CPI Trade Media created the Construction Machinery ME Awards as a tribute to local businesses and the global manufacturers whose products have made the Middle East one of the most progressive construction hubs in the world. The Awards are now proving immensely popular – but remember, your deadline for entry is 30^th April.

Just to give some background and context: Construction Machinery ME magazine recently celebrated its first ten years in publication. During that time, it’s built up not only an extremely loyal subscription base – which includes virtually all the leading machinery manufacturers, rental firms and sellers – but a reputation as one of the most credible commentators on industry trends and regional economics. So, what better platform from which to launch the GCC’s first construction machinery-specific awards? This year, that’s exactly what we decided to do.

It’s important to keep in mind that winning an award means more than just kudos for your business: a 2018 survey by Forbes magazine in the United States showed that winning a recognised industry award can –

• Boost your chances of winning new customers by 24%
• Increase retention of existing customers by 31%
• Increase your chances of up-selling to existing markets by 15%
• Make you more memorable to customers and prospects by 21%

So it makes great sense for your business to enter – but you have to hurry, because the deadline for entries is 30^th April!

The Awards and how they work

The inaugural edition of the Construction Machinery ME Awards will take place on 25^th May, and it’s going to be celebrated by a gala dinner at the Radisson Red Hotel, Dubai. The Awards will honour the machinery and equipment truly making a difference in the Construction sector across the GCC. When it comes to how you can win, the Awards are split into two main categories – some are decided by open voting (like a ‘People’s Choice’); and with others, you nominate your business, attaching full details as to why the Judges should pick you as the stand-out entry. You will find all the details about how to apply on our website here – https://cmmeawards.com/

The Awards that depend on you nominating your business are –

• Lifting Achievement of the Year
• Innovation of the Year
• Safety Champion of the Year
• Editor’s Choice

It really pays to nominate your business now, as a matter of urgency. We expect that you’ll make quite a detailed entry – and whether or not you win will depend entirely on the strength of the supporting information you provide and the quality of your entry. It doesn’t depend on the reputation, size or standing of your business in the market.

If you win, it’s not just a question of standing on stage on the evening of the 25^th, being honoured by your peers (nice though that would be!). There are a host of real benefits, including –

• Being seen publicly as the ‘best of the best’
• Getting industry-wide coverage across social media, courtesy of CPI
• Broadening your appeal to prospects and existing customers
• Distinguishing yourself from the rest of the sector and gaining real competitive edge
• Getting editorial coverage – absolutely free – in Construction Machinery ME
• Having a mini-video interview which you can use for your own social media and through-the-line marketing

These are all really worthwhile gains, and we can’t recommend you nominating your business highly enough.

But don’t forget to vote as well!

Meanwhile, here are the voting categories. With these you can vote for your own business (and get all your staff to vote too!) or vote for another business in a non-competitive category, which you feel does outstanding work and which you’d like to see get the praise it deserves.

• Excavator of the Year
• Earthmoving Machinery of the Year
• Access Machinery of the Year
• Road Making Machinery of the year
• Electric Machinery of the Year
• Crane of the Year
• Equipment Rental Company of the Year
• Outstanding Manufacturer of the Year
• Distributor of the Year

Don’t miss out on the Gala evening

Once you’ve nominated or voted, of course, there’s no more exciting prospect than being at the deluxe venue on the big evening and waiting to see whether or not you’ve won! We will shortly be contacting everyone who enters the Awards to see if they would like to attend. Please note, that this is a paid-entry event, and we’re keen to give you and your colleagues the best table (and multi-table) deals we can.

Similarly, you can attend if you haven’t actually entered the Awards, but again, it’s a paid-entry occasion at which you’ll have a first-hand view of who’s really setting the trends in the industry.

