Arabian Construction Company

EME A R A B I A N C O N S T R U C T I O N C O M PA N Y

Building masterpieces across the Middle East

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Creativity Unconstr Arabian Construction Company continues to build iconic structures across the Middle East, not least in Dubai where it is on track to deliver a series of landmark projects Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Ryan Gray

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tanding out from the crowd has never been more important in the realm of construction.

A sector in contraction in many parts of the world, the ability to differentiate is key to securing success in ever competitive tendering processes.

rained The Middle East, although in a healthier financial state than some other regions, is not immune to the challenge of increasing competition.

“Construction is recognised as a complex and difficult business due to the multitude of parameters which can affect the construction process,” comments Maher Merehbi, CEO of Arabian Construction Company (ACC).

“Added to this level of difficulty, the economy in the Middle East is in a downturn and this

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has an undeniable effect on construction. In such situations, the challenges of securing and realising projects increase dramatically.”

Dubai, a key focus for ACC, represents a market where opportunities remain largely abundant.

In 2018, some $30 billion worth of projects were awarded to contractors, while preparations for Expo 2020

EME continue at a momentous pace alongside the emirate’s push to develop into a truly smart city.

For Merehbi, places like Dubai offer the chance to realise long-held career ambitions.

“Engineering and construction were a career choice from my early academic years,” he explains. “The potential of realising physical projects catering to the everyday needs of people as well as outstanding landmarks made this field a very attractive proposition.

“ACC, being a prominent construction company in the region and a business partly owned by our family, fulfilled my career aspirations.”

Making masterpieces

Indeed, the Merehbi and Mikati families have been running ACC ever since they founded it in 1967, completing a host of memorable projects along the way.

Such a portfolio is being added to with interest in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, hotbed for construction innovation and home to several ongoing developments.

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The first is the Address Residence Sky View project, a multi-use construct comprising two towers sat on a threelevel podium and linked by a skybridge and set for imminent completion.

The development is situated on a prominent plot of land in Downtown Dubai, uniquely characterised by a protruding cantilevered observatory deck with glass floor and roof, along with a hanging glass sky slide promising visitors breathtaking views of the city.

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“The Sky View project was particularly challenging across several disciplines,” says Merehbi, “starting from a very constrained delivery schedule and location adjacent to Burj Khalifa’s busy metro station.

“The construction methods and logistics employed during the construction were also particularly challenging, especially the sky bridge linking both towers and sky walk observatory deck, which weigh 1,500 tonnes and 700 tonnes respectively.

IN GOOD HEALTH Slated for handover in July 2019, the Clemenceau Medical Centre at Dubai Health Care City is a further example of ACC’s ongoing work in the emirate.

It is a luxury 90-bed hospital that will have six state-of-the-art operating theatres, 44 consultation clinics, robotic surgery, and wide-ranging inpatient and outpatient services, using the latest technologies and medical procedures.

“This is a turnkey project fully and exclusively executed by ACC’s in-house teams, i.e. our MEP and Civil divisions,” says Merehbi.

“This has catered for the compressed execution time while maintaining high quality of works.

“ACC’s project management structure allowed a swift integration of the medical equipment technologies, which afforded the client the necessary time for the selection of the medical equipment after the start of the project, all without interruption to the works.”

The building consists of four basements, a ground floor, seven medical floors, three mechanical floors and roof – a plot area of approximately 5,000 square metres with a total built up area exceeding 40,000 square metres.

The hospital will also be able to cater for air ambulance transportation as well as second opinion and consultations via telemedicine.

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AMC PROTECTION

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ince 1996 AMC has been protecting its clients’ investments across the complete spectrum of the construction industry in the Gulf. From airports to architectural masterpieces, skyscrapers to shopping malls to luxury hotels, the broad range of innovative sustainable waterproofing and EIFS solutions offered by AMC to various projects, including multi-billion dollar investments, continue to provide peace of mind and stability in the ever evolving and challenging world of construction in a desert environment.

Working closely with our valued partners in the construction industry AMC continues to develop new designs for increasingly ambitious projects and is now recognised as one of the Middle East’s leaders in design, engineering, supply and application of roofing, waterproofing and insulated facade systems technologies across the region.

ARAB MARBLE

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rab Marble has played a pivotal role in the marble and granite market in the United Arab Emirates, implementing many landmark projects in the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain area.

Our personalised approach to customer relations allow our clients open and unhindered access to all management layers.

Recent projects completed in partnership with ACC include the World Trade Center in Abu Dhabi and Address Fountain Views.

Samples of our achievements can be seen all around Abu Dhabi in luxurious five Star Hotels such as the Park Hyatt Hotel & Villas, Shangri-la Qaryat Al Beri and Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort.

