DMCC, the Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority for commodities trade and enterprise, has announced that all of the office space at its Uptown Tower development has been fully pre-leased ahead of the tower’s construction completion later this year.

In a statement, DMCC said that more than 495,000sqft of Grade A office space across 22 floors has been pre-leased, as DMCC expands its footprint in Dubai to accommodate its fast-growing roster of over 21,000 member companies.

Anchor tenants of Uptown Tower include Litasco Middle East, HIKVision and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), amongst others, all of which have chosen DMCC as the location for their regional headquarters. Uptown Tower will also be home to DMCC’s new Corporate Headquarters and a state-of-the-art business centre, the statement added.

In September 2021, Empower said it had begun supplying district cooling services to Uptown Tower.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: “Reinforced by a range of leading global businesses selecting Uptown Tower as the base for their Middle East and international operations, pre-leasing 100% of Uptown Tower’s office space ahead of the completion is yet another testament to investor confidence in both DMCC and Dubai’s thriving economy.

“Uptown Tower offers a proposition not to be missed, representing the latest addition to DMCC’s award-winning business community of 21,000 member companies. Through our hyper-connected business district and a full suite of trade facilities, DMCC has become synonymous with growth. Uptown Tower significantly strengthens our offering, so we are proud to see it so well received by the market.”

Uptown Tower is the first tower to be built as part of the Uptown Dubai District, the latest addition to DMCC’s portfolio, offering premium commercial, residential and recreational areas. The construction of Uptown Dubai is progressing at a fast pace, with work on the next two commercial towers set to commence soon, the statement said.

Including Uptown Tower, Uptown Dubai will offer just under six million square feet of Grade A commercial and residential space, a substantial number of retail and F&B outlets, approximately 2,000 residences, a unique central entertainment plaza, and a number of luxury hotels.

“Uptown Tower offers a proposition not to be missed, representing the latest addition to DMCC’s award-winning business community of 21,000 member companies. Through our hyper-connected business district and a full suite of trade facilities, DMCC has become synonymous with growth. Uptown Tower significantly strengthens our offering, so we are proud to see it so well received by the market.”

“The launch of Uptown Tower and the broader Uptown District adds further weight to Dubai’s strong commercial appeal, providing unparalleled connectivity to the city’s business centres, ports and airports,” Sulayem concluded.

In March 2022, DMCC said it was installing solar car shades across JLT parking lots in an ongoing sustainability push, while in July, DMCC said that facade works on Uptown Tower had been completed.

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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced the launch of the National Real Estate Registration Services Company (RER), a new entity that aims to contribute to the digitalisation and development of the country’s real estate sector through a comprehensive digital platform.

A statement from PIF confirmed that the platform will be developed in cooperation with the Real Estate General Authority and other government entities. It said that RER aims to develop a digital platform to build a comprehensive real estate registration database covering all data of units of property in Saudi Arabia. The company will also provide property registration services according to best-in-field practices.

Big Project Middle East will host its Construction Intel Summit – KSA in the Kingdom on November 23 in Riyadh. Registration is complementary for construction professionals.

The National Real Estate Registration Services Company also aims to improve the quality of services and access for beneficiaries by developing procedures and mechanisms for registration. The company will adopt digital solutions to create a real estate registration database that includes public, commercial, residential and agricultural units and their geolocation data. This move will contribute to the sustainable development of the sector and promote transparency in real estate services and transactions, it added.

Raid Ismail, Co-Head of MENA Direct Investments at PIF, said: “We are delighted to launch the National Real Estate Registration Services Company. The new company’s use of advanced digital solutions in its operations, enabling it to link its platform to all relevant government entities, will enhance reliability and transparency in real estate services and data in Saudi Arabia. This in turn will increase the attractiveness of the investment ecosystem and grow the value of national real estate assets.”

The establishment of the company is in line with PIF’s strategy, which focuses on enabling and unlocking the capabilities of key sectors in Saudi Arabia, including real estate. The move is also part of the fund’s initiative to employ advanced technology to support the national economy in accomplishing Vision 2030 objectives.

In August 2022, Saudi-based developer Dar Al Arkan said it was eyeing aggressive regional and international expansion, while later in the month, CBRE said it was continuing its Middle East strategic development with a new country head in KSA.

