With the establishment of a company in Saudi Arabia, and the opening of its commercial office in Riyadh, Georg Fischer (GF) said that it is bringing its global flow solutions expertise closer to customers in the Kingdom.

The move is said to be in support of the country’s ongoing transformation and highlights the company’s commitment to the Kingdom.

With its comprehensive flow solutions, the company is uniquely positioned to address applications across infrastructure, industrial, and building segments – notably supporting water security and availability across the Kingdom, the firm said in a statement.

The firm explained that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation demands water infrastructure at extraordinary scale: from desalination, water distribution, water usage in buildings and industries, to water treatment. It added that the moves are backed by strong investments in its local term.

“Saudi Arabia is not a new market for us, but this important step reflects our confidence in Saudi Arabia’s transformation and will further support our ability to help solve the Kingdom’s water challenges,” said César Sayegh, General Manager of GF Middle East, North Africa & Turkey (GF MENAT).

The firm said its new office in Riyadh puts more than 10 specialists on the ground, close to the Kingdom’s projects, technical requirements, and delivery timelines, backed by GF’s global manufacturing network across more than 40 countries and GF’s well-established distribution partners in the KSA.

“This step brings our global expertise closer to Saudi Arabia through a strong commercial and technical presence. As our business grows alongside the country’s ambitions, GF is committed to progressively increasing local investments and building rewarding career opportunities for Saudi talent and partners,” Sayegh concluded.

Source: ME Construction News

DAMAC Digital has said that its planned IT capacity landbank has reached 6,000MW across 13 countries and a planned portfolio of over 35 sites.

The company, which is the global digital infrastructure provider owned by DAMAC Group, said it is on a trajectory of global expansion, amid accelerating demand for AI, cloud computing and digital infrastructure.

“Digital infrastructure is the foundation on which economies, businesses and governments operate. DAMAC Digital was created to build that foundation for the AI and cloud era,” explained Hussain Sajwani, Founder of DAMAC Group.

DAMAC Digital said it is targeting 2GW of operational capacity by the end of Q1 2028. The firm said it has broken ground on 10 new sites in the last 5-months, with 8-sites expected to be operational by the end of 2026. By Q1 2027, DAMAC Digital is targeting more than 700MW of operational capacity across over 14 sites, said a statement.

Having signed partnerships with five global hyperscalers, DAMAC Digital is a trusted partner for the world’s leading technology companies. The firm is said to boast a growing team of more than 600 employees, spanning design, procurement, construction, operations and other support functions across three continents. The company’s European markets include Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Nordic region, while in Asia, it is expanding across Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. DAMAC Digital has already achieved operational capacity in Saudi Arabia and Thailand, it added.

DAMAC Digital explained that its global pipeline supports high-density compute, cloud growth, national digital transformation and the increasing need for sovereign digital infrastructure. DAMAC Group’s long-standing experience in land acquisition, development, construction and large-scale project delivery, enables DAMAC Digital to secure strategic sites, manage complex permitting and zoning requirements, and bring capacity to market at speed.

The firm also said that today it is serving the growing requirements of hyperscalers, cloud service providers, enterprises and AI-driven workloads. With over 90% of its data centres designed with liquid cooling infrastructure, DAMAC Digital’s facilities are built to support the latest generation of AI accelerators, including NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform, it added.

Founded in 2021 by Hussain Sajwani on the conviction that data centres would become one of the most important infrastructure classes of the decade, DAMAC Digital began with a 12MW campus, building operational discipline and delivery capability that underpins its global expansion, the statement concluded.

Source: ME Construction News

Masdar has signed an agreement with China’s Sungrow to procure energy storage systems (ESS) and photovoltaic (PV) inverter solutions for a gigascale round-the-clock renewable energy project (RTC) in Abu Dhabi.

In a press statement Sungrow announced its commitment to provide 7.5-gigawatt-hours (GWh) of PowerTitan 3.0 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic (PV) inverter solutions.

