The value of planned construction projects in the GCC is estimated to have reached $172bn in 2015 and, consequently, the number of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals is growing by the day. This month, Lorraine Bangera goes back to school, to examine AEC qualifications and the educational culture shaping the AEC sector With a large AEC industry and large projects on the horizon for the Dubai Expo 2020 and Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022, the talent present in the GCC region is key to delivering top-notch projects. Recruiting and career growth in the region varies from company to company,…
Author: Paromita Dey
In the run-up to Dubai Expo 2020 in the UAE, the government has been taking an active role implementing best practice mechanisms across all construction projects. Ali Mirza, general manager of Nurol Construction, speaks with Lorraine Bangera about how this has been affecting contracting firms and advises on how to cope with the transformation Based in Abu Dhabi since 2003, Nurol Construction was set up under the sponsorship of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. Being new to the market at the time, the firm was offered a lot of help from its mother company in Turkey, Nurol Holding.…
FAMCO (Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company) will launch operations in Bahrain on 20 January 2016 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manama. The event will include top construction professionals in Bahrain with FAMCO’s main brand Volvo Construction Equipment headlining the event. Paul Floyd, senior managing director, said: “Bahrain is a key market known for quality construction and infrastructure projects. Thanks to our new facility and highly qualified team, we very much look forward to playing a part in building the country through our contractor client base.” In Bahrain, FAMCO will distribute top brands such as Volvo construction equipment, SDLG construction…
MEED Projects’ latest forecast reveals that value of contracts awarded in the GCC will significantly drop by 15% in 2016. The total value is predicted to be $140bn this year, compared with $165bn in 2015. The estimation is based on 2,100 planned and un-awarded projects in the region. Ed James, director of content and analysis at MEED Projects, said: “With oil prices hitting 11-year lows, there is no real surprise that project spending is forecast to fall in 2016. However, it does mean that it will be a tough 12 months for companies in the sector as the number of…
This year’s Autodesk University Extension Dubai threw a special focus on design and how it helps shape the world. Experts from the firm highlight how technology could help propel us forward Global software firm, Autodesk, organised its fourth edition to Autodesk University Extension (Aux) Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 16 December 2015. Through the one-day interactive conference and exhibition, the firm presented a number of advances toward the future of making things and new technologies that would help attendees navigate and thrive in this shifting landscape. This year under the theme, ‘Insight, Innovation, Inspiration’, AUx had more…
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) broke ground on the second phase of Dubai Trade Centre District (DTCD) worth AED720m. The first phase of the development was completed on time, last November. Phase one included an eight storey office building and a 588-room Ibis Hotel. Contractor Al Futtaim Carillion, responsible for phase one, attained a safety record of 5.6 million man hours of Zero Loss Time Incidents (Zero LTI). The same contractors have been chosen to construct the second phase. The phase comprises two Grade A office properties of eight and 12 storeys designed by Hopkins Architects and WSP. Gurjit Singh,…
The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) announced an extensive increase in Brazilian exports of construction machinery to Arab countries in 2015. According to statistics, Arab countries have purchased $226.31m worth of machinery in 2015, which marks a growth of 7% from 2014, while the export of construction goods remains stable at $41.31m in 2015. Top three importers of Brazilian machinery include Egypt ($63.82m), KSA ($56.23), and the UAE ($50.97m). Dr Michel Alaby, secretary general and CEO at ABCC, said: “The robust trade of machinery and construction goods from Brazil to the Arab World reinforces growing popularity of high quality Brazilian…
The Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), chaired by HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and in coordination with Emaar Properties, has endorsed the awarding of a contract of a bridge project extending from Al Khail Road to the Financial Center Road. The project, which has a cost tag of AED120m, is expected to be completed early 2017. “The project comprises the construction of a two-lane bridge linking Al Khail Road with the Financial Center Road over a sector extending 920 meters in length with a width ranging from…
The major cities of the Middle East – Doha and Dubai – remain some of the least expensive cities in the world in which to build, according to the International Construction Costs Index published by Arcadis. Regionally, Doha is the most expensive city for construction in the Middle East, followed by Jeddah and Dubai, respectively. The index, which analyses the relative cost of construction across 44 major cities, finds that the local labor markets and resource availability have positively benefitted cities in the GCC. The findings also underline the impact of strong currency performance and the fall in the price…
Dubai Parks and Resorts mission to bring lush vegetation to its desert destination is now well under way with the acquisition of 15,860 trees, 6,100 palms and over 1.4 million shrubs and ground covers. Planting has already begun at the region’s largest integrated theme-park destination in preparation for its opening in October 2016, with an on-site nursery also established to house and nurture the remaining greenery. So far, over 350 Washingtonia palms have been planted with over 3,650 being tended to in the nursery. In addition, different sizes of the red flowering Delonix tree can be found throughout the grounds,…