Big Project ME December 2020

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

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December 2020

MEConstructionNews.com

THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION

Trust and Transparency MAJID SAQER AL MARRI, CEO, REGISTRATION AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES SECTOR, DUBAI LAND DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR DUBAI'S REAL ESTATE SECTOR NOMINATE NOW! Deadline 17 December

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CONTENTS

December 2020

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16

18

22

30

60

ANALYSIS

FEATURES

INSIGHT

08

The briefing

22

54

Comments

The big picture

Gavin Davids speaks to Majid Saqer Al Marri from Dubai Land Department about how Dubai is leveraging technology to improve its real estate sector and trust in the market

57

Tenders

60

Progress report

Industry specialists discuss the impact of the pandemic and why E&C companies should invest in digital

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Providing a wrap-up of the biggest local, regional and international construction news stories

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Market report

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Analysis

ProTenders’ Dr Deva Palanisamy examines UAE’s construction sector in Q4 2020

In profile Trust and Transparency

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Project profile Lifting the Link

Big Project ME speaks to Ithra Dubai and ALEC about the record-breaking lift of The Link between the two towers of the mixed-use project

The industry’s brightest minds share their thoughts on a variety of topics and issues impacting the construction industry

Big Project ME, in association with ProTenders, provides the biggest tenders for the month of December 2020

MBR Aerospace Hub announces 70% completion of its infrastructure works

Nour Mousa analyses the construction industry’s sustainability agenda and environmentally friendly urbanisation

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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WELCOME

Introduction

The Power of Technology

W

elcome to the end of 2020! Congratulations on making this far!

While I’m being flippant, I’m sure many of you reading this may agree with the sentiment. This has been a year that has tested and challenged all of us to extremes. Not only have we had to deal with an unprecedented pandemic that has taken so many lives, but we have also had to cope with the economic, societal, and political fallout that it has caused.

Despite the many challenges that we have faced – both within the industry and society at large, one thing that has stood out is our adaptability and innovation in a time of crisis. We have harnessed the power of the internet and used it to overcome the limitations that have been placed on us.

That is why this month’s issue is an ode to how digital technology has transformed the way we operate. Starting with our cover interview with Majid Saqer Al Marri, the CEO of Registration and Real Estate Services, Dubai Land Department, where he talks to us about how digital technology is not only getting

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

the real estate sector future ready, but also increasing trust and transparency in the sector.

Given the focus on attracting international investment, this can only be a good thing.

We’re also running our annual Smart Cities Report in this issue, and this year, I’ve have the opportunity to interview Janus Rostock of AECOM – a fascinating individual who shares his thoughts on how smart cities can improve the quality of life and comfort for their residents, through the harnessing of digital technology and the data it produces.

Finally, as we come to the end of the year, I would like to remind you all on January 26, 2021, we’ll be holding our annual Big Project ME Awards. We’ve been receiving a steady flow of nominations already, but with 26 categories this year, there’s plenty of award opportunities to go around, so fire up your computers and get your nominations in before December 17th, 2020.

On that note, have a very happy New Year, and may we all have a much better 2021!

Gavin Davids

GROUP EDITOR gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com @MECN_Gavin MEConstructionNews me-construction-news

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Read more about the benefits of Grundfos iSOLUTIONS in decentralised water treatment at grundfos.ae

4

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

175

December 2020

MEConstructionNews.com

THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION

Group MANAGING DIRECTOR Raz Islam raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com MANAGING PARTNER Vijaya Cherian vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com

Editorial GROUP EDITOR Gavin Davids gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5480

Trust and Transparency

MAJID SAQER AL MARRI, CEO, REGISTRATION AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES SECTOR, DUBAI LAND DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR DUBAI'S REAL ESTATE SECTOR NOMINATE NOW! Deadline 17 December

ON THE COVER

Big Project ME speaks to Majid Saqer Al Marri, CEO of the Registration and Real Estate Services Sector, Dubai Land Department, about how Dubai is leveraging digital technology MEConstructionNews.com @meconstructionn MEConstructionNews me-construction-news

JUNIOR REPORTER Angitha Pradeep angitha.pradeep@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5479

Advertising COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Jude Slann jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5714 HEAD OF KEY PROJECTS Andy Pitois andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com +44 7816 843610

Design CREATIVE DIRECTOR Simon Cobon simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DESIGNER Percival Manalaysay percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com

Photography PHOTOGRAPHER Maksym Poriechkin maksym.poriechkin@cpitrademedia.com

Marketing ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE Zaara Khan zaara.khan@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5470

Circulation & Production PRODUCTION MANAGER Vipin V. Vijay vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Phinson Mathew George phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476

Web Development The publisher of this magazine has made every effort to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the publisher and editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content are published in good faith. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing. Publication licensed by Dubai Development Authority to CPI Trade Publishing FZ LLC. Printed by Al Salam Printing Press LLC. CPI Trade Media. PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE. +971 4 375 5470 cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

WEB DEVELOPER Abdul Baeis abdul.baeis@cpitrademedia.com WEB DEVELOPER Sadiq Siddiqui sadiq.siddiqui@cpitrademedia.com FOUNDER Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015)

26 January 2021 Ritz Carlton JBR, Dubai

United Arab Emirates

The award has added an additional feather in our cap and another milestone in the list of achievements for Dubai Municipality.

We thank the esteemed Big Project ME team for this great opportunity.

Eng Mohammed Ahmed Al Rayees

Director - Department of Sewage Treatment Plants and Networks Dubai Municipality

Contact Us Award Nomination Enquiries Gavin Davids | +971 4 375 5480 gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com Table Booking & Sponsorship Jude Slann | +971 4 375 5714 jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com

BigProjectMEAwards.com

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ONLINE

MOST POPULAR

FEATURED

CONSTRUCTION

WATCH THE FIRST SECTION OF THE LINK LIFTED INTO PLACE

CSCEC secures $2.2bn loan to finance work on CBD project in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital

ON ONE ZA’ABEEL

CONSULTANT

Saudi Arabia moves ahead with privatisation of water sector with WTTCO launch

ADVICE: Top ten ways to improve construction

MACHINERY

ACT Crane & Heavy Equipment expands fleet with 16 new Demag cranes

CONSTRUCTION

GE’s Grid Solutions business wins major maintenance contract in Kuwait

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

Congratulations to everybody concerned with this uplifting - sorry, couldn’t resist! - story (Watch the first section of The Link lifted into place on One Za’abeel). This is undoubtedly one of the most impressive feats of engineering and lifting we have seen in recent years and a reminder what we do better than most of other places in the world. Namely, stretching the boundaries of what’s possible. The numbers alone are just staggering: 9,500 tonnes of steel (apparently that’s the same as 14 A380s!) lifted to the height of 100m over one of the busiest interchanges in Dubai. The technology, planning and logistics needed during a pandemic to do it are equally impressive. I think in the past we may have taken these kinds of project for granted but it is great to see the UAE push the envelope once again. I’m sure most of us veterans of the industry here are happy to preach that we can learn from the mistakes of the past but let’s allow ourselves a moment to enjoy our peers’ accomplishments on this.

Well done all!

MACHINERY

Caterpillar plays PAC-MAN in latest Trial Series video

READERS’ COMMENTS

ANALYSIS: Taking green building mainstream

Name withheld by request

Tafawuq provides technology driven integrated facilities management solutions to a wide range of clients in various sectors focusing on residential, commercial and mixed use communities

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THE BRIEFING

Technology

Re-imagining Businesses MIDDLE EAST

Katriona LordLevins, chief success officer and senior vice president for Bentley Systems, talks to Angitha Pradeep about why E&C companies should invest in digital transformation

R

ecently published HKA’s 2020 CRUX Insight report investigated more than 1,100 projects with a combined CAPEX worth more than $1.8 trillion across 88 countries. It found that the cumulative value of sums in dispute have exceeded $48.6 billion and on average and claimed values had reached almost 56% of the projects’ planned capital cost.

The report summarised that the dominant cause of claims and disputes is change in scope closely linked with design failures; mismanagement of supply chain and related interfaces; and unforeseen physical conditions and deficiencies in workmanship.

Given these findings and the impact COVID-19 has had on the engineering and contrition (E&C) industry, Big Project

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

Faster and better Katriona Lord-Levins says that the industry needs to find a faster, better and more sustainable way of building.

$48bn

Cumulative value of sums in dispute have exceeded $48bn

ME sits down with Katriona LordLevins, chief success officer and senior vice president for Bentley Systems to discuss why companies need to invest in digital transformation. She outlines how they are helping their clients transition from seeing technology as not just a support tool but a success mindset.

“We have to figure out a faster, better and more sustainable way of building; we live in the world as it is today, so, from a solutions and technologies perspective, it’s always going to try and keep pushing the envelope and take out the risk components from the equation,” says Lord-Levins, who was recently appointed as the chief success officer – a new position at Bentley Systems.

“A large part of what we are trying to do is not just create point solutions for a user’s particular problem but

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56%

Claimed values have reached almost 56% of project’s planned capital cost

The importance of information Lord-Levins says the clients need to be shown the importance of information predictiveness and the value it will bring them in this data-rich world.

become their solution of choice.

This comes from understanding our clients and understanding what they are trying to do from their business perspective, and personally.”

Lord-Levins implies that the whole world is shifting from how software companies used to provide support for their tools to a success mindset.

“Largely,” she says, “I’m walking behind the software to ensure that it is being adopted in the right way and that we are providing the right tools to get into people’s DNA, which is the very key to achieving deep adoption.”

However, she points out that it isn’t always about the software; it’s also about the outcome that an account needs to have. If we know that our software will not guarantee certain aspects, we need to be transparent about it, Lord-Levins adds.

“Sometimes, this may open the door for our clients to bring in another tool into their workflow, but our aim is to become trusted advisors. We can only achieve that by setting and meeting the right expectations and being honest and transparent with our clients. We might not initially get the engagement, but we must continue developing that transparency and show them the value of engaging with us.

It’s one way of addressing concerns companies might have with digital transformation and changing their mindset about technology adoption.”

Lord-Levins observes that the communication and positioning that they have with their clients are three-fold: “The first is that we have to show our clients the importance of information predictiveness and the value that will bring them in this data-rich world. We have to show our clients how to grow their business and help them get ahead in the industry with the help of this data, so it’s not just about trusting the data.”

“The second is how do we convince the infrastructure layer within an organisation to put the right structure in place. Often, they are the blockers of new technology, so we adopt a course of action that focuses on making them feel confident with what is going on around the data. In the next stage, we look at training and rolling out the software. The third is our clients; how do we make our

A large part of what we are trying to do is not just create point solutions for a user’s particular problem but become their solution of choice” clients heroes with the software so they can get ahead and be known for what they are doing. In addition to this, part of the job in user success is to tackle all three layers and provide our clients with visibility into successes that we have achieved. This is so that, they can look to that and build their growth strategy.”

Lord-Levins says that for instance, during the COVID-19 crisis, companies that were already connected and digital in nature experienced minimal downtime regardless of where they were located. When we looked at the usage patterns, they were already prepared for working remotely because they were connected, she adds.

Elaborating on other facets of digital transformation, Lord-Levins believes that technology has levelled the playing field for women to some degree, particularly in the construction industry.

“Technology has come a long way to offer more opportunity and make people think that this is something that could interest them too. Over the years, I have seen more and more women in construction sites, and I believe that the mindset about working in E&C is evolving,” she explains, adding that maybe integrating more women into E&C fields is not about ‘brute force’ but slowly changing perceptions till it becomes natural.

Lord-Levins continues: “I think there is a tremendous need to have diversity and not just with skin colour or gender. Diversity is about difference in how one thinks and approaches situations, so it is more inside the mind than outside of the mind. Hence, why ‘hiring in your likeness’ is prevalent.”

“There is enormous value in having different types of people in senior roles because then there is diversity in thought, and this comes from initially bringing together different genders and races and all sorts of things,” she concludes.

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

10

THE BRIEFING

Coping with COVID-19 MIDDLE EAST

David Merritt of Driver Trett, takes a look at how the UAE construction industry is coping with the effects of the pandemic, and how it is evolving to move forwards

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

W

hilst the UAE’s construction industry was one of the few sectors to be exempt from a compulsory lockdown during the nationwide sterilisation campaign in March 2020, and many construction sites have in theory remained ‘open’, it has hardly been business as usual for most construction firms in the UAE. The disruption caused by COVID-19 had, and continues to have, a significant impact on the progress of many construction projects.

The uncertain availability of labour has been one of the main causal events of disruption. The sudden lockdown of lamp camps, whole

districts being quarantined for mass testing, key individuals self-isolating or being stranded elsewhere, specialist subcontractors not travelling and consultants staying away from site has all meant that contractors have been planning their projects on a day-to-day basis, and working with what resources are available rather than what they need to meet their contractual obligations.

