Construction Sites | March Issue no. 92

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

I ssue N o .92 - M arch 2015

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

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The ideal time to invest in property in Qatar

Qatar has cemented its place as one of the leading emerging markets for property investors, with growth in the country’s real estate sector expected to continue on the back of strong economic fundamentals.

Qatar has just been ranked second in Bloomberg Markets’ fourth annual ranking of the mostpromising emerging markets in which to invest. The ranking is based on a range of measures of the investment environment, including economic growth forecasts and ease of doing business.

Qatar’s Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has forecast that the country’s economy will expand 7.7% this year - its fastest growth since 2011.

The recent drop in oil prices is expected to have little impact on the country’s finances as Qatar continues to diversify its economy from its traditional role as an oil and gas exporter.

The country’s recent economic success has been driven by huge growth in the services and construction sectors.

In the third quarter of 2014, the construction sector expanded 18.5% year-on-year. The financial, real estate and business services sectors also saw high growth of 13.7% year-on-year during the period.

Real estate sector growth has been supported by fast population growth, which is pushing up demand for housing.

Global property portal Lamudi, which operates in 32 countries across the emerging markets, launched in Qatar in January.

Lamudi’s Co-Founder, Kian Moini, said: “When we decide to enter a new market, one of the key things we look for is the strength of the property sector. Qatar’s vibrant real estate sector has never been so attractive to investors - there is strong demand for housing, property prices are rising, and it is relatively easy for foreigners to buy real estate.”

Moini said: As the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, the real estate market will only go from strength to strength. All signs point to 2015 as the ideal time to invest in property in Qatar.”

Qatar’s population reached an all time high last year, rising 7.48% year-on-year to hit 2,187,326 in September. This rising population base is pushing up demand for housing, particularly in Doha. At the same time, the average household size is declining.

In its second quarter 2014 Real Estate Market Overview for Doha, Colliers International noted that the decline in household size was also driving up demand for more housing units in the city.

The strength of the real estate sector has been ensured by heavy investment in infrastructure and property development. Major infrastructure projects include the new metro in Doha and real estate developments such as Msheireb and Lusail City.

Al Bidda Switchgear begins operation in its new facility

Al Bidda Switchgear, part of the Al Bidda Group, has inaugurated the largest, worldclass facility in Qatar for electrical switchgear manufacturing, general sheet metal engineering and fabrication, powder coating services and general trading.

The Al Bidda Group, a conglomerate with a wide variety of business activities, is chaired by Sheikh Suhaim Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Suhaim Al Thani.

The facility, in the New Industrial Area, was inaugurated under the patronage of Sheikh Hamad Bin Suhaim Bin Hamad Al Thani and in the presence of HE Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and German Ambassador Angelika Renate Storz-Chakarji.

The 14,000sqm manufacturing plant, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, includes a seven-stage automatic powder coating system; fully-automated CO2 laser cutter; fullyautomated turret punch; automated CNC press brakes; CNC copper cutting, punching and bending systems; as well as testing, verification, service and repair equipment.

Al Bidda Switchgear has partnered with MP&E Services Australia Pty Ltd, NATUS GmbH Germany, Terasaki Electric Company Japan and Ryowo Hong Kong in bringing a combined 250 years of management and technical collaboration to Qatar.

Among the business sectors and projects targeted by Al Bidda Switchgear are oil and gas, power distribution, Qatar Rail, stadiums, and industrial and commercial infrastructure.

“We are truly honored and thankful for all the support provided to us by the Qatar government and His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Suhaim Bin Hamad Al Thani,” Sheikh Suhaim said. “I also wish to thank HE Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, for his support and for honoring us today with his presence. Indeed, through their help and guidance, this facility has now become a reality.

“With a management team that boasts over 40 years of experience in switchgear, fabrication engineering and manufacturing, we are confident of delivering the highest standards of product and service excellence across the market and are extremely optimistic of our market leadership in this field,” he added.

The high- and low-voltage products that the new facility will be manufacturing include HV and MV switchboards, LV main distribution boards, LV motor control centers, LV sub-distribution boards, motor starters and feeder and distribution pillars.

Al Bidda Switchgear will also provide after-sales service and support as well as maintenance services.

The sheet steel fabrication facility will provide IT and communications cabinets, shelters and custom designs, parts and structures, general enclosure manufacture and mild steel, aluminum and stainless steel products and parts.

The powder coating facilities will provide services to parts and components manufacturers, steel products manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), architectural and construction sector and the oil and gas sector.

As part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 plan, the non-hydrocarbon sector continues to drive the state’s economic growth. Ventures like Al Bidda Switchgear are expected to play a key part in Qatar’s economic diversification away from its traditional role as a hydrocarbon exporter and into a manufacturing and services hub.

Al Bidda Switchgear is expected to make a significant contribution towards the achievement of the economic targets set forth in Qatar’s National Vision 2030 plan.

Qatar

Demand-fuelled price inflation in residential, commercial markets

Qatar’s residential and commercial real estate markets came under “significant pressure” as demand outstripped supply, creating inflationary pressures on prices in both sectors, according to the fourth quarter market report for 2014 by Global real estate company DTZ. The average freehold price for apartments in Doha’s Pearl development was in the QR14,000sqm range, 3.5 times the rate in Riyadh and closing in rapidly on Dubai’s.

The hotel sector realized strong growth throughout last year with occupancy levels reaching 73% in the fourth quarter of 2014.

“These findings are not unusual in a rapidly growing market,” said Mark Proudley, Associate Director, Consultancy and Research, DTZ. “There is high demand for property in Doha as the population continues to grow, particularly the middle income segment,” said Proudley.

“The commercial market is experiencing unprecedented levels of demand from retailers looking for prime locations; however, no new retail malls opened in 2014,” he added.

Edd Brookes, General Manager of DTZ in Doha, saw it as “an exciting time” for Qatar.

Brookes said: “The country’s growth is evident from the demand in the real estate market. We have been in this market for a decade, providing valuable consultancy, research and agency services as the nation has been experiencing rapid expansion.

“Given current growth rates of 6-7% per annum, we anticipate prices returning to 2008 levels in the next three years.”

With the increase in the population, the report indicated that increasing rents would affect the middle income families in Doha as the demand for residential units kept rising.

The number of prime residential units is anticipated to increase by 40% over the next 12 months, while stock focused on the middle-income segment is anticipated to grow by only 12%. This is likely to translate into stabilization for grade A stock, whilst mid-range units are likely to continue to rise ahead of inflation.

The pressure on the commercial market is expected to ease as a number of new shopping malls are expected to open in 2015.

“There are many retail spaces opening, including the 80,000sqm Gulf Mall and the Medina Centrale in the Town Centre of The Pearl-Qatar,” explained Proudley.

Prime locations are being hunted down by retailers looking to enter the Doha market or expand their business.

The hotel sector is also experiencing growth with occupancy levels reaching 73% in the fourth quarter. There are a number of new five-star hotels opening in 2015, which will cause the average occupancy levels to reduce.

The number of hotels scheduled to open in the medium term is leading to concerns that the hospitality sector will be oversupplied.

Johnny Archer, Associate Director at DTZ Qatar, added that the report’s findings “confirm that the rapid increase in Qatar’s population has an immediate knock-on effect on many sectors of the economy – with real estate particularly susceptible to demographic changes”.

He said: “With Qatar’s population growth set to increase by over 7% per annum in the coming years, the real estate market will need to expand more quickly to keep pace and avoid over-heating the market.”

ASTAD celebrates 20 million man-hours without LTI on Qatar’s National Museum ASTAD, Qatar’s leading project management consultancy for building and infrastructure proj-

ects, has presented a certificate of achievement to Hyundai Engineering and Construction Contractors for accomplishing 20 million consecutive man-hours worked without lost-time incident (LTI) on the iconic National Museum of Qatar.

In the construction industry, LTI is defined as an occurrence that resulted in a fatality, permanent disability, or time lost from work. It is the common measure for safety standards and in this case highlights the impeccable safety standards achieved on the National Museum of Qatar project.

Emphasizing ASTAD’s commitment to safety in the workplace, Nasser Al Hajri, Chief Human Capital and Shared Services Officer of ASTAD, said: “It is with great pride that we celebrate the significant milestone of achieving 20 million man-hours without LTI at the National Museum of Qatar.

“The health and wellbeing of our professionals lay at the heart of ASTAD’s core values. We take a proactive approach towards workplace safety by having good communications with our partners to ensure they are constantly kept up-to-date with our stringent health and safety requirements.”

He said: “While we employ international best practices when it comes to safety, we continuously evaluate our performance and make ongoing improvements.”

During the ceremony, Chief Operating Officer Mohammed Badran presented the award to Kim Jong Sang, Hyundai’s Project Director at the National Museum of Qatar project. They were joined by representatives from Qatar Museums, Hyundai Contracting and Engineering, and Hill International as they commemorated this milestone.

Remarking on Hyundai’s ability to achieve 20 million man-hours worked without LTI, Kim Jong Sang said: “We are delighted to be receiving this certificate from ASTAD and we are pleased that our efforts to drive up health and safety standards are being recognized.

“During our work at the National Museum of Qatar, we have invested in our workers by offering health and safety training and by encouraging our workforce to highlight to us any risks they identify straightaway. Meanwhile, our safety team has been meeting daily in an effort to minimize all potential hazards across the site.

“We now look forward to building on the high standards we have already established at the National Museum of Qatar and continuing to do all we can to prevent LTI.” The National Museum of Qatar is one of Qatar’s most iconic projects that will host a valuable collection representative of Qatar’s rich heritage and historical narrative.

Visitors will be able to enjoy unique exhibitions, oral history recitals as well as interactive presentations complemented by the museums state-of-the-art facilities.

Beyond its galleries, the venue will also feature a 220-seat auditorium, two retail outlets, a research center with laboratories and a park full of indigenous plants.

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Construction

SITES

Legal

A Guide to Qatar’s Real Estate Development Law

Both retail purchasers and developers should be taking steps to comply with the requirements of the law. Retail purchasers can benefit from the enhanced regulations related to buying ‘off-plan’.

T

his article provides a summary of Qatar’s new recent estate development law, Law No. 6 of 2014 – On the Regulation of Real Estate Development (the Development Law)).

It would appear that the purpose of the Development Law is to regulate the business of developers who sell property “off-plan”. Ultimately, retail purchasers of off-plan developments should benefit from enhanced regulatory protections arising from the Development Law. Developers and purchasers will be particularly interested in the Development Law, and developers with ongoing projects should be taking steps to comply with its requirements.

Licensing First and foremost, Article 2 of the Development Law introduces a licensing requirement for developers seeking to sell off-plan units in multistory residential or commercial buildings or complexes.

Licences are to be issued by the competent department in the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC). For foreign developers seeking to enter into the Qatar market, advice on the Development Law, including its licensing regime, should be obtained prior to entering into contracts of development.

An “off-plan sale” is defined in Article 1 as the “sale of real estate units outlined in a plan before the completion of its construction.” The Development Law only applies to developers seeking to sell property “off-plan”.

Article 3 of the Development Law distinguishes between Qatari companies and foreign companies in respect of minimum requirements for issuance of a real estate development licence. The distinction appears to imply that any licence granted to a foreign entity shall be limited to areas where non-Qatari persons are permitted to own properties (eg the Pearl). In addition, the foreign company must have (i) at least ten years of experience in construction and building works of wide

reputation and fame and (ii) a headquarters in Qatar or the GCC. For Qatari companies (it is not entirely clear whether this includes Qatari companies that have foreign shareholding), at least three years of experience in construction and building works is required under Article 3 in order to obtain a licence.

From a legal perspective, it is interesting to note that Article 3 of the Development Law specifically exempts foreign companies seeking to conduct real estate development activities in Qatar from the prohibition contained in the Foreign Investment Law No. 13 of 2000 as amended, which prohibits foreign investment in the area of real estate purchases.

Articles 4 and 5 of the Development Law provide some detail on the application and renewal process applying to real estate development licences.

Applications for a licence are to be accepted or rejected within 30 days of submission to the MEC. Should the MEC not respond to an application within the prescribed period, this is to be considered an automatic rejection. Should an applicant’s request for a licence be rejected, then an appeal may be lodged to the Minister of the MEC within 60 days of the rejection/ implied rejection.

For parties seeking to confirm whether a company is licensed to conduct real estate development activities, a register called the “Real Estate Developers Register” is to be maintained at the MEC. Developers’ Obligations Article 7 of the Development Law requires, among other things, that licenced developers to observe the following: 1. Commence and complete the works on the date specified in the contract; 2. Apply the monies deposited in the escrow account (which we describe in more detail below) towards its allocated purpose; 3. Follow up, oversee and ensure subcontractors’

adherence to the required technical specifications; 4. Conform to the approved technical specifications stated in the approved design of the project and each unit; and 5. H and over the reserved units to purchasers on the date specified in the purchase agreement and take the necessary actions to register the units in the purchasers’ names.

Article 9 of the Development Law states that a licence may be revoked for various reasons including if a developer fails to commence “project execution” within six months from the date the consent for the off-plan sale is obtained without a valid excuse.

Article 8 of the Development Law prohibits developers from subcontracting more than 50% of the works to any subcontractor unless the consent of the competent department of the MEC is obtained.

Interestingly, Article 8 states that any agreement that violates Article 8 shall be “discarded”, which could have significant financial and legal consequences for developers or subcontractors especially if this means that the violating agreement is void.

Although an entity may be licensed to conduct development activities, an individual authorisation for each development project is required.

Article 10 states that prior to offering units for off-plan sale, a developer must submit an application to the MEC for approval of the specific project including the following: 1. A certificate confirming the opening of an escrow account (details of which are provided below); 2. The title deed of the project plot and proof of completion of the apportionment in the plan indicating all information on the apportioned units; 3. An estimated budget for the project indicating structural costs and expected revenues, which

must be signed off and approved by a locally registered public accountant; 4. A copy of the draft announcement declaring the off-plan sale; 5. The form of purchase agreement to be entered into with purchasers; 6. The architectural drawings and engineering plans relating to the development project, signed off and approved by the relevant governmental departments; 7. A copy of the contract entered into between the developer and subcontractor, if any.

As mentioned above, the MEC must approve the public announcement marketing the off-plan sale of units in a development project. Article 11 requires such announcement to include the trade name and headquarters of the developer and the location, nature and accurate description of the project including its total area, number of floors, spaces and specification of units, sale price of each type of unit, method of payment, place to survey project models and units, account number, name of bank and other

data specified by the MEC. Title, Registration and Disposals Article 12 obligates developers to apply to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for apportionment of the units in the building or complex prior to the off-plan sale of any units.

This application, if approved, should result in the MoJ establishing an “Interim Real Estate Register” where all “disposals and rights in rem made thereto that would create, convey, change or terminate a right of ownership or any other right in rem…” must be registered. Article 14 indicates that the MoJ will issue preliminary title deeds for apportioned units which have been registered in the Interim Real Estate Register, and Article 15 allows for the sale, mortgage and other in rem disposals of such registered and apportioned units.

The concept of strata title is therefore recognised by Qatar law.

Should a party fail to register a disposal of a unit in the Interim Real Estate Register, Article 13 states that no in rem rights shall have been created, conveyed, changed or terminated; however, despite failure to register, parties

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.

would continue to have personal (ie contractual) rights and obligations arising from the disposal contract.

Where on the other hand a party enters into an agreement for the disposal of rights (eg sale or mortgage) in a unit which has not been registered in the Interim Real Estate Register, then Article 15 states that such agree-

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Legal ment shall be null and void.

It is therefore strongly recommended that parties seeking to dispose of rights in units ensure that the unit is registered in the Interim Real Estate Register, otherwise a sale, mortgage or other agreement in respect of the unapportioned unit may be null and void (and presumably harmful financial implications would follow).

Once the construction of the building or complex is complete, the developer is required pursuant to Article 16 to seek registration and apportionment of the units in the real estate register in accordance with the Real Estate Registration Law No. 14 of 1964 as amended.

Interestingly, the purchase price of a unit can be changed by law should the area of the unit as registered in the Interim Real Estate Register be more than what is finally handed over to the purchaser.

In such case, the price of the unit is to be reduced commensurately with the actual area handed over on a per meter basis. This does not prejudice a purchaser’s right to claim additional compensation under the law.

Escrow Account Developers are required to establish an escrow account for each individual development project in order to ensure that funds are appropriately used and disbursed for purposes of the development project.

The agreement between the developer and bank for the

establishment of the escrow account must include the following terms and conditions: 1. The criteria and conditions that must be met prior to any amounts being paid to the developer from the escrow account; 2. The payments which may be disbursed to the developer during the execution of the project after approval from the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) is obtained; 3. Relate deposits by purchasers into the escrow account with actual percentages of completion of structural works in accordance with the project consultant’s report, approved by the MMUP; and 4. Approval of the relevant department in the MEC is required prior to any payment from the escrow account.

It is essential that purchasers deposit any funds for the purchase of units into the official escrow account for the project, otherwise Article 24 indicates that payments made directly to a developer or representative thereof shall be “discarded”. In addition, appropriate measures must be implemented to account for funds deposited into escrow where sales and purchases are entered into between retail purchasers and sellers who may have funds deposited in escrow.

Article 20 prohibits the withdrawal of any funds from the

escrow account until at least 20% of the structural works of the project are complete. For purposes of estimating percentage of completion, the law requires a comparison of the cost of completed versus the total estimated cost of the project, works, excluding the value of the developed plot and the expenses of project marketing.

Financing Developers may obtain financing for projects, subject to a number of conditions contained in the law. Article 24 requires a lending institution to deposit all loaned amounts into the escrow account of the project. The escrow account may not be used for purposes of providing guarantees or discharging a developer’s debt.

Article 25 states that a developer may obtain financing with the consent of the MEC subject to the following conditions: 1. Not all units in the development have been sold, as certified by the MoJ; 2. The actual total value of the completed parts of the project equal or exceed the total amount of funds deposited in the escrow account, as confirmed in a technical report submitted by the project consultant and approved in writing by the MMUP; 3. The value of the financing/ loan is not greater than the total value of unsold units according

to the instructions of the Qatar Central Bank (QCB); and 4. The developer must provide certification of the escrow account’s status from the bank holding the account.

Interestingly, should the development project be compromised, the QCB, in coordination with the MEC, may take measure to protect the rights of purchasers that have funds deposited in the escrow account. In addition, the QCB is to issue conditions upon which the project may be assigned to another developer.

The QCB is also required to issue regulations concerning the management of escrow accounts and the procedures for deposits thereto.

Penalties The law contains a number of penalties including fines up to QAR 200,000 and/ or imprisonment up to 1 year, and developers and purchasers should review the penalties contained in the Development Law. For instance, should a developer fail to deliver units to purchasers on the date specified in the sale and purchase agreement without an acceptable excuse, or if the units do not conform to the technical specifications of the sale and purchase agreement or the building licence, then a fine of up to QAR 100,000 and/ or imprisonment for up to one year can be applied to the developer. In addition, if a developer fails to commence

the project within six months of receipt of the approval to commence off-plan sales without a valid excuse, a fine of up to QAR 200,000 may be assessed.

Real Estate Dispute Resolution Committee The Development Law establishes a new committee called the “Real Estate Dispute Resolution Committee” for the purpose of expeditiously resolving all disputes that arise from real estate development projects which are subject to the Development Law. As a whole, the Development Law introduces relatively stringent controls applicable to developments that are financed through off-plan sales. It is likely a response to issues that arose in earlier development projects in Qatar that were impacted by the 2008 recession.

Both the MEC and the Qatar Central Bank are required to issue regulations pursuant to the Development Law, which will be necessary in order for its impact to be fully understood by market participants.

Note: all Qatari Laws (save for those issued by, eg. the QFC to regulate its own business), are issued in Arabic and there are no official translations, therefore for the purposes of drafting this article Clyde & Co has used its own translation and interpreted the same in the context of Qatari laws, regulation and current market practice.

The views set out in this article do not constitute legal

SITES

5

Ramiz Shlah Associate

Ramiz is an associate based in Clyde & Co’s Doha office and has over five years’ experience in Qatar having worked on corporate, commercial, construction, insurance, finance, securities and banking law.

His clients include a wide array of international and local entities, including banks, investment firms, construction, industrial and technology companies.

Ramiz is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and New York and has published articles on various topics, including GCC investment in Qatar, Ostensible Authority in Qatar and the Qatari National Health Insurance Scheme.

Prior to joining Clyde & Co, Ramiz was a consultant at a leading local practice in Doha.

advice and readers are urged to seek specific legal advice in relation to any particular issues which arise from the subject-matter of the article.

For further information on this topic or construction/engineering legal issues, please contact Laura Warren at laura.warren@clydeco.com or Ramiz Shlah at ramiz.shlah@ clydeco.com.

6

Construction

SITES

Focus

Project Qatar: a story of success

Within a decade, Project Qatar has established itself as a highly sought-after exhibition in Qatar, the region and worldwide

S

ince its inception in 2004, Project Qatar, the International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition, has grown from strength to strength: in 2014, it hosted an astounding 2,100 companies and 48,953 visitors from 47 countries at the state-of-the-art Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), compared to just over 322 companies from 22 countries in its founding year.

Within a decade, Project Qatar has established itself as a highly sought-after exhibition in Qatar, the region and worldwide.

In light of its ongoing success, Project Qatar 2015, the 12th edition of the show, has received an unparalleled level of response from a wide range of sponsors and numerous supporting bodies, comprising both private and public sector entities.

Scheduled to unfold from May 4-7 at the QNCC, Project Qatar will once again gather thousands of professional visitors, industry buyers and decision makers, offering them a unique opportunity to engage with leading exhibitors from around the globe, enabling them to expand their business further.

This year, notable sponsors include Al Sraiya Group, Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC), Emirates Steel, Tadmur Holding, Hensel Phelps, QD-SBG Construction and Bitumode Qatar.

Serving as the sole Integrity sponsor of Project Qatar 2015, Al Sraiya Group has been providing integrated and diversified services to Qatar’s construction industry since 1975.

Diamond Sponsor Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC), which provides quality, reliable and efficient solutions for the transport, storage and delivery of key primary materials in Qatar, is also contributing to this year’s Project Qatar exhibition.

Emirates Steel which, since its founding in 1998, has established itself as an efficient and competitive producer of finished steel products, Hensel Phelps, one of the largest general contractors and construction managers in the United States, and Tadmur Holding, a high performing diversified conglomerate involved in industrial, retail, leisure and likewise developments, act as Gold Sponsors of Project Qatar 2015.

Silver Sponsor Bitumode, a regional manufacturer of

various products for the construction industry and member of Modern Waterproofing Group, and QD-SBG Construction, a leading civil and building construction company offering diversified general contracting and design-build services, represent yet another of this year’s many vital supporters.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Vice Chairman of Al Sraiya Holding Group, Rashid Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi, said: “As one of the leading construction Groups in Qatar, we feel it is important for us to contribute to an event such as Project Qatar because of the purpose it fulfills in exploring new ventures. Qatar’s construction industry is continuously booming and therefore it is essential for both regional and international agents, dealers and buyers to network in a suitable, professional environment. We will be looking forward to the exhibition, and expect it to be yet again, a success.”

Similarly, Saeed Ghumran Al Romaithi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Steel, noted: “We are delighted to take part in this major event as Gold Sponsor as we believe it will provide us with an excellent venue to promote our steel, mainly heavy sections, sheet

piles, rebar and wire rod. Despite the global concerns on plunging oil prices, we anticipate that Qatar will proceed undeterred with its expansion program, especially that the Qatari government has recently forecast a real GDP growth of 7.7% for 2015”.

Kirk Hazen, Vice President of Hensel Phelps, said: “We at Hensel Phelps understand the need in sponsoring and attending successful exhibitions like Project Qatar, to further enhance our industries’ markets, reputation, and future growth. Qatar is one of our leading interests for being part of something special.

A country with a thoroughly planned vision, comprehensive designs and a welcoming atmosphere for all business sectors”.

Project Qatar is additionally privileged to benefit from the generous contributions of numerous local, regional and international supporting bodies, including China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Dubai Exports, Egypt Expo and Convention Authority, Enterprise Greece, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, Italian Trade Agency, Korea Trade Investment Promotion

Agency, the Saudi Export Development Authority, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, UBIFRANCE as well as UK Trade and Investment.

The support of these and other entities across sectors speaks to the international significance of Qatar’s construction and building materials sector, which remains central to Qatar’s long-standing, rapid as well as continued economic development.

The Qatar Chamber of Commerce, committed to providing unique services to the Qatari private sector, has not only been integral to the success of Project Qatar, but serves as a critical contributor to the Qatar National Vision 2030. “We are pleased to support Project Qatar this year.

Being the voice of Private Sector, Qatar Chamber plays an important role in seeking and developing successful opportunities to all business sectors in Qatar, more importantly the SME sector.

We believe that Project Qatar Exhibition, with its solid and successful global reputation, is highly contributing to this objective”, said Remy Rowhani, CEO of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and

Industry.

Given an estimated $200 billion of infrastructure investments over the next decade, demand for construction materials will be substantial, translating into abundant opportunities for industry stakeholders.

Qatar StoneTech 2015, the fourth International Stone and Stone Technology Show, held under Project Qatar 2015 at the QNCC, responds to these developments.

As the demand for heavy equipment and machinery, too, is expected to increase, approximately to $37.9 million by 2015, Heavy Max 2015, the 12th International Exhibition for Heavy Machinery will be held in conjunction with Project Qatar 2015 and Qatar StoneTech 2015.

Both exhibitions will enable industry stakeholders to showcase their products, strengthen their networks and expand their operations both in Qatar and abroad.

With 87% of the remaining work on Qatar’s top 20 infrastructure projects yet to be awarded, Project Qatar and the exhibitions and conferences held concurrently and throughout the year, are going to further increase their value to industry stakeholders in and beyond Qatar.

Construction

Environment

Artificial turf versus natural grass

I

t’s no secret that the Gulf is a water-scarce region.

GCC (Gulf Co-Operation Council) countries have adopted various approaches to make sure water is consumed wisely. Still large amount of water is being wasted in the region.

Water use per capita in Qatar is one of the highest in the world. One area where water conservation efforts can make a huge difference is irrigation.

In the GCC countries around 60 to 70% of all water demand is for irrigation. Most of this comes from ground water, while a small percentage is derived from recycled sources.

One square meter of land needs up to 15 liters of water per day. Some homes have sprinkler systems in place to reduce water used in irrigation. However, most homes with in-ground sprinkler systems and system controllers are not adjusted to the different seasonal changes and prevailing weather conditions.

As the public call for more green spaces in Qatar and neighboring countries, landscape architects have found themselves under increased pressure to transform desert into “a lush of paradise”, as landscape architect Hala Shiblaq puts it.

Due to the intense transformations these cities undergo, developers are using treatments such as artificial grass. However, we must be wary of the rubber infill used in some low-grade artificial grass. Fields are often made out of pulverized tires with traces of heavy metals such as lead and could also contain traces of carcinogens

Shiblaq, who was speaking during the Future Landscape & Public Realm Qatar conference held last October in Doha, said this was not a sustainable solution.

To achieve sustainability, xto create a natural balance between their perspective, local identity, ecological diversity and wise choice of artificial treatments.

“Due to the intense transformations these cities un-

dergo, developers are using treatments such as artificial grass. However, we must be wary of the rubber infill used in some low-grade artificial grass. Fields are often made out of pulverized tires with traces of heavy metals such as lead and could also contain traces of carcinogens,” she said.

Shiblaq warned that the dust produced by constant contact with rubber infill could be inhaled or ingested by those who play on it. Using sand infill is a better option. Sand doesn’t absorb as much heat as rubber. It is also preferable to use an underlay which acts as a shock pad and reduces possible skin abrasion during play due to athletes sliding on the turf.

Other disadvantages when selecting the artificial route include the heat factor. While natural evaporation and transpiration of water from natural grass has a cooling effect, on a 40 Deg C+ day non-living surfaces will contribute to the urban heat island effect.

Artificial turf, like concrete and asphalt, radiates heat back into the air at night, giving cities warmer nights.

And that radiating heat also means nearby plants may need extra water. Even when it rains, humidity is absorbed

and retained.

Moreover, manufacturing, installation, service and disposal of a two-acre artificial turf field facility is responsible for the generation of a total of 55.6 tons of carbon dioxide.

On maintenance level, seam rupture and line dancing occurs as a result of the expan-

Still, artificial grass does have its merits when used wisely.

They are great for highways and medians, roundabouts, or airport grounds where they remain verdant and use zero water. “We also tend to change our behavioral habits when driving to next to a green space

sion and contraction of the turf backing with the changes of temperature.

Additionally, the use of low grade adhesives and resin contribute to the performance. This ruins the look,

and also adds a risk of injury.

So, with all these points in mind, why should we even consider artificial grass? If chosen wisely, artificial grass has many advantages like water conservation, easy installation, reduction of physical labor since it doesn’t require irrigation nor mowing and requires low maintenance.

With many higher quality turf variations in the market, planners should ensure they are using environmentally regulated artificial grass.

Qatar uses environmentallyregulated artificial grass, and the option of using toxinfree infill is available in the country.

There are lots of organic alternatives to rubber infill such as dune sand, walnut shells, coconut shells, or even cork.

Shiblaq said that developers and designers should refrain from using artificial grass in residential and educational facilities, sports fields or playgrounds until the health and environmental impacts are resolved.

Still, artificial grass does have its merits when used wisely. They are great for highways and medians, roundabouts, or airport grounds where they remain verdant and use zero water.

“We also tend to change our

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7

behavioral habits when driving to next to a green space,” said Shiblaq.

“People slow down or remain cautious when they drive in green areas. So this is one of the things we need to think about when creating future master plans.”

Airport grounds are another opportunity for the use of artificial turf in massive spaces. The sense of arrival or departure from a city can leave a positive impression on the passenger while looking through the airplane window.

Golden rules for wise use of artificial grass: 1. Investigate: What is the source of your artificial grass?

2. Use environmentally-regulated artificial grass.

3. Beware of marketing fluffs when it comes to warranties and quality.

People slow down or remain cautious when they drive in green areas. So this is one of the things we need to think about when creating future master plans.

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Construction

SITES

Qatar

Acoustics in healthcare facilities – designed to heal

Social care is one of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 which is aimed at a comprehensive world-class healthcare system whose services will be accessible to the whole population. Therefore, the importance of a healthcare system can’t be emphasized enough. Especially since the healthcare industry is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing sectors which can form a significant part of a country’s economy.

We are witnessing a constant expansion and modernization of Qatar’s healthcare facilities, alongside the development of new hospitals and health centers all over the country.

It is a praiseworthy initiative overshadowed to some extent by the construction of luxury hotels and resorts, football stadiums and unparalleled infrastructure projects.

Design and construction of healthcare facilities present numerous challenges for even the most experienced project teams. As patients become more aware and involved in the course of their care and progress of technology has turned

healthcare facilities into contemporary space ships of their own, the symbiosis of all the engineering professions has to ensure an immaculate environment, both technical and humanitarian.

Besides enabling functionality of building services and sophisticated medical systems, it is paramount that the healthcare environment enhances the dignity of patients through features that permit privacy and confidentiality. Therefore, acoustic design is fundamental to the quality of healthcare buildings as sound affects us both physiologically and psychologically.

Apart from intruding into privacy, which is of prime importance for any patient, unwanted noise can increase heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate and even blood cholesterol levels, whereas pleasant acoustic environment can create a sense of well-being and enhance recovery.

