Sharjah Sustainable City has initiated a sustainable community engagement program with its first event, the ‘Discover Your Urban Farm’ initiative. It is designed to introduce Sharjah Sustainable City’s residents to urban farming with access to Agri Pods on which they can grow their own plants or vegetables.

The initiative will also invite the first of the community’s residents to a planting activity in the community garden pockets, with workshops on learning how to compost using organic waste and growing different plants and vegetables suited to Sharjah’s climate.

An enjoyable family-friendly initiative is aimed to further reduce the city’s carbon footprint, while creating awareness of the food-energy-water nexus, waste management and promoting health and wellbeing, the statement said.

“With over 110 villa handovers completed smoothly, it is thrilling to see our community come alive, with residents experiencing the many benefits of life in Sharjah’s first sustainable residential development. However, creating a truly green community goes beyond simply using sustainable materials and construction techniques, renewable energy and smart home technology. It extends all the way to encouraging an entirely sustainable way of life. Through our community initiatives, we aim to educate our residents on everything related to eco-friendly living, including urban farming, landscaping, local wildlife, biodiversity, waste reduction and recycling and more. Together, we will work towards a Net Zero community that offers an aspirational lifestyle that is in harmony with the wellbeing of future generations,” said Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City.

In late October 2022, URB said it would develop a $20bn smart and sustainable city in South Africa and, in early November 2022, Diamond Developers said that surpassing Net Zero is on the table for Sharjah Sustainable City.

The ‘Discover Your Urban Farm’ initiative is said to be the first in an ongoing educational campaign that will take place on an ongoing basis, hosting enjoyable activities and offering holistic guidance on the most sustainable urban farming and landscaping practices, including which plant species thrive in the UAE climate, support local habitats, and consume the least resources in terms of water and soil.

The program will also include activities focused on wellness to encourage healthy lifestyle, green mobility, and special Ramadan sustainability programs.

Overall, the initiative aims to bring together residents and promote wellness and sustainability practices. It will also serve as a great platform, especially for children, to learn about the efforts and resources required to grow food and create a sense of appreciation, thus reducing food waste.

Sharjah Sustainable City extends over an area of 7.2m sqft and features 1,250 sustainable villas. The project was developed in line with national efforts related to the food-energy-water nexus, as it provides practical solutions related to food security, water and energy management, as well as natural resources conservation.

In early January 2023, Aldar announced the launch of Sustainable City – Yas Island.

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Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has signed an agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to launch the region’s first-ever Senseable City Lab, a global MIT initiative that researches and tests pilot projects for planning urbanisation and the rapid growth of cities.

In a statement, DFF said the agreement was signed at the World Government Summit 2023 by Khalfan Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of DFF, and Professor Carlo Ratti, Director of the Senseable City Lab at MIT. Also in attendance were Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai and His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner-General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Wellbeing Pillar and Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Urban Planning in Dubai.

Senseable City Lab conducts interdisciplinary research in Singapore, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Lagos, and now Dubai, where it will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by cities in a fast-changing world. While cities occupy only 3% of the Earth’s land, they consume 70% of energy sources and account for 80% of CO2 emissions. To address this urgent and unsustainable imbalance, the lab aims to find innovative solutions to make cities more resilient and efficient, the statement explained.

Al Basti applauded the partnership and its potential to develop the technological skills needed to enhance future urban planning. He stated the partnership aims to create a scientific platform that harnesses the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, to make Dubai a testbed and laboratory for scientific innovation.

In late September 2022, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan launched the Dubai Robotics and Automation Program.

He added, “The agreement with MIT emphasises Dubai’s focus on transforming innovations from concepts into reality, while developing new knowledge and tools to better serve our world and keep pace with Dubai’s future ambitions. The partnership’s research and development strategy focus on finding solutions to the most pressing challenges, working towards increasing productivity, developing services, enhancing economic resilience, and preparing for the future. Selecting Dubai as a headquarters for the MIT Senseable Lab enhances the city’s global role in the advancement of future cities through partnerships between government, private and academic sectors, with contributions from scientists, futurists, and innovators from the UAE and the around the world.”

Mattar Al Tayer added, “Dubai has adopted the newest innovations and technologies of the future to advance its cutting-edge infrastructure and realise its goals. It has become a global testbed for future technologies to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and reinforce Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading cities of the future.”

The launch was accompanied by the establishment of the Senseable City Consortium Fellowship Program, which aims to empower and guide partners to implement actionable ideas to create change. It will also provide opportunities for companies in Dubai to engage with this interdisciplinary research to inform potential future innovations.

Carlo Ratti, Director of the Senseable City Lab at MIT stated, “We are proud to collaborate with the Dubai Future Foundation to bring the Senseable City Lab to Dubai. The city’s forward-thinking approach and its commitment to innovation make it the perfect location to explore some of the most pressing issues facing cities today.”

In early October 2022, Tobias Bauly, Project Director, Buro Happold discussed the engineering behind Dubai’s Museum of the Future with Middle East Construction News.

“The signing of this agreement marks a major step forward in Dubai’s journey towards becoming a smart and sustainable city. The Senseable City Lab and the Fellowship Program will play a vital role in creating knowledge and game-changing solutions for the urban environment that will benefit not only Dubai but cities around the world,” added Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of DFF.

The Senseable City Lab in Dubai is expected to have a significant impact on the development of smart cities in the region and the world. The launch of the MIT Lab represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of the future, and a commitment to making cities more sustainable and efficient for future generations, the statement concluded.

In early January 2023, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launched the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’.

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His Royal Highness Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, has announced the launch of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), which aims to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh. The move will contribute to the city’s future development in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

According to a statement from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the New Murabba project will be built around the concept of sustainability, featuring green areas, as well as walking and cycling paths that will enhance the quality of life by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and community activities. It will also feature a museum, a technology and design university, a multipurpose immersive theatre, and more than 80 entertainment and culture venues.

His Royal Highness will also be the Chairman of NMDC. The launch of the company is part of PIF’s strategy to unlock the capabilities of promising sectors, enable the private sector and increase local content, contribute to the development of real estate projects and the local infrastructure, and diversify sources of income for the Saudi economy.

The new entity will develop the project and also build the “Mukaab”, an exceptional iconic landmark featuring the latest innovative technologies, the statement explained.

In early February 2023, PIF & AeroFarms signed a deal to develop vertical farms across the MENA region.

The design of the Mukaab includes first-of-its-kind facilities and will be one of the largest built structures in the world, standing 400m high, 400m wide, and 400m long. The cube shape of the structure will ensure the ultimate utilisation of space to accommodate the technologies necessary to develop the icon.

Inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style, the Mukaab will be the world’s first immersive destination offering an experience created by digital and virtual technology with the latest in holographic technology. The landmark will encompass a tower atop a spiral base, and a structure featuring two million sqm of floor space that will be a premium hospitality destination with a multitude of retail, cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities, the statement noted.

The New Murabba development is expected to add US $47.9bn to non-oil GDP and create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030. The project is due to be completed in 2030. It will be situated at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the North West of Riyadh, over an area of 19sqkm, to accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents.

The project will offer more than 25m sqm of floor area, featuring more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and more than 980,000sqm of retail space, as well as 1.4m sqm of office space, 620,000sqm of leisure assets, and 1.8m sqm of space dedicated to community facilities.

In early February 2023, PIF said it raised US $5.5bn with its second green bond.

It will also offer a unique living, working and entertainment experience within a 15-minute walking radius and will have its own internal transport system. It will be approximately 20-minutes’ drive from the airport, the statement concluded.

In mid February 2023, PIF said it invested $1.3bn in Saudi construction firms.

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A partnership between Brooge Energy and Siemens Energy will see the development of a solar PV-powered plant that can produce green hydrogen and ammonia in Abu Dhabi. As per the terms of the deal, the two companies will join forces to develop the plant and explore other areas of collaboration in clean energy, while the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will offer them facilities.

The firms signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to kickstart the partnership at a special event at the World Government Summit 2023.

According to a statement, the event drew the participation of Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Ahmed Al Kaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Petroleum, Gas, and Mineral Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, as well as senior leadership from the two companies.

“Energy transition has long been a strategic priority of the UAE. In line with the objectives of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, we are taking confident steps to incorporate emerging energy sources, particularly hydrogen, in our energy mix to ensure we are on a low-carbon development path,” said Al Olama.

In early February 2023, Masdar said it opened an office in Baku in support of Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sector.

He added, “The ministry is working on developing a robust green hydrogen industry in the UAE. We have launched the UAE Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap that aims to establish the country as a competitive exporter of hydrogen and are currently updating the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 to reflect the country’s future aspirations in line with our role as the host of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).”