The agreement follows a recent announcement by China’s JinkoSolar, which previously signed an agreement with Masdar to supply 2GW of high-efficiency PV modules for the project.

The RTC project, a collaborative effort between Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), is poised to commence operations in 2027. This development integrates a substantial 5.2GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity and a 19GWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The project aims to provide a continuous supply of base load renewable electricity at globally competitive tariffs.

Sungrow’s project aims to deploy over 1,000 PowerTitan 3.0 liquid-cooled ESS units, integrated with cutting-edge PV inverter technologies. These systems are designed to operate on an optimised cycle of 8-hour charging and 16-hour discharging, ensuring a stable and flexible renewable energy supply.

The press statement revealed that the systems can operate at temperatures up to 55-degrees Celsius without any degradation, making them well-suited for the UAE’s climate. Once operational in 2027, the RTC project is anticipated to become the world’s first gigascale renewable energy project capable of providing baseload renewable electricity.

Last year, Masdar appointed India’s Larsen & Toubro and China’s POWERCHINA as the preferred engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors for the development project. Earlier, supplier selections also included Chinese companies JA Solar for photovoltaic (PV) modules and CATL as the preferred battery energy storage system (BESS) supplier.

Source: ME Construction News

DSV and Arcapita Group Holdings Limited have announced the completion of a new 30,000sqm build-to-suit logistics warehouse at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). The firm said it is continuing to invest in capacity and capabilities in Dubai, reflecting its confidence in the market’s long-term growth and the role of the UAE as a global trade and logistics hub.

Chrys Mendonca, Managing Director of DSV Dubai said, “I’m excited to open this state-of-the-art facility expanding our capabilities to serve both our regional and global customers. Even in a period of unrest and uncertainty in parts of the Middle East, we are expanding capacity because we trust the region’s long-term growth and the UAE’s role as a gateway for global trade.”

The warehouse has been delivered as a turnkey build-to-suit development. Lintara Properties coordinated the development and construction, with Group AMANA serving as main contractor and utilising advanced construction methodologies, including modular and off-site techniques, to deliver the facility efficiently and to specification, a statement from the firm explained.

Isa Al Khalifa, Managing Director of MENA Real Estate at Arcapita and Chief Executive Officer of Lintara Properties said, “This build-to-suit facility demonstrates the ability of Lintara Properties, together with Arcapita, to originate and deliver complex, high-specification logistics assets for global blue-chip tenants. Purpose-built to handle increasingly complex requirements – from pharmaceutical and temperature-controlled goods to hazardous materials – the warehouse is able to support supply chains with resilient, sustainable and best-in-class logistics solutions.”

Located within DSV’s JAFZA South Campus, the new warehouse further strengthens DSV’s operational footprint in Dubai – a critical gateway for regional and international trade – and enhances the company’s ability to scale with customers as supply chains continue to evolve.

Built on DSV’s proven design concepts and refined through years of operational best-practice feedback, the Grade A facility expands DSV’s capacity to serve customers with increasingly complex supply chains. It features high-bay storage with a maximum internal storage height of 17.3m, capacity for approximately 75,000 pallet positions, and extensive loading, docking and covered external storage areas. The warehouse is located within the same plot as DSV’s local headquarters, supporting seamless daily operations and close customer dialogue.

Source: ME Construction News

Wasl Group has announced the launch of Cedarwood Estates South, the latest addition to its growing freehold portfolio across Dubai. The project introduces a limited collection of golf view villas shaped by the landscape and setting of Jumeirah Golf Estates, the firm said.

Building on the success of the fully sold-out Cedarwood North district, it follows the natural contours of the golf course, comprising 74 villas across 4-to-6-bedroom layouts, with generous plot sizes and open interiors, creating a unified and thoughtfully integrated living experience.