Acoustics in healthcare includes and implies patient privacy. Also, good acoustic conditions improve patients’ dignity and promote sleep pat-

Area Audiometric room Operating theatre and single bed ward Multi-bed ward and waiting room Staff room and recreation room

terns which are essential to healing.

Good acoustic design brings benefits such as improved patient and staff comfort and morale. Specialized spaces such as audiometric testing rooms where acoustic design is essential for its clinical functionality are important and should be included in the design stage.

Some of the most important acoustic issues that have to be addressed during the design of any healthcare facility are: Interior noise levels, either from building services (air-conditioning units, elevators, drainage and rainwater pipes, etc.) or medical equipment such as MRI, have to be maintained within certain levels in order to provide an acoustic environment favorable for rest, sleep, etc. Numerous publications outline recommended interior noise levels related to building services, such as the guidelines of Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, given as Noise Ratings (NR): Noise and vibration control strategies have to be considered and implemented from

Noise Rating NR 20-25 NR 30-35 NR 35 NR 30-40

the earliest design stages in order to ensure the above mentioned noise levels. All the items of equipment have to be carefully selected, sized and preferably located around noise non-sensitive areas such as pantries, storage rooms, changing rooms, etc.

Suitable location of noisy equipment can usually solve the majority of noise related problems.

Furthermore, vibrations which are emitted by various items of equipment such as helicopter landing events should be controlled in order not to damage any sensitive medical equipment (microscopes, etc.) or cause disturbance to patients.

Sound insulation between various areas of occupancy is paramount in order to achieve favorable privacy levels and prevent outdoor noise intrusion.

While it is of the utmost importance to select suitable materials and constructions for walls, doors and ceilings, sporadic events such as helicopter landings or emergency vehicle sirens should be considered as well. For example, intensive care units located close to helipads or emergency departments will have to be carefully designed, utilizing special constructions with high sound insulation rates. Details such as these can be easily overlooked in the schematic design

stages; this is where input from an acoustic consultant can be highly valuable.

Location of the building itself and existing exterior noise levels have to be considered and should ultimately influence the selection of an appropriate façade system. Oversized glazed areas, preferred by architects nowadays, could often be unsuitable due to their limited acoustic performance.

Alongside any major roads, thicker walls and smaller openings will usually present a better choice from an acoustic point of view.

Interior acoustics has to be carefully designed not only for specialized areas such as audiometric rooms and speech therapy but also for corridors and halls as well as all the rooms where speech intelligibility is a requirement (consulting rooms, lecture theaters, etc.).

Generally, materials with suitable sound absorbing properties should be utilized. Ceiling area is usually treated with specialized acoustic tiles that reduce excessive reverberation. However, some additional treatments such as carpets or acoustic wall panels may also be considered.

An appropriate acoustic treatment can have a significant impact on the comfort level in a room. Nonetheless, any acous-

Maro Puljizevic Maro Puljizevic is the Senior Acoustic Engineer at Al Mana & Associates, responsible for managing the Acoustic Team. During 8 years of his professional practice, Maro worked in Civil Engineering Institute of Croatia as the Head of the Building Acoustics Laboratory and for Norman, Disney & Young (NDY) as an Acoustic Consultant in both New Zealand and Australia.

He graduated at Civil Engineering University of Zagreb (Croatia) and holds Master of Civil Engineering degree. As an Acoustic Engineer, focused on building, architectural, environmental and HVAC acoustics; Maro took part in numerous landmark projects such as Burj Qatar, Hamad International Airport and Perth Children Hospital.

Maro is actively involved in Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) interest groups, raising awareness of acoustics as an important factor of Indoor Environmental Quality.

tic treatment has to be implemented with care because of potential implications like infection control, cleaning and impact damage.

Strong fundamentals to boost Qatar’s economic acceleration this year

Qatar’s non-oil sector has played an increasingly central role in the country’s economy over recent years, and will continue to help accelerate its growth this year.

T

he growth of non-hydrocarbons at 12 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2014 helped the overall economic growth of Qatar accelerate up to 6 per cent, up from 5.7 per cent the previous quarter.

Even with persistently low energy prices, further growth is expected for remainder of the year. In December, Qatar’s Ministry of Development Planning & Statistics predicted the economy would grow by 7.7 per cent over the year as the government’s large infrastructure plans ramp up and the number of foreign work-

ers in the country increases.

The infrastructure projects driving the rapid growth in the nonoil and gas economy are being undertaken ahead of football’s 2022 FIFA World Cup, and as part of the National Vision 2030 development plan.

Annual project contract awards have risen steadily over recent years, growing from $11.1bn in 2010 to $30bn in 2014, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects.

Among the schemes that will support growth over the coming years are the $21bn Doha Port Project and a national rail Metro, which is currently under network worth $21bn, some of construction; the $7bn New which is already under construction.

Eight football stadiums are also being built at a total cost of $4bn, most of which are still at the study or design stage.

Some of these schemes could be future winners in the MEED Quality Awards for Projects programme. Qatar has enjoyed huge success in previous editions of the awards.

In 2012, Qatar’s Pearl GTL project received the highly coveted MEED Quality Project of the Year, an award given to a project from across the GCC which has risen above other

tion of the Infrastructure for the Residential Area at the Katara Project; Qatar Government’s Hamad International Airport Project; and Qatar Foundation’s The Male and Female Student Housing Project. Qatar Petroleum (QP) scooped two national awards for its Route Survey, Design, Construction & Hook-up of Oil Flow Lines, Gaslift Flowlines and PWI Spurlines in Dukhan Field Project and the High Voltage Network Upgrade at Qatar Petroleum Dukhan Project.

The GCC winners of the annual projects as an outstanding ex- MEED Quality Awards for ample of what quality in con- Projects 2015, in association struction, engineering and inno- with Mashreq will be vation represents. The winner is chosen by the awards’ judging panel.

Last year, seven Qatari projects were declared national winners in the MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Mashreq, the second highest among GCC countries. These include the Baytna Project, jointly owned by the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), Barwa Real Estate Group (BRE) and Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa); The Cultural Village Foundation’s Construc-

announced on 27 May 2015 at The Address Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE during the MEED Construction Leadership Summit, a premier meeting place for the Gulf’s construction leaders and provides a much needed platform to promote open dialogue between the leading contractors, consultants and clients, that examines the strategic direction of the region’s construction industry, the challenges threatening its performance and those leading its change. For more information on the national winners, please visit www.constructionleadershipsummit.com

Solutions for your formwork needs Construction Package 4 - Lusail Development for Primary InfrastructureRoad A1, A6, Southern and Marina Interchanges The Project comprises of Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning of major parts of Road A1, A6, D11 & A10 at Lusail with Junctions 12, 13, and 14, Wadi Underpass, Tunnels T1 & T2, Southern and Marina Interchanges including Underpass, Bridges, Arch, and Tunnel. The total length of the roads is 7.5 km. The scope of works include design and construction of a 4.6 km deep storm water tunnel of 2.4-3 m diameter with 15 shafts.

ACROW Delivered a variety of formwork solutions. In addition ACROW also supplied engineering and on-site support to ensure efficient and optimized operations.

ACROW formwork solutions covered the Marina Fly over, Southern Fly over, Retaining walls for the underpasses, Piers, New Jersey barriers, Pedestals and truss columns for the underpasses and Circular formwork for micro tunneling shafts.

Main Systems used were Shore brace as Shoring, H20 & Soldier as decking and for Abutments also, tailor made steel panels for Piers and New Jersey barriers.

ACROW is the right partner for any Construction Project.

Qatar Address: Salwa Road, Doha , Qatar , PO Box : 15104 Tel.: (+974) 44582357 Fax.: (+974) 44582376 E-mail: acrowqatar@acrow.co, website: www.acrow.co

Main Office: Wady Houf, Helwan, Egypt.

Tel.: (+202) 23690616 Fax: (+202) 23695290

Qatar . Kuwait . Oman . Saudi Arabia . UAE . Algeria . Morocco . Libya

10

Construction

SITES

Security

Organizations should be ready to face cyber-attacks (Part 2)

Below is a list of essential components that would provide a solid foundation for any cyber security strategy.

Technology is definitely an essential component. A technician, in any discipline, needs the right set of diagnostic tools to effectively troubleshoot an equipment, appliance or device. While this is true, information security is definitely a more complex task to tackle.

Evaluating the technology that underpins the tools that one has to have to effectively monitor all network and server activities perhaps is the easiest part of the equation to figure out.

There are several highly sophisticated and reliable Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools that are available in the market. Some of these tools are being backed up by very reputable and competent organizations. They vary in terms of utility, versatility and price.

The right people

ment that win the race. It is the highly-skilled driver who does.

SIEM tools can aggregate and correlate data and can be programmed to alert you given certain patterns it detects.

It is however the role of the experienced security engineer or analyst who looks into these data and interpret them against given and available threat intelligence to figure out if there is indeed a looming threat or not.

Getting the right people is definitely a key factor in building any security operations center.

Aside from technology, there are other variables that need to be considered in order to effectively implement a sound security strategy.

On the race track, it is has Best practices been proven that cars, though Another factor that needs to be essential, is not the only ele- considered is to make sure that

you adhere to quality standards and industry best practices.

It is important that you do not leave any stone unturned in terms of your standards, systems and procedures. ISO/IEC 27001:2005 is an example of such a standard.

This formally specifies a system that is aimed to bring information security under explicit management control.

Local gence

threat

intelli-

Too often, security professionals tend to miss this important consideration. An effective security team requires threat intelligences from around the local, regional and global environment to be able to deduce if a certain pattern or behavior constitute a threat to an organization.

The security team should have access to this intelligence information. They need to stay constantly in the loop and collaborate with the right organizations to obtain an insight into any hacker attempts and exploits used by various threat actors.

Conclusion

persistent threats, the need for effective threat intelligence and risk management is now more critical than ever.

Since cyber-attacks are being targeted with the aim of casing broader political and economic repercussions, companies and government need to leverage their risk management framework and cyber security strategy to better protect themselves from attacks and mitigate the damage.

“MEEZA has been at the forefront in Security within Qatar by launching the first Certified and Commercial Security Operation Centre,” Woods points out.

“Cyber security is not an IT issue but a business problem and by working together we are stronger. By collaborating with private and government entities we can collectively address the digital threat targeting the GCC with confidence.

“MEEZA openly shares cyber threat intelligences within Qatar with key organizations and we are building on this cyber security relationship across Qatar to ensure we can address any threats with conviction.” ….to be continued/ This is the conclusion of an article featured in the February 2015 issue on cyber security.

To find out more, visit: www.

One can easily get caught in a web of all the complexities; however with the right approach, an organization can reduce risks and overall exposure to cyber-attacks. With the growing frequency of advanced meeza.net

Chris Woods, Director of Information Security, MEEZA Chris Woods is the Information Security Director at MEEZA and has two decades of director, senior management and architectural experience within Information Security, having worked across a broad spectrum of roles and responsibilities for start-ups and billion dollar corporations.

Woods started his career in pen testing then has held positions such as chief security officer at European Space Agency, security practice lead at HP and undertaking cyber security roles within government military intelligence.

Woods was at the forefront in creating and launching the first Certified Commercial Security Operation Center in Qatar. He merges extensive hands-on experience with innovative leadership that drives teams towards excellence.

He holds a BSc in computer science and a number of security-related certifications and frequently contributes to the security community in Qatar and the GCC

12

Two approaches to luxury spas

The past few years have seen a growth in luxury hotel spas and spa resorts in Qatar.

In terms of design, the resort spa spectrum is broad, ranging from structures in the past to contemporary plans drawing from international inspiration.

In this report, we look at two of Qatar’s luxurious resorts and spas: Al Sharq Village and Spa and the brand new Banana Island Resort.

Upon its opening, Al Sharq Village and Spa, developed by the Qatar National Hotels Company, marketed itself as the Middle East region’s largest spa and a high-end luxury resort. The QR195mn project was designed by and Arab Engineering Bureau to reflect a traditional Qatari village.

The architecture of the spa is not modern or linear, rather it resembles a Middle Eastern village that has grown organi- streets and 23 treatment houses. cally over time, with winding rooms resembling village The spa measures some 5,200sqm and is managed by Thailand’s renowned group, Six Senses.

Guests walking from the main building to the spa will experience being in an old Qatari village as they make their way through a maze of “Sikkas”.

Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa is made up of four themed spa areas, which can be accessed via winding alleyways, decorated with water

ter long private beach, a marina with 30 berths, a dive center, a lap pool, a children’s pool, a full range of water sports, tennis, beach volleyball, an entertainment center with a nine-hole putting golf course, a bowling alley and a VIP cinema theater and a Balance Wellness Center The resort’s dedicated Balance Wellness Center says it’s the first and only facility of its kind in the Middle East within a resort, offering holistic programs for relaxation, detox, destress and radiance, fitness, weight management, yoga and alternative therapy, as well as pre- and post-natal and antiageing journeys.

The center facilities include an indoor botanical garden, oxygen fern room, and female only hydro pool, along with nutritional wellness cuisine chefs. The spa features sepaThe resort offers extensive fafeatures and local artwork. rate male and female Turkish On the other hand, the recently cilities that include a 800-mehammams and Jacuzzis. opened Banana Island Resort

by Antanara draws inspiration from Maldives style over-water villas.

The island resort, which opened with a grand ceremony earlier this year, offers an array of accommodations, all with an ocean view, includes a 96-room hotel, 34 two and three-bedroom poolside villas and 11 Maldives-style villas built above the water on stilts.

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Focus on healthy lifestyle boosts swimming pools and spa sector

T

he swimming pools and spa market in Qatar has grown by 10 to 15% yearly because of the booming local real estate market in addition to an improvement of residents’ living standards and a new focus on wellness and healthy lifestyle.

Industry experts expect the market to grow by 15% over the coming three to five years in Qatar and the Middle East in general.

The last couple of years have been excellent for the pool and spa industry. With such bright prospects, many companies in the sector as developers, contractors, service providers as well as equipment and pool accessories suppliers, involved in maintenance, filtration, protection security, construction installation of outdoor and indoor pools, join forces to meet the ever-growing local demand.

There is a massive focus on well-being and lifestyle in the region which has created a demand for high-end swimming pool and spa facilities.

Today’s swimming pools are fully integrated into the landscape as the focal point for social and family events.

In Qatar, we see a huge demand for swimming pool services from schools, the gov-

ernment and the residential and hospitality sector.

The Potential Industry Earnings (PIE) in the swimming pool industry is ever on the rise in Qatar and it is very important that quality is not compromised.

“The Qatari swimming pool market is expected to touch $600 million over the next five years, enhancing opportunities in the sector,” says Bilal Al Abdullah, General Manager of Belhasa Projects Qatar, the branch of an award-winning swimming pool company that has constructed thousands of pools and aquascaping projects in the GCC region.

“The fantastic response we

have received for our services in Qatar involving construction of swimming pools, sports facilities and water treatment solutions prompted our expansion into the country. Since we established a direct presence in the Qatar market we’ve been able to further enhance our capability and especially our customer service,” says Al Abdullah.

A swimming pool isn’t just an add-on property feature, it’s a whole approach toward your lifestyle, and according to Al Abdullah, it has to be impressive. For this reason the company has a team of designers that elaborate a visual presentation of the future

aquascaping projects.

What is really important in the sector of aqua construction is the ability to provide a turnkey solution to the client.

Many clients who approach the contractor simply present their needs; that they require swimming pool, a jogging track, etc. The designers have to assist the request in elaborating the concept and the detailed technical design that will meet the clients’ demands.

Each pool project is unique and unprecedented. An expert team of architects, designers and draughtsman has to have an individual approach and the skills to trans-

form the customers’ wishes into practical and detailed reality.

Developers find a true value in BHP’s diversified approach to projects as the company envelopes the whole scope of works, says Al Abdullah.

“When you start to develop a swimming pool project, for example, the infrastructure comes first, so we do the desalination of water, irrigation and water treatment; for sure, we run water pipes through but at the same time we can run telephone and electricity cables as well. So this helps avoid unnecessary expenses and saves time,” he advises.