For table bookings, please contact –

Brian Fernandes | +971 4 375 5479

brian.fernandes@cpitrademedia.com

Andy Pitois | +971 4 375 5473

andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com

The right Award for you

Whether your equipment is large-scale – designed for the most rugged settings – or focuses on making indoor maintenance safer and simpler, you can see that across the voting and nomination options there is the right Award category for you. You’ll have every chance to see leading products get the recognition they deserve. But remember – you have to vote or nominate right now, because we’ll be closing all the voting and nominations categories very shortly!

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Source: ME Construction News

Al Zorah Development Company has announced that construction work has commenced on the luxury golf and leisure clubhouse at Al Zorah Golf Club, a project designed by the architectural firm ANNAKA.

In a statement, the developer said that it aims to make Al Zorah Golf Club the premier tourist and golfing destination in the northern Emirates. Set in a natural landscape with dunes and 1 million square metres of mangrove forest, when complete, Al Zorah Golf Club will feature a world-class clubhouse to complement the existing 18-hole golf course, which was created by Nicklaus Design and is operated by Troon, under the Troon Golf brand.

Mr George Saad, Chief Executive Officer of Al Zorah Development Company, explained: “Our unique world-class golf course will soon become even more impressive, as we begin construction works on exciting new developments to complement the offering. Our ambition has always been for Al Zorah Golf Club to maintain its position as one of the best in the Middle East, and the existing 18-hole championship course and state-of-the-art Clubhouse will strengthen our competitiveness.”

The luxury golf club will be complemented by full golf and leisure facilities, including a purpose-built gymnasium, golf shop, tennis courts, and swimming pool. In addition, underground parking and various food and beverage outlets will be on offer for visitors.

Mr Saad said: “Al Zorah Golf Club recently partnered with Audubon International and the GEO Foundation, global leaders in environmental sustainability. This partnership creates a pathway to ensure the protection and enhancement of a vibrant ecosystem within the Mangrove Forest on the edge of the golf course and reduce carbon footprint and single-use plastics. As a Club, we are committed to protecting the environment and obtaining our certifications from these organizations”

He added that while playing Al Zorah, golfers will encounter nature and wildlife, as well as a constantly changing tidal system that will alter the look and feel of the course on an hourly basis, as well as island tee boxes that protrude from tidal inlets, creating a visually stunning experience.

Mark Chapleski, Executive Vice-President, Troon International, commented: “Troon is extremely excited about this next phase of the Al Zorah golf journey.  It will be a huge step forward with this new state of the art Clubhouse sitting right above the 18th green and adjacent practice range, the views and access are perfectly aligned.  Al Zorah Development have proven that everything they develop is top class, from The Oberoi to the Zoya Health and Wellbeing Resort, and this new Clubhouse will be no exception”.

It is expected that the development will be completed by next year when the Club will open its doors to the worldwide golfing community and guests. It is located within 25 minutes of Dubai International Airport.

The Al Zorah Development encompasses the development of 5.4 million square meters of coastal land with a total waterfront of 12 km and includes The Oberoi Al Zorah Beach Resort. Other golf residential projects are currently under way with most properties enjoying water, golf course, and mangrove views, the developer said.The development is located within 25 minutes of Dubai International Airport.

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Source: ME Construction News

The World Cement Association (WCA) has called upon cement firms in the MENA region to take decarbonisation action, ahead of COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt and 2023’s COP28 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

All eyes are on the commitments and actions of the region’s oil and gas sector; however, cement manufacturing in the MENA region is also significant, making up around 15% of the world’s total production, a statement from the WCA noted.

The first steps are being made with the UAE, India, UK, Canada and Germany launching the Industry Deep Decarbonisation Initiative at COP26 in 2021. Nevertheless, there has been limited progress to date across the region on decisive emissions reductions, with many pledges insufficient to reach a warming limit of two-degrees Celsius. Only the UAE and Saudi Arabia have made net zero pledges of 2050 and 2060 respectively, the organisation said.

Consulting group and WCA member A3 & Co estimates that there is potential for companies in the region to reduce their CO2 footprint by as much as 30% with no investment required.

