Real estate brokerage Betterhomes has inked a deal with Emirates NBD Properties to acquire a full-floor of office space in the Control Tower building in Motor City, Dubai. The deal was facilitated by commercial advisory firm CRC Commercial Real Estate.

According to Betterhomes, the signing occurred at the location in the presence of Ryan Mahoney, CEO of Betterhomes and Ahmed Al Sheryani, CEO of Emirates NBD Properties.

“We wish Betterhomes continued success and extend our heartfelt congratulations on their most recent acquisition,” said Al Sheryani. Aida Turki and Khaled Ghazzawi emphasised the importance of the transaction to strengthen potential future endeavours for Emirates NBD Properties and Betterhomes.

In October 2022, Andrew Elliott was appointed to lead the new commercial division at Chestertons and, later in the month, Savills said it had made key appointments to its Saudi office.

The brokerage says its new office puts it in a prime position to deliver effective services to clients when it comes to buying, selling, and renting properties in Dubai’s villa communities.

Mahoney noted, “Motor City is becoming the service hub for the Al Qudra corridor, and since we have 225+ person team in the Control Tower, we felt that buying an office rather than renting made financial sense.”

In the last ten years, the Al Qudra road and Dubai land areas have expanded dramatically, with a population growth of 60% over the previous four years. In addition, one in every five enquiries at Betterhomes are for these areas, the firm said.

In early November 2022, CRC said Dubai’s commercial market reached an all time high in Q3.

The new office is said to symbolise Betterhomes’ commitment to the UAE and the real estate market’s stability, as the company continues strengthening its presence while creating long-term value for its partners and customers.

Despite the rise in popularity of working from home and hybrid work setups in recent years, the commercial office space market has seen strong growth. In Q3 2022, office transactions in Dubai increased by 41% and the transacted value increased by 56% compared to last year, Betterhomes explained.

Richard Waind, Group Managing Director of Betterhomes concluded, “Having an office to come to boosts agents’ morale and sets the tone for the day. It creates a structure that is vital to their success.”

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An all-terrain crane independently developed by XCMG is said to have set a new wind power hoisting record. XCMG said its XCA2600 all-terrain crane lifted and installed an 8.5MW wind turbine recently in the Changyi Wind Farm in Weifang, Shandong Province, setting the record for the hoist of the largest onshore wind power generator.

The XCA2600 is said to be the world’s first all-terrain crane to have a 10-axle chassis and has a lower crane body that can protect the equipment when it’s operating at wind power plants. This allows the crane to pass through safely when encountering low-altitude power lines.

Its compact body, coupled with a wider chassis and independent suspension system is also said to improve the crane’s safety and stability, the company noted.

In July 2022, XCMG said the world’s largest telescopic wind power-oriented crane had been exported to Europe and, in August 2022, it said it would release new electric products in its largest exhibition to date at Bauma 2022.

It is part of XCMG’s pioneering ‘super crane twin’ solution, which features two 2,600t mega cranes with different lifting capabilities that can switch freely between crawler base and mobile base.

“The rapid development of wind power technologies necessitates hoisting equipment that can lift heavier weights to higher heights, while guaranteeing transportation efficiency and safety, and as such XCMG is committed to developing the best super cranes to support the fast development of the global wind power industry and new energy development,” said Li Changqing, Technical Expert of XCMG.

The approach aims to provide efficient solutions for the installation of a super wind turbines and customise operations for different construction environment and application scenarios, the company concluded.

Late in August 2022, XCMG said it was the first Chinese equipment manufacturer to receive digital service certification.

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Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire Polymathian Industrial Mathematics, an Australia-based provider of advanced mine optimisation software and services.

According to a statement, Polymathian’s solutions for automated decision-making and process optimisation are expected to complement the offering of Deswik, the mine planning software company,  which Sandvik acquired in April 2022.

The acquired company will be reported in Digital Mining Technologies, a division within business area Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions (SMR).

In August 2022, Sandvik said it had won a $32mn order for battery-electric mining equipment and, in October 2022, Weir and STM Minerals said they would accelerate sustainable mining.

Polymathian’s product offering includes mining operations optimisation and simulation software for areas such as extraction process, material flow, energy & fuel consumption and maintenance efficiency.

“With the acquisition of Polymathian, we continue to broaden our offering to enhance productivity in our mining customers’ value chain. Polymathian’s automated decision-making and process optimisation, together with Deswik’s software tools for planning and managing production, represent a unique combination in the market,” says Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik.