And for the labour that does make it to site, contractors have had to implement and adhere to strict social distancing measures meaning site activities have often been carried out in an ad-hoc and ultimately non-productive manner.

Contractors have also had to lay on additional transport to ferry sociallydistancing labour to and from site, and

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Stretched resources The pandemic has stretched the resources of the construction industry, but also the central and local government agencies that oversee and regulate the industry.

March 2020

The UAE goes into a nationwide lockdown

provide hand sanitizer by the barrel load as well as thousands of face masks and gloves, which has all been in addition to the mandatory weekly sterilizations.

Significant delays in the supply chain have been equally disruptive.

International shipping has been unpredictable to say the least, longer custom clearance times and restricted cross border transportation along with a decrease in factory output has all meant that some contractors have been unable to source even the most basic of building materials; and even if they have managed to purchase materials in the local market place, they have almost certainly paid a premium for the privilege.

Central and local government have been predictably stretched during the pandemic with public health and safety being the priority. This has meant that the many statutory and administrative bodies that oversee and regulate the construction industry have been functioning with minimum resources and a constantly changing agenda. For the construction industry this has meant interruptions in dealing with civil defence authorities, local municipalities, development and utility authorities and delays in obtaining the mandatory approvals and permits.

Given the extent of delay and disruption caused to construction projects by the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19, claims for additional time and money are inevitable, but as with most delay and disruption claims, whilst the narrative may well be fairly straightforward, establishing an entitlement and proving causation will likely be the difficult bit.

The UAE Civil Code may provide some options for the contractor, but entitlement may turn on the unlikely scenario of impossibility of performance rather than delay, disruption, and any subsequent increase in the cost of carrying out the works. That being the case, the better (or maybe the only) option for the contractor may be to pursue specific liability clauses in the underlying construction contract.

The extent to which the contractor will be able pursue COVID-19 related claims under the contract will ultimately

Whilst contractors may see Covid-19 as the most obvious and persuasive basis for a claim for additional time and money, there remains the obvious challenges of proving and evidencing such claims” depend on the precise wording, ambit and, importantly, compliance with the liability clauses in the contract itself, particularly the extent to which the contractor has given proper notice and thereafter used reasonable endeavours to minimise the effect of the COVID-19 related events on the progress and completion of the works.

Whilst contractors may see COVID-19 as the most obvious and persuasive basis for a claim for additional time and money, there remains the obvious challenges of

proving and evidencing such claims.

Employers and engineers will rightly question and challenge the contractor to prove that the COVID-19 related events on which it relies, did in fact delay and/or disrupt the design, fabrication, supply, transport, productivity of labour and plant etc. and if so, to what extent? The issue of causation here is of course nothing new but the context is important.

Before the arrival of COVID-19, the construction industry in the UAE was already experiencing a major slump with cutbacks in government and private sector spending, a lack of liquidity and a weak property market all combining to squeeze contractors’ revenues and cash flow. Consequently, many projects were already in delay and contractors were struggling to meet their financial and contractual obligations, so whilst the effects of COVID-19 cannot be overstated, neither should they be used to paper over the cracks of an industry that was already struggling.

The new ‘frontline’ is therefore likely to form around the extent to which the contractor may have been in culpable default at the time, and the extent to which the contractor used reasonable endeavours to minimise the impact on the progress and completion of the works.

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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THE BIG PICTURE

01 UNITED STATES

03 UNITED KINGDOM

US Army base to get floating solar project

CityFibre awards $1.9bn construction contracts

Duke Energy has begun the construction of its first floating PV project at Fort Bragg, a US Army base in North Carolina. The company has signed a $36m contract for the project, which is designed to improve resilience, and generate 1.1MW of power. The project will be a notable addition to the US’ quickly growing floating solar market.

A Massachusetts-based renewable developer, Ameresco has been awarded the contract to build the project on base. This also includes a 2MW storage system tacked onto the project as well as lighting and water upgrades.

02 BRAZIL

Statkraft ready to start construction on Brazilian wind farm Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, Statkraft is ready to start construction of its Ventos de Santa Eugenia wind project in north-eastern Brazil. The project will include ten wind farms, which will collectively produce 2.3TWh of electricity a year, enough to supply 1.17 million households in Brazil. Statkraft is developing the VSE project at an estimated investment of $451m, and construction is expected to be completed by June 2023.

The project will include 91 163/5.7MW turbines, which will be supplied by Nordex.

UK-based digital infrastructure provider, CityFibre has awarded construction contracts worth $1.9bn for full-fibre rollouts across 27 towns and cities, which addresses three million premises. The new contracts will create about 3750 local network construction jobs, and will be part of a three-year recruitment and training programme. This is expected to facilitate job opportunities for 10,000 people.

CityFibre began awarding contracts for full-fibre rollout since the Gigabit City Investment Programme that started in 2018.

04 SPAIN

06 DENMARK

Repsol to build $223m biofuels plant

Northern Europe’s largest solar project planned in Denmark

Repsol, a Spanish fossil fuel company, is set to construct an advanced biofuels production plant at its Cartagena refinery in Spain at an investment of $223m. This will include commissioning a hydrogen plant, which will fuel a new hydrotreatment facility that will be equipped with advanced technology.

Slated to be operational in 2023, the new plant is expected to produce approximately 250,000 tonnes of advanced biofuels. The construction and commissioning of the plant is planned to be completed in different phases with support from auxiliary companies.

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

05 SWEDEN

NCC commissioned to expand subway depot in Sweden Region Stockholm has commissioned Swedish-based construction company, NCC to expand the subway depot in Högdalen, Sweden at a contract value of $90.4m. A total of seven buildings will be constructed at the depot location. Besides construction, the scope of work will also include groundwork, pipe and duct diversion.

Planning of the project will begin immediately, and the depot is expected to be completed by autumn 2025. The expansion project will increase the capacity of the depot to 40 trains.

Renewable energy developer, European Energy has said that it is constructing a $158m solar farm, which will become the largest of its kind in Denmark and possibly entire northern Europe. The company said that it has already received approvals from the local council to build the 300MW project in the municipality of Aabenraa in southern Jutland.

The Denmark farm will be installed near planned data centres as well as a major regional transformer station. The project is expected to deliver enough green power to supply 75,000 households.

01

THE BIG PICTURE

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04

03

05

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08 09 07

02

08 KUWAIT

CGGC completes batch one delivery for Al Mutlaa project 07 EGYPT

Egypt to build its largest international data centre Egypt’s first integrated telecom operator, Telecom Egypt, is building the country’s largest international data centre facility.

Expected to be commissioned in early 2021 with access to all the global submarine cable systems that land in the North African country, the new data centre is going to be the first in the country with the Uptime Institute’s certifications in the design, constructed facility, and operational sustainability categories. The new data centre will be connected to all of the 10 Mediterranean and Red Sea subsea landing stations.

China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) has completed delivery of the first batch of its units within the Al Mutlaa Residential City Project in Kuwait to the relevant authorities, ahead of schedule.

This includes the related plots for 12,177 housing units, which accounts for 70% of the project. The Chinese group has already excavated and backfilled approximately 70m cu. m of soil and stone, while also laying out 2,800km of underground pipe network. Once completed, the Al Mutlaa Residential City Project will accommodate 400,000 people.

09 IRAQ

Iraq announces plans for residential units in Karbala Iraq has announced plans to build residential units for workers in the country’s central Karbala governorate in a bid to ease the housing crisis in the region. Large plots of land have been already allocated. The homes will be constructed in various parts of Karbala in coordination with the Construction and Housing Ministry. The project aims to provide houses at affordable prices to local workers who require accommodation.

The affordable homes project will be funded by local investors and the General Federation of Iraqi Workers.

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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THE BIG PICTURE

10 11

14 13

12 15

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10 BAHRAIN

12 SAUDI ARABIA

Alba SPL treatment plant work 42% completed

Six Flags Qiddiya awards lead design contract

Aluminium Bahrain’s (Alba) construction work is in full swing at its Spent Pot Lining (SPL) treatment plant, a first-of-itskind facility in the GCC and Middle East region. Construction work began last year on the SPL treatment plant, which is being built over a 26,000 sqm area. The project has achieved a 42% completion rate clocking more than 178,000 safe workinghours without any loss time injury to-date.

The Alba treatment plant, which is expected to start up by Q2 in 2021, will boast an annual capacity of 35,000 tonnes of SPL.

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

11 SAUDI ARABIA

Neom awards $35m in contracts to Red Sea International Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city, Neom has awarded multiple contracts worth $35m to Red Sea International.

According to the terms of the first contract, Red Sea International will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for accommodation units, offices and all supporting buildings in Neom, worth $20.7m. Additionally, the second contract will cover facilities management, operations and maintenance services for accommodation units, offices and all supporting buildings. This is a three-year contract, worth about $14m.

SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a contract from Qiddiya Investment Company for the Six Flags Qiddiya theme park project.

Under the three-year contract, the company will provide integrated lead design consultant, construction supervision, and cost management services. The scope of work includes public realm and necessary infrastructure within the plot area along with validation of the pre-concept design, as well as the development of sustainability and environmental assessment methods, design criteria, and standards.

17 18

THE BIG PICTURE

15

14 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

ALEC completes final lift for One Za’abeel’s The Link 13 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Virgin Hyperloop hosts first passengers for test ride Virgin Hyperloop has passed a major milestone after the state-of-the-art transportation system hosted its firstever human passengers. Josh Giegel, co-founder and CTO, and Sara Luchian, director of Passenger Experience at Virgin Hyperloop, were the first two passengers with the pair taking a trip inside the 500m DevLoop test site in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Giegel and Luchian travelled in the custom-built XP – 2 vehicle, designed

by Bjarke Ingels Group, which can accommodate two passengers. The production vehicle will seat 28 passengers.

ALEC Engineering and Contracting has completed the final lift of The Link, a 9,500m steel cantilever which forms the central feature of One Za’abeel.

Raised to a height of 125m and situated between two towers that stand at 300m and 235m, The Link is expected to officially become the world’s largest cantilevered building upon completion, an official Guinness World record.

The final lift began on 21 October and took four-days. The Link went through final alignment during the week while the cantilever was welded into the towers.

15 OMAN

Sohar Port to become Oman’s first green hydrogen project SOHAR Port and Freezone in Oman has said that it has plans to turn the industrial port into a hub for lowcost hydrogen, replacing traditional hydrocarbons. It adds that it is also intends to move forwards with plans to develop a 3.5GW solar power capacity.

The planned facility will create carbon-free hydrogen from low-cost solar power, stored for use on demand.

The hydrogen will be stored for later delivery through pipelines and trailers to the port’s industries and tenants for clean transport and industrial purposes.

17 AUSTRALIA

Vinci JV wins $1.09bn Sydney Gateway road contract 16 INDIA

ADB grants $133m loan for power upgradation to India The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide a $132.8m loan to upgrade the power distribution network in the Indian state of Meghalaya. The project will involve the construction of 23 substations and the renovation and upgradation of 45 substations, including the provision of control room equipment and protection systems.

It will also include installation and upgradation of 2,214km of distribution lines as well as the associated facilities that cover three out of the six circles in the state.

Seymour Whyte, a subsidiary of Vinci, in a 50:50 JV with John Holland, has secured a contract worth $1.09bn for the Sydney Gateway road project in Australia. Upon completion, the project will provide a high capacity connection from the Sydney Airport and Port Botany to the new WestConnex St Peters Interchange.

Under the contract, the JV will construct 5kms of new and upgraded roads, as well as an interchange connection and 19 bridges.

The project is estimated to create approximately 4,000 jobs in the region.

18 AUSTRALIA

Brookfield Properties to develop two towers in Australia Brookfield Properties has secured the approval for the construction of two towers in Perth, Australia. The project is worth $367m and will provide 2,000 sqm. of office space, 1,800 sqm. of dining and retail space, and 237 apartments and 84 hotel rooms.

The towers are respectively 58 and 21 storeys, and the complete upper section of the first tower will be cantilevered to extend from the lower portion. The project has been designed

by New York-based architects Rex in consultation with local firm Hassell.

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

16

MARKET REPORT

Industry outlook

UAE Construction Outlook for Q4 2020 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Dr Deva Palanisamy of ProTenders takes an in-depth look at the UAE’s construction sector in the fourth quarter of 2020, as it looks to recover from the impact of COVID-19

I

t has been a difficult year for the UAE construction market due to the COVID-19 situation. However, the projects market posted a substantial increase in total project awards in 2020 to just over $66.4

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

billion from $57.2 billion the previous year.

In the absence of a vibrant urban sector, contractors and consultants have started looking towards the government infrastructure sector as a source of new project opportunities. Water, power, road, transport, and infrastructure are taking on greater significance to companies seeking to win a smaller pool of new business opportunities.

