflecting a decline in a number of sectors this quarter can be attributed to many different factors. For example, the first quarter saw record highs in the trade & hospitality sector, which were thanks in part to the success of the World Handball Championship predictions outlined in the previous BOI report. Prashant Kumar, Associate Director of Dun and Bradstreet, said that despite a number of negative factors in this quarter’s report, the overall business environment outlook was good. “The second quarter has proven a difficult quarter this year due to extenuating circumstances,” he noted. And, while the impact of falling oil prices is a major concern for firms in the hydrocarbon sector, competition continues to be the leading area of concern in the non-hydrocarbon sector. However, there is no sign of contraction in either sector. In fact, in the hydrocarbon sector, 33% of firms have planned expansion investments during the second quarter, compared to only 15% in the first quarter. The trend has remained stable for non-hydrocarbon firms as 36% intend on taking up expansionary activities in the current quarter, the same level seen in the first quarter. Finally, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) community continues to be more optimistic about the overall business environment, with 42% of respondents indicating that they do not anticipate negative factors to hamper operations in the second quarter, while for large companies, the corresponding number is 26%. Conversely, large companies have a stronger outlook relative to SMEs in respect to new orders and net profits.

Real estate investors in emerging markets look to second-tier cities

Changing perceptions of the emerging markets are attracting an increasing number of foreign investors to second- and third-tier cities in emerging urban areas as they begin to challenge their developed counterparts. Economic growth, infrastructure development and demographic changes are affecting smaller cities across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, enabling less developed areas to emerge as competitive players. Rapid urbanization is affecting many smaller cities in the emerging markets, in particular across Africa. The majority of the young population in many African countries, with increasing disposable income, live in cities. This migration to cities is increasing demand for housing, infrastructure, retail and commercial spaces. By investing in smaller cities, real estate developers and industry professionals benefit from lower operating costs, greater space for construction, lower costs for resources and building materials and less supply. Moving away from capital cities, property is significantly cheaper, as developers have access to more land for development and lower building costs. According to KianMoini, Co-Founder and Managing Director of global real estate portal Lamudi, which operates exclusively in emerging markets: “These lesser-known cities have large, young working populations, not only contributing more to the economy through their employment, but spending more on consumer goods, and which are more enthusiastic to spend time and money on technology.” He said: “Investing in smaller cities gives investors the chance to get more for their money - land and operating costs are much lower, as there is more space for construction, lower costs for resources and building materials, and less supply. “As a result, less developed areas are becoming more attractive to investors. These cities now need to invest in themselves, to develop their infrastructure, and position themselves as competitors to the bigger markets.” While bigger economic capitals have the advantage over smaller, lesser known cities due to greater recognition around the world, cheaper rental prices, less competition and a higher growth potential enable these cities to rise to the challenge.

Qatar

Rise in Qatar’s population to fuel real estate market growth

The steady rise in Qatar’s overall population continues to fuel the residential market growth in the state, according to a new report. At the same time, the report by DTZ, Qatar’s leading global real estate company, notes a decreased requirements on the commercial and residential real estate markets from the hydrocarbon sector as budgets have been cut due to the drop in oil and gas prices. In its first-quarter market report for 2015, DTZ says that in some locations, rents have risen between 5%-10% for mid-range apartments while expecting that the availability of new apartments in the Pearl Qatar and West Bay will help ease rental inflation for higher end apartments. In the sales sector, average freehold prices for apartments range from QR12,500/sqm to QR14,000/sqm. Three new hotels opened in the first quarter of this year, adding about 760 keys to the hospitality sector. Commenting on the findings of the latest report, Mark Proudley, Associate Director, Consultancy and Research, DTZ, points out that as per the Qatar Statistics Authority, over the past 12 months up to the end of March this year, the population in the state has witnessed an increase of 9.5% . “This along with new apartments entering the market has contributed to the growth of the residential market despite the impact caused by lower hydrocarbon prices,” Proudley says. “In the hospitality sector, the market will continue to feel the impact of Qatar’s obligations to FIFA with regard to the number of hotels required by 2022. This commitment will create pressure on positive growth in occupancy levels as new hotel room stock enters the market.” Edd Brookes, General Manager of DTZ in Doha, says increasing maturity of Qatar’s real estate market is now becoming evident. “The slowdown caused by lower hydrocarbon prices has been balanced by the growth in residential demand caused by a rapidly expanding population,” says Brookes. “This speaks volumes for the strategic direction of the nation, particularly in terms of economic diversification. The retail market has also seen significant growth of 17% in this quarter as a result of a new mall opening.” Brookes says that DTZ Qatar has “the distinction of being the oldest international real estate agency operating in this market and our aim has always been to grow sustainably along with the market”. There have been few significant transactions with regard to office lettings in the first quarter of 2015. While the number of large-scale acquisitions is likely to reduce due to the lower hydrocarbon prices, DTZ expects to see an increase in smaller lettings to the private sector. DTZ estimates that there is currently less than 150,000sqm of vacant offices available to rent in West Bay, which represents less than 9% of total supply. Of the available space, however, there is a limited choice for those looking for less than 500sqm in West Bay. “While there are fewer office spaces available for letting, we are seeing more activity from the private sector looking for office accommodation in areas such as Al Sadd, Airport Road and C-Ring Road, which offer availability of smaller cost-effective suites.” Johnny Archer, Associate Director at DTZ Qatar, says.

QFC Authority consultation paper on arbitration regulations amendments The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority has issued a public consultation paper pro-

posing refinements to the QFC Arbitration Regulations. The changes were made following a review of the new draft Qatari Arbitration Law on civil and commercial matters and other regulations in leading legal jurisdictions and seek to promote the use of arbitration as a form of alternative dispute resolution in the QFC. The paper sheds light on the enhanced proposals to the QFC Arbitration Regulations and aims at consulting with the wider business community. The QFC Authority is committed to continually reviewing its legislative framework in order to allow new and existing QFC firms to benefit from a strong, transparent legal and regulatory environment. The proposed amendments are described in detail in the respective consultation paper and its appendix and are available on the QFC Legislation website for feedback purposes: www.complinet.com/qfcra/display/display_main.html?rbid=1557&element_id=10412 These legislative enhancements are consistent with the QFC Law, the QFC Authority Regulations and the QFC Authority Governance Policy. placement was a top priority in the five-year health plan of the ministry prepared half way through last year.

Construction

Qatar

Hamad Port: one of the world’s largest greenfield developments

elegates of the 11th Trans Middle East 2015 Conference held in Doha were taken on a site visit to the new port being built south of Mesaieed. Strategically located south of Doha, the QR27 billion ($7.4 billion) megaproject, which includes a new port, a new base for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and the Qatar Economic Zone 3 (QEZ3), will span a 26.5 square kilometer area. The Emiri Decree No 37, the first step in the creation of one of the world’s largest greenfield port developments, was issued on June 19, 2007. The New Port Project was renamed the Hamad Port on February 26, 2014 by the Prime Minister at a ceremony that marked the start of the controlled flooding operations of the port basin. HH the Deputy Emir of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani officially started the controlled flooding operations in the presence of HH Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister and HE Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti, the Minister of Transport, on February 26 this year. Approximately 76 million m³ of water was required to fill

It is divided into three main parts: the basin and the accessory land around it, the access channel to provide passage to the port basin and the naval basin, which is an offshore island, and the QEZ3 port which is a smaller port constructed in a similar fashion to the main one.

both the port basin and access channel. The entire flooding took a total of almost two months and was completed at the end of March 2015. During the site visit, delegates of the Trans Middle East 2015 conference were taken by bus from the current Doha Port to the new project. They found the difference between the current facilities and the new port project are incomparable. The new port is the size of half of the Doha city.

It is estimated that China Harbour Engineering would have processed 28 million cubic metres of materials in total for the project. It is divided into three main parts: the basin and the accessory land around it, the access channel to provide passage to the port basin and the naval basin, which is an offshore island, and the QEZ3 port which is a smaller port constructed in a similar fashion to the main one. The main concrete quay wall is 21m high and 8km long and is made of individual blocks of concrete stacked one on top of the other. Around 66 blocks are laid per day with a total of 36,000 quay blocks expected to be needed. The quay wall crane is using Building materials piled at the entrance to the Port. a gantry crane specifically designed for this project. Extensive environmental im- in conjunction with Qatar’s The crane can carry blocks of pact studies were carried out Ministry of Environment to up to 130 tonnes each and it identify threatened ecosyslays about 35 - 40 on the quay tems and habitats located in wall per day. or around the proposed site Approximately 76 According to the AECOM projeven before any construction million m³ of water began. ect managers, the total number of laborers on site at one was required to fill As a result of one of the enpoint was 10,000. both the port basin vironmental impact studies During the orientation presenwith the MoE, the project has tation, AECOM explained how and access channel relocated (to carefully selected the project had minimised imdonor sites) 7,600 mangrove pact on the sensitive coastal seedlings, 11,500m² of seaand marine environments. grass and 13,650 hard corals.

The flooded basin channel

2011

• Main Access Road • Labour Camps and Contractors Site with Contractors Temporary Facilities • Area Of Excavation • Site Fence • Batching Plant And Precast Yard

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The port operations manager of the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) told Construction Sites that their offices would be moving to the new temporary offices at the new port by July as the port administration buildings are scheduled to be completed by then. The port is expected to start operations by September when the necessary cranes would arrive.

Visual from presentation showing an aerial view of the Port

2012

• Excavation Of Port Basin • Cut-Off Wall • Ground Reclamation And Compaction • Quay Wall Trench And Excavation • Quay Wall Blocks Cast In Place

2013

2014

2015

• Placing Quay Wall Blocks • Quay Wall Backfilling • Coping Block Installation • Bunds For Naval Base • Inner Breakwater • Access Channel Dredging

• Naval Base Reclamation and formation Of Naval Base • Naval Base Bridge Construction • Naval Base Bridge Construction • Power Stations • Outer Breakwater Construction • Multiuse Terminal Infrastructure • Container Terminal Buildings • QEZ3 Canal Dredging And Excavation

• Road Paving • Construction Of The Port Administration Buildings • Naval Base Infrastructure Work • Construction of the Naval Base Buildings • Construction of the Coast Guard Facilities

Construction

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Legal

In the nick of time: extension of time provisions and the risks for contractors This article discusses some of the common issues faced by contractors when making a claim for an extension of time and/or prolongation costs in Qatar. Extension of Time As is often typical of construction projects , tight deadlines and gross underestimations of the time it will take to complete projects, has led to habitually late projects being the norm. This in turn has made the need for adequate and fair extension of time provisions essential for contractors. One unforeseen delay, completely outside the contractor’s control, which could be caused by a myriad of different factors ranging from an authority permit delay to unexpected site conditions, could put contractors at the real risk of not only falling behind but could also place them in the delay damages danger zone. In these situations, contractors can find themselves liable for a large amount of delay damages even though the delaying

event was possibly not their fault. But despite the risks, and the often large amount of money at stake, extension of time provisions in contracts are often vague, ambiguous, frequently include draconian notice time bars, and place an inordinate amount of discretion in either the hands of the engineer or the employer. This combined with an uneven bargaining platform at the negotiation stage, which is characteristic of many employer/contractor relationships in the region, means many contractors agree to both unrealistic timeframe and extension of time provisions which are either unclear or which they simply do not understand. An extension of time provision is one that allows the construction period to be extended in circumstances where there are delays that are not the contractor’s fault or outside its control. As an example, the Ashghal (Public Works Authority –

Cate Wright Cate Wright is an associate in the construction and projects team of the international law firm, Clyde & Co LLP. Cate is based in the firm’s Doha office, and advises in relation to both contentious and noncontentious aspects of construction projects in Qatar and across the Middle East generally. Cate is qualified in Australia.

“PWA”) General Conditions of Contract, is often the contract of choice for employers in respect of projects in Qatar. The PWA Contract is based on a heavily amended International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), 1987 ‘Red Book’ Contract and is evidently favourable towards employers. The standard extension of time provision in the PWA Contract (clause 44) reads as follows: “Should the amount of extra or additional work of any kind or other special circumstances of any kind whatsoever which may occur (other than through a default of the Contractor) be such as fairly to entitle the Contractor to an extension of time for the completion of the work the Engineer shall determine the amount of such exten-

sion and shall notify the its position. PWA and the Contractor accordingly. Delay Costs Delay or prolongation costs Provided that the Engineer are costs incurred by the is not bound to take into ac- contractor as a result of havcount any extra or additional ing to remain on site longer work or other special circum- than it originally anticipated. stances unless the Contrac- These costs could typically tor has within twenty include additional labour eight (28) days after such costs, plant costs and overwork has been commenced heads. or such circumstances have What often comes as a arisen or as soon thereafter shock to contractors when as is practicable delivered to they are awarded an extenthe Engineer’s Representa- sion of time, is that while tive full and detailed partic- they are often entitled to ulars of any claim to exten- extra days, there is often no sion of time to which he may automatic right to costs for consider himself entitled in such delays. order that such claim may This can place contractors be investigated at the time.” in a very unhappy situation where they have been deWhat can be discerned from layed by no fault of their own, this clause is not only the have been awarded extra circumstances giving rise time (providing temporary to an entitlement to an ex- respite from the inevitable tension of time are vague pain of liquidated or delay but also that the engineer damages at least), and are has an immense amount of stuck wearing the additional discretion in respect of the cost of having to stay on site awarding of an extension of longer than expected. time. As it the case in clause 44 of the PWA contract as exIt is likely that if a contractor tracted above, while there is were to encounter a delaying a provision, albeit a general event, and was faced with one, to provide for an award this particular provision, of time, there is no express there would understandably allowance for the payment be some confusion as to of prolongation costs. whether or not the event, or If contractors intend to be indeed which specific events entitled to prolongation at all, were covered by this costs in the event that they clause. Or, as can some- are awarded extra time, this times be worse, the contrac- right must be expressly, and tor may make an assumption unambiguously stated in the that it is covered and the en- contract. gineer might subsequently Time bars take a different view. This Another common sticking can ultimately lead to a sit- point for contractors are uation where the contractor contractual time bars. These does not adequately protect particular clauses have the effect of completely disallowing the contractor an extension of time claim, to which it would have otherwise been contractually entitled, because the contractor has not provided notice, or given full and detailed particulars in the time specified. These time limits often provide the contractor with extremely short, and sometimes unrealistic deadlines, which can be difficult for the contractor to comply with. As highlighted by clause 44 as extracted above, pursuant to the PWA contract, the contractor has twenty eight (28) days to provide the engineer with full and detailed particulars of any claim to an extension of time. Failure to do so results in a full bar to entitlement, even if the contractor is otherwise contractually entitled. The problem with this for contractors is that it is often difficult for them to provide full and detailed particulars at such an early stage, when the full extent of the delay may not be known.