WCA sees this as an opportunity for cement producers across MENA to take the lead and embark on their decarbonisation journeys today, which will both contribute to emissions reductions and save on operational costs, including energy and fuel, said a top official from the organisation.

“There has been a lot of discussion in Europe and North America about decarbonisation roadmaps for the cement industry and good work has been done to start on this journey. However, 90% of the world’s cement is produced and used in developing countries; to impact overall industry emissions we must include these stakeholders. Cement companies in the Middle East have some low hanging fruit to take advantage of, which will lower costs at the same time as reducing CO2 emissions. At WCA we have a number of programmes that can help them realise this opportunity,” remarked WCA CEO Ian Riley.

The WCA is said to be the original international cement association and represents the cement industry and its stakeholders. Corporate Members are cement producers and have equal rights regardless of size or nationality. It connects members across the world and provides practical help to improve competitiveness and sustainability.

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Source: ME Construction News

Dubai South has signed an agreement with Discovery Land for the development of a 2sqkm golf community within its master-planned city. In line with this, Discovery Land – a US-based luxury real estate developer and operator of private residential club communities – has purchased a plot of land worth $272.2mn for the development of the golf community.

To be built to the highest standards, the premium community development will feature mansions, villas, a 18-hole golf course, as well as other premier amenities on completion, thus becoming one of the top golf course communities in the region, said a statement from Dubai South.

The agreement was signed by Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, and Michael Meldman, founder and chairman of Discovery Land, in the presence of chairman of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Dubai South Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum as well as other senior executives.

“The new project reiterates Dubai’s attractiveness to global investors and Dubai South’s unique ecosystem and advanced infrastructure, which caters to the needs of businesses and investors alike,” said Al Zaffin.

Dubai South was launched as a Dubai Government project in 2006, representing an emerging 145sqkm master-planned city. Positioned as a global commercial and residential hub and a major contributor to the social and economic growth of Dubai and the UAE, Dubai South offers business-friendly free-zone benefits and a living environment with a diverse range of mixed-use and residential communities to suit different lifestyles, the statement concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

AMAALA, the Saudi Arabian megaproject being developed on the Red Sea coastline and managed by The Red Sea Development Company, has announced that in the first quarter of the year it awarded nearly $266.6 million in contracts for Triple Bay, spanning infrastructure and asset works, as well as the recently announced contract for the Employee Village.

In an exclusive statement to MEConstructionNews.com, AMAALA said that the second quarter of the year would see a ramp up in operations, with an estimated $319.9 million set to be awarded. The developer added that around 70% of the total value awarded has gone to Saudi firms.

Furthermore, the RFP for the utilities PPP has already been issued to the market, so as to ensure that the development meets its sustainability ambitions, the developer said, highlighting that the resort will be off grid and powered solely by renewable energy, like the Red Sea Project.

“Phase One fof Triple Bay is on track to complete in 2024. It consists of eight resorts offering upwards of 1,300 hotel keys and 200 and will also feature a range of luxury F&B outlets, retail, and leisure facilities,” the statement said.

“Work is well underway on-site to progress enabling infrastructure, groundwork, and key assets with more than 1,000 workers already on site. More than 250 contracts have been awarded to date in excess of 5 billion riyals, with nearly $266.6 awarded in the first quarter of this year alone, as delivery of the project ramps up on site,” it concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

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Source: ME Construction News

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has amended several articles of the Implementing Regulations of the Finance Laws in Saudi Arabia.

According to a report by the Saudi Press Agency, the amendments include the decision of the Minister of Finance to revoke Article 4 of the Implementing Regulation of Real Estate Finance Law. The change means real estate finance companies are now allowed to practice financing activities without stipulating the prohibition of combining Real Estate financing and other forms of financing activities. However, SAMA retains the discretion to restrict licensing by certain conditions, the report noted.