Belhasa Projects has recent-

ly completed a wastewater treatment plant for the Barwa Al Baraha phase 1 residential project in Qatar and secured the second phase.

Significant projects include execution of an unusual sand-bottomed lagoon pool, a beach club main pool, wading pool, kids pool, spa center and diving pool in the Anantara Doha resort, as well as projects in landscape works at Burj Marina building at Lusail and a Health Centre at Al Khour.

“We expect 2015 to be several times larger in terms of activity as Qatar’s construction sector grows exponentially,” adds Al Abdullah.

14

Stretched solution for indoor pools and spas

As stretch ceilings are maintenance free, don’t suffer from condensation and work as a barrier against corrosive elements, they are an ideal solution for harsh environments like swimming pools, spas and indoor wellness centers

The construction of indoor swimming pools and spas brings out many questions to local contractors about the kind of material to use in view of climate conditions and local regulations.

Humidity, lighting, acoustics, durability, maintenance and impeccable hygiene – all these factors need to be taken into consideration while choosing the ideal material for indoor aqua projects.

Inspiration starts at the top. A stretch ceiling system is the most modern technology in construction, decoration and renovation industry, increasing its market share in Qatar.

Thanks to its unique characteristics of being maintenance free, impermeability as a barrier against moisture, chlorine and other corrosive elements, stretch ceiling has become an ideal solution for swimming pools, spas and indoor wellness centers.

A stretch ceiling is a suspended ceiling system consisting of two basic components – different tracks for suspension and lightweight fabric membrane (PVC) which is stretched and insert into the track. In addition to ceilings, the system can be used for wall coverings, light diffusers, floating panels, exhibitions and creative shapes.

Stretch ceilings allow incorporation of all types of light fixtures, grilles and fixing points by the use of a proprietary background support.

Created mainly as a solution for damaged ceilings, it has now grown into a practical and stunning solution for “ceiling” interior design with its elegant impression and is used in the creation of decorative wall coverings as well.

It saves energy by acting as insulation against the heat, prevents condensation by creating an air lock buffer within the structure and, of course, it

is long lasting as most of the stretch ceiling manufactures guarantee 10 years for their products.

Moreover it is time saving as there is no need to paint the ceiling ever again.

Construction Sites explores the advantages of the stretch ceilings applications in the swimming pools and spas in this exclusive interview with Boutros Macari, Executive Manager of Axis Projects, a local company specializing in stretch ceiling manufacturing, installation and maintenance.

“The market in Doha is swamped by traditional materials and technique; innovative materials take time to gain popular status in construction and design sectors,” says Macari.

“The demand for innovation comes first from end-users, as we work a lot with residential and housing projects. Stretch ceilings have also become popular in hospitality, medical

and retail sectors. New projects designers are in search for alternative materials to gypsum ceilings as reflected stretch ceilings or translucent stretch ceiling,” says Macari.

Stretch ceiling is a long-term solution for the design, thus it has to be durable and long lasting. Compared to gypsum or drywall ceiling, which needs a long time to install and keeping in mind the risk of waves and cracks and lastly the finishing of the paint which is always critical adding the fades and falls plus the regular expenses on the renovations, stretch ceiling has overcome all those, offering originality in design and individual approach towards the needs of each building.

Despite all the advantages of stretch ceiling, convincing the client to use the new product is not an easy task, according to Macari.

“The construction sector tends to be traditional in Qatar and

to persuade the client to go for innovation takes some extra efforts, especially new concepts like stretch ceilings. So we are trying to boost its visibility in the market and to start integrating stretch ceiling in the retail sector, hospitality and medical sector.

“At the moment we have a huge demand in the residential sector for the stretch ceiling where the end-user is the decisionmaker.”

Applications The range of applications of stretch ceiling covers all sectors of buildings. It could be used and not limited to apartments and villas, offices, hotels, swimming pools, wellness centers restaurants, exhibitions halls; each type of property can benefit from its features and advantages.

It’s ideal for swimming pools and spas, says Macari, as it resists water and damp, seawater and copper solutions. In

Stretch ceiling properties: 1) Water resistant: The PVC stretch ceiling is totally resistant against any quantity of water, including leak or humidity.

2) Fire-rated: The PVC stretch ceiling is fire-rated in a long range where it’s non-flammable.

3) Light reflection: The PVC stretch ceiling comes in clear colors, reflecting the highest percentage of the light; as the PVC colors are highly stable and don’t absorb any light reflection, it will not change colors.

4) Anti-static and non-toxic: The PVC stretch ceiling is a non-toxic material and it will not cause any harmful effects to human organs; It will not hold any bacteria or insects, providing a safe and healthy environment in places like hospitals, clinics, kindergartens and schools.

5) Light weight: PVC stretch ceiling is known for its light weight, especially compared to other false ceilings like gypsum or metals, which is the solution for reducing the weight of the building structure.

6) Elasticity: Because of the coefficient of elasticity in the PVC stretch ceiling, it avoids effects caused by the wind load for highrise buildings like cracks or waves.

7) Recyclable and environment-friendly: PVC materials are 100% recyclable, non-water soluble, without any known effects to the environment. They have low energy consumption contain only non-toxic materials.

8) Energy efficient: PVC stretch ceiling is highly energy efficient. It is also durable and doesn’t need a lot of time or manpower to fix it.

9) Cleanable: PVC stretch ceiling is cleanable and washable by water or any nonabrasive cleaners.

10) 10 years’ warranty and free maintenance: PVC stretch materials are made by a high standard production line in Europe, offering guaranty to the materials for 10 years.

addition to it, stretch ceiling offers increased light reflection, improved acoustics, decorative finishes and water impermeability and waterproof that will not require any ongoing decoration.

The material will not crack or flake and are easy to be cleaned. It is also hygienic and non-toxic, thus it’s ideal for medical sector buildings. It is antistatic, hygienic and nontoxic, which makes it very difficult for dirt to adhere to the material.

The stretch ceiling can act as a special resonance absorber, also called a micro-perforated sound absorber. This facility enables the user to apply an acoustic treatment to any area without compromising the cosmetic look of the project.

“As you step into the swimming pool area, you are taken with a feeling of glow and spaciousness,” Macari says.

Some spaces need to assure a particular ambience for the end-users, according to Macari.

It is a case of aqua sport facility, aqua fitness center or spa, where it is necessary to create a dynamic and energetic design to enhance fitness aficionados to be more dynamic and fit.

The stretch ceiling has different characteristics that can be transformed in different design and illumination easily, thus achieving the type of ambience required for sport facilities. Because of its light weight and elasticity, the stretch ceiling is very convenient for high rise buildings; it reduces the general weight of the building and overcomes the effect of wind load pressure, under which traditional ceiling cracks and damages.

Stretch ceiling is resistant to wind-load effect because of being elastic, Macari points out.

Advantages The widest range of colors and finishes, like mirror, matte, glossy metal and translucent,

provides an opportunity to create complex designs. Art-printing allows doing any print from personal photographs, logo of the company or any other image directly to the ceiling.

Free-form stretch ceiling system becomes extremely interesting to refine interior design goals and represents unlimited possibilities in creating unique interior decors, long lasting quality and safety features. The advantages of stretch ceilings, compared to ordinary ceiling, according to Macari, are evident.

To name but a few, it allows to create affordable tailor-made design solution; it doesn’t require any prior preparation for installation. It can also be installed on existent ceiling surface. It is an energy-saving, noise-reducing, and acoustically efficient technology.

It is very light and can significantly reduce the general weight of the building. Stretch ceilings are water proof and in case of leakage it is very resistant and can hold up to several liters of water per square meter in case of leakage from above and once the water is removed it goes back to its previous shape. It is resistant to chlorine and vapor.

Thus it will never fade, sag, or lose tension over time. Once installed, stretch ceiling doesn’t accumulate mold, dust or moisture. In addition to the abovementioned advantages, stretch ceiling changes the approach towards lighting and illumination.

With its capacity for light reflection and transmission, stretch ceiling makes it possible to create a remarkable atmosphere, either by using natural daylight or by using other light sources where effects can be controlled, creating a variation in intensity, color, time control or sequencing, making an interior design a true state-of-the-art chef d’oeuvre!

15

Qatar Pool and Spa: Doha Hosts International Exhibition for Pools & Spa’s QPS targets thousands of industry professionals, suppliers, producers, manufacturers, distributers, and individuals. The exhibition aims to get specialists from over 20 countries to display the latest technologies in water features, fountains, backyard equipment, landscaping, public and private Pools and Aqua Parks. The exhibition will also include a spa section, Qatar’s premier spa, wellness and beauty trade event. Qatar Spa and Wellness Hall showcased the latest launched products, treatment innovations, and training and development. It

also gave visitors and exhibitors an opportunity to learn from the world’s leading beauty educators and business experts, share ideas and know how; understand market evolution and establish a fruitful commercial relationships during the exhibition’s three days. QPS is moving from year to year under one concept “ Integration is the key of amazing life” it focused on transferring indoor and outdoor living spaces to water”. There is no better place than Qatar Pool and Spa Show to see the latest ideas, most extensive range of pools, swimming

spas together with landscaping design and outdoor living products. QPS 2015 will showcase an extensive range of equipment, machinery, accessories, materials, architects, and decorations targeting the domain of hotels, spas, residential complexes, towers, aqua parks and home owners. It allowed exhibitors to access the most up to date information through an intelligent system so they will be able to communicate with local companies, increase their business leads, and start cooperating with other local, national and international companies.

Doha Exhbition Center nsored b 03:00 pm - 10:00 pm y Spo

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18

Construction

SITES

Qatar

Al-Kaun Joinery synonymous with luxury wood products

Al-Kaun offers personalized client consultations and expert advice and guidance to ensure that the client is confident in the product that is delivered

“It is our mission to deliver the most perfect product possible by anticipating our customers’ needs and expectations and trying to exceed them,” says AlKaun Joinery which has been manufacturing an extensive range of quality wood-based products for both commercial and residential sectors since 1998.

As a total joinery solutions provider, operating a highly-mechanized factory, they practice stringent quality measures, ensuring the highest standard of quality and customer satisfaction.

“Unparalleled in the market, few companies can execute the full in-house services we can provide,” declares Al-Kaun.

They have a fully-equipped factory, stretching over 23,000sq ft, with state-of-the-art machinery and ISO-certified quality control management systems. AlKaun calls itself “an innovative leader in luxury woodworks”.

According to its General Manager, Sajid Muhammad, they only retain state-of-the-art machinery to offer quality work output with a particular focus on wood processing, veneering and finishing.

Major machines: *The CNC machine allows for fiddly cutouts, shaping and boring *A pressurized spray booth accommodates an infinite range of specialized finishes *Five-head moulder *Centralized dust collector Al-Kaun offers personalized client consultations and expert advice and guidance to ensure that the client is confident in the product that is delivered.

Helping clients choose between different options of solid wood or veneer or engineered wood, recommending finishing for internal or external use, are some of the ways they advise clients.

This is to ensure their clients are clear on what they want and what they want to be delivered.

Al-Kaun Joinery specializes in a selection of custom-made furniture, strictly adhering to a strategic consistency of quality control through every stage of fabrication. From the finishing stage in the factory to installation and handover at the site, clients trust the quality, reliability and the ability of Al Kaun to deliver.

Commenting on the joinery sector in Qatar, General Manager Muhammad says that it is a largely undervalued market but its contribution to the construction process is significant.

He says the fit-out costs of a high-end commercial or residential building is close to 60% of the construction budget and of that, 30 to 40% is for joinery and furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE).

According to Ventures ONSITE, The Middle East & North African (MENA) countries Construction Projects Tracking System, the total value of Qatar’s construction projects is estimated at $280.20 billion, which are split amongst various sectors, including, buildings ($136.48 billion), infrastructure ($103.42 billion) and energy ($40.29 billion) development.

If that is the case, the joinery and FFE sector is worth more than $40 billion, which is equivalent to the allocated budget for energy development. This presents a huge opportunity for those in the fit-out and joinery sector.

Muhammad started with AlKaun in 2006. Things have changed dramatically since then. He says that the cornerstone of his employment ethic is to have the best people working at the factory.

“In this sector you have to have to make a personal connection with the client,” says Muhammad.

“In this industry you must have patience; if you do not have the patience to persevere with the

client then you will not do well.

And ultimately you are known by your last project,” he adds.

One would imagine that this being an expatriate labor market, artisanal skills would be in short demand here. However, Muhammad says that it is not a challenge at all, as the work is now almost 80% mechanized, unless a client asks for a fully handmade item.

He maintains that if you have the best people on the ground, you do not have to worry about quality. You can then focus on “precision and order”. And these two elements are clearly visible in the spotlessly clean and brightly-lit workshop area of Al-Kaun. Not for him an untidy factory so characteristic of the Industrial Area.

It seems that the myth that artisans are not available in Qatar in the woodwork and joinery sector is largely unfounded. Muhammad says that the Al-Kaun artisans that he employs have been with the company for more than 15 years.

In any event, 80% of the work is mechanized and hand-finishing is only used as a final touch and where machines are unable to complete the task. The amount

of work that they have also does not allow for much handcrafting.

The most costly elements are the woods and the veneers which are very expensive in the region as they all have to be imported. As there is an almost unlimited range of choices in materials, colors and textures, deciding on the final product can be a painstakingly slow process and one needs to be patient.

Another key element of the business for Muhammad has been certification. He was especially particular about their FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. They obtained the Chain of Custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, a system which allows the tracking of FSC-certified material from the forest to the consumer.

Al-Kaun is a one of the few manufacturers in Qatar to hold the CDD-accredited certification for fire door fabrication upto 120 minutes as per both BS and UL standards. Al-Kaun is also OHSAS 9001, 14001, 18001 accredited, which assists with its continual improvement ethos.

Maintaining health and safety standards in the workplace is

of paramount importance and Muhammad points out that AlKaun always tries to adhere to best practice methods across all levels.

Underpinning this commitment is a program of continual staff training, from regular on-site toolbox talks to head-office procedure updates and safe ways of working.

Construction

Qatar

SITES

Waterless green: A major player in artificial grass and synthetic turf for sports fields

I

n 2009, Waterless green was created out of a desire to bring the highest quality, most technologically advanced artificial grass product to the Qatari market. The company has experienced exponential growth in the residential and commercial landscaping sector during the past few years and recently became a major player in the synthetic turf sports fields.

Waterless Green’s Managing Director, Mr. Hadi Mullah said, “At Waterless Green, Qatar’s leader in the supply and installation of artificial grass, we have a long lasting experience in the Supply, installation, and maintenance of artificial grass systems.”

“Our ability to provide high quality products, high level of service, and turnkey solutions is unmatched in the industry,” he added.

Waterless Green is the exclusive representative of all Mirage Turf Technology products in the Middle East, including: Waterless Grass, Mirage putting Greens, and Rejuv-A-Lawn.

Waterless Green is also the exclusive agent in Qatar for EDEL Grass, a FIFA preferred Artificial Turf manufacturer based in Holland.

Further strengthening its position in the market, Waterless Green has recently signed an agreement to be the exclusive agent in Qatar for German based SoccerGround Gmbh, a world leader in the manufacturing of mini soccer pitch systems.

Benefits of Waterless Green Artificial Grass include: • Virtually maintenance free.

• Works in all climates.

• Environmental-friendly.

• N o lead content - safe for kids.

• A llergen-free.

• Looks and feels like real grass.

• Remains perfectly green all year long.

• N o watering or mowing.

• N o fertilizing.

• N o harmful chemicals.

• N o irrigation.

• N o brown patches or dead spots.

• N on-flammable.

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19

20

Construction

SITES

Focus

Safety concerns spur growth of local fire and safety market

The key challenge for the fire and safety market is to have a set of uniform and standard regulations, ratified and used across the region The construction sector in Qatar is witnessing increasing enforcement of standards and safety measures which are also being extended to under-construction and existing buildings. Adherence to fire and safety codes is mandatory for all buildings across the country now.