Laura Warren Laura Warren is a partner of the International Law firm, Clyde & Co LLP, in Doha. Laura has a wide ranging contentious and non contentious construction practice involving projects in Qatar as well as in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Libya, Egypt and Tunisia Laura is Co-ordinator for the Society of Construction Law (Gulf) in Qatar.

In other forms of construction contracts, it is common that a notice of delay must be issued first, followed by the formal detailed claim. In that situation, there will consequently be two time bars which need to be complied with by the contractor, or else it will be precluded from claiming any extension of time or additional payment (if entitled). And while contractors should attempt to abide by time limits prescribed in contracts to avoid these types of disputes, contractors can breathe a somewhat shallow sigh of relief that there are various ways to overcome non-compliance with notice obligations often under the contract itself and under law. What should Contractor’s do? The key to this problem ultimately lies at the negotiation and drafting stage. Contractors should ensure that extension of time clauses are drafted with sufficient clarity so that there is little doubt which circumstances will entitle them to an extension of time, and nasty surprises can be avoided down the track. Further, contractors should be very clear as to whether or not the clauses as drafted give rise to an express entitlement to prolongation costs. Contractors encounter numerous situations where they have mistakenly believed they are entitled to prolongation costs, when in fact the contract says otherwise. Should you have any questions in connection with this article or the legal issues it covers, please contact Cate Wright (cate.wright@ clydeco.com) or Laura Warren (laura.warren@ clydeco.com).

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Qatar

The safe way to success

Greater cost-efficiency, a reduced risk of accidents and enhanced employee motivation are just some of the advantages of implementing a professional safety concept on the site. When it comes to safety, Doka takes a holistic, A-toZ approach that runs all the way from product development to safety consulting, and to its extensive range of safety products and services. Not only but especially on April 28, the international safety day, safety needs to get an appropriate stage. It’s only when you feel safe that you can concentrate on the job and perform at your best. An obvious truth, but one that particularly needs to be heeded in construction, where the accident rate is twice as high as in other sectors. Study after study has shown that on safe jobsites, people work faster. Quite apart from human suffering and loss of value-creation, accidents also cause heavy costs ranging from sick-leave to legal consequences which may even include work on the site being stopped altogether. The old objection to installing

safety systems is that it “means more work”; Doka has made this objection ever less relevant by developing quick and easyto-operate safety innovations for every type of forming assignment. All-round safety right from the word ‘go’ A holistic understanding of safety begins right from when formwork systems are still under development. Safety, ease of handling and ergonomic design are among the key characteristics of Doka products. This begins with the choice of materials for the system components, and with the documentation on how the product is used. The use of high-grade materials for all formwork components not only makes them last longer, it makes them safer, too. The Doka product range undergoes continuous testing and onward development with regard to safety, and as a result Doka formwork systems are dependable and efficient equipment for every construction project. Systematic safety Doka systems unite speed, safety and cost effectiveness on the site. For a high standard of safety, Doka offers complete systems for floor, wall or column

Doka’s ds button is a visible sign pointing to where customers particularly benefit from the safety of Doka products.

Safety down to the last detail: From the planning phase right through until completion, Doka is a top-calibre partner on all safety issues.

The Edge protection system XP from Doka is a universal safety solution for all edge protection needs.

formwork. These come with ‘on-board’ protection features such as ladderways or working platforms with integral edge protection. Pre-assembly of the protective elements at ground level, and easy-to-use connector components that allow the formwork and platform to be repositioned in one piece, make for swift, safe work on the site. Doka’s own platform systemfor instance Folding platform K, is reliable, easy to use and versatile. Vertical-access solutions such as the Stair tower or the Ladder system XS give Doka customers a ‘safe way up to great heights’, with access to all work-deck levels. These systems’ ergonomical design facilitates efficient workflows by letting crew climb up and down with less physical effort – and in safety. New developments such as the Framed enclosure Xbright for the protection-screen system Xclimb 60 provide a new quality of working on the site. With its windproof but translucent inlay, Xbright makes possible a working environment that is pleasant and above all safe. The Pro¬tection screen Xclimb 60 lets you car¬ry out con¬struc¬tion work in the top build¬ing-lev¬els of high-rise pro¬jects in great safe¬ty, and pro¬tect¬ed from the weather. Be¬cause it is struc¬tureguid¬ed at all times, it can be op¬er¬at¬ed even in windy con¬di¬tions. Safety pays dividends in repositioning and handling operations as well. Innovative solutions like the self-climbing and craneindependent Table Lifting System TLS set a benchmark for vertical or horizontal repositioning of tableforms and optimise site logistics in terms of safety and speed. Safe, from the planning phase through until completion As early as in the planning phase, Doka supports its customers with professional consulting and its long expertise with safety issues. In-depth analysis of the initial situation provides the basis for individual-

ised solutions in which suitable products such as ladderways and protection systems are incorporated into the formwork planning right from the start. Efficient usage of formwork systems is achieved not only by the features themselves, but even more so by using their components correctly. This is why high-quality documentation such as formwork utilisation plans, instruction manuals and safety data sheets are such an important basis for a safe site. Services such as practical, relevant training offerings, Formwork Instructors and fielding technical advisers facilitate a high level of safety on-site. Dokadek 30 – easy and safe Panel floor formwork Dokadek 30 embodies safety right down to the last detail. The beamless hand-set system Dokadek 30 is very easy to operate, with an erection and dismantling sequence that is so straightforward that even semi-skilled crew members are soon familiar with it. At the same time, this floor-slab formwork scores for high speed, not only during set-up but also during dismantling. All operations can be performed from the safety of floor level, with no need to walk on the formwork. The panels’ rectangular shape means that it takes users much less effort to engage them in the prop heads and then to tilt them up safely from below, even when forming higher rooms. When the panels are being engaged, the Dokadek 30 heads hold them and fix them safely. The anti-liftout guard integrated in the Dokadek 30 heads reliably prevents panels accidentally falling off. At the same time, the panels are also automatically secured against accidental liftout and wind action, with no extra precautions needed. Award-winning successes Certifications such as the CE and GS Marks are a visible sign of the reliability of Doka products. The Doka Safety Network (DSN) gives Doka staff, customers and experts a forum where they can exchange news, views and

new ideas about safety. These efforts have won Doka a great many distinctions and safety awards, including the Good Practice Award of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, and the Spanish Institute of Building Engineering (CGATE) prize for safety in building construction. A high safety standard motivates construction site workers to perform at maximum levels and reduces the risk that in a worst-case scenario the construction site comes to a standstill. Studies provide evidence that: the factor for calculating “return on prevention” is 2.2. That means: an investment in safety measures of USD 1 Mio. leads to an ROP of USD 2.2 Mio. Much more than just a policy At Doka, solutions featuring all-round safety are an integral part of the company’s culture, making The Formwork Experts top-calibre people to work with

on all safety issues. Safety is also written large within the company itself. Internal campaigns, and measures that go well beyond what the law requires, send a clear signal. Various initiatives foster awareness of the topic, and make an important contribution towards motivating employees. With the ds logo, Doka has created its own distinctive symbol that immediately points both customers and employees to safetyrelated aspects. Round-up of Doka safety systems: Working and protection platforms • Folding platform K • Platform system Xsafe plus Fall-arrest protection • Handrail posts & clamps • Edge protection system XP Protection screens • Protection screen Xclimb 60 Access systems • Stair tower • Ladder system XS

Practical and safe: With Dokadek 30, all operations can be performed from the safety of floor level, with no need to walk on the formwork.

Construction

Qatar

A first for LED lighting, withhe no bulbs to replace move towards al-

ternative and renewable energy in the Gulf region is not incidental or sudden. Qatar has recognized the importance of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and has started looking at the large scale production of solar power, as an alternative to the use of fossil fuels. But what if you could save money, reduce your energy bills and still have stylish ambient lighting in every room, road or high rise tower? According to Jasco Products Company, GE licensee, you can do just that with their new product. “Enbrighten represents the next stage in the lighting evolution,” says Cameron Trice, Co-CEO. “By integrating LEDs with GE remote phosphor technology*, we are able to provide consistent color temperature and innovative energy efficiency—all from an iconic brand you trust. Consumers’ growing adoption of energy-saving lighting inspires us to achieve unprecedented breakthroughs that exceed consumer expectations in lighting.” Energy-Efficient Solution According to the industry website, www.ledinside.com, ‘Enbrighten’ is a solution for

energy-efficient night lighting in a seamless design that features a lifetime guarantee. With no bulbs to replace, this means a lifetime of intelligent ambient lighting in any room. By integrating light–sensing technology, ‘Enbrighten’ is on at dusk and off at dawn– creating a lived-in look while away. The product provides 30 percent greater efficiency than today’s white LEDs, making it the most efficient and long

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Lighting the way

lasting option among all LED lighting solutionsThe lightsensing products are on at dusk and off at dawn—giving you energy efficient light when you need it most as well as a lived-in appearance that helps deter crime. According to ledinside.com, it uses GE’s remote phosphor technology to increase brightness and illumination, and drastically reduces system temperature by using a blue LED. Remote phosphor LED light sources project a brilliant 225-degree omnidirectional light—providing bright, even lighting and eliminating hot spots. ‘Enbrighten’ lighting creates an environment that prevents overheating and ensures a brilliant white light that is always cool to the touch.

The second annual LightingTech Qatar conference, which brought together officials, regulators, experts, construction professionals and solution providers, looked at some of the latest government regulations and industry standards and certifications in Qatar. They discussed the impending needs and requirements in the lighting industry and how they could best be addressed. The conference took place as part of the 12th Project Qatar International Trade Construction, Building, Environment Technology and Materials Exhibition. Alongside the strong presence from the industry, there

was key government input, from senior representatives from Ashghal. LightingTech 2015 expanded on topics from the previous year, particularly on outdoor/ street lighting and LED adoption. It featured a high-level advisory board with representatives from Amey, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Aurecon and MA Consultants (Utilities).

Some of the themes that that LightingTech Qatar 2015 has identified as crucial to the sector are; remote monitoring and control systems, light pollution, Qatar’s street and public realm lighting projects, storing and using individual localized solar generation for highway lighting and tunnel lighting design, methodology and solutions.

