THE BULLETIN Stay on top of Middle East construction news headlines with The Big Project ’s pick of the month’s stories
Heart of Doha project renamed Dohaland’s US $5.4 billion signature project Heart of Doha was renamed Musheireb by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani at a groundbreaking ceremony. Dohaland CEO Issa M. Al Mohannadi said the ‘Musheireb’ project will be completed in five phases, with the first phase due for completion by 2012. The development is expected to comprise 226 buildings and will be home to 27,637 residents. It will have around 13,700 parking lots as well as a dedicated tramway, with a combination of commercial and residential properties, retail, cultural and entertainment areas. There will be parks and open spaces with a total area of 122,217m². The entire project will be completed by 2016, he added.
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THE BIG PROJECT
February 2010
Labourer denies killing colleague A Pakistani man denied that he killed a compatriot after the victim allegedly insulted his family, a court heard. The victim was stabbed to death at the Headley Construction labour camp in Dubai on May 30, 2009 after allegedly getting into a heated argument with three Pakistani men, including the 30-year old suspect, The National reported. The victim’s body was found lying in a pool of blood. Forensic evidence reports show he was stabbed several times and that a knife handle recovered from the suspect matched the blade found in the defendant’s possession. The presiding judge, Hamad Abdel Latif of the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, adjourned the case to February 8 so that the defendant could be provided with a court-appointed attorney.
Bahrain’s unsafe sites blacklisted
As many as 43 const ruction companies in Bahrain were blacklisted by the go vernment for breaking health and safety regulations last year. The figure was an inc rease of nearly a third compared to the 29 firms that were penalised in 2008, La bour Ministry Labour Inspection Di rectorate manager Ah mad Al Haiki told Gulf Daily News. “Work was stopped at 12 sites last year an d seven in 2008, as companies did not comply with regulations,” asserted Al Haiki. He added that 335 cas es were sent to the Pu blic Prosecution last year, compared to 448 in 2008, and Improvement Notices were sent to 362 comp anies, which was up from 354 in 2008. There was also a 16% increase in the numb er of inspections carried ou t by the Labour Minis try with 6124 undertaken last year, compared to 4435 in 2008.