construction week issue 301

SAUDI ARABIA BAHRAIN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES QATAR OMAN KUWAIT

ConstructionWEEK NEWS, ANALYSIS, PROJECTS,

TENDERS, CLASSIFIEDS, ANDJOBS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

DECEMBER 19–25, 2009 [301]An ITP Business Publication CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM

INSIDEROUNDTABLEConstruction execs share views on the industry’s hard timesPAGE 12

KUWAIT PROJECTThe Avenues presses on with phase three as it defi es global moodPAGE 15

FIRE SAFETYPrevention rules, but regulation required to improve safety issuesPAGE 18

CITY FOCUSThe latest news, projects and tenders from Medina, KSAPAGE 30

Contractors may breathe a little easier at sign of payment ahead

CONTENTS

10 FACE TO FACEIndustry experts discuss Dubai’s ability to bounce back.

11 COMMENTPhilip Adams discusses intricacies of getting involved in the business of amendments.

12 ROUND TABLECW sat down with industry experts to learn that, despite current times, faith in the construction sector still exists.

REGULARS2 ONLINE3 MAIL

FRONT7 US $10BN WILL SEE INDUSTRY START TO ‘BREATHE’ AGAINAbu Dhabi’s fi nancial support has provided a much needed boost to confi dence levels in the industry, according to experts.

9 NEWS IN BRIEFHighlights of the week.

FEATURES15 PROJECT OVERVIEWIs Kuwait’s The Avenues a good idea, given the global economic mood?

18 SPECIAL REPORTCW examines how fi re safety on construction sites is regulated.

DIRECTORY24 TENDERS25 PROJECTS 26 SPECIALIST SERVICES

BACK30 CITY UPDATEThe latest news and projects from Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

32 DIALOGUEGrey Matters managing director Rabih Fakih talks about the success of his fi rm’s concrete conference and the importance of self-consolidating concrete.

DECEMBER 19-25, 2009 | ISSUE 301

1DECEMBER 19–25, 2009 CONSTRUCTION WEEK

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CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 19–25, 20092

FEATURESDesign

10 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR A ‘GREENER’ WORKPLACE.Interior specialist highlights 10 ways to create a greener workplace.

Design

NO MORE CAPTAIN ORGANICRoss Lovegrove takes design very seriously indeed. Which is why he is no big fan of his ‘Captain Organic’ moniker.

The Al Jaber Group has been named Construction Company of the Year in the 2009 Arabian Business Awards. The accolade was collected by the group’s COO, Fatima Obaid Al Jaber (pictured) at an awards presentation held last week. Al Jaber Group has an extensive network of companies. Its best known construction and engineering arm is Al Jaber LEGT Engineering and Construction, better known as Alec. In November Alec won CW’s Contractor of the Year Award. Alec’s work on several recent projects, including Emaar’s Al Manzil & Qamardeen Hotels, and on certain elements of Dubai Airport Phase 2, was cited as reason for the win.For more images visit www.ConstructionWeekOnline.com

IN PICTURES: AL JABER GRABS TOP CONSTRUCTION HONOUR AT 2009 ARABIAN BUSINESS AWARDS

ONLINEwww.ConstructionWEEKonline.com

MOST POPULARDUBAI CONTRACTORS FACE BANKRUPTCY THREAT EXCLUSIVE: US $2.5 BILLION CLAIM OVER DUBAI METRO NAKHEEL GIVEN $2.45BN TO MEET OBLIGATIONS NAKHEEL TO CLEAR DEBT WITHIN 14 DAYS

TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK’S SPOT POLL GO TOwww.ConstructionWEEKonline.com

HAVE YOUR SAYWHAT DO YOU THINK 2010 WILL HOLD FOR THE INDUSTRY?What are you looking forward to in terms of projects – and what are you worried about?

JOBS OF THE WEEKSenior Designer Hospitality, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesCAD Operator Interior Design, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSenior Interior Designer, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

ONLINE POLLDO YOU AGREE WITH KHALDOUN TABARI’S ASSESSMENT OF DUBAI CONSTRUCTION IN 2010?

62.8%Yes - there’s simply not enough work or money in Dubai right now for a recovery

27.9%Maybe - times are hard but we should see a general improvement

9.3%No - there are plenty of well-fi nanced projects out there and things will get much better

MEP

LEVERAGING CHANGEMEP speaks to Charles Lever about DSI’s future plans.

MEP

HVAC SUPPLIERS IN FOCUSMEP takes a closer look at some major suppliers in the HVAC sector.


MAIL

WRITE TO THE EDITOR Please address your letters to: Post, Construction Week, PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE or email [email protected]. Please provide your full name and address, stating clearly if you do not wish us to print them. Alternatively log on to www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com and air your views on any one of a number of the latest Middle East business articles.

I appreciate the prompt and decisive move by BSU and look forward to closer coordination with the UAE Contractor’s Association.IMAD

Build Safe UAE is really doing good work in enhancing the general work environment for labourers on site. However,

disagreement converted to a dispute, if the contractual fi ner points are worthy of discussion. However the entire issue could be nothing more than a massive waste of time and resources. US $2.5 billion is a substantial sum, therefore one might suggest that if it had real merit, other options were available at an earlier stage of this difference of opinion.THE COLONEL

Usually, claims result from events which the contractor believes are extra contractual and to which he feels entitled for additional compensation. If the client approved such a claim, it becomes a variation order to the original contract. Hence, payment of the approved claim will be due to the contractor. Otherwise, the claim becomes a dispute, putting the burden of proof for entitlement on the contractor, based on cause and effects. Well drafted contracts include specifi c clauses to deal with disputes.FAROUK

RE: DUBAI CONTRAC-TORS FACE BANK-RUPTCY THREATYes! There is a crisis and yes, it can get worse. 2010 does not have light at the end of the tunnel. So what! It does not mean we pack our bags and go. Let us put in our efforts to get rid of it. Let us start to show our real stuff and that we are not here just to reap the good times,

I feel that much needs to be done, especially with government legislation and implementation.CLARENCE

RE: EXCLUSIVE: US $2.5 BILLION CLAIM OVER DUBAI METROGentlemen, there will be a need to have the

but that we can survive this crisis and even bring about an even bigger and brighter day in the future. RAJESH

The economic situation in Dubai is not that bad as it has been projected through media. The most important thing we should remember is that recessions never go for a long period. The dream will come true.JAVED

All are talking about bad times in Dubai. It will overcome the crisis with its visionary leadership and strategic location. I feel people are exaggerating the crisis, as they were exaggerating when Dubai was booming. But, being an owner of an SME contracting company, I am fully confi dent that Dubai will bounce back. MOHAMED

RE: ABU DHABI TO FINANCE DUBAI WORLD DEBTSAuthorisation of such an assistance package is an excellent and timely gesture of “etihad” (unity and care) from elders towards youngsters in the Emirates. It is highly appreciated, not only by the big-ones but also the small-ones, and I personally think that such an action should be celebrated by all the citizens in UAE, since it conveys so much care towards everyone in the country, directly or indirectly. RAFI

RE: BUILD SAFE UAE REMOVES EIGHT MEMBERSSome construction companies pay no attention to the disasters they may cause, by neglecting safety, environment and quality of work. Yes, we agree that adherence to safety rules is a cost, but it pays back in the long term. It adds to the reputation of the company. Thanks for the efforts of Build Safe UAE, I want these ideas to spread throughout all GCC countries.

MOHAMMAD

The opinions expressed in this section are of particular individuals and are in no way a refl ection of the publisher’s views.

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Abu Dhabi’s US $10 billion (AED36.7 billion) fi nancial support has provided a much needed boost to plunging confi dence levels within the region’s construction industry, according to top construction chiefs.