A total of 18,169 projects (including those on hold) are active in the region this year. There are new projects worth $15.2 billion (including master project planning only) that were announced during the first three quarters of 2020.

The UAE’s urban sector ($29.9 billion) has registered the highest contractor awards in 2020, followed by the energy and Infrastructure sector with $26.2 billion and oil and gas with $11.7 billion.

Projects in the design stage have been

slowed down – rather than being put on hold – and no real decisions have been made at the moment to move forward with any new projects. New projects will only be awarded if developers slash their original cost-to-build estimates. Furthermore, UAE contractors will have to go through the whole price negotiation process again and sign the re-pricing contracts because of the current pandemic circumstances.

Even projects that have been awarded recently are being put through re-pricing.

However, some sectors like water and renewable energy are growing. Oil and gas spending in Abu Dhabi is also forecast to increase over the coming year. Although there are undoubtable challenges in the short term due to COVID-19 and a slump in oil prices, the long-term scenario is still relatively healthy.

Regardless of what happens, the UAE market will remain one of the second largest construction markets in the MENA region.

MARKET REPORT

VALUE OF PROJECTS

BY STATUS ($BN)

ONGOING PROJECTS

BY SECTOR ($BN) Infrastructure

Planning

On Hold

1,398.4 Total Under Construction

592.5

UPCOMING PROJECTS

BY SECTOR ($BN)

Urban Buildings

192.9

101.8

448.5

17

336.2

Infrastructure

Urban Buildings

124.7

157.9

592.5 Total

357.4 Total

Oil & Gas

Oil & Gas

Design

157.2

Tender

98.4

63.4

74.8

In the absence of a vibrant urban sector, contractors have started looking towards the government infrastructure sector as a source of new opportunities�

50

30

8

25

15

4 China State Construction Engineering Corporation

Hill International

AECOM

Korean Electric Power Corporation

12

Khatib & Alami

45

WSP

75

KEO International

16

Abu Dhabi General Services PJSC

60

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)

100

Meraas Holding

20

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)

75

Emaar Properties

125

Consolidated Contractors Company

TOP 5 CONTRACTORS

BY VALUE ($BN)

ALEC Engineering & Contracting Company

TOP 5 CONSULTANTS

BY VALUE ($BN)

Samsung C&T Corporation

TOP 5 DEVELOPERS

BY VALUE ($BN)

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD FORECAST Q4 2020 ($BN) Main Contract Award

16.5

Tender

Postponed Award

120

100

80

60

40

81.9 20

Source: ProTenders

98.4

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

18

ANALYSIS

Sustainability

Taking Green Building Mainstream UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Nour Mousa, a senior sustainability consultant at Alpin Limited, shares her opinion on the impact of COVID-19 on the industry’s sustainability agendas and the future of environmentally friendly urbanisation with Angitha Pradeep

S

ince 2016, the World Economic Forum has identified climate and sustainability risks in their top three most likely and impactful global risks. In response to this, countries around the world have taken a collective decision to create a joint vision for sustainable and resilient urbanisation.

To this end, Dodge Data and Analytics, in 2018, predicted that nearly 60% of projects are expected to incorporate green construction elements by 2021.

KPMG’s 2020 Emerging Trends in Infrastructure report states that corporations are now starting to embrace the sustainability agenda, and more specifically, the concept of decarbonisation. Reportedly, 87 major companies have committed to supporting the 1.5 degree goal set out at the Paris climate talks, representing more than $2.3 trillion in market capitalisation.

As these figures indicate, the impact on the engineering and construction

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

A joint vision 60% of projects across the globe are expected to incorporate green construction elements by 2021.

87

87 major companies have committed to supporting the 1.5 degree goal

(E&C) environment and its response to the current demands are increasingly challenging. To better understand how this will affect sustainability agendas in the built environment, Big Project ME speaks with a senior official at an Abu Dhabi-based sustainability consultancy.

“The construction and engineering industry has seen a shakeup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a raft of new challenges coming, such as project delays, issues in the supply chain, logistical challenges, increased costs, and difficulties in scheduling faceto-face meetings and conducting site audits. For the sustainability industry, the adverse effects are very much aligned with the aforementioned ones,” says Nour Mousa, senior sustainability consultant at Alpin Limited.

However, she says that the industry has always faced its issues, and the solution to a lot of these challenges, especially the more novel ones, lie directly in sustainability. Companies need to

ANALYSIS

reassess the short-term and long-term sustainability of their business practices, which, Mousa states, very promisingly, many firms have been doing so.

“For example, the ‘usage of sustainable building materials’ is a major sustainability KPI for the Expo 2020 Dubai and 90% of the materials used in its construction are to be retained beyond the actual event. Initiatives like these showcase how the region is prioritising sustainability in construction, primarily through its increased efforts to procure recycled materials. These are native to the region such as concrete, steel, insulation, finishing products, and many others which also upholds the local production.”

She adds that the Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai also follows strict guidelines for the procurement of materials. It need to be recycled, regionally sourced, with lower embodied carbon levels, and comply with certain renowned sustainability standards.

She continues: “The local market has also long begun to develop and promote sustainable construction materials, making it accessible to project developers at very reasonable prices.

Such products follow ISO standards of Quality and Environmental Management, and others provide environmental information on the life cycle of a product.

This quantifies environmental impacts, allowing comparisons with other materials with the same function.”

“More and more developers are also using services such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for their projects to be able to minimise the environmental impact of a building’s construction and operation. A lot of green building certifications contain LCA credits which push project teams to develop one for their project to get more points and increase the level of their certification,” Mousa adds.

She points out that biophilic design and adaptive reuse are two trends that are gaining quite a bit of momentum in the global industry, and that there is an uptake for these practices in the Middle East region, too.

She explains that biophilic design is the incorporation of direct or indirect elements of nature in the built environment, and how essential it is

19

I believe space efficiency must be included in owners’ and developers’ requirements. It is not only beneficial in increasing their ROI, but it also cuts down on the time needed for any future optimisation of the space” Improved quality Nour Mousa says that developers are now making it a priority to improve the liveability of enclosed spaces thanks to increased awareness.

Setting the standard Alpin’s headquarters in Masdar City is the first WELL certified office in the Middle East.

due to the impact buildings can have on its occupant’s health and well-being.

“With increased awareness of sustainability and improved indoor environmental quality, developers are now making it a priority to improve the liveability of enclosed spaces. We have started to see some projects that have implemented biophilic design in their architecture, especially in workplaces and office buildings, in the last few years,” states Mousa.

“The WELL certification is a robust standard that focuses on wellness and human health where biophilic and creative designs can be incorporated to increase the quality of a space.”

Mousa reveals that Alpin’s headquarters in Masdar City is the first WELL certified office in the Middle East, and implementing biophilic design was one of the strategies they used to obtain the certification.

Elaborating on adaptive reuse, Mousa says, “It is well-suited with the concept of sustainability and represents a good example of the triple bottom line. Among other benefits, it also reduces waste of demolition and construction, reduces the cost of raw material extraction and use, and revitalises historic architecture.”

The triple bottom line is the belief that companies should

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

20

ANALYSIS

commit to focusing on social and environmental concerns as much as they do on profits, she emphasises.

Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue was an adaptive reuse project transformed from a marble-cutting workshop to a warehouse to a gallery which is now a regional hub of art and creativity.

Mousa also points out that the Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Dubai is a heritage district which was renovated and is now used to host cultural and artistic activities.

McKinsey & Company’s 2020 report tiled The Next Normal in Construction finds that investment in technology and facilities, and water conservation, are critical factors among other industry shifts, in sustainable construction.

The report states that R&D investment will become more important for specialised or more productised companies, so companies are likely to increase spending to develop new, innovative products and technologies.

In terms of water conservation, an example is the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

It has been reported that the expo site will use different water sources such as wastewater, air conditioning water, groundwater discharge management and reusing seasonal surface water flows to preserve water during its construction timeline.

Sustainable construction projects also aim to use fewer resources, such as energy. A 2020 analysis by the

Fewer resources Sustainable construction projects aim to use fewer resources, including energy.

$1.6tn Amount that can be saved annually via lean management

International Energy Agency, notes that despite the challenges emerging from the COVID-19 crisis, the fundamentals of renewable energy expansion have not changed. Solar photovoltaic plants and efficient HVAC systems are considered standard building practices, especially in countries such as the UK. Additionally, more businesses are focusing on their lead management since efficiency in power is not just an operative issue.

Research demonstrates that the industry could save $1.63 trillion every year by making adjustments to site operations.

When asked about the importance of efficiently using space and its positive environmental impact, Mousa asserts that it is one of their core values as sustainability consultants.

“We strongly recognise the importance, the associated return on investment (ROI), as well as the positive environmental impact of a space that is efficiently designed, constructed and maintained,” she says, adding that a structured and efficient system of space management, as well as having a task force to agree on targets and monitor their attainment are crucial requirements of efficient spaces.

Mousa expands: “I believe space efficiency must be included in owners’ and developers’ requirements. It is not only beneficial in increasing their ROI, but it also cuts down on the time needed for any future optimisation of the space. Having space that can be adapted for future purposes saves

More and more developers are also using services such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for their projects to be able to minimise the environmental impact of a building’s construction and operation” December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

ANALYSIS

energy and construction materials, and it significant in reducing negative environmental impacts.”

“Globally, we have seen substantial evidence of sustainable buildings providing financial rewards for building owners, operators, and occupants.

Sustainable buildings - when operated as intended - can have lower costs for energy, water, maintenance, and many other operating expenses.”

“For instance, using daylight in building interiors has always been a factor in building design; however, we are seeing it re-emerge currently as a trend due to the undeniable benefits it has on energy reduction and occupants’ health and well-being. Daylighting shapes many aspects of an occupants’ experience in a space and has a proven direct effect on people’s productivity, sleep quality, and alertness levels.”

Deloitte’s 2020 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook: A midyear update notes that an enhanced focus on worker safety could bring substantial

changes to current job sites and help accelerate the industry’s move to off-site construction methods. The report predicts that the COVID-19 pandemic will likely nudge firms toward modularisation and prefabrication.

EMIRATES BETON Jabel Ali Industrial Area 2 PO Box 111576 +971 4 320 9205 +971 4 3209322

Using space Mousa says that developers and planners must consider how to be utilise space when they design buildings and plan projects.

21

Modular construction is regarded as more sustainable due to reduced material waste and operational energy as well as optimised time-management in terms of project completion.

Moreover, in terms of LEED certification, prefabricated houses are often able to achieve a higher standard since raw materials are not left exposed for extended periods.

Mousa summarises that the adaptability of spaces, reuse, and retrofitting are concepts that they are starting to be seen more of in the region, and that learning about social and environmental issues in a business should be a priority among its stakeholders and the society as a whole.

“It is no longer an option to disregard the importance of having adaptable, efficient, and sustainable spaces. We are seeing more of these spaces in the UAE as the construction industry continuously develops towards a more environmentallyconscious one,” she concludes.

www.concreteindustriescomplex.com

TOTAL CONCRETE SOLUTIONS PRECAST | HOLLOWCORE | BLOCKS | PAVING | READYMIX

info@ebrm.ae HARD BLOCK FACTORY Jabel Ali Industrial Area 3 PO Box 37642 +971 4 880 1555 +971 4 880 1400 sales@hbf.ae HARD PRECAST BUILDING SYSTEMS Dubai Investments Park 1 PO Box 37642 +971 4 885 0058 +971 4 885 0057 mail@hpbs.ae

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

22

IN PROFILE

Dubai Land Department

Trust Transparency BIG PROJECT ME SPEAKS WITH MAJID SAQER AL MARRI, CEO OF THE REGISTRATION AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES SECTOR AT DUBAI LAND DEPARTMENT, ABOUT HOW DUBAI HOPES TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY WITHIN THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR AND ENSURE TRUST IN THE MARKET FROM INVESTORS

September2020 December 2020| |MEConstructionNews.com MEConstructionNews.com

23

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

24

IN PROFILE

n November this year, Dubai Land Department revealed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a leading professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment management, to create a ‘Commercial Property Price Index (CPPI)’.

The agreement will see the establishment of an official commercial property index, which will act as a reliable source of data for use by investors, agencies, and institutions. The index will also allow investors to monitor commercial market performance when making investment decisions and portfolio management. Furthermore, the partnership will also see the two entities work towards continuing to improve Dubai’s transparency and overall real estate investment health.

This agreement with JLL is just one example of how Dubai Land

Our efforts speak for our commitment to be future-ready through the continuous development of our services and applications that makes us one of the most advanced government entities in the world” Using technology Majid Saqer Al Marri says that technology can be used to strengthen Dubai’s real estate sector and make it future-ready.