Construction

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Events

CTBUH hosts seminar on ‘sustaining our structures’

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Qatar Chapter has organized a technical seminar titled “Sustaining our structures” at the Oryx Rotana Hotel. CTBUH Qatar representative Shaukat Ali has been playing a pivotal role in focusing on the ever-increasing construction activities in Qatar for the benefit of industry professionals. Undr his leadership, CTBUH

keeps track of projects coming up in Qatar, new technologies introduced in the market and technical solutions offered for structural problems facing the design and construction industry. In the opening speech, Shaukat Ali, who is working as the Head of the Structural Engineering Department at KEO International Consultants, briefed the audience of over 100 profes-

Mr. John Habib General Manager, CCL

sionals, both from government and private sectors, about the activities of CTBUH in Qatar and the importance of continually educating designers and engineers on latest technologies and problem-solving techniques. He said that CTBUH was provided such a platform by organizing technical seminars, presentations and site tours of new buildings which are iconic in nature and offer both design and construction related challenges. Shaukat Ali said that a number of companies and organizations involved in the construction industry in Qatar were joining the growing list of the CTBUH member community. The seminar focused on new concrete repair and strengthening techniques offered by researchers in Qatar. Experts from CCL Qatar addressed their corrosion and concrete repair solutions. CCL Qatar General Manager John Habib presented the specialized solution his company is bringing to the market, including strengthening of existing structures and how to accommodate the new functional requirements to the built structure. Habib explained the carbon fiber wrapping techniques developed to increase the load

carrying capacity of the existing structural elements. Durability and corrosion protection expert Paul Noyce, from CCL USA, presented a technique called cathodic prevention and corrosion protection to improve the service life of structures in aggressive environments and harsh climatic conditions. Noyce explained the corrosion process which takes place in the concrete rebar over time and ways to avoid it that by using specialized prevention techniques. He mentioned that there were techniques available “which are cheaper to adopt to avoid structural damage to concrete structures and corrosion to the rebar as compared to the repair cost the structure would need

“Given the importance of ensuring that buildings and structures around the region are in compliance with the safety codes laid down by the authorities, it is crucial to create awareness of the vital role these safety measures play in protecting life and property,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East. “With this in mind, we are introducing the Safety Design in Buildings Pavilion at Intersec 2016, which will have a special focus on the life safety design, building construction, fire pro-

tection, fire rated building materials, fire alarm and smoke ventilation systems.” The importance of safety standards and practices in the built environment were in the spotlight at the 2015 round of the Safety Design in Buildings Conferences, of which the first two of seven legs were held in Doha on April 20 and Kuwait on April 22. Organized by Sesam Business Consultants and sponsored by Intersec, the conference series formed a GCC-wide initiative to debate and highlight the current standards of safety and security in buildings in the region as well as to promote a dialogue between regional industry professionals and international experts. The conferences featured a high-powered panel of international safety and design experts, investigating fire safety considerations for malls and other high-occupancy buildings in the region with a view to strategy planning, material and safety system requirements. Supported by the Chartered Institute of Buildings (CIOB), the Society of Facade Engineering (CIBSE) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International), the conferences target architects, engineers, regulators and related professionals of the construc-

Mr. Shaukat Ali CTBUH Country Representative, Qatar

in the absence of these prevention measures”. Noyce reiterated that to achieve a longer service life, structures needed to be safe and sound under all weather conditions. The audience found the seminar extremely educational and useful, offering insights into

Mr. Paul Noyce CCL USA

Pavilion to focus on safety design in buildings at Intersec 2016

A recent fire that forced the evacuation of the prestigious Torch Tower in Dubai has underlined the importance of fire control regulations and safe design in buildings in reducing damage to property and loss of lives. Prompt action by the emergency services and adherence to safety codes laid down by civil authorities ensured that damages in this particular incident were reduced to a minimum. With 220 residential building fires reported across the UAE in 2014, raising awareness about precautionary measures and

safety design in buildings in compliance with existing codes takes high priority among local authorities and developers across the region. Highlighting the importance of safety and regulation in fire protection and building design, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organizer of Intersec – the world’s largest trade show for the security, safety, and fire protection industries – announced the event would feature a dedicated Safety Design in Buildings Pavilion in its upcoming edition.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai International Marine Club, opening the 2015 edition of Intersec in Dubai.

ways to maintain and improve service life of structures and cathodic protection techniques. In his closing remarks, Shaukat Ali thanked the audience for attending the seminar and promised that more interesting topics would be addressed in future conferences.

tion and contracting industry. After Doha and Kuwait, the 2015 Safety Design in Buildings Conference series move on to Manama Bahrain in June, Riyadh and Jeddah in October, Cairo in November and Muscat in December. The 18th edition of Intersec will

Pavilions at Intersec 2015

take place from January 17 to 19 next year at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The dedicated three-day event this year featured 1,235 exhibitors from 52 countries, and attracted 27,303 trade visitors from 118 countries.

Construction

Qatar

SITES

Indoor theme park KidZania to be built in Aspire Zone

The indoor theme park is set in a city that is built to scale for children, complete with buildings, paved streets, vehicles and a functioning economy

he Qatar Entertainment Company (Tasali) has announced arrival of the award-winning KidZania edutainment concept in Qatar. As a joint venture partnership between Aspire Zone Foundation and Sharaka Holdings, the company is blazing ahead with bringing the premium brand to Doha. The project will be built in Aspire zone to replicate children’s universe. The indoor theme park is set in a city that is built to scale for children, complete with buildings, paved streets, vehicles and a functioning economy. KidZania offers children the opportunity to play “adult jobs” in up to a 100 pretend roles ranging from being a journalist, dentist, beautician, news reporter and actress to a fireman. Tasali Chairman Sheikh Nasser Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani describes KidZania as an “edutainment concept perfectly aligned to the Qatar National Vision 2030 of building a sustainable, prosperous society which is just, caring and based on high moral standards”. In a fun role-playing environ-

ment, the KidZania experience teaches kids values that cannot be easily imbibed in traditional classrooms, according to him. “We believe KidZania Doha will also help young children in Qatar understand the importance of various professions and enable them to make informed choices as they grow,” says Sheikh Nasser. “We are proud to be playing a positive role in teaching and influencing the minds of the youth who hold the future of our beloved country in their hands. “KidZania Doha promises to be very special with unique experiences and establishments that are planned just for Qatar. We are coming in big. And we are coming in strong,” he adds. The project is sponsored by QNB. The sponsorship with QNB is part of the role-play activities and will create a KidZania miniature world that provides children with the ability to learn basic banking services through its miniature branch and ATMs. They will be able to spend, save and invest their kidZos, KidZania’s currency. Through the exciting role-playing concept and QNB ‘s branch,

children will discover the challenges of being a banker as well as empower tomorrow’s generation to be financially aware and responsible. Commenting on the signing ceremony, General Manager of Group Communication at QNB , Yousef Darwish, said: “We are delighted to be able to interact with our future customers and employees. We hope this is the beginning of lifelong engagement with the brand. “QNB is always interested in the welfare of our younger gen-

erations, and this centre marks a great opportunity for our children to play and learn in a controlled environment, while gaining the future skills that will help them in their future adult life.” QNB ‘s sponsorship with KidZania stems from its longstanding commitment to supporting child development and education as part of the QNB Group ‘s diverse CSR program. QNB has recently introduced “The Money Made Easy” Book, to educate children on how to better understand banking and

The Kidzania project will be built in Aspire zone

manage their finances. The book is an easy guide to money and the economy for children aged nine and above and has been distributed widely across schools in Qatar. KidZania Doha will be located at the popular Aspire Zone in Doha, Qatar. A prime location adjoining both theVillagio and Hyatt Plaza, KidZania Doha will complement the existing offering of shopping, leisure, sports and natural environs of the adjoining Aspire Park to make the entire zone into a destination of choice in Doha.

KidZania involves real-world brands in developing real-world experiences for children. Industry partners and sponsors lend authenticity and credibility to all the parks activities. Engaging, experiential and exciting marketing partnerships enrich each activity by creating a more authentic experience. Leading global brands to successfully establish their presence in the KidZania nations around the world include Coca Cola, HSBC, Sony, Honda, Gillette, Nestle, P&G and Mitsubishi Motor.

SITES Call for unification of railway operation codes in Mideast 10

Region

Construction

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has hosted the first International Conference on Railway Interoperability, Standardization and Harmonization in the Middle East with a vision to develop a coherent, integrated and competitive rail transport system to serve the region’s economy and society. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the latest developments in optimizing international cross-border rail transport as more countries in the region approach operation of their rail networks while others continue developing existing networks. Participating companies included OTIF, UIC, CIT, SRO – Saudi Arabia, Etihad Rail – UAE, Oman Rail, Moroccan State Railways, UIC – Africa, TCDD – Turkey, RAI – Iran, Sina Rail Pars Transport – Iran, AFRA – Afghanistan, Huawei Technologies – China and Alstom Transport - France. Commenting on the development of rail infrastructure and transport in the region, Paul Véron, Director, UIC Coordinator for the Middle East, told Construction Sites the conference offered a platform for co-operation on the unification of railway operation codes. He said that in the Middle East, railway systems would soon be in place and long distance connections among states would

A view of the conference participants

be established. Do you see any challenges emerging from simultaneous construction of several rail projects in a relatively small region? Part of the projects in the Gulf region are national ones for domestic markets but it could be a high advantage to connect them to the regional dimension that could create new opportunities for cross-border traffic for connection with ports, for transportation of oil for example.

Such a railway network started on a national basis and developed to a regional system would provide advantages of speed compared to maritime transportation. Do you think recent regional tension will have an effect on railway plans? Our organization is concerned with the professional and technical aspects of the railways and not with the political aspects. However it is our work to create common basis for

railway operation among all countries, even countries with tensions and difficulties. We consider that despite all problems it is very important to have good co-operation among railway organizations in the region, because once political problems are solved and geopolitical situation is improved, it will be possible to establish connections. We can see in Europe that despite tension in the past, railways systems were operating.

In the Middle East, in future, railway systems will be in place and long distance connections among states will be established. If standards and rules of operating these systems are the same, it will be a big advantage. Working with different GCC countries to come up with a unified legal frame work or codes, do you see more differences or similarities? There were two big legal systems for railway operations in

the past. One in the Western world and the other for the former Soviet Union. Now a lot is being done to integrate those two kinds of legal systems and have a common international law. Every year there are new countries joining our organization from the Middle East. Iran and Jordan have joined. We have the United Arad Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia on board, and already Oman is negotiating to join.

Construction

Qatar

SITES

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WE CONSTRUCT YOUR STEEL In One Stop Shop

Increasing safety awareness in the construction sector as leading company celebrates ASTAD, Qatar’s leading project management consultancy, has awarded MIDMAC Contracting Co. WLL a certificate of achievement for completing 21 million consecutive man-hours without loss-time incidents (LTI) on the Qatar Foundation Headquarters and Strategic Studies Center. In the construction industry, LTI is defined as an on-site incident which results in a fatality, permanent disability or time lost from work. It is a common measurement unit for the adherence to safety procedures and in this case underlines the high health and safety standards upheld on the Qatar Foundation Headquarters and Strategic Studies Center project. Highlighting ASTAD’s continued commitment to improve on-site health and safety, ASTAD CEO Ali Al-Khalifa said “It is with great pride that we celebrate the milestone of completing 21 million man-hours without any losstime incidents. It is at the core of our corporate ethos to ensure a healthy and safe work environment for all our professionals. “This achievement showcases our dedication to our principles as we proactively strive to maintain workplace safety by nourishing good communications with our partners to ensure they are constantly kept up-to-date with our stringent health and safety requirements,” he added. During the on-site celebration ceremony held on Tuesday June 9th, ASTAD Chief Operating Office Mohammad Badran presented a certificate of achievement to MIDMAC Project Director, Jack Ghantous of MIDMAC Contracting. They were joined in commemorating this milestone by representatives of ASTAD Project Management, Qatar Foundation, MIDMAC Contracting, and Louis Berger Group. “Throughout the project lifecycle, health and safety as a value has been a top priority amongst all parties involved. I am delighted

to receive this award as a testament of our joint efforts, and look forward to continue to uphold the high standards we have been so adamantly adhering to.” said MIDMAC Project Director, Jack Ghantous. Remarking on this tremendous achievement, Engineer Jassim Telefat, Group Executive Director of Qatar Foundation Capital Projects and Facilities Management, said: “I would like to congratulate all those involved, including QF Capital Projects, QF HSSE, ASTAD and MIDMAC, and thank them for this achievement. For any construction site, 21 million man-hours without any lost-time incidents is a remarkable accomplishment and this is especially true for a development as ambitious and considerable as the Qatar Foundation Headquarters. This is yet another milestone supporting QF’s commitment to ensuring that all those employed on our projects experience dignified and safe living and working conditions.” The Qatar Foundation Headquarters is a signature twelve story building featuring worldclass office facilities that will accommodate approximately five hundred of Qatar Foundation’s Staff. The Strategic Studies Center is a 3 story structure adjacent to the main building complementing the architectural marvel. The height of the building will be sufficient to allow for a panoramic view of the entire Education City Campus.

Al Attiyah set to address conference on investment

bdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development Chairman HE Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah will be the keynote speaker at the 15th Industrialists’ Conference which will be held under the patronage of Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. The conference, which has as its theme, “Foreign direct investments in the GCC and its impact on industry”, will be held in Kuwait on November 25 and 26. It is organized by Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Public Authority for Industry (PAI) and Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) in collaboration and coordination with Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Industrial Bank of Kuwait (IBK), Kuwaiti Industries Union, General Secretariat of the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the GCC. GOIC Secretary General Abdul Aziz Bin Hamad Al Ageel thanked HE Al Attiyah for agreeing to be the keynote speaker at the conference.

Al Ageel stressed the vital role played by Al Attiyah in boosting the industrial sector in Qatar and the GCC. He also praised Al Attiyah’s achievements, appreciated worldwide, given his enormous contributions to the energy industry over several decades. The15th Industrialists’ Conference will identify policies to stimulate development plans in GCC countries based on a comprehensive set of elements drawing foreign investors. It also seeks to create an ambitious strategy to develop and promote the industrial sector in order to attract more foreign investments. It aims at enacting legislations and laws and offering facilitations and incentives to foreign investors in order to create a promising investment environment. The conference will seek to strengthen the level of competitiveness of GCC countries by attracting foreign investments to promote regional economy. It will offer recommendations and suggestions to improve the investment environment and overcome obstacles hindering foreign investments and directing foreign investments in accordance with GCC

strategic plans to achieve their development goals and maximize the benefit from them. Participants will work on determining key pillars of GCC investment plans in the industrial sector. The Gulf industrialists’ conference, hosted by GOIC member states in rotation every other year, is one of GOIC’s most important achievements since its foundation in 1976. Since the first conference held in Doha in 1985, they have been contributing in developing private and public industrial sectors in GCC countries. Each conference tackles a specific topic, influencing the development of industries in the region through a series of papers delivered by international experts. In fact, previous conferences resulted in recommendations that helped in developing industrial plans in GCC countries, notably in the industrial development strategy. The 14th edition of the conference, held under the theme of “Industrial exports: opportunities and challenges”, called on member countries to adopt policies and procedures to promote inter-Gulf trade while benefiting from GCC and Yemen seaports in addition to land border points to boost Gulf industrial exports.

