Lazzarini Design Studio has unveiled a giant turtle-shaped floating city concept for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Measuring 550m long and 610m wide, the terayacht project, Pangeos, is estimated to cost around US $8bn and is likely to be located at the King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia, the design firm noted.

According to a statement, once work kicks off, it will take approximately eight years for completion. It is expected to be double the size of the Roman Colosseum, and would be able to host 60,000 guests at its peak.

“At the moment, Pangeos is just a concept, but it’s starting to become something more than a computer animation. The terayacht proposal takes its name from Pangea, the super-continent that existed millions of years ago during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras,” said Lazzarini Design Studio Founder Pierpaolo Lazzarini.

In November 2021, Neom said it would build the world’s largest floating structure and, in December 2021, Kempinkski said it would build the world’s first floating resort in Dubai.

He added, “Guests can unwind by staying in one of the many hotels, exploring its plethora of shopping centres, parks, beach clubs, resorts, as well as ship and aircraft ports.”

Lazzarini said that the terayacht would have its very own shipyard built specifically for its creation, and would be launched out of Saudi Arabia. He noted, “A terayacht needs a terashipyard; the conception of a similar-sized vessel, involves the realisation of a specific shipyard/dam infrastructure that floods to levitate the terayacht when it will be launched.”

The project scope is said to include dredging work of one square km of sea by building a circular dam. Once dried, it will become possible to start preparing the basement area, he added.

In July 2022, the Saudi Crown Prince unveils designs of The Line, revealing future city will be just 200m wide.

According to Lazzarini, the floating structure subdivides the spaces in different blocks and the impressive sizes of the Pangeos structure creates an unlimited possibility in terms of layout and facilities.

“The hull is subdivided into about 30,000 cells. This space provide an unsinkable floating solution for the basement, which is composed by cluster compartments and connected by corridors. With 30m of draft, the ship’s enormous hull is made up of nine different bows and subdivided into several blocks. The structure also boasts a giant gate aft that allows vessels to enter the floating metropolis.”

He concluded, “It would be powered by nine high-temperature superconductor (HTS) engines, each fully electric motor capable of 16,800hp and powered by various onboard energy sources.”

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Ellington Properties has sealed a partnership with Shuaa Capital in order to develop a new residential project on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Ellington will work on the project through its real estate development arm, Northacre, and Sol Properties, a unit of UAE-based Bhatia Group, the developer noted.

With nine residential floors, the new project will have 88 units comprising two to six-bedroom units as well as duplexes. The project will reflect Ellington Properties’ signature design-led approach, with exceptional features and resort-like amenities that will provide high-quality lifestyles, said a statement from the firm.

Architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has been appointed to design the project, the company added.

In December 2021, Ellington Properties announced the topping out of Harrington House in JVC and, in March 2022, it signed an agreement with entrepreneur Abdul Razeq Abdul Ahad to develop a new residential project.

A senior representative explained that the partnership is a strategic alliance that brings together leading players in the investment and real estate industries, to work on an iconic project that will feature exquisitely-designed spaces for luxury living.

“It marks our further expansion to meet the growing demand for our design-led homes. By partnering with the best-in-class companies, we will leverage their expertise to develop stunning homes in prime locations across Dubai that will elevate people’s lifestyles,” remarked Robert Booth, Co-founder and Managing Director of Ellington Properties.

Northacre Chairman Jassim Alseddiqi remarked, “We are excited to embark on this partnership to realise our shared vision of creating contemporary luxury spaces and exceptional living and wellness experiences, while bringing to the project our meticulous attention to detail and passion for craftsmanship.”

In early November 2022, the developer said it started the handover of its Harrington House residential project.

Shuaa Capital Group CEO, Fawad Tariq Khan said the partnership was consistent with its continued successful investment strategy in the real estate market with the goal of increasing value for shareholders. “We remain committed to diversifying our investment portfolio across all major sectors of the market, including real estate,” he remarked.

This is Ellington’s third development on Palm Jumeirah, following the recently launched Ellington Beach House, a residential apartment project of 123 units, and The Ellington Collection, comprising nine prestigious beachfront villas.