The Dubai government has allocated $4.1 billion towards Dubai World obligations leaving it with $5.9 billion, which could potentially pay off outstanding bills to credi-tors and contractors.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saaed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Supreme Fiscal Com-mittee said via a statement last week: “We are here to reassure investors, fi nancial and trade creditors, employees, and our citizens that our government will act at all times in accordance with market principles and inter-nationally accepted business practices.”

The statement also said that Dubai will start discussions with creditors and con-tractors shortly.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Dutco Balfour Beatty general manager Grahame

FRONT

US $10BN WILL SEE INDUSTRY START TO ‘BREATHE’ AGAIN SAYS SIX CONSTRUCT BOSS

By Conrad Egbert

BUT ARABTEC CHIEF SAYS HE’S ONLY ‘CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC’ AT THIS STAGE

McCaig told ConstructionWeekOnline.com. “This will at least begin the process of pay-ing up contractors and will bring a lot of relief to many. It’s a good move because it will inject some liquidity into the mar-ket, which seems to be the biggest issue right now.”

But despite the positive move, he also said the amount was not enough to pay up all contractors that are owed money.

Last month, world markets went into a frenzy when Dubai World requested a freeze on debt payments, in order to begin restructuring.

“This money will defi nitely allow the con-struction industry to begin breathing again, said Philippe Dessoy, general manager Six Construct – one of the contractors still work-ing on the Burj Dubai, which is set to open next month. “It is not near enough, but it will defi nitely ease the situation, but that again depends on who they allocate those funds to,” he added.

Arabtec Construction, another contrac-tor working on the Burj Dubai and also the largest publicly listed contractor in the emir-ate, agreed that the announcement couldn’t have come at a better time, but added that it was only ‘cautiously optimistic’.

“It all depends on who’s going to get access to this money,” said company CEO Thomas Barry. “Now that it’s there, it has to be used wisely; it has to go into the right pockets. It’s a good effort, but we’re only cautiously optimistic. We’ll have to just wait and see.”

The Dubai government said it would use some of the funds ‘for the satisfaction of obligations to existing trade creditors and contractors’. It also said it was planning to announce a reorganisation law, based on international standards for transparency and creditor protection. It is intended that this law will be available should Dubai World and its subsidiaries be unable to achieve an acceptable restructuring of its remaining obligations.

Highlights 9Face to face 10Comment 11Roundtable 12

FROM LEFT: ARABTEC CEO THOMAS BARRY, SIX CONSTRUCT GM PHILIPPE DESSOY AND DUTCO BALFOUR BEATTY GM GRAHAME MCCAIG,


FRONT

Sweet Homes General

Contracting poured6,064m³of concrete

continuously for 26 hours to fi ll the largest foundation

raft within the AED3.5bn Ajman Uptown

development

The UAE devotes 25%

of total federal government spending to

education and, in Libya, the government is currently

funding 27 new universities

Operations on Dubai Metro’s Green Line will

begin in H22010with the

20stations currently

between50% and 80%

complete

HIGHLIGHTS

UAE

ABU DHABI PLANS 18 NEW SCHOOLS FOR 2010The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) will build 18 new schools across the emirate starting in mid-2010 under ADEC’s 10-year strategic plan. “ADEC’s 10-year strategic plan is a historic transformation of the education system that will deliver educational excellence. Providing students with world class learning environments is a key element of our 10 year plan and is the foundation for achieving excellence,” said HE Salem Al Sayeri, Acting Director General of ADEC. Musanada, a government initiative devoted to developing and managing cost-effective and responsive services for the government of Abu Dhabi, will provide design and construction management services, as well as construction supervision for each of the 18 new schools. Construction companies will be invited to bid for the fi rst phase of ADEC’s schools project in March next year, CW can reveal.

UAE

CONSULTANT TO RESTRUCTURE DEBTWYG, the consultancy fi rm providing control services to Nakheel’s Dubai Waterfront development, will restructure its fi nances to avoid insolvency. The company has asked shareholders to approve a deal which will see WYG’s banks convert some US $86 million of debt into equity, and provide new lending facilities totalling $94.4 million and $56 million of committed bonding facilities. The company said in a statement that failure to secure shareholder approval for the restructuring would likely see the company go into administration, potentially with the loss of 2,700 jobs.

UAE

US$2.5 BILLION CLAIM OVER METROThe RTA is disputing a massive US $2.5 billion claim from the consortium responsible for building Dubai Metro, according to a source connected to the project. “We won’t comment on any contractual issues,” said Peyman Younes Parham, RTA

corporate communications director, when asked if the claim was valid. “(The RTA) is totally disputing it, they have said the money is not due and in actual fact, the consortium is already being overpaid,” said the source. “Right now it is just a claim and hasn’t got to the arbitration stage. But it is probably the biggest claim for a civil works contract ever seen in Dubai, possibly the world.”

Saudi Arabia

KAFD TOWER ENTERS FINAL DESIGN PHASEThe 400-metre-high Capital Market Authority Tower in Riyadh, the tallest in the US $3.73bn King Abdullah Financial District, is fi nalising its design phase. “We are just nearing completion of that design,” said Hyder Consulting Middle East regional MD Wael Allan. Gulf Technical Construction Company (GTCC), the civil contracting subsidiary of Drake & Scull International PJSC, is forming a joint venture with Saudi Oger to bid for construction of the CMA Tower. “We were approached by Saudi Oger to bring our

technical expertise in high-rise construction to the table,” said GTCC executive director Saleh Muradweji.

Morocco

US $800M PROJECT ON SCHEDULEThe AED 3bn Bab Al Bahr project in Rabat is progressing on time and budget with 90% of the infrastructure complete and 30% of phase one construction. Al Maabar, a JV of Abu Dhabi’s leading real estate and investment companies, said this equates to around 20% of the total project. Covering 560,000m2, the project will include three hotels, residential areas, offi ces, shops and entertainment facilities. The project is scheduled for completion by the fi rst quarter of 2013. “Such developments are extremely important as they help provide signifi cant employment opportunities, raise realty standards, and introduce modern infrastructure standards that meet the city’s growing requirements,” said Al Maabar managing director Yousef Al Nowais.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

The Al Maktoum Accident and

Emergency Hospital in Jebel

Ali Dubai will have 300 beds

over 4 fl oors and 95,000m2 and is set for completion

in 2012


FACE-TO-FACE

ZAKIR AHMEDNIA Limited

YOGESH SANIAngel Bath Fittings

There’s no getting around that they have been quite bad for the

general market sentiment, which, let’s not forget, has already

suffered a lot from the global recession.

HOW BAD HAVE THE PAST FEW WEEKS BEEN FOR THE MARKET?

DO YOU THINK IT WILL AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS AT ALL?

SHOULD COMPANIES STILL BE ATTRACTED TO THE UAE AS A POTENTIAL MARKET?

WHEN WILL THE MARKET RECOVER?

WHICH OTHER TERRITORIES OR MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON?

They have, of course, been very bad for the image of Dubai, but I

think a lot of the bad publicity is due to the media, which likes to

concentrate on bad stories. Those of us with operations in Dubai or

doing business there perhaps know a different truth.

For sure, as suppliers of air-conditioning and chillers for residential,

commercial and industrial units, we’re part of the real estate sector

and construction industry. I personally think that the sector will

take a bit of a hit due to further delays in deliveries and maybe the

cancellation of more projects.

It would be foolish to say that it wouldn’t affect our business at

all, but we already have a good number of clients in Dubai and the

UAE and we’re now purely trying to increase that market share

a little.

Of course, there’s still a market but it depends on the nature of the

company. For bigger companies, this is the time for consolidation;

but start-ups would face enormous challenges if they tried to enter

the UAE market right now.

Clearly. It’s important to remember that Dubai is just as important

for its status as a gateway to the rest of the Gulf, just as much as for

the enormous and numerous construction projects taking place in

the Middle East.

Over the past decades, Dubai has become known for its resilience

and, above all, its entrepreneurial spirit. Heady days may be over,

but the market here will be back to ‘normalcy’ in around two to

three years’ time.

