Developer and real estate service provider Deyaar Development has appointed the main contractor for construction works at its Tria luxury residential project. The 32-storey project is taking shape in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and is being developed at a cost of US $140mn, the developer said without naming the contractor.

Work on Tria has already been initiated and is set for completion in 2025 as scheduled, the developer said in a statement. Once complete, the project will include a wide range of residential options including studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, townhouses, duplexes, and penthouses.

The project will include several features including smart-home automation, energy-efficient solutions, built-in appliances, elegant interiors and floor to ceiling windows presenting panoramic views of Dubai’s skyline, a statement from the developer explained.

“We are delighted to announce the latest milestone for Tria, our flagship urban sanctuary of Dubai Silicon Oasis. The selection of the main contractor for a project of this magnitude is never an easy task, as we always seek to engage reputed parties with a proven track record in delivering projects on time and to the highest quality, health and safety standards. This vital step reflects our steadfast commitment to delivering world-class quality and on-time completion for our luxury development in Dubai Silicon Oasis,” said Eng. Ayman A. Al Hammadi, Senior Vice President – Projects & Commercial at Deyaar.

In late January 2023, the RTA completed the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan street improvement project and Deyaar said it had completed the Mesk and Noor districts in its Midtown master development in Dubai.

The residential tower takes suburban living to the next level with best-in-class wellness, fitness and resort-style amenities including swimming pools, clubhouse, state-of-the-art gymnasium, yoga pavilion, steam and sauna rooms, squash and paddle courts, outdoor cinema, and plenty of lush, landscaped greenery, the statement continued.

With a built-up area of over one million sqft, the luxury tower will be served by transport links that provide fast access to major highways, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Ain Road.

“Ever since the commencement of sales last year, we have witnessed exceptional demand for Tria from customers, who are attracted by its elevated lifestyle and unique design that puts residents’ wellbeing at the forefront. We look forward to making swift progress on this extraordinary project, building an outstanding community at the heart of Dubai. As with all our projects, we will provide our investors with construction updates and keep them posted on the progress of Tria,” Al Hammadi added.

Tria by Deyaar represents a great addition to DSO’s vibrant fabric, which has rapidly emerged as one of the leading destinations in the UAE for people to live, work, play and study. DSO today boasts a population of more than 90,000 people with 215 buildings and nearly 900 retail establishments dotted across the smart and sustainable living community. Tria by Deyaar therefore offers excellent value for people looking for a self-sustained lifestyle community with round-the-clock security and close proximity to schools, medical facilities, shopping mall, and universities, the statement concluded.

In early February 2023, DAMAC Properties awarded its $241.2mn main works construction contract for Cavalli Tower.

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FM contractors and experts from across the access and handling sector have called for greater industry cooperation to protect lives and ensure construction and building maintenance is more sustainable, according to the Construction Machinery Middle East editorial team.

The brand held the third edition of its Access and Handling Summit at the Habtoor Polo Club in Dubai,  with a series of panels taking a deep dive into the challenges facing the sector.

A forum featuring representatives from facilities management firms Emrill, Farnek and Gracko highlighted how effective collaboration early in the construction process is essential.

In early October 2022, Dingli said it expanded its large electric scissor series.

Other talking points during the day included equipment and team mobilisation best practice, planning for working in a construction and built environment, project stakeholder co-ordination and improving efficiency and value for the project and building owners.

The event, which doubled its audience from 2022, also explored the possibilities for wider use of electric equipment and emerging technologies such as AI and IoT.

“We wanted an event where people were able to really tackle the major issues of this sector and we had fantastic participation, especially from the audience,” said Stephen White, Head of Content, Construction Machinery Middle East.

In early November 2022, Manitou launched its electric platform range with four new models.

He concluded, “Clearly this sector wants to reach out to as many stakeholders as possible – and it was great to see this passion for their work throughout the day.”

In early December 2022, the IPAF ePAL app passed a quarter of a million downloads.

To read more about the 2023 Access & Handling Summit, click here.

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Despite local variations, the construction sector has become increasingly global and universal in nature over the years. The trend has significantly impacted employment, making it easier for workers to move from market-to-market, carrying a global mindset while acting locally.

