The Middle East Consultant (MEC) editorial team has announced that its Future of Architecture Summit will take place on 12 June at the Habtoor Grand Resort JBR in Dubai. The event’s focus has been expanded significantly and now features a dedicated awards ceremony component, the editorial team confirmed.

The day will be split into two; the morning session will see well known industry leaders converge to discuss and debate key topics relating to the architecture and design discipline. Register for the summit by clicking here.

Following the morning session, the awards gala segment will take place in the second half of the day, and will recognise excellence across 13 different categories, including: Architect of the Year; Young Architect of the Year (Under 30); Landscape Project of the Year; Super-Tall Structure of the Year; Lightning Installation of the Year; Residential Project of the Year; Civic & Public Sector Project of the Year; Cultural & Heritage Project of the Year; People of Determination Access Project of the Year; Urban Planning & Infrastructure Project of the Year; Sustainable Design Champion of the Year; Re-purposed Project of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement of the Year. Click here to read about all the categories.

The event is being supported by:

Strategic Sponsor: KEO International Consultants
Supporting Partner: Climatize, GAJ Architects, National Engineering Bureau (NEB)

Read more about the event by clicking here.

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Source: ME Construction News

WSP Middle East has launched its Real Estate Advisory services in the region. The firm says the move is in response to evolving market dynamics, as clients increasing look for comprehensive, end-to-end project lifecycle services under a unified platform.

The new service line will operate across a wide range of sectors including residential, office, retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, leisure & entertainment, data centres, industrial & logistics and mixed-use. In addition, services entail bespoke market research, feasibility, highest & best use studies, portfolio advisory, pricing strategy, benchmarking & competitive analysis, investment strategy, master planning support & review, and financial modelling.

“I am thrilled to introduce our new Real Estate Advisory Services in the Middle East. Reflecting on over 17 years’ experience in the Middle East region in leading the largest real estate consulting teams, WSP is the first to fulfil the long-awaited ask from our clients to provide a seamless service offering that covers all aspects of the development cycle. I look forward to meeting and working with our clients in the region and offering our services from this integrated platform,” said Michael Heitmann, Head of Real Estate Advisory at WSP Middle East.

The Real Estate Advisory team will be led by Michael Heitmann, as well as Gabriella De La Torre and Arash Darabnia, both Senior Directors; three industry veterans with a proven track record in providing real estate development advice to clients in the Middle East, WSP Middle East said in a statement.

Kathleen McGrail, Managing Director, Advisory Services.

The team aims to support clients in delivering world-class projects and communities, creating value for property owners and developers, whilst also enhancing user experience, quality of life, and ensuring sustainability for future generations of end users, it added.

“The launch of our new strategic Real Estate Advisory team marks a pivotal moment for us and reflects our commitment to our client requirements through providing a full project lifecycle service offering. This also reinforces our ambition to be a leading market force at the front-end of the development lifecycle,” explained Kathleen McGrail, Managing Director, Advisory Services.

The addition of the Real Estate Advisory service ensures WSP Middle East’s clients receive market-driven recommendations that incorporate prevalent market requirements, whilst planning for the future and enabling the creation of Future Ready communities and projects across the region, the statement outlined.

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Source: ME Construction News

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched the second edition of its Infrastructure NOC (No Objection Certificate) Technical Manual – a key reference for accredited contractors, consultants and developers.

This manual helps facilitate and accelerate the acquisition of electricity and water services according to the best international standards and practices regarding reliability, quality, and efficiency.

In this edition, DEWA has added 17 new project types, bringing the total number to 67. It also includes the key standards for water assets and an update of the technical specifications and protection details for new electricity assets.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA said: “Due to the increasing number of infrastructure projects in Dubai and soaring demand for electricity and water services, we are committed to keeping pace with the emirate’s economic prosperity and the increase in population, and to support Dubai Economic Agenda D33. We provide all the necessary capabilities and digital services that help consultants and contractors carry out their work and conduct their transactions smoothly and easily, to enhance Dubai’s competitiveness in facilitating business.”

He added that DEWA also offers consultants and contractors a wide spectrum of programmes and services, including the Al Namoos service, the Marafeq smart feature, and the Ownek (Arabic for ‘your help’) awareness initiative.

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Source: ME Construction News

An initiative has been announced by Emaar Properties to repair all homes in its communities that have been affected by the recent severe weather in Dubai, at no cost to residents.

The developer said its dedicated teams are already assessing and repairing damages, working in close coordination with local authorities to expedite the process. Since the severe rains began on 16 April, Emaar’s facility management and community management staff have been on the ground, assisting customers day and night, it said.

The teams have been dealing with challenges, including clearing numerous water-clogging issues, and continue to work around the clock to provide solutions, the developer noted.

“At Emaar Properties, we are deeply committed to the well-being and safety of all our residents and stakeholders. In response to the challenges posed by this adverse weather and heavy rains that Dubai has experienced in the past few days, I am announcing that Emaar will undertake the repair of all properties within our communities that have been damaged by the recent rains at its own cost to ensure that our residents can return to their daily lives as swiftly and smoothly as possible,” said Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties.