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Climate change is one of the most significant global threats, with temperatures projected to rise 1.5-degrees Celsius in the next two decades, according to a report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This will cause more extreme weather such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and floods. It is thought that we are almost at a tipping point, where consequences could be catastrophic and there may be no turning back. The urgency to act is particularly tangible in the Middle East, which has very strong exposure to the effects of climate change, with studies indicating a persistent rise in temperature across the region, particularly in the extremes of the summer months.

In response, Middle East governments have placed sustainability at the forefront of policy, with several regulations and initiatives in place to help reach Net Zero aims. The UAE, for example, has a Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative in place, and Saudi Arabia has implemented the Saudi Green Initiative, both of which have ambitious targets to set the course for Net Zero.

The construction industry remains a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, with as much as 70% of global annual emissions relating to and the comprehensive lifecycle – materials manufacturing, transportation, power generation and more – of buildings. This is why addressing emissions in the sector is crucial in the race for sustainability.

Smart cities will further the Net Zero agenda

There’s a strong focus on smart cities in the Middle East, which goes hand in hand with supporting the sustainability agenda. The region is spearheading innovative new ways to design and build cities that focus on both smart and sustainable living.

As we reinvent the way we live and build, we need building facades that can generate power for solar, pavement materials that transform kinetic energy into electricity and water absorptive materials that can contribute to the water treatment cycle. We need connective technologies that allow us to track the behaviour of physical assets live and empower users in a way that leads to better sustainability and carbon performance. And the drive for smart, sustainable cities will help to make these a reality.

It’s clear that smart cities will support both better living conditions and a more sustainable way of life, but there are barriers which need to be addressed. Let’s explore the three main challenges – and some potential solutions:

Overcoming material constraints

The materials we need for building smart cities with integrated sustainability credentials are still brand new, with some fresh from the testing labs. Not only that, the materials are not yet available in the Middle East market.

This challenge can be addressed with collaborations across the value chain, where developers, architects, construction companies and material suppliers continuously update the technical specifications and requirements of the new types of materials needed. We also need to create opportunities to test new solutions, via private or public sector innovation centres and laboratories, where large companies from the region can experiment and learn from innovative start-ups.

Addressing cost concerns

The high cost of the materials and associated construction of smart cities that are aligned to sustainable and Net Zero requirements also poses an issue. More sophisticated designs come naturally at a higher cost – though this isn’t always as high as expected. We have found that there are lower carbon material alternatives available in the market in the UAE without a cost mark-up. Additionally, 20-30% carbon reductions in the carbon footprint of newly designed assets can be achieved with a 5-10% increase in the initial capital expenditure.

A solution to this challenge could be creating economies of scale that will enable the unit price to be reduced. For this, we need the region’s large developers to adopt low carbon and sustainable construction practices as this will create the right market dynamic – and it is encouraging to see some of the big names in the region already committing to this.

Developing expertise

The capacity of the workforce in the region to adopt and scale the new digital and sustainable solutions is also a concern. This is not only about understanding the technical and engineering side of new technologies, but also about designing and introducing new processes and ways of working. For example, all aspects of passive design that may result in better sustainability and Net Zero performance need to be considered by design teams at the early stages of the project and then respected during development.

To overcome this barrier, we need to deliver capacity building and upskilling programmes at all levels – from executive to middle management to workforce in the field. Both the private sector and the government need to take responsibility for this. The government should offer the minimum level of education requirements and the private sector must continue this education across its workforce by continuous training on the job.

A smart, sustainable future

With time running out in the climate change battle, all sectors must work together to ensure a brighter, safer future. Bringing the Middle’s East’s vision of smart, sustainable cities to life will take commitment from and cooperation between both the public and private sectors. This will not only enhance the health, wellbeing and happiness of citizens and residents, but will support the region’s aim of combatting climate change and pursuing its net zero aims.

Read more:

• MOCCAE unveils pledge designed to boost private sector’s contribution to UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative
• World Cement Association calls for MENA cement firms to decarbonise
• Zeroing in on Net Zero

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UK-based steel manufacturing holding company JO Steel Holdings has secured a $692mn credit facility from a consortium of banks and financial institutions led by Saudi British Bank (SABB). The deal will see the development of an integrated billet manufacturing plant in Ras Al-Khair Industrial City in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, the company said that the proposed steel mill, which will be located north of Jubail on the Kingdom’s east coast, will have an annual production capacity of 1.8m tonnes. The plant is expected to commence commercial production by the first quarter of 2025.