Further to the public consultation released earlier on the public Consultation Platform, SAMA approved amendment of Article 16 of the Implementing Regulation of the Finance Companies Control Law. From now on, finance companies are allowed to practice financing activities without stipulating the prohibition of combining any of the financing activities. SAMA retains the discretion to restrict its licensing by certain conditions.

The amendments are said to reflect SAMA’s on-going efforts to review Implementing Regulations of Finance Laws to ensure efficacy and soundness of the financial sector to operate in a competitive environment, the report concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

The Somerset West Bay Doha hotel has reopened following a full renovation according to Ascott Limited. The revamp is said to be in line with the group’s expansion plans for the region.

Owned by Katara Hospitality, Somerset West Bay Doha opened in 2008 with a total of 200 units comprising two- and three-bedroom apartments and was primarily focused to cater to long-stay guests. To align with traveler needs, the revamped property offers 228 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and is the perfect choice for solo, business, and leisure travelers, the firm said in its statement.

“We are delighted to announce the re-opening of our newly renovated flagship Qatar property, as we introduce stylish urban living in the heart of Doha once again. Sharing the neighbourhood with some of the country’s most iconic establishments, we are confident that Somerset West Bay Doha will provide an elevated accommodation offering for our existing traveler base as well as new markets. This much awaited re-opening is among the many exciting upcoming projects we have planned for the region in the coming months and beyond,” said Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s MD for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India.

Located in the heart of the city, Somerset West Bay Doha is parallel to the Diplomatic Street and is said to be ideally positioned for business travelers with easy access to ministry quarters, embassies, consulates and the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Leisure travelers and families will delight at the diverse surrounding community, the property’s proximity to the corniche as well as to the City Centre Mall Doha, the statement concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that 20 developer/developer consortiums have been prequalified for the Riyadh-Qassim Independent Water Transmission Pipeline (IWTP) project, which will have a transmission capacity of 685,000 cu m per day once complete.

In a statement, SWPC said that the IWTP programme aims to help the Saudi Arabian government to achieve its goals of ensuring sustainable development of the Kingdom’s water resources, while providing affordable high-quality services.

The statement listed the pre-qualified bidders (lead and/or technical) as: Spanish infrastructure major Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios; Japan’s Marubeni Corporation; Italy’s Sicim and Chinese groups – Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment, Harbour Engineering Company; Railway Construction Corporation.

In addition, regional firms such as Utico and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (both from UAE), Kuwait’s Gulf Investment Corporation and Bahrain-based energy investment company Lamar Holding, were also listed.

In December 2021, SWPC said that a total of 31 companies had expressed their interest in the project, of which, 19 were Saudi firms. The local firms that have now been pre-qualified include Abdul Aziz Al Ajlan Sons; Hak Pijpleidingen Saudi; Al Bawani Water & Power; Al-Fahd Trading Industries & Contracting; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Mowah; Al-Rawaf Trading & Contracting; Al Sharif Group; Mutlaq Al Ghowairi; Nesma and Vision International Invest Company.

SWPC has said previously that it will be conducting a competitive process to select a developer/developer consortium for the 1,392-kilometre pipeline project, which is set to be implemented on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis.

As per a deal inked with SWPC, the successful bidder will provide the entire transmission capacity to the Saudi utility company under a 35-year water transmission agreement, the statement said.

With this project, the government will develop the necessary potable water transmission systems (WTS) network comprising pipelines and interim/terminal storage facilities within the Eastern Supply Group to provide critical connectivity between the consumption centres and the upcoming desalination plants, it concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

In February this year, Facilio, the property operations software platform provider, announced that it had raised $35 million in Series B financing, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, with participation from Brookfield Growth and existing investors Accel India and Tiger Global Management.

Founded in 2017, Facilio offers a unified software platform that leverages an AI-led predictive engine to help real estate portfolios digitise processes and optimise their property operations. Replacing the traditional and siloed software landscape that has frustrated the market for decades, the solution aggregates data from multiple, disconnected systems across portfolios into an integrated, cloud-based platform, helping operations and maintenance [O&M] teams become data-driven and agile.