Commending the Brooge Energy and Siemens tie-up, Al Olama said it was a prime example of the UAE’s keenness to upscale the contribution of the private sector in realising its Net Zero and climate ambitions. He stated that the new project will produce green hydrogen and ammonia using solar PV, and will further accelerate the country’s transition to Net Zero, increase green hydrogen capacity, and boost the UAE’s position as a reliable supplier of hydrogen.

Lina Saheb, Interim CEO at Brooge added, “It is with great honour that we announce our partnership with Siemens Energy at the Summit, as together we take a step toward a greener future. I look forward to working closely with the talented Siemens team on this important project.”

Khalid Bin Hadi, Head of Government Affairs in the UAE and Middle East at Siemens Energy explained, “Our partnership with Brooge Energy is in line with the company’s global objectives of accelerating the energy transition. Green hydrogen is an important source of sustainable energy that we can optimise through public-private partnerships.”

In mid February 2023, it was announced that Big Project Middle East’s 2023 Energy & Sustainability Summit would take place in Dubai on 3 May.

He concluded, “The UAE has always been proactive in shaping a sustainable future and tackling climate change through inclusive, robust initiatives. The country recently declared 2023 as the Year of Sustainability and later this year, will host COP28, underscoring its key role as a problem solver and a developer of innovative energy and climate solutions.”

In mid February 2023, DEWA and ENOC signed a MoU to develop and operate a hydrogen-based mobility pilot project.

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Sharjah-based developer Arada has successfully closed a $50mn second tap of its existing $450mn sukuk, which was issued last June and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The five-year tap is the UAE developer’s third approach to the capital markets in the last nine months and the investor re-offer yield was posted at 8.488%. Mashreq acted as sole manager and bookrunner for the second tap.

Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said, “We’re extremely happy to have achieved a size of $500mn on our inaugural sukuk via the last two tap transactions. This achievement is testament to the fact that investors have been tracking our story since May last year, and have begun to appreciate and acknowledge our investor proposition, good governance record and credit strength. We’re especially pleased to have reached the benchmark size of this instrument, which will further enhance the liquidity and trading of our paper. I’d also like to put on record our thanks to Mashreq as the sole arranger on this tap, and for being part of all three transactions in our debut issuance.”

In early January 2023, Arada said it had completed work on the $190.5m Nest in Aljada and, late in the month, the developer said it awarded a $129mn contract for the Vida Aljada Hotel Complex to GAC.

Arada’s second tap follows a first tap executed in October 2022 for $100mn. At that time, the group is said to have received an exceptional response from international debt capital markets, which led to an oversubscribed transaction with orders of $185mn.

As part of Arada’s continuing investor engagement and interaction – more recently via extensive roadshows across the UK and GCC before the October tap – this recent tap issue was executed on the back of investor feedback and enquiries, the firm said.

Arada’s existing five-year fixed rate RegS debut Sukuk issuance was rated BB- by Fitch and B1 by Moody’s.

In early February 2023, Arada reported a 46% rise in sales in 2022 to reach $955.5mn.

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Saudi-based Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has achieved a major health & safety (OHS) milestone, clocking more than 30m man-hours of accident-free working, across a 19,181-strong workforce.

During that timeframe, the DGDA team said it also used more than 1,200 pieces of heavy equipment at its project site.

The DGDA believes that this outstanding milestone reflects the company’s continuous commitment to providing a safe working environment and validates the implementation of the OHS department’s comprehensive measures to mitigate risks, ensuring the well-being of people in the workplace, the statement said.

In late November 2022, DGDA said it had added 16 new global brands to its hospitality portfolio and, in early December 2022, it was announced that Time Out Market Riyadh would open in Diriyah Square by 2027.

Keeping health and safety at the forefront of Diryiah Company priorities, the OHS Management System provides the necessary protection from the hazards of occupational injuries for the giga-project’s contractors, employers and on-site labourers, it added.

The OHS department – which relies on a robust internal OHS Management System to fulfill the strategy of DGCL effectively and efficiently – has been working toward positioning itself as the regional and global benchmark for excellence in workplace safety management.

The achievement of 30m safe working hours is the first of its kind recorded by a current Saudi Arabian giga-project, the statement concluded.