He added, “Emaar has always strived to support our community in times of need, and as a responsible company, we undertake to provide all possible support in such situations including complete repair of our customers’ homes.”

Emaar’s dedicated teams are already coordinating with local authorities and have begun assessing and restoring the damaged properties. All homes, whether old or new, that have reported damages directly resulting from the recent rainfall and registered through Emaar call centre are eligible for this service, the developer noted.

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Source: ME Construction News

An agreement has been signed which will see Emerge install a 980kWp rooftop solar plant for Dubai Maritime City. Emerge is a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group ans notes that the plant will offset 780t of CO2 emissions a year.

According to a statement, the project is part of a wider energy transition led by DP World, the parent company of Dubai Maritime City, to facilitate the widespread adoption of renewable energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) within DP World’s global supply chain.

“Our agreement with Dubai Maritime City to install a rooftop solar plant builds on the success we have enjoyed in developing several projects in the UAE since Emerge was formed as an energy services company offering full turnkey solutions at no upfront cost to the client. We are proud to support this project and to significantly contribute to the Dubai Maritime City’s decarbonisation goals,” said Michel Abi Saab, Emerge General Manager.

To be placed on the roof of the staff accommodation building and consisting of more than 1,700 solar modules, the plant will be delivered by Emerge as a turnkey solution, including finance, design, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance of the solar modules for 25 years.

Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Maritime City, DP World added, “The deployment of clean energy is a central part of our sustainability strategy to become carbon neutral by 2040 and Net Zero carbon by 2050. We are excited to partner with innovative companies like Emerge and Masdar to accelerate our transition to renewables and look forward to starting work on this solar plant at Dubai Maritime City.”

The project will contribute to the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 initiative, which aims to see renewable energy make up 44% of the country’s clean energy mix by 2050. Rooftop solar PV could provide approximately 6% of the UAE’s total power generation by 2030, according to a projection by the International Renewable Energy Agency in its REmap 2030 report on renewable energy prospects for the UAE.

As an energy services company, Emerge offers clients full turnkey solutions through solar power agreements at no up-front cost to the client, the firm noted.

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Source: ME Construction News

Alstom has been awarded a major contract to boost the capacity of the Innovia automated people mover (APM) system at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The move is said to be a significant step in the Kingdom’s preparations to accommodate the airport’s projected passenger growth, which is expected to surpass 100m passengers by 2030.

As per the terms of the deal, Alstom will undertake the design, engineering, supply, integration, testing and commissioning of a full system upgrade of Jeddah’s International Airport Terminal 1 People Mover, including four additional Innovia APM cars, to be added into the current fleet of ten.

The firm said the project also calls for an upgrade to the signalling and communication systems, the implementation of platform screen doors, cybersecurity enhancements, and the establishment of a new Operation Control Room.

“The enhancement of the Innovia APM system is a crucial element in enriching the transit experience at King Abdulaziz International Airport, a bustling gateway influenced by the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030. This significant upgrade will be instrumental in accommodating the increased passenger volumes resulting from the nation’s active promotion of tourism and the modernisation of visa protocols,” stated Mohamed Khalil, Managing Director of Alstom in Saudi Arabia.

He continued, “Alstom’s mission to bolster the Jeddah Airport Company’s (JEDCO) operational efficiency shines through this project, reinforcing our pledge to be a resilient, long-term partner in the region’s remarkable evolution.”

According to Khalil, the project will draw on Alstom’s global in-house expertise in integrated railway systems.

The APM cars are equipped with Cityflo 650 CBTC solution, which has been designed to meet the most stringent safety, reliability, maintainability and availability requirements. The existing fleet will be retrofitted with the latest Motion Recording Video systems, he added.

In 2022, Alstom and Jeddah Airports Company (Jedco) entered into a new five-year contract for the operation and maintenance of Jeddah Airport’s APM system, the firm stated.

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Source: ME Construction News

The financial close of a 180 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination project in Hassyan has been announced by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Saudi-based Acwa Power.

According to a report, the project is a key component of DEWA’s strategy to enhance the emirate’s water desalination capacity. It will be the world’s largest project of its kind using RO technology under the Independent Water Producer (IWP) model, with an investment of US $920mn.

“We are committed to developing an advanced and integrated energy and water infrastructure that aligns with Dubai’s progressive development and caters to the increasing demand for electricity and water services while meeting the requirements of comprehensive sustainable development plans and the Dubai Urban Plan 2040,” remarked Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the MD & CEO of DEWA.

He added, “This initiative supports Dubai’s Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy 2030, which emphasises resource optimisation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.”

The project is expected to play a crucial role in Dubai’s plan to produce 100% of its desalinated water by 2030 from a clean energy and waste heat mix.

Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of Acwa Power expressed delight at joining forces with DEWA to finalise the financing of the project. He noted, “This partnership serves as a model for fruitful projects that we operate and manage in cooperation with DEWA, as part of our commitment to contributing to Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050.”

“We have set a world record for the lowest tariff for desalinated water as well as the most energy-efficient reverse osmosis technology for the first plant in the world that is fully powered by renewable energy at the Hassyan complex in Dubai,” he concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

Egypt-headquartered Hassan Allam Holding’s Saudi unit has won an additional contract for the Marina Hotel in Amaala Triple Bay. The contract outlines that the firm will handle civil construction, secondary infrastructure and in-ground services work.

The project is part of the hospitality package being developed in Amaala, which include the Four Seasons Hotel, Rosewood Residence and Hotel, Six Senses Residence and Hotel as well as the medical wellness resort located at Triple Bay.

“Expanding upon our initial scope of civil construction works covering a built-up area of 61,128sqm, our additional scope encompasses all secondary infrastructure and in-ground services for the Marina Hotel,” said a company spokesman.

The contract covers roads and paving, irrigation network, electrical MV network, ELV/ICT/GSM containment works, as well as all other utilities, alongside external signage and wayfinding installations. With a dedicated focus on Saudi Arabia, Hassan Allam Holding remains committed to contributing to the nation’s future by diversifying the economy, advancing tourism, and fostering innovation, he added.

Work is said to be moving at a steady pace at the Four Seasons property being developed by Red Sea Global. Hassan Allam is building the branded residences, hotel villas, and the main Four Seasons hotel in a joint venture with Rawabi Specialized Contracting, a subsidiary of Saudi-based Rawabi Holding Group.

He continued, “Our focus on our core markets remains resolute as we continue to strengthen economic diversification, fostering tourism, and championing innovation in line with our global expansion strategy.”

Earlier in the year, Hassan Allam said its subsidiary Kortech had won a major contract for a medical wellness resort project located within Amaala Triple Bay in a joint venture with Saudi electromechanical contractor Sharqawi. The project comprises a 75-key hotel, 13 branded residences and villas with a total built-up area of 175,000sqm.

The company noted that it is already working on the Rosewood Residence and Hotel in Amaala Triple Bay in partnership with Rawabi Specialized Contracting.

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Source: ME Construction News

Two contracts worth US $168mn have been awarded by developer Arada for the construction of all 565 homes within its premium community Azalea. The community is part of the fourth phase of the Masaar megaproject, which is taking shape in the Suyoh district of Sharjah.

Announcing the contract awards, Arada said Saleh Construction will build 324 residences, while Yanal Building Contracting Company will deliver 241 homes. Construction work will begin immediately and all homes will be completed and handed over by the end of 2025.

Contracts for the remaining two phases will be awarded in the second quarter, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, the developer noted.

“The feedback we have received from the first residents who have started moving into Masaar in recent months has been exceptional, underlining our commitment to setting a new standard of living for the UAE. Since we launched Masaar in 2021, it has become one of the country’s most successful offplan projects, with strong capital appreciation over the last three years creating significant additional value for our buyers,” states Arada Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi.

These new awards mean that over 1,500 homes in the second, third and fourth phases at Masaar are now under construction, following the completion of 430 homes in the first phase by the end of 2023, the developer explained.

Arada pointed out that the other completed elements of the woodland community include Masaar Discovery Center and a number of family attractions including a children’s adventure playground, water play area, skate park and a Zad food truck park.

Valued at $2.6bn and containing 3,000 villas and townhouses spread over six phases, Masaar is defined by a ‘green spine’ of 70,000 trees, offering a nature-inspired lifestyle to its residents.

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Source: ME Construction News

The Big Project Middle East (BPME) team has announced its Critical Infrastructure Summit is now scheduled to take place on 8 May at the Two Seasons Hotel in Dubai. The event was previously scheduled to take place on 17 April but was postponed due to extremely unfavourable weather conditions across the UAE.

“Following alerts from the National Centre of Meteorology on 16^th April, which noted that ‘hazardous weather events’ were expected to continue until 6pm on 17^th April, and authorities urging residents to stay at home during this period, the BPME team felt that postponing the event was the only responsible thing to do to ensure the safety of speakers and delegates,” said Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East.

Scheduled to take place on 8 May, the event will shine a light on the region’s infrastructure, including airports, seaports, road and rail transportation systems and data centres. The event will comprise a mix of panel discussions and high-level presentations.

At present, MENA regional governments are working with the private sector to either expand or develop all new infrastructure, in line with changing market appetites, new requirements, and even the threat of climate change. Data from Mordor Intelligence said that the Middle East and Africa infrastructure market is valued at US $48bn and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% between 2023 and 2028.

The 2024 Critical Infrastructure Summit is supported by:

Gold Sponsor: KEO International Consultants
Strategic Content Partner: ALEC
Silver Sponsor: AECOM
Endorsed by: The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), RICS

Read more about the Critical Infrastructure Summit by clicking here.

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Source: ME Construction News