240 entries from an incredible 43 countries have been received for the Emaar Sustainability Challenge – as the company looks to “find innovative global start-ups who have solutions to modern-day sustainability challenges.”

This is the second edition of the challenge, which debuted earlier this year with great success as winners secured projects with Emaar to implement their innovative solutions in the near future.

The review process is now underway on the latest challenge, which is related to circular economy, smart and healthy buildings and customer experience, with winners expected to be announced in January.

The challenge is in line with Emaar’s drive towards an effective transition to a sustainable and low carbon economy, with the company looking to inspire the next generation of sustainability groundbreakers to create value for society, while also helping them meet Global Sustainable Development Goals.

The first edition saw numerous innovative solutions and initiatives proposed by the applicants across all business units from properties to hospitality, malls, and entertainment.

In the Construction Innovation category, Sablono & Basilisk won for its futuristic project management and concrete enhancement solutions. In the Sustainability category, Solarix & Ottan took home the top honours due to its forward-thinking approach to environmentally friendly practices.

“We have been incredibly impressed by the volume and quality of entries for the second Emaar Sustainability Challenge,” said a spokesperson from Emaar. “There are so many challenges facing us globally at the moment from a sustainability perspective, so we have to engage with creative talent to tackle some of our most pressing development problems. Not only do we want to meet our own sustainability goals at Emaar, but also encourage a generation of entrepreneurs to establish themselves in this field and help make tangible changes, which will impact both our communities and planet in a positive way. The entry process has given us great encouragement that we will be working with some incredible talent in the months to come and we look forward to those next steps.”

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Source: ME Construction News

19 winners were recognised at the 12th edition of the Big Project ME Awards, with the 2022 edition hosting more than 160 guests from across the GCC at the Ritz Carlton JBR in Dubai.

With close to 230 submissions received when nominations closed on 15 November, the editorial team and the judges had a tough job on their hands to choose winners from a surfeit of quality nominees. The number of submissions rivalled the number of submissions received in 2021, the Big Project ME team said.

The judging process was split in two parts – an initial process that saw the Big Project ME team vetting all the nominations to ensure that they met nomination guidelines and standards, and that they were appropriate for the focus of the awards.

The second, and most crucial, aspect of the judging process was the meeting of the Judges Panel on December 6, which consisted of the following experts:

Christine Espinosa-Erlanda – Senior Associate at Godwin Austen Johnson
Kerem Cengiz – Managing Director – MENA at LWK + Partners
Luke Somerville – Managing Director at Compass Project Consulting
Peter Westeng – Chairman of Omnium International
Simran Bagga – Vice President at Omnix Engineering and Foundation Technologies
Jason Saundalkar – Head of Content at MEConstructionNews.com
Gavin Davids – Head of Editorial and Content at Big Project ME

“This year, we had some really strong nominations from all over the region. The judges had a hard time deciding who to choose, but I think we successfully narrowed down the shortlist and chose the appropriate winners for each category. I’m delighted that we had entries come in from all over the MENA region – and that we had some big winners come from outside the GCC,” Davids said.

The Big Project ME Awards 2022 were supported by:

Gold Sponsors: ALEC, ASGC and ECC
Silver Sponsor: VOLTAS
Bronze Sponsor: KAIRNIAL
Category Sponsor: Compass Project Consulting

The full list of winners and shortlisted nominees for the Big Project ME Awards 2022 are:

Big Project ME Executive of the Year
Winner: Barry Lewis – Managing Director – ALEC

Shortlisted Nominees:
Baharash Bagherian – CEO – URB
Francis Alfred – Managing Director – Sobha Realty
Ian Williamson – Chief Projects Delivery Officer – Red Sea Global
Kenneth Rob Davies – Managing Director – Depa Interiors

Big Project ME Professional of the Year
Winner: Li Bo – Engineering Manager/Divisional Deputy Engineering Manager – CSCEC – Infrastructure Division

Shortlisted Nominees:
Deepak Hingorani – Project Director – Aroma International Contracting
Heba Abo El-elaa – Bridge Engineer – The Arab Contractors

Skills Development Programme of the Year
Winner: Red Sea Global – The Red Sea Vocational Training Program / Elite Graduate Program

Shortlisted Nominees:
ALEC – Tomohy Initiative
ASHGHAL – New Corporate Strategy 2018 – 2022
ECC – KAIZEN through LEAN Principles
Sobha Realty – Sobha Institute for Construction Excellence