Each villa is positioned to maximise fairway and golf views, while maintaining a strong sense of privacy and retreat, with terraces, shaded patios and landscaped courtyards.

Cedarwood Estates South is supported by a rich lifestyle ecosystem that brings together leisure, wellness, education, and connectivity.

Residents will have access to a private country club and a world-renowned 18-hole golf course, alongside the Mandarin Oriental hotel, equestrian village, and central park. Active living is further enhanced through dedicated cycling and jogging tracks, as well as a tennis stadium, ensuring a well-rounded and connected lifestyle within the masterplan. Within Cedarwood Estates South, residents will benefit from a thoughtfully integrated lifestyle offering, including a country club, concierge services, advanced security control, EV charging provision, and guest valet parking, the firm said in a statement.

Mohamed Al Bahar, Director of Business Development at Wasl Group said, “Reinforcing the stability of our freehold portfolio remains at the heart of everything we build at Wasl. Cedarwood Estates South is the latest reflection of that commitment, a community defined by its setting and designed with long-term value in mind, supporting both residents and investors seeking enduring value.”

“Freehold developments within masterplans like Jumeirah Golf Estates offer a stability that today’s market is actively seeking, and it becomes even more important to create places that feel private, connected and enduring from the moment they are delivered,” he concluded.

Source: ME Construction News

Source: ME Construction News

Dubai Maritime City has inaugurated Maritime Business Centre 2 (MBC-2). Billed as a premium commercial tower, the project expands Grade A office capacity within Dubai’s maritime and trade ecosystem.

The new tower, delivered in 20 months, had 78% of its space leased before its opening. This reflects the strong demand for high-quality commercial space in well-connected business districts across Dubai. The Maritime Business Centre presents a unique commercial offering, featuring 125 exclusive premium office units with waterfront views, said a statement.

Ahmed Al Hammadi, COO, Dubai Maritime City said, “The strong pre-leasing demand for Maritime Business Centre 2 reflects continued confidence in Dubai Maritime City as a strategic destination for maritime and trade-related businesses. As DP World expands into integrated urban and economic zones, projects like this show how we are creating high-quality spaces around our core infrastructure.”

The development offers 2-office categories, fully fitted plug-and-play offices enabling immediate operational readiness and shell-and-core offices that provide tenants with the flexibility to customise their workspace based on operational and branding needs.

The tower boasts a wellness floor equipped with a gym, recreational areas, retail outlets, food and beverage spaces, and 480 parking bays, including designated spaces for electric and hybrid vehicles and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it features smart building systems designed to minimise energy consumption.

Dubai Maritime City’s headquarters, along with Jafza’s licensing department, have relocated to Maritime Business Centre 2, the organisation said.

Source: ME Construction News

Al Ramz Real Estate Company said it has signed agreements to acquire the remaining units in a private real estate investment fund that owns the Qurtuba 2 development in Riyadh, in a deal valued at US $35.5mn.

The transaction will raise Al Ramz’s ownership in the Al Ahli Aleen Enbar Real Estate Fund from 23% to 100%, giving the company full control of the project, as it seeks to expand its exposure to strategically located real estate developments in the Saudi capital.

In a filing to the Saudi Stock Exchange, the company said it currently owns 23% of the fund’s units, representing an investment of approximately US $10.6mn. Upon completion of the acquisition, Al Ramz will become the sole owner of the fund.

The fund owns the Qurtuba 2 project, a planned mixed-use development located in Riyadh’s Qurtuba district along Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road, also known as the Sports Boulevard corridor. The project spans about 130,386sqm and is expected to include around 1,800 residential units as well as approximately 250 commercial and office units, alongside hospitality components.

Al Ramz said the project’s location in an area characterised by strong demand and limited supply enhances its investment potential and long-term prospects.

