Aldar Properties has achieved a 97% occupancy rate across its prime Grade A commercial properties, signalling robust demand for premium office spaces in Abu Dhabi. Occupancy rates at the towers located at ADGM, the international financial centre on Al Maryah Island, stand at 99% compared to 79% when acquired by Aldar in 2022, the firm explained.

These towers now enjoy an average lease term of more than four years and host some of the world’s most prestigious companies, including PwC, Deloitte, Brevan Howard, Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), G42 Asset Management and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.

Aldar’s other Grade A commercial properties in Abu Dhabi, HQ and International Tower currently hold an average occupancy rate of 95%. During H1 2023, the office sector in Abu Dhabi enjoyed vibrant growth, with Grade A rents returning to levels last seen in 2016, the firm said.

The current performance of the office market is supported by a positive economic landscape, as demand for high-quality Grade A assets remains firm amidst limited supply, resulting in rising occupancy rates across prime commercial properties.

Aldar Investment CEO, Jassem Saleh Busaibe said, “Abu Dhabi’s commercial property market continues to perform strongly, bucking the global trend. The occupancy rates within Aldar’s commercial portfolio reflect the confidence of investors in the strong macro fundamentals and stable regulatory environment of the emirate. With a favourable business environment, the city continues to be an attractive destination for leading global corporates to establish their regional presence, and we are seeing this result in strong demand for future developments.”

Based on the healthy demand pipeline, Aldar recently partnered with Mubadala to acquire Al Maryah Tower, another prime commercial property located on Al Maryah Island, which is expected to achieve a pre-leasing occupancy rate of 50% by the end of this year and be operational in Q1 2024.

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Source: ME Construction News

Red Sea Global (RSG) has completed the installation of the largest off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging network in Saudi Arabia. The network includes more than 150 charging stations spread across phase one of The Red Sea destination area.

The stations are said to be strategically placed to keep RSG’s initial fleet of 80 electric Lucid and Mercedes vehicles continually charged and on the road. The Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Air vehicles are for the exclusive use of guest transport during their stay at The Red Sea, the developer noted.

Whether arriving or departing from the airport, or travelling between the various resorts and facilities, guests can reserve the electric fleet through advanced bookings or on an on-demand basis, according to their needs.

Group CEO John Pagano explained, “Our ambition to combine sustainability and luxury like never before takes a new form as we drive The Red Sea into the future of next-gen, smart mobility, fully powered by sunlight. Our electric transport fleet and charging network not only elevates our environmental credibility with yet another global benchmark in carbon-neutral operations but does so in a way that matches our guests’ expectations for high-end style and comfort.”

The infrastructure required to service, maintain, and operate the fleet is also now in place ready for the arrival of the first guests to the destination. This includes a mobility hub that is expected to create 1,500 new jobs such as chauffeurs, hub managers, skilled technicians, and EV charging specialists, RSG added.

These roles will in turn contribute to enhancing the Kingdom’s role in the field of future mobility, while reaffirming RSG’s commitment to empowering young Saudis, particularly in local communities.

Andreas Flourou, Group Head of Mobility, added: “Red Sea Global heralds a new era of cutting-edge mobility with Saudi Arabia’s premier luxury EV fleet marking a milestone in sustainable transportation. The addition of Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Airs, powered by our solar grid, reinforces our commitment to regenerative tourism. Our carbon-neutral operations provide guests with a seamless and stylish travel experience, while creating new jobs and empowering young Saudis.”

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Project developer London Gate has announced plans to deliver 2,000 high-end residential units across prime locations in Dubai over the next six months. Having established a reputation in countries around the world, London Gate is now set on bringing London’s elegance and built-environment quality to Dubai’s own urban landscape, the firm said.

The firm’s key upcoming projects – all promising ‘Extraordinary Living’ – include Marina 106, Nadine I & II and Maya V.

CEO Eman Taha remarked, “Dubai is an unparalleled destination for top-tier real estate ventures. At London Gate, our vision is to redefine and revitalise the city’s iconic skyline and property landscape, thereby establishing new thresholds that transcend industry standards. Our unwavering commitment lies in not only meeting but exceeding the ever-evolving demands of the market. Our developments will cover Dubai’s prominent hotspots and will deliver one of the tallest buildings overlooking the Dubai Marina, as well as a one-of-its-kind suite of branded residences, and a selection of prime residential spaces across Dubailand and Jumeirah Village.”

The super-tall tower in the Marina mentioned by Eman Taha is Marina 106, which will be 434m high, offer 649 luxurious living spaces, including one to four-bedroom apartments and deluxe duplexes – all with city views.

Nadine I & II, inspired by the architectural wonders of Venice and Rome, will create a vibrant community in Al Furjan, while Maya V in JVT will provide interconnected living spaces designed for families, offering 1, 2, and 3-bedroom homes, the firm stated.

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Government of Ontario transport agency, Metrolinx, has appointed AECOM to work on the Hamilton Light Rail Transit project. AECOM said its integrated team will be supporting Metrolinx on the delivery of the “full breadth of infrastructure” for the Hamilton LRT.