Developer of the Year
Winner: Sobha Realty

Shortlisted Nominees:
URB
DAMAC Properties

Civil Contractor of the Year

Winner: China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East

Shortlisted Nomiees:

Orascom Construction
The Arab Contractors

Fit-Out Contractor of the Year
Winner: ALEC Fit-Out

Shortlisted Nominees:
Depa Interiors
Pinnacle Interiors

MEP Contractor of the Year
Winner: ALEMCO

Shortlisted Nominees:
China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East – MEP Division
LASCO
Voltas

Sustainable Contractor of the Year
Winner: iBuild

Shortlisted Nominees:
Orascom Construction
Sobha Realty

Contractor of the Year
Winner: ALEC

Shortlisted Nominees:
China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East
Hassam Allam Construction
McLaren Construction
Orascom Construction

Supplier of the Year
Winner: Desert Board

Shortlisted Nominees:
FILA Industria Chimica Middle East
LATICRETE Middle East
VERTECO

HSE Project of the Year
Winner: KHAZNA Data Centre – McLaren JLW Joint Venture

Shortlisted Nominees:
Opera House and Arts and Culture City – Orascom Construction
SABIS International School AlJada – iBuild
The Red Sea Project – Red Sea Global

Energy Project of the Year
Winner: UAE Wind Program – Power Construction Corporation of China

Shortlisted Nominees:
Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority Shared Savings Project – Taka Solutions
New Administrative Capital District Cooling Plant – Kortech
Ras Ghareb Wind Farm – Orascom Construction

Sustainable Project of the Year
Winner: Bustanica – Emirates Crop One

Shortlisted Nominees:
100MW Green Hydrogen Plant – Orascom Construction (part of the Green Hydrogen Consortium)
Masdar Central Park – Masdar City

Fit-Out Project of the Year
Winner: Vision Pavilion – ALEC Fit-Out

Shortlisted Nominees:
Convention and Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 – Depa Interiors
Heliport Terminal @ Expo 2020 Dubai – Pinnacle Interiors
SABIS International School Aljada – iBuild

Infrastructure Project of the Year
Winner: Improvement of Al Shindagha Corridor Phase 2D – China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East

Shortlisted Nominees:
Light Rail Transit – LRT – The Arab Contractors
The Red Sea International Airport – Red Sea Global

Project of the Year
Winner: Grand Egyptian Museum – Orascom Construction

Shortlisted Nominees:
KEC Hub – Knowledge Economic City
Bustanica – Emirates Crop One

Sustainable Government Department of the Year
Winner: Etihad Rail

Big Project ME’s Community Retail Project of the Year
Winner: The Waterfront Market – Ithra Dubai

Big Project ME’s Iconic Project of the Year
Winner: One Za’abeel – Ithra Dubai

 

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Source: ME Construction News

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, presided over a meeting of the Higher Committee for Development & Citizens Affairs in Dubai and approved its new plan for developing model residential neighbourhoods for citizens. The first phase of the plan, covers a total area of 177,712,000 sq. ft. in the residential areas of Al Mizhar 1, Al Khawaneej 2, and Al Barsha 2.

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed highlighted the importance of providing the best possible environment, facilities and services to the citizens of Dubai in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: “We constantly strive to raise the quality of life of citizens in Dubai and strengthen community bonds as part of our comprehensive human-centred urban development plan that aims to build sustainable future cities.”

HH directed the Committee’s teams to develop plans and initiatives to support economic development activities in residential neighbourhoods that will enable citizens to launch their own projects.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Higher Committee for Development & Citizens Affairs in Dubai and Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General for the Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being Pillar and the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Each development will have its own distinctive character and identity. The design of the Al Mizhar 1 development was inspired by the Ghaf tree, while the design of the Al Khawaneej 2 development was inspired by water and the Al Barsha 2 development by sand dunes. Gardens and squares in the residential neighbourhoods will provide facilities for sports and recreational activities.

The three model residential neighbourhoods will cover an area of approximately 177,712,000 sq. ft. (57,048,000 sq. ft. in Al Barsha 2; 72,871,000 sq. ft. in Al Mizhar 1; and 47,791,000 sq. ft. in Al Khawaneej 2). The model neighbourhoods offer investment and business opportunities for citizens residing in the area through restaurants, open markets, shops, halls and sports facilities.

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Source: ME Construction News

Dubai has cemented its first place in the region for a second consecutive year, while ranking second globally, in the Top City Destinations Index 2022, published by Euromonitor.

The UK-based market research company has uncovered the top city performers for economic and business activity, with thriving tourism infrastructure and performance that show great potential for investment and operation amid increased digitalisation, technological advancement and a focus on sustainability.