2021

Dubai aims to become a smart city by 2021

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

Department is committed to using technology to strengthen Dubai’s real estate sector; as well as leveraging it to strengthen the emirate’s position as a real estate leader on a global scale and DLD’s partnership and relationships with the private sector.

With Dubai already enjoying a reputation for being one of the best investment destinations in the region thanks to its strategic location and investment-stimulating environment, initiatives such as the MoU will only enhance the emirate’s position, with greater transparency likely to attract increased local, regional and global institutional investors into the market.

While DLD already provides a regulatory method for registering lands and properties, while also protecting the rights of customers, this agreement and others like it, will create an environment that will not just attract investment, but also support the strategic real estate objectives of the government.

Investment in technology is a major aim for DLD, with the body also recently linking up with PropertyFinder.com to launch Mo’asher, Dubai’s official sales price index. In addition, it has integrated artificial intelligence into the valuation process of real

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Threat & Risk Assessment Gap Analysis Security System Design IT/AV Design Master Planning & Development Operational Requirements

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Testing & Commissioning Control Room Design System Integration Policies & Procedures Site Surveys & Audits Crisis Management

26

IN PROFILE

We will continue to evolve ourselves in the service of our customers, Dubai, and the region as a whole. As such, we became the first government entity to apply blockchain technology across all its operations” estate units, which reflects its keenness to provide smart services in line with Dubai government’s smart transformation strategy.

“Dubai Land Department (DLD) seeks to transform Dubai into the premier real estate destination in the world in terms of innovation, trust, and happiness. It sets out accomplishing that by providing an innovative and sustainable real estate environment that has turned Dubai into the happiest city through its smart services, granting open access to investors anytime and anywhere,” says Majid Saqr Al Marri, CEO of the Registration and

Real Estate Services Sector at Dubai Land Department, to Big Project ME in an exclusive interview.

“To that end, we have introduced a multitude of smart services, such as the Dubai Real Estate Self Transaction (REST) app, in the service of customers and Dubai residents as well as offered professional human and financial services and integrated real estate legislation, all in alignment with Dubai Plan 2021 for a smart and sustainable city,” he continues.

Al Marri explains DLD has been focusing on developing smart and innovative applications attract investors to Dubai by offering a wide

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

Smart services DLD has introduced a multitude of smart services in service of customers and Dubai residents, as well as professional and financial services.

2020

Dubai aims to become a technology capital

range of digital services to ensure utmost customer satisfaction and to further streamline processes.

“Our efforts speak for our commitment to be future-ready through the continuous development of our services and applications that makes us one of the most advanced government entities in the world.

With the support of our partners, such as service trustees, registration trustees, and survey companies, we spare no effort in attracting investments into the emirate.

“We will continue to evolve ourselves in the service of our customers, Dubai, and the region as a whole. As such, we became the first government entity to apply blockchain technology across all its operations, in cooperation with a number of our partners as well as in employing artificial intelligence and creating more transparent pricing policies in the registration and real estate services sector. These steps put us in line with the Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021 and Smart Dubai Government directives to make Dubai a global capital for this new technology in 2020,” he points out.

In addition, DLD has launched an application called Dubai REST, he says, explaining that this is a smart real estate platform through which all real estate services are fulfilled for property owners, tenants,

IN PROFILE

real estate brokers, developers, real estate valuators, investors, and all beneficiaries of the real estate market. It is available on both the App Store and Google Play in both English and Arabic.

The application enables property owners to access their properties through a real estate wallet that provides them with information about the current prices of their properties, rental returns, and service charges. It also allows them to submit a request for issuance of their property’s map, ‘To Whom It May Concern’ letters, mortgage bids, and property valuations as well as grants them the opportunity to settle service charges fees.

Furthermore, Dubai REST enables both property owners and tenants to manage leases (registration, renewal, and cancellations), submit rental dispute cases, and follow up on them.

“One of the most important features of the application is that it enables all beneficiaries of offplan projects to obtain real-time information about the projects, including percentage of completion, actual images of the project, the escrow account number, and project payment dues, among others. In addition, property owners may favourite projects to be able to followup on their details in real-time,” Al Marri says. “Aside from the above, the application also provides multiple

Real-time information The Dubai REST app allows both property owners and tenants to manage leases, submit rental dispute cases and follow up on them in real time.

200

Number of nationalities in Dubai

27

services for all real estate market beneficiaries, including displaying the rental index and the sale index across different periods. Moreover, the application provides details about real estate brokers and their performance levels, data on real estate offices and their classifications, valuation companies, management companies, consultancy companies, and certified developers, among others.

“Additionally, Dubai REST also grants all real estate market beneficiaries the ability to settle payments through the application or through the electronic payment portal, Noqodi,” he continues.

Thanks to the implementation of real estate technology, real estate MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

28

IN PROFILE

units can be valued without the need for most of the required documents through the interconnection of local databases and external systems, using an advanced model of artificial intelligence, based on accurate algorithms to analyse millions of transactions and data with extreme accuracy.

With Dubai courting investment from countries around the world, Al Marri says that these technologies will be crucial going forward for

Dubai’s real estate sector. Not only will they will open up greater investment opportunities for the disparate communities that reside in the emirate, and for the millions of people living in countries just a short flight away from it, they will also provide a level of transparency and trust that will reassure them that their investment is in a safe haven, he states.

“The emirate is home to more than 200 nationalities, including Indians,

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

International investment Dubai is courting investment from countries all around the world, especially from China.

Attractive market Al Marri says that Dubai’s digitally enabled real estate sector makes it an attractive market to international investors.

Pakistanis, Saudis, Britons, and Egyptians, all of whom are investing heavily in Dubai, especially Chinese investors who, over the past few years, have expressed increased interest in investing in Dubai’s real estate sector.

The majority of these investments were made in residential units, followed by shops and offices. This has resulted in Dubai becoming one of the most highly attractive real estate markets in the world,” Al Marri says as he brings the interview to a conclusion.

Office Location: Millennium Plaza Tower 14th Floor, Sheik Sayed Road P.O.Box 26290, Dubai, UAE www.intertek.com

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| MEConstructionNews.com July-August2020 December 2020| MEConstructionNews.com

PROJECT PROFILE

31

The Link – One Za’abeel PROJECT NAME: The Link – One Za’abeel PROJECT DEVELOPER: Ithra Dubai PROJECT CONTRACTOR: ALEC CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE: Mace TOTAL PROJECT VALUE: $923 million COMPLETION DATE FOR THE LINK: October 2020

Lifting the Link

BIG PROJECT ME SPEAKS TO ITHRA DUBAI AND ALEC, THE DEVELOPER AND CONTRACTOR BEHIND ONE ZA’ABEEL, TO FIND OUT HOW THEY CARRIED OUT THE RECORD-BREAKING LIFT OF THE LINK, A 9,500 TON, 226 METRE LONG STEEL STRUCTURE SUSPENDED 100 METRES ABOVE GROUND, BETWEEN THE TWO TOWERS OF THE MIXED-USE PROJECT | December 2020 MEConstructionNews.com MEConstructionNews.com| July-August

32

PROJECT PROFILE

owards the end of October this year, Ithra Dubai, the Dubai-based real estate developer wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, announced that the final lift of The Link had been successfully completed, bringing to a close a massively complex and challenging operation that involved several stakeholders and a labour force that numbered in the hundreds.

A cantilever spanning 226 metres and suspended 100 metres above ground level, The Link is the centrepiece of One Za’abeel, Ithra Dubai’s showpiece mixed-use development at the heart of Dubai. Once operational, the panoramic sky concourse is set to become the longest cantilevered building in the world, and a destination for both tourists and residents in Dubai. The developer promises that visitors will be able to enjoy immersive experiences, in addition to ultra-

Our lifting master had to make decisions based on specifically formatted and interpreted information fed by the team leaders, each representing an essential factor in the decisionmaking process” Record breaker The Link has been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the longest cantilevered building in the world.

226

Total length of the structure, in metres

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

luxurious hospitality and entertainment venues, including Michelin-starred restaurants, an infinity pool, a highend spa, and an observation deck.

Consisting of two towers and one link bridge, One Za’abeel is a multipurpose project that will cover a total built-up area of 470,000 square metres and has been built with connectivity in mind as it intersects between Dubai’s International Financial Centre and the International Airport. Planned to be completed in stages starting from the fourth quarter of 2021, the development will offer high-end residential, office and retail spaces, along with the world’s first vertical urban resort, which will be under

the One & Only brand. Furthermore, the project also aims to achieve LEED Gold certification, Ithra Dubai adds.

“The completion of The Link at One Za’abeel is the sum of effort, imagination, collaboration and the desire to create a meaningful and timeless contribution to Dubai. We are thrilled to be part of the city’s narrative and to join its long list of firsts,” says Issam Galadari, director and CEO of Ithra Dubai.

He adds that the lift of The Link was carried out over two phases, the first of which took place in September when the first structure of The Link measuring 192 meters was lifted 100 meters above ground level. It was carried out over 12 days in one of the heaviest lifting operations in the region, weighing over 8,500 tons.

Due to its size, the Link Bridge had to be assembled in eight segments, using seven different cranes. Segment A was the largest, weighing 2,200 tons, while the smallest was Segment E, which weighed 700 tons.

Because of the sheer size and weight of the Link Bridge, prior to its construction, the podium structure needed to be reinforced with heavy steel props, meaning the erection of a massive assembly platform was needed.

Kez Taylor, CEO of ALEC, the main contractor on One Za’abeel and the company who oversaw the successful completion of the lift, points out that throughout the process, the team had

PROJECT PROFILE

33

lifting equipment; the load transfer mechanisms, as well as many other factors that directly impacted all aspects of the construction process.

We developed several scenarios for each step, and the most effective one was retained. It is important to mention that many workshops took place to ensure that we made the right decision, in accordance with Dubai’s RTA and other local authorities, so as to ensure complete safety at all times.

How was the construction of One Za’abeel planned, coordinated, and executed around the lifting of The Link?

The Link Bridge activities made a significant impact on the overall construction. All the structural steel activities pushed our logistics requirements to the absolute limit, forcing us to formulate and implement many innovative ideas.

All possible measures were taken to optimise material delivery timing, material storage area, as well as internal material transport.

Moreover, assembling 9,500 tons of steel structure on a podium structure that was never designed to take such load, as well as enabling towers to undertake lifting forces, was a construction task on its own.

Due to the extreme eccentric load on both towers, those had to be vertically pre-set – in other words built out of plum, so that the gradual increase of load during construction brings them back to the required verticality. to continuously monitor the structural behaviour of The Link, as well as the towers, in order to continuously reassure the design’s integrity and strength.

Given the scale and size of the accomplishment, both Galadari and Taylor spoke to Big Project ME About the challenges that came with executing the lift, and how all the stakeholders involved worked closely together to deliver a successful outcome.

What were some of the key decisions that made during the planning and design stage to ensure the successful execution

8

Total number structure segments

Clear guidelines The project team had to define clear technical guidelines with an optimisedapproach to the assembly and lift of the The Link.

of the lifting of The Link?

The lifting process was one of the most challenging aspect of the process. We had to define clear technical guidelines with an optimised approach to the assembly and the lifting methodology.

As a starting point, decisions on a few technical procedures had to be taken, such as the number of segments in which the Link Bridge would be assembled and slid in position; the length of each slide performed in order to position the Link Bridge on the ground; the number of segments in which the Link Bridge would be lifted; the position and size of the lifting gantries and

Can you outline the process of lifting The Link into place?

What was the planning, site management, coordination and execution process like over the course of the lift?

A seven-day operation was planned for almost three years so as to understand, to the fullest, the structural behaviour.

A control room was built in the building to ensure full control of the operations including the lifting process, communication line, information formatting and interpretation, technical guidelines as well as emergency procedures between all teams.

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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PROJECT PROFILE

Our lifting master had to make decisions based on specifically formatted and interpreted information fed by the team leaders, each representing an essential factor in the decisionmaking process. The operation was conducted by seven independent teams: the Structural teams of Tower A and B, who were monitoring structure behaviour, acoustic signs and concrete cracking in the towers’ structure; the QA/QC team monitoring the temporary structures, as well as the Link Bridge connections behaviour; the Logistic team was providing support by ensuring electricity supply and spare parts, as well as cranage and internal transport; the HSE team played a crucial role in access control as well as task-specific safety control, signage and high risk area demarcation; then there was the Authorities team which provided interface with all involved authorities departments and guidelines for traffic management; the Monitoring team was tasked with collecting, converting and interpreting structure monitoring information collected from over 800 devices and monitoring points.

With regards to HSE – what were some of the precautions taken during the execution of the lift?

How did you ensure the safety and security of all involved, while also minimising the risk?

Apart from a safe approach to temporary design, and ensuring that all safety factors are in place, we also needed to ensure that all tasks were performed safely from a technical point of view, with extensive precautions in terms of Health and Safety with the involvement of our employees.