In early January 2023, it was announced that Diriyah would become PIF’s fifth giga-project.

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The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Maersk have broken ground on what’s billed as the latter’s largest comprehensive logistics zone in the Middle East. The Maersk Logistics Park, which will come up on a 225,000sqm area in Jeddah Islamic port, is being built at a total investment of US $346mn.

Mawani and Maersk first signed the agreement for the project at the end of 2021, and work on the project is expected to be complete in Q1 2024.

According to a statement from Mawani, the logistics park is one of the company’s key initiatives aimed at developing and providing investment opportunities in logistics zones for the private sector, and increasing the number of logistics zones that deal with re-exports to 30 by 2030. This is said to be in line with the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics center and a hub for three continents.

The facility is said to offer several logistics solutions that connect and facilitate the movement of supply chains, and deals with annual volumes of up to 200,000 containers of different products.

In mid November 2021, Mawani signed an agreement to build a new cruise terminal at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and, in mid February 2022, Mawani and Bahri inked a deal to develop a new logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port.

As per the statement, the zone will include storage and distribution areas that accommodate merchandise intended for export and import, warehouses to accommodate refrigerated food products, as well as a re-shipping area, air shipping, LCL cargo shipping, and an e-commerce execution centre, with high-storage intensity designs, and leading mechanical solutions. Once operational, it will provide over 2,500 direct and indirect jobs, it stated.

The zone is expected to leverage renewable energy and will apply decarburisation solutions to achieve zero-carbon rates by 2040. It will be 100% powered by solar power generated by solar panels on rooftops, spread over 65,000sqm, and trucks used for transport will be electric, to effectively reduce emissions.

The zone will operate according to an advanced warehouse management system that applies modern technologies and digital solutions to manage inventory efficiently, and provide unit-level tracking. An advanced dashboard will be provided for improving competencies and giving a competitive advantage to importers, exporters and navigational agents, and an in-house women’s academy will offer training programs dedicated to women, Mawani pointed out.

The comprehensive logistics zone at the Islamic port of Jeddah will support the growth of the logistics industry, contribute significantly to the economy and increase the volume of the Kingdom’s non-oil export share by 50%, creating growing career opportunities in the logistics sector, the statement concluded.

In early September 2022, Maersk Kanoo UAE and Dubai South signed an agreement for a new 162,000sqft W&D facility.

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Atkins has been appointed as a delivery partner organisation for The Line at Neom in Saudi Arabia, it has been announced.

The consultancy stated that it has been awarded a five-year contract, under a framework agreement, for consultancy services on the linear development, which will extend to 170km long once completed. The cognitive city will also be only 200m wide and will run on 100% clean energy, according to officials.

Described as a civilisational revolution, the project will have no roads, cars, or carbon emissions. It is expected to eventually accommodate nine million residents and will be built on a land area of 34sqkm – a footprint unheard of compared to other cities of similar capacity.

Designed around nature rather than over it, The Line will be surrounded by large world-class protected areas, as 95% of the surrounding Neom region will be protected for conservation.

In late June 2022, SNC-Lavalin launched its ‘Engineering Net Zero in the GCC’ report to help the region achieve its Net Zero carbon targets.

In collaboration with Neom and other delivery partner organisations, Atkins will provide project and construction management consultancy services for the design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the project, together with the management of the critical interfaces that the linear city shares with adjacent Neom projects and logistics. The project has adopted a highly collaborative delivery model in response to its scale, complexity, supply chain and requirements for innovation.

“The Line is a truly ground-breaking, world first project and we are proud to have the opportunity to bring our global engineering, digital and Net Zero expertise to help create a lasting legacy for the Kingdom and its people,” said Philip Hoare, President, Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group.

“As a delivery partner organisation, we will work closely with Neom and our partners to seamlessly connect people, data and technology to drive innovation, value, efficiency and certainty on the project. Our combined intent is to radically transform the way major infrastructure projects are delivered and The Line, with its vision and complexity, provides a great opportunity to demonstrate what our industry can achieve.”

The Line offers a new approach to urban design, the statement continued. The idea of layering city functions vertically, while giving people the possibility of moving seamlessly in three dimensions (up, down, or across) to access them is a concept referred to as ‘Zero Gravity Urbanism’.

In late July 2022, the Saudi Crown Prince unveiled the designs of The Line.