Furthermore, the platform encompasses a suite of SaaS applications for maintenance [CMMS/CaFM solutions] and operational visibility, sustainability, and remote equipment performance monitoring. This modern approach allows customers to reduce operating costs, exceed sustainability targets, and elevates customer experiences.

Having emerged as a next-generation leader in the $50 billion commercial real estate-focused operations software market, Facilio has established a broad, global customer-base and is rapidly gaining market share with faster-than-market sales growth across multiple geographies. It’s growing list of portfolio-scale deployments includes commercial office buildings, retail chains, hospital systems and higher-education campuses.

As the company takes the next step forwards in its evolution following its Series B financing, Big Project ME speaks to Prabhu Ramchandran, founder and CEO of Facilio. The company is well positioned to accelerate digital transformation in the built world and lead the industry’s transition towards IoT-led connected buildings, he says. Now, however, the financial backing from the investors will allow it to extend its market leadership, expand sales and marketing, and enable more companies to reach success through a predictive, connected model of real estate operations, he points out.

“We will be using this investment for strengthening our UAE and Middle Eastern customer facing teams – specifically our sales and support teams,” he says. “We’ll also look at using it to expand into more Middle Eastern countries, and to scale our research and development teams to launch more products.

“There is huge frustration in the market with current outdated and silo-ed tools. Facilio has been working towards the vision of moving the industry towards data-driven, connected and mobility enabled solutions. This funding will help us execute our vision at scale and bring in more innovation for the market.”

In the wake of the pandemic, real estate related businesses are heavily dependent on reopening properties safely, while still operating with efficiency and agility. Therefore, the need for technology that enables them to work with remote operations capabilities, reduced operational costs and improved workforce efficiency is crucial, Ramachandran points out.

“Our vision is to bring in connected, data-driven, intelligent solutions for real estate operations. This is aligned with new market needs, and we believe that these solutions will provide real estate players with the platform to improve their profit margins and meet the needs of their customers.”

It is this vision that attracted investors to finance the company’s Series B financing round, with Josh Raffaelli, managing partner at Brookfield Growth stating that as customers of Facilio, they have seen first hand the benefits the platform brings.

“What Prabhu and the team are building isn’t merely a great product portfolio, but a movement towards data-led property operations. The company is writing the blueprint for how modern real estate portfolios will operate in the next decade and beyond.

“Technology-led real estate operations are shaping into a lucrative market. Industry stakeholders are increasingly taking stock of the many benefits, such as operational agility, productivity, instant ROI, and superior CX, that software-led platforms can unlock seamlessly,” Raffaelli explains.

“Such possibilities, for relatively older buildings with disconnected systems, are a major boost. So, the case for value in the market makes itself. And by investing in Facilio, Brookfield intends to gain exposure to this attractive market.”

He adds that Facilio’s value proposition is its ability to deliver demonstratable results as advertised, pointing out that not many companies can say the same, especially in a long-value-chain asset class like real estate.

“Most importantly, Facilio boasts market dominance in the UAE, which we believe to be a trailblazer in the larger Middle East and a byword for innovation globally. A testament to that is ICD Brookfield Place, a 990,000 sq.ft landmark office project in Dubai’s Commercial Business District that recently launched with Facilio’s cloud platform to deliver a connected model of operations.

“The company’s inherent strengths, combined with the allure of the markets that it operates in, made a clinching case for funding. Together, we intend to pursue excellence in real estate operations and maintenance and set unprecedented standards.”

Ramachandran adds to this by highlighting the importance of technology-led building operations to the UAE’s ambitions of becoming a digitally empowered nation, and a leader in the development of smart cities.

“Data-drive and connected operations lays the foundations for the real estate industry to building upon and implement AI-powered solutions and evolve into larger smart cities solutions. The value is multi-fold in terms of improved agility and productivity, reduced operational costs, meeting sustainability goals, and elevating customer experiences,” he concludes.

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Source: ME Construction News