Extensive training sessions were conducted to ensure adequate safety at the highest level. Considering the complexity of works, we implemented different level of access control to avoid having too many people around the most high-risk areas.

In agreement with RTA and other relevant local authorities, a decision was made to mitigate even the slightest possibility of any accidents and the live highway was shut down for several hours during each stage of the lift.

What were some of the specific engineering techniques that were deployed during the lift, so as to ensure that the project was carried out with minimal complications?

A particularly interesting part of The Link Bridge construction is the actual technology that was used for the lifting.

The Link Bridge was strand-jacked 105m in the air using a system of 24 highcapacity jacks, with strand bundles each containing 55 strands. The jacks used for such tasks were a mix of 580-and 330ton jacks, providing the lift team with a combined capacity of nearly 11,500 tons.

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

7

Total days lifting duration (stage 1)

Highway shutdown The live highway running between the towers and under The Link was shut down for several hours during each stage of the lift.

These jacks were powered by hydraulic pumps and were controlled via specific software enabling stringent control of system behaviour and load distribution. Therefore, the movement control of the Link Bridge was so precise that it enabled the Link Bridge level adjustment to be as precise as 3mm.

Also, a particularly sophisticated automatised monitoring system was implemented, allowing the Control Room team to be aware of local and overall building position, displacement, load distribution and load paths as well as eventual unpredicted parameters deviation.

PROJECT PROFILE

What were some of the major challenges encountered during the lifting process? How did the project team overcome them?

Most of the challenges that we encountered were during the design stage. Those were related to the structural behaviour of both towers and The Link bridge at various stages of construction.

What was particularly of interest was displacements, as this required pre-camber and pre-set as well as enabling successful load transfer at each construction stage.

However, the combination of methodologies developed for those tasks as well as implementation of new materials enabled designers to achieve the targeted values.

What was the method used to secure the cantilever in place?

Why was it chosen for this project?

From the beginning, the design intent was to create a rigid connection bridge between both towers. This was achieved with full penetration welds on all interface connection members between the towers and the Link bridge as well as all members within the Link Bridge itself.

This is a common welding technique in steel structure fabrication and installation.

The most challenging sections were called the ‘Jumbo Sections’. These sections have steel flanges thickness spanning from 80mm till 150mm. The steel had to be pre-heated and maintained between

120⁰C to 250⁰C to complete the welding of a section. Additionally, some of splices on the steel members required 36 days of uninterrupted welding.

We have highly qualified engineers on site, who have worked on the process, including welders that have been pre-qualified for this particular task.

What was the timeline for the lift? When did the whole process start, and when does it finish?

The first lift of One Za’abeel Link Bridge was performed, as planned, within seven days and consisted of three stages, as previously mentioned. Stage One was a lift off the ground (by only 1,000mm).

Design challenges Ensuring that the structural behaviour of the towers and The Link remained consistent was a major design challenge.

9,500 Total weight of the structure, in tonnes

35

This represented the most crucial part of the operation that happened on day one. At this stage, the load path changed entirely, and therefore, the structure acquired a new position.

At Stage Two, all temporary steel that was welded on the Link Bridge for sliding purposes were to be removed. So, the Link Bridge was essentially suspended from the towers but not moving, while redundant temporary steel was removed.

This stage took three days and was completed successfully on time.

Stage Three was the most intense stage from an operational point of view as it involved the largest team.

It was planned to lift the Link Bridge in its final position within three days including the final alignment. This was successfully achieved with no unexpected issues faced during the entire operation. Stage Three was the most visible stage changing the skyline of Dubai within few days.

The second lift of One Za’abeel represents the lifting of the final piece of the Link Bridge – the Cantilever tip is 33m in length, with a weight of near 1,000 tons of structural steel. The Lift Two was carried out in two stages.

The lift off ground was achieved with a 24-hour operation.

Stage Two was three-days long and consisted of lifting The Link into position. This marked the end of lifting operations and a major milestone on the One Za’abeel project.

Extensive training sessions were conducted to ensure adequate safety at the highest level. Considering the complexity of works, we implemented different level of access control to avoid having too many people around” MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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EXPERT VOICE

Voltas

Maximising Performance through Technology MIDDLE EAST

Big Project ME speaks to AR Suresh Kumar, vice president and head of the International Operations Business Group for Voltas, about finding sustainable solutions via technology

In your opinion, how is the Middle East (ME) region shifting its approach towards using technology to maximise building performance?

Construction is one of the key sectors in the ME and employs one of the largest workforces. However, the adoption of technology has been slow and only in certain pockets. While scheduling and planning tools like Primavera and MSP have almost become a norm, technology has not been able to permeate through to construction sites as much as one would have imagined.

In recent years, cutting edge technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) have attracted plenty of attention across sectors. Construction, by far, has

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

been a bystander in this journey.

While some leaders in the industry have gone ahead to explore its usecases, the actual implementation has been at pilot projects and test sites at best. In terms of design and engineering, building information modelling (BIM) has gathered traction across GCC. I firmly believe there is a huge opportunity to reduce cycle times and improve productivity at sites by leveraging technology. I’m also confident that in the next 10 to 15 years, technology will not only be the key growth-driver but also the differentiator to decide who will survive in the market.

How do organisations such as yours explore new processes and technologies to increase efficiencies?

At Voltas, we recognised the potential of leveraging technology about three years back and formed the Centre of Excellence (CoE). Its mandate is to evaluate opportunities for improvement in all aspects of the business; find sustainable solutions for business problems by leveraging technology; and to ensure complete implementation of solutions across the organisation, to realise planned benefits.

With CoE as our foundation, we are confident that we would be able to lead the digital transformation journey in the sector and the region, to maintain our leadership status.

How is Voltas approaching the current pandemic environment, in terms

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Please visit the Voltas website at: www.voltas.com of risk mitigation and project management?

We formed a cross-functional task force to manage and lead this effort. One of our focus areas was to ensure extensive testing of all our staff and workers, while high-risk individuals (who are more than 50 years) were tested at regular intervals. The task force was continuously connected and involved in making critical decisions about the safety and movement of people. While our first priority was to comply with directions from the government and other agencies, we went a step further and adopted all bestpractices to combat the spread of the pandemic. We came up with a Standard Operating Procedure for managing exigencies related to the pandemic, and it was put into practice at our offices and sites. Anyone who was tested positive was given full support in terms of medical expenses, managing his daily needs, and counselling to alleviate any mental health concerns.

Today, we are using technology as an enabler to drive productivity at the site and ensure the safety of our employees. The supervisory staff at our sites are using a tablet-based application to plan and monitor their site activities.

Our managerial team is tracking the project progress across engineering, procurement, and construction using real-time data on data visualisation tools. Senior management members have access to project report or project data on their phones to monitor the projects. This has helped us to improve visibility, make quicker decisions, and reduce project delays. These tools have also significantly reduced the usage of paper at the site, thus reducing the risk of spread of COVID-19.

adolescent period into a more established state?

If we look back at the last two to three decades, the growth of the construction sector has been fascinating in GCC. There has been fast and high-quality development across various enduse categories, and now the time has come when these assets have started showing signs of ageing.

Another critical factor has been the change in design, technology and the advent of co-working spaces which has become very popular in the last five to seven years. With this background, the retrofitting market is witnessing an unprecedented demand. Also, due to the pandemic, service requirements have become more stringent, and there is enough work available for service providers who have the right skill-set and experience in this space.

While the market is still largely tender based where the lowest bidder usually walks away with

the contract, I feel that customers will start valuing the credibility and process-based quality delivery of large players. This is also the right time for contractors to up their game by leveraging technology to meet the high expectations of their customers.

In the next 10 to 15 years, technology will not only be the key growthdriver but also the differentiator to decide who will survive in the market�

Going forward, what changes will you implement in your organisation to be more digitally connected?

We have reached a stage wherein digital interventions are not mere tools but part of our project delivery model. We have also received positive feedback from our customers and employees in this journey. We, at Voltas, know that technology is the future, and the pandemic has only strengthened our belief.

We are willing to examine more sophisticated technologies like AI, Robotics (RPA), AR/VR, etc., to explore further opportunities for improvement in our business.

Would you say the retrofitting market for MEP services in GCC are maturing from an MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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SMART CITIES REPORT

The Age of Electric ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS IN THE FAST LANE FOR THE REGION Saving Time HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TOOK TWO WEEKS OFF CONSTRUCTION TIME FOR THE COCA-COLA ARENA

Making Smart Cities Smarter

JANUS ROSTOCK OF AECOM SHARES HIS INSIGHTS ON HOW HARNESSING THE POWER OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY WILL SHAPE HOW WE PLAN CITIES

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Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

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IN PROFILE

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Janus Rostock

Make Smart Cities Smarter

JANUS ROSTOCK, VICE PRESIDENT, PRACTICE LEAD DESIGN, PLANNING & ECONOMICS, HEAD OF CONCEPT ARCHITECTURE AT AECOM, SHARES HIS INSIGHTS ON HARNESSING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND MASTER-PLANNING PROJECTS IN THE REGION MEConstructionNews.com | Smart Cities Report 2020

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IN PROFILE

In association with:

Big Project ME sits down with Janus Rostock, vice president, Practice Lead Design, Planning & Economics, head of Concept Architecture at AECOM to understand how cities can truly accomplish a smart way of living among its citizens.

rost & Sullivan’s latest forecast states that smart cities’ spending on technology in the next six years is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.7%, reaching $327 billion by 2025 from $96 billion in 2019. The report also adds that investments in smart initiatives are expected to rise over the next two years.

Smart cities are at its core, sustainable cities that enable its residents to live the most environmentally friendly life without making compromises or redefining their preferences. Studies have shown that people are more likely to make sustainable choices when they get influenced and getting tangible evidence that what they do has an impact. This is the reason why wearable technology, for instance, influences people to get moving and hit targets.

This also points to a future where people are influenced by data collected about sustainable behaviours and reduced

Digitally enabled Citizens are digitally enabled through mobile devices and wearable technology, allowing them to make informed decisions, says Janus Rostock.

22.7% CAGR of spending on technology by 2025

consumptions and is also high on the agenda for many countries and cities around the world. Meanwhile, the use of renewable energy is also on the rise, as the market matures, and the cost and efficiency of renewable energy are no longer a barrier to its adoption.

The report adds that smart cities have already invested in contact tracing wearables and apps, open data platforms, autonomous drones, and crowd analytics to fight the pandemic. Post-pandemic, investment in smart projects like smart grids, intelligent traffic management, autonomous vehicles, smart lighting, e-governance services and data-enabled public safety and security will also rise.

In your opinion, what truly defines a smart city and is employing digital technology enough for a city to be considered ‘smart’?

According to the US Smart City Council, a smart city can be a district, town, city, country, or municipality that is built on an Information Communications Technology (ICT) system and supports several building and infrastructure services (e.g. buildings, water, power, transportation, and emergency response).

Many cities around the world have adopted technologies to manage and improve city operations, advancing these common places. As citizens, we are all digitally enabled through our mobile devices and wearable technology.

The question therefore is, what makes the cities today uniquely smart?

I believe that at the heart of a smart city, are smart-enabled people. When we as citizens can make informed decisions enabled by technology and knowledge, we achieve more significant outcomes, such as increasing sustainability, reducing waste, improving efficiency, and enhancing our overall quality of life. There is, therefore, a correlation

Smart cities today are not necessarily the most digitally enabled cities, but they have the best understanding of what their residents desire to achieve from technology and how they mitigate the city’s challenges” Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

IN PROFILE

Smart City: Smart Project Life Cycle between smart cities, quality of life and liveability. The key to unlocking the potential of this is data and the availability and sharing of that data.

Smart cities today are not necessarily the most digitally enabled cities, but they have the best understanding of what their residents desire to achieve from technology and how they mitigate the city’s challenges and what KPIs are needed for the city to attract the right residents and to be successful.

Cities today compete on the global stage for investment, employment, and talent. Factors like quality of life and liveability are high on the agenda for investors, employers and talent when choosing where to invest, relocate to and take residence. The smart city element is, therefore, an enabler and a competition parameter for cities.

What are some of the challenges around the uptake of harnessing digital technology and the data it produces?

There are enormous amounts of data being produced every day, and the potential in mining this data is enormous.

Smart cities are predicted to create $2.46 trillion worth of business opportunities by 2025, according to Frost & Sullivan. This is in terms of technology and solutions, but the data itself could also be a potential source of revenue for different authorities.

Some of the blockers that we have seen are the historic silos and a ‘them and us’ mentality amongst stakeholders.

Smart cities are, per definition, holistic in their outlook – the purpose of harnessing technology is to find and eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, increase safety, transparency, and service levels. Smart cities, therefore, need a robust governance framework that ensures the user rights and privacy, whilst allowing data to flow freely for the public and private sector to be able to mine, create new and better solutions for more sustainable and liveable cities.

