Gulf Construction Online

Regional News

Update

01 June 2010

Duhairah District expects go-ahead
SAUDI Arabia’s Arriyadh Development Company expects to receive government approval this year for a project worth more than SR13 billion ($3.47 billion) in the country’s capital.

The 750,000-sq-m Duhairah District project, part of the redevelopment plan for Riyadh, will be funded largely by the government and members of a consortium. It will be constructed in nine stages over 15 years, and includes residential, retail and tourism components. The eight-partner consortium involved in the project include Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Arkan, Saudi Real Estate Company and Lebanon’s Solidere. The companies are in the final stages of the masterplan and feasibility study.

Septech in record desalination deal
SEPTECH has been appointed by the Oman’s Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) to install the world’s largest mobile desalination plant just outside of Muscat.
Consisting of a series of innovative pre-engineered and manufactured sea water reverse osmosis containers, the plant will be supplying nearly 10 per cent (22.7 million litres) of the daily potable water needs of one million residents in the Omani capital. Septech has chosen General Electric Water and Process Technologies to supply the mobile water assets required to service the plant.

Housing sector leads the way
A PRIVATE-PUBLIC partnership for a pilot housing project in Bahrain, which is currently out to tender, is expected to incorporate the latest green building practices, according to Bahrain’s Minister of Housing Sheikh Ebrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
The project, which aims to deliver around 5,000 units by the second half of 2012, is part of a social housing programme to develop 50,000 units over the next five years, in which the ministry will adhere to strict green building practices. Additionally, one of the evaluation criteria for the bidders will be Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating, the minister said at the Green Building Forum held alongside gulfBID last month (see gulfBID Review).

Promat delivers fire protection
PROMAT has successfully supplied 20,000 sq m of Promatect-250 mineral-bound fire protection board to a new hypermarket project in the Mall of Al Khor in Qatar. The board was selected both for its ability to satisfy British Standards requirements and to provide up to 120 minutes of fire protection.
Intumescent paint had originally been specified to provide the fire protection. However, Promatect-250 boards were eventually selected due to their cost-effectiveness and suitability for the size of the building’s structural steel sections and loadings, says Promat, which is represented by the Farjallah Trading Company.

Pro Express outlet opened
LEADING security solutions company Hasoub (Hardware Solutions Builders) has opened its first Pro Express security shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hasoub, which is the local partner of UTC Fire and Security’s Global Security Products, is a one-stop shop, offering easy access to a select range of electronic security products in a business-to-business service outlet.
This complementary sales service ensures more efficiency at work.
“We are delighted to bring this new concept to Saudi Arabia,” said Georges Hachem, area manager of Saudi Arabia Global Security Products, UTC Fire and Security, which is a business unit of United Technologies Corporation. “Pro Express will carry a permanent stock of at least 150 high-volume items, allowing security professionals in the region to select what they want and when they want them,” he said.
Additionally, Pro Express provides on-location, first-hand technical support from experts who have extensive knowledge of the complete range of security products, solutions and applications.

Aecom awarded Al Marina work
INJAZ Development Company, the Riyadh-based master developer and property investment firm overseeing the Al Marina project, recently signed a multi-million-riyal contract with US-based Aecom to commence infrastructure design works on what is described as the only comprehensive mixed-use seafront development in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. On completion, Al Marina, which includes a 300,000-sq-m lagoon, will be a new destination between Dammam and Al Khobar.

DSQ wins $38m contract
DRAKE & Scull International Qatar (DSQ) has secured a contract worth Dh140.2 million ($38 million) for a prominent mixed-use project located in the Al Sadd district of Doha, Qatar. Drake & Scull International (DSI) acquired DSQ in April this year. “This contract strengthens our position as a regional leader in the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) contracting industry while enhancing our access to a broader range of construction opportunities,” said Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of DSI.

RSS spreads its wings
RENTAL Solutions & Services (RSS) has opened a new office in Cyprus to serve the Mediterranean market and extended its portfolio with temporary desalination or mobile water services.
Milan Balac, managing director, Rental Solutions & Services, said the Cyprus office will serve as its hub in for the Mediterranean region, which will benefit from the company’s range of solutions which now include rental power, temporary cooling and mobile desalination plant services.

Cooling project marks milestone
THE Tabreed Northshore District Cooling project, for which Atkins is lead consultant and construction supervisor, has reached a major milestone with the completion of two 87-m micro-tunnels underneath the King Faisal Highway in Bahrain. The parallel 900-mm-diameter insulated carbon steel pipes carry district cooling water from the Diplomatic Area chiller plant to Bahrain Financial Harbour, Reef Island and other northshore developments.
The new tunnels were driven below the highway at a depth of more than 10 m with zero impact on the heavy traffic above. Both were driven at an average rate of close to 6 m per day, and using a laser guidance system the team achieved driving tolerances within ± 20 mm in each tunnel. The chiller plant, which is nearing completion, will store significant capacity for future growth. It will supply chilled water to the Atkins-designed Bahrain World Trade Centre, among other developments on the south side of King Faisal Highway. The project is the first of its kind in Bahrain.

L&T wins $46m Oman deal
LARSEN & Toubro (L&T) has won RO18-million ($46 million) deal to construct Oman’s labour ministry building in capital Muscat. A tender board official said L&T has signed a construction contract to build a state-of-the-art building, replacing the old one.

Hawa sets up subsidiary in Doha
SLIDING hardware systems specialist Hawa has strengthened its regional presence with the setting up of a subsidiary in Doha, Qatar. The company produces a range of products from sliding doors for furniture and buildings to sliding shutters and highly complex sliding wall systems.
The company has achieved milestones in hardware technology, such as the patch suspension for sliding glass doors invented by Hawa (Hawa-Junior GP), rattle-proof and noiseless floor guides, tried and tested gliding and stopping technology, or suspension systems and top tracks with especially low installation heights.

Cellbeam introduces Fabsec system
CELLBEAM Middle East is conducting a seminar in Doha, Qatar, with a view to introducing the Fabsec design system and the greater use of long-span cellular steel beams in construction.
At the seminar this month (June 8), speakers will discuss the use of long-span cellular beams in construction, the provision of up to two hours fire protection of the steelwork, and the ease of design using the special programme that has been developed by Fabsec to simplify the design of steel-framed buildings.
The system optimises economical design reduces structural weight, build time and subsequent cost. Using longer spans allows for greater usