Bulgari and Meraas unveils its project Bulgari Residences Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Antonio Citterio, architect on the project, talks to Construction Business News ME about his work with Bulgari Resort and Residences, and what it means to design high-end luxury products This April, the Dubai-based holding company Meraas and the international luxury brand Bulgari announced the launch of Bulgari Residences Dubai as part of the 1.7 million square feet Bulgari Resort and Residences that is taking shape on the Jumeira Bay Island. The project will be entirely designed by the Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel…
Author: Paromita Dey
With the world’s highest GDP per capita and the largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exporter with the world’s largest gas deposits and a small population, Qatar surely has everything going in its favour. For now. And the booster shots for its further growth has come in the form of the FIFA 2022 World Cup, the IAAF World Athletics Championship 2019 events and the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV). Giorgios Retsinas writes With these developments, the economy can definitely hope for big time contribution from the real estate and construction sector, and according to Jones Lang Lasalle – Middle East and…
There has to be more to smart skyscrapers than just clever gadgets if they are to be a sustainable part of any urban plan. Stuart Matthews writes Cities in the GCC have come to be recognised by their skylines. Silhouettes of tall buildings are the visual language of city guides and the symbols of financial booms, all built on the back of active and divergent economic activity. These skyscrapers, for good or for bad, have become landmarks of the success Gulf cities have enjoyed – complete with its ups and downs – and their development has brought architects, engineers and…
Market changes since the global financial crash have led to the consolidation of a number of large consultancies. How has this development affected contractors and the region’s construction industry in general? Alison Luke investigates The financial crash in late 2008 instigated many significant changes within the construction industry, with differing results. The sudden drop in available work propelled firms operating in the sector to re-evaluate in order to survive and thrive. For some large consultancy firms this meant consolidations and acquisitions, with some firms merging under a single brand, while other names have been retained as sub-brands of larger organisations.…
Indian motor company breaks into the region with a brand new design and advanced technology that competes with global standards Tata Motors, one of India’s largest automobile manufacturer, launched two new next-generation heavy duty trucks in Dubai in March this year. The manufacturer along with UAE dealer-partners, United Diesel and Dalma motors launched the Prima range of commercial vehicles including the Prima 4438S (4X2) tractor head and the Prima 4038K (6X4) Construction tipper. The Tata Prima range claims superior technology, optimum power, fuel efficiency and safety. Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director of Commercial Vehicles Business Unit at Tata Motors, says: “The…
Hill International’s regional president for the Middle East Mohammed Al Rais on the project management sector in the region, and its way forward in what is now a booming construction market With more than 35 years of experience in the management of construction projects around the world, Mohammed Al Rais looks to be extremely well placed in his role as regional president for the Middle East for the New York Stock Exchange-listed construction consultancy, Hill International. Al Rais was appointed to this position in January this year (he was earlier the Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the firm),…
KEF Holding plans to boost its operations with its expertise in offsite construction technology. The company is offering design, engineering, manufacturing, and assembling as one holistic service. Chairman of KEF holding, Faizal E. Kottikollon, tells Lorraine Bangera why offsite construction is the future Could you tell us more about the KEF Industrial Park? Last year, KEF Holding launched the KEF Industrial Park, which is India’s only offsite construction facility. The 42-acre park will manufacture building components such as columns, beams, hollow core slabs, wall panels, staircases, windows, doors, bathroom units and façades. The facility will help cut construction tenure and…
As the use of air conditioning continues to rise in the region, the power demand also increases astronomically. At this point sustainable solutions are not only a wise choice, but imperative. District cooling might be gaining popularity at this point, but CEO of DC Pro Engineering, George Berbari, says it is not enough. He speaks with Lorraine Bangera about upgrading the system with tri-generation and using renewables as better source in order to save exhaustible fuels like oil and gas George Berbari started his journey in 1995 with a natural gas fed district cooling scheme in Zayed Military City, Abu…
Saadiyat Development and Investment Company showcases innovative designs, landscapes and architecture at the upcoming Hidd Al Saadiyat development Last month, Saadiyat Development and Investment Company (SDIC) showcased its first villas at the Hidd Al Saadiyat development, a 1.5 million square metres of natural waterfront land on the North-east part of the Island. Abu-dhabi based real estate development started the infrastructure work on Hidd Al Saadiyat in October 2012 and the construction of the villas for the community in July of 2013, the first villas are now available for viewing by its clients and potential buyers. The community is also covered…
Alila Jabal Akhdar has been awarded LEED Silver Certification in the Building Design and Construction rating system for New Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first LEED certified project in the Sultanate of Oman. Lorraine Bangera speaks with construction manager on the project, Ammar Al Kharusi, about its development and achievement Settled 2,000 metres above sea level in the western part of Al Hajar Mountains, Alila Jabal Akhda resort aims to be a hotspot for high-end tourists in the Gulf region. The resort has won many accolades since it first opened in May last year.…