The acquisition will enable Sandvik to further accelerate the development of its end-to-end optimisation, Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and AutoMine offerings, by leveraging Polymathian’s unique skillset and platform.

In November 2022, MB Crusher said it had introduced a new padding bucket for loaders and skid steers.

“Polymathian is a great addition to Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, and enables SMR to now have a unique digital portfolio that will help our customers to optimise their data driven operations across the value chain and ensure their mine design is fully compatible with technologies like AutoMine® and BEVs. I am very pleased to welcome Polymathian to the Group,” concluded Mats Eriksson, President of Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

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Developer Sobha Realty has announced a new residential development in Dubai. ‘Sobha One’ is said to comprise five interconnected towers offering waterfront views, and will feature elegantly designed one- to four-bedroom apartments and two- to four-bedroom duplexes.

The masterplan is said to boast upscale amenities including an 18-hole pitch and putt golf-course, clubhouse facilities, a polyclinic, mosque, F&B esplanade near the waterbody, small scale BBQ, relaxation and private party sky courts, themed courtyard interconnected on the sixth floor, as well as multiple sky terraces. Additional amenities will be available on the sixth floor, the developer noted.

“At Sobha Realty we believe in creating unique experiences and Sobha One embodies our values to offer the highest standards of living for all our customers. The project is being developed with keen eye for detail to meet the needs of all our residents, and we strive to imbibe the principles of finesse and form. Our goal is to raise the benchmark of the real estate industry and provide a living experience like none other,” said P.N.C. Menon, Founder and Chairman of Sobha Group.

In May 2022, PNC Menon, Chairman of Sobha Realty, spoke to Gavin Davids about why his firm is increasing its sales targets for the year and, in October 2022, the developer said it completed its residential tower two months earlier than planned.

He added, “Dubai has been attracting a plethora of investors through its lucrative real estate offers and has positioned itself as one of the most modern and progressive markets for luxury properties. We have been making conscious efforts to contribute to the sector in Dubai, along with meeting the increasing needs of customers.”

The new development is said to be strategically located in proximity to major attractions and destinations in Dubai. It also faces Ras Al Khor sanctuary and offers exceptional vistas of the Creek, the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai, the developer said.

Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Realty concluded, “The Sobha One project reflects our dedication to adhere to the highest quality standards, and we strive to provide our customers with excellence. With an innovative and modern approach, our new project offers a reimagined lifestyle, and is a perfect example of our efforts to meet the increasing needs of the real estate market. We expect that Sobha One will be one of the most-preferred residence options to local, as well as global investors, and we commit to continue developing even more high-quality residences for our customers.”

Later in October 2022, the developer launched its first signature residential tower project in Dubai.

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Several key construction stakeholders responsible for transforming Saudi Arabia in line with Saudi Vision 2030 have confirmed their participation at Big Project Middle East’s forthcoming Construction Intel Summit KSA. Red Sea Global (RSG), Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and many other local and global construction players have confirmed their intent to discuss their progress, requirements and challenges at the construction event, which will take place on 23 November 2022 at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. The event opens at 9am.

The summit will feature high-level panel discussions, keynote speeches and detailed presentations to communicate the views of industry experts and change-leaders, and is centered around three key themes: Visionary Designs: Design Considerations and Procurement Strategies to achieve Vision 2030; Project Interfaces: Integrating Multiple Contract Packages and Sequencing Workflows on the Kingdom’s gigaprojects, and Enabling Saudisation: Providing pathways of growth and development to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning talent pool of Saudi construction professionals.

Focusing on the construction, real estate, and infrastructure sectors, the summit will bring together  experts, decision-makers and innovators from the contracting, consultancy, developer, and government segments of those industries. Registration is complementary but mandatory for construction professionals wishing to attend.

“I’m extremely happy with the response to the Construction Intel Summit KSA thus far. Significant players from the built environment including Red Sea Global, DGDA, AECOM, Compass, Faithful+Gould, KEO, JLL and many others will be joining us on the day, we have had in excess of 370 professionals express their interest in attending, and we have seen the summit covered by news outlets in the Kingdom including the Saudi Gazette,” said Gavin Davids, Head of Editorial and Content at Big Project Middle East.

Davids notes that the Kingdom is being eyed by many major international developers, consultants, contractors, finance specialists, and suppliers but notes that a robust and self-sufficient industry already exists in the country.

