Road transport accounts for more than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions according to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) declarations and action plans called for a new normal by 2030 of making zero emissions vehicles “accessible, affordable and sustainable” globally.

GCC countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar have invested heavily in their transport networks in the past decade, but there can be no denying that for internal travel, all countries are still heavily reliant on fossil fuel-based car ownership and use, as well as road-based freight. Among other reasons, this is due to the rapid growth of cities and communities that have been designed around the car.

To help the region achieve its Net Zero targets, the SNC-Lavalin Group, including Atkins and Faithful+Gould, have published the ‘Engineering Net Zero in the GCC’ report that highlights challenges, opportunities, and recommendations to decarbonize the built environment, energy, and transport sectors.

Public transport

Dubai’s metro opened in 2009, Doha’s in 2019 and Riyadh’s will begin operating shortly. In addition, buses have seen improvements in scale and quality in recent years and may become more important for short distance journeys, supported by walking, cycling and micromobility.

In terms of rail, Saudi Arabia has the most extensive rail network in the GCC, offering freight and passenger services across three lines. The longest at 2,800km is the Northern Train Network, running from Riyadh to Jordan. Within the UAE, the Etihad Rail element of the GCC network will stretch across 1,200km and run to the borders of Saudi Arabia and Oman. Once construction has been completed, the GCC Rail Network will connect major cities across all six GCC countries and taking a large number of heavy goods vehicles off the roads.

More public transport is needed to meet decarbonisation plans within the various Net Zero national strategies. Significant investment is required to extend current lines, routes and interconnections that allow for longer journeys and residential communities need to be better served if car use and ownership is to be reduced.

First and last mile connectivity must also be improved to make it easier to access the public transport network. Plans for national passenger and freight rail need to be extended, whether conventional, high-speed or new technologies such as Hyperloop or Maglev; as long as they are electrified, and that power comes from clean energy sources.

Electric and hydrogen vehicles

Many GCC communities have developed or expanded around road infrastructure. Getting people to shift en-masse to public transport would be a significant task that is unlikely to be appropriate within the region, at least in the short term. If people will not abandon their cars, then the region needs a policy of electrification, be that Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs).

Electric Vehicles (EVs) use is increasing. In May 2021, 3,100 EVs and 9,300 hybrid cars were registered in Dubai alone and the UAE wants 42,000 EVs on its roads by 2030. Dubai’s commitment to electric cars has gained momentum through the recent opening of a EV manufacturing facility in Dubai Industrial City with manufacturing capacity of 10,000 cars annually and the government agencies having converted 20% of automobile fleet to EVs. 3% of car sales in Saudi Arabia were for hybrid and EVs in 2020, and the government has stated that by 2030, 30% of cars in Riyadh will be electric.

However, adoption of EVs alone will not decarbonise the region’s transport infrastructure. They take the same space as petrol and diesel cars and must be able to cope with the region’s high summer temperatures when car users are reliant on battery-draining air conditioning to cool their vehicles. To meaningfully decarbonise transport, charging points must be expanded and powered by renewable energy sources. This again, proves the critical link between energy and transportation.

Aviation

Around the Gulf, airports are being built, expanded or upgraded to attract more passengers or freight business. Dubai remains the busiest international airport in the world, having successfully built a world-leading aviation hub and air fleet in the past decade.

In 2019, it had more than 85m passengers through the airport and handled around 2.5m tonnes of freight. These major aviation hubs add pressure to government Net Zero strategies, as aviation levels return to pre-pandemic levels. For instance, Dubai’s 2021 passenger numbers were 29m, although freight was in line with previous years, at 2.3m tonnes. For 2022, Dubai estimates it will have 55m people travel through its airport.

Due to the complexity of the aviation sector, it will likely decarbonise later than other transport modes. Regulatory and policy frameworks at global and regional levels need to be established to drive the development of sustainable aviation fuels (including hydrogen), and this will require collaboration across the whole sector.

Key to minimising the carbon footprint for airports is to focus firstly on greater energy efficiency within buildings, followed by usage of low carbon/Net Zero energy. Through smart building technologies, airport operators can manage demand and optimise technical infrastructure to drive savings in energy usage. Decarbonising airport vehicle fleets, as well as making staff commuting and passenger access trips more sustainable, are other areas to be tackled.