Paris once again claims the title of the World’s Top City in 2022, closely followed by Dubai, which retains its second position.

The top 10 rankings show the dominance of European destinations, with only Dubai and New York challenging the status quo this year, according to Euromonitor.

The strong rebound of international tourism, which is projected to register 112% growth in 2022 in terms of inbound spending, has been one of the key factors behind the resilient recovery of global cities. Intra-regional travel, an easing of travel restrictions and value-driven tourism further boost their appeal. Preferences for domestic travel and short-haul flights are defining consumer behaviour when choosing where to holiday.

In 2022, 14 destinations from the Middle East and Africa feature in the Top 100 City Destinations Index, compared to 16 in 2021. The leader board remains unchanged year-on-year, with Dubai cementing its first place for a second consecutive year in the region, whilst ranking second in terms of overall Index performance.

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Source: ME Construction News

Leading Middle East sustainability firm BEEAH Group, Chinook Sciences, UK’s innovator in waste to fuel technologies, and Air Water, a Japanese conglomerate with businesses relating to natural resources and industrial gas production, are coming together to realise the ambitious target of producing fuel cell grade hydrogen from waste wood and plastic.

The three organisations recently signed an MoU in Japan as a first step in forming a consortium that will advance progress on the Middle East’s first waste to hydrogen plant, located in Sharjah, UAE, and explore further opportunities across the region.

Combining BEEAH’s expertise in waste management and material recovery, Chinook Sciences patented RODECS pyrolysis and gasification process, and Air Water’s Hydrogen Refinement technology, the Waste to Hydrogen plant in Sharjah will transform waste wood and plastic into fuel-cell grade green hydrogen. The plans for the Waste to Hydrogen plant include an on-site green hydrogen dispensing station capable of fuelling several vehicles. To realize this innovative type of fuelling station, the plant will need to produce fuel cell grade hydrogen, which will be made possible with Air Water’s Hydrogen Refinement technology. Syngas produced from the RODECS pyrolysis and gasification process from Chinook Sciences will be fed into the hydrogen refinement system, resulting in fuel cell grade green hydrogen. Specifically, the grade hydrogen will be produced for PEM fuel cells at ISO14687 or SAEJ2719 standards.

Last year, following Cop26 in Glasgow, the UAE announced the Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, becoming the first nation in the Middle East to announce a net-zero emissions strategy. As part of this strategy, the UAE also announced a hydrogen leadership roadmap, which includes the production and export of green hydrogen produced through clean technologies. The production of waste derived fuels is a clean energy technology and through the production of fuel cell grade hydrogen, the Sharjah Waste to Hydrogen plant will potentially displace thousands of tons of CO2 every year.

Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, said: “For BEEAH, the waste-to-hydrogen plant is an innovation that will enable us to eliminate the challenge of certain types of waste wood and plastic, while also producing fuel cell grade hydrogen, which is a solution for emissions-free mobility of the future. The project aligns with the UAE’s Hydrogen Leadership roadmap and demonstrates a feasible, scalable and sustainable approach to green hydrogen production. To achieve this kind of innovation, we partnered with Chinook Sciences to bridge the gap between waste processing and pyrolysis. By partnering with Air Water on this project, we are bringing cutting-edge hydrogen refinement technology from Japan. Together, we will break new ground in green, fuel cell grade hydrogen production for the region as well as globally.”

Air Water’s engineering division based in New Jersey, United States, has been working with Chinook Sciences since 2004 on the active pyrolysis technology in the multi-patented RODECS process, which is a universal thermal treatment system. Air Water and Chinook Sciences have an intricate knowledge of the conversion processes in RODECS, which will inform the success of the Waste to Hydrogen project with BEEAH Group.

Dr. Rifat Chalabi, Chairman and Co-Founder of Chinook Sciences, said: “In order to achieve high quality fuel cell grade hydrogen as from the Waste to Hydrogen plant, Hydrogen Refinement will be a critical step. Air Water provides contaminant reduction solutions at a high level of quality and, through previous collaboration, is also closely aware of the processes involved in RODECS pyrolysis and gasification process. Air Water’s Hydrogen Refinement can be applied to various types of syngas that we will produce from different types of feedstocks, enabling us to effectively produce high quality fuel cell hydrogen from both unrecyclable wood and plastic waste. Leveraging Air Water’s technologies, I look forward to demonstrating a new model for green hydrogen production alongside BEEAH Group.”