The requirement to comply with building and fire codes and the increasing efforts to enforce them will continue to be the key drivers, fuelling the local fire and safety market’s growth, according to a Frost & Sullivan report on Fire and Safety Market done for Intersec.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the global fire and safety market, comprising detection and suppression, was worth $7,600 million in 2013, of which the GCC market constituted 16% and was valued at $1,220 million.

It is likely that the market will grow at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 14% to reach $2,400 million by 2018.

The growth is primarily driven by fire and safety codes, according to the report. Many countries have adopted stringent codes, but their implementation is observed to be uneven across the globe, presenting a major challenge to international manufacturers.

This challenge is no different in the GCC, where the majority of fire and safety systems are imported with very limited manufacturing available locally.

Manufacturers find it difficult to deal with such inconsistency, thereby creating an unstable demand for fire and safety solutions. The key challenge for the industry is to have a set of uniform and standard fire regulations, ratified and used across the region, according to the report.

Tourism initiatives of the governments in the GCC are emphasizing on the need to protect assets and people, and the region too, as a safe place for investment.

Hence, fire and safety norms play a very crucial role in stabilizing the flow of investment and supporting the governments’ growth plans.

The industrial segment would continue to dominate the demand for fire and safety systems in the GCC. Government investment into the industrial sector, especially the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, will

help the sector’s continuing dominance of demand.

The commercial and institutional segments witness increasing enforcement of standards and safety measures. Fire incidents in the recent past in retail malls have triggered fears regarding safety measures. Similarly, highrise towers housing several commercial establishments have been brought under scrutiny to ensure safety measures are maintained.

High-rise buildings The Frost & Sullivan report highlights significance of fire and safety in high-rise buildings.

With the increasing number of high-rise buildings in the region, Fire Departments and Civil Defense have stepped up monitoring of their fire and safety aspects of a building.

The Civil Defense has made it mandatory to install fire alert systems in new buildings and also in those under construction. In case of old buildings, the installation of fire and safety systems is ad hoc as they are built on past codes and not in adherence to the new requirements.

Hence, it is observed that there is a lot of potential for fire and safety systems once the buildings undergo retrofit.

Modern high-rise buildings incorporate fire and safety features, which were not envisaged when fire and safety codes were written. Today, fire engineering plays a key role to reduce difficulties faced by the fire crews in high-rise buildings during emergency.

Nowadays, rigorous measures are undertaken during the building-designing stage, featuring the inclusion of fire and safety systems such as escape protection, sprinklers, fire and smoke detection systems, and other complex measures to control smoke and compartmentation, according to the report.

In global markets, voice evacuation systems are being installed to meet the requirements for public assemblies in high-rise buildings, to alert the occupants in the event of a fire. Nonetheless, high-rise buildings prefer to use addressable/intelligent systems due to high degree of correlation with productivity.

It is observed that addressable systems have installation and life cycle cost benefits compared to conventional systems.

Risks and challenges The Frost & Sullivan report also

detailed particular risks and challenges to overcome which are typical to the region. Firefighting crews often encounter high altitude risks and other difficulties, particularly when they are exposed to the rapidly spreading fire in 40/50-storey buildings than at the ground level.

During firefighting above ground level, the physiological demands are much higher due to the heat and dense toxic smoke.

Training and practice is necessary in the event of a high-rise fire incident. Therefore, in order to be effective, pre-planning is required. In addition, the preplanned activities must be well documented and understood by ground staff involved in executing these challenging tasks.

The primary objective must be to enable the fire commander and his crew to adapt and function in small teams with pre-assigned tasks and, on occasions, try to be at least a step ahead before the fire spreads further.

Therefore, in order to limit the spreading of smoke into remote floors and other critical areas of a tower, it is crucial to understand the importance of adequate firefighting water supplies inside and around the tower (through dry and wet risers installed on all floors and hydrants, respectively).

Equally important is the effect of exterior winds as well as the building’s air dynamics.

The high ambient temperatures of the region vastly magnify the importance of every firefighter and his physical fitness.

Even the most experienced firefighting crew, geared with full personal fire protection equipment and wearing a breathing set, finds it difficult during a rescue operation amidst smokefilled corridors. Thus, planning for successful operations in high-rise towers is probably the most important aspect for both fire commanders and firefighting crews.

Technical trends A cost-effective, single-sensor detector may prove adequate for certain applications, particularly in stable and clean environments.

However, systems using multisensor detectors have lesser incidences of false alarms than those with single-sensor detectors. Multi-sensor detectors combine different technologies into a single detector.

End-users and facility managers are increasingly interested in a single user-friendly interface to control the operation of all the systems in a building.

In the past, the focus was largely on the individual products and improving them. Currently, the trend is to integrate all the systems into a single control panel and monitor the entire building remotely from a different location.

The need for a mass notification system increases with the number of incidents. The ability to use the fire system for mass notification is a trend that is gaining momentum.

There has been a positive trend towards the use of voice evacuation systems as the emphasis on communicating to people in emergencies has become more important and building owners have become more aware of the need for intelligible voice messaging systems.

The detection market has been experiencing a shift from conventional to intelligent detection.

Conventional systems can in-

dicate only the zone of the fire, while addressable or intelligent systems can provide the exact location of the fire.

Advanced aspirating systems are able to incorporate complex statistically based signal processing techniques, proven to reduce unwanted alarms.

Wireless technology is making its presence felt in the fire and life safety market. However, a number of barriers are preventing wider adoption of wireless technology for fire and life safety.

Therefore, the manufacturers offer hybrid panels which incorporate both wired and wireless technologies, where wireless sensors can be used in places that are difficult to reach and less disruption is expected.

The use of IP technology, particularly for transmitting alarm communication to monitoring centers, is an emerging trend. IP is characterized by the ease of implementation and the convenience of installation as most of the new buildings already have IP networks.

However, the current penetration of this technology is relative-

ly low, although its potential is high in other developed regions.

Most manufacturers have been working to adapt their products to this technology in this region.

Fire and safety is an attractive market across the region with well-established applications and improved awareness amongst end users. As far as fire and safety codes are concerned, the mandates are slowly falling in place and expected to get better in the years to come, the report has concluded.

Construction

Focus

IGTC-Chubb Fire Qatar secures contract at Al Hazm Mall project

I

nternational Gulf Trading Company (IGTC)-Chubb Fire Qatar has been chosen by Al Emadi Enterprises for the supply, testing and commissioning of Mircom Fire Alarm and Fire Telephone systems throughout the 55,000sqm Al Hazm Mall project.

The Mircom Fire Alarm and Fire Telephone systems are products of the Mircom Group of Companies (MGC), North America’s largest independent designer, manufacturer and distributor of advanced fire detection and alarm, voice evacuation & communication systems, and controlled access & security solutions.

Having served the global marketplace for over 20 years, MGC owns the Mircom branded line of products.

“We are truly honored to have been entrusted by Al Emadi Enterprises with this task,” said IGTC-Chubb Fire Qatar General Manager Rami Al Batrawi.

“Indeed, our track record and market reputation as the country’s leading supplier of fire safety equipment and security solutions has earned us the respect of one of the leading property developers in Qatar, Al Emadi Enterprises,” he said.

For its consistent delivery of

reliable products and services, IGTC-Chubb Fire Qatar has been awarded a Certificate of Membership by the Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA).

As an active group of more than 300 contractors, manufacturers, distributors and professionals from around the world committed to firestopping and compartmentation, plus life, smoke and fire safety, FCIA’s mission is to push for the recognition of member organizations as preferred quality contractors of life safety firestop systems by the construction industry.

The company’s acceptance into the ranks of FCIA can serve as a proof that their efforts towards providing only the finest products and services in firestopping and other related activities have always been within and even beyond the parameters of world-class quality standards.

“We, therefore, look forward to contributing to the further enhancement of such standards by sharing our expertise and experience within our markets through our active participation in the association and its forums,” commented Al Batrawi.

Malls represent a significant potential for loss in fire and

require the highest standards products and services in firestopping to ensure that the risks are anticipated and covered by the best possible systems.

“With such a huge responsibility of ensuring that mall and civil defense authorities are immediately alerted and are able to provide the most effective and efficient response that will prevent any severe damage or injury to life and property should any fire break out in a highly populated and enormous area, we have decided to provide only the finest and most reliable products for such purpose,” he added.

“For that reason, we have opted to supply, test and commission Mircom Fire Alarm and Fire Telephone systems throughout the project.”

The Italian architecturethemed Al Hazm Mall project will have four storeys.

With a gross leasable area of 36,000sqm, it will have several retail stores, department stores, restaurants and coffee shops.

Located in a densely populated area with over 1.5 million people residing within a 16km radius, it is expected to attract approximately 10 million visitors per year.

100% Qatari company, Morden is a major provider of scaffolding solutions, with a good knowledge of the local market. As Qatar gears to host world class events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup

and with several high profile infrastructure projects underway, Engineer Ahmed Watany, General Manager, Morden Scaffolding and Formwork, expects massive construction activity in the coming years. Watany believes good opportunities will be in favor of companies like Morden, which has a local presence and readiness to handle complex projects immediately.

How do you see Morden’s position in the market today?

Morden is a major provider of scaffolding solutions. We have been present in the local market for four years. We offer design, installation and technical support to clients through our comprehensive technical office that includes four highly experienced eng-

SITES

21

Saudi Arabia revises outlook for nuclear and solar energy plans Saudi Arabia’s plans to build nuclear and solar energy projects will take about eight years longer to complete than originally intended, the head of the government body in charge of overseeing the projects has been quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying.

In 2012, the world’s top oil exporter said it would install 17 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2032 as well as around 41 GW of solar capacity. Currently it has no nuclear power plants.

“The plan started by looking at 20 years down the road, with the year 2032 as the major milestone for longterm planning,” Hashim Ya-

mani, president of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, said at an energy conference in Abu Dhabi.

“Recently, however, we have revised the outlook together with our stakeholders to focus on 2040 as the major milestone for long-term energy planning in Saudi Arabia,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Yamani did not give a reason for the delay, or say when the first nuclear and solar plants would be operational.

Although Saudi Arabia has ample financial resources to build the projects, it faces technical challenges, limited supplies of water for use

in the plants and potential bureaucratic obstacles, according to Reuters.

Power demand in the kingdom is growing 8% annually, forcing state-run Saudi Electricity Company, the Gulf’s largest utility company, to spend billions of dollars on projects to add capacity.

Nuclear and solar power stations would reduce the diversion of Saudi Arabia’s oil output for use in domestic power generation, leaving more available for export.

Yamani said that despite a government initiative calling for energy efficiency, Saudi Arabia’s peak electricity demand was expected to exceed 120 GW by 2032.

The new Sheikh Zayed Solar Power Plant in the capital Nouakchott will take Mauritania one step further away from this kind of polluting energy supply with enough renewable energy to power 10,000 homes.

Morden Scaffolding and Formwork: Comprehensive scaffolding solutions

W

ith an optimistic outlook for the Qatari construction sector, Morden Scaffolding and Formwork ventured into the market four years ago. A

Morden is one of the leading companies in scaffolding and formwork. We believe that success can only be achieved through interaction with the customers. We have all systems for scaffolding and formwork with all accessories. we make technical sup-

Regent Hotel

Double Coupler

neer and our large high quality stock We have completed several prestigious projects over the past few years with more to come in the future.

What kind of products do you offer?

We offer a wide range of scaffolding products like the quick stage decking and propping that replaces the primary and secondary timbers. It is a fast system that needs low maintenance. It’s light, simple and has several applications.

Another system we offer is the heavy duty frames, which is one of the most economical systems for heavy civil engineering projects. We also offer light weight access scaffolding, to name a few.

What about safety? Do you have a focus on that?

We have a full range of scaf-

Qatar Foundation

Swivel Coupler

Board Retaining Clamp

folding safety solutions and are proud to say we are now Doha’s leading supplier and distributer of fall prevention products for the scaffolding and access industry to ensure our clients meet timely deadlines, within budget and with health and safety legislations met and adhered to.

What are the most important projects you undertook?

The company’s project profile include several prestigious projects like Al Ghanem apartments, Regent hotels, a Commercial Bank project, in addition to projects for Qatar Foundation and the Supreme Education Council.

How do you see the prospects of the market in the coming period?

I expect the country is heading towards a big boom in the

Wall System

Putlog Coupler

Timber H20

Eng / Ahmed Watany General Manager

next few years. The country is in the middle of massive construction activity and there is room for new companies.

However, the competition will be in favor of companies that are ready for immediate delivery and have a local presence.

Tel: +974 44272344. +974 40374324 Fax: +974 44272344 P.O. Box: 15104 – Doha – Qatar (Opposite Abu Hamour Petrol Station) Email: info@mordenscaff.com mordenconstruction@yahoo.com

www.mordenscaff.com

22

Construction

SITES

News

UTC Building & Industrial Systems completes acquisition of CIAR

UTC Building & Industrial Systems has completed its acquisition of CIAT, a France-based heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) company.

UTC Building & Industrial Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corporation, a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

“This strategic acquisition cre-

ates new opportunities in the European HVAC segment by enhancing the breadth of our portfolio and reach of our business,” said Didier Da Costa, president, HVAC Europe, UTC Building & Industrial Systems.

“The addition of CIAT’s talented workforce, technology assets and legacy of innovation strengthens our ability to serve our customers,”

De Costa said.

“The acquisition has provided an exceptional opportunity for us to continue to serve our customers while developing the CIAT brand in a complex European sector,” said Francis Guaitoli, CEO, and CIAT. “This move allows us to fully leverage our technological expertise and the capabilities of our employees.”

UTC Building & Industrial Systems first announced its intention to acquire CIAT in July 2014.

With sales in more than 20 countries in Europe, CIAT now becomes part of the UTC Building & Industrial Systems’ European HVAC division, which provides HVAC systems and services to customers across Europe.

The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

UTC Building & Industrial Systems is the world’s largest provider of building technologies. Its elevator, escalator, fire safety, security, building automation, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems and services promote integrated, high performance buildings that are safer, smarter and sustainable.

UTC Building & Industrial Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corporation, a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

February DBUG Meeting

Doha BIM Users group reports back on its last meeting The primary outcome was an agreement among those present that the group will pursue an official affiliation with Qatar University, and that the purpose of the group shall include the theme of Education and also the formulation of Building Information Modeling Guidelines for the State of Qatar.

Formal adoption of Bylaws for the group was tabled until the next meeting. In the interim the group has decided that they will discuss with QU administrators to determine the requirements for formalizing the relationship.

DBUG is encouraging its members to post discussions about BIM issues on the DBUG LinkedIn Group page. Members may also post jobs offered and situations wanted on the group’s jobs page.

Information about the group may also be viewed on the DBUG blog site. The next meeting will be held on Saturday, March 7th at the Qatar University Administration Building. Further details are available online. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Doha-BIM-Users-Group-6747984 http://dohabimgroup.blogspot.com/

Qatar aims for 80 per cent of 2022 World Cup projects to be sustainable Qatar is on track to ensure the overwhelming majority of the projects to be used in the 2022 FIFA World Cup will achieve world-class standards of sustainability.

“We are saying that 80 per cent of the construction project activities from now to 2022 will be based on the principles and practice of sustainability,” says Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) founder and chairman Dr Yousef Alhorr.

GORD is a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.

It promotes healthy, energy and resource efficient, and environmentally responsible building practices in Qatar and the Gulf.

“We have been talking about sustainability and our vision,” Alhorr says. “These dreams are now being put into action in Qatar where we are really implementing sustainability practices.

This includes in QRail, all the World Cup 2022 projects, the new cities and all new government projects including schools and hospitals.”

Alhorr is a keynote speaker on day one of the MEED Qatar Projects conference organised in association with Ashghal, Qatar’s public works agency, which opens

at the Grand Hyatt Doha on 10 March.