You could say that, for some companies, it has already recovered.

We, for example, sell a range of high-end faucet lines and systems.

Most are for residential, although a lot of our sales are to luxury

hotels too, and you only have to look around you to see that Dubai

is still the place to be in that area.

While Dubai and the UAE may have some problems, the rest of the

Middle East is fairly strong and, for NIA Limited, we’re focusing

strongly on Iran.

As I said, Dubai’s real strength is that, even if you don’t actually

do business with Dubai companies, you can still use it as a hub to

do business in. The rest of the Gulf is really interesting for us and

we’re looking at expanding markets, such as Kuwait and Qatar,

for example.

ON THE BOUNCE

CW TALKS TO TWO INTERNATIONAL SUPPLIERS ABOUT DUBAI’S ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK


> For the latest news and comments log on to www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/comment

COMMENT

The opinions expressed in this column are of the author and not of the publisher.

I am increasingly fascinated by the extent to which clients and to a certain extent their lawyers, feel compelled to amend standard forms of contract, especially, bearing in mind the involvement of such organisations in the initial drafting. Next time you look at the Fidic Red Book for example, take a look at the ‘acknowledgements’ as these make for very interesting reading.

The ‘acknowledgements’ state that the drafts were reviewed by many persons and organisations, and that their com-ments were ‘duly studied by the Update Task Group and, where considered appro-priate, have infl uenced the wording of the clauses.’

The list includes approximately 30 differ-ent organisations of various types including seven multi-national law fi rms.

These highly experienced construction lawyers have been given an opportunity to review the draft to assess the balance of risk between contractor and client. Now it is possible that Fidic may have found their comments ‘inappropriate’ and con-sequently they had no ‘infl uence’ on the wording, but I must confess I fi nd that hard to believe.

Therefore, during the drafting process presumably, they have become reasonably satisfi ed as to the contracts fairness, with respect to the commercial interests of their various clients. So why do they and more importantly their clients, feel the need to amend it in practice and shift the balance of risk so drastically? If the contract is amended so that it becomes onerous, there is nearly always a premium to pay in lost time and cost to administer the inevitable disputes and disagreements.

On a few occasions I have read the web profi le of the person who has drafted such amendments and the description often includes the term ‘non-contentious’! I’d hate to meet them when they may be feel-ing particularly contentious!

For example, I once read an amendment that sought to distinguish between ‘design development’ and ‘variation’ with the result that the former would not entitle the con-tractor to an extension of time.

Subsequently, nearly every change that was issued regardless of scope or com-plexity was conveniently labelled ‘design development’. Mutual trust and coopera-tion be damned!

In another example, terrorism was included in the list of excusable delays contained in a standard form, however this had been amended to exclude terror-ist acts which were ‘reasonably foresee-able by an experienced contractor’! Even the CIA and MI6, with all their extensive worldwide resources, are unable to foresee every terrorist event, so how is this fair balance of risk?

However, I should point out that the examples above emanate from the fi nancial fi t-out sector, where the banks fl ex their commercial muscles by often instructing their lawyers to remove all employer risk from a standard form. In other sectors, where the bargaining position of the respec-tive parties is more even, the amendments may be less onerous.

Wherever possible contractors should continue to price such risk and perhaps make that more transparent. However, in the current climate this could be a risky strategy and therefore contractors may consider offering a reduction in their price if the onerous provisions were omitted.

Finally, when faced with a set of bespoke amendments there are several things a contractor can do, not least of which a thorough risk assessment, including recom-mendations and strategies for managing the risk. From a practical perspective a good tip is to prepare a cut and pasted version of the contract so that the amendments can be read in context without the need to constantly fl ick between documents.

The curse of the bespoke amendmentPHILIP ADAMS DISCUSSES INTRICACIES OF GETTING INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS OF AMENDMENTS

Philip Adams is an associate director at Systech in Dubai. He has provided commercial, contractual and dispute

resolution advice on projects ranging from high specification offices, data centres and long distance fibre optic networks to major civil engineering

projects, multi-storey offices and hotels. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

and a fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitration.

“SUBSEQUENTLY, NEARLY EVERY

CHANGE THAT WAS ISSUED REGARDLESS

OF SCOPE OR COMPLEXITY WAS

CONVENIENTLY LABELLED ‘DESIGN

DEVELOPMENT’.”


ROUNDTABLE

THE FUTUREWhat are your future plans?Robert Perkins: We see in the next six months or so, work coming out of the government, than anything else – infrastructure work, facilities they’d need for their own developments; that’s our focus right now. Saleh Muradweij: We started and will always be in Dubai, however, we have recognised the potential for work coming from outside Dubai, not just recently, but in the past two years. We are currently focusing on Abu Dhabi and negotiating a lot of projects with the Saudi government. There is more work than contractors can handle in Saudi. Over the next 4 or 5 years we will be heavily involved in Saudi.

Is everyone heading to Saudi?Andrew Broderick: No. We’ve got a lot of government projects coming up right here in Abu Dhabi. A lot of work can be expected out of Abu Dhabi in the coming few months.

How are you spreading your risk?Perkins: We’re spreading our risk by changing our focus from one client to multiple clients; multiple markets as well. It makes more business sense.Muradweij: There is more work in infrastructure than in commercial or residential in the region. Infrastructure will remain a focus for countries who do not plan to expand in the real estate sector also. We’ve also diversifi ed into areas including waste water treatment. Diversity is a must to maintain growth.Nizar Al Yafi : Yesterday we won two jobs, one in Dubai for project management and another in Ras Al Khaimah. We are not leaving Dubai. It had a little problem, but it will be solved. If we get work in Dubai, we’ll take it. Nabil Mango: But those projects are

DISCUSSION PANEL

belonging to the Abu Dhabi government.Perkins: The challenges for people in the region are not just looking for investment opportunities, they’re going to look for viable projects that have a good feasibility and will pay back, and that is what we’re trying to identify.Muradweij: Earlier Dubai was concentrating on building places and now they’re focusing on infrastructure work to feed these places. There is still ample work in Dubai.

But would you work if you’re not paid? Muradweij: I think Dubai is very committed to their contractors and to their projects. It’s just a matter of restructuring payments and i’m sure it will fulfi ll its obligations.Mango: What about the private sector?Muradweij: The private sector is a different issue. The private sector is supply and demand. The government doesn’t look at supply and demand. The government looks at developing it’s cultural and hospitals, schooling which is part of the infrastructure.Mango: So most opportunities that are available in Dubai are goverment works and not private work. We have observed that most of the investors, contractors are coming out of Dubai and seeking work in Abu Dhabi. Last year we couldn’t fi nd contractors; now we have them in the hundreds. It’s the opposite of last year.Perkins: Last year we put a project out to tender to 30 contractors and we got back only 3 bids and this was a 200 million dollar project, so it’s changed a lot. Mango: There is more work available in Abu Dhabi now than there is in Dubai.Broderick: It’s just a fact isn’t it?Mango: Yes and that is why everybody is coming to Abu Dhabi.Broderick: I’m part of the Aldar prequalifi cation team and even before

SALEH MURADWEIJExecutive Director, Gulf

Technical Construction

Company (GTCC) has over

20 years of professional

experience throughout the GCC and the

Levant. He is also a member on the Drake

& Scull International Board of Directors.

ANDREW BRODERICKHead of Health, Safety

Security & Environment,

Aldar Properties, has been

working in HSE for the past

18 years in various industries. He is also

the offi cial Build Safe UAE spokesperson

in Abu Dhabi.

LOIC FINLANBuilding Physicist, KEO

International Conultants

has spent the last 12 years

working in Europe, Asia

and the Middle East on town planning,

infrastructure and building projects. He

joined KEO from Arup where he was head

of energy strategy.