Speaking about Air Water and the partnership, Ryosuke Matsubayashi, Executive Vice President and COO of Air Water, said: “We have been engaged in manufacturing and selling hydrogen gas and related equipment in the global market for many years. Air Water holds a high market share for hydrogen gas in Japan and liquid hydrogen-related equipment in North America. We are working to realise a decarbonised society through green hydrogen production by applying our proprietary technologies, including production, separation and recovery, purification, liquefaction, and transportation of hydrogen. We are pleased to announce that Air Water and Chinook Sciences jointly provide an innovative hydrogen production process. By combining the Chinook Sciences technology for syngas from waste and Air Water’s hydrogen production and refining technologies that have been developed over the years, we can help create a decarbonised society with BEEAH in the UAE. We look forward to the continued collaboration of our three companies and making positive environmental impact on a global scale.”

The Waste to Hydrogen plant in Sharjah was first announced by BEEAH Group and Chinook Sciences Green in May 2021 and was formalised later the same year with the commencement of development plans. The project will add to BEEAH Group’s diversifying portfolio of zero-waste, net-zero emissions solutions to power the sustainable, smart cities of tomorrow. At the same time, it will introduce cutting-edge technologies from UK’s Chinook Sciences and Japan’s Air Water to the UAE and the nation. By 2030, the global green hydrogen production market is expected to reach USD 1 trillion. As per its Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap, the UAE aims to be a hub for the export of green hydrogen and is targeting 25% of the global market.

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Source: ME Construction News

AMEA Power, one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the Middle East, announced today that it has been awarded a 120MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in South Africa as part of the Sixth Bid Submission Phase of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) Program. The Doornhoek PV Project will sell electricity to the state utility, Eskom, under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement.

AMEA Power is the majority shareholder in the US$120 million project, and has partnered with a consortium wholly owned by African women, formed by Ziyanda Energy and Dzimuzwo Consulting.

To further support the development of the country, AMEA Power and its partners will form a community trust, which will own a share of the project, and contribute towards the economic development of communities close to the project.

Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, said: “The awarding of this project, represents another major milestone for AMEA Power as it is our first in South Africa and was granted in competition with other major renewable energy players. Over the next decade, the country will undergo a massive transition in its approach to electricity generation as the network decommissions large amounts of coal generation and adopts cleaner solutions like wind and solar. AMEA Power aims to bring many more clean energy projects onto the grid to help address the energy shortfall, and provide clean, affordable energy to the country in the long term.

“Clean energy solutions presents tremendous opportunities for delivering investment, job creation and social development across South Africa. As AMEA Power expands its clean energy footprint across the continent, South Africa will be a major market for the Company and an opportunity to work with local partners to develop projects across the country.”

The solar project, which is located near the town of Klerksdorp in the North West Province, will generate more than 325GWh of clean energy per year and power around 25,000 households. In total, the project is expected to offset 290,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The construction of the Doornhoek PV Project will commence by mid-2023, and will make use of more than 45% of locally sourced materials and resources.

As part of its long term planning to reduce its carbon emissions and provide greater energy stability across its electricity network, South Africa aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix from 11% to 41% by 2030. The country also plans to decommission between 8GW and 12GW of coal fired power plants over the next decade.

AMEA Power has a secured a number of sites suitable for the development of a further 1GW of renewable energy projects in South Africa, which the Company will bid into future REIPPP Programs, and provision for private sector consumers. The Company is also exploring opportunities with a number of commercial and industrial entities across South Africa to provide them with access to renewable energy.

AMEA Power is rapidly expanding its investments in wind, solar, energy storage and green hydrogen, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the global energy transition. The Company has clean energy pipeline of over 6GW across 16 countries.

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Source: ME Construction News

Iman Developers, the Dubai-based luxury residential developer, has announced the launch of its latest project, The Grove – a nine-storey building located within the Dubai Hills community.

In a statement, the developer said that the project is the eighth in its residential development portfolio. It will feature 121 apartments with a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. It has an estimated value of $53 million, it added.

The property features a variety of world-class amenities and design features, including a lobby with double-height ceilings and elegant fittings. Other amenities include a 25-metre recreational pool, a rooftop adults pool with a jacuzzi, a basketball court, cabanas and decks, a green area, a fully equipped gym, club lounge and games area, indoor and outdoor play areas for children, and rooftop barbeque facilities, amongst others.

Apartments will also come with smart door locks with fingerprint sensors, as well dual verification and hidden pic codes to provide additional security, the developer said.