In Q3 2019, Linesight said that the Kingdom holds the greatest potential for the GCC construction sector and, more recently, Knight Frank said that since the launch of Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Plan in 2016, the total value of real estate and infrastructure projects has crossed US $1.1tn.

Davids adds, “Given the incredible scale of some of the projects and the sheer number of them taking place simultaneously in the Kingdom, there is serious demand for resources and labour – the question about whether the Kingdom’s supply chain can cope with the demands being placed upon it by the many gigaprojects is one that needs to be answered.”

In line with the demand for resources and talent in the Kingdom, the country has invested significantly into strengthening its supply chain. In September 2022 alone, JO Steel Holdings said it had secured $692mn in credit to set up steel plant in Saudi Arabia and, shortly after that, Saudi authorities said the Kingdom would build iron and steel projects worth $9.31bn.

Consultants and contractors have also taken steps to boost their presence in the Kingdom with the opening of new offices and onboarding of talent. In recent months, AECOM and Alstom have opened new offices in the Kingdom, while others firms such as ALEC, CBRE, JLL and others have appointed new senior resources in the Kingdom.

Late in November, Saudi Arabia’s PIF and BlackRock signed a MoU to jointly explore Middle East infrastructure projects.

“The summit will shed a light on progress in the Kingdom, how current concerns are being addressed, and how the sector needs to adapt and challenge itself to overcome obstacles. Work is already well underway on a number of large-scale projects, and I look forward to seeing them take shape in the coming months and years,” Davids concluded.

To read about the agenda for the Construction Intel Summit KSA, click here. To attend the event, click here to register.

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18 new schools and 24 academic buildings for students will be built across Bahrain’s four governorates by 2030. The project is estimated to cost approximately US $312mn.

Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi revealed that designs for the new environmental-friendly educational complexes have been completed in co-ordination with the Works Ministry, according to a report by Gulf Daily News.

“The new schools will cover new areas and will increase existing school capacity. All of the 42 projects will be environmental-friendly and specifications are already in place. They include plans for natural lighting and new technologies for energy-saving lights and eliminating light pollution,” said Al Nuaimi.

In September 2022, Diyar Al Muharraq said it had completed secondary infrastructure works at Mozoon and, in early November 2022, Bahrain said it would launch tenders for construction of its metro project by Q1 2023.

As per the report, the Capital Governorate will see two schools and nine academic buildings constructed; the Muharraq Governorate will have five schools and seven academic buildings; the Southern Governorate will have three schools and four academic buildings, while the Northern Governo-rate will have eight schools and four academic buildings.

He said earlier that the new primary schools would be constructed on an area of 150,000sqm, mix primary intermediate schools on 180,000sqm, intermediate on 160,000sqm, mix-intermediate secondary on 20,000sqm and technical schools on 40,000sqm.

Construction work will also take into account anticipated future vertical or horizontal expansions, the report concluded.

In mid-November 2022, Four Seasons and Bayside Developments launched the Four Seasons Private Residences Bahrain Bay.

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French mobility giant Alstom has signed a framework agreement with Egypt’s National Authority of Tunnels (NAT) to design, build, and maintain Line 6 of the Cairo Metro.

In a statement issued at the COP27 Summit, Alstom said the 35km-long line will be the first driverless metro in Africa and will accommodate around half a million passengers. The line will run north to south through the Greater Cairo neighbourhoods of Shubra El-Kheima and New Maadi, ending at the beginning of Ain El-Sokhna Road, Al-Khosos. It will include 27 stations, with 12 of them underground.

The creation of Cairo Metro Line 6 will reduce the congestion on Cairo Metro Line 1 and provide more options to residents moving across Cairo, Alstom noted.

In January 2021, it was announced that the Cairo Metro Line III had reached the 49% completion mark and, October 2022, Alstom opened a new regional office in Riyadh.

“In 2019, the city’s CO2 emissions due to transport was around 22m tonnes of CO2 representing 40% of Egypt’s total transport emissions. The agreement demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to ensuring Cairo is an inclusive, safe, and resilient city,” said Andrew DeLeone, President of Alstom in Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia.

Alstom will provide the rolling stock and 294 metropolis cars. It will also supply signalling systems, telecom systems, traction, power supply, high voltage substation, depot equipment, depot design, trackwork, third rail and automatic fare collection, it added.