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United Rentals has agreed to acquire Ahern Rentals for approximately $2bn in cash, with the transaction expected to close prior to the end of the year, the company has announced.

The deal will increase capacity for United Rentals in both US coasts and in the Gulf region, expanding its fleet by over 60,000 rental assets and approximately $145mn of non-rental fleet.

Founded in 1953, Ahern Rentals is the eighth largest equipment rental company in North America, while over 75% of its rental fleet is comprised of aerial and material handling equipment.

In early September 2022, it was announced that the first Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 in Saudi Arabia would go to ACT and, later in the month, Johnson Arabia said it would enhance its fleet with a wide range of new battery-powered equipment.

The integration of the acquired branch and sales operations is expected to bring significant opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity and new business development with the adoption of United Rentals technology and field management processes.

Ahern Rentals and United Rentals use a number of the same technology platforms, including the RentalMan ERP system.

Speaking on the announcement Matthew Flannery, Chief Executive Officer of United Rentals said, “Our acquisition of Ahern Rentals supports our strategy to deploy capital to grow the core business and drive shareholder value. We view ourselves as the ideal owner of these assets within our network, as customers will benefit from the combination of the two organisations moving forward together. We’re leveraging our competencies in larger-scale M&A to augment both our near- and long-term earnings power.”

In October 2022, MYCRANE announced its US launch, and said it would be led by Scott Wilkes.

Don Ahern, Chief Executive Officer of Ahern Rentals concluded, “I’m proud of what we’ve built at Ahern Rentals over nearly seven decades, and I’m extremely pleased that the combination with United Rentals will take the business forward in this next chapter of growth. I want to thank our employees for driving the results that make this transaction possible.”

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End-to-end waste management and recycling company Averda and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a new contract for a waste management facility and services, which will provide sustainable waste management solutions for the university, with zero-waste goals projected by 2025.

As per the terms of the contract, Averda will manage all aspects of solid and hazardous waste including recycling, sorting, waste transfer and disposal. Since 2015, the waste management firm has worked with KAUST to design and deliver an integrated waste management service for its campus facilities and residential neighbourhoods that matches the needs and sustainable goals of the university.

During this time, over 3,500t of waste has been recycled, including 1,332t of cardboard, 227t of paper, 357t of plastics, 614t of metals and 243,000l of different types of oil.

In November 2021, Averda won a new contract for waste management services at The Red Sea Development.

The new 10-year contract with KAUST will support the university’s zero-waste-to-landfill target even further, recycling and recovering 100% of unavoidable municipal waste by-products with a one-stop, integrated materials recovery facility (MRF) and streamlined processes for collecting, sorting and bundling waste.

The arrangement will be further strengthened by the introduction of an all-electric fleet of Averda waste collection vehicles (previously diesel). In addition to energy savings, the use of electric vehicles will eliminate emissions, minimise noise, and reduce maintenance, among other benefits.

KAUST Vice President of Facilities Management Matthew Early said: “KAUST is proud to continue our relationship with Averda in this transformational zero-waste journey. The overall endeavour of waste management — from the facility where the waste will be sorted into various recycling streams, to the all-electric collection fleet — will allow KAUST to meet its goal of zero-waste by 2025 and elevate KSA’s quest for environmental sustainability by preserving the environment and contributing to improving quality of life.”

In December 2021, Averda won contracts to provide services for two events in Saudi Arabia.

The new bespoke facility, designed to complement KAUST’s contemporary campus, will include an administrative space, depot and parking for vehicles, and storage for containers and other operating equipment. Averda’s specialised waste collection services across the KAUST campus and five residential areas will ensure the correct collection and handling of each waste type. Recyclable material will be sorted and sold to the market, and organic material will be composted by KAUST’s composting facility.

More than 7,000 KAUST residents will play an important role in separating recyclables at the source. To this end, KAUST and Averda are developing an environmental awareness campaign for residents to ensure total participation in the zero-waste effort, the statement added.