ROBERT PERKINSPresident & CEO, QP

International Project

Management, has a BSc in

engineering and accounting

from the University of North Carolina

and has 35 years of experience.

NABIL MANGOExecutive Vice President

& COO, has over 28

years of experience

within the industry both

as a contractor and a consultant. He

holds a BSC in civil engineering and

construction.

NIZAR EL YAFIVice President, Pre-

Construction & Business

Development has a

Bachelors in Architecture

from Cairo and has 32 years behind him

in consultancy and PM.

Come togetherIN THE MIDST OF ALL THE NEGATIVE NEWS COMING OUT OF THE REGION, CW SAT DOWN WITH A SELECT GROUP OF KEY DECISION MAKERS IN ITS SECOND ROUNDTABLE EVENT, AND FOUND THAT FAITH IN THE REGION’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STILL EXISTS

By Conrad Egbert


will fi nd the means and ways of doing it. For example Atkins Bahrain world Trade Centre is an example of this commitment. They’re making money out of it and the reputation of the company and Bahrain has been enhanced by it.

People seem happy to just comply. Perkins: You’ve got a lot of investments to be made for business return so investors are concerned about the cost, but I think with the world focus on energy and water, there will be more technologies coming on board that will make sustainability a no brainer.

HUMAN RESOURCESIs anyone hiring?Finalan: We’re heavily involved in many projects in Abu Dhabi at the moment and we’re looking for people.Perkins: We’ve just been awarded a couple of projects so we’re hiring too. Mango: We’re going to be hiring a lot of people next year in January.Muradweij: Due to diversifi cation, we are also looking at hiring in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Libya and Egypt. There are a lot of quality people coming out of the crisis who are looking for jobs.

CONTRACTSCan we expect new forms of contracts?Muradweij: We always follow the Fidic contracts that are adjusted to suit our needs. So I don’t think we’re going to see much of a change in the future.But we’re already doing all of this.

PAYMENTSAre you going down the legal route?Muradweij: I think these times are diffi cult for both the client and the contractor. It doesn’t really make sense to go the legal way. If the client doesn’t have money, common sense would call for other means to get paid. Perkins: If you go down the legal way you may get a judgment, but then what?Mango: But what if contractors aren’t paid and it leads to their bankruptcy?Muradweij: Well we as Drake & Scull are doing what we think is the best way and going down the legal route is not a favourable option for us. �

the crunch, everybody was saying we’re shifting our focus to Abu Dhabi. And it wasn’t just one, it was the same speech of every contractor, project manager, engineer and landscape gardner saying they were focusing on Abu Dhabi. Mango: The boom started last year or even the year before in Abu Dhabi. You can see it in the amount of people, the traffi c jams, everywhere.

HEALTH & SAFETYHow good is HSE in the region? Broderick: It’s coming up in leaps and bounds in Abu Dhabi. I’m very pleased with the progress. Four years ago, when I started out in my current role, most health and safety procedures weren’t in place. The laws existed but nothing was enforced, so Aldar on its own enforced these laws on our contractors, project managers and other people working with us, and now it’s working really well.

Are HSE clauses included in contracts?Broderick: That’s one of the fi rst things I did with Aldar, to put it in the contracts. So everybody now has a copy of the Aldar HSE policy and they must follow it and they must also have their own.

Is this practiced across the board?Perkins: That’s what we do. Project safety is one of the fi rst topics in our monthly report. We have a safety policy and we try to see that contractors have one too.Broderick: Another issue that is important is worker welfare. We have some of the best labour camps in the region. It’s not much to give the workers a warm meal during lunch time, make them happy; at the end of the day, their productivity

goes up and you get more out of them; it’s benefi cial for everyone.

Is there a list of good and bad fi rms? Perkins: We have a prequalifi cation procedure and one of the things we check is the safety record of companies. But I don’t think it’s right to disqualify a contractor based on something that happened in the past due to bad project management.

So HSE falls on project management?Perkins: Well, we have a responsibility for the entire project but it’s the contractor’s project manager that is the one who will make or break safety standards.Broderick: We’ve got the same contractor working on different projects and their standards are completely different. It boils down to the contractor’s PM and their commitment to HSE.Muradweij: But that commitment represents the company’s commitment, so you can’t just say that the PM is responsible for HSE. The company has to share responsibility for that too. It’s a culture of HSE we’re tying to build here. Yes, the whole region is not very HSE oriented but we’ve come a long way and now the UAE is very conscious of it.

SUSTAINABILITYAre people serious about going green?Loic Finlan: There is a big focus on sustainability in the region and there are many reasons for the industry to embrace it. There are also many reasons why so many people still shy away from it, including misconceptions about costs. Green building mainly depends on commitment. If you want to do it, you

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The construction of Phase III of The Ave-nues, Kuwait’s larg-est shopping mall, is steadily progressing in the Al Rai district of Kuwait City.

At a time where most GCC states have experienced a slow down in construction activity, does yet another high-end, fantastic mall project seem viable?

Strangely, yes, seems to be the answer. A fortnight ago, when regional markets dived after Dubai World requested for a freeze on debt payments, Kuwait’s index made its largest one-day gain in four months, sug-gesting a strong economy, backed by ample sovereign funds and a wealth of untapped natural resources.

The National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House added 3.8% and 1.9% respec-tively, and the country’s index climbed 1.3% to 6766 points.

The latest report by the Oxford Business Group also suggests that the country’s econ-omy is strong and that its real estate market appears to be moving towards recovery, with falling interest rates and increasing confi dence, which is helping to lift sales.

And the mall, according to offi cials working on the project, is defi nitely securing interest from leading international retail brands on

WITH VOLATILE REGIONAL MARKETS AND A SUPER-MALL ON EVERY CORNER OF THE REGION, IS KUWAIT’S THE AVENUES A GOOD IDEA, GIVEN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC MOOD?By CW staff

THE RIGHT AVENUE

the back of this increased confi dence. The mall has been designed, in collaboration, by the London and Los Angeles offi ces of global architectural practice Gensler. Kuwait’s

Mabanee is a Kuwaiti shareholding

company with a paid-up capital of KD46

million. It has been listed under the

real estate sector on the Kuwait Stock

Exchange since 1999. Mabanee is owned

by a prestigious list of Kuwait’s top

institutions and high net worth individuals

currently exceeding 2500 shareholders.

The company operates under three

main business lines including real estate,

investment and construction.

KUWAIT’S INDEX MADE ITS LARGEST ONE-DAY GAIN IN FOUR MONTHS, SUGGESTING A STRONG ECONOMY

THE AVENUE HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO FEEL LIKE AN OUTDOOR SPACE INSPIRED MAINLY

BY EUROPEAN SHOPPING AVENUES.


Mabanee is developing the project. Phase III of The Avenues will consist of more than 86,000m2 of retail space and is scheduled for completing in early 2012.

The development will bring together six elements, including The Mall, Grand Avenue, Soku, The Souk, Luxury Mall and Bazaar. According to the designers, the inspira-tion was taken from leading retail cities where distinctively different districts can be found side by side.

Once complete, the third phase will house 545 retail units in total, including 52 food and beverage outlets.

“The Avenues is the region’s premier shop-ping, lifestyle and entertainment destina-tion and Phase III will elevate this offering, positioning it as a world class retail shopping destination, said Chris Johnson, managing principal of Gensler London.

“Truly a retail evolution, The Avenues completely redefi nes the shopping experi-ence for the consumer; it is as much about place making as it is retail design.

“The scheme takes reference from the great cityscapes and retail locations around the world. These cities emanate vibrancy, character and a diverse range of retail offer-ings and experiences – a philosophy that leads the Phase III design,” he added.

mall seems to be ideally timed. A report issues by Kuwait Finance House (KFH) in early November suggested a return to positive territory for the country’s real estate industry fuelled by higher spend-ing on the part of the government and an increased involvement of the private sector in public investments.