Unlike the past, most occupiers and investors  now choose to operate outside their home markets. The widespread adoption of global standards has opened new horizons for qualified employees to work worldwide.

The opportunity to take on project assignments abroad and learn different ways of working has always been a selling point for the construction industry, which is less constrained by local regulations and practices than other competing sectors such as finance and law.

Human resource professionals and in-house recruiting teams leverage this trend to attract and retain key talent. JLL recognised this trend early on and offers formal and informal programmes to promote employee movement between offices. On a personal note, I have worked in three different regions in my 16 years in the construction sector. A similar experience is typical for many of our team members in the Middle East.

While working with cross-cultural teams can be challenging for some, it presents opportunities for creativity and learning from others in best practices, standards, and approaches, bringing different perspectives that benefit clients.

As there are similar challenges in project delivery worldwide, technical skills learnt in Amsterdam or Austin apply equally to projects in Abuja, Ahmedabad or Abu Dhabi. Some common issues faced in the life-cycle of every project include scope gaps, mismatched budget against actual costs, value engineering and unrealistic time-frames of project principles.

​Meanwhile, the increasing use of technology, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), has further pushed the trend towards more open borders in the construction sector. For example, our JLL teams have been applying property technology developed in the US on mega projects across GCC countries.

The race toward zero-carbon buildings is another contributor to the increased globalisation of the construction sector. This will likely remain front and centre of the industry for many years, as the focus shifts from individual buildings to precincts, communities and entire cities. While UK and USA green building certification programs such as LEED and BREAM are widely used globally, many countries, including the UAE, have developed local rating systems such as Estidama, which practitioners familiar with international standards will have an easy understanding of and apply local variations.

What differs between markets even today is contractual arrangements. While Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) dominates the UK market, most projects in Asia and the Middle East use the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) approach. Traditionally, FIDIC contracts were for engineering projects and JCT for construction, with FIDIC being the choice internationally. However, as both contracts inherently deal with change and delay, this is not a major constraint to the ability of qualified workers to work across markets.

Consequently, there has been a clear breakdown of barriers and increased opportunities for cross-border work within the construction sector over the past decade. This trend is likely to continue due to several factors, such as: energy efficiency targets are becoming an increasingly important differentiator to commercial developments and city master plans; shift towards repurposing of existing buildings – it’s not all about the delivery of new projects and, the increasing need for energy-efficient and environmentally-compassionate masterplans in developing countries – meaning the need for expertise from across the world in their delivery.

In the end, despite increased digital delivery techniques, construction will broadly remain a people’s business. Moreover, the quality of a team will always play a critical role in the delivery of successful projects. And businesses that recognise the increasingly  globalised marketplace and build project teams with diverse skill sets and cross-learning experience will likely be the most resilient.

Read more:

• Omnix to enhance Digital Maturity Index within regional AEC firms
• JLL appoints Larry Baker to develop data centre business in the MEA region
• How data-driven programme management ensures every project hits the ground running

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A contract has been signed by Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) and GE Gas Power. It will see the latter provide upgrades and maintenance services for a period of nine years to three of its 9F gas turbines, which are installed at the Ras Abu Fontas B2 (RAF B2) Cogeneration Plant.

The agreement was signed by Mohammed N. Al Hajri, Managing Director and General Manager of QEWC and Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

The three units covered under the service agreement have a total generation capacity of up to 609MW, and equip one of the most important power facilities in Qatar, supporting the country’s electricity network.

Standing as Qatar’s main supplier of electricity and desalinated water, QEWC said it is pleased to continue its long association with GE to improve plant performance, reduce operating costs, and support vital operations to strengthen Qatar’s water and energy security.

In late September 2022, QatarEnergy and GE inked a deal to step up carbon capture in the energy sector.

“Today, QEWC supplies up to 55% of Qatar’s electricity and 73% of the country’s water needs. The smooth execution of their operations is critical to support people and the economy, and to enable national progress,” stated Al Hajri.

According to a statement, GE’s partnership with QEWC began with the construction of the RAF B2 Cogeneration Plant, as one of the EPC contractors, and continued through the provision of long-term maintenance services, since the plant began commercial operations in 2008. The plant is located 10km south of the capital, Doha.