“My presentation will help business understand what the opportunities are in this area and what is needed including materials and systems to support our sustainability plans,” Alhorr says.

Alhorr says that Qatar is already demonstrating how it can successfully develop sustainable large-scale sports venues. The 2015 World Men’s Handball Championship held in Doha on 15 January-1 February was hosted at two of the new venues built to meet demanding sustainability standards. These were the Lusail Sports Arena, and Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena which achieved 4 Star rating.. The tournament was won by France, who beat Qa-

tar in the final 25-22. This was Qatar’s first handball championship medal.

GORD was founded in 2009.

It has developed the GSAS sustainable buildings rating system, the first to address the challenges presented by the region’s climate.

Alhorr says GORD is preparing to undertake sustainability projects in Saudi Arabia.

“We have started training on the ground in the kingdom and we are doing capacity building with the aim of moving to implementation this year,” he says.

GORD has an agreement to promote sustainability in government and private buildings in Kuwait and has started talks about carrying out similar projects in Bahrain, Alhorr says.

Construction

Event

SITES

23

Qatar to discuss key smart city initiatives at Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar 2015

Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar 2015, the Middle East’s premier smart city event, is back with a bigger and better fourth edition, featuring an exciting array of local and international speakers with more thought-provoking presentations, roundtable sessions, case studies and panel discussions. The summit will be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Doha, Qatar during April 13 -14, 2015, and is produced by global conference organizers, Expotrade.

Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning of the State of Qatar, the summit will feature topics ranging from the need for smart cities, urban resilience strategies and government initiatives, to sustainable infrastructure, resource management, energy efficiency, telecommunica-

tions and smart automation.

The event will offer insights into the world of opportunities in the Middle East region with special focus on Qatar and its key initiatives such as Lusail City, projects taken up by Qatar Rail, ASHGHAL, ictQATAR, Qatar National Broadband Network and KAHRAMAA. It will host over 350 senior level decision makers from across the GCC including government officials, architects, engineers, designers, urban planners, sustainability experts, technical experts and solution providers. The summit will be held in the presence of Eng. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sayed, Mayor of Doha City and Director General - Doha Municipality, and will feature sessions by a host of distinguished local and international speakers from both the public and private sector. Speakers pre-

senting during the summit include Eng. Ahmed Salman Al-Sulaiti, Chief Technology Officer, Qatar National Broadband Network Company; Katalin Gallyas, Policy Advisor, City Council of Amsterdam, Khalid al-Hashmi, Executive Director, Q-CERT’s Cyber Security Division; Dr. Rainer Schnepfleitner, Department Manager, Regulation and Competition Affairs, Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA); Mohamed Nagib Omara, Technical Advisor to the President of KAHRAMAA, Head of Strategic Planning, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA); Ahmad Kawakbi, ICT & Stakeholder Manager, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy - FIFA World Cup Qatar; Dr. Mohammed Atif Omar, Head, iSmart; Professor Dr. Rudolf Giffinger, Head of the Centre

for Regional Science, Vienna University of Technology and Professor Ali A. Alraouf, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism, Head of CB, Training, Research and Development–QNMP Doha, Qatar;

Huda Shaka, Associate, Arup; Safder Nazir, Regional Vice President Smart Cities & IoT, Huawei; Ghassan Barghouth, Area President - Qatar, Kuwait & Bahrain, Schneider Electric; Marco Boero, Strategic Ac-

count, Proteco Consortium.

To know more about the event or to participate, please visit www.arabfuturecities.com, or call us at +97144542135 or mail us at marketing@expotrade-me.com.

24

Construction

SITES

Tafawoq center to help develop a local source of project management talent

Qatar is facing a crisis in project management capacity that could hit the FIFA 2020 World Cup preparations if not addressed in advance. The demand for project management skills within the construction and infrastructure sectors will further soar with over $120 billion worth of projects expected to be signed in the next five years, according to MEED Projects.

Much of this potential shortfall may be made up by Tafawoq Project Management Center, an initiative that is set to provide a local source of project management talent and expertise.

The center has announced the schedule for its 2015 batch that will continue building competence in project management to deliver Qatar’s extraordinary capital investment program in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

“Human capability development is a fundamental pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030. In just two full years of operation, Tafawoq has helped to develop the project management competencies of more than 350 participants,” says Rob Sherwin, Deputy Country Chairman and General Manager Corporate Affairs, ahead of his keynote speech on human capability development during MEED Qatar Projects Conference to be held at the Grand Hyatt Doha on March 10-11.

“Out of these, many have additionally passed internationally-accredited project management exams, thanks to Tafawoq,” adds Sherwin.

Tafawoq, which means “excellence” in Arabic, was established in 2011 as a result of a partnership between Qatar Petroleum, Hamad bin Khalifa University and Qatar Shell.

The Tafawoq integrated program is based on the five internationally recognized dimensions of professional competency development, originally devised by the International Project Management Association.

The Tafawoq “Pentagon Model” adopts a five-dimensional approach to competence development. The syllabus is delivered through a series of virtual, workbased and face-to-face trainings, all of which are based on the internationally accredited Shell Project Academy “Pentagon Model” Curriculum, while drawing from Qatar Petroleum’s experience of successfully executing large-scale capital projects.

As project management disciplines become more specialized, continuing one’s education becomes even more crucial in managing a rising career and meeting the skills demand brought about by new challenges and opportunities in the various sectors.

“Critically, as a partnership between business, government and academia, Tafawoq’s programs blend on-the-job professional experience with classroom learning,” says Sherwin.

“The MEED Qatar Projects Conference will be an ideal platform in which to further raise awareness about this Centre of Excellence, established in Qatar, for Qatar.”

News

KnowCrete by Large volume concrete pours

By Neil Crook, PhD, BSc, MICE, MICT Several factors influence the extent to which the temperature will increase due to hydration of cement. These include type and content of cement or combination, size of pour (particularly minimum dimension), type of formwork and temperature (ambient and concrete).

Cement content In the centers of concrete sections in excess of 2m thick, the temperature rise will be nearly proportional to the cement content. In smaller pours, less than 500mm thick, heat is more readily lost to the environment and the temperature rise is, therefore, affected by the rate at which the heat is developed.

The most direct way to achieve lower temperature rise is to reduce the cement content, but this may be at odds with the specification which could require a minimum cement content for both strength and durability.

Cement combinations The use of cements or combinations containing additions e.g. fly ash or blast furnace slag, can result in considerable reductions in temperature rise as shown in figure 1. This is due largely to the reduced rate of hydration associated with these materials. It is not uncommon, with high levels of addition to achieve a reduction in temperature rise of 50%.

Section size As the minimum dimension increases, the rate of heat dissipation from the centre is reduced and the temperature rise is increased.

In pours thicker than about 2.5m, the maximum temperature rise is largely unaffected by increasing pour size, but in the range 0.5 to 1.5m the change in maximum temperature rise is considerable (see figure 1).

Type of formwork Where plywood (or insulating) formwork is used, care should be taken to avoid thermal shock when the formwork is removed. This is particularly important in winter conditions. Steel or GRP forms provide little or no insulation and when they are removed the temperature distribution is unlikely to be significantly afFigure 1 fected.

Mix temperature Reducing the fresh concrete temperature slows the rate of hydration and therefore lowers the peak temperature; hence the subsequent temperature drop to ambient will also be reduced. The temperature rise in smaller sections will be most significantly affected by a change in initial concrete temperature.

There are various methods to reduce the mix temperature e.g. the use of chilled water, crushed ice, cryogenic cooling (injecting liquid nitrogen) or cooled aggregates, but in the UK these measures are rarely adopted.

Where lowering of the mix temperature is considered to be essential the most effective way of achieving this is by the use of crushed ice.

However, care must be taken to ensure that all the ice has melted before the concrete is placed. Alternatively, water pipes can be cast within the concrete in which cooled water is circulated to act as a heat exchange. info@greymatters.ws www.greymatters.ws

Construction

Interview

Furniture house eyes expansion

C

REU Qatar is a unique handmade furniture design and manufacturing house. It creates (Creu) unique pieces of furniture at affordable prices for both home interiors and the commercial sector.

Originally from the UK, Habib Alfar founded the business early 2013. He has been a resident in Qatar for almost 20 years and spent about six of those in the oil and gas industry.

He found that the oil and gas sector was not for him and decided to try something new.

He describes himself as a “creative person” who “enjoys coming up with new designs and building new products to add to CREU’s portfolio”.

The CREU team is made up of highly-skilled craftsmen from all over the globe. He says that their main focus has been home interiors. However they plan to expand to new areas within the commercial sector, covering interior design, landscaping, city beautification, retail/hospitality fit-outs and exhibition design/manufacturing.

Alfar tells Construction Sites (CS) about his company, its products and plans: Tell me a bit about your company.

As our team and workspace have increased over the past few months, we are now in a position to take on bigger projects.

We also take on a number of

custom orders and can alter our own designs to match the needs of our customers.

We currently operate from an online platform, taking orders through our website www. creuqatar.com and Facebook page www.facebook.com/ creuqatar. All pieces found on our online pages are made by the CREU team here in Qatar.

How would you describe the joinery and carpentry sector in Qatar?

Currently the joinery and carpentry sector is limited in Qatar, providing insufficient options for the community with regards to home, office and commercial furnishing. CREU offers unique handmade and built-to-specification products, encompassing current European trends in home design. Our products are of a high quality and will pass the test of time.

Do you think that there are enough artisans to service the demand for customized wood furniture in Qatar?

Our customer base has exploded and we expect 2015 to be even more of a success.

Expatriates looking for more home comfort and furniture tailored to their needs have made up the biggest part of our cliental to date, although we are now welcoming more and more commercial projects from well-known restaurants, hotels and businesses looking for stylish and trending pieces of furniture.

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25

There is a big gap in the market for affordably priced unique furniture. There isn’t enough choice here at the moment so demand for our pieces is very high.

Are people prepared to pay for your furniture?

We rarely have people tell us they believe our pieces are too highly priced. In fact it is very much the opposite; 99% of our quotations are accepted by our customers.

We offer a truly unique service where by the customer can customize design, dimension, finish effect and have the piece delivered to their door.

We provide timely communication, personalized planning and the ability to shop via the Internet from home. This is truly unique in Qatar and therefore our customers often return to order more pieces from us.

Where do you find your materials from and how do they get here?

The majority of our materials are purchased from the local lumber yards where the wood is mainly imported from Europe and various hardware stores around the country.

We also like to utilize recycled materials in our designs to add character and charm to our pieces and “upcycle” wood whenever possible. For this, we tend to use mainly good firm pallets which we source from construction sites and large supermarket chains.

Registration opens for the Inaugural Qatar Green Building Council Conference

Qatar Green Building Conference launch event aimed at sustainability experts,researchers, architects and planners from around the world Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has opened online registration for its first annual conference which will take place on 27 and 28 April at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

The Qatar Green Building Conference will take a lead in the debate on sustainability challenges and highlight research and industry best practice. It will help the construction and sustainable development sector to deliver green building solutions to environmental challenges in Qatar, the region and the world.

Since its establishment in 2009, QGBC has supported QF’s commitment to foster sustainable development by promoting environmentally-friendly practices for building design and development. In addition, QGBC’s promotion of long-term sustainable development assists Qatar’s economic diversification to a knowledge-based economy.

The conference aims to generate innovative and practical solutions to facilitate the de-

livery of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and will be themed around the most pressing sustainability needs of Qatar and the region.

Participating academics and industry practitioners will share their expertise in discussions around four key themes of relevance to Qatar and the Gulf region. Upcoming needs for growing metropolitan areas will be addressed by the ‘Future Sustainable Cities’ sessions, and maximising use of existing buildings under the ‘Retrofitting Doha’ theme. Cutting edge sustainable technology will be the focus of discussion in the ‘Passivhaus in the MENA Region’ session, with ‘Carbon Footprint and Qatar’s National Vision’ presenting a valuable examination of tackling emissions.

Some of the pre-Cpnference workshops include one dealing with Passivhaus and Passive Design led by Dr Jürgen Schnieders of the Passiv Haus Institut, Germany and Dr Marwa Dabaieh of Lund University, Sweden. There will also be a Measurement & Carbon footprint session led by Jane Anderson of PE International, UK, Building Information

Modeling (BIM) by Fred Ainoo of AECOM International and Energy Modeling (IES) and lastly the US Green Building Council will be conducting a workshop on health issues in the construction industry.

Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, President of Qatar Foundation, highlighted QF’s role in fostering sustainability in Qatar, by saying: “Qatar Foundation is committed to supporting delivery of the sustainability goals set out in the Qatar National Vision 2030 by raising awareness and promoting best practices in Qatar’s green building sector.

“Qatar Green Building Conference will set the benchmark for green building and sustainability research in Qatar and the region, which is an addition to Qatar Foundation’s thorough efforts to help the nation meet its sustainability challenges. I look forward to the conference’s productive outcomes providing solutions to the environmental challenges of the years ahead.”

Commenting on the announcement of the Qatar Green Building Conference, Engineer Meshal Al Shamari, QGBC Director, said: “QGBC provides leadership and encourages collabora-

tion to promote environmentally sustainable practices for green building design and development in Qatar. The Qatar Green Building Conference will bring together leading academics, researchers and green building practitioners to conduct in-depth studies of the green building and sustainability sector in Qatar and beyond.

“QGBC welcomes stakeholders operating in Qatar’s green building sector to use this conference as an opportunity to share their knowledge and ex-

perience with the broader community to move steps closer to helping Qatar establish a more advanced green building culture” added Eng Al Shamari.

Academic researchers and industry practitioners, including property consultants, urban planners and landscape architects from Qatar and beyond are encouraged to attend the conference which will be addressed by leading national and international sustainability and green buildings experts.

QGBC is a non-profit, mem-

bership-driven organisation dedicated to advocating green building solutions, leading industry research, as well as promoting sustainable practice in the community. Through QGBC, Qatar has joined a network of 80 different countries that run active national green building councils under the umbrella of the World Green Building Council.

For details about the Qatar Green Building Conference, please visit: www.qgbcconference.com

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Construction

SITES

Qatar plans to build second LNG terminal in Italy

Qatar and Italy are planning to build their second liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Italy to enhance capacity, according to a report. The countries are also conducting discussions on many other investment proposals that are in the pipeline in an effort to deepen the bilateral economic ties, said the Peninsula report.

“Italy is one of the largest trading partners of Qatar in Europe,” Guido De Sanctis, Italian Ambassador to Qatar, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

“Our exports to Qatar for the first 10 months of 2014 stood at €900 million (about QR3.7 billion/$1 billion) while Qatar’s exports to Italy was about €1.4 billion (QR5.75 billion). The trade balance was in favor of Qatar, essentially due to exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG),” the ambassador said.

“We have been trying to diversify our sources of energy since the 1950s. This is why in 2010 we started importing LNG from Qatar. The existing terminal in Italy, which has been built with financial support from Qatar, is almost running at full capacity. So we are looking forward to build another terminal to receive more LNG from Qatar,” De Sanctis said.

“We need to keep in mind that a new LNG terminal will not only be useful for Italy but will also help Qatar in catering to the whole of Europe,” he added.

The proposed project has to go through “many processes and challenges, including political, environmental and issues related to employment”, said the report.

The Qatar-Italy bilateral trade volume this year is expected to surge as many Italian companies have been in Qatar to explore the local market, it added.

The ambassador said: “Qatar has made significant investments in Italy and there are many new plans in the pipeline.”

Consortium to study projects

A group of Qatari state-linked investors and three Japanese power firms have signed an agreement to study the possibility of developing projects in Turkey’s Afsin-Elbistan region.

The consortium includes Mitsubishi Corporation, Marubeni and Chubu Electric Power on the Japanese side and Qatar Holding and Nebras Power from the Gulf state, a statement from Nebras said.

The signing ceremony was held in Tokyo during the Qatari-Japanese Economic Forum, on the sidelines of a visit by HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to Japan.