E am@arabmarble.ae

www.arabmarble.ae

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AMC-Leading the Way in Moisture and Thermal Protection

ABUDHABI: Tel. +9712 6222820, P.O. Box 47275, Abu Dhabi-UAE DUBAI: Tel. +9714 5531590, P.O. Box 15578, Dubai-UAE

www.amc-protection.net info@amc-protection.com

The oldest in Abu Dhabi since 1978, Still yours to discover.

Arab Marble Est. Mussafah, Abu Dhabi UAE PO box #3835 Tel: +971-2-555-5133 +971-2-555-4008 Fax: +971-2-555-4005 Email: am@arabmarble.ae Website: www.arabmarble.ae

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These were lifted into position using strand jacks with very slim tolerance margins.”

Once completed, the development will carry the extra convenience of being directly linked to the Dubai Metro and Dubai Mall via an airconditioned travellator.

Another project for Address involves the construction of a three-tower residential complex featuring 786 serviced luxurious apartments and 194 hotel rooms built over a 12-storey Podium, part of which is an extension

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to Dubai Mall while the remaining part will house the car park facility.

Named Fountain Views and set for handover in August 2019, it is joined to the mall by a three-level link bridge which spans 80 metres in length and is 60 metres wide, built with more steel than the quantity used to build another prestigious landmark, the Eiffel Tower.

One of the greatest obstacles overcome was the logistics setup, made difficult by the very limited access to the complicated shape and location of the plot in the centre of Downtown Dubai.

ALUSTEEL Mr Maher Merehbi, CEO, Arabian Construction Company

Address Fountain Views

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ounded in 1990, Alusteel is now a leader in the building envelope industry. Armed with imagination and resilience, it grew from a small aluminum company into a dynamic façade specialist across the Middle East and Africa.

Alusteel is committed to innovative engineering solutions, consistently exceeding clients’ expectations with high-quality end-products and services.

Its three main factories in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria, harbour the latest machining technology that allow it to cover market needs in various countries in Africa and the region.

Alusteel’s portfolio of international projects keeps growing, with a diversity of large-scale undertakings exceeding a turn-over of 100 million dollars.

T +961 9 477 393, +961 9 478 053

www.alusteel-lb.com

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• We are committed to provide our enhanced standardized quality.

• Technology, Quality & Service Integrated.

• Façade Works Specialists.

Halat, Jbeil, industrial area, St 1001, Alusteel bldg, Lebanon T +961 9 477 393, +961 9 478 053 www.alusteel-lb.com

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“Furthermore, the pace of the project and its design made the execution of the works quite challenging,” adds Merehbi.

“ACC, being a prominent construction company in the region and a business partly owned by our family, fulfilled my career aspirations”

Building productivity

Delivering these projects, both in Dubai and elsewhere across the ACC footprint, is a central priority for Merehbi in the near term.

Beyond this, the company is considering expansion of its operations in India and parts of West Africa, a move which will require the smooth functioning of its wide network of suppliers and subcontractors from around the world.

It resembles a culture built up by ACC over time.

“Transparency and ethics are well anchored principles of the ACC procurement organisation and we have established relationships of trust and mutual respect within our supply chain,” explains Merehbi. “ACC procurement welcomes all suppliers

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“We are optimistic because of the existing demand and the fast pace of social and professional developments taking place”

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Rotana Amman, Al Abdali

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who share its sense of commitment and work culture.”

Evolution of this network will also help ACC achieve its goals relating to productivity, something the CEO identifies as crucial to any wider regional industry progression.

“This is one of the main challenges facing the construction industry globally and requires the active implementation of new technology in various construction processes,” Merehbi continues.

“Additionally, the traditional procurement of construction services and the contractual environment in the construction industry must evolve. Construction accounts for approximately nine percent of the global economy, yet it has not sufficiently improved in productivity over the past 50 years.

“The construction industry affects virtually all aspects of society and the growth of the global economy

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and people’s wellbeing mandates the implementation of productivity enhancing technology and environmentally friendly innovations.”

However, Merehbi is confident the Middle East can act as a catalyst for the coming innovations.

The Chief Executive concludes: “The region is a very interesting area with a young and growing population.

Construction is a strategic sector for us, and we are optimistic because of the existing demand and the fast pace of social and professional developments taking place.”

Arabian Construction Company Tel: +961 1 355 910 www.accsal.com

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Ras Beirut, Gefinor Center, Block C Floors 1 & 2 P.O. Box 114-5175 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: 00961 135 5910 beirut@accsal.com www.accsal.com

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