Construction

SITES

Focus

Excellent outlook for LED lighting sector in Qatar

Around $30 billion is to be invested on 30 road and highway projects in 2015 alone in Qatar, which all require significant lighting installations Qatar’s lighting market has witnessed rapid growth in recent years and as the state continues to invest heavily in infrastructure development, the sector is positioned for still further expansion. Over the next 10 years, more than $200 billion will be spent in Qatar on construction projects, including, hospitals, schools, industrial districts, residential compounds, sports complexes and 12 stadiums which will provide substantial opportunities for the lighting industry. Around $30 billion is to be invested on 30 road and highway projects in 2015 alone, which all require lighting installations. Numerous mega-projects are progressing, including the $494 million Lusail City Development Project and the $2.6 billion Qatar Energy City, Musheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar Entertainment City and Urjuan Project. They create huge opportunities for the lighting sector. The value of LED lighting fixtures used in the Middle East is set to reach $215 million by 2015, which is over a 300% increase since 2010, according to a recent report. Also, one has to note the focus on sustainability in Qatar which demands the most innovative and energy-efficient and sustainable solutions for new as well as for existing buildings. At the LightingTech Qatar 2015 conference, Dr Neil Kirkpatrick, Head of Sustainability Middle East, Faithful+Gould, explained how it would be possible to be more sustainable and meet Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) goals in a cost-effective manner. “Being more sustainable doesn’t have to cost more; sustainability can deliver a very favorable return on investment, allowing for capital and operating costs,” Dr Kirkpatrick told LightingTech Qatar 2015, a specialized conference which was held alongside Project Qatar exhibition. Dr Kirkpatrick demonstrated the advantage of LED lighting on a hotel retrofitting project where all public area lighting were changed to LED with upfront cost 12 times more than the conventional one. Although with the benefits of LED lighting such as long-life (up to 10 times), low maintenance, low energy consumption and generation of less heat (which means lower AC demand), a payback time of around six months is estimated. It means that after half a year, LED bulbs would earn money on the hotel project, according to Dr Kirkpatrick. Demand for the LED lighting is soaring because of government regulations to use energy conservation methods in new projects. Also, green building certifi-

cation programs like GSAS and LEED require energy-efficient methods to be implemented. LED lighting lowers costs dramatically by its long-life characteristics and outliving previous lighting solutions for many years. In order to benefit fully from the advantages of LED lightings, it is necessary to meet all requirements for its installations, especially in a hot climate like Qatar’s. But there are complaints about the quality of LED lighting in Qatar: contractors install the LED and instead of promised 50,000 hours, the lighting fixtures start to fail after couple of months, commented one of the conference attendants. The comment sparked a heated debate on why the LED lighting doesn’t provide the same performance in Qatar as prescribed by the manufacturer. The high temperature and humidity in Qatar are not favorable for LED lighting unless the manufacturer guarantees that the product has been tested in hot climates and could be suitable for the state or it is specified by an authority like Ashghal, for example, for street lighting. The initial cost of LED fixtures can also be one of the barriers toward their installation but the cost pays itself beck in a sixmonth period. As it is mentioned by manufacturers that the life of LED fixture will last for 10 years, the bulbs simply earn money for nine and a half years, according to Dr Kirkpatrick. This impressive ROI means that initial investment will result not only in future financial gains but also in sustainable benefits for projects. In view of LED lighting benefits for indoor and outdoor lighting installations, the local manufacturers have leveraged the financial and also sustainability benefits of LED fixtures. They have also realized the value of investing in LED lighting production to meet local and regional demands and in the long-term become a world leading manufacturer and not importer of LED lighting. Last year, the Al Bayan LED factory was established in the Industrial Area to meet the local demand. The factory’s main products are indoor and outdoor high-power fixtures such as led ceiling light, led down light, led spot light, led bulb, led tube light, led strip light, led flood light, led garden light, led panel light and led street light which are widely used in commercial projects. Another ambitious project for LED lighting production in Qatar with an initial production capacity of 155,000 LED units a year is scheduled to be completed by 2018 and aims at positioning Qatar as a leader in LED

lighting industry in the Mena region. Qatar Intermediate Industries Company (Alwaseeta) is collaborating with Qatar Korea LED Consortium (QKLC) on setting up a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems’ 60,000sq m manufacturing facility in the country. The use of LED lighting results in up to 70%-80% in energy savings compared to conventional lighting such as incandescent and fluorescent lights. In addition, they will contribute to a substantial reduction of CO2 emission as a result of reducing power production from power plants. The development of Q-LED project is timely as Qatar is working towards achieving ambitious nation-wide sustainability standards. “Qatar is witnessing dynamic development and remarkable growth in various sectors, including the construction sector, which is witnessing a rapidly growing demand for LED lighting,” HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed Bin Saleh Al Sada said at a ceremony to mark the signing of the joint venture agreement between Alwaseeta and Qatar Korea LED Consortium for setting up the LED manufacturing facility in the country. The Minister added that the project would help deliver explosion-proof LED lighting for the oil and gas industry, and special LED lighting for commercial use, such as for street and stadium lighting, traffic signals, and so on. The project will be implemented in two phases, with the LED manufacturing plant to be built initially and scheduled for completion by 2016. The second phase will involve installing LED chip packaging, establishing a state-of-the-art R & D Center, and subsequently setting up a demonstration unit for simulating real-time conditions. The project’s final phase is expected to be completed by 2018. The Q-LED project will be involved in continuous research and development in integrated LED management and solution systems. These systems will provide more convenience and smart management control to customers. The strength of the Q-LED project is its R&D center which will enable to establish stringent specifications for LED lighting production designed for climate in the Mena region. The LED lighting, produced according to European or American standards, for some reasons fail to perform in Qatar according to specifications and this is one of the reasons that the LED lighting is underused in Qatar and the GCC region.

Establishing a R&D center and nificantly ease client’s and con- in the long term and LED lightthe country’s own large produc- tractor’s choice between cheap ing which is cost-efficient and tion facility of LED units will sig- lighting fittings which are costly offers a sustainable solution.

Strategies to reduce energy demand associated with street lighting”, presentation by DrNeil Kirkpatrick, Head of Sustainability Middle East, Faithful+Gould.

QSTec launches hands-on solar learning program

ost of the Middle East receives an excessive amount of sunshine throughout the year and yet very little is known within the region about the use of solar energy and its various applications. Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has now set up an innovative hands-on solar learning program called Shams Generation that is attempting to bridge this knowledge gap and develop the next generation of solar engineers, artists and renewable energy entrepreneurs. Shams Generation was established by QSTec as an interactive learning program that combines art, science, reusing and solar energy. In this first stage pilot program, QSTec provided solar learning kits aimed at various scholastic levels and abilities to Qatar Academy, Awsaj, Qatar Academy Sidra and Doha College. Teachers attended workshops and were given access to the interactive website which provides online learning tools for teachers based on the three Shams Generation levels of solar learning. These solar kits were distributed to all participating students who then had to draw upon their various skill sets to create innovative solar works of art

that combine light, motion and solar energy. The Shams Generation initiative is based on an interdisciplinary approach to education called STEAM that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics in a unique way that allows many students to thrive and encourages lifelong learning skills. Qatar Academy & Doha College has recently showcased a number of the student’s creative solar applications at their solar art and light exhibitions held at Qatar Foundation and Doha College’s Al Waab school. The exhibitions highlighted the success of the Shams Generation’s pilot programs and the creativity of the students with hundreds of solar art projects on display to the public. The designs demonstrated the creativity and ability of the students to understand how solar energy works and utilize this in unique ways. “Educating our youth about the use of energy, the protection of the environment and the conservation of our natural resources is of prime importance for the future of our planet.” said Dr Khalid K Al Hajri, Chairman and CEO of QSTec. “We are so proud to be working with the schools in actively creating programs that encourage students to learn about solar

energy and develop creative solar powered works of art and applications that are truly inspiring. This program is totally unique and is actively developing our next generation of solar engineers and protecting our planet for future generations.” There are currently more than 750 students participating in the Shams Generation pilot program and it will be expanding to 1,500 students in the next academic year as a part of QSTec’s efforts to encourage innovative approaches to learning. In order to yet again showcase the brilliance created by these students, an exhibition of these works is on display each night after Iftar from June 27 until the end of Eid at Katara. From July 1 until the end of Ramadan at 9pm each evening, children are able to participate in hands-on creative solar workshops and learn how to build their own solar lanterns. QSTec’s Shams Generation exhibition and workshops will be held at Building 13 in Katara.

Construction

SITES

Qatar Rail Update

Qatar Rail completes 20km of tunnel boring Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has achieved a landmark by completing nearly 20km of tunnel boring on the Doha Metro project. Addressing a press conference to mark the occasion, Qatar Rail Managing Director Abdulla Abdulaziz T Al Subaie said: “Qatar Rail has overcome many challenges to launch a successful tunnel boring phase on the Doha Metro project. We are pleased to announce the completion of about 20km of tunnels out of 113km for the first phase of the project.” He thanked “all workers and stakeholders contributing to the success of this national project in alignment with Qatar’s National vision 2030”.

Al Subaie said the Doha Metro tunneling works were progressing as planned in adherence to global standards. He added: “Keeping our residents’ and citizens’ convenience in mind, Qatar Rail is keen to implement most of the metro project underground where tunnel boring machines interfere very little with our vibrant city life through advanced technology and eco-friendly mechanism.” Qatar Rail has already received 21 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) assigned for the project, after being imported from Herrenknecht, the German world market leader in mechanized tunneling technology.

Most of Qatar Rail TBMs are currently operational, with expectations to successfully accomplish the tunneling phase by the second quarter of 2017. The TBMs are a key component in implementing the Doha Metro innovative project; a high-tech mechanized alternative to conventional methods of design-and-build mining, drilling and blasting tunnels through everything from soft ground to hard rocks. They form circular tunnels through the rock, and can install concrete linings along the drilled sections to reinforce the bored tunnel and stabilize the ground. The Doha Metro’s Red Line

has launched all its tunnelboring machines, which are Lebretha, Al Mayeda, Al Khor, Al Biddaa, Lehwaila, Al Wakrah, Msheireb, Doha and Al Zubara. Tunnelling works are progressing according to plan where the accumulative dug of these TBMs reached 11,880m for both northern and southern sections. In parallel, the Green Line has also launched its six TBMs with an accumulative tunneling of 6,653m executed by Al Rayyan TBM, Al Gharrafa, Al Messila, Al Sheehaniya, Leatooriya and Lijmailiya TBMs. The tunneling drive recorded 150m until now at the Gold Line, which has received its six tunnel-boring machines: Lusail, Sharq, Al Sadd, Al Waab, Al Sailiya and Ras bu Abboud (Airport City North). Qatar Rail Chief Executive Officer Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi gave the latest updates of the rail projects at the press conference. “During the past year, we have achieved remarkable milestones on the Doha Metro and Lusail Light Rail Transit (LRT) projects, thanks to the joint efforts of the company and its contractors,” he said. “Particularly, the tunneling phase for the Doha Metro was successfully launched as we achieved great records of 11,880m of tunnel dug at the Red Line, 6,653m at the Green Line and 150m at the Gold Line. With skilled teams and advanced machines, we were able to tackle obstacles and ensure works are moving forward”. Commenting on complications that may occur during the TBMs operations underground, Al Muhannadi said: “Challenges are the rule of any innovative project similar to Qatar Rail’s current endeavor, and these encounters might be logistic - like finding the best way to manage excavations leftover at any site or between two different locations – or geo-technical, as no matter

Abdulla Abdulaziz T Al Subaie Qatar Rail Managing Director

how good our surveys were, we will keep on discovering what the underground world is hiding, from groundwater conditions to voids and cavities”. He noted: “Technical hitches cannot be avoided while implementing such a huge and complex project; however, they can be dealt with in an efficient, effective and timely manner. “We were proud of the team who handled a flooding situation at Al Bidda station earlier this year, which had no delay or impact on the Doha Metro progress. When and if such incidents occur, it is our duty to react immediately.” Qatar Rail Deputy Chief Executive Officer Hamad Ibrahim Al Bishri gave a presentation on Qatar Rail projects and the tunneling mechanism. Qatar Rail’s interactive event was followed by a site visit to Al Sudan Gold Line underground station where attendees were able to inspect some of the tangible and concrete progress of Qatar Rail’s developments in general and the tunnel boring machines’ operations in specific. Needing only one point of entry, TBMs can drill right below the city streets, practically unknown to people above. They are also ideal for long lengths of uninterrupted tunneling, as required by the Doha Metro project.

Work in progress

Having limited environmental footprint, the machines have very little impact on the high water levels that lie beneath Doha. Dust pollution associated with construction sites is virtually non-existent as all work takes place approximately 20m below the surface. The Doha Metro project is using 7m diameter TBMs, producing a tunnel with a diameter of 6.7m. Before any tunneling begins “pre condition surveys” were carried out by Qatar Rail on buildings along the route. Key monitoring points were installed and actions taken to ensure that all works are carried out under the safest conditions. Among three major types of TBMs - earth pressure Balance (EPB), slurry shield and open face - the EPB machines have been selected for Doha Metro due to the nature of the country’s geological makeup. This type of TBM is ideal for use in cohesive soft ground and rock conditions. Their name is derived from the fact that the pressure exerted by the machine itself is in equilibrium to the weight of the earth above it. While the machine drills through the ground, grout is injected straight into the ground to fill the overcutting gaps and stabilizing the ground.