In conclusion, changing long-held behavior towards land-based mobility will be challenging, and require a combination of awareness and policies. An appropriate future approach that can be taken is that of Avoid, Shift and Improve, which offers a useful way forward for key public agencies and private sector stakeholders to integrate planning and action across the value chain.

The first two options focus on behavioral change – getting people to think differently about how they travel or access transport services. A broader perspective is required that ensures the long-term planning of a functional, integrated transport strategy, including balancing supply-based approaches with the management of demand, as well as user attitudes and behavior.

Read more:

• SNC-Lavalin launches ‘Engineering Net Zero in the GCC’ report to help region achieve its net zero carbon targets
• The race to Net Zero in the GCC
• Surpassing Net Zero on the table for Sharjah Sustainable City
• “This report tells us in cold scientific terms what nature has been telling us, all year: we have to stop filling our atmosphere with GHGs”

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Source: ME Construction News

Middle East Consultant (MEC) has announced that it has extended the deadline for nominations for the 2022 Middle East Consultant Awards (MEC Awards) to 18 November 2022. While the nominations deadline has been extended, the awards gala will take place – as previously planned – on 7 December 2022 in Dubai at The Ritz-Carlton JBR, the editorial team confirmed.

The eight annual edition of the consultant focused awards event will again honor the region’s top firms, individuals and projects. 25 awards are up for grabs across diverse categories including: Architectural Company of the Year; Cost Consulting Company of the Year; Company of the Year; Dispute Resolution Champion of the Year; Gender & Ethical Employment Champion of the Year, and many others. See all the categories here.

Discussing the reasoning behind the date extension with Middle East Construction News (MECN), Paul Godfrey, Editor of Middle East Consultant stated, “There is no doubt that the MEC Awards gather momentum every year, and a key feature here is not only the sheer volume of entries, but the steadily increasing quality. In order to submit the best possible nominations, many leading companies asked for a little more time, and – in fairness to the sector – we decided to extend the deadline to 18 November. Please note, though, that there cannot be any further extensions beyond this point.”

As before, there is no cost to submit nominations for the 2022 Middle East Consultant Awards, however nominations must be made through the awards’ dedicated website. Companies whose nominations make the judges’ shortlist will be contacted by MEC’s commercial team to discuss attendance to the gala dinner.

Re-emphasising what companies should do to stand out during the judging process, Godfrey remarks, “Companies must follow the nomination instructions closely and beyond this, there are three factors that entrants should focus on to produce an effective nomination. First, they must focus on work that has been under way for at least six months, and they should try to include as many client testimonials as possible. Ideally, these should each be signed and stamped. Lastly, it’s vital to attach as much descriptive information as possible – conceptual drawings, a narrative clearly outlining the purpose and context of the project; and photographs of work to date.”

As far as what companies should avoid doing so their nomination is not immediately disqualified by the event’s panel of judges, Godfrey responds, “There are several key protocols; firstly, please don’t include an old project completed prior to one calendar year ago; don’t submit an incomplete project outline with only a few lines of explanation, and most importantly of all, truthfully describe the extent of the work you are responsible for – if you exaggerate, you can and will be found out.”

Read about who made the shortlist at the 2021 Middle East Consultant Awards here, whilst the victorious few can be read about here.

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Source: ME Construction News

CRC (Commercial Real Estate Consultants) has announced that the commercial market in Dubai reached an all-time high in Q3 2022. In a report on the quarter, the firm said this result was driven by existing businesses relocating to more prestigious sites, in addition to a significant number of new company licenses being issued in the emirate.

Government initiatives to boost the economy with the possibility of maintaining full ownership of a company without needing to have a local partner has led to a remarkable rise in international investment, the firm added.

Discussing the quarter, the firm said that Dubai Land Department (DLD) data on commercial real estate in Dubai had a sharp rise in overall sales transactions by 28%, with a 66% increase in the total value transacted compared to last year. In addition, Dubai experienced retail growth that was previously unheard of, with retail transactions up by 133% and transacted value up by 184%. The latter is said to be the result of prominent retailers such as Brands for Less (BFL), Forever 21, and LuLu opening additional locations to serve a wider spectrum of customers.

In June 2022, the firm said that it saw a surge in Grade A commercial real estate in May 2022.