Looking at my hometown, Copenhagen, the city has been testing a City Data Exchange platform to understand the commercial potential in trading data. This allows the public sector, as well as the private sector, to mine this data to create new business

management and leak detection • Power control and security systems integration • Storm water management and urban flooding SMART ENERGY • Smart grid automation and flexible distribution • Smart metering managing and demand response • Renewables integration and microgrid • Real-time smart grid software suite • Gas distribution management SMART MOBILITY • EV charging infrastructure supervision services • Traffic management • Tolling and congestion charging • Integrated mobility, public transit, traveler information SMART WATER • Distribution

SMART BUILDINGS AND HOMES • High performance buildings • Energy efficiency and security solutions • Energy services • Efficient homes • Home energy management • Connection to the smart grid DIGITAL CITY SERVICE • eGovernment • Education • Healthcare • Tourism • Street lighting management SMART PUBLIC SERVICES • Public safety • Video surveillance • Emergency management

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opportunities and ecosystems.

Based on the European Union General Data Protection Regulations, the regulation now gives individuals power over the use of their personal data and holds organisations accountable for their data collection and usage practices. When individuals own their data, there is a potential for citizens in the future to allow the use of their data in return for a fee.

What are some of the ways cities can improve their efficiencies by utilising data and self-optimising tools?

Data can improve transparency and efficiency in all areas, from housing and water systems to energy production and transportation networks. Collecting the right data allows us to identify the most vulnerable areas, supporting our ability to plan and prioritise. We can make choices that reduce our cities’ carbon footprint through our access to effective information on the implications of different infrastructure, housing, transport, and other city choices.

Besides, data helps us to identify areas that are most at risk, particularly within our most vulnerable communities.

Traditionally, city agencies work in isolation from one another and separate from the private sector. By sharing data and working across agencies and jurisdictions, it is possible to integrate and coordinate projects. The result identifies creative solutions, prioritises

MEConstructionNews.com | Smart Cities Report 2020

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IN PROFILE

In association with:

key projects, shortens development timeframes, reduces budgets, builds support, and attracts significant capital to the urban infrastructure market.

Data analytics help to drive performance monitoring of city operations across elements, such as transportation, power, water, and security. Besides, it also supports the automation of service responsiveness to shifts in demand.

Understanding and applying infrastructure performance data will help improve system efficiency and leverage smart, intelligent data platforms to streamline operations.

How can we design smart cities that optimise energy usage, specifically in terms of technologies such as smart grids and smart metering?

Preserving our planet’s precious resources and reducing our carbon footprint is high on the agenda for many countries and cities around the world. The use of renewable energy, smart grids and microgrids is something that is on the rise.

Previously the cost and efficiency of renewable energy have been a barrier to adaptation, but as the renewable market matures, they are becoming more attractive alternatives to the traditional methods of energy generation.

Driving performance Data analytics wil help to drive performance monitoring of city operations across elements, such as transportation, power, water and security.

Urban Data: A Smart City Framework Data can be gathered from an array of sources, with a vast spectrum of information available.

Critically, the future is about accessing the right data, and then using it in a meaningful way. AECOM’s experience in designing and delivering urban systems provides us with unique insight that forms the basis to deliver far reaching and comprehensive urban analytics. Our proprietary tools offer support for dynamic operations and predictive modeling across infrastructure domains.

DOMAIN SYSTEMS

across a range of domains and systems relevant to cities, including buildings, places, water, waste, energy, transportation, and ecological systems, as well as issues of sustainability, resilience, and alternative delivery.

URBAN ANALYTICS Decision support tools, system integrators, feedback loops

Smart decisions are the hallmark of Smart Cities. Our decision support tools are designed to leverage data from domain specific systems and develop real-time, dynamic and predictive approaches that optimize city planning, operations and governance.

Data models, simulation tools, CapEx and OpEex costs

CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

AECOM has deep expertise

Social media, crowd sourced

Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

data, response feedback

Citizen engagement is a key aspect of smart cities and AECOM leverages its rich experience in public engagement with the latest technologies in socialmedia, crowd sourced data, and multimedia narratives to make smart cities meaningful for its citizens.

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE Networks, data models, databases, sensors

A robust and secure digital infrastructure is the foundation of the Smart City. AECOM an Cl partners can build and utilize a network of wired and wireless communications connected to sensors and IOT enabled devices.

According to The World Bank, we globally lose around 8% in power distribution, so finding ways to optimise and reduce these losses is practical.

The integration of energy production in our buildings, and the export to the grid, is still something that many energy providers are still not willing to pay market rates for, despite the need.

Smart meters work very well and can give us real-time information. For example, recently I received a text alert from DEWA stating that my water usage in the last 48 hours had been higher than usual and that I likely had a leak somewhere. I immediately started to look for leaks and found it underground in the garden. Before we had the smart meter, I would only discover a leak when it was visible on the surface or at the end of the month when I compared my water usage to previous years. The smart meter, combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning, is proving to be very efficient and a great return on investment.

Given this region’s unique

IN PROFILE

Collecting the right data allows us to identify the most vulnerable areas, supporting our ability to plan and prioritise.

We can make choices that reduce our cities’ carbon footprint through our access to effective information” environmental challenges and conditions, how can smart cities be designed and planned, while still being cost-effective?

In the Middle East, there are some inherent challenges. One being that the hot climate, which necessitates the need for cooling of our indoor spaces, requires excessive amounts of water to keep our landscapes and open spaces green. The other challenge is our reliance on cars. This is the preferred mode of transport which results in large investments in road infrastructure. I see great opportunities for optimisation in the sense that all our current systems are currently designed for peak demand with little focus on changing behaviours and challenging status quo.

The coronavirus pandemic has leapfrogged the adaptation of technology by most in the developed world, and we now do most things without having to leave the comfort of our homes.

Employers now understand that they can trust their workers to work remotely and still be as productive as when they are in the office.

Cities like London have a congestion tax to encourage people to use public.

Copenhagen has reduced road capacities and parking provisions and has increased cycle lanes and introduced high parking tariffs in the city centre to encourage people to cycle or use public transport. We believe that this has shown many cities around the world

that different levers can be used to reduce our common carbon footprint.

How is AECOM applying its knowledge and insights about smart cities in the course of masterplanning projects in this region?

Our human-centric masterplans are designed frameworks that are flexible enough to allow for future developments, and people are front and centre of the design.

Master-planning is, at its core, about ensuring the best citizen experiences. This starts with an optimal distribution of land-uses to ensure that everything from mobility, roads and

Best experiences Janus Rostock says that master planning is, at its core, about ensuring the best citizen experiences, with optimal distribution of land use.

$2.46

trillion amount of business created by smart cities by 2025

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power generation is balanced and not intrusive. Traditional mono-land use planning has intrinsic issues, and at its core, not sustainable. Mixed-use is the most optimal way of designing large scale masterplans. This ensures that infrastructure is there to support and enable the desired lifestyle and will always be designed with the flexibility in mind to ensure the longevity of the plan.

There is no substitute for good planning. Technically supported strategies for a ‘smart city’ should be used to support comprehensive physical planning and governance to enhance and optimise urban qualities.

In short, smart city data can help bridge the financial gap between infrastructure demand and provision. It can help raise the capacities we get from existing infrastructure by optimising the timing of use and by reducing downtime.

We can optimise use by introducing energy or traffic pricing to encourage citizens to shift usage away from peak hours. We can also help reduce downtime by tracking failure risks and by providing pre-emptive care.

Data can also reduce resource waste by identifying leaking water pipes or electricity losses that can be fixed.

This then would help owners and operators examine how to optimise supply to meet demand. It is almost always cheaper and more effective to optimise systems already in existence than to build something new.

MEConstructionNews.com | Smart Cities Report 2020

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AUTOMATION

Electric vehicles

The Age of Electric MIDDLE EAST

The EV Race is Speeding Up in the Middle East and Africa region, ABB’s regional head of Electrification, Loay Dajani explains how policymakers and technology players are working together to cross the finish line Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

A

new era was born when the ABB FIA Formula E championship came to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

The Diriyah E-Prix takes place at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, outside Riyadh. Staging an international motorsport event in such a sensitive location is a testament to the muted sound levels and zero-pollution powertrains of the all-electric race cars.

Further, the decision to hold races for fully electric cars in an oil-rich region of the world demonstrates that sustainably sourced electric power can help improve air quality and reduce climate impact.

We saw the kingdom demonstrate commitment to a more sustainable transport future when the Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid Al-Falih, spoke at the Saudi Energy Forum (SEF) in Riyadh. He discussed ways to harness electric vehicles (EVs) to accelerate the Kingdom towards achieving the Vision 2030 reform plan targets.

Introduction of electric cars into Saudi Arabia is unlikely to jeopardise the country’s oil sector, he added.

Across the Red Sea, policy makers in Egypt are moving swiftly in the same direction. Minister of Public Enterprise, Hisham Tawfik, has said

AUTOMATION

Egypt will produce 25,000 electric cars annually from Spring 2021. The Egyptian EV will be produced by El Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Co., which will re-open specifically to manufacture EVs – creating thousands of new jobs and signalling the start of an entirely new value chain. The government has also taken the right steps towards stimulating demand by offering conditional customs exemptions on new and used EV imports.

In the United Arab Emirates – a nation that has long embraced EVs – the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy issued a new directive in September 2020 that will raise the number of EVs and hybrid vehicles to at least 10% of the country’s total import of vehicles by the end of 2024.

The move is in line with the Smart Dubai initiative, which includes a ‘carbon abatement strategy’ and aims to make Dubai the smartest city in the world.

Electric impact The Diriyah E-Prix at the World Heritage Site is a demonstration of the muted sound levels and zeropollution powertrains of electric cars.

2018

Year Formula E came to Saudi Arabia

WORLD EV DAY – A GLOBAL FIRST The political will is clear: from Abu Dhabi to Cairo to Riyadh, the region’s most populous Arab states are committed to a future of clean air, lower carbon emissions and energy efficiency: they are committed to the age of the electric vehicle. With policy heading in the right direction, where are we right now with the technology?

This year also saw the first World EV Day, which took place in September. The event was designed to celebrate and raise awareness around EV technology and encouraged participation from countries and individuals around the world, with an invitation for people to pledge that the next vehicle they drive will be electric.

The greatest challenge in scaling up EVs is in getting power to where it needs to be, quickly and reliably. This goes to the heart of two technological stories: storage and distribution.

For EVs to deliver on what policy makers in the Middle East are aiming for, we need a national network of ultra-fast charging stations and high performance in-vehicle storage.

ABB is investing heavily in research and development that is geared toward constantly improving its market-leading charging solutions. It has, for example,

For EVs to deliver on what policy makers in the Middle East are aiming for, we need a national network of ultrafast charging stations and high performance invehicle storage” just launched its first Vehicle to Grid charging pilot with a solution which will set the global benchmark for bidirectional charging, a key step in enabling the next step in our e-mobility ecosystem.

Meanwhile, we are also proud of the developments we have made in electrical distribution over the past 100 years, enabling end-to-end e-mobility solutions to the transport of tomorrow, today.

TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS The advances made, particularly in fast charging are incredible: in July 2020, ABB announced that as of Season 9 it will also supply fast charging technologies to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Together with engineers from motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, and Formula E, ABB’s Electrification teams are currently working on the specifications and requirements to develop an innovative and safe solution for charging the lighter, faster and more energy-efficient Gen3 cars

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through portable charging units that can charge two cars simultaneously.

There have been some key milestones on our EV journey to date, where ABB has been a key player in changing the e-mobility landscape, starting with the acquisition of the Epyon DC fast charging company in 2011, which became the nucleus for all future development.

In 2013, ABB was the first company to develop networks of 50 kW chargers, spanning complete nations.

This was paired with a unique cloudbased service for remote monitoring and servicing of chargers, which was a real game-changer for connectivity, and which is now part of the ABB Ability ecosystem.

More recently, in 2018, ABB was the first to market with our liquid-cooled full 350 kW capable charging technology, which delivers higher power and charging speeds. This was followed at the start of 2020 with the acquisition of Chinese EV charging provider Chargedot.

WAY FORWARD With ultra-fast charging now upon us, the final piece of the jigsaw is power-grid infrastructure. This is where the real challenge lies.

National EV charging infrastructure must reach every town, and city – and the highways that link them. It must also reach out deep into neighbourhoods to provide charging posts in front of every home and apartment block.

This is where we need to be.

ABB has already made advances in developing local infrastructure in places like Saudi Arabia.

Most recently, in September 2020, it agreed to supply a new residential compound in Riyadh with EV charging infrastructure and will install its first round of charging infrastructure in the new compound for up to 140 housing units. The network will ensure that residents can charge their vehicles where they need to – in their own homes.