Construction

Qatar Rail Update

SITES

Qatar Rail: 70% of Doha Metro and Lusail Tram Contracts awarded to private sector

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) held a gathering with the local private sector under the theme “Industry Awareness Day - Opportunities Available to the Private Sector”. The event was inaugurated by His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transportation, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development

Bank, and Qatar Rail CEO Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi. The event included two sessions, the first featured a presentation to raise awareness on Qatar Rail’s efforts in encouraging the private sector’s participation in its projects, as well as a detailed presentation on the business opportunities associated with its projects. These were followed by a networking session between the attendees and Qatar Rail’s contractors.

The second session presented the prequalification process for the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram operations as well as the management of their related facilities. During this time, all the required contract-related information was provided, allowing the interested companies to assess the projects’ needs and identify how they can contribute to realising these developments. Around 55 companies working on the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram projects participat-

ed in both sessions. “Qatar Rail created an ideal model for providing information on all the opportunities associated with the Metro project, and held more than one meeting with local companies to demonstrate the size of the project opportunities available to them. The company aimed to shed light on the supplies and logistics needed for the first phase of the Doha Metro project, as well as the needs of the Qatar Rail projects, so that

the local companies can determine where and how they can contribute to their implementation”, said His Excellency Mr. Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, During his opening speech for the first session. “That being said, Qatar Rail, in collaboration with the Qatar Development Bank and in cooperation with a global consultancy firm, identified investment opportunities in details, indicating more than 104 opportunities that are available to the private sector, thus adding value to the local economy,” he added. Participation of the Private Sector in the Rail Projects With regards to the level participation of the private sector in rail projects, HE the Minister of Transport said that the participation of the private sector in rail projects has reached very high levels despite the fact that this is a new sector to the region, which requires the latest technologies and specialised skills that might be difficult to be fully supplied locally. The share of contracts awarded to the private sector within the scope of the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram projects reached 70%, versus the 30% awarded to international companies. These include the works for the designing routes, tunnelling for the stations, supplying

building materials, and much more. In addition, the private sector’s share of participation in the joint ventures of designing and building the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram projects is 15%. Similarly, 61% of the contracts are awarded to local manufacturers of raw materials and transportation equipment to provide what’s needed to complete these developments in terms of cement, sand, iron and much more. Besides, other initiatives that support the private sector, which are estimated at 222 million QAR, include insurance and technological innovation contracts - 80% of which are awarded to the private sector. With regards to combining local and international expertise on the same project, Eng. Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi, CEO of Qatar Rail, said: “Since the beginning, Qatar Rail has sought to encourage local companies to take part in joint ventures with international companies. The local businesses can provide their expertise on existing systems in the Qatari market, while international companies share their knowledge on the establishment of a world-class rail network. Such partnerships add value to both the company itself and the project it is implementing.”

Tunnel Boring Machine successfully Excavation works reach re-launched at Corniche Metro Station site advanced stage at Msheireb station Qatar Railways Company Qatar Railways Company (Qa- uled for completion by 2018. stantly under highways and (Qatar Rail) has announced the successful re-launch of its Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the Corniche station at the Doha Metro’s Red Line, following a three-month period of intense and coordinated rehabilitation efforts. The repair process, split into cleaning, rewiring and reinstallation phases, covered the replacement of damaged equipment and approximately 80% of the machinery was changed. The repair moved at considerable speed, meaning that the initial timeline for the completion of both the Red Line and Doha Metro were unaffected. The TBM re-launch followed a flooding incident that affected its works at the Corniche station during tunneling operations in mid-February. Assisted by the concerned service providers, Qatar Rail and the assigned contractor immediately contained the damage incurred on the TBM by discharging water through pumping. Because of rigorous health and safety standards and procedures, and carefully devised incident management processes, Qatar Rail confirmed that there were no injuries and no environmental impact. Tunneling works, initially 5 months ahead of schedule at the Corniche station, are still respecting the assigned timetable after

spending only 3 months on rehabilitation works. “We had put in place strict risk mitigation and emergency control strategies and processes before we initiated the tunneling works for the Doha Metro. We are very aware that such a complex tunneling project is prone to incidents of this sort and our planning processes identify what are the most likely risks and plan for them. We are proud of the team who handled the incident management at Corniche station. This was teamwork and technical expertise at its best. Thanks to the prompt reaction, rehabilitation process took only 3 months while comparable events usually need from 6 months to one year and a half to reach recovery. Tunneling Incidents are complex, however we were able to prove efficiency and swiftness in dealing with it”, said Eng. Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi, CEO of Qatar Rail. Al Muhannadi noted that the incident has demonstrated the strength and effectiveness of the company’s incident management team. Qatar Rail confirmed that it has

now completed 30km of tunnels. This represents strong progress from when it last reported on tunneling progress in April when just under 20km had been achieved. When complete the Doha Metro will have 113km of tunnels. “The TBM that was boring the tunnel encountered a gate closure failure and flooding in the tunnel. We reacted immediately to the incident by discharging water through pumping, with planning for recovery and mitigation. Dewatering wells were installed and surface dewatering commenced in early March. An intense repair period for the TBM followed, involving general cleaning as well as tunnel preparation for removal, refurbishment, re-installation inside the TBM and electrical and mechanic cabling. It is a lengthy process that we have productively managed to complete in a remarkably short timeframe and efficient manner, ”, Gerhard Cordes, Red Line Project Manager at Qatar Rail, said, further explained the technical aspect of the incident.

tar Rail), the company overseeing the construction of the Qatar’s integrated railway network, recently announced the successful breakthrough of one of its Doha Metro tunnel boring machines (TBM) at Msheireb station. The breakthrough is the first at this main metro station marking the progress of the underground tunneling works. The TBM named Al Mayeda, belonging to the Doha Metro Red Line, was launched at Al Corniche station in November 2014 and achieved breakthrough at Msheireb today, having dug 1.6km of tunnel. Having completed its first job, it will now be transported to Al Qassar station where it will start work again. The breakthrough of Al Mayeda was subject to a few days delay at the end of its journey. Shortly before breakthrough the machine unexpectedly encountered a water source which had to be dealt with properly and safely prior to its appearance into the open air at Msheireb. Msheireb station, the flagship station which will be the central hub of Doha’s public transportation system, will be the major interchange for, Red Line, Green Line, and Gold Line. Excavation at Msheireb is approximately 40m below ground. Construction works there are sched-

Msheireb station is currently seeing important milestones in the delivery of its foundation works. According to Qatar Rail engineers, the station’s excavation is equivalent to the length of Burj Qatar, and the land area is equivalent to five football pitches. As for the weight of the excavated soil, it counts as much as 500,000 Toyota Land Cruisers! Commenting on the tunneling progress, Eng. Hamad Ibrahim Al Bishri, DCEO of Qatar Rail, said:”During the past year, we have achieved significant developments on the Doha Metro project thanks to the joint efforts of the company and its contractors. While the excavation phase is making good progress at all stations under the supervision of our skilled team, we are happy to celebrate a new successful breakthrough here at Msheireb”. “Mining through different ground layers that vary con-

road facilities with a large-diameter TBM is a feat in itself. The short delay at the end shows how unpredictable our work can be sometimes and how important is the skill of our engineers and quality of planning. It is not always possible to know when these incidents might happen, but it is certain that they will occur at some point and we plan on this basis,” he added. So far, Qatar Rail has had over 70,000 lorry movements for excavation at Msheireb Station. According to, Chris Haskell, Senior Project Manager of Msheireb Station “If all the trucks were lined up, the queue would stretch from Doha to Mecca. Each day, we de-water the equivalent of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. It is only when we put our project into such perspective that we realize the sheer scale of this exciting project and how much we have accomplished up to now”.

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Qatar Rail achieves ISO certification

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), the company overseeing the construction of the Qatar’s integrated railway network, was awarded the ISO 9001:2008 certification for quality management system. The accolade followed management systems audits of the Qatar Rail QSHESE department by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. The certificate handing ceremony at Qatar Rail’s headquarters in Doha, was attended by Eng. Hamad Al Bishri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Fahad AlJaber, QSHESE Director, and certification was handed by Brian Baxter, Area Field Service Manager at LRQA (Lloyds). For his part, Dr. Al-Jaber, stated: “This prestigious award for our team’s achievement is a reminder that hard work pays off. We are honored to be receiving the ISO 9001:2008 as an indication of the high quality services, technologies, techniques and projects at Qatar Rail. This certificate is a remarkable landmark as we look forward to achieve our projects’ journey successfully.” Brian Baxter, Area Field Service Manager, LRQA (Lloyds), congratulated Qatar Rail on this tremendous achievement and expressed interest in the company’s upcoming endeavors. LRQA is a world leading, independent provider of Business Assurance services in-

cluding management system certification, validation, verification and a full range of training to international standards and schemes. Commenting on the award, Al Bishri said: “This is a key

milestone for Qatar Rail as it provides not only governance and assurance management, but more importantly a framework for continuous improvement and excellence in delivery. I would like to thank all

the Qatar Rail team and LRQA for their efforts in making this possible.” ISO 9001:2008 specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization needs to demon-

Dr. Fahad Al Jaber & Qatar Rail’s DCEO Eng. Hamad Al Bishri with QSHESE & LRQA Team members after recieving ISO certification OHSAS 18001-2007 for occupational health and safety management systems

strate its ability to consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. The organization should also aim to enhance customer satisfaction through

the effective application of the system, including processes for continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

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Kahramaa wins global energy award

hree renewable energy systems at Kahramaa’s alternative energy awareness park project in Qatar have won the Energy Globe Award for the best sustainability project. The Kahramaa Awareness Park is an innovative project, located near Al Thumama Roundabout, designed as a science museum for disseminating information on ways to conserve water and electricity, and serves as an original source of knowledge for young visitors. The three systems will contribute to power generation and water heating for the building. The installations are a 63.3 kWp photovoltaic system, 41m² of flat plate collectors for solar water heating and 3x10 kW wind turbines. Markus Jordan, a managing partner at Innovations Unlimited ME, which was commissioned to implement the project, commended Kahramaa on its win and expressed the company’s gratification for playing a role in this visionary project that may potentially become one of Qatar’s sustainability landmarks. Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corpora-

The award was accepted on behalf of Kahramaa by Qassim Abdulla Al Mahmoud, Head of Design Engineering.

tion) is the water and electricity utilities provider in the state. The award was handed at the Advantage Austria Office Doha. At the event, Gerd Bommer, Austrian Commercial Counsellor, said the award was in recognition of the sustainability awareness efforts initiated by Kahramaa through its innovative project. The park has been designed to function as a science museum

for disseminating information on ways to conserve water and electricity and also to serve as an original source of knowledge for visitors. The Kahramaa Awareness Park project was implemented with the support of Innovations Unlimited ME, a company founded by Austrian in Doha. Innovations Unlimited ME installed three renewable energy systems, the wind turbines,

the photovoltaic and the solar thermal system, which were mainly manufactured in Austria. The award was accepted on behalf of Kahramaa by Qassim Abdulla Al Mahmoud, Head of Design Engineering. Also present at the event were the architects and designers of the building itself, Waleed Mourcy of James Cubitt Architects.

Hochtief ViCon to offer BIM services for Doha Metro project

ochtief ViCon has been awarded a project to offer BIM services for the RLR JV, a consortium comprising Rizzani de Eccher of Italy, Korea’s Lotte Engineering & Construction and Redco of Qatar. The contract is for the prestigious Doha Metro project. Hochtief will be working on the Red Line North EAG (elevated and at-grade). The 6.7km line will connect Lusail’s light-rail line to Msheireb via West Bay. It includes two significant Doha Metro stations: Qatar University on the elevated section and the Lusail Center on the at-grade section.

The award was presented by Mr. Gerd Bommer, of the Austrian Embassy and accepted on behalf of Kahramaa by Eng. Qassim Abdulla Al Mahmoud, Head of Design Engineering

Work on this metro project, which started at the end of 2014, is expected to take more than three years for completion. ViCon’s scope of services on the project incorporates initial BIM implementation documents consisting of an implementation plan and the modeling guidelines. ViCon will co-ordinate the BIM introduction on the project and initiate collaboration between the various participants within the JV. According to ViCon, they are the right choice for the JV to deliver the desired BIM outcome as they have gained experience from executing previous local metro projects in Qatar, including the Metro Green Line UG (underground) and the Metro Red Line South UG.