The 14km transit line is to be located within Hamilton Ontario and will operate along Main Street, King Street and Kingston Road, and will be the city’s first light rail transit system. It will be designed to accommodate expected future growth and development, improve connectivity and attract economic development in the rapidly growing area.

The LRT is designed to provide connectivity across Hamilton, with new light rail vehicles running along dedicated track.

“As Ontario advances its record investment in public transit, we look forward to working with Metrolinx and our partners to support a more connected and economically vibrant Hamilton through accessible and sustainable transportation. AECOM has played a critical role in light rail projects across Ontario and Canada, and our teams are excited to deploy their depth of experience and local expertise to deliver this transformative project,” stated Richard Barrett, Chief Executive of AECOM’s Canada region.

The project was originally funded by the Province of Ontario in 2015 but was then cancelled in 2019 due to rising costs. In 2021, the province is said to have recommitted to the project, subject to additional funding from the Canadian federal government.

In May 2023, Metrolinx appointed engineering consultancy ARUP as technical advisor on its GO Expansion programme across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

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An agreement has been signed by RB Rail AS, which will bring an additional US $1.2bn in funding from the European Cohesion Fund, for the planned high-speed Rail Baltic link across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The new financing will support several important Rail Baltica sub-projects in Estonia, including the underpinning of the line, construction of road crossings, and other infrastructure. The financing is in addition to the existing co-financing support from the three countries.

According to a report, the funding will be allocated for various stretches in Northern Estonia, such as Loone to Alu in Rapla County, the area between the Harju/Rapla county line and Loone, and crossings at Alu, Parila (Harju County) and Juula (Rapla County). With regards to Latvia, the funds will be leveraged for the construction of a new station in Riga, as well as for the development of infrastructure near Riga airport.

Lastly, in Lithuania, the funds will be used for improving the infrastructure, with the railway line passing through the more central location of Kaunas instead of Vilnius.

An updated cost-effectiveness analysis is said to be scheduled for the end of 2024, to reassess the project’s socio-economic benefits, secure additional financing, and optimise implementation.

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Daymion Jenkins has been appointed as Director in the Earth & Environment practice within the regional Advisory Services business at WSP Middle East, the company has announced. The move is said to build on the firm’s expansion and diversification of environmental consultancy offerings in the region.

According to a statement, Daymion brings a wealth of experience to further reinforce WSP’s footprint in the field of environmental services. Having moved to the region from WSP UK, where he led a large team working across a range of geoscience and environment management sectors, he aims to bring global expertise to the local markets in which WSP operates.

He will support core services and diversification, helping to further grow the Middle East Earth & Environment capability in line with WSP’s global Earth and Environment capability and structures. In addition, Daymion will also be expanding expertise in ground sciences and water quality management to development projects where water resource protection is a key concern, the statement added.

“I’m very excited to be joining WSP in the Middle East at such a pivotal evolution in the Earth & Environment practice and I am looking forward to supporting the team across the region, leveraging my links with WSP’s global environmental networks to support local delivery. This is a key stage for growing the regional team and our capability to provide clients the full range of environmental services and support from design through to construction delivery,” noted Jenkins.

The firm said that it was named as a ‘prominent leader’ in the Climate Change Consultancy realm following a study conducted by independent research firm Verdantix.

May Faraj, Senior Director, Earth & Environment commented, “I’m thrilled to have Daymion join our team, as he brings a unique blend of global experience to complement our regional practice. His expertise perfectly aligns with our growth & expansion goals. He will build on our reputation of delivering multidisciplinary, integrated solutions that meet our clients’ needs, and drive positive outcomes.”

As part of its commitment to the region, the firm said it plans to continue investing in talent who will enable it to continue focusing on delivering value and driving innovation. Guided by the One WSP approach, the firm will leverage its diverse expertise and capabilities to create integrated solutions that deliver lasting impact.

Kathleen McGrail, Managing Director, Advisory Services concluded, “Daymion brings decades of international leadership experience and technical expertise to our Middle East Earth & Environment team. I am confident that he will be instrumental in our continued drive for growth, with a particular focus on launching new services in our core markets, KSA and the UAE.”

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SEE Holding has consolidated its divisions in order to solidify its business structure and further its commitment to a Net Zero future.

Eng. Faris Saeed, Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding said, “The consolidation of our portfolio of companies into one sustainability-focused global holding group is an important milestone. At SEE Holding, we don’t want to just reduce our emissions; we want to create opportunities for others to do the same. And while we remain dedicated to contributing to the UAE’s sustainability agenda, our vision extends beyond borders to achieve a global impact in spearheading a Net Zero emissions future to achieve the 2050 targets today and contribute to the United Nations SDGs.”

“This isn’t just business growth; it’s the growth of a promise – a commitment to forging a world where humanity and nature thrive in harmonious coexistence, paving the way to a safer and more prosperous world for our children and future generations,” he added.

