Author: CBNME Writer

Decades of development have seen bridges bold and beautiful spring up across the region. Stuart Matthews looks at how techniques and technologies have been refined in the region Bridges of all kinds are a chance for the engineers and architects who work in the civil sphere to show off. Whether they are a small and functional crossing or long-spanned centrepiece, clever and elegant bridge design is one area where the general public get a chance to appreciate the work that goes in building the cities around them. Over a decade of development in the region, sweepingly complex intersections, show piece…

It’s time to get updated, and online. Karim Helal, CEO of Protenders.com, talks to Lorraine Bangera about the growing role of technology and online media in the construction market and how companies need to keep up to be noticed In an age where every solution is found on Google and online media is the best networking platform, the construction industry are not far off from embracing the change. In this region, private construction companies might be slow to adopt the change but that doesn’t mean progress has been minimal. Websites like Protenders.com help bridging the gap between the old and…

This month, Lorraine Bangera sits down with Mark Phoenix, Managing Director of Omniyat, to talk about the young company’s strategy of developing buildings that reflects art and yet is completely functional. He also talks about how to maintain a steady growth in the market and shares his keys to success Mark Phoenix joined the Omniyat team seven years ago as a development manager, which he quirkily says is basically “a managing director (if you will) over a number of projects.” When asked about his nippy climb to the top and becoming managing director (MD), he jokes, “You will have to…

This month, we break away from our regular visits to construction sites and take a look at the much anticipated restoration site of the UAE, the Heart of Sharjah. Lorraine Bangera looks into the progress at the cultural space and speaks with the project’s architect, Khawla Al Hashimi, about the importance of sustaining heritage in this region Every major city in the world has a space dedicated to its heritage and its roots, a site that reflects where the city comes from and how it was built. Some exalt these spaces by turning it into museums or heritage centres, which…

Graphic Concrete Ltd, an innovative Finnish company manufacturing and marketing graphic concrete enters the Middle Eastern market Together with the Dubai based partner Versatile, a business development company, Graphic Concrete brings a new approach to designing prefabricated concrete surfaces in the Middle East. The patented technology invented by interior architect Samuli Naamanka is an industrial product for large scale surfaces and a tool with that allows architects to be more visually creative. “Graphic concrete allows designers and architects to design attractive and durable patterns and images to prefabricated concrete surfaces such as facades, walls and pavement slabs,” said Harri Lanning,…

In a bid to diversify furthermore into the metals industry, the GCC is producing a remarkable haul of aluminum and steel. The construction industry is rebounding in tandem, in turn incurring a mountain of profitability. Giorgios Retsinas writes The GCC has risen to new heights with the backing of hydrocarbon fuel. As well documented, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest producer of crude oil and subsequently the MENA region’s largest economy. Fellow GCC nations Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE are likewise yielding results, as the grouping of nations possess nearly a third of the world’s…

Volvo Trucks first with automatic all-wheel drive – for improved driveability and economy. Volvo Trucks have introduced a new feature which activates the drive on the front axle automatically when in motion and if the truck risks getting stuck. The feature called automatic traction control helps the driver enjoy improved maneuverability, and the owner benefits from lower fuel consumption and less wear and tear on the truck. This is the first truck manufacturer to offer automatic engagement of all wheel drive on construction trucks. The automatic traction control function activates the front wheel drive when the rear wheels lose traction…

Tim Armsby, Partner at Eversheds speaks with Construction Business News ME about infrastructure development in the Middle East, some of the key trends and challenges Could you tell us about the work of Eversheds in the Middle East? We are a full service law firm working across the region from seven offices as well as our relationship firms elsewhere. I lead our energy and infrastructure team in the region working on transactions in the oil & gas, power, water, transport, education and other sectors. Our work covers the full spectrum of legal work including commercial contracts, EPC, O&M, concessions, and…

Sayyid Wasfi Jamshid, Chairman of the Board of Directors at NAPCO, speaks with Lorraine Bangera about how the company plans to undergo a complete transformation to compete with a demanding market. He also talks about current developments taking place in the Sultanate of Oman and gives us an insight about what Omanisation truly is After being unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2014, Sayyid Wasfi Jamshid took up a specific mission to formulate and oversee the implementation of a brand new strategy for aluminium extrusions company, National Aluminium Products Company SAOG (NAPCO), based in Oman.…