The use of information technology to record, monitor, analyse and report waste management data will be a vital component to support this program and ensure that KAUST meets its sustainability targets. Technological provisions will be made to collect data at granular level, including bin management, dynamic weighing system, fleet tracking and management. A sustainability plan for operations will track and measure progress against targets to maximise emission reductions and keep KAUST fully informed of the environmental footprint of the activities and services delivered by Averda both on and off site.

In March 2022, Averda said it won a contract to provide waste services at the Saudi F1 Grand Prix.

Averda Chief Growth Officer Mazen Chebaklo concluded: “Sustainable practices are an integral part of KAUST’s campus. For over a decade, Averda has provided KAUST with an exemplary sustainable waste management service, that has evolved with the growth and feedback of the community. We are delighted to help KAUST on the next stage of their sustainability journey, as they commit to reduce emissions and achieve zero waste to landfill. KAUST is a clear leader in the implementation of circular economy principles. We are proud to support an institution that continually strives to improve the sustainability of their operations.

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Hospitality specialist Four Seasons and real estate developer Bayside Developments have announced the launch of the Four Seasons Private Residences Bahrain Bay, a collection of 112 bespoke homes set within the Bahrain Bay development.

In a statement, the companies said the project will allow residents access to the neighbouring Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, and will have access to resort-style amenities, multiple restaurants, and a beach. The property will also be a short distance from The Avenues and MODA Mall, which offer shopping, dining, and entertainment attractions.

“As we expand our Private Residences portfolio globally, we seek locations where our luxury lifestyle offering can be thoughtfully integrated and where we can build upon the success of existing hotels and resorts,” said Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

In August 2022, CBRE said that Bahrain’s real estate transaction volumes were on a positive trajectory and, later in the month, it was announced that works on the Phase II expansion of The Avenues – Bahrain would begin.

“Following the complete sell-out of our Private Residences in Dubai and our extensive residential expansion in Egypt, I am confident that the upcoming Four Seasons Private Residences Bahrain Bay will give homeowners another opportunity to embrace this destination through its vibrant culture, history and lifestyle,” Carnahan said.

Furthermore, the development will include gardens, an infinity edge pool, a fitness centre, a residents’ lounge, and a private cinema featuring state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

“In partnering with the Four Seasons, we look forward to introducing an unparalleled luxury lifestyle offering to residents of Bahrain Bay,” stated Yusuf Haji, Sales Director, Bayside Developments.

In October 2022, the cancellation of the Flexi Permit system was welcomed by the Bahrain Contractors Society and, in early November 2022, Bahrain said it would tender for the construction of its metro project by Q1 2023.

“The early sales success and international interest in these residences is a testament to the desire to live in this wonderful community – and in Bahrain as a destination – under the management of Four Seasons, which has a longstanding reputation for providing incredible experiences and exceptional service to its residents. We can’t wait to welcome residents to their new home in Bahrain Bay very soon.”

Set on a private enclave overlooking Bahrain Bay, the Private Residences contains 98 luxury apartments, eight duplexes and six penthouses. With architecture by Gensler and interior design by Rive Gauche, each home will overlook Bahrain Bay, the Bahrain World Trade Centre, the Manama Skyline or the sea. Homes will feature marble finishes and designer show kitchens with a combined living area.

Led by a director of residences and a dedicated Four Seasons team, owners will enjoy a service-rich environment, including the ability to request a private chef, arrange a private spa treatment, and so much more, all from the comforts of home, the statement concluded.

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Abu Dhabi’s real estate market witnessed continued growth in the third quarter of 2022, recording a total of 4,441 transactions amounting to over $5.73bn, according to the latest report published by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT).

The DMT’s quarterly publication showed that the emirate recorded 1,995 real estate sales worth $1.47bn, and 2,446 mortgage transactions worth $4.25bn.

In September 2022, Dubai’s property market topped US $6.6bn in August while, early in November 2022, the DMT signed a twinning partnership with Bishkek City.

Yas Island topped the list, logging transactions worth $272mn, while Al Saadiyat Island comes in second with transactions worth $253mn. With a total of $175mn in transactions, Al Shamkha ranked third, followed by Al Reem Island with $147mn, and Khalifa City with $57mn. Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Zayed City recorded transactions worth $49.5mn.