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Technology

Building Information Modeling in Qatar, today and beyond…

The nature and size of new projects mean that Qatar has to turn to Building Information Modeling to facilitate its ambitious building schedule Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a process that has an enormous impact on the construction and infrastructure industry. The technology is revolutionizing the construction and facilities management and moving the industry into the digital age with the maximum degree of automation, according to speakers at the Future BIM Implementation conference, held in Doha as a part of the Project Qatar construction event. In recent years, a number of high-profile success stories in Qatar and the Middle East have meant that BIM is increasingly being viewed as a critical factor in the design, planning and construction stages of today’s complex and ambitious architecture projects. It can have a very positive effect on the lifecycle of a building. The Future BIM Implementation conference gathered local and international leaders involved in architecture, design, construction, engineering, consulting, building and infrastructure sectors in Qatar and the GCC. The conference’s notable speakers included Robert Grys, BIM Implementation Manager, HochtiefViCon Qatar; Mohamad Kaseem, Associate Professor in Engineering Project Management, Teesside University; Scott Lambert, Regional Head of Construction and Infrastructure, Al Tamimi & Company; Niels Falk, Vice President, VDC, MTH; Imran Mohammad, BIM Manager at Arab Engineering Bureau; Ahmed Al Naggar, Acting Head

of Facilities Management, Qatar Foundation; Dawlat Elmosalmi, Senior Architect and BIM Co-ordinator at Engineering Consultants Group (ECG); and Amr M Metwally, Head of the Architecture Division PMC from the Hamad Medical Corporation. The speakers updated the conference on the recent trends in BIM, explaining how this software and technology was facilitating construction in the region. The number of mega projects coming up in Qatar is astounding. It seems that the very face of Qatar will change over the next decade as work on the country’s various mega projects is completed, while still further advancements will be made as the vision for 2030 is realized. The nature and size of the projects mean that Qatar has to turn to Building Information Modeling to facilitate its building ambitious schedule. From Doha’s Metro System to numerous sporting stadiums, BIM will enable project teams of architects, engineers, building and infrastructure owners and construction firms to use 3D digital models to collaborate and support building projects throughout their lifecycle - from design and documentation to building and field support -, ensuring that projects are delivered to the required specifications on schedule and within budget. The Future BIM Implementation conference welcomed 215 delegates over two days and

delivered a series of case-study presentations, discussions and speakers sharing their varied experiences on BIM implementation. The program focused on demonstrating the value of BIM in construction and infrastructure projects and addressed the growing use of BIM management and BIM technologies in the region. For most of attendants of the conference, BIM implementation on construction projects wasn’t a new topic; most of them have already worked with BIM at some stages of their projects and have already appreciated its undoubted value. ViCon’s BIM Implementation Manager Robert Grys spoke on “Understanding a BIM implementation plan - the learning process”. The gathering received valuable insight into understanding the challenges of the BIM setup on a project and furthermore some practical guidance and tangible tips for preparing a BIM implementation plan, according to ViCon’s Five-Component methodology. Marcus Rowsell, ViCon’s Senior Project Manager on Qatar’s Lusail City Development project, was invited to showcase the Lusail City’s BIM implementation. This ambitious enterprise is one of the most impressive projects in the region. He provided a brief insight into six years of ViCon’s BIM approach and demonstrated live the digital payment approval process as part of the applied BIM procedures on Lusail.

For the past few years, the company has been involved in several large-scale projects in Qatar: the Lusail City Development, Barwa Commercial Avenue, Metro Green Line and Red Line South and Doha Expressways among them. BIM has proven to be a very powerful design tool. BIM implementing firms are now investigating possibilities to expand the use of BIM to cover more aspects of project. Sherif M Ahmed, Project Control Manager at EGIS Rail, and Hassan Eman, PhD candidate from the University of Bolton, shared with the audience valuable research on “Barriers to BIM implementation in Qatar”, based on the first survey conducted in the state among construction professionals. The assessment is achieved through the survey which identified 17 different factors as impacting BIM implementation in Qatar. Though there is potentially much work needed to ensure appropriate people skills are in place to take advantage of BIM capabilities, stressed Ahmed. The survey questionnaire was published online to professionals in the construction industry in Qatar and participants were stakeholders in the construction industry covering clients, contractors, as well as consultants, explained Ahmed. The survey identified the following to be main hurdles to the BIM implementation in Qatar: availability of skilled professionals, knowledge about BIM, disruption to current process/ resistance to change, absence of contractual requirement for BIM implementation, ROI (Return on Investment) of using BIM not being clearly defined. The survey showed that lack of qualified resources and proper knowledge of BIM are main barriers to its implementation in Qatar. Moreover, the analysis showed a significant difference in how different construction stakeholders perceive the barriers to BIM implementation. The recommendations for further researches would be to increase the sample size to confirm the findings. According to Ahmed, the benefits of such research are crucial for BIM implementation and

he advised to conduct surveys to cover the entire GCC region since the nature of regional countries is the same. In addition, an in-depth study to understand the differences of views between construction parties is a potential research area that will assist in identifying root causes. Finally, more studies should focus on removing these barriers to exploit the benefits of using BIM. The Future BIM Implementation conference represented a valuable opportunity to bring to-

gether regional experts and interested parties from all areas of the industry and to inform the construction industry of its application in Qatar. The immense interest and growing number of attendees of such events have shown that the demand for BIM services in the region is steadily growing. Construction Sites keeps its focus on BIM implementation in Qatar and follows events related to it to keep the industry professionals up-to-date on BIM advancement in the country.

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Health and wellness awareness on the rise

ealth and safety awareness has increased exponentially in Qatar in the last few years. This is mainly due to certification and enforcement by companies themselves. The trend is particularly evident in the construction sector where leading companies like ASTAD and Hyundai continually publicize total man hours worked without injury. This is also a reflection of a growing global trend. At the recent Annual HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) Forum in Energy, Kevin Bridges, Vice President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), touched upon topics such as “Process Safety from Theory into Practice”. Bridges gave a global perspective of the safety situation in the workplace. According to him, 2.3 million people were killed by workplace accidents and diseases per year; there were 337 million workplace accidents recorded; 160 million people were affected by occupational diseases and that the cost of occupational accidents and diseases is almost equivalent to 4% of the world’s GDP. He described the essential elements of process safety that could help reduce or even prevent such eventualities. These include the encouragement of

a good safety culture, ensuring that employees are competent, being proactive in balancing risks with costs and aiming for good productivity with zero accidents. The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) is taking this one step further and recently announced the first-ever Employee Health and Wellbeing Conference to be held in Qatar. The conference, which forms part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and aims to improve the health of all its citizens and residents, is being held under the patronage of HE Abdullah Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health In October in Doha. Dr Sheikh Mohamed Al Thani, Director of Public Health Department at the Supreme Council of Health, said: “As most of you are aware, the State of Qatar is currently experiencing unprecedented business and economic growth and development. “The country’s constantly expanding infrastructure and business activities have stimulated a growing workforce which, as always, remains the most valuable asset of any country, company or organization. “At the same time, we also aim to ensure that businesses are propelled to further growth by a healthy, vibrant and productive workforce in various sectors in

Qatar.” This was underscored by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRC) Secretary-General Saleh Ali Al Muhannadi. QRC, he told the forum, had long expertise in healthcare, and ran dozens of educational and social programs that serve both nationals and expatriates. “As an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its social and humanitarian policies, locally and internationally, QRC seeks to enhance public health in the nation, under the ambitious development goals set by Qatar National Vision 2030, the constructive strategies of our competent government and the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.” QRC has been instrumental in introducing programs like “Wekaya”, “protection” in Arabic, to the blue-collar sector. Wekaya, introduced two years ago, was initiated for preserving worker health and encouraging healthy behavior. It offers free testing to bluecollar workers for influenza, tuberculosis and food-borne illnesses, in particular. They have treated 10,000 individuals so far at a dedicated facility in Doha’s Industrial Area. As part of the program they also hand out bags with essential health items to workers.

Employee Health and Wellbeing Conference

et against the backdrop of increased globalisation, fluctuating business climate, stringent regulatory pressures and difficult workplace environments, the protection of worker health represents a considerable challenge. The planned conference entitled, ‘Employee Health and Wellbeing’ will be held in Doha in October 2015. The economic downturn has downsized employee health systems and preventive infrastructures; which is making effective interventions at the workplace difficult. Held under the patronage of H.E. Abdulla Bin Khalid Al Qahtani, Minister of Public Health, the Employee Health & Wellbeing Conference aims at reducing the economic burdens of workplace injury and illness. Embedding the theme, “Global Action Plan : Protect Worker Health – Let the Business Thrive”; the conference program is designed to enhance professional capabilities of OH practitioners through peer-led interactive sessions, thought provoking debates, real-life case studies, and solution based masterclass. The conference promises to offer a rich selection of industry-leading

education and debate on the following:• Occupational Health: A Key Determinant for Sustainable Development • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Evidence & Risk based Health Surveillance • Future Delivery & Influence of Occupational Health • Cultivate Healthy & Safety Resilient Workplaces – Above & Beyond Workers Welfare • Industrial Hygiene in Health Protection – Partners in Success • OH At 35,000 Feet - Air Industry Medical Challenges • P reparing for the Unexpected : Pandemic & Disaster Management The Conference Chairman will be Dr. Carl Rikard Moen, IOC Occupational Health Manager and the Head of Scientific Committee is Dr. Luay Badran, a Lead Occupational Physician. Some of the speakers and panel-

lists will include Dr. Salih Ali Al-Marri, Assistant Secretary General for Medical Affairs | Supreme Council of Health, Shk. Dr. Mohammed Al-Thani, Director – Public Health | Supreme Council of Health and Prof. Sergio Lavicoli, Secretary General | International Commission on Occupational Health. Other organisations attending, include Rasgas, Qatar Shell Service Company W.L.L, British Safety Council and the International Association of Worksite Health Promotion (IAWHP). Additionally the conference is endorsed by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, IPIECA, Institute of Remote Health Care, IOSH, American Industrial Hygiene Association, The Society of Occupational Medicine, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), British Safety Council, International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine RCPI.

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Middle East hospitals to use modular concept design Building Healthcare conference to deliberate case study on modular design at Kuwait Cardiac Research and Rehabilitation Centre Buildings in healthcare should be designed and developed with the principal goal of improving the experience of the main users: patients and healthcare staff. More often than not, while perfectly sterile and healthy environments, healthcare facilities in the GCC can be quite intimidating and unwelcoming for some patients. According to Agi Architects, who have designed the Kuwait Cardiac Research & Rehabilitation Centre, a healthcare facility should make patients feel welcome and at home by producing a highly developed program and welldesigned spatial organization, focusing on the user’s wellbeing. According to Dr Nasser B Abulhasan, Principal, AGi Architects, Kuwait City, Kuwait, “Hospitals usually have a negative reputation, and are synonymous with illness; therefore it is of utmost importance to develop a space that generates a healthy, clean, and healing environment. The exterior façade is the most relevant element in designing the property and the first con-

nection with the patient.” The design of The Kuwait Cardiac Research & Rehabilitation Centre was purposefully developed to provide daylight, natural ventilation, and pleasant views, in order to contribute to the user’s comfort and health. This was created by including a series of courtyards of varying sizes that are incorporated in the building at different levels. The relationships created between public and private spaces through wellorganized circulation paths help facilitate the operation of the building and give it a more natural atmosphere for both patients and staff. Dr Abulhasan spoke at the Architect’s Congress at Building Healthcare Exhibition & Conferences, in June 2015. The event focused on the design of a healing environment and how it impacts patient safety, operations, and the financial success of a healthcare facility. The Kuwait Cardiac Research and Rehabilitation Centre is a reflection on hospitals public image. The interior of the centre is

designed like a miniature city with different scales and hierarchies. The ‘main streets’ are the corridors where patients can be assisted in different receptions; and the main waiting areas are like a square with direct view to the main courtyards. The interior gives the feeling of being ‘outdoors’. The patients are received in a “living room” and addressed by a doctor privately and in each scenario maximum privacy and confidence with doctors is maintained. “All modules have a small courtyard to provide light, natural ventilation and privacy. Services like swimming pool, gym and track are strategically located in the best locations of the ‘city’ with direct view to the sea (the building is located on the beach). Those spaces are used to stress tests / rehabilitation, where we propose big windows and double free height to reinforce the “outside” sensation. With a northern orientation these spaces will have the best light,” commented Dr Abulhasan.

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Digitization in the healthcare system Studies show that energy use in healthcare has increased 36% since 1995 due to the high uptake of datacentre technology and increasing number of patients. Schneider Electric combines capabilities in energy and automation and introduces this segment to the era of smart infrastructure and digitization. With innovations such as UPS, cooling mechanisms, DCIM, access, temperature and security control, water and gas metering and BMS with presence detection systems, the company adheres to local green regulations to create a safer, cleaner and more dependable ecosystem for patients and doctors. Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management, showcased its endto-end solutions for the burgeoning Middle East healthcare industry at the Building Healthcare Exhibition and Conferences held from June 8-10 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Global energy experts from Schneider Electric attended the event to share their insights on the importance of this segment for national development and smart urbanization – from highlighting the role of smart panels in monitoring patient needs and regulating temperature,

access and security to sharing insights on smart power solutions to giving the audience a glimpse into building financially and environmentally-sound critical infrastructures. Discussing the regional market, WaseemTaqqali, Vice President, Buildings Business Unit, Schneider Electric, said: “Healthcare

As healthcare moves to the cloud - we need to make doubly sure the IT systems in place are reliable - right from patient erecords to surgery monitoring equipment.

infrastructure spending is high among the GCC governments’ agenda today. In addition, the region’s commitment to smart connectivity has further triggered a fundamental shift in healthcare operations. “As such, Schneider Electric’s bundle offering of mechanical, electrical and

IT support for building infrastructures is definitely a contributing factor to the region’s development.” Hans Luppens, Business Development Manager- Industrial Solutions, ITB, Schneider Electric, said: “In our move to provide holistic solutions for healthcare, Schneider Electric communicated with the CEOs and owners of healthcare facilities to understand main points for both staff and patients. “Using this feedback, we integrated our offerings into easy-to-use platforms which, in the long run, enable safety, environmental and financial benefits to all stakeholders. Over time, institutions typically enjoy return on investments (ROI) along with a sustainable infrastructure.” Reaffirming the company’s dedication to health and safety, Ziad Youssef, IT Business Vice President, Schneider Electric, said: “As healthcare moves to the cloud - we need to make doubly sure the IT systems in place are reliable - right from patient e-records to surgery monitoring equipment. “Schneider Electric helps create this controllable environment with real time monitoring and data analytics, reinforcing hospital personnel efficiency and sanitary standards to provide the best patient safety possible.”