And though a steady improvement in the property market is expected, outside forces cannot be controlled. With regards to Dubai World’s debt, Kuwaiti lenders don’t seem to have signifi cant exposure to affect them and economic realities are generally trend-ing towards the positive.

In late November, the Finance Ministry announced a $20 billion budget surplus for the fi rst seven months of the fi scal year that began in April. This was a dramatic rise on the forecast defi cit of $16.8 billion.

According to a recent report by the National Bank of Kuwait, residential property prices are still edging downward, falling back some 8% annually on a rolling six-month aver-age basis. With the cost of borrowing hav-ing fallen steeply, and prices yet to regain their upward momentum, Kuwait’s property market could soon start to attract investors, which in turn could breathe new life into the country’s construction industry. �

Located close to the centre of Kuwait City, The Avenues has set a benchmark for high quality retail in the region. Phase I of develop-ment opened in 2007 and houses more than 230 retail units. Phase II opened in 2008, offering over 200 higher-end shops, a large food court and outdoor dining venues.

As well as being appointed lead architects on the project, Gensler’s design teams are respon-sible for delivering the interior design.

“With the success of the initial two phases of The Avenues, seeing them quickly estab-lished as the premier shopping and leisure destination within Kuwait, we were look-ing to adopt a different design approach for the latest extension,” said Mohammed Alshaya, chairman of development com-pany Mabanee.

“The pedigree of Gensler, in providing world class architectural designs, naturally made them the perfect partner for Mabanee as we strive to create another exciting chap-ter in the continued development of The Avenues. The start of the construction is another milestone for our company, and we look forward to our opening in 2012, offering the population of Kuwait a new and dynamic experience.”

And with the global recovery expected to come around in 2012, the opening of the

“THE START OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR OUR COMPANY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR OPENING IN 2012, OFFERING THE POPULATION

OF KUWAIT A NEW AND DYNAMIC EXPERIENCE”

DESIGN INSPIRATIONSThe Mall links Phase III to the existing centre and according to the designer will provide the

‘widest’ selection of fashion trends.

The Grand Avenue has been designed to feel like an outdoor space. It takes inspiration

from tree-lined boulevards and major retail centres around the world. The retail facades

are a mix of European, regional and contemporary styles whilst the transparent roof allows

natural light penetration.

Soku – an acronym for South of Kuwait – takes its inspiration from New York’s bohemian

Soho district. Restaurants, cafes and bistros will attract Kuwait’s younger crowd.

The Bazaar takes inspiration from the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul and will house 34 units

below ground.

Luxury Mall will house up to 70 high-end brands, including 16 food and beverage units. The

focal point will be a 21m high central dome.

The Souk provides space for small start-up retailers. Modelled on the customary Kuwaiti

Souk, this district is an interpretation of traditional regional retail architecture, including

narrow streets.

SOKU WHICH IS AN ACRONYM FOR ‘SOUTH KUWAIT’ TAKES ITS INSPIRATION FROM NEW YORK’S SOHO DISTRICT.

THE BAZAAR’S DESIGN IS BASED ON THE GRAND BAZAAR IN ISTANBUL AND WILL HOUSE 34 UNITS BELOW GROUND.

LUXURY MALL WILL HAVE A 21M CENTRAL DOME.

THE SOUK IS MODELLED ON THE TRADITIONAL KUWAIT SOUK AND WILL EXHIBIT THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE COUNTRY.


IN THE LINE OF FIRE

WITH THE INCREASED RISKS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD INVOLVES, PROVIDING FIRE SAFETY DURING THIS STAGE OF A PROJECT REQUIRES

EXTRA ATTENTION. CW EXAMINES HOW THE ISSUE IS REGULATED AND WHAT MEANS THERE ARE TO ACHIEVE SAFETY

By Alison Luke


> For more special reports visit www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com

Ensuring fi re safety in operational buildings requires the skilful design and installa-tion of the correct systems. Achieving the same level of fi re

safety during the construction period of any project needs an extra level of care due to an increased number of risks.

A series of high-profi le fi res over the past few years in buildings that were still under construction have brought the issue to the fore. Such is the concern in the region that regulations are currently under review, with new guidelines expected to be released in 2010. “Fires on construction sites have been increasing steeply mostly due to negligence and lapses in safety procedure,” reports Cooper Middle East sales director – safety, Ashique Panakkat.

One of the most recent fi res in an under construction project, that in the Atlantis, The Palm hotel gained worldwide coverage, primarily due to the status of the project. However, the issue is not confi ned to the Middle East: “Fire safety during construc-tion is a problem everywhere, worldwide,” stresses Passive Fire Protection Federation

(PFPF) chair David Sugden. He highlights a major fi re on a site in Peckham, South Lon-don in late November as a prime example. Although investigations are still ongoing, initial statements have suggested that on site gas cylinders exacerbated the event in which several people were injured.

So what are the risks involved and what steps can you take to improve fi re safety on your construction sites?

RISK FACTORSFactors such as incomplete systems, general construction processes and waste are only some of those that affect on-site safety, making the need to provide means for fi re safety precautions even greater than in completed buildings.

“The construction period is the most dan-gerous for several reasons: whatever fi re precautions are planned for the fi nal build-ing are not complete, so may not be effec-tive...there are lots of other materials on site such as packaging cardboard and plastics; plus general rubbish can build up and that is always a fi re hazard,” warns Sugden.

“Most of the fi res on sites are caused by welding equipment, temporary electrical wiring and personnel negligence,” reports

FPA GUIDANCEThe Joint Code of Practice Fire Prevention

on Construction Sites is widely recognised

as a basis for improved safety and is used

worldwide. Published jointly by the UK-based

Fire Protection Association (FPA) and

Construction Confederation, the document

applies to any work that is carried out prior

to and during the procurement, construction

and design process. It is commonly referred

to in insurance documents and is recognised

as providing best practice guidance.

The 7th Edition of the code includes a

number of precautions and safe working

practices that when followed will ensure

adequate detection and prevention

measures are incorporated during the

design and planning stages and that work

on a site is undertaken to the highest

standard of fi re safety. Signifi cant revisions

to this latest edition include compliance

with the requirements of the Construction

(Design and Management) Regulations

2007; guidance on managing fi re safety

on high fi re risk sites, such as high-rise or

large timber-framed projects; the addition

of a section on the use of acetylene; plus

requirements for the siting and construction

of smoking shelters.

A second FPA document, the Construction

Site Fire Prevention Checklist, is designed

to be used in conjunction with the Joint

Code of Practice. This checklist converts

the code into a series of questions that

should be asked to establish whether fi re

precautions on a site are comprehensive

and adequate. The document works on a

tick-box principle and contains space for

notes and comments. Over time it can be

used to present a complete fi re precautions

history for a construction site or building

under refurbishment.

For further details see: www.thefpa.co.uk

ASHIQUE PANAKKAT, COOPER MIDDLE EAST.

DAVID SUGDEN CHAIRMAN OF THE PFPF.

RAJA HUSSAIN, RAMBOLL.


Panakkat. “A high-rise project would have hundreds on workers on site and a small incident can easily get out of control,” he stresses.

The incomplete status of the fi nal building fi re safety precautions should be carefully considered during construc-tion as they are likely to prove ineffective in the event of any fi re. For example, blocked or unprotected means of egress routes and incomplete compartmentation means that anyone caught in the building during a fi re may become trapped.

“With obstructions like scaffolding common on sites, evacuation and free movement of people becomes very limited, posing severe life safety risks. Also, a lack of infrastructure and limited access makes it diffi cult for fi rst responders to get immediate help to the personnel trapped,” warns Panakkat.