Anis added, “We at GE, are honored to continue working closely with QEWC to further strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure and provide access to dependable, flexible gas power to meet the needs of residents and businesses.”

Since, its inception, QEWC has been playing a pivotal role in meeting the electricity and water needs of Qatar and currently holds, together with its joint venture partners, a total portfolio of over 11GW of power capacity and 540 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of water capacity in Qatar, noted Al Hajri.

In early November 2022, Abu Dhabi environment and energy agencies unveiled a 60% clean electricity plan for emirate by 2035.

According to Anis, GE has supported the development of key energy infrastructure across Qatar for more than 50 years. He explained, “We have the largest operating and most experienced F-class fleet in the world. There are more than 450 GE 9F gas turbines deployed in over 40 countries.”

He concluded, “The technology delivers consistent performance and accommodates a diverse range of fuels – including being up to 80 percent hydrogen capable – making it an excellent fit for various combined cycle and combined heat and power (CHP) applications.”

In early January 2023, QatarEnergy and CPChem said they would build the $6bn Ras Laffan Petrochemicals complex.

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According to CBRE’s ‘2023 Middle East Real Estate Market Outlook’ report, the total value of real estate projects planned or underway across the GCC currently stands at US $1.36tn. The report highlighted that Saudi Arabia comprises 64.5% of that figure, equating to around $877bn worth of projects, followed by the UAE, with 21.6% share of the total regional projects.

In addition, the real estate services firm said that it anticipates a positive outlook for the real estate sectors across the Middle East this year, as elevated oil prices and resolute economic growth are expected to support strong levels of occupier and investment activity.

The economies of GCC countries are expected to continue recording strong rates of growth in 2023. Both the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon sectors are expected to continue to provide material contributions to headline growth rates. The average GDP growth across GCC countries in 2023 is set to reach 2.7%. CBRE also pointed out that the price performance in the GCC’s residential sector was fragmented last year.

“First, on a positive note, where we have seen prices decline, it has been relatively marginal. However, price growth in Dubai and Riyadh have significantly outpaced the regional average. In 2022, the UAE was the only market to record price growth and transaction volume growth across all cities and sectors,” the report outlined.

In late January 2023, Knight Frank said 219 ultra-prime homes were sold in Dubai in 2022.

It continued, “In Dubai, whilst we do expect transaction volumes to soften year-on-year, we expect that prices will continue to increase, across both the apartment and villas segments of the market, albeit at a slower rate. In Abu Dhabi, we are forecasting growth in both the volume of transactions and the rate of price growth over the course of the coming year.”

Discussing Bahrain’s real estate sector, CBRE said villa prices are expected to record low-single digit price growth. In the apartment segment of the market, given new launches and existing levels of supply, prices are forecast to decrease more substantially. In Saudi Arabia, price performance in both the apartment and villa segment of the market is likely to become more polarised over the coming year.

Villa prices are expected to continue to increase, albeit at slower rates, whereas apartment prices are likely to continue to soften. However, we do not anticipate this trend occurring in Riyadh, where the rate of price growth is expected to moderate, stated CBRE.

On par with trends in its sales market, in Bahrain, we are expecting villa rents to increase marginally in 2023, whereas, over the same period, average rents are forecast to decrease further, it continued.

In late January 2023, the Dubai Land Department said it issued 9,047 permits in 2022.

Dubai’s residential rents are said to have reached their highest level on record in 2022. Throughout this period, average apartment rents increased by 27.1%, and average villa rents rose by 24.9%. Demand also increased significantly with the number of tenancy contracts registered increasing by 10.8% year-on-year, however, new registrations fell by 7.0%. In 2023, rents in Dubai will continue to increase uniformly, however we will not see this happen at the same pace, CBRE explained.

“For Abu Dhabi, in the villa segment of the market, we expect that the rate of growth is likely to remain positive, although will remain in the low single digits. In the apartments segment of the market, we are forecasting for positive rental growth to return over the course of the year, however, the growth rates will not be material,” the report stated.

In mid February 2023, a Deloitte report said it anticipated growth across the residential and commercial sectors in 2023 in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

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Al Masaood Group Industrial is to supply equipment and critical systems for the nuclear industry after announcing a partnership with Bertin Technologies, a French industrial group dedicated to scientific instrumentation for critical applications.