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REAL ESTATE IN EMERGING MARKETS SEES SHIFT TOWARDS SECOND-TIER CITIES

hanging perceptions of the emerging markets are attracting an increasing number of foreign investors to second and third tier cities in emerging urban areas, as they begin to challenge their developed counterparts. Economic growth, infrastructure development and demographic changes are affecting smaller cities across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, enabling less developed areas to emerge as competitive players. Rapid urbanization is affecting many smaller cities in the emerging markets, in particular across Africa. The majority of the young population in many African countries, with increasing disposable income, live in cities. This migration to cities is increasing demand for housing, infrastructure, retail and commercial spaces. By investing in smaller cities, real estate developers and industry professionals benefit from: lower operating costs, greater space for construction, lower costs for resources and building materials, and less supply. Moving away from capital cities, property is significantly

cheaper, as developers have access to more land for development and lower building costs. According to Kian Moini, CoFounder and Managing Director of global real estate portal Lamudi, which operates exclusively in emerging markets: “These lesserknown cities have large, young working populations, not only contributing more to the economy through their employment, but spending more on consumer goods, and which are more enthusiastic to spend time and money on technology. Investing in smaller cities gives investors the chance to get more for their money - land and operating costs

are much lower, as there is more space for construction, lower costs for resources and building materials, and less supply. As a result, less developed areas are becoming more attractive to investors. These cities now need to invest in themselves, to develop their infrastructure, and position themselves as competitors to the bigger markets,” he said. While bigger economic capitals have the advantage over smaller, lesser known cities, due to greater recognition around the world, cheaper rental prices, less competition, and a higher growth potential is enabling these cities to rise to the challenge.

American Concrete Institute elects first VP from Mideast Eng Khaled Awad, chairman and founder for the Lebanon-based Advanced Construction Technology Services (ACTS), has been elected to serve as vice president for the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the world authority and resource on concrete technology. Awad, who will serve a twoyear term, is the first member from the Middle East to assume the key post. A world-renowned expert in concrete technology and sustainable construction, Awad has been working in the real estate and construction industry in the Middle East for more than 25 years. He recently founded Grenea, an investment firm advancing and providing technical assistance to eco-developments around the world. Prior to establishing Grenea, he was the founding director of Property Development at the Masdar Initiative in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Masdar is a multifaceted initiative advancing the development, commercialization and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions. He oversaw the development of emission-free Masdar City, the world’s first development aiming to become carbon-neutral.

A member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and ASTM International and a Fellow of the UK Institute of Concrete Technology, Awad’s leadership has made ACTS the preferred choice in the Middle East for inspection, testing and geo-engineering works in critical and large-scale projects, including the Qatar Metro, King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Riyadh metro project and the Kingdom Tower, the world’s first kilometer-high skyscraper currently under construction in Jeddah. “I am honored and humbled to be elected to the post. We at ACTS believe in investing in the future that is why we have always valued our relationship with the American Concrete Institute being their local sponsoring group in the Middle East since 1996,” Awad said. “ACI’s commitment to advancing knowledge is beyond valuable and this is something that deeply inspires me. ACI has been universally recognized as the world authority in concrete construction,” he said. “Serving the Institute in this position will allow me to further highlight the Middle East from an international perspective. It is an honor that I truly cherish,” Awad

added. An active member of ACI, Awad is Chair of ACI Subcommittee 601-E, Concrete Construction Sustainability Assessor, and serves on the Task Group on Managing Translations of ACI Products and Services, Certification Programs Committee and the International Certification Subcommittee, of which he is a past Chair. He is a member of ACI Committee 130, Sustainability of Concrete. Awad is also the past Chair of the Financial Advisory Committee and previously served as a member of the ACI Board of Direction and the ACI International Committee. He received the ACI Chapter Activities Award in 2007 and the ACI Certification Award in 2011. Awad is also a recipient of the ACI Henry L Kennedy Award, an award given only for outstanding technical or administrative service to the institute (ACI) and is not mandatory each year. The basis for selection of awardees is outstanding activity or service that has enhanced the Institute’s prestige; marked leadership in technical, administrative, or special committee work; or other distinguished service to the Institute.

KnowCrete by

Lightweight Concrete and Aggregates By Thomas A. Holm and John P. Ries Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete & Concrete-Making Materials, ASTM (STP 169D) Joseph F. Lamond and James H. Pielert Classification of Lightweight Aggregates and Lightweight Aggregate Concretes Lightweight aggregate concretes are broadly divided into three groups based upon their use and physical properties: structural, structural/insulating, and insulating. Bulk density, thermal conductivity, and compressive strength ranges normally associated with each class of concrete are summarized in Table 1. Structural Structural lightweight concretes generally contain aggregates made from pyroprocessed shales, clays, slates, expanded slags, expanded fly ash, and those mined from natural porous volcanic sources. Structural lightweight concrete is normally classified by a minimum compressive strength that was jointly established by the ASTM Specification for Lightweight Aggregates (C 330) and the Standard Building Code for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318). The 318 code definition is structural concrete made with lightweight aggregate; the equilibrium density as determined by ASTM Test Method for Determining Density of Structural Lightweight Concrete (C 567) not exceeding 115 lb/ft3 and the compressive strength is more than 17.2 MPa (2500 psi). This is a definition, not a specification and project requirements may permit higher equilibrium densities. Although structural concrete with equilibrium densities from 1450 to 1920 kg/m3 (90 to 120 lb/ft3) are often used, most lightweight aggregate concrete used in structures have equilibrium densities between 1760 to 1840 kg/m3 (110 and 115 lb/ft3). Virtually all manufactured structural lightweight aggregates are produced from raw materials including suitable shales, clays, slates, fly ashes, or blast furnace slags. Naturally occurring lightweight aggregates are mined from volcanic deposits that include pumice and scoria types. Pyroprocessing methods include the rotary kiln process (a long, slowly rotating, nearly horizontal cylinder lined with refractory materials similar to cement kilns); the sintering process wherein a bed of raw materials including fuel is carried by a traveling grate under ignition hoods; and the rapid agitation of molten slag with controlled amounts of air or water. No single description of raw material processing is all inclusive and the reader is urged to consult the lightweight aggregate manufacturer for physical and mechanical properties of the aggregates and the concretes made with them. Structural lightweight aggregates can be manufactured from raw materials such as, for example, soft shales and clays that have limited structural applications in their natural state. This is an environmentally sound practice as it minimizes demands on finite resources of quality natural sands, stones, and gravels. Structural/Insulating Industrial applications that call for “fill” concretes often require compressive strengths and densities in the intermediate between structural and insulating concretes. These concretes may be produced with high air contents and include structural lightweight aggregate, or sanded insulating lightweight aggregate mixtures, or they may incorporate both structural and insulating lightweight aggregates. Compressive strengths from 3.4 to 17 MPa (500 to 2500 psi) are common with thermal resistance ranging between insulating and structural concrete. Insulating Insulating concretes are very light nonstructural concretes, employed primarily for high thermal resistance, that incorporate low-density low-strength aggregates such as vermiculite and perlite. With low densities, seldom exceeding 800 kg/m3 (50 lb/ft3), thermal resistance is high. These concretes are not intended to be exposed to weather and generally have a compressive strength range from about 0.69 to 3.4 MPa (100 to 500 psi).

info@greymatters.ws www.greymatters.ws

Construction

Qatar

SITES

Leading construction laboratory opens in Doha

onstruction Technology Laboratories (CTL) started out almost 100 years ago as the cement and concrete technology research and development laboratories of the Portland Cement Association (PCA). CTL began providing consulting services for applied research projects in the 1960s and widened its engineering consulting through the 1980s. The laboratory is now expanding its global footprint and has opened a facility in Doha. CTLGroup-Qatar will be able to conduct a wide range of testing services for concrete, cementitious materials, aggregates, building systems, soils and asphalt. Construction Sites spoke to the CTL Group’s President and CEO Dr Brent Nixon, PhD, PE, and Chief Operating Officer Dr Tim Tonyan, PhD, when they held a launch event recently. More than 60 stakeholders from architectural, engineering, construction, cement and concrete industries attended the event. “As a world leader in laboratory testing and materials analysis for the construction industry, CTLGroup-Qatar aligns with both our strategic vision and Qatar’s National Vision 2030. We are raising the bar on professional and technological

capabilities to support the region’s building aspirations,” said Nixon. In recent years, Ashghal has taken quite an aggressive and proactive stance in testing materials in the construction sector. They have even started a system of mobile laboratories to facilitate this need. The mobile facility enables quick and efficient evaluation of the performance of structures on site to ensure that contractors and consultants are abiding by the approved standards and to rectify any fault during the construction phase, saving time and public resources and minimizing disruptions caused to road users. The Environmental Research Lab (ERL) will examine the quality of air, water, sewage sludge, noise and other issues that affect the environment. The ERL is equipped with all the testing equipment required to conduct tests and research on site. This is very critical as testing on site will provide accurate assessment of the samples preventing any changes or expiration of the samples. The ERL has been designed to be very stable and steady to prevent any calibration of the equipment during its movement or when stationed on site. Ashghal’s Center of Research and Development includes

highly-advanced materials testing equipment for research activities and for development of specifications with respect to the local envi-

ronmental conditions in order to maintain the best quality in projects. The center’s goal is to provide accurate material tests to en-

sure high quality of construction materials for projects and a safe, healthy environment for communities and societies.

CTLGroup-Qatar is ISO 17025:2008 and ISO 9001:2008 certified and ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 compliant.

Construction

SITES

Katara opens new luxury hotel in Milan

Katara Hospitality has officially opened the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a luxury hotel in Milan owned and restored recently by Katara Hospitality, a global hotel developer, owner and operator. The restoration works has been done by the hotel developer in a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts under its The Luxury Collection brand. Under the refurbishment, a new wing has been added to the former Palace Gallia hotel, the ground floor of which will be dedicated to meetings and conferences and includes a grand ballroom that can host up to 400 people. The main hotel comprises 235 rooms including 53 suites of which the most opulent is the 1,000 sq m Katara Suite with four bedrooms, two terraces and a private spa. Formerly known as ‘Palace Gallia’, the hotel was unveiled by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc as part of a multi-million euro investment with its owner partners to restore Europe’s most iconic hotels under The Luxury Collection brand. “Excelsior Hotel Gallia is a magnificent property that has undergone a meticulous renovation and strategic expansion that marries contemporary design with the hotel’s belle époque architectural style, ensuring that this remains as one of Milan’s historic landmarks,” said Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of Katara Hospitality . Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, CEO and Board Member of Katara Hospitality said The Luxury Collection hotel is one of Katara Hospitality ‘s flagship international investments and “we are proud of what has been achieved together with our partners such as Starwood”. “Excelsior Hotel Gallia is a true reflection of our vision to ensure the heritage of such iconic properties continues around the world,” he added.

Qataris continue to invest in “Little Doha” in London

The Qatari royal family has bought one of London’s grandest family homes for over $61.9 million, according to UK media. Al Thani family purchased the six-storey listed Victorian townhouse close to Park Lane from businessman David Meller. The area of London’s exclusive Mayfair property is very popular among Qatari nationals so that the leading property agents in the capital to dub the area “Little Doha”. The royal family is also attempting to build a $300 million mega-palace for themselves in London’s Regents Park, according to UK media, by putting together three listed homes, however the local council rejected the plans earlier this year. According to the London Evening Standard ‘s property expert: “The [Park Lane] house is huge but is just one bit of the jigsaw. It is part of the assembly of a much bigger estate in north-west Mayfair. “The Al Thani family is looking to build a vast luxury dormitory where you might have an aunt living in one property and a cousin in another.” The newest Qatari acquisition is an Arts and Crafts-style brick home built between 1892 and 1894 that was the London home of the Northamptonshire aristocrat Lord Lilford in the Thirties. The grade II-listed house was refurbished by the Meller family in 2008, according to the newspaper.

Qatar wealth fund to open New York office as US portfolio grows

The Qatar Investment Authority , the Gulf Arab state’s acquisitive sovereign wealth fund, is setting up an office in New York to manage its growing portfolio in the United States, according to remarks carried by the state news agency. The fund is one of the most active sovereign investors in the world, snapping up stakes in everything from real estate to luxury goods. It led a consortium this year to secure control of the company that owns London’s Canary Wharf financial district in a $4 billion deal. Much of its activity has traditionally been in Europe but the fund has said it is looking to diversify into Asia and the United States, announcing last year a plan to spend $20 billion in Asian investments over the next five years. “HE Ambassador Mohammed bin Jaham al-Kuwari revealed the Qatar Investment Authority’s plans to open an office in New York in order to manage the growing investment portfolio in the U.S. market,” the Qatar News Agency said of a lunch held with 15 U.S. companies with operations in Qatar.