In addition, the French firm will be responsible for the maintenance work on Cairo Line 6, which will be carried out at the depot in Cairo and managed locally.

In early November 2022, Bahrain said it would launch a tender for the construction of its metro project by Q1 2023.

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Oshkosh Corp has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Italian manufacturer Hinowa S.p.A, the company has announced.

Hinowa specialises in track-based aerial work platforms, mini dumpers, lift trucks and undercarriages. It has produced JLG compact crawler boom lifts since 2010, including electric, hybrid and diesel-powered models, and is well-known for its advanced track designs and being an early adopter in lithium-ion battery technology, Oshkosh noted.

“We look forward to welcoming the Hinowa team into the Oshkosh family,” said John Pfeifer, Oshkosh Corporation’s President and CEO. “This acquisition will accelerate our electrification capabilities and provide growth opportunities across core and adjacent markets.”

In early October 2022, ACCIONA said it would cut direct emissions through the acquisition of electrical machinery via a decarbonisation fund and, later in the month, Hinowa showcased the upgraded second-generation versions of JLG’s 45 and 52ft electric articulated boom lifts at Bauma 2022.

Dante Fracca, Founder and Owner of Hinowa added, “We are pleased to join Oshkosh Corporation. Our successful 12-year relationship with JLG, along with shared core values around culture, safety, productivity and sustainability position us well for the future.”

Hinowa was founded in 1987 in Nogara, Italy and today has a 250,000sqft manufacturing facility and a 50,000sqft parts facility with nearly 230 team members. Once complete, Hinowa will become part of the Oshkosh Access Equipment segment. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close within 90-days.

In September 2022, Johnson Arabia said it had enhanced its fleet with a wide range of new battery-powered equipment.

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Abu Dhabi Maritime (ADM) and AD Ports Group (ADP) have launched a new Public Water Taxi service within the greater Yas Bay and Raha Beach community, in collaboration with Miral.

According to a statement from ADM, the service will enhance connectivity between a number of Abu Dhabi’s waterfront attractions, while offering an alternative transport option for the public. It will initially operate across high-demand locations including Yas Bay, Yas Marina and Al Bandar with further stops to follow.

“We are working closely with AD Ports Group as part of our collaboration with Abu Dhabi Maritime to provide advanced services that will boost the emirate’s connectivity making access to high-demand destinations even easier for Abu Dhabi residents and tourists. The new Public Water Taxi service underscores our efforts and commitment to developing state-of-the-art maritime services needed to support Abu Dhabi’s global position as one of the best destinations to live, work and visit,” said H.E. Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, Director General of Operational Affairs, Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT).

In June 2022, WSP & Red Sea Global said that were looking at decarbonised mobility solutions for The Red Sea Project.

The service will be open seven days a week following scheduled timings which ensure vessel availability at each stop every hour, said ADM, which was established by the DMT.

Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral remarked, “Our partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime for the launch of the Public Water Taxi Service reiterates our commitment towards further positioning Yas Island as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure. With enhanced connectivity, residents and visitors will have the opportunity to navigate, explore and enjoy the island’s world-class offerings and landmarks.”

He continued, “The launch of the service comes after the success of the Water Shuttle Pilot Programme earlier this year, as part of Miral’s plans to enhance resident and visitor experiences on the island, by offering a robust marine transport system for anyone seeking to travel through the iconic Yas Bay Waterfront.”

In September 2022, AD Ports Group said it had installed the first block for the quay wall of the new terminal at Khalifa Port.

While supporting a sustainable public transport offering, the new service will provide a scenic connection with the Al Raha community and will allow tourists to discover Yas Island’s increasingly popular waterfront attractions including the highly anticipated F1 2022 season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit. Supporting the event for the first time, Abu Dhabi Maritime through the Public Water Taxi will provide a novel transport option for spectators to and from the event, the statement noted.

Captain Saif Al Mheiri, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Maritime stated, “The launch of Public Water Taxi services within the greater Yas Bay and Raha Beach areas represents a key moment in our long-term strategy to develop a world-class Public Water Transport system in Abu Dhabi that enhances connectivity, promotes tourism and increases the emirate’s reputation as a leading maritime destination.”

“We look forward to offering a new and unique travel experience for the public across Abu Dhabi’s waterways through the new service, and to advancing a multi-modal integrated transportation system in the emirate,” he elaborated.

In October 2022, the Department of Municipalities and Transport unveiled the Abu Dhabi Digital Twin project.

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