With 254 commercial units sold, Business Bay remained the most popular area in Q3 according to DLD data. Areas such as International City, Dubai Marina and Mohammed Bin Rashid City were also top choices for many large and medium companies to launch and expand their retail footprint in Dubai, the report revealed.

CRC said it has observed overall buyer leads increase by 38% and demand for office spaces rise by 21% compared to Q3 2021. The firm said this is a clear indication of a stronger business environment in the UAE.

Government decisions, laws and initiatives have enabled businesses to resume work at full capacity, leading to offices, retail, and warehouses witnessing a notable growth in sales by 25% overall compared to Q3 2021, the firm stated.

In October 2022, Knight Frank predicted that Qatar’s hospitality sector would grow by 89% by 2025.

At CRC, the top communities transacted for offices were Jumeirah Lake Tower, Business Bay and Barsha Heights. It added that leasing transactions increased overall by 3%, and the top communities for retail leasing transactions were Majan, Dubai Marina and Arjan, with higher demand recorded in Al Quoz, DIP, and Jebel Ali.

Discussing key sectors in the report, CRC said that the information technology (IT) sector topped Dubai’s commercial leasing market. It stated that US-based Intel will open its first artificial intelligence R&D facility at Dubai Internet City (DIC), which highlights the emirate’s desirability as a major location in the GCC for establishing innovation centres.

The F&B and hospitality sectors were also listed among the top business types that showed exponential growth in Dubai during the quarter. In addition, numerous foreign businesses, including Meta, Optimizely, Rapyd, Folkart, Teneo, Directimo, and Pedersen & Partners, opened their operations following EXPO 2020 Dubai to serve a significant regional market, the report explained.

In early November 2022, Sharjah amended its real estate transfer and ownership laws.

In the upcoming quarters, CRC anticipates a continuous rise in sale and leasing transactions with further price growth as a result of increased demand for commercial properties in Dubai.

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Source: ME Construction News

Digital solutions provider Topcon Positioning Systems has unveiled MC-Mobile, a new 3-in-1 solution that brings machine control to small earth moving projects and compact equipment such as mini-excavators.

Through local positioning system (LPS) functionality, layout can be accomplished with the LN-150 tool for positioning information, a prism and tablet. MC-Mobile allows contractors to move from layout, to design, to the machine utilising the same hardware and software solutions.

It also provides the ability to self-perform construction layout, create designs in the field and build to exact specifications and accuracies.

In April 2020, Topcon’s Carsten Frantzen said that machine automation that can provide on-site real-time data, speed up construction and reduce costs will significantly lower project challenges.

“Measurement, design and building with machine control guidance can be accomplished with one system by taking the same tablet display used for measuring, placing it in the cab of the machine, and having a visual to deliver results with unparalleled accuracy. This helps contractors be more productive, reducing labor, time, and rework, and therefore increasing profits,” said Ulrich Hermanski, CMO and Executive Vice President for Topcon Positioning Systems.

MC-Mobile was presented at Bauma 2022 alongside two new solutions for paving, the Virtual Ski solution for 3D cold milling machines, and an LPS solution for urban environments and bridge decks.

Both of these solutions are expected to complement the existing road building and paving system offerings for applications such as asphalt, concrete and curb and gutter work, as well as software and web-based services to assist with site management and logistics for projects and fleets.

In June 2021, Topcon said its robotic-based solutions can enhance curb and gutter paving performance and, in October 2022, Caterpillar expanded its Tilt Rotate System range to work with mini excavators.

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Source: ME Construction News

Saudi-based ACWA Power has announced the financial close for the Shuaibah 3 independent water project (IWP), with a total investment of US $821mn. The company said the project is a joint venture (JV) between itself (with a 68% equity stake) and Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel).

The project involves the development, financing, design, engineering, procurement, manufacture, factory testing, transportation, construction, erection, installation, completion, testing, commissioning, insurance, ownership, operation and maintenance of desalination, the statement said.

It added that the JV will complete the development, financing, design, engineering, construction, procurement, testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance of the project, under a 25-year off-take contract with Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).

In June 2022, ACWA Power signed a $1.15bn deal to develop one of the largest windfarms in the world and, in August 2022, Doosan Enerbility won an EPC contract for the Shuaibah 3 IWP.

Once complete, Shuaibah 3 IWP, located 110-kilometres south of Jeddah, will become the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination facility.