The partnership will bring together Bertin Technologies’ radiation protection and ionising radiation monitoring expertise with Al Masaood’s know-how and extensive network in the Middle East to: “offer high-quality products and services to customers in the nuclear industry,” explained the firms in a statement.

The companies said that they will now focus on the supply of equipment and critical systems for the radiological protection measurement and control of radiation protection for nuclear power plants.

In late May 2022, Al Masaood was named distributor of TCM heavy & medium forklifts in the UAE and, in early October 2022, Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Plant was successfully connected to the UAE power grid.

“Through innovation and collaboration, we are proud to sign this alliance with Al Masaood, one of the leading companies in the Middle East, to harness the power of nuclear technology for a sustainable future while promoting safety and security that will benefit the UAE nation and its business community,” said Bruno Vallayer, President of Bertin Technologies.

Hani El Tannir, Chief Executive Officer at Al Masaood Group Industrial added, “We are delighted to partner with Bertin Technologies to advance radiological protection measures for nuclear power plants and elevate nuclear safety across the UAE’s energy program.

“This collaboration will enable us to pool our expertise and technologies and develop turn-key solutions that bolster the UAE’s commitment to safety, security, and peaceful use. Our long-term partnership with Bertin Technologies will ensure that we support the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) to maintain the highest standards of safety and security in the operation of the UAE’s nuclear power plants,” he concluded.

In early October 2022, Inspire marked five million man-hours with zero LTI at the Barakah Nuclear Plant.

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The third edition of Middle East Consultant’s popular Future of Architecture Summit (FOA Summit) will take place on 14 June in Dubai, and will focus on several key topics, the magazine’s editorial team has revealed.

“There are three key topics up for discussion this year, and we’ve designed the event so that they run throughout the day, as major themes,” says Paul Godfrey, Head of Content at Middle East Consultant.

Discussing the key topics he says, “The first topic is the development and use of nano-materials in construction. This new generation of materials will live and breathe, soaking up carbon dioxide and enrich the atmosphere, which is ideal for enabling cities to counter the effects of global warming.”

“We will also be looking at the rise of AI-led, generative software. Its capability in terms of design innovation and its ability to package all aspects of the project – from concept to procurement and costing – means that any capable operators can potentially cut architects and designers out of the loop. But is this actually happening and is it a good thing?”

“The other debate throughout the event will be whether the current tendency to have a ‘downer’ on super-tall structures is for any good reason. Is it because we’re all obsessed with micro-communities and the ‘15-minute city’ or for sound, practical reasons? We will investigate!,” Godfrey notes.

The FOA Summit is free to attend for construction professionals and will feature several presentations and panel discussions, and will differ compared to its previous iteration.

Commenting on what attendees can expect to find done differently, Godfrey states, “Come along to this year’s event and you’ll find a greater emphasis on the pure design aspects than we had last year: we’re looking less at the urban strategies and the narratives and more at the designs that are quite literally re-shaping the world – and how they’re doing it.”

The second edition of the FOA Summit placed a strong emphasis on future talent and AEC students through the ‘Future Talent Awards’. Asked about whether this segment will make a return to the event in 2023, Godfrey replies, “So successful was last year’s student element that, this year, we’ve decided to run those awards as a completely separate, stand-alone occasion. It’s called the Future of Architecture Student Awards, and it will take place on 12 September.”

He continues, “Plus, this year, we’re opening the awards to university departments and graduate students across the whole of the GCC. So, the bar will be set really high, and we’re expecting to see a great deal of innovation and cutting-edge thought across the seven award categories.”

Discussing what is the one key takeaway he hopes delegates leave the 2023 event with, he remarks, “The Future of Architecture Summit is highly experiential. Come along and you’ll see the future being planned – and you’ll be involved in how it’s taking shape.”

“It’s where you can catch a glimpse of the policies, designs and mindsets that underlie what the region will be like to look at and live in by 2030,” he concludes.

Read more about the Future of Architecture Summit here. Sustainable development will also be discussed at Big Project Middle East’s second edition of the Energy & Sustainability Summit on 3 May.