Now more than ever, we realise the need for clean air and healthier lifestyles that are sustainable.

Building a national infrastructure is a major task but policymakers and the private sector should continue working together to build a safe, smart and sustainable future.

MEConstructionNews.com | Smart Cities Report 2020

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EXPERT VOICE

Ducab

The Complex Art of Cable Manufacturing MIDDLE EAST

Ducab’s Ashish Chaturvedy says there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to cable manufacturing

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ithout cables, the world as we know it would simply not exist. If electricity is something that most of us – even those of us in the industry – are fortunate enough to take for granted, then the cables that supply it are something that the majority of consumers rarely think about. As a critical component of the utilities sector, cables are

more complex than they may appear. Manufacturing them to the unique specifications of numerous sectors, industries and applications require substantial research, development, and investment.

Cable manufacturing is far from a ‘one size fits all’ industry.

Every industry has its own particularisations – and there are further customisations required within each sector. Ducab manufactures a broad range of cables that cater to all manner of needs, from low, medium and high voltage through to cables that can be used overhead and underground in trenches, in buildings, under the sea, or even submerged into potentially hazardous substances, such as used in the oil, gas, and petrochemicals (OGP) sector. But even with a broad portfolio that accommodates the general needs of certain uses, it is still necessary for customisation to ensure the right cables are used for the job.

The process of cable creation has many steps, the basis of which

Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

is significant levels of research and development (R&D). Take flame retardant cables, for example – such as Ducab’s FlamBICC range of fire performance cables. Cables play an important role in the instance of a building fire. Lighting is important to aid evacuation, but possibly more essential is limiting the amount of smoke produced. If you consider the anatomy of a cable, there is a substantial quantity of various plastic-based materials used for insulation, protection, and so on.

This material burns and releases smoke, which impacts air quality and visibility, impeding evacuation and creating a more hazardous environment. It is therefore critical that fire performance cables are designed to withstand exposure to fire for the longest possible time to allow evacuation.

Continuous R&D enables us to create safer surroundings, in line with some of the most stringent international standards.

From the smallest cables for use in consumer electronics through to

ultrahigh voltage cables used in the nuclear industry, the anatomy of a cable remains relatively similar, with room for customisation. Cables are manufactured on demand, therefore each customer receives a product specific to their requirements.

Customisation includes cable length, conductor core – which can be copper or aluminium, insulation, and more. In certain cases, cables require shielding to protect from mechanical damage, which is typically galvanised steel. Lead can also be used as additional protection, especially in OGP products.

The required specifications for each order are determined by working closely with clients and understanding their needs.

From start to finish, cable manufacturing is an intricate and complex process. It’s a scientific artform, based on thousands of hours of R&D, knowledge, and understanding – all of which goes into powering the development and safety of our world.

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Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

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CASE STUDY

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Coca-Cola Arena PROJECT NAME: Coca-Cola Arena PROJECT LOCATION: Dubai, United Arab Emirates PROJECT CLIENT: Meraas Holding PROJECT CONTRACTOR: ASGC PROJECT OBJECTIVE: • To prepare 4D construction planning and scheduling • To produce 4D BIM documentation for easier handover

Saving Time

SARA GIDDENS OF BENTLEY SYSTEMS REVEALS HOW ASGC CONSTRUCTED DUBAI’S FIRST AND LARGEST FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED, MULTIPURPOSE INDOOR ARENA USING SYNCHRO PRO FOR 4D PLANNING AND SCHEDULING, THEREBY TAKING OFF TWO WEEKS OF CONSTRUCTION TIME MEConstructionNews.com | Smart Cities Report 2020

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CASE STUDY

ommitted to creating and delivering unique experiences, the Coca-Cola Arena (formerly the Dubai Arena) is a new, state-of-the-art multipurpose arena. Spanning an area of half a million square feet and with an approximate capacity of 20,000 people, the arena is set to enhance Dubai’s leisure and entertainment offering. It will become the “go-to” venue for large-scale international music concerts, sporting events— such as hockey and basketball—and other entertainment events.

To properly manage the many steps and workflows of this project, ASGC was tasked with providing 4D construction planning and scheduling.

The organisation comprises of several companies that offer construction services and manufacturing facilities for various construction materials, each one a market leader in its own sphere

In association with:

Multipurpose arena The Coca-Cola Arena is the only multipurpose, indoor and airconditioned arena of its size in the region.

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Total number of hours saved on the project

of expertise. Established in 1989, ASGC is best known for delivering turnkey projects in the United Arab Emirates. The organisation has been involved in landmark projects across diverse sectors, such as residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality, healthcare, education, social infrastructure, and industrial.

CONSTRUCTING AN ADAPTABLE, MULTIPURPOSE ARENA The Coca-Cola Arena will be the only all-purpose indoor and air-conditioned arena of its size in the region. The arena allows for sporting events to be held 12 months of the year, including

the hot summer months. It will also boast an advanced infrastructure, allowing it to accommodate megaevents.

The arena has 17,000 seats and can be arranged to allow end-stage, in-theround, and intimate events, including concerts, shows, and gala dinners.

The main area features four levels; the first and fourth levels have fixed seating while the second and third levels include hospitality suites. An extra tier of seating can be added because of automated retractable seating on the bowl floor, allowing for an arena layout that can change depending on the scale of the event.

Strategically located at City Walk, in close proximity to the Dubai International Airport and accessible via the Dubai Metro, the new venue will be at the heart of the urban lifestyle destination. It will be surrounded by a plethora of hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and shopping options.

MANAGING 4D CONSTRUCTION FOR BETTER DECISION-MAKING ASGC chose SYNCHRO Pro (part of Bentley’s new SYNCHRO 4D suite of applications) as the platform where it could prepare the 4D construction planning and scheduling.

The project team created a visual representation of the construction schedule, which was used as a way for all project stakeholders to communicate

ASGC created a 3D BIM model of the project so that team members could visually detect clashes and review them alongside the schedule progress, showing how fixing these clashes would affect the project schedule” Smart Cities Report 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

CASE STUDY

Project Summary: Coca-Cola Arena on the project. The representation also helped facilitate weekly, monthly, and quarterly meetings.

For the meetings, ASGC generated mongering reports of the site progress, sharing the actual vs. planned schedule and approved baseline. By having these reports, the project team could see how construction was progressing and streamline decision-making.

Another key feature of the SYNCHRO Pro models was project management before beginning construction even began. ASGC created a 3D BIM model of the project so that team members could visually detect clashes and review them alongside the schedule progress, showing how fixing these clashes would affect the project schedule. Detecting these clashes early saved the team time and cost.

The model also provided construction simulations of scenarios and comparisons, which could be done before any work on the construction

project stakeholders to communicate.

FAST FACTS: • The Coca-Cola Arena is a multipurpose arena that spans half a million square feet and an approximate 20,000-people capacity.

• It is the only allpurpose indoor and air-conditioned arena of its size in the region.

• ASGC chose SYNCHRO Pro to create a visual representation of the construction schedule for all

ROI: • With SYNCHRO Pro, weekly progress meetings were reduced from three hours to 45 minutes, saving a total of 544 hours.

• SYNCHRO Pro improved the team’s time management on the steel structure’s construction and delivery, saving about two weeks and corresponding costs.

• Opened in June 2019, it has already become the “go-to” venue for large-scale music concerts, sports and other entertainment events.

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site. ASGC could track and control materials while also manage site logistics, using the information provided by the site project team.

These capabilities allowed ASGC to adequately plan activities on the site. Safety plan analyses and simulations ensured that the site was safe for all participants, meeting all standards by the local official legislation and conditions.

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION TO SAVE TIME AND COST During construction, ASGC used SYNCHRO Pro’s 4D construction planning and scheduling to improve communication. The construction team could actively participate and provide instantaneous and continuous feedback, resulting in performance improvement.

The team simulated engineering progress to highlight the shop drawing approval stages, supply chains, and processes. The time risk analyses included data directly from the site team, making it accurate for better on-site decision-making.

As built 4D models created in SYNCHRO Pro made it easier for the team to manage the facilities.

ASGC also produced 4D BIM documentation that includes 3D and 4D BIM models received over the contract period. All project documents, including RFIs, clash reports, and logs, were housed in one place for easier handover. These documents, coupled with the team’s integration of new technologies, show how advancing digital construction can significantly benefit projects.

By using SYNCHRO Pro, weekly progress meetings were reduced from three hours to 45 minutes because of 4D simulation, saving a total of 544 hours for the site team.

The 4D construction planning and scheduling application improved the team’s time management on the steel structure’s construction and delivery, saving about two weeks and corresponding costs.

The venue opened in June 2019 and has already hosted many internationally renowned events.

MEConstructionNews.com | Smart Cities Report 2020

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COMMENT

Industry insight

DR SANJAY BATHEJA

CAPITAL COLLEGE

Five ways the pandemic is reshaping interior design

C

ovid-19 has become a predominant topic globally.

Needless to say, it has affected every industry, even the interior design sector. Earlier ways of design refurbishment, fit-outs, and materials are either going to be abandoned or modified in both commercial and residential spaces. With quarantine becoming the ‘new normal’, homes have been turned into multi-functional spaces, while employees who are back to their work stations are experiencing a whole new format that is both overwhelming and scary. Commercial spaces are also looking into diversifying and designing better plans that will adhere to the new norms while keeping comfort at bay. All of this makes me wonder where the interior design industry is going to head post-pandemic.

SEPARATING SPACES At least for the next couple of years, the fear of contracting the virus is going to be prevalent.

Hence, designers need to look at separate spaces that will allow some breathing room for the residents. Some ways of altering floor plans include the creation of a guest suite or a casita for isolation when someone is ill or for allowing some privacy to the guests. Another space could be a well-designed study or a dedicated office space which has become more prevalent than ever.

ANTIBACTERIAL MATERIAL With the global pandemic in full swing, people have become extremely cautious when it comes to touching surfaces. Therefore, designers must look for creative ways of incorporating

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

antibacterial material that will keep homes as clean as possible. In the market, there are a few materials that are more sterile than others and could be used to in future design plans.

For instance, metals like brasses, bronze or copper are natural antibacterial materials that have innate properties to eliminate microorganisms. Alternatively, quartz is known to be the hardest non-precious stone which makes it scratch-resistant and more easily maintainable. Other materials like bamboo, cork and oak can also stop bacteria from growing.

VIRTUAL REALITY Virtual reality has been a dominating member in many industries including interior design.

Gone are the days when only gamers had VR on their mind. Recently, even designers are looking at introducing VR while discussing floor plans with their clients as this would not require clients to meet every time. Potential clients could virtually walk into digital rooms with completed designs offering them a look and feel of their space. It brings an immersive factor to the clients as they are not just visualising the space, instead are even witnessing it. Additionally, augmented reality will only further fuel the virtual experience for both designers and clients.

RISE IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS With the entire world learning to be grateful for the things we have, sustainable interior design will witness a surge in the near future. Along with sustainable interior designs, the future of the industry also beholds eco-friendly materials which emphasize on less is more. Some ways could include up-cycling furniture, buying local materials and installations that will lower utility bills.

A CHANGE IN COLOUR TRENDS The outbreak has also led to low mental wellbeing amongst people which has given rise to a sense of grief, anxiety and stress in the air.

Considering the current climate, the designers may bring in a wide range of colours, patterns and trends that may instil reassurance and optimism as colours do have the ability to make people feel centred, relaxed and mentally at a better place.

While we continue pondering on the future trends the industry could welcome, what we must do is prepare for the change we anticipate.

Dr Sanjay Batheja, co-founder and director, Capital College.

PRAKASH SENGHANI SAIFETY.AI

Using AI to save lives in construction

S

aifety.ai is an artificial intelligence powered safety management platform for high risk industries, like construction. We want to put Artificial Intelligence (AI) to practical use in the industry, save lives and improve business outcomes.

Our main ambition, apart from ensuring everyone who comes to work in the industry goes home in the same condition they arrived, is to show that safety is something that everyone can take part in, it isn’t just for the safety professionals.

We want to make it easy, and dare I say fun, to participate in creating a safer culture in the industry, we believe this can be done through an intuitive conversational interface.

We use two different flavours of AI: on the front end we utilise a machine learning enabled chatbot to capture information more intuitively, in a frictionless manner and one which helps improve the structure and quality of the data.

Then on the backend we are using deep learning to automatically spot trends

Having robust, reliable and quality data on hazards and risks from past projects can help inform upcoming projects of the potential issues they might face”

COMMENT

and patterns in the data, turn them in to information and use the same intuitive chatbot interface to disseminate the information back to users to assist in decision making.

In doing this we get more data, as it’s so easy to use, faster analytics as its automated and near-real time decision making, all of which helps to reduce risks, save lives and improve overall project performance.