The financial close for the $632mn senior debt facilities was arranged on a non-recourse project finance basis from a consortium of financiers. These comprised of: Standard Chartered Bank, MUFG, ADIB, SNB, BOC, SAIB, ICBC, KDB and Warba Bank. In addition, the JV secured Equity Bridge Loan facilities of $189mn from SABB and Riyad bank, the statement outlined.

ACWA Power added that it achieved the Shuaibah 3 IWPP financial close for the refinancing of the existing senior facility denominated in US dollar and Saudi Riyal, the proceeds of which would be utilised by Shuaibah Water and Electricity Company (SWEC) for varied financial commitments, including the prepayment of its existing senior debt facility, financing expenses and for tax purposes. ACWA Power holds a 30% effective equity stake in SWEC, it stated.

In early October 2022, ACWA Power signed MoUs to develop SWRO and CCGT plants in Senegal and, later in the month, DEWA said its Jebel Ali complex won a Guinness World Record title.

SWEC has successfully replaced both dollar and riyal tranches of existing outstanding senior debt ($415mn) and (SR285mn) respectively, with $420mn and SR285mn facilities respectively, repayable semi-annually with the final instalment to be paid in January 2026.

The financial close for the $497mn senior debt facility arranged on a non-recourse project finance basis was from a consortium of financiers comprising Société Generali, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Fransi Bank and ADCB.

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Source: ME Construction News

JLL has outlined simple, rapid changes that can be made in Egypt, so that it can start its the journey towards Net Zero buildings and combat climate change. In a white paper titled ‘Egypt’s Road to Decarbonisation’, the firm looked at the decarbonisation of the built environment and examined ways in which Egypt can win its climate battle.

The report includes a real estate perspective on climate change and the critical role of transparency for decarbonisation; the power of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in tackling climate change; and the importance of closing the funding gap with climate financing and green bonds.

“It is important for Egypt, alongside other nations, to review the plans and actions of the most climate-progressive cities we identified in our recent Global Real Estate Transparency Index, and follow their path in implementing and mandating suitable, climate-friendly real estate regulations, while aligning with international property measurement standards,” said Ayman Sami, Country Head Egypt at JLL.

In August 2022, South Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power won a $2.2bn contract from Russia’s Rosatom to build a nuclear plant in Egypt.

“This could eventually lead to the country committing to a Net Zero goal and the development of a plan to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions across new and existing stock, including establishing a national retrofitting program.”

Egypt will be hosting the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh between 6-18 November. The country has emphasised the coming global climate summit will be specifically important, as it will be the year of ‘implementation’ and ‘unlocking climate finance’. COP 27 will also be an opportunity for Egypt to represent the entire African continent and voice all its financial and technological needs to the world.

Sami added, “More governments are becoming aware of the drastic effects of buildings’ carbon emissions on the climate and are starting to mandate energy efficiency and emissions standards for buildings, as well as adopting green building certificates. For Egypt, it’s an opportunity to encourage investors, landlords and occupiers to develop a greener mentality and take their own initiatives to act quickly, without waiting for regulatory measures to kick-in – given the urgency of the climate emergency.”

In early September 2022, Egypt’s Archplan Developments said the region’s first urban forest project reached the 60% completion mark.

Research suggests that now, especially as the host of COP 27, Egypt can drive simple, rapid and effective actions in the real estate sector, such as (retrofitting) LED lighting and installing photo voltaic solar panels – which drastically reduce emissions from electricity, he pointed out.

Over the years, Egypt has made great progress to strengthen its position as an advocate for green financing, most notably with its first sovereign green bond in the Middle East and North Africa (worth US $750mn) issued in September 2020 to finance its climate action plan and achieve its sustainability goals and ambitions.

However, proceeds from the debt sale will be used to finance or re-finance green projects in the transportation sector (46% of proceeds have been allocated for the Cairo monorail), as well as clean water and wastewater management (54% has been dedicated to this sector), with no funding plans relating to buildings.

In early October 2022, Bloom Holding expanded its educational portfolio into Egypt via a joint venture agreement.

Egypt has stated that it requires $250mn to install energy efficient cooling in buildings, and an additional $345mn to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in hotels and resorts. The government has also stressed that without the complete support from developed countries, it will not be able to allocate the right financial, technological, and human resources to fulfill the emission reduction pledges of the Paris Agreement.