In March 2022, Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction broke ground on a 400,000sqm forging and casting facility in Saudi Arabia.

JO Steel will provide $173mn in equity, to be raised through convertible warrants, the statement added. Each warrant will carry a right exercisable by the holder to subscribe to one equity share against each warrant at a price to be determined at a later stage, to establish the project on an overall debt-to-equity ratio of 80:20, it explained.

Representatives are expected to sign a land lease agreement to that effect with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) later this month.

The investment is said to be in line with the Saudi government’s National Steel Strategy, which aims to expand Saudi flat steel production according to Saudi Vision 2030.

In August, Johnson Arabia said it had completed works on a calcined petroleum coke plant in Oman and, later in the month, Emirates Steel Arkan said it plans to expand into new Asian and African markets.

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Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment Co (GTHE), a subsidiary of Galadari Brothers, has won a bronze award from aerial equipment firm Genie for commendable performance in improving its sales, the company has announced.

In an award ceremony held at the Galadari Brothers headquarters in Dubai, Mohammed Galadari, Co-Chairman of Galadari Brothers, received the award from Sharbel Kordahi, Managing Director of Genie, in the presence of Mohamed Yahya Kazi Meeran, Group CEO and Director of Galadari Brothers; Samer Khalid, CEO of Heavy Equipment Division, Galadari Brothers; and Johan Gericke, Territory Sales Manager of Genie.

At the 2022 Construction Machinery Middle East Awards, the Genie Z- 45 FE Hybrid Articulated Boom Lift won an award in the ‘Access Equipment of the Year’ category.

Genie ranks its dealers based on several factors, including sales targets, market share, growth of parts sales, marketing collaboration and branding. Galadari Trucks and Heavy Equipment (GTHE) has been selling Genie’s products, including scissor lifts and boom lifts since 2021 when it signed a partnership with the manufacturer.

“Within the first 18 months they managed to improve our sales in the UAE, our market share and the services that were provided. It came in the time of the pandemic when the supply chain was disrupted and there were multiple delays. So, it is a fantastic job by Galadari Brothers,” said Sharbel Kordahi, Managing Director of Genie.

In June 2022, Genie said it was bringing its new hydraulic oil containment system to global markets.

According to Mohammed Galadari, Co-chairman of Galadari Brothers, the award was recognition of the hard work the company has put in since becoming a dealer for Genie.

“We signed the contract with Genie at a time when the whole world was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues. However, with our commitment and hard work, we were able to increase the market shares of the company considerably,” he concluded.

In July, Dayim Equipment Rental said it would operate a fleet facility for the AMAALA and Red Sea Project, which comprises machinery from Genie and Zoomlion.

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Trevi Arabian Soil Contractor, a subsidiary of subsoil engineering specialist Trevi Group in Saudi Arabia, has said that it has begun implementing the permanent foundation works for The Line – a key component of the futuristic $500bn Neom City, which is under construction in the Tabuk area.

In a statement, Trevi Group told media outlets that Trevi Arabian Soil Contractors had started the foundation works after completing test piles to identify the best execution technology to carry out the project.

In July 2022, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Chairman of the NEOM Board of Directors unveiled key details about The Line, in addition to a number of detailed images.

The firm explained that it is deploying high-end Soilmec equipment for the foundation works. The diameter of the piles are said to range from 1.5m to 2.5m, while there is up to 70m of excavation from the work surface.

Trevi also said that Soilmec SR-90 and SR-100 equipment are currently operating on site, while there are plans to employ the SR-115/SR-125 and SR-135 in the near future. A workforce of approximately 150 are currently employed on site but will increase to 250 once the construction site is at full capacity, the firm clarified.

Big Project Middle East will host its inaugural Construction Intel Summit – KSA on 23 November in Riyadh. Registration is free for construction professionals.

Neom is expected to be home to nine million people and is to consist of a series of communities built in a straight line. The Line will run for 170km from the Red Sea in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, through to the interior. It will cross desert and mountainous terrain.

The Line is said to have two distinct levels underground for high-speed rail and infrastructure, as the above ground area will be green areas for residents and pedestrian pathways instead of cars.

In March 2022, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman unveiled a new mountain tourism project in Neom, following which, in the same month, Neom launched a new subsidiary to develop sustainable energy and water systems. In May, Neom and Saudia announced their intent to kick off weekly air service to international destinations.