Nebras Power was represented by Chairman Fahad Bin Hamad Al Mohannadi and CEO Khalid Mohammed Jolo.

The Qatari-Japanese consortium is targeting to evaluate projects, including the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance of lignite power plants. It seeks to offer the latest technology available in the area and at competitive prices to reach an agreement with the Turkish government to implement the power plants.

The planned power capacity is around 4,500 megawatts.

Qatar, Turkey to enhance business ties

A Turkish delegation, consisting of chairmen, CEOs and board members of major business groups, has visited Doha to enhance collaboration between businesses in the two countries. During their visit, the team members were invited to a special reception hosted by the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA).

Also attending were dignitaries from the board of directors of Alternatif bank (ABank), Commercial Bank’s Turkish subsidiary.

The reception falls under the QBA’s initiatives to support and enhance Qatar’s private sector in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Discussions at the event focused on ways to increase business collaborations and strengthen of relations between Turkey and Qatar.

QBA board member Sheikh Hamad Bin Faisal Al Thani welcomed the delegation and stressed the importance of such visits in strengthening the economic ties between the two countries.

He also promised that the association and the Qatari businessmen would facilitate and support Turkish companies wishing to enter the Qatari market.

Commercial Bank CEO Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi welcomed the Turkish business delegation to Qatar. Commercial Bank has strong ties with Turkey and became the majority shareholder in mid-sized Turkish bank, ABank in 2013.

Al Raisi said: “Turkey is a key part of our regional strategy and this reception is important for building relationships, exploring long-term growth opportunities and demonstrating the increasing regional strength of the Commercial Bank.”

News

Al Mazaya Holding, Dumankaya launch Ritim Istanbul project

Al Mazaya Holding and Dumankaya Construction have announced the launch of Ritim Istanbul project, which occupies a prime location in the Asian part of Istanbul, on one of the busiest and most prosperous neighborhoods.

The announcement was made during a press conference that was held in Turkey. It was attended by Abdullah Al Duwaikh Kuwait’s Ambassador to Turkey, Rashid Al Nafisi, Chairman of Al Mazaya Holding, Ibrahim Al Saqa’abi, Group CEO, Jim Yolcu, CEO of Mazaya Turkey, and Salwa Malhas, Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer at Al Mazaya Holding.

Representatives of the Turkish firm at the press conference were Ugur Dumankaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dumankaya, and Baris Dumankaya, Vice Chairman of Dumankaya.

Ugur Dumankaya described the Ritim Istanbul project as “a promising investment of the alliance between Al Mazaya and Dumankaya”. The project consists of six towers – three residential and three offices, in addition to a 22,000 square meter shopping mall.

Uugur said that 45% of the project had been sold out and marketing works were underway to sell the remaining units.

Al Nafisi expressed optimism about Al Mazaya’s presence in the Turkish real estate market, owing to encouraging incentives for investors such as integrated infrastructure, qualified workforce, low taxes and increasing demand from inside and outside Turkey.

He underlined the benefits of investment in the Turkish market, in which the real estate sector accounts for 19.5% of the gross domestic product.

Al Nafisi said: “Today we unveil Ritim Istanbul, one of the most spectacular residential real estate projects, situated in the Asian part of Istanbul. The joint venture is a result of the partnership agreement with Dumankaya. The investment percentage of Al Mazaya and its partners in the project is 50%. The first phase of the project is completed and it is scheduled for delivery in 2016”.

Al Nafisi added that Al Mazaya Holding was constantly striving to select distinctive projects which made a milestone in the real estate development industry.

“The opportunity to invest in Ritim Istanbul project in collaboration with Dumankaya Real Estate marks the company’s investment in one of the most spectacular projects that serve residential, commercial and office sectors alike.”

Speaking about the project, Al Saqa’abi said: “This joint venture is a result of completed and in-depth studies of investment feasibility and predictable returns on investment.”

He added: “We have full confidence in the increasing demand for such projects from inside and outside Turkey. Therefore together with Dumankaya, we have prepared a plan to expand our marketing campaign to include Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain, as Mazaya has presence in these markets through its many operation offices.”

Baris Dumankaya gave a presentation about the Ritim Istanbul project and explained its features, saying that it is situated on a total area of 39,000 square meters, with a built-up area of 274,000 square meters, comprising 863 residential units, varying in size from one-, two- and three-bedrooms, in addition to 363 office spaces and 147 retail outlets.

Baris added that Ritim Istanbul is “one of the most promising projects” in Istanbul, which is adjacent to the metro station and is located within the proximity of six universities and five hotels, just 15-minutes’ drive from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

Algeria-Qatar JV to build two plants

Algeria and Qatar are planning to construct two plants, one for phosphates and one for fertilizers in Algeria. A joint-venture agreement with the North African Arab country may also include gold mining, according to Algeria’s Industry and Mines Minister Abdesalam Bouchouareb.

The minister has told the Algerian Radio that the phosphate conversion coating project will have a production capacity of five million tonnes per year while the fertilizers plant will produce two million tonnes per year initially before output is doubled in 2018. He also said both projects would be built as joint ventures owned by the Algerian government and state-owned Qatar Petroleum.

“Production by the fertilizers plant will be used to meet a large part of consumption in the domestic farming sector,” he said, without mentioning planned investments or dates for starting those projects but adding that studies for both ventures could be completed in July 2015.

“There is also a possibility that the two countries can enter a partnership to exploit gold mines in Algeria,” he said, without giving further details.

Ennahar Al Jadid and other Algerian newspapers also quoted the minister as saying a $2 billion steel venture, owned jointly by Algeria and Qatar, would be launched in the first half of March 2015. He was quoted as saying that the project would initially produce two billion tonnes per year.

Qatar Construction Site_QYP_18Nov2014.pdf

News

11/19/2014

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11:59:02 AM

Construction

Safety milestone for Dukhan Highway Central project

A

shghal (the Public Works Authority) and the joint venture of Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and Teyseer Contracting Company working on the Dukhan Highway Central expressway, have achieved 30 million man-hours without loss time injury (LTI).

“This milestone builds on the previous achievement of 25 million man-hours without loss time injury celebrated by Ashghal and the contractor in July 2014,” Ashghal said in a release.

This “significantly demonstrates the Authority’s ongoing commitment to the welfare and safety of its employees and workers through the adoption of rigorous strategies and processes”, it said.

A ceremony was held at the Public Works Authority headquarters to mark the achievement.

Representatives from Ashghal Expressway Program, its partners, and CCC’s safety manager attended.

Jalal Yousef Al Salhi, Director of Ashghal’s Infrastructure Affairs, awarded a certificate of appreciation to project director Bassam Salem.

Al Salhi congratulated the entire project team. Salem expressed his thanks for the

recognition and stressed his company’s “keenness in fully adhering to safety procedures in completing the project without accidents”.

“This achievement reflects Ashghal’s commitment to the highest safety standards, by requiring all contractors to protect workers and commuters against workplace hazards throughout the project period,” the release said.

“To comply with Ashghal’s health requirements in work zones, the contractor CCC/ Teyseer raised the bar by introducing a robust program of safety and traffic management, which has been highly effective in delivering Ashghal’s health and safety objectives,” it said.

The program included the provision and use of the first crash cushion, European-approved and tested temporary barriers, both metal and concrete, including accredited installation, specialist road side working safety training accredited to UK and European standard and certified accordingly.

These initiatives included intensive health and safety discussions and awareness sessions, weekly management inspections, access control for sub-contractors, emergency support vehicles, site notice boards and other

related procedures.

Ashghal’s Expressways Program follows a set of health and safety procedures and policies across all projects to ensure commitment and compliance from all contractors to achieve zero percentage of incidents, injuries, environmental harm and to prevent security breaches on the expressway projects.

The Dukhan Highway Central project is an integral part of Ashghal’s Expressway Program that will create one of the world’s most impressive urban road networks.

The project is managed by KBR as the program management consultant and WS Atkins as the supervision consultant. Substantial section of the project has already been open to traffic.

The Dukhan Highway Central project includes the construction of a new 15km highway starting from west of existing Al Wajbah Interchange and ending east of the town of Al Sheehaniya.

The project comprises a dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction, service roads and multi-level interchanges to enhance traffic flow between Dukhan and the centre of Doha. The new road will also separate traffic on the expressway from the traffic on local roads.

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Construction

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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

Category

GTC

Maintenance and Improvement Works In Expressways AA-R/14-15/OM/050/C1/G/R

Qatari Companies Only

25-Feb-15

31-Mar-15

Roads

PWA/STC/054/1314/R

STC

On-Call Supply of RAW Materials for Mechanical Workshop of Drainage Networks O&M Department AA-D/13-14/OM/1335/2.05R/S AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS BA/14-15/D/032/S

Qatari Companies Only

25-Feb-15

26-Mar-15

Drainage

PWA/GTC/078/1415

GTC

CONSTRUCTION OF SERVICE BUILDING AT BUFSAILLAH UMM-SALAL BA/14-15/C/059/G

Qatari Companies Only

28-Jan-15

17-Mar-15

Building

GTC

Post Contract Professional Consultancy Services For Construction of Administrative Offices, Garage and Labor Accommodation In Wadi Al Mazzroaa Zone (Jarie Al Samar) BA/14-15/S/087/G

Consultants

14-Jan-15

17-Mar-15

Building

PWA/GTC/064/1415

GTC

Construction, Completion & Maintenance of Proposed Administrative Offices, Garage & Labor Accommodation at Wadi Al Mazroua Zone ( Jarie Al Samar) BA/13-14/C/087/G

Qatari Companies Only - Joint Venture

3-Dec-14

17-Mar-15

Building

A/ITC/040/14-15

ITC

Supply and Installation of Web Filtering and Proxy Solution ISD/14-15/SS/21/I

Qatari Companies Only

25-Feb-15

15-Mar-15

ICT

PWA/ITC/039/14-15

ITC

Provision of Privileged Identity Management System for Ashghal Information System Department ISD/14-15/SS/17/I

Qatari Companies Only

25-Feb-15

15-Mar-15

ICT

PWA/GTC/073/1415

GTC

Refurbishment and Upgrading Works for Various Pumping Station CP770 IA/13-14/C/12/G

Qatari Companies Only

14-Jan-15

10-Mar-15

Drainage

PWA/GTC/084/1314/R1

PWA/GTC/074/1415

General Conditions of Tenders - Full Documents for the Tender can be obtained from Contracts Department (CD) against a Non–refundable fee paid to PWA Account No. (0013-001813-052), Qatar National Bank together with a copy of the Company Registration and a Company Authorization letter.

- Project document may be examined at Al-Faisal Tower(1), Ground Floor, Al Corniche before purchasing from PWA. - Each Tender must be accompanied by a Tender Bond, either in the form of a “Certified Check” or a “Tender Bond’’ issued by a Bank acceptable to the PWA” in the amount mentioned above valid for (120 days). Any Tender received without the proper guarantee will not be considered.

- The Tender shall be submitted in two separate sealed envelopes (technical and financial offer) and both envelopes must be enclosed in a third sealed envelope which shall bear the tender number, subject and closing date.

- All Tenders shall be submitted in original and one copy or they will not be acceptance.

Tenders shall be delivered at or sent to arrive not later than 1.00pm local Doha time on the closing date and deposited in the relevant Tender Box of concerned Tenders Committee’s Chairman at PWA. - The successful Tenderer shall provide a Performance Bond in amount of ten (10%) percent of the Contract Price endorsed by an approved local bank in Qatar.

- For further queries about any of the tenders, please communicate in writing to the Contracts Department by Fax.: (+974) 44950777

TENDERS

Please note that any information mentioned on this table are as per the listed companies’ tender advertisements, without any responsibility of the magazine.

Tender Number

Type

Subject

Entity

Close Date

Value

Envelopes System

Tender Fees (QRs)

536 /2014-2015

Central Tenders

Assistance request for environmental consultant experts house for checking works execution for three years

Ministry of Enviroment

16/03/2015

630000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

300

538 /2014-2015

Central Tenders

Supply and maintenance of Medical equipments for vet clinics

Ministry of Enviroment

16/03/2015

180000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

300

87 /2014-2015

Local Tenders

Supply of food stuff and cleaning items for two years

General Administration of Customs

15/03/2015

130000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

88 /2014-2015

Local Tenders

Supply of stationery and office requirements at call of order system for two years

SUPREME COUNCIL FOR JUDICIARY

15/03/2015

20000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

537 /2014-2015

Central Tenders

Website construction , electronic and mobile services

Ministry of Enviroment

9/3/15

360000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

300

85 /2014-2015

Local Tenders

Design and installation of streets names signs at MSIS area.

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INDUSTRY

8/3/15

60000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

83 /2014-2015

Local Tenders

Maintenance works for fire alarm system at Doha exhibition Centre

General Authority for Tourism

8/3/15

60000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

86 /2014-2015

Local Tenders

Design and implementation of website

Ministry of Youth & Sport

8/3/15

9000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

Local Tenders

Implementation of geometric drawings and designs for fish farm No.862

Ministry of Enviroment

8/3/15

15000 Q.R

TWO ENVELOPES

150

84 /2014-2015

Tenders Conditions: - You can get a copy of the documents of this tender / tenders of the Central Tenders Committee during official hours, against payment of the tender documents witch you can retrieve it.

- Must be accompanied with the tender a letter of guarantee bank / certified check from a bank operating in the State of Qatar, as indicated above for a period of temporary deposit on 120.

- The offer must be valid for a period of ninety days from the date of the opening of envelopes.

- Will be the last date for submission of tenders is twelve o’clock on the morning of the closure, and will not pay attention to any tender received after the deadline.

- Tenders deposited in the box of the Central Tenders Committee, located in Muntazah - Rawabi Street, to be inside the stamped and sealed envelopes and addressed to the Chairman of the Tenders Committee competent (central / local) showing the number, type of the tender and the subject.

- The Central Tenders Committee invites bidders or their representatives to attend the opening of the envelopes and read the price on the day following the date of the closure during the office hours.

- To obtain tender / tenders documents highlight above must be to mentioned authorization letter from the company / institution.

- For inquiries, please contact Tel: 44378192 /225 /143 /149.

- For more information about the Central Tenders Committee ,tenders and auctions are being posed by the Committee You can visit the site on the Internet www.ctc.gov.qa

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.