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Source: ME Construction News

Silver Line Gate Group (SLG) has said it is building a new manufacturing, warehouse and corporate offices facility, spanning 1.37m sqft at Dubai Industrial City. The firm said the US $55mn facility is taking shape in Dubai Industrial City and will open in 2025, and bolster’s the UAE’s commitment to building a self-reliant food security program.

According to a statement, the new facility joins a growing number of food manufacturers, processing firms producing and exporting foodstuff globally from the industrial hub, boosting foreign trade and supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

The new facility will meet the demands of B2B and B2C customers across the GCC, African market and Southeast Asia, and support the distribution of wholesale bakery products such as butter, whey powder, and vegetable shortening to bakeries, restaurants, ice cream manufacturers, hotels, caterers and other users across the UAE, it added.

“UAE leadership underscores food security as one of its key priorities. With a growing volume of Dubai-based food manufacturers located in one address, Dubai Industrial City is leading the way for Dubai to cultivate a self-reliant food programme. We are pleased to welcome Silver Line Gate Group (SLG) into our growing community of food manufacturers and distributors who ensure people across the UAE, Middle East and beyond always have access to nutritious food products,” said Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial Leasing – TECOM Group on behalf of Dubai Industrial City.

In early October 2022, M Glory said it was opening a new electric car manufacturing unit in Dubai Industrial City and, in late January 2023, a Knight Frank report showed that Grade A warehouse lease rates were continuing to rise.

SLG’s new facility is said to be designed to meet the growing dairy ingredients market by using advanced technologies with fully automated machinery and equipment, and will create more than 300 jobs. Dubai’s strategic location, paired with Dubai Industrial City’s extensive transport network that includes land, air, sea, and soon Etihad Rail, will provide the firm with unrivalled and convenient access to key markets, it added.

Mrs. Shereen Saeed, General Manager, at SLG Group added, “Our business is growing rapidly, fuelled by a growing demand for powdered milk and related products across the region. Our ability to cater to this demand, in terms of both output and timely delivery, hinges on our facility. Dubai Industrial City offers us fully equipped industrial infrastructure to easily set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing and logistics centre from which we can better cater to many other markets. Dubai is fast becoming the industrial centre of the region, and we’re thrilled by this chapter in our company’s growth and global expansion story.”

As per Mordor Intelligence, the Middle East and Africa dairy ingredients market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% between 2020 and 2025. The popularity of whey proteins, driven by a renewed focus on active lifestyles and fitness, and the growing use of infant milk formula contribute to greater demand for milk products, the statement concluded.

In late February 2023, Tawazun Industrial Park and Yellow Door Energy inked a deal for a 4.4MW solar project.

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Acwa Power’s joint venture (JV) entity has closed a financing agreement worth US $8.5bn for a major green hydrogen project, which will take shape in Saudi Arabia’s Neom city, the firm has announced. In addition to Acwa, Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) has US-based Air Products and Neom as its JV partners, the statement explained.

The finance for the project will come from a combination of long-term debt and equity, stated Acwa Power in its filing to Saudi bourse Tadawul. The total financing consists of $5.85bn in senior debt and $475mn of mezzanine debt facilities, both arranged on a non-recourse project finance basis.

It includes: $1.5bn from the National Development Fund (NDF) on behalf of National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) under foundation and, $1.25bn is in the form of Saudi riyal denominated financing from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF).

In early February 2023, Masdar opens office in Baku in support of Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sector and, later in the month, Brooge Energy and Siemens Energy said they would develop a green hydrogen and ammonia plant.

The balance will come from a consortium of financiers, structured as a combination of long term uncovered tranches and a Euler Hermes covered tranche, the bourse filing outlined. These include First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, BNP Paribas, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Natixis, Saudi British Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Saudi National Bank, KFW, Riyad Bank, Norinchukin Bank, Mizuho Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Alinma Bank, Apicorp, JP Morgan, DZ Bank, Korea Development Bank and Credit Agricole.

According to Acwa Power, the project scope includes the development, financing, design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, factory testing, transportation, construction, erection, installation, commissioning, insurance, ownership, operation and maintenance of the world-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia facility in Neom.

Also a 30-year green ammonia offtake contract has been inked with Air Products, it added.

In early March 2023, the Big Project Middle East editorial team said that its 2023 Energy & Sustainability Summit will highlight the region’s key opportunities and challenges.

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Source: ME Construction News