Dr. Adib Al Afifi, Executive Director of the Real Estate Sector at DMT said, “The real estate market in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi continues to achieve outstanding results and continuous and sustainable growth. Providing more options for investment in the real estate market and increasing the transparency of this vital sector contributes to the strengthening of Abu Dhabi’s global position as one of the most lucrative destinations for real estate investment.”

In mid-November 2022, ValuStrat said that Dubai’s apartment values were starting to stabilise.

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‘Earth Day’ organiser EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) has announced the Climate Education Coalition at their first Climate Education Hub at COP27. The nonprofit said the coalition comprises over 100 organisations and individuals around the globe working to promote climate education for Earth Day 2023, and demand it as a negotiating topic for COP28.

According to the organisation, the coalition’s mission is to work collaboratively in preparing future and current generations to face the consequences of the climate crisis, while bringing together responsible solutions to reverse climate change.

By instilling responsibility amongst people of all ages, the coalition will help our planet heal by moving forward consciously to ensure the mistakes of past generations will not be repeated, EDO noted in its statement at COP27.

In July 2022, WSP Middle East’s Sophia Kee told Middle East Construction News (MECN) that, “We have 93% certainty within the next five years of hitting new temperature highs.” In September 2022, Copernicus data revealed that summer 2022 was the hottest on record for Europe.

“Climate education is one of the most important solutions towards solving climate change. Education is where every action starts, it is a begging of innovation. It’s the moment when you hear about something, and you get inspired to act,” said Johnny Dabrowski, Climate Education Coalition Member and EARTHDAY.ORG Consultant.

Along with preparing current and future generations to adequately combat and reverse the climate crisis, the Climate Education Coalition aims to establish compulsory climate education in schools across the globe, by promoting the importance of climate education, green jobs, technologies and policies, civic engagement, youth empowerment, and climate justice and equity to members of civil society, politicians, UN officials, entrepreneurs, and global press, the statement added.

The Climate Education Coalition will use 22 April 2023 as Earth Day for Climate Education, in order to meet with policymakers, spread educational resources, organise workshops, practice lawful demonstrations, and collaborate with stakeholders to standardise access to climate education in school curricula, educational institutions and organisations, and communities around the world, the statement from EDO concluded.

In October 2022, the UNEP cautioned that the lack of progress leaves the world hurtling towards a temperature rise far above the Paris Agreement goal of well below 2C, and preferably 1.5C.

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In response to a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report that highlighted that CO2 emissions in the construction industry hit an all-time high in 2021, Trackunit CEO Soeren Brogaard called for the sector to take stronger action on 2050 decarbonisation targets.

At COP27, the UNEP said that emissions rose 5% on 2020 levels to 10 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent, which was 2% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“This report highlights that, despite a lot of good initiatives in the construction sector on sustainability, we still have a very long way to go if we are to make 2050 targets. The industry needs to get even better at bringing emissions down and it will only do that if it puts sustainability right at the heart of everything it does,” stated Brogaard.

In early September 2022, a youth movement called for global leaders to take “urgent and bold climate adaption action” and, in November 2022, Abu Dhabi environment and energy agencies unveiled a 60% clean electricity plan for emirate by 2035.

The UNEP said the sector made up more than 34% of global energy demand in 2021. It added that, in Europe, the buildings sector made up 40% of energy demand and said that 80% of that demand was met with fossil fuels.

Brogaard added, “There are so many reasons to be concerned about this. There’s an obvious security concern as the energy crisis of the last few months has amply demonstrated, but we could also be doing more to shift the industry towards electrification and away from fossil fuels.”

He pointed out that telemetry service providers like Trackunit could play a role in helping the industry meet 2050 targets because they delivered advanced machine insights that could give users the ability to extend the life cycle of machines, utilise their tools more efficiently and cut out bad practices that fueled the CO2 emissions crisis.

Later in November 2022, Partanna and Red Sea Global signed a MoU that will see the firms explore carbon-negative concrete developments.

He remarked, “We’re at a crossroads. We’re very active in the industry-wide push to eliminate downtime in construction and this is a potential opportunity to take the rich data we generate, share it, and democratise it, so that our downtime targets can be reached. Through connectivity and the constant evolution of the ecosystem, we can consign downtime to the past.”

