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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Source: ME Construction News

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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Source: ME Construction News

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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Source: ME Construction News

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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Source: ME Construction News

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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Source: ME Construction News

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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Source: ME Construction News

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

Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund) has announced investments worth US $1.3bn in four leading local construction companies, via subscribing to their new shares and boosting the percentages owned by minority shareholders.

PIF said it has invested in: Nesma & Partners Contracting Company, ElSeif Engineering Contracting Company, AlBawani Holding Company, and Almabani General Contractors Company.

The investment will contribute not only to the construction services sector, but improve local supply chains for current and future projects in Saudi Arabia, thereby further developing the country’s construction ecosystem, it explained.

The four companies in which PIF has invested are said to have built a successful track record in executing and managing complex large-scale projects across multiple sectors in various regions of Saudi Arabia.

In late January 2023, PIF and Samsung C&T partnered to develop construction tech and modular housing and, in early February 2023, PIF & AeroFarms signed a deal to develop vertical farms across the MENA region.

The companies’ partnerships with PIF will support the regional and international expansion of their operations and businesses. Moreover, the investments will help increase private sector local content, contribute to growing Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP), enhance supply chains and increase the construction services sector’s overall competitiveness, the statement from PIF added.

Leveraging its global reach, PIF said it will enable the four companies to develop regional and international partnerships, which will help increase the adoption of the latest technologies and the transfer of knowledge from global EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) companies.

On the strategic move, Yazeed A. Al-Humied, Deputy Governor and Head of Mena Investments at PIF, said, “These partnerships demonstrate PIF’s commitment to unlock the capabilities of key strategic sectors in Saudi Arabia, including the Construction & Building Components and Services sector, which has been identified as one of 13 strategic sectors locally. PIF’s investment in four national champions will support local capacity expansion across the sector and stimulate private sector participation and investment to meet current and future demand, in line with Vision 2030.”

He concluded, “The Kingdom also aims to increase the role of the private sector within the economy, and this investment will enhance the ability of private sector firms to provide key services.”

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

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Source: ME Construction News

In December 2022, Desert Board by Al Talah Board Manufacturing Co, part of the ECC Group, was announced as the winner of the ‘Supplier of the Year Award’ at the 2022 Big Project Middle East Awards, which was hosted by Big Project Middle East (BPME) at the Ritz Carlton JBR in Dubai.

Following the win, BPME spoke to Desert Board for a reaction, and to gain an insight into what the company intends to do in 2023 to build on their gains from the previous year.

What does winning the Supplier of the Year Award mean to you?

It’s a great honour to win this award; we launched Desert Board in 2022, and it is becoming more and more evident that our global environment depends on us – as a human race – to be more aware of what the earth offers us for us to survive.

As with our ancestors, particularly in this part of the world, we’ve relied on Date Palm trees to build cities and houses. We must continue this knowledge and development to grow and survive as a truly economical and ecologically sustainable civilisation.

How has 2022 gone for your company, and what are your expectations for 2023?

The global and regional markets are realising the importance of the health of our global environment. This is further emphasised by the COP27 summit which was held in Egypt in 2022, and by COP28 that is due to be held in the UAE this year.

Through COP27, we’ve seen that the world, and government bodies, are accepting that there has to be a reduction in emissions. Many of these emissions are generated by building and using raw materials. Our boards are classified as E0, meaning that when they are used in buildings, they meet the global requirements for zero formaldehyde emissions.

From the years of research and development that we have conducted, we are sure that here in the UAE, we will be able to contribute to the global agenda of reducing our emissions, contributing to a Net Carbon Zero economy, while sustaining a circular economy through Desert Board.

How is Desert Board positioning itself for success in 2023 – what are the company’s strategies and plans for the year ahead?

As our founding partners of Desert Board envisaged, the company’s sustainability values will continue to develop in tandem with the requirements of the markets that our products serve, both regionally and internationally.

Lumber is integral to construction, so to be able to supply this sustainably and locally – from one of the most arid regions in the world – is a testament to the ability and creativity of humanity and the region.

2023 is a year full of opportunity, not least due to the COP events that are being held in the Middle East, but also due to the opportunities that the region can showcase to the world, about how important it is in being able to contribute to our global climatic equilibrium, while still enabling human, social, environmental and economic prosperity.

Not only is the PSB Board that is being produced at Desert Board one of the most environmentally sustainable boards in the world, but it is also able to allow the industry to continue developing in an environmentally, social, and economical manner, while also meeting the criteria and aspirations of a net zero and circular economy.

What are your expectations for the future of the industry – particularly in your sector?

It is becoming increasingly evident that our climate is changing and becoming more extreme. The more we look at this, the more we can conclude that this is due to our activities and actions. For many years we have felled forests and reduced nature’s ability to capture the carbon and gases emitted into the atmosphere due to our efforts and needs. Many global and governmental action groups call for us to act as a community, and the global construction industry is a massive contributor to global carbon emissions.

Therefore, through the continued work that is being done at Desert Board, we are sure that we will be an integral part of enabling the industry – regionally and globally – to achieve a Net Zero circular economy and allow humanity to prosper socially and environmentally.

Read more:

• “COP28 has the potential to have a significant impact on the built environment in the region”
• Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announces 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability’
• 2023 Energy & Sustainability Summit to take place in Dubai on 3 May

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Source: ME Construction News

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and ENOC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment, development, and operation of a joint pilot project on the use of hydrogen in mobility.

In a statement, the companies said the MoU was signed at the World Government Summit 2023, in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, and Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of ENOC Group.

The project will utilise DEWA’s existing green hydrogen production facility and ENOC’s knowledge of the fuel market to build a hydrogen fuelling station and contribute to the Dubai Green Mobility Initiative 2030.

Al Tayer said, “DEWA and ENOC Group have a strategic partnership that supports the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote as a global model in sustainability and green transformation.

In early January 2023, DEWA said it had achieved the highest information security certification and, in early February 2023, DEWA said it spent US $871mn on new projects in 2022.

“We are pleased to sign this MoU with ENOC Group to use green hydrogen, which is one of the environment friendly energy sources and represents one of the pillars of a sustainable future that depends on accelerating the transition to Net Zero carbon emissions to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net Zero Carbon Strategy 2050.”

The project supports the UAE’s hosting of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the country’s goal to develop the hydrogen economy and open local markets to hydrogen vehicles. Both DEWA and ENOC aim to support the vision of a sustainable and green future and to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Al Falasi remarked, “ENOC Group’s partnership with DEWA follows the announcement of 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability’ by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It also aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ that was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”

He concluded, “The agreement underpins the group’s efforts to nurture public-private partnerships to achieve Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 as well as lay the foundation for a green economy and lead the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.”

On 3 May, Big Project Middle East will host the second edition of the Energy & Sustainability Summit in Dubai.

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Source: ME Construction News