The See Holding group includes companies such as The Sustainable City (TSC), Diamond Developers, City Solar, and Tadweer, alongside other revenue-generating companies focused on designing, investing in, and building sustainable infrastructure and cities to advance the UN 2050 Net Zero emissions targets.

Salah Habib, Deputy CEO of SEE Holding, and CEO of SEE Developers commented, “As a fully integrated, sustainable holding group, SEE Holding is well-positioned with the right capabilities, knowledge, and experience to accelerate climate action. This consolidation allows us to streamline our processes and deliver on our promises more effectively, driving both our business growth and impact across social, environmental, and economic sustainability. While we are committed to reducing emissions, we are equally passionate about creating substantial economic opportunities around the world and empowering partners on the global journey towards Net Zero.”

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Khansaheb Civil Engineering has said it has become the first contractor in the Middle East to use a battery energy storage system (BESS) to power large construction equipment. Describing the rollout as a sustainability milestone, the firm notes that the move to deploy lithium-ion battery solutions will ‘vastly reduce carbon emissions’.

The firm said that it partnered with AJI Rentals to use Ampd Energy’s ‘Enertainer’ to power two tower cranes on its flagship project, Serenia Living on the Palm Jumeirah.  The Enertainer is said to be a plug-and-play solution, which electrifies construction power generation, and offers a seamless, quiet, and fully automated energy supply, facilitating the construction industry’s shift away from fossil fuels.

By reducing the use of traditional diesel generators, Khansaheb is reducing the comparative carbon footprint by up to 85%, utilising a system that operates at a noise level 30 times quieter, emits minimal diesel fumes, and reduces risks related to diesel handling. The firm noted that the two deployed Enertainer solutions will reduce carbon emissions by a predicted 128t over a 12-month period.

“At Khansaheb we have been implementing our ‘SustainAbility’ agenda since 2013 and this has enabled us to drive down fuel consumption, energy consumption, water consumption and reduce waste across our business, year on year. This has in turn reduced our costs and these benefits have been passed on to our customers, delivering a more sustainable construction process in line with the national Sustainability Agenda,” explained Steve Flint, Managing Director of Khansaheb Civil Engineering.

In addition to reduced requirements for maintenance and refuelling, the BESS is billed as an economically intelligent option for operations. As an IoT-enabled device, it offers the added benefit of remote monitoring, providing a comprehensive level of data transparency, invaluable for data-driven decision-making.

Flint added, “We promote innovative solutions that aid us in our sustainability journey. Our commitment to integrating zero emission technology, such as Ampd Energy’s Enertainer into our construction operations will further reduce a significant amount of emissions and minimise our carbon footprint, while helping us provide a more sustainable solution to meeting our customers’ needs. We hope to adopt this technology on all future projects.”

Hannes Van Graan, Regional Operation Manager at AJI Rentals commented, “We have made a concerted effort to introduce equipment and solutions into our rental fleet, which is enabling the move to a more sustainable construction industry, a reality. Khansaheb has embraced and implemented Ampd Energy’s Enertainer with absolutely no hesitation, and we are excited to support them in their current and future projects.”

Earlier this year, Khansaheb announced that it was appointed the main contractor by Palma Development for its luxury beachfront project, Serenia Living. The project is due to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025, the statement noted.

“Partners like Khansaheb and AJI Rentals inspire us with their proactive commitment to innovation and sustainability. We’re so glad to see the first Enertainer in the GCC deployed on a Khansaheb site through AJI Rentals. We are proud of the emissions reductions being achieved at the Serenia Living site and how it is supporting Khansaheb’s environmental agenda. We look forward to extending the benefits of this technology to future assignments,” concluded Rafat Award, Country Manager GCC at Ampd Energy.

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Fernando Gonzalez has been appointed as the President of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). The organisation’s various members have committed to achieving Net Zero’ concrete by 2050.

Following his appointment, Gonzalez called for the industry and governments around the world to establish a ‘robust regulatory framework’ that can further accelerate the cement and concrete sector’s decarbonisation efforts. He has been GCCA Vice President since 2018 and succeeds the outgoing President, Jan Jenisch, whose term of office now ends after two years.

Gonzalez’s priorities include phasing out fossil fuels, promoting the use of alternative fuels by encouraging regulation to divert societal waste from landfill to cement kilns, and enacting policies to accelerate the extensive adoption of low-carbon construction products. He also noted that market-driven carbon pricing mechanisms around the world can incentivise the industry to decarbonise and further develop technology focused on reducing emissions.

“As an industry, we’ve gone beyond the commitment phase to taking decisive action today to reduce our CO2 emissions,” stated Gonzalez.

“While we are making important progress today on our 2030 goals, we currently have the opportunity to accelerate even more the pace of our industry’s decarbonisation, if we can achieve the right regulatory policies and support from governments around the world. That’s why my number one priority, as the new President of the GCCA, is to collaborate closely with governments and industry to facilitate our roadmap levers,” he concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News