He concluded, “Construction will emerge as a fitter, leaner industry and those 2050 targets are attainable. I really believe we can do this, but it will take commitment, a lot of hard work and some tough decisions that need to be taken as soon as possible.”

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UAE-based AJ Steel and Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group have signed an agreement for the development and operation of a large-scale steel pipe production facility in Abu Dhabi. The entities said the move will help to meet growing consumer demand.

The agreement will see AJ Steel expand its current operations in KEZAD through the development of a plot covering close to 96,000sqm, bringing its total to 200,000sqm of leased land under industrial use, the statement noted.

Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer – Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group added, “We welcome the continued confidence of AJ Steel in KEZAD Group, which reflects our steadfast commitment to driving business growth for customers through our integrated industrial offering and strategic position at the crossroads between East and West.”

In September 2022, JO Steel Holdings said it secured $692mn in credit to set up a steel plant in Saudi Arabia and, later in the month, it was announced that Saudi Arabia would develop iron and steel projects worth $9.31bn.

“The ongoing success of AJ Steel in Abu Dhabi is a testament to the vision of our wise leadership to stimulate the growth of our nation’s industrial sector and position the emirate as a global trade hub. We look forward to being a part of their growth journey and future expansion plans.”

The signing follows the recent launch of a new production line at AJ Steel at its factory currently in operation at KEZAD. It plans to enhance its production capacity from 0.5m tonnes to 1.25m tonnes by adding API-compliant steel pipe capacities from 1/2” to 20” sizes for oil and gas applications, the statement explained.

Using state-of-the-art machinery and technology, the company maintains high-quality production levels that meet the stringent requirements of customers across the GCC, USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, and Australia, it added.

In October 2022, an electric car manufacturing unit opened in Dubai Industrial City and, later in the month, NPCC broke ground on a new 40,000sqm fabrication yard in Saudi Arabia.

Ismail, Executive Director, AJ Steel commented, “The strategic location of AJ Steel in Abu Dhabi coupled with ongoing focus of UAE Government through initiatives like “Make it in the Emirates” have been major contributing factors towards our trusted reputation for high-quality and innovative products across key global markets.”

He concluded, “The agreement to expand our operations leverages the readiness of the land area available in KEZAD and will allow us to maximise the benefits of its fully integrated trade and logistics ecosystem to serve an even broader scope of consumers both in the UAE and the wider region.”

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Swedish manufacturer Engcon has introduced its third generation tiltrotator system for the Doosan DX225LC-7X series of excavators.

According to the company, which also specialises in quick hitches and accessories for excavators, the Engcon Ready option is the result of ongoing collaboration between Doosan and Engcon, with the aim to provide an integrated solution between the tiltrotator control system, and the machine with all its onboard functions and features.

The Doosan DX225LC-7X is a fully electro-hydraulic excavator with factory provided 2D machine control and the latest Doosan technology. As part of this technology, the machine is Engcon Ready which allows it to be equipped with Engcon’s MIG2 Grips and 3rd generation of control system, DC3.

In late October 2022, Doosan unveiled its ‘all-in-one platform’ for smart construction and, later in the month, Caterpillar said it had expanded its Tilt Rotate System range to work with mini excavators.

The Engcon Ready option has the components of the Engcon control system fully integrated as a part of the machine, enabling plug and play installations and so reducing installation times for Engcon products, the company explained.

The control system and machine controllers communicate over CAN (Controller Area Network), which allows for a multitude of data to be exchanged between the two systems at very high speeds.

“The deep integration allows Engcon and Doosan to create a better operator experience,” said Fredrik Eklind Control System Product Owner at Engcon.

In November 2022, Hidromek introduced its new earthmoving machinery series.

He added, “It allows the operator to get an overview and configure the functions of the MIG2 Grips directly in the Doosan machine display. The high accuracy Engcon Rotation and tilt sensors are also directly integrated with the Doosan semi-automatic machine control solution, weighing and assist features without the need for a third-party sensor installed in the attachment making it truly integrated with the machine.”

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Source: ME Construction News