Once enough data is captured, trends and patterns can be derived, some of these can point to elevated risks or potential hazards.

For example if the platform spots users making multiple observations about crane platforms, it can alter management about a potential deficiency in training or understanding and a toolbox talk can be issued to all relevant user via the platform to try and remedy this.

The issues we currently face is that safety management systems we use tend to either be analogue, paper based or use interfaces which mean people find it a chore to complete. This means that we do not collect enough quality data to be able to analyse or do many meaningful things such as predict risks or suggest mitigations.

Having robust, reliable and quality data on hazards and risks from past projects can help inform upcoming projects of the potential issues they might face, incorporating these into the BIM workflow right from the design stage is a great way to utilise the data we collect and break down the silos to deliver inherently safer projects. Eventually we see functionality where you can ask Saifety Bot what the top hazards are for a certain typology of project in a particular region which is due to start on a particular date and it will be able to give you detailed hazards and the risks associated with them.

At the risk of sounding clichéd, the limits of this technology are boundless, as the machine learning algorithms improve and as we use them more their usefulness will grow. Once a project is over I can see Saifety.ai seamlessly transferring over to the operations and maintenance teams to ensure that any residual risks left over from the construction phase are understood and that the safety is efficiently and effectively managed during the life of the building.

Do this across multiple buildings in a city and you end up with a citywide safety platform.

Prakash Senghani is the co-founder of Saifety.ai.

CEM KAPANCIOGLU CK ARCHITECTURE INTERIORS

Pandemicproof highend property market drives Dubai’s growth

T

he pandemic has brought about a slowdown in the GCC economies and the greatest impact was felt by the construction and real estate sectors who are bearing the brunt of the severe global economic downturn. According to data and analytics company GlobalData, the construction output growth forecast for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2020 has been cut to -4.5% from the previous estimate of -2.4%.

Recovery will be slow, even painful as many SMEs may not live long to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Already some major construction firms went out of business as a combination of high maturing debts, mismanagement and a draining project pipeline eroded their foundations bringing down edifices that were built to stand the test of time.

And it will be selective too in terms of both the parts of the region that will see a bounce back within the next year or two, as well as the type of projects and developments that will plough ahead.

The UAE and Dubai more specifically have shown time and again that the nation’s economy is based on strong fundamentals and the business-friendly policies adopted by the government and the investments made in building strong infrastructure have gone a long way to mitigate some of the effects of the COVID-19.

And while the COVID-19 had the greatest impact on the mid-level and affordable properties, the upper end of the market

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grew and there was a slew of deals.

Dubai's prime residential market witnessed strong growth in the third quarter of 2020, with more than 2,700 deals for luxury apartments and villas. The upmarket segment of the market saw a 24% increase in the overall number of units sold quarter-on-quarter while total volume of transactions reached $2 billion compared to $1.36 billion in Q2, according to analysis by Luxhabitat Sotheby’s based on data from the Dubai Land Department.

The bulk of the activity concentrated at Dubai’s premium residential areas saw a spike in interest from resident end-users and international investors driven by a property price correction and the city’s continued allure as a luxury destination. This combination is likely to continue to attract top talent, entrepreneurs and investors from around the world as they look to set up base in the city.

The recent retirement visas and other measures implemented by the government will also drive a greater number of HNWI looking to move and invest in the city. The high-end property market in the UAE has proven to be pandemicproof and is in a position to drive growth both for contractors as well as realtors. And with more construction activity there will be more jobs created, the entire supply chain will get a jolt, thereby resulting in a boost for the economy.

The government’s determination to get Dubai back on the track from the pains of the pandemic, and its far-sighted vision and commitment to transform what was a desert outpost for a few expat workers, to the thriving metropolis of today and the world’s smartest city of tomorrow, will naturally lead to an increase in demand for prime residential properties and will, in turn, drive growth for contractors as well as realtors.

As the world is anticipating the rollout of the various vaccines to ease it out of the downturn, the ‘V’ or ‘U’ shaped recovery won’t wait for economies to catch up; instead, it will end up where the infrastructure and inventory are solid and available. And Dubai, with its diverse real estate portfolio, flexible forward-looking legislation and regulatory frameworks which adapts to market forces, is best suited to absorb the increasing population of nomad, online workers from a global workforce anxious for a restart.

Cem Kapancioglu, Founder and CEO, CK Architecture Interiors.

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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Bid on Tenders

TENDERS

Middle East tenders UAE

BUDGET $500 million DESCRIPTION The project scope of work involves the construction of 6 hectares of retail, entertainment and leisure spaces comprising 3,706 residential units, 170 of which will be branded in addition to hotels, as well as co-working spaces for new enterprises and startups, located on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.

COMPLETION 1/12/22

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of Higher Education BUDGET $120 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work consist of a hospital building located at Shaqra University, Shaqra, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. The project includes laboratories, service buildings, research center, and associated facilities.

COMPLETION 30/1/24

EDUCATIONAL

Al Furjan Primary & Secondary School TERRITORY Al Furjan, UAE CLIENT Oasis Investment Company BUDGET $70 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of a primary and four-story secondary school, library and parking facilities at Al Furjan on 24,600m2 area in Dubai, the UAE. COMPLETION 30/5/23

INFRASTRUCTURE

Najma Pumping Station Upgradation (Phase 1 & 2) TERRITORY Dubai, UAE CLIENT Dubai Electricity & Water Authority BUDGET $25 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of a pumping station, tanks, installation of SCADA system, laying of pipelines in Dubai, UAE. COMPLETION 30/10/23

Parking Facility for Female Faculty (Phase 1) TERRITORY Buraydah, Saudi Arabia CLIENT Qassim University BUDGET $35 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work consists of a parking facility located at Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. The project also includes buildings, organizations of sites, parking and associated facilities.

COMPLETION 30/3/23

MIXED-USE

HEALTHCARE

Saadiyat Grove (Phase 1)

Shaqra University Hospital

TERRITORY Saadiyat Island, UAE CLIENT Aldar Properties

SAUDI ARABIA COMMERCIAL

Qassim University

TERRITORY Shaqra, Saudi Arabia CLIENT Saudi Arabia Ministry

AVIATION

Red Sea International Airport Landside Package TERRITORY Tabuk, Saudi Arabia CLIENT Public Investment Fund BUDGET $350 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of an Landside package of Red Sea Tourism Airport in Tabuk Province Saudi Arabia. The scope covers construction of a terminal, an ancillary buildings, offices, baggage handling systems, utilities hub, catering building, hangar, car parking, road works and associated facilities. The capacity of the airport is estimated at about a

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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TENDERS

million tourists annually at a peak of 900 passengers per hour.

COMPLETION 30/12/24

OMAN INDUSTRIAL

Duqm Cement Plant TERRITORY Al Wusta, Oman CLIENT Oman Cement Company SAOG BUDGET $510 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work consist of a cement manufacturing plant with a capacity of 2,600,000 tonnes per year DRI located at Duqm Special Economic Zone, Al Wusta, Oman. It includes 2 silos with a capacity of 5000 metric tons each, a 30MW coal/pet-coke power plant and all associated facilities like kiln, rotary dryer, and bagging unit. The project also includes a clinker plant, a grinding unit, a warehouse, an administrative building, a parking facility, a storage space, installation of equipment, safety and security system, and material handling facilities.

COMPLETION 30/12/23

RESIDENTIAL

Manazil Accommodation Villages South - Bahja TERRITORY Bahja, Oman CLIENT Petroleum Development Oman BUDGET $90 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the expansion of the existing labour accommodation located at Bahja, Oman. The project includes the expansion of 3,160 beds for PDO staff and 3000 beds for permanent accommodation for contractors (PAC) and temporary accommodation for contractors (TAC), reception area, LCC shops, clinic and multi-use field.

COMPLETION 30/12/24

DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of 500-megawatt solar independent power plant (IPP) located at Manah, Oman.

COMPLETION 30/10/24

BAHRAIN INFRASTRUCTURE

ENERGY

Manah Solar l Independent Power Plant TERRITORY Manah, Oman CLIENT Oman Power & Water Procurement Company BUDGET $500 million

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

Al Fateh Highway Upgradation TERRITORY Manama, Bahrain CLIENT Bahrain Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning BUDGET $65 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope

of work involves the construction of roads located at Manama, Bahrain. The project includes the construction of 6 kilometers length underpass at Gulf hotel junction, left turn bridge at Shaikh Daij junction, U-turn bridge between Shaikh Daij junction and Manama causeway including 4 kilometers length widening and reconstruction of Al Fateh Highway, landscaping works, installation of street lighting and other related works.

COMPLETION 30/3/23 INFRASTRUCTURE

Muharraq Ring Road (Phase 2) - Busaiteen Link Road Works TERRITORY Busaiteen, Bahrain CLIENT Bahrain Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning BUDGET $85 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of roads and structures for Busaiteen Link road in Bahrain.

The scope also includes construction of bridges, road

TENDERS

painting works, signalling works, infrastructure works, landscaping works, installation of street lighting and associated facilities.

COMPLETION 30/12/23 INFRASTRUCTURE

Aker Block 624 Access Road Work (Phase 1 & 2) TERRITORY Aker, Bahrain CLIENT Bahrain Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning BUDGET $20 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of access roads, asphalt works, ductwork, minor drainage works, relocation of street lightings, electrical works and associated facilities at Block 624 for the residential facility in Aker, Bahrain.

COMPLETION 30/12/23

University City Data Center TERRITORY Sabah Al Salem University, Kuwait CLIENT Kuwait University Construction Program BUDGET $40 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of a data center information technology (IT) infrastructure, disaster recovery hosting under colocation and disaster recovery IT infrastructure, datacenter and disaster recovery network infrastructure, external network infrastructure, datacenter and disaster recovery

information and cybersecurity infrastructure at Sabah Al Salem University in Kuwait.

COMPLETION 30/12/23 EDUCATIONAL

Sabah Al Nasser Boys & Girls School TERRITORY Sabah Al Nasser, Kuwait CLIENT Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education BUDGET $30 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work consists of 2 school buildings located at Sabah Al Nasser, Kuwait City, Kuwait. The project also involves classrooms, a kindergarten, an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, administration facilities, auditorium, multipurpose halls, a playground, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and parking facilities.

COMPLETION 30/12/23 INFRASTRUCTURE

KUWAIT COMMERCIAL

Sabah Al Salem

Al Sabah Medical District 132/11kV SHPT Substations TERRITORY Al Sabah Medical

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District, Kuwait CLIENT Kuwait Ministry of Electricity & Water BUDGET $100 million DESCRIPTION The project’s scope of work involves the construction of four 132/11kV SHPT substations located at Al Sabah Medical District, Kuwait City, Kuwait. The 4 substations include SHPT” C” 132/11 kV substation, SHPT” D” 132/11 kV substation, SHPT” E” 132/11 kV substation, SHPT” F” 132/11 kV substation along with the installation of 132kV gas-insulated switchgear, 11kV switchgear, 30 mega-volt ampere 132/11kV power transformers, 5 MVA 33/11kV power transformers, neutral earthing resistors, 250kVA 11kV/433V station service transformers, MV (megavolt) power cables and terminations, control system, protection system, substation monitoring system, communication system, fire detection and alarm system, safety and fire protection system, civil works, structural works, and mechanical works.

COMPLETION 30/12/23

MEConstructionNews.com | December 2020

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PROGRESS REPORT

Final update

MBR Aerospace Hub completes 70% infrastructure works Industry partners have completed 30% of their projects inside the Hub

T

he Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) has completed 70% of its infrastructure development, according to a report by WAM. Industry partners have completed 30% of their projects inside the Hub. Tahnoon Saif, CEO at MBRAH, said that they are expecting more

opportunities in the MRO sector, and have developed 70% of the infrastructure with flexibilities to accommodate new solutions that might evolve.

“The airline industry will take a while to recover; however, we are enhancing our value proposition and leveraging our network and access to the world through cargo terminals and the Jebel Ali seaport.”

Saif adds that several mergers and acquisitions are expected in the maintenance business over the next 12 months as companies focus on their core airline business and liquidate engineering elements.

“We are progressing well with our projects, having signed two important agreements, one is the heliport with Air

December 2020 | MEConstructionNews.com

Project progression Important agreements have been signed industry partners, with 30% of projects inside the Hub competed.

4.63 expected

investment by 2030, in US $ billions

Chateau for multiple operators. They are partnering with us to build facilities for maintenance and VIP Terminal services.”

He added that ExecuJet – a Zurichheadquartered business aviation company – will develop new hangers and maintenance facilities within the next 18 months. They have also signed an agreement with an investor to set up a luxury vault to store high valued items.

“Till date, $680 million was invested by the government and the private sector in the Hub, and we are expecting a higher growth rate when Al Maktoum International airport takes off,” Saif explained, adding that ultimate investment is expected to reach $4.63 billion by 2030.

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