“When the building is fi nished you will have complete compartmentation and have used all the correct fi re-rated materials and products,” explains Sugden. “How-ever, some materials such as insulation are not fi re-rated until they are complete, for example if they are of a sandwich construc-tion they may not be fi re-rated until they are sealed,” he adds.

for the storage of high hazard materials for some duration of time and the same area can be used for storage of low hazard material at a later stage,” explains Hussain. “This change of hazard classifi cation will require constant monitoring of the areas and thereby changing of the fi re safety sys-tems to satisfy the minimum requirements of fi re protection,” he stresses.

The lack of fi nal and/or commissioned MEP services should also be considered when planning for fi re safety during con-struction. “Construction projects do not have provision for providing detection or suppression systems due to the non-availability of the infrastructure, including wiring for electricity and piping for water,” explains Panakkat.

Such issues also apply to the general site operations and staff accommodation, which themselves can become additional hazards if not carefully treated. “Many sites now have accommodation in the form of site huts partway up the structure, which may have facilities for cooking etc. These are temporary structures, with temporary wir-ing and power and these huts are a proven danger,” warns Sugden.

REGULATIONWith the different issues affecting the construction phase comes a need to provide a means to specifi cally control and minimise these as opposed to fi re safety risks post-build. So what regulations are in place and how are these changing?

“The fi re detection and related safety systems are regulated by NFPA and EN Standards across the Middle East. In the past it was British standards that were prevalent, which then migrated to EN with the changes in Europe; an interesting development in the recent past is the standards shifting towards NFPA,” reports Panakkat. “This was driven by two major factors: an increase in high-rise construction in the region and NFPA’s suitability in this area; plus the US fi re safety manufacturers infl uencing the specifi cation and standards,” he explains.

On a local level within the region there are specifi c regulations in place for con-struction in individual countries. “All GCC local regulations are based on NFPA, but they vary in areas and implementation,” confi rms Panakkat. “Each individual Civil

COOPER’S RADIO+ CAN PROVIDE FIRE DETECTION WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A CABLED CONNECTION.

DUBAI CIVIL DEFENCE GUIDELINESThe local and regional authorities

throughout the Middle East have a number

of guidelines and regulations in place to

minimise fi re risk during the construction

process. Current Dubai Civil Defence

Department guidelines related to multi-

storey buildings state that a number of fi re

fi ghting systems must be installed and fi xed

in them during construction. These include:

• the installation of dry riser outlets in all

stairs in buildings from 18-30m; plus

outlets in each fl oor must be connected

with hoses or fi xed hose reels with inlets

for use by fi refi ghters;

• in buildings more than 30m, dry riser

outlets should be connected with

water tanks and moveable pumps, with

consideration for the site area, type and

nature of materials being used;

• fi re extinguishers should be fi xed on

fl oors used for the storage of materials,

in addition to the installation of automatic

water sprinklers or other suitable fi re

suppression system;

• enough water sources must be provided in

order to operate the fi re fi ghting systems;

• the consultant and contractor bear full

responsibility for the regular inspection

and maintenance of the installed fi re

fi ghting systems.

The different needs of a building between the construction and operational phases bring inherent issues with the provision of fi re safety systems. “The fi re safety pro-vided during construction is temporary to account for the increase of fi re loads such as stored and infl ammable material, unlike an operational building which will have a fi xed fi re protection system designed for a specifi c hazard group that will not change,” explains Ramboll Middle East senior fi re engineer Raja Sajad Hussain.

During the construction phase the haz-ard classifi cation of a project can change depending upon how different areas are being used. “Some areas might be used

“WITH OBSTRUCTIONS LIKE SCAFFOLDING COMMON ON SITES, EVACUATION AND FREE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE BECOMES VERY LIMITED”


Defence authority in the UAE has its own regulation,” reports Hussain. “The UAE does have Federal regulations, which are inspired by the NFPA and mainly followed by Abu Dhabi; JAFZA has its own regula-tions, which are based on NFPA; addition-ally, Saudi Arabia has its own regulations named SBC, which is mainly drawn from ICC,” adds Hussain.

With the rising concern over fi re safety, changes to the current regulations are expect-ed in the near future. The effectiveness of current regulations on under-construction projects is one issue that requires consid-eration reports Panakkat: “The local Civil Defence regulations are focused on com-pleted structures, hence there are seldom any inspections to verify the safety practices on job sites,” he states.

“With no inspection regime or regulations the entire responsibility of life-safety on job sites is now driven by the contractors and is not surprisingly below the mark where it should be,” says Panakkat.

“The fi re incident rate of buildings under construction is clearly indicative of a need to have not just laws, but a more robust enforce-ment of such laws,” agrees Hussain.

Plans are reportedly in place both for GCC-wide regulations and updates to the more localised standards. “There is a GCC-wide push to standardise the regula-tions and a committee has been formed to complete this process,” reports Panakkat. “An initial draft GCC-wide Safety Code has

Cooper Middle East recently introduced a radio-based wireless addressable detection system, which it is planning to offi cially launch in the Middle East at the forthcoming Intersec 2010 exhibition. “This is perfect for applications where wiring and infrastruc-ture is diffi cult,” explains Panakkat.

Cooper’s Radio+ can be used to provide a fi re detection system without the need for a cabled connection between the fi eld devices and control panel. The range includes a wireless detector with integrated sounder and beacon, which reduces the need for multiple devices. The devices are high-life battery driven and a hybrid version is available for areas where wiring is impos-sible. A signal range of more than 2km in free air is possible.

NAFFCO also offers a wide range of prod-ucts that are suitable for construction site fi re safety, including a compressed air foam system (CAFS). Offering a choice of wet and dry foam to suit different application needs, the CAFS is a general fi re fi ghting system that can be used for most types of fi re.

One of the simplest, and perhaps most effective ways to improve the fi re safety on sites though is to ensure that all staff are educated in the potential risks and their role in minimising these. “The problem is that site labour can be careless,” states Sugden. “That’s where the biggest improvement can be found: in educating people in site safety in general; staff must be adequately trained in the risks that exist,” he concludes. �

been issued, which is due for completion in 2010,” he adds.

However, the content and effectiveness of the fi nal code for the construction phase of buildings has yet to be confi rmed. “Whether [the GCC-wide safety code] will compre-hensively cover regulations for projects under construction is a question mark,” warns Panakkat.

Other regulation reviews that are cur-rently underway include those issued by the Dubai Civil Defence.

“The Dubai Civil Defence is in the pro-cess of developing new regulations based on NFPA and [these are due to] be issued early next,” reports Hussain.

SOLUTIONSThere are a number of products and systems that can be employed as fi re safety devices in an under construction building. “These are generally temporary systems,” reports Hussain, “and include fi re hose cabinets that are watered through temporary fi re pumps and extinguishers.”

Several manufacturers also offer products that can be effectively utilised during the construction phase.

NFPA GUIDELINES

Many projects in the Middle East are

designed according to the US National Fire

Protection Association (NFPA) codes.

An updated version of NFPA 241: Standard

for safeguarding construction, alteration and

demolition operations was released in 2009.

The code provides measures to prevent

or minimise fi re damage to structures,

including those in underground locations,

during construction, refurbishment and

demolition. Updates within the latest

edition include the minimum fi re watch

duration following torch-applied roofi ng

operations has been increased to two

protection on which users can rely during

the construction process. It also includes

integrated, performance-based design

options that enable those involved in the

design and construction process to provide

innovative means of protecting public safety.

Major changes to the 2009 edition of

NFPA 5000 include the use of elevators

for occupant-controlled evacuation;

supplemental evacuation equipment; areas

of refuge communication systems; and

additional sprinkler mandates for high-rise

healthcare and residential buildings.

For further details see www.nfpa.org.

hours; new requirements for the fi re

protection of external rubbish chutes; clarifi ed

requirements for underground water mains

and hydrants; plus clearer guidance on the

use of fuel gas cylinders for torch-applied

roofi ng operations.