ENGINEERING

TRAGS Electrical Engineering & Air Conditioning Co. W.L.L Jaidah Tower Ist Floor, Abdul Aziz Bin Ahmed Street P.O. Box 470, Doha – Qatar Tel +974 44 41 42 11, Fax + 974 44 41 33 06 tragseng@tragsengineering.com

www.tragsengineering.com

Events

2015 12th Annual Qatar Projects Conference Organizer: MEED Event date (s): 10 – 11 March Venue: Grand Hyatt Hotel Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 (0)4 8180 217 Fax: +971 (0)4 4234 830 Email: meedevents@meed.com Website: www.qatarprojectsconference.com The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Forum Organizer: Fleming Gulf Event date (s): 24 – 25 March Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +91 9164989507 Fax: +91 80 49005100 Email: sobia.jameel@fleminggulf.com Website: http://energy.fleminggulf.com/energy-efficiency-conservation-forum 3rd Qatar Pool and SPA (QPS) Exhibition Organizer: Heights Exhibitions and Conferences Event date (s): 24 – 25 March Venue: TBA Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4016 4184 Fax: +974 4016 4182 Email: qps@htsxpo.com Website: www.htsxpo.com/qps.aspx The Outdoor Design & Build Show 2015 Organizer: Streamline Marketing Group Event date (s): 13 – 15 April Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 4475357 Fax: +971 4 4475334 Email: odbs@theoutdoorshow.ae Website: www.theoutdoorshow.ae Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar 2015 Organizer: Expotrade Middle East FZ LLC

CALENDAR

Event Date (s): 13 – 14 April Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +9714 4542135 Fax: +9714 4542136 Email: marketing@expotrade-me.com Website: www.arabfuturecities.com

Construction

SITES

OF EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS Fax: +60 87 426 223 Email: enquiries@transportevents.com Website: www.transportevents.com

Project Qatar 2015 Organizer: IFP Qatar Event date (s): 4 – 7 May Venue: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com Website:www.projectqatar.com Qatar StoneTech Organizer: IFP Qatar Event date (s): 4 – 7 May Venue: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com Website:www.qatarstone-tech.com 5th QS – MAPLE Middle East and North Africa Professional Leaders in Education Organizer: QS Asia & Qatar University Event date (s): 5 – 7 May Venue: Marriott Hotel Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +65 9338 0322 Email: ashwin@qs.com Website:www.qsmaple.org 11th Trans Middle East Doha 2015 Organizer: Transport Events Event date (s): 6 – 7 May Venue: Intercontinental Doha Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +60 87 426 022

Future BIM Implementation Organizer: Advanced Conferences & Meetings FZ-LLC Event date (s): 6 – 7 May Venue: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 361 4001 Fax: +971 4 361 4554 Email:opportunities@acm-events.com Website:www.futurebimqatar.com Cityscape Qatar 2015 Organizer: Informa Exhibitions Middle East Event date (s): 11 – 13 May Venue: Doha Exhibition Centre Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 (0) 4 336 5161 Fax: +971 (0) 4 335 1891 Email: info@cityscapeqatar.com Website: www.cityscapeqatar.com Smart Skyscrapers Summit 2015 Organizer: Expotrade Middle East FZ LLC Event Date (s): 11 – 12 May Venue: Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +9714 4542135 Fax: +9714 4542136 Email: marketing@expotrade-me.com Website: www.smartskyscrapers.com World Stadium Congress Organizer: IQPC Event date (s): 18 – 21 May Venue: St. Regis Hotel Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 364 2975 Email: enquiry@iqpc.ae Website: www.worldstadiumcongress.com MEED Construction Leadership Summit Organizer: MEED

Event date (s): 27 May Location: Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 8180 217 Fax: +971 (0)4 4234 830 Email: meedevents@meed.com Website: www.constructionleadershipsummit.com

MEED Quality Awards for Projects, in association with Mashreq Organizer: MEED Event date (s): 27 May Location: Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 8180 217 Fax: +971 (0)4 4234 830 Email: meedevents@meed.com Website: www.constructionleadershipsummit.com 1st Qatar International Stadium Construction Exhibition Organizer: Pavilion Exhibitions & Conferences Event date(s): 7 – 10 June Venue: Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 44118688 Fax: +974 44116866 Email: info@qisc-expo.com Website: www.qisc-expo.com 4th Annual Underground Infrastructure and Deep Foundations Organizer: IQPC Event date (s): 7 – 10 June Venue: InterContinental Hotel Location: Doha, Qatar Tel: +971 4 364 2975 Email: enquiry@iqpc.ae Website: www.undergroundfoundations.com The Big 5, Dubai Organizer: dmg Events Event date (s): 23 – 26 November Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre Location: Dubai, U.A.E. Email: info@thebig5.ae Website: http://www.thebig5.ae

w w w. w a r r i o r s a f e t y. c o m QATAR WORLD ATLAS TRADING Tel: +974 44981666 Fax: + 974 44981333 info-qtr@warriorsafety.com

UAE EMIRATES GATE BM & SAFETY Tel: +971 4299 7555 Fax: +971 42997070 emigate@emirates.net.ae

H I G H

29

P E R F O R M A N C E

USA

United Globe Trading Co. 2611 W. Woodland Drive., Anaheim, Ca 92801 T: 1-714-527-0300 F: 1-714-527-0310 M: 1-559-241-4881 ugtc.usa@gmail.com

LIBYA

S A F E T Y

HOME OF TOOLS Tel: 218 6190 82212 BENGHAZI-LIBYA info@homeoftools.com

P R O D U C T S

IRAQ

AL-USOOL GENERAL TRADING COMPANY LTSD Tel: + 964 7198 741 BAGHDAD- IRAQ info@usoolgroup.com

30

Construction

SITES

Project Focus

NOTE: Whilst we take pride in keeping our Consultants Database with the most up-to-date information, please note that the above information is provided by the Consultants mentioned in the list; therefore QCS in not responsible for any incorrect data.

Consultant

Client

Main Contractor

Value Range (QR) Million

Project Status

Type of Project

M/s. Commercial Development

M/s. Arabtec

500-750

Piling & Shoring

Hotel and Office Buildings

Audit Bureau Towers

M/s. Al Attiya Group Trading Co.

Not Appointed

400-600

Tender Stage

Offices / Residential Towers

Al Waab Mall

M/s. Qatar Industrial Services

Man Enterprize, Qatar

300-400

Under Construction

Mall

Q-Tel

Not Appointed

250-350

Tender Stage

Technical

Mr. Mohamed Abdel Ghani Al Mansouri

Not Appointed

200-300

Under Design

Shopping Mall & Office Tower

Ghanem Al Hodaifi

Not Appointed

600-800

Detail Stage

Office Building

Qatar Islamic Bank

AFQCO & REDCO - Al Mana

1.2-1.4 bn

Under Construction

Residential Towers

Business Trading Company

IDC

400-500

Under Construction

Shopping Mall

Al Malki Real Estate Investments

Satal Qatar Contracting

N/A

Under Construction

Hotel

Ghanem Office Building at Salwa Road

Ghanem Al Thani Holding

Ramco

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

Marsa Malaz Hotel at the Pear Qatar (Main Works)

Alfardan Properties Co.

CDC

N/A

Under Construction

Hotel

Mazaya Qatar Real Extate Development QSC

Sinohydro Group Limited

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

Qatar Airways

Redco International

N/A

Under Construction

Residential Building

Al Sarh Real Estate WLL

CRC

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

Sh. Hamad Bin Faisal Al Thani

REDCO – Al Mana

N/A

Under Construction

Office Building

Mr. Abdullah Abu Salah

Shannon Engineering

N/A

Under Construction

Office Tower

Ahmed Abed El Aziz Al Baker

Construction and Reconstruction Co.

675

Under Construction

Office Building

Private Investor

Orientals Enterprises

N/A

Under Construction

Residential

Shiekh Abdullah Bin Naser Al Thani

Construction and Reconstruction Co.

85

Under Construction

Commercial

MOI

Hassanesco Co.

N/A

Under Construction

Mixed Use

Shk/Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani

Construction and Reconstruction Co.

205

Under Construction

Commercial / Residential

Tricon International

Atlantic Contracting Co.

150

Under Construction

Hotels

Al Hodaifi Group

Not appointed

30-40 Million

Design stage

Office Building

El Eida

Not appointed

5-10 Million

Design stage

Villa

Doha Education Centre

Not appointed

30-50 Million

Design stage

Education

Step 1 International Academy

Step 1 International Academy

Not appointed

20-40 Million

Design stage

School

5 Hotel Towers adjacent to City Center Marriott Rensance, Marriott Courtyard, Shangri La, Rotana & Merweb

Al Rayyan Holding Company

Al Habtour

3.5 Billion

Marriott Rensance & Marriott Courtyard in handing over and the other 3 Hotels are under construction

Hotels

Real Estate Services Group

SEG

800

Construction Stage

Mixed Use Towers

Al Shereef Enterprises

Dorra Contracting

350

Construction Stage

Mixed Use Towers

PWA

Tag Engineering & Contracting

120

Under Construction

Media Complex

MOI

Not Appointed

N/A

Design Stage

Educational Complex

Health Care Centers (Pacakge 4 & 5)

PWA

ITC/UCE

600

Under Construction

Medical Centers

Construction of Head Quarters Bldg. for Ministry of Interior

MOI

WCT

N/A

Under Construction

Administrative and Office Building

Alaqaria

Arcon

169

Under Construction

Mixed Use

Qatar Navigation

Not Appointed

N/A

Design Stage

Warehouses

IBA GROUP

Not Appointed

400

Design Stage

Commercial / Offices Towers

Mr. Saeed Ben Zayed El-Khayareen

Al-Huda

200-250

Under Construction

Office Building

Fahd Suite - Apartment Hotel

FBA GROUP

Not Appointed

200

Detail Stage

Shopping Mall & Office Tower

IBA Hotel

IBA GROUP

Not Appointed

200

Under Construction

Hotel

ALYSJ

ALYSJ

106 million

under construction

Labor Accomodation

Al Aween Fit out

Alaween

B5

N/A

under construction

fit out

Hotel Ramada

Noor Ali Mohamed

Not Appointed

N/A

DC-2 Stage

Hotel

QNB

Not Appointed

20 million

under construction

Bank

Sheikh Badr Khalifa Al Thani

Al Batra

80 million

under construction

Residential Building

MOFA

Not Appointed

N/A

Design Stage

Government Building

QDS

Not Appointed

600

Permit Stage

Driving Academy

Gulf Pearls Company

Gulf Pearl

40 Million

Design Stage

Residential Building

ACES

Not Appointed

20 Million

Tender Stage

Industrial Building

Sh. Ahmad bin Hamad Al Thani

NA

54,000,000.00

Service Design

Commercial

Regency Real Estate

NA

38,000,000.00

Design Stage

Office Building

Rabban Group

NA

126,319,000.00

Design stage

Mixed Use Building

FV7 - Multi Purpose Hall / Art Centre

Regency Real Estate

NA

67,500,000.00

Design stage

Commercial

C6 - Lusail

Regency Real Estate

NA

165,540,000.00

Design stage

Mixed Use Building

C4 - Lusail

Regency Real Estate

NA

108,070,000.00

Design stage

Hotel Apartments

Foxhills - A29

Fursan Real Estate

NA

20,091,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Foxhills - A30

Fursan Real Estate

NA

32,627,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Foxhills - A13

Regency Real Estate

NA

24,918,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Foxhills - D04

Regency Real Estate

NA

25,273,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Foxhills - D14

Regency Real Estate

NA

23,150,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Foxhills - D21

Regency Real Estate

NA

27,472,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Foxhills - D49

Regency Real Estate

NA

29,299,000.00

Design stage

Residential Building

Nasser Obeidan

NA

2,371,000.00

Tender Stage

Office Building

Project Title

Twin Towers

Mesiemer Manarat Lusail Al Hodaifi Tower II Five Residential Towers at Viva Bahriya at the Pear (project management)

Gulf Mall at Gharrafa

Doha Centro Hotel at Bin Mahmoud

Qatar Sidra Village Project

Qatar Airways Crew Accommodation Al Rabban Suites Hotel Apartments (3B+G+M+50Floors) Office Buildings (3B+G+22) at Lusail Marina District

Office Tower (3B+G+14Floors)

Al Baker Executive Towers Al Nour Tower Al Nasr Showroom Police Training Institute Panasonic Showroom & Residential Al Sadd Hotel

Al Hodaifi Group HQ Al Eida Villa Doha Education Centre

Shemoukh Mixed-Use Twin Tower, Al Saad

Al Jasrah Twin Tower Lusail Qatar Radio and Television Complex

Police College Academy

MIC Business & Recreation Complex

Logistic City Al Emadi Twin Towers City Tower

Golden Line Metro Project Labor Accomodation

Qatar National Bank Branches Sheikh Badr Residential Building

Qatar Embassy and Diplomat Villas in Mogadishu, Somalia

Qatar Driving School Gulf Pearl Office Building

ACES (Arab Centre for Engineers Studies)

Al Ahli Club FV9 Al Asmakh Head Office in Lusail

C5 Lusail

Office Building D-Ring

Construction

SITES

31

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WIRE ROPES, SLINGS, HEIGHT SAFETY, INSPECTION AND TESTING, RENTALS, CRANE HIRE

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

Rania Queen St. Amman- Jordan Tel: +9626 5356616 - Fax: +9626 535 6606 - P.O.Box: 622 - Aljbeha: 11941 watan_newspaper@yahoo.com

Monthly construction news, tenders, project focus, and forthcoming exhibitions in Qatar Tel.: +974 4469 3280 - Fax: +974 4451 0428

Issue No. (92) MARCH 2015, Doha - Qatar

USGBC releases the Top 10 States for LEED Green Building Per Capita The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system, ranking states in terms of square feet of LEED space per state resident.

The per-capita list highlights states throughout the country that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation.

LEED-certified spaces use less energy and water resources, save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Every story about a green building is a story about people,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “USGBC’s annual recognition of the Top 10 States for LEED goes beyond gross square feet or number of projects and factors in LEED’s potential in a given state to be part of the daily life of the state’s residents,” he said.

“This per-capita approach tells a great story about how LEED has become an important benchmark in the transformation of the nation’s built environment.

LEED certified buildings and the innovations they have driven contribute substantially to our national economic growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life in the communities where they are found.

“We commend the business and community leaders, policy makers and green building professionals in each of these states for making the commitment to create a healthier, more sustainable future.”

Now in its fifth year, the percapita list is based on 2010 US Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified throughout 2014.

Illinois retained its top national position for the second year in a row, with 174 LEED certifications representing 3.31 square feet of LEED-certified space per resident.

Two newcomers to the list, Georgia and Arizona, show that 2014

was a year of major growth for LEED in the South and Southwest regions of the country, while the continued strong performance of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia have helped the mid-Atlantic region remain the epicenter of green building across the country.

Washington, D.C., which is not included on the official list of top states due to its status as a federal territory, is notable as it continues to lead the nation with 29.44 square feet of space per resident certified in 2014.

Maryland and Virginia finished third and fourth respectively, and both states increased their per capita totals to 2.70 and 2.33 square feet of LEED space per resident in 2014.

The list for 2014 list had the highest average (2.34) of per capita space certified per resident per state since 2010, and the second highest average to date. Six of the eight states (IL, CO, MD, VA, MA and HI), which were also on the list in 2013, increased the amount of square feet of space they certified per resident in 2014. Illinois and

Colorado are the only two states to make the list every year since 2010.

USGBC calculates the list using per-capita figures as a measure of the human element of green building, allowing for a fair comparison of the level of green building taking place among states with significant differences in population and, accordingly, number of overall buildings.

In 2014, LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance was once again the most popular rating system within the top 10 states, representing 48% of the total square footage certified.

LEED for Building Design and Construction was the second most popular rating system in the top 10, representing 46% of the square footage certified and LEED for Interior Design and Construction was the third most popular rating system, representing 6% of total square footage certified in these states in 2014.

A sample of notable projects that certified in these states in 2014 include: * Illinois: The Aon Center, a

3.2mn-square-foot tower in Chicago owned by Jones Lang LaSalle, LEED Silver * Colorado: Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Morgridge Family Exploration Center in Denver, LEED Platinum * Maryland: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Building 26 in Greenbelt, LEED Gold * Virginia: University of Mary Washington’s Technology Convergence Center in Fredericksburg, LEED Silver * Massachusetts: Winchester Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Center in Winchester, LEED Gold * Hawaii: City Financial Tower in Honolulu, LEED Gold * California: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, LEED Gold * Georgia: The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, LEED Silver * Minnesota: Wells Fargo Center in Minneapolis, LEED Gold * Arizona: Arizona State University Health Services renovation in Tempe, LEED Platinum * New York: Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, LEED Platinum

Collectively, 1,662 commercial and institutional projects became LEED certified within the top 10 states in 2014, representing 251.7 million square feet of real estate. Worldwide, 4,502 projects were certified in 2014, representing 675.7 million square feet.

More than 26,600 projects representing 3.6 billion square feet of space have been LEED-certified to date, with another 42,000 projects representing 8.8 billion square feet in the pipeline for certification. USGBC launched LEED v4, the newest version of the rating system, in the fall of 2013. The latest version continues to raise the bar for the entire green building industry, which Forbes Magazine projects could be worth up to $960 billion globally by 2023. LEED v4 features increased technical rigor; new market sector adaptations for data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail and midrise residential projects; and a simplified submittal process supported by a robust and intuitive technology platform.