In addition to acquiring the fund units, the company said it will secure contracts related to the development, marketing, sales, operations and facilities management of the project. The value of those contracts and related fees will be disclosed at a later stage in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The acquisition will be financed through the company’s internal resources and available credit facilities. The transaction also remains subject to the completion of regulatory and contractual procedures and the execution of payments according to an agreed timetable between the parties.

Al Ramz said the acquisition aligns with its strategy of increasing ownership in high-quality real estate projects in Riyadh and strengthening long-term investment returns.

The company expects the transaction to contribute positively to its financial performance over the period from 2026 to 2031.

Source: ME Construction News

Iraq’s private sector is projected to invest nearly US $65bn during the 2024-2028 development plan, which prioritises infrastructure projects, as revealed by the planning ministry.

Ministry spokesperson Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi stated that the ministry is actively working to implement a diverse range of projects and programs aimed at enhancing services, diversifying the economy, and alleviating poverty and unemployment, with the invaluable support of the private sector.

“The projects focus on several key sectors, mainly infrastructure projects encompassing water, sewage, roads, electricity, energy, gas, housing and reconstruction, municipal services, health, education, food security, agriculture, transportation, and communications, as well as economic projects that support economic diversification and reduce dependence on oil,” he told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA).

“The plan also includes completing major strategic projects with developmental and service-oriented impacts, such as the Development Road project and the Grand Faw Port project. The volume of private sector investments within the 5-year plan amounts to $65bn, representing about 35% of the total planned investments,” he concluded.

Source: ME Construction News

Gensler has appointed Dima Rachid as Landscape Urbanism Design Lead within its growing Cities Studio in the Middle East, reinforcing the firm’s long-term commitment to shaping people-centered urban experiences across the public and private sectors.

Based in Dubai, Rachid will play a central role in advancing the studio’s work across climate-responsive, resilient urban environments.

In her new role, Rachid will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, integrative, context-driven solutions that prioritise sustainability, liveability, and long-term resilience under the direction of Steven Velegrinis, Design Director, Gensler Middle East and Head of Cities Practice APME.

The appointment comes amid continued growth for Gensler’s Middle East Cities studio, which is delivering projects across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and international markets, with projects including: Rawasi Muscat, a vibrant hospitality driven destination that is the first Mountain Wellness Integrated Tourism Complex in Oman; a tourism masterplan in Vang Vieng, Laos; master planning packages on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast; and infrastructure and resilience-focused work across Africa, including projects in Kenya and the Lagos Coastal masterplan in Nigeria.

Velegrinis remarked, “Dima brings a thoughtful and progressive approach to urban design, grounded in ecological intelligence and systems thinking. As our Cities practice continues to grow, her leadership strengthens our ability to deliver impactful solutions at scale. She understands how to turn complexity into clarity and create places that are both resilient and meaningful for the communities they serve.”

Rachid’s portfolio includes major public realm and regeneration projects such as the Ministry of Culture JAX in Diriyah, the Horsh Beirut Regeneration Plan, the JAX Public Realm Regeneration Plan, and a sustainable greywater treatment pilot within one of Saudi Arabia’s giga projects. She also brings strong academic and thought leadership credentials, having held teaching positions in Los Angeles, Beirut, and Dubai, and regularly contributing to regional conversations on urban design, sustainability, and the future of cities.

Tariq Shaikh, Co-Managing Director and Principal, Gensler Middle East added, “Rachid’s appointment reflects Gensler Middle East’s continued investment in urban design and planning capabilities. Our Cities studio is playing a critical role in delivering holistic, future-focused solutions that support national visions and global sustainability goals – elevating tourism, business, and everyday life.”

Todd Pilgreen, Co-Managing Director and Principal, Gensler Middle East concluded, “The projects ahead of us are complex and require broad systems thinking. Rachid’s leadership and multidisciplinary experience will strengthen our ability to support clients in delivering high-impact, large-scale, community-centric projects, helping position Gensler as a trusted partner shaping The Middle East’s next chapter of growth.”

Source: ME Construction News