Mayhoola to buy $332 million stake in Turkish retailer Boyner

Mayhoola for Investments, a fund based in Qatar, will buy a 30.7 percent stake in Turkish retailer Boyner RetailInvestments $332 million, according to Turkish sources. The retailer is the largest listed, non-food and non-electronic retail company with more than 400 retail stores in Turkey. It distributes in Turkey international luxury brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Canali, Saint-Laurent as well as its own private label brands such as Beymen Club, Fabrika, NetWork, Divarese. “Mayhoola will participate in the capital increase as sole investor and will own, post capital increase, circa 31 percent of the share capital of BRTI, Boyner said in a statement. “The proceeds of the capital increase will be used by the company to repay the liabilities which are due for the acquisition of Beymen and Boyner Buyuk Magazıcılık in 2013,” mentioned in the statement. “Our Group is implementing its long term strategy in accordance with the objectives set three years ago. We have decided to strengthen our equity capital to support our long term growth strategy through a partnership with Mayhoola,” Cem Boyner, Boyner Group Chairman and CEO, said. “This partnership will strengthen the leading position of our retail companies and support our long-term strategy.” Mayhoola has global brands in its portfolio of investments. Qatari fund invests globally in the luxury and retail sectors. It acquired in 2012 the Italian fashion giant Valentino. The Qatari based investment company has also invested in other international brands such as Pal Zileri and Anya Hindmarch.

Qatar Abroad

Jaidah Holding buys iconic hotel in Venice

Jaidah Holdings has acquired The Gritti Palace, Venice to Nozul Hotels&Resorts from US luxury hotel operator Starwood Hotels for $117 million. Built in 1525 as the private residence of Doge Andrea Gritti, The Gritti Palace has built a reputation as one of the world’s most iconic and luxurious hotels. Starwood will continue to operate the hotel under The Luxury Collection brand flag under a new long-term management agreement, the hotel group confirmed. Adam Aron, CEO of Starwood on an interim basis, said the sale was part of the group’s planned sale of hotels. “As we said, Starwood reaffirmed our confidence that, as part of our asset light strategy, we would complete $800 million in hotel dispositions in the balance of 2015, while maintaining these hotels’ continued participation in the Starwood system. The sale of The Gritti Palace is an important and positive step toward achieving our 2015 target,” said Aron. Simon Turner, president of Global Development for Starwood said the sale of The Gritti Palace to Jaidah Holdings, which also owns the Starwood-managed W Doha Hotel in Qatar, would ensure the future success of “one of the world’s most iconic hotels”. “The sale of The Gritti Palace, Venice highlights our ongoing commitment to sell properties to the right long-term partners to create value for our shareholders. Amidst the strong transaction market, we’re seeing a surge in interest in our remaining assets from a broad array of investors worldwide,” Turner said. “We are proud to extend our relationship with Jaidah Holdings, for whom we have been successfully operating W Doha since its opening as the first W Hotel in the Middle East in 2009. Jaidah Holdings shares Starwood’s vision for the majestic Gritti Palace, Venice’s most celebrated hotel and an extraordinary representation of The Luxury Collection brand,” said Michael Wale, President, Europe, Africa and the Middle East for Starwood. “We look forward to our continued operation of the hotel, which completed a meticulous restoration a year ago.” Outstanding European hotel has 82 rooms (including 21 suites), each room offers breathtaking views of the Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute. The hotel, which joined The Luxury Collection brand in 1992, completed a significant restoration last May and features the world-renowned Club del Doge restaurant, Bar Longhi, and the Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Spa.

QSWF to invest in Cardiff Airport in Wales

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund (QSWF) is reportedly interested in investing in a proposed logistics and transport hub in the UK. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has expressed interest in plans to develop the hub around Cardiff Airport in South Wales, according to Dominic Jeremy, the UK Trade & Investment chief executive. In comments published recently by the local media, Jeremy said he had met with the QIA, Qatari Diar, and other investors in Doha about developing the airport. “We were talking about an investment proposition around Cardiff Airport that the Welsh government owns, including both the land and infrastructure around the airport,” Jeremy was quoted as saying. He also stressed that the discussions aim to open the doors for Qatari investors on the Cardiff Airport project, and how they can take part of the northern powerhouse proposal. “With some of the investment businesses that we were talking to today, we were opening the doors for the whole conversation on what Cardiff Airport has in store in the future,” he said. Jeremy added, “We were also talking about the development of the next phase of infrastructure across the northern English cities - this is a personal initiative of UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, called the ‘northern powerhouse’ and the idea is to help re-balance the UK economy by devolving economic decisions and investment funding to the cities in the northern powerhouse and supporting them in attracting investors into developing the infrastructure. “We are opening these doors so that Qatari investors are at the forefront in engaging with us on what we are planning to do in the next five years in that northern powerhouse agenda,” he stressed.

Qatar Red Crescent to begin project in Darfur

Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has launched a new project to provide agricultural machinery in Arara, under a QR22.63m grant by Qatar to develop and rebuild West Darfur. The project involves distribution of tractors, Chisel plows, and harvesters and is estimated to serve up to 28,000 workers. This is part of QRC’s QR3.65m economic empowerment programme to support poor families by enhancing their productive abilities and training them in agriculture, ranching, handicrafts and income-generating projects. Besides establishing and operating a model services complex in Arara, QRC plans more projects in Darfur, including the operation of a health centre in Serpa to serve nearly 20,000 people and other relief, water, environmental sanitation, and health projects. The agricultural project launch was attended by local community leaders and the public, who the contribution to the region’s economy. QC has already implemented QR28.1m worth of projects, which benefited 152,000 citizens in ten states in Sudan last year. Approximately QR10m was spent on support for women and family, with the number of sponsored children rising by 27 percent to 3,481; 2,980 of whom are orphans, as well as 153 poor families, 38 people with disabilities, 207 students and 103 teachers. More than 3000 orphans have taken part in recreational trips and health days, in addition to the global orphan event which was attended by more than 1000 orphans, under the supervision of the Ambassador of Qatar in Sudan and officials from the Ministry of Social Welfare. Qatar Charity is also building nine homes for poor families at a total cost of QR303,000.

Construction

Qatar

SITES

Ashghal signs 11 deals worth QR6 billion

A total of 82% of the companies which have won the contracts are either Qatari-owned or joint ventures of Qatari and international companies The Public Works Authority, Ashghal, has awarded 11 contracts for projects with a total value of QR6.58 billion for the Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy (IDRIS), the Construction and Development of Infrastructure in Local Areas program and road development. A total of 82% of the companies which have won the contracts are either Qatari-owned or joint ventures of Qatari and international companies. Their share exceeds QR5 billion. Ashghal President Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi signed the contracts with the companies which have won the deals. The signing ceremony was attended by Ashghal’s management and representatives of the companies. Three contracts were signed under IDRIS for the design and construction of the main trunk sewer project, at a value of about QR3.212 billion. Contracts signed under the Construction and Development of Infrastructure in Local Areas program included one for the roads and infrastructure project in Al Wakrah West (phase 2, package 3), valuing approximately QR287 million, one for the roads and infrastructure for the Government Residential Division project in south of Al Wukair – Settlement Works, valuing approximately QR113 million, one for the roads & infrastructure for Government Residential Division project in north of Al Wukair, valuing approximately QR674 million, one for the roads and infrastructure in west of Al Meshaf project (package 3), valuing approximately QR518 million, and one for the roads and infrastructure in Al Sailiya - north of Salwa Road project, valuing approximately QR573 million. The three roads development contracts were for the interim upgrade of the E-Ring Road and Najma Street, valuing around QR235 million, and for first and second packages of the development of Rawdat Rashed Village and for the Umm Garn Road project, together valuing around QR390 million. Following is an overview of the signed contracts: Three contracts for the design and construction of main trunk sewer under the Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy (IDRIS) IDRIS includes the construction of a main trunk sewer in south

of Doha extending 45km and of more than 70km of lateral interceptor sewers. Works include the construction of a terminal pump station, in addition to the new Doha South advanced sewage treatment works with an initial capacity of 500,000 cubic meters per day. IDRIS will provide advanced solutions for transferring sewage water to serve the longterm needs of Doha and areas south of Qatar, accommodating the expected population growth and meeting the requirements of transferring and treating sewage water for the coming 50 years. It will replace over 35 existing pump stations. The main trunk sewer for which the design and construction contracts were signed will be approximately 45km long, with internal diameters ranging from 3 to 4.5 meters, and depths ranging from 20 to 55 meters. The project will start in the third quarter of 2015 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019. The first contract for the design and construction of main trunk sewer project is worth QR965 million and has been awarded to a joint venture between Bouygues Construction Qatar and UrbaCon Trading and Contracting. The project includes the construction of three northern segments of the main trunk sewer in central Doha. The second contract of about QR1.065 billion, covering the central segment of the main trunk sewer, has been awarded to a joint venture of IDRIS SHP contractors. The third contract, worth QR1.123 billion, includes the construction of the southern segment of the main trunk sewer. It has been awarded to a joint venture between Bouygues Construction Qatar and UrbaCon Trading and Contracting. Roads & Infrastructure

Projects The Roads & Infrastructure project in Al Wakrah West (phase 2, package 3) The QR286 million contract has been awarded to a joint venture of National Industrial Contracting Company and Azvi S A Company and Al-Ghanem Trading & Contracting Company. The project comprises 845 plots with a total area of 932,790 square meters, and includes the construction and development of the area’s old and incomplete roads, in addition to providing safe pedestrian and cycle paths, traffic signals, street signage, street lighting and landscaping. It includes upgrading the drainage network system, constructing a storm water drainage network, designing a treated water pump station and distribution network, as well as installing an irrigation network. The project will start in the third quarter of 2015 and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017. A QR113 million contract, awarded to Marbu Contracting Company, includes land and roads settlement works as a preliminary phase in the area. The settlement phase commenced in the first quarter of 2015 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015. The QR674mn contract for the roads & infrastructure for Government Residential Division project in north of Al Wukair The contract has been awarded to a joint venture between Boom Construction Company and Lotus Trading & Contracting Company. The project comprises 768 land plots with a total area of 2,360,000 square meters, and includes the construction and development of the area’s road network, and the provision of safe pedestrian

and cycle paths, traffic signals, street signage, street lighting, and landscaping. The project also includes the construction of an integrated drainage network for the area. The project will start in the third quarter of 2015, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017. The Roads & Infrastructure in west of Al Meshaf project (package 3) This QR518 million contract has been awarded to Bin Omran Trading and Contracting Company. The third package of the project comprises 1,239 land plots with a total area of 2,090,000 square meters, and includes the construction and development of the area’s road network, provision of main accesses to roads and safe junctions to enhance traffic flow, in addition to the provision of safe pedestrian and cycle paths, street lighting, and landscaping. The project also includes the construction of a surface water and storm water drainage network, and the construction of a treated sewage network. The project commenced at the end of first quarter of 2015, and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017. The Roads & Infrastructure in Al Sailiya - north of Salwa Road project This QR 573 million contract has been awarded to Qatar Building Company. The project serves 778 land plots with a total area of 1,460,000 square meters, and includes the construction and development of approximately 23km of roads in the areas of Al Sailiya and north of Salwa Road to enhance traffic flow, by providing pedestrian crossings and improved street lighting to improve visibility at nighttime, providing pedestrian paths, improving access and providing parking to the residential and commercial establishments, and implementing landscaping works. The project also includes con-

structing a 22km surface and ground water drainage network, providing around 14km of treated sewage effluent (TSE) lines, constructing a 10km foul drainage network, in addition to providing ducts for future utilities. The project will start in the third quarter of 2015 and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017. Roads development projects The upgrade of E-Ring Road and Najma Street A contract worth QR235 million has been awarded to Bin Omran Trading and Contracting Company for the development of approximately 3.3km of Najma Street, the construction of traffic signals at the junction of Al Hadara Street with Najma Street and the junction of Oqba bin Nafie Street with Najma Street. The new works will improve the traffic movement along the signalized junction between the Airport Street and E-Ring road and will also enable Uturn movements. Besides the above, the works include the building of pedestrian and cycle paths and better landscaping works. The project commenced in the second quarter of 2015 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017. Two contracts for the first and second phases of the development of Rawdat Rashed Village to Umm

Garn Road (package 1 & 2) The two contracts are worth QR390 million. The contract for the first package, valuing QR182 million has been awarded to Alcat Contracting Company while the contract for the second package, valuing QR208 million, has been awarded to Bin Omran Trading & Contracting Company. The project aims to provide a network of roads to link Salwa Highway with Dukhan Highway and will accommodate the flow of heavy vehicles that currently travel through the Rawdat Rashed residential area. The first package of the project is located near Salwa International Highway towards the north and will provide an approximately 8.5km dual threelane carriageway from Salwa Highway to a location near the existing entrance to the Rawdat Rashed area. The second package will provide an approximately 10.4km dual three-lane carriageway, stretching from the end of the first package to a new roundabout that will be connected to the existing road to Al Shahaniyah, bypassing the Rawdat Rashed area. Both packages of the project commenced in the first quarter of 2015 and the first package is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016 while the second package is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2016.

HVAC - Plumbing & Drainage - Fire Fighting - Electrical & ELV - Energy Centers - Street Lighting - Maintenance - Facility Management Established in 1974, TRAGS Engineering is recognized as the leading Grade-1 MEP Services, District Cooling and Facility Management Contractor in the State of Qatar. The scope of activities covers all aspects of building services including design, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of multi-service installations. In addition, the company offers 24/7 Facility Management Services to government buildings, corporations, educational, healthcare, industrial, commercial and residential sectors.

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Construction

SITES

Tenders

ASHGHAL TENDERS AND AWARDED TENDERS Companies Eligible to Tender: (1) Qatari Companies Only (2) Joint Venture (JV) Companies, which includes a Qatari Company having a minimum of 51%, share holding of the JV (3) Non-Qatari Companies (4) Not Applicable * All financial values are in QAR

Tender No.

Type

Tender Title

Participants

Issuing Date

Closing Date