Iman Developers Director Ismail Marfani said: “We have designed every square foot to be a luxurious experience. We aim to ensure that The Grove is elegantly personified with facilities and amenities that set it apart because the quality of life is directly related to the quality of one’s home.”

“We have constantly developed our projects focusing on every aspect, from the scope and scale of the project to the smallest details, to ensure the pinnacle of modern living for our customers,” he noted.

He added that the residential units will range from 414 sqft to 477 sqft; 700 sqft to 896 sqft, 1,078 sqft to 1,292 sqft, and 1,706 to 2,560 sqft respectively.

“We aim to provide our residents with a comfortable and welcoming environment with all the amenities they could want available at their fingertips, with a focus on sustainability and smart living. We pride ourselves on being able to ensure that we are able to meet the highest expectations of consumers for luxury development,” noted Marfani.

“The apartments at the Grove also enable sustainable living with smart living features, such as Google Nest Thermostats which are fitted in every unit that turns on and off based on usage patterns, providing complete automation, and offering a smart solution to energy saving,” he concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

Voltas, the Indian-headquartered air conditioning and engineering solutions provider, has said that it has been awarded a US$114 million contract for providing and installing the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) services for Qiddiya Water Theme Park.

Qiddiya is a Public Investment Fund project that aims to become the capital for entertainment, sports, and arts in Saudi Arabia. Part of its objectives is to help establish the Kingdom as a global tourist destination and to support Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the country’s economy.

Offering a range of innovative and immersive experiences, the destination aims to be completed by October 1, 2024.

Commenting on the project win, managing director and CEO Pradeep Bakshi said: “We are delighted to win yet another prestigious project in Saudi Arabia. We have been making our headway in Middle East market – predominantly the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, for over 40 years.”

“We have transformed adversities into opportunities through improvised processes, embraced automation, eliminating significant costs arising out of mobility restrictions and other project risks.”

Founded in India in 1954, Voltas is part of the Tata Group, and in addition to ACs, it also has air purifiers, water dispensers, commercial refrigeration, and air conditioning products in its portfolio.

“Today, Voltas is the leading MEP services provider in the region, felicitated with several awards for its quality, capability and safety records,” Bakshi said, adding that Qiddiya is being designed into a place where Saudi Arabia’s youth can achieve their goals.

He pointed out the destination will be a place where students may enjoy, appreciate, strive for, develop, and cultivate their potential; a place that opens doors and creates new career paths to support the creation of a more affluent and progressive society.

“With this new project, we believe that we will provide vast opportunities for development and collaboration in the coming years,” he concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

Khidmah, the regional facilities management and home maintenance company, said it has acquired two key businesses – green building enabler Pactive Sustainable Solutions; and Mace Group’s UAE-based hard facilities management unit – Mace Macro Technical Services.

Pactive Sustainable Solutions (Pactive) is an accredited Energy Service Company (ESCO), a certified energy auditor, and a company that specialises in energy performance contracts, and building and industrial energy audits. It also offers ‘Green Building Services’ such as LEED Certifications and 3D Energy Modelling.

Pactive focuses as well on HVAC Automation and has unique solutions to save energy in split air conditioners. Meanwhile, Mace Macro Technical Services, part of global property agent Mace Group, provides Hard Facilities Management solutions to various commercial buildings in the region.

These acquisitions are part of Khidmah’s expansion and growth strategy that aims to strengthen its services proposition and geographical reach while driving the company’s operational and financial performance forward, said a statement from the company.

They open new opportunities for Khidmah and its clients, enabling the company to provide various sustainable solutions that help built environments become greener, as well as grow its portfolio and geographic footprint throughout the UAE and the wider region, it stated.

Khidmah was also recognised as a Great Place to Work (GPTW) in the UAE in July. It was ranked among the top 50 best workplaces in the country for 2022 and was selected for developing an agile and sustainable organisational culture based on collaborative teamwork, accountability, and customer centricity.

On the latest strategic move, CEO Abdellatif Sfaxi said: “Acquiring Pactive and integrating the business within our operations supports the UAE’s strategic focus to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. As a certified ESCO and a sustainable solutions provider, Pactive and Khidmah will help clients realise their green ambitions, achieve operational efficiency, and safeguard the environment.”

“On the other hand, the acquisition of Mace Macro technical services boost our portfolio in Dubai by more than 50%,” he added.

Pactive, which was founded in 2015, is one of only a few companies in the UAE to receive ESCO accreditation. Since then, the company has audited over 700 commercial and residential assets in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman, including mosques, schools, hospitals, police stations, and free zone buildings.

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Source: ME Construction News

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Source: ME Construction News