According to the Climate Action Tracker (CAT), Egypt will only be able to meet its Paris Agreement temperature goals by 2030 if it reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 25% from current levels. Egypt’s recently updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goal remains conditional on receiving funding to the tune of $246bn for its mitigation ($196bn) and adaptation ($50bn) plans.

In addition to Egypt’s enhanced goals and ambitions to address climate change, the whitepaper also highlighted the need for enhancement to achieve its Paris Agreement pledges. The country could further strengthen the enforcement of its existing laws, establish a long-term Net Zero carbon goal and join other nations in mitigating climate change, while keeping in mind the built environment’s role in the mitigation process as it is a major contributor to global carbon emissions.

Late in October 2022, Orascom Construction said it added $670mn to its backlog in Q3 2022.

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Source: ME Construction News

Project development firm, Compass, has appointed Mathew Lamont as Regional Director of Project Management for the group. Lamont officially took the reins on 1 November 2022, the firm said.

Lamont’s appointment is said to highlight Compass’ strategic drive to reinforce its unique offering as the Middle East’s leading project development consultancy, facilitating agile, transformative, and tailored project solutions for its clients via the region’s brightest talent.

The group currently employs a team of around 130 people and operates globally from its offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as multiple remote site-based operations. Compass entered into a strategic partnership with Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan in December 2021.

In January 2022, the consultancy appointed a new CEO and, in February 2022, the firm was announced as the winner in the ‘Project Management Company of the Year’ category at the 2021 Middle East Consultant Awards.

Lamont is said to be an experienced leader with over 24 years of operational and project management specialisation. Compass said his construction delivery proficiency coupled with his multi-sector experience spans the United Kingdom, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, where he recently led infrastructure projects for Emirati Neighbourhoods in Zayed City and Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi, alongside a range of mega projects and programmes.

“What an exciting time to be joining a company that is on a significant growth trajectory. Their commitment to continuous improvement, to disciplined processes, and their agility to make decisive moves that ultimately help clients deliver projects more effectively, were all immediate positives for me. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to help shape the future of a company with such a unique history – it is a huge privilege to be working alongside the team to expand the project management business in the UAE and across the Middle East,” said Lamont.

As an active Global Working Group Member (Policy and Affairs) with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Mathew is kept steps ahead in best in business competence, professionalism, and practice of building and construction for the benefit of society. This ensures that clients and other professionals procuring built assets can rest assured that Mathew has the knowledge and experience necessary to deliver the high-quality projects they need, the firm pointed out.

In May 2022, Rachel Willacy joined the firm as its Head of Procurement and, in July 2022, it announced a partnership with technology provider Mastt.

Mathew is passionate about building successful teams and bringing people together to achieve their goals. His proven track record as a respected mentor, giving a voice to all whilst encouraging progressive career growth opportunities, aligns seamlessly with Compass’ core values and mission, the firm added.

William Hitch, Regional Director and Compass Co-Founder concluded, ‘’Mathew’s appointment marks an exciting period of development for our business. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team, and we’re confident his attitude and robust pedigree in project management and construction will perfectly complement our own homegrown success story and growing reputation. His background – working for some of the most well-respected companies in the world – means he has both a strong work ethic, and a wealth of experience under his belt, so we know he’ll be able to hit the ground running and continue building on Compass’ reputation of excellence for many years to come.’’

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Source: ME Construction News

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has invited bids from leading global companies to provide technical consultancy services for the development of the Ibri III solar independent power project (IPP).

In its tender notification, OPWP said that it aims to initiate the process of procuring additional solar projects connected to MIS with a capacity of 500MW. It said that it expects to launch the Ibri III project’s commercial operations by Q4 2026.

It added that the last date for submitting bids has been set at 7 December 2022. Winning bidders will be required to provide advice on the competitive tendering of the project, in addition to technical consultancy for the project’s development, it explained.

In March 2020, Oman’s largest PV solar plant achieved financial close and, in April 2020, an Acwa Power-led consortium announced it had reached a deal on a 500MW IPP in Oman.

In January of this year, a consortium led by ACWA Power inaugurated the 500MW Ibri II solar independent power project in Oman, in partnership with OPWP. Located in the Ad-Dhahirah Governorate, Ibri II was built with a US $417mn investment and developed on a build-own-operate basis.