NFPA 5000: Building Construction and

Safety Code provides complete rules for new

construction, building refurbishment and

safety enforcement and includes provisions

for all aspects of the design and construction

of buildings and structures. It features

clearly stated goals and objectives in terms

of life safety, fi re fi ghter safety and property

“WITH NO INSPECTION REGIME THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY OF LIFE-SAFETY ON SITES IS DRIVEN BY THE CONTRACTORS”

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DIRECTORY

DECEMBER 19–25, 2009 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 23

24 TENDERS25 PROJECTS

SPECIALIST SERVICES26 Building materials27 Construction chemicals/concrete28 Education & training/fl ooring29 Recruitment/steel

CITY UPDATE30 Madinah, Saudi Arabia

TENDERS | PROJECTS | SUPPLIERS | CITY UPDATE


�TENDERSFREE TENDERS AND SERVICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRYTO INCLUDE YOUR TENDERS IN THIS SECTION EMAIL TENDER DETAILS TO [email protected]

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BAHRAIN

Issuer: Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: 325/2009/5310Description: The supply of an 11KV VCB switch board panel for Sheikh Khalid Al Ali Mall.Closes: December 23Fees: BD15Contact: Tender Submission Offi ce, 7th fl oor, Tender Board Offi ce at Al Moayyed Tower, Manama.

EGYPT

Issuer: Egyptian Railways Integrated Services CompanyDescription: Engineering, design, installation and commissioning of four stationary train washing systems in Cairo.Closes: January 24Fees: EP5000Bond: EP200,000Contact: The Railways Workshops, Al Farz, El Sharabiya, Cairo

OMAN

Issuer: Oman Power and Water Procurement CompanyTender No: 353/2009Description: Provision of a temporary rental power to Oman’s main interconnected system.Closes: December 21Fees: OR1500Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Ministry of EducationTender No: 313/2009Description: Construction of 20 classrooms in a boy’s basic education school in Al Khrayis, Wilayat Al Seeb.Closes: December 21Fees: OR330Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Ministry of Health Tender No: 312/2009Description: Construction of a health centre in Al Ajaiz.Closes: December 21Fees: OR500Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Public Authority for Electricity and WaterTender No: 324/2009Description: Construction of chlorination unit in Al Khoud Reservoir.Closes: December 28Fees: OR200Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Majis Industrial ServicesTender No: 332/2009Description: Construction of a seawater intake pumping station in Sohar.Closes: December 28Fees: OR125Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

Issuer: Ministry of ManpowerTender No: 326/2009Description: Construction of a vocational training centre at Al Burami.Closes: January 4Fees: OR1450Contact: www.tenderboard.gov.om

QATAR

Issuer: Public Works AuthorityTender No: PWA/GTC/053/09-10Description: Construction, completion and maintenance for modifi cations and additions to existing schools around Doha.Closes: December 22Fees: QR2000Contact: Contract department, Public Works Authority

Issuer: Public Works AuthorityTender No: PWA/GTC/056/09-10Description: Civil works in Ain-Khalid area.Closes: December 29Fees: QR4000Contact: Contract department, Public Works Authority

Issuer: Public Works AuthorityTender No: PWA/GTC/051/09-10Description: Construction, completion and maintenance of administration offi ces and car parking for the Supreme Council of Justice.

Closes: January 5Fees: QR1500Contact: Contract department, Public Works Authority

SAUDI ARABIA

Issuer: Ministry of TransportDescription: Construction of Bisha dual carriageway in Makkah.Closes: December 21Contact: www.mot.gov.s

Issuer: Saline Water Conversion CorporationDescription: Construction of a pump station in Buriydah, Saudi ArabiaCloses: December 28Fees: SR1000Contact: www.swcc.gov.sa

UAE

Issuer: Ministry of Public WorksTender No: 2009/167/10-341104-7091-7048Description: Construction of a maternity and children’s hospital in Sharjah, UAE.Closes: December 22Fees: AED8000Contact: www.mopw.gov.ae

Issuer: Dubai Electricity and Water AuthorityTender No: CNE/0114/2008(R)Description: Construction of water intake channel (onshore and offshore sections), and an outfall system.Closes: January 25Contact: The Chairman, Board of Directors, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) was established in accordance with law No 24 of 2005, issued by HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President. The council seeks to develop education and educational institutions in Abu Dhabi, implement innovative educational policies, plans and programmes that aim to improve education, and support educational institutions and staff to achieve the objectives of national development in accordance with the highest international standards.

This week, Adec announced that Musanada, a government initiative has been awarded the contract to provide design and construction management services, as well as construction supervision for 18 new schools. Construction tenders will be open for bidding from March 2010. �

Tender focus

ABU DHABI EDUCATION COUNCIL

MUSANADA WILL PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR 18 NEW SCHOOLS.

> For more tenders check online at www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/tenders

ONE TO WATCHIssuer:Issuer: Abu Dhabi Education CouncilAbu Dhabi Education CouncilDescription:Description: Construction of 18 new schools.Construction of 18 new schools.Open date:Open date: March 2010 March 2010Project value:Project value: UnknownUnknownContact:Contact: Abu Dhabi Education Council, PO Box 36005, Abu Dhabi Education Council, PO Box 36005, Abu Dhabi, UAEAbu Dhabi, UAE

� PR

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�PROJECTSA SAUDI ARABIA DATABASE - BUILDING PROJECTS FOCUSTO LIST YOUR PROJECTS IN THIS COLUMN EMAIL DETAILS TO [email protected]

The project calls for the construction of King Abdulaziz Centre for Enter-tainment and Knowledge in Dhahran. The design of the project resembles a rock mass incorporating fi ve separate buildings.

Aramco invited companies to express interest in the tender for the main con-struction contract in September this

year and fi rms must place their bids by the end of this month.

The award for the contract is expected early next year and the centre should be ready by June 2012, a date which will mark the 75th anniversary of Saudi Aramco. Snonette is the architect for the US $400 million (SR1.5 billion) project. �

Project focus

KING ABDULAZIZ CENTRE FOR KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOPMENT

THE MAIN CONTRACT FOR CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE AWARDED NEXT YEAR.

PROJECT TITLE CLIENT CONSULTANT MAINCONTRACTOR

VALUE(US$MN)

STATUS

SAUDI ARABIA240 PUBLIC HOUSING VILLAS IN YANBU Royal Commission for Jubail and

Yanbu (RCJY)In House Al Muhaidib Contracting

Company74 project under construction

8000 RESIDENTIAL UNITS - NORTH JEDDAH Kinan/Savola Group/Eleba Company

Not Appointed Not Appointed 640 project in concept stage

AL BARARI - LUXURY VILLAS IN JEDDAH Al Barari Not Appointed Not Appointed 27 project in concept stage

100 BED HOSPITAL IN QATIF Ministry of Health Beeah Planners Saeed Radad Al Zahrany 17 project under construction

THUMAMAH PARK IN RIYADH - PHASE 1 Arriyadh Development Authority Omrania & Associates Not Appointed 28 project under design

JABAL AL KABA DEVELOPMENT - MEGA HOTEL Abdul Latif Jamil Real Estate Dar Al Handasah Saudi Constructioneers Est 101 - 250 project under construction

DAR AL-QEBLAH COMPLEX Munshaat Real Estate Projects Company

Zuhair Fayez & Partners Saudi Binladin Group 180 project under construction

UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY EXPANSION - STAFF ACCOMMODATION - PHASE 2

Umm Al Qura University SaudConsult Nesma & Partners Contracting Company

16 project under construction

IMAM ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN RIYADH - ISLAMIC STUDIES COLLEGE

Imam Islamic University Tibsa/In House Saudi Art of Architecture Maintenance Ltd.


OLAYA TOWERS IN RIYADH General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI)

Zuhair Fayez & Partners Nesma & Partners Contracting Company


KING FAHD NATIONAL LIBRARY Arriyadh Development Authority/King Fahd National Library

SaudConsult/Gerber Architects Saudi Binladin Group 78 project under construction

RESIDENTIAL TOWN IN AL BATHA - PHASE 4 Ministry of Finance Abdulrahman Al Noeim Engg. Consult.