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Sharjah’s Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced that construction work on the Kalba Waterfront in Sharjah’s Eastern Region – the largest retail destination in Kalba – is 100% complete, with all units now having their interiors finalised.

Developed by Eagle Hills Sharjah Development, a joint venture (JV) between Shurooq and Eagle Hills, the waterfront destination is scheduled to welcome visitors in Q4 2022.

A limited number of investment opportunities are still available within the $32.3mn project, which is said to have seen high investor demand, owing to its status as a premiere tourism and retail destination in the Eastern Region.

In January 2022, Shurooq inked a deal with Marriott International for new hospitality projects on the country’s east coast.

Shurooq’s development, extending over 183,000sqm, aims to bring new family-friendly concepts in the retail and entertainment sector and will provide a distinctive tourist experience.

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting CEO of Shurooq, highlighted the fact that the Kalba Waterfront is set in one of the region’s most beautiful and tranquil areas, overlooking a serene lagoon lined by mangroves. He added that the contemporary architectural design of the project offers a convenient and compelling shopping experience, catering to all guests and residents – with 80 units, various indoor and outdoor dining outlets, and an expansive promenade lining the lagoon perimeter.

The project also features a 1,600sqm playing area that caters to the interests of visitors of all age groups, featuring a trampoline, skating tracks, and a free-fall platform. Extreme adventure enthusiasts will also have a unique experience – testing their skills at rope walking, wall climbing, and supplemented with virtual action from high-tech simulators, with video games and virtual reality kiosks, Shurooq noted.

In October 2021, Shurooq launched four new luxury hospitality projects as the Mysk Moon Retreat opened its doors to guests. In August 2021, the organisation said it was starting work on several premium leisure projects in key areas of Sharjah.

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Reportage Properties has started construction work on its new project, Verdana, consisting of 305 townhouses located near the Green Community, Dubai.

Islam Ahmed Suleiman, CEO of Reportage Properties said the start of construction works on the project reflects Reportage’s commitment to continue handing over  developments strictly on-schedule, enhancing investors’ confidence in the company’s projects, and in the real estate market in the UAE – which is currently enjoying rising values and a buoyant return to form.

The townhouses feature four rooms, a maid’s room, and a sky roof, and all units are all equipped with a private elevator – the first time that a feature of this kind has been available as a standard fitting across all properties in a villa townhouse development, the developer noted.

In March 2022, the developer said construction works had begun on its 5,500-unit ‘Montenapoleone’ project in Egypt.

The Verdana project is said to extend over an area of 500,000sqft, and includes many facilities and services such as swimming pools, a gym, private parking for each unit, and a landscaped green environment.

Reportage Properties’ sales are said to have topped $326mn during the first half of this year, compared to $191.6mn during the first half of 2021, representing significant H1 year-on-year growth of 70%.

The Reportage Properties portfolio in the UAE includes 14 projects, providing more than 6,000 housing units within investment sites in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The company is currently developing eight projects in Abu Dhabi, in areas such as Al Raha Beach, Masdar City, Yas Island, and Al Maryah Island, along with five more in Dubai.

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SANY has revealed that it recently delivered a batch of its C10-generation truck-mounted concrete pumps and lightweight truck mixers to what’s billed as ‘a key account’ in Jordan.

According to the firm, over 20 units were delivered, all complying with EURO III emission standards. The delivery is said to come on the back of a tour organised by the client last year, where they visited China to find a suitable concrete machinery manufacturer.

At the 2022 Construction Machinery Middle East Awards, SANY was named ‘Outstanding Manufacturer of the Year’.

SANY pump trucks are outfitted with X-shaped outriggers, which are said to offer enhanced terrain adaptability, increased structural strength and outrigger flexibility compared to traditional swing-out outriggers.

“Its reduced fuel consumption of up to 5-10% lower than average is another highlight of the C10 pump truck, especially in light of surging oil prices,” says the manufacturer.

It added, “The SANY concrete machines that were delivered are equipped with Volvo chassis, a brand with a robust local spare parts supply. Despite a long boom stretching to 62m, shock absorption technology prevents the boom end from excessive shaking.”

In addition, SANY concrete pumps use oil pumps with a large displacement, high-capacity hoppers of up to 700L and wide delivery cylinders, reducing the risk of pipe blockages.

In August 2022, SANY became the first Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer to export product out of a lighthouse factory. Earlier in the year, the firm said it observed a spike in product growth destined for international markets.

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Source: ME Construction News