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) is responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient electricity and water production capacity available at the lowest cost to meet the growing demands in the Sultanate of Oman.

It is a member of Nama Group and it is the single buyer of power and water for all IPP/IWPP projects within the Sultanate of Oman.

In July 2020, OPWP issued RFPs for two 500MW IPP solar projects.

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Source: ME Construction News

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and Bishkek City have signed a twinning agreement to strengthen cooperation between the two cities and further enhance the friendly relations between the UAE and Kyrgyzistan.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and Emilbek Abdykadyrov, Mayor of Bishkek City.

The agreement was signed in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kyrgyzistan.

In early July 2022, the DMT revealed redevelopment plans for Al Bateen Ladies Beach and, later in the month, it was announced that the Abu Dhabi real estate market saw over $6bn in transactions in H1, 2022.

As part of the city twinning agreement, the two capital cities will enable mutual exchange between delegations and business community members to develop trade, economic, scientific, cultural, sporting and other ties. The agreement will also facilitate exchange of knowledge in urban planning and explore the feasibility of joint venture projects.

“The agreement will enhance friendly bilateral relations between our nations, and the exchange of experiences between our two municipalities will be facilitated. Furthermore, the agreement will be a helpful tool for promoting cross-cultural exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Bishkek in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism,” concluded Al Ahbabi.

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

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Source: ME Construction News

The newly rebranded third edition of Construction Machinery Middle East (CMME)’s popular Access & Handling Summit – ‘finding smarter ways to work at height’, will take place in Dubai on 23 February 2023, the magazine’s editorial team has announced.

In an expanded form of the original, the event aims to provide a platform for work-at-height customers in facility management, oil and gas, and construction, to engage in dialogue with equipment manufacturers and operators across a variety of key topics.

The event will feature a number of panel discussions and presentations and will kick off at 9am on the day. Registration is complementary for professionals from the access and handling, crane, construction, facilities management, oil and gas, power, transport, and equipment rental sectors.

Discussing the reason behind expanding the event’s outreach, Mark Dowdall, Editor of Construction Machinery Middle East explained, “One of the things we realised was that working at height involves such a wide scope of critical tasks that it should not just be confined to one particular segment or sector. We are increasingly seeing smarter ways of working at height in facility management, oil & gas and construction alike, and I believe there is a lot that can be learned by sharing these innovations in the right forum.”

He added, “In addition to machine enhancements, advances in technology do not just mean fleet operators are better equipped to manage large, diverse fleets of access equipment but it has allowed operators find new ways to tackle work-at-height challenges. The event will offer the opportunity to explore these changes and delve into other challenges being faced by manufacturers, rental companies, fleet managers and operators including safety and training.”

The first panel discussion of the day will focus on how technology is changing mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) management and work-at-height practices across key sectors in the Middle East, while the second will centre on training regional machinery operators. As with previous editions of the event, there will be outdoor machinery demonstrations, as well as several opportunities to network. Read the full agenda here.

The work-at-height market has been impacted by several trends in the last couple of years and has seen players in the sector evolving to keep pace. Commenting on some of the trends he’s observed in the market in 2022, Dowdall notes, “Over the last several months alternative power sources such as lithium batteries and hydrogen technology have continued to develop, making these further viable alternatives to diesel engines on job sites.”

Earlier in the year, Construction Machinery Middle East unveiled its dedicated website, which focuses on key topics across a multitude of sectors, and news products.

“When it comes to aerial work platforms (AWPs), more models of this type have been added in the region with companies increasingly considering the total cost of ownership (TCO) before making a purchase. Some local municipalities have also started to specify electric machines only, so this is encouraging the electric machine change further.”

Dowdall believes that dialogue amongst stakeholders is vital for every player in the market to keep abreast of changes and keep pace with them. He notes, “Whether it’s training operators or increasing the maximum lifespan of the machine, doing these things effectively means having open forums of dialogue between all the different stakeholders. This conference aims to provide just that.”

Sharing his thoughts on the one key takeaway he hopes delegates will leave the summit with, Dowdall concludes, “I hope through this forum delegates not only get an insight into what’s happening on the ground level in these key sectors of facility management, oil & gas and construction but that they can walk away better equipped to deal with their own unique challenges.”

Read more about the Summit here.

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Source: ME Construction News