Al Eraini Contracting Company 14 project under construction

TABUK DOMESTIC AIRPORT EXPANSION General Authority for Civil Aviation

Saudi Consolidated Engineering Co;

Saudi Binladin Group 59 project under construction

ITCC PARK IN RIYADH PHASE 1 The Public Pension Agency Zuhair Fayez & Partners Al Rajhi Projects/Al Yamamah / CCE

1,500 project under construction

KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY - NUCLEAR RESEARCH FACILITY

King Abdulaziz University Not Appointed Not Appointed 150 project in concept stage

RAYADAH - MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN JEDDAH Rayadah Investment Company Not Appointed Not Appointed 150 project in concept stage

THREE 100-BED GENERAL HOSPITALS Ministry of Health Al Naem Engineering/Arclane Engineering

Saudi Pan Company for Trading & Contracting


PEDIATRIC & MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN RAFHA Ministry of Health Al Mashriq Contracting Al Mashriq Contracting 53 project under construction

> For the latest projects information visit www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/projects


�SPECIALIST SERVICESCONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MADE EASY IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK’S DIRECTORYTO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL +971 4 435 6473, OR EMAIL [email protected]

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Established in 1982, Satma International offers landscaping applications including decks, walkways, driveways, garage fl oors, warehouse fl oors, interior fl oors, steps, walls, porches, patios and pool decks. It also supplies playground equipment, asphalt and irrigation and fog systems. The company’s head offi ce is in Dubai but it also has a branch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is currently supplying its products to projects across the GCC.

Satma is aware of requirements for successful execution of projects, such as proper engineering design, and advanced planning, along with the neces-sity of special fi eld supervision, skilled laborers and control programmes. While achieving its second half targets is important, Satma’s priority is to breakeven in the new year by minimising overall expenses, while ensuring high standards of quality.

The company is optimistic that the market will improve in 2010. “Having 50 dedicated professional workers, we are confi dent that our team possesses a high level of expertise to meet and exceed our client expectation. Our team takes a great personal pride in each project executed, they put human touch into each one as it is made,” says Satma managing director Manen Kassab. �

Supplier focus

SATMA INTERNATIONALMANUFACTURER OF LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS

SATMA MANAGING DIRECTOR MANEN KASSAB IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2010.


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> For directory information visit www.ConstructionWEEKonline.com/directory

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CITY UPDATEMADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA

PROPHET MOHAMMED MOSQUE IN THE SAUDI HOLY CITY OF MADINAH.

“IF THE SAYING, ‘IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME’

APPLIES ANYWHERE ON EARTH, IT’S HERE IN THE

CITY OF MADINAH”

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speeds reaching 360km per hour.However, more static projects are also

planned for the city. Madinah will be the site of Knowledge Economic City, a $7bn new city project developed by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).

The 4.8 million m² development will include medical, health, science, multime-dia, education and biotechnology services, a hi-tech park for knowledge-based industries with potential for cutting-edge fit-out contracts, and an educational theme park.

The project contrasts somewhat with what is currently available in Madinah, in terms of new construction, but the project’s concept designer remains confi dent in its future.

“I think this is mostly attributed to the leadership of King Abdullah Aziz and his sense of the necessity for change,” says Dr. Abdullah MA Telmesani, vice president of project development for Quad International Real Estate Development and concept designer for KEC. “If the saying, ‘If you build it, they will come’ applies anywhere on earth, it’s here in the city of Madinah.” �

As the second holiest city in Islam, and a vital destination as part of the Hajj, it should come as no surprise to learn that improving access

in and out of Madinah takes the highest construction priority.

The city is one of several stops scheduled for the Haramain high-speed rail project, which will link Madinah with Makkah, Jeddah and the King Abdul Aziz International Airport.

The first contract, worth US $1.8 billion (SAR6.8 billion) for the Makkah-Madinah portion of the high-speed railway contract was been awarded to a Saudi-French-Chinese consortium.

The Al-Rajhi construction group together with France’s Alstom and China Railway Engi-neering won the civil works contract.

The contract is the fi rst stage of a $6 billion plan to build a 444km high-speed railroad linking the two Islamic holy cities of Mak-kah and Madinah through the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. The project aims to ferry hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at

Masterplanning MadinahMADINAH IS A CITY THAT IS NOT ONLY PLANNING TO GO FAR, BUT ALSO CREATING OPTIONS FOR THOSE WISHING TO STAY PUT

By James Boley

MA

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A WORKER STANDS IN A CRANE AT THE PROPHET MOHAMMED MOSQUE IN THE SAUDI HOLY CITY OF

TOP PROJECTS US$Knowledge Economic City 7 billionHaramain high-speed rail 6 billion


DIALOGUERABIH FAKIH

What inspired you to hold the concrete conference?Last year we had the chance to start our new conference, which was the 1st International Conference on Advances in Concrete Technology in the Middle East and was held in Dubai. This was very successful and had very good feedback so we decided to organise the second one in Abu Dhabi.

What was the main focus of the conference?Last year, the event covered advanced concrete technology in general and this year we wanted to make the conference specialised by focusing on Self Consolidated Concrete (SCC). We decided to bring to the conference experts from around the world who have been involved in the concrete industry for many years. Delegates were able to listen to case studies and learn how they can improve their SCC mix.

How does SCC work?SCC isn’t very new – it started in the 1980’s and there are already suppliers in the Middle East who produce it. It isn’t rocket science, it is simply a concrete mixed with liquid admixtures to increase its flow ability. The proportion of the aggregate is also altered to make the SCC mix. The product is designed to flow into areas that have been created by the formwork to meet structural design without the need of mechanical vibration.

What are the advantages of SCC?You will save labour costs by using SCC. Usually, to cast a column you need around four labourers because, with conventional concrete, you generally need mechanical vibration to assist the flow of the mix. With SCC, you don’t need anybody, just the pump. Also, the time it takes to fill a structure with cement mix is dramatically cut when using SCC– we proved this during an experiment at the conference. Further, the surface of the finish is excellent.

Concrete evidenceGrey Matters managing director Rabih Fakih talks about the success of his firm’s 2nd International Conference on Advances in Concrete Technology, held last week, and the importance of using Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC)

By Sarah Blackman

And the disadvantages?One disadvantage – if you want to look at the short-term – is the cost, which can be around 50% higher than conventional concrete. The other indirect disadvantage is that not many suppliers are capable of offering SCC. Therefore, if you use a supplier who doesn’t have the right technical knowledge it might back-fire on you. Contractors will also need to use high quality formwork for SCC, as the product creates higher pressures during the casting period than conventional concrete.

Is SCC a popular material in the construction industry?SCC has been implemented in many projects, but still today there is a preference for conventional concrete over SCC – around 2% of construction companies use it. Through the conference we wanted to increase the awareness in the market that SCC is needed. In Europe there is a plan to get 20% of construction companies using SCC by 2020.

Why are construction companies discouraged from using this material?It’s like with everything, some people are with us and some people are against us. The problem with introducing a product is that one dissatisfied customer will tell six people

and one satisfied customer will tell three.

Other than SCC, what other current trends are you witnessing in the concrete sector?Suppliers are working on ultra-strength concrete so customers can invest in concrete with 200 mega-pascals in strength rather than 100 mega-pascals. But, the most advanced concrete technology, which is in the market, is SCC. There are some other high-performance concrete technologies but these are still in the very early stages of research.

Fakih is the founder and the managing

director of Grey Matters Group of

Companies, a trading and consultancy

group serving the Middle Eastern

construction and concrete industries.

He is a member of American Concrete

Institute and other international

associations. Fakih has introduced

several concrete technologies into the

Middle East and GCC market and his

company has successfully organised two

international conferences in Dubai and

Abu Dhabi.

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construction week issue 301

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