The development’s infrastructure will be embedded with sustainable smart technology containing essential utilities and transportation services, generating car-free communities and public realms.

“With over 50 years’ presence in the Middle East, Atkins has played a key role in supporting the region’s transformation by delivering some of its most iconic and complex projects,” said Campbell Gray, Chief Executive Officer, Middle East & Africa, Atkins.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most dynamic growth markets and we are committed to supporting the country’s ambitions through our global engineering expertise, our in-depth local knowledge, and our investment in the Kingdom’s future talent. As a delivery partner organisation, we will work closely with Neom to drive value and efficiency by adopting innovative technologies and world-class sustainability standards.”

Atkins has expanded its local presence in the Kingdom with regional offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and AlUla, supporting clients in buildings and places, transportation, energy and water sectors. Some of the company’s key projects in Saudi Arabia include Diriyah Gate, Six Flags Qiddiya theme park, Riyadh Metro, and King Abdulaziz International Airport.

In early September 2022, Trevi Group said its Saudi subsidiary has begun foundation works for The Line.

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SSH has completed Phase One of the Dhorfar Beach Resort – a luxury tourism development in the Sultanate of Oman.

In a statement, the firm said that the five-star resort includes 64 villas, along with a range of exclusive amenities, as well as a reception building, two restaurants, a swimming pool, the entire back of house, parking, operator offices, male and female gyms, a kids’ club, external works, and landscaping.

SSH said that the project was completed despite several challenges, and that it has been ‘steadily and continuously working hard to accomplish the significant milestone’. The entirety of Phase One was completed within less than 14 months after the project resumed, it added.

The project is located in an open area of Dhofar Beach on the east side, with easy road access to the northeast. The southern side has access to an uninterrupted outlook, offering views for residents and visitors of the Arabian Sea, the statement said.

In early October 2021, SSH said it was appointed as lead consultant for a five-star resort in Muscat.

The five-star beach resort in Salalah is a beachfront resort complex, consisting of several separate buildings—the main hotel (six + one floors), ballroom, main reception area, spa, etc.—as well as a car park.

It will accommodate 220 guest rooms, 66 luxury villas, two presidential suites, various restaurants, leisure facilities, meeting rooms, a business centre, retail outlets, supporting restaurants, all-day dining, a convention centre, an exclusive spa, and associated back-of-house buildings.

The total built-up area for the beach destination is 61,530sqm, with 32,850sqm of hard and soft landscaped areas, including communal areas, water features, and gardens that will provide a pleasant environment in which the private villas are to be located in family clusters, the firm noted.

SSH said that it is providing main consultancy services for the construction supervision and is the engineer under the Red FIDIC contracts, with a general scope to add the works contracts, enabling works, structural works, main works (FF& E), and power supply.

In mid March 2022, SSH was appointed lead consultant for the Hessah Gardens Residential Towers project in Kuwait.

It is also responsible for ensuring compliance with all design, specifications, standards, and statutory requirements to secure quality of delivery, the firm concluded.

In early January 2023, SSH said it was leading the design and construction of the new J1 Beach.

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Kier International has been awarded a US $18.3mn contract for Qiddiya Water Theme Park, a major project coming up near Riyadh.

The firm said the contract will see it provide engineering, design, electrical and communications, as well as electromechanical works for the project.

Qiddiya Water Theme Park is billed as the Kingdom’s first and the region’s largest water theme park. Home to 23 rides and attractions – seven of which will be world firsts – the park’s theme and offerings have been designed keeping in mind Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and heritage.

In mid December 2020, Saudi’s NWC said it would supply treated water to the Qiddiya project and, early February 2021, it was announced that Jack Nicklaus would design a championship golf course in Qiddiya.

It will be the only water theme park in the world that offers a unique mix of dry and wet rides, as well as state-of-the-art competition level facilities for those with a penchant for water sports, the firm explained.

Kier International’s appointment to work on the water park project follows another recent announcement, where it has been appointed by the Saudi Electricity Company to connect a water purification plant, with a station in the Al Kharj region of the Kingdom.

The contract, which is worth $6.5mn, will see the utilities services company responsible for the electrical and communication linkage works between the Hit station and the Al Kharj station. The project scope of work also includes infrastructure works for the electrical network for medium voltage 33kV.

In early May 2022, Dewan was appointed as lead design consultant for the Qiddiya Water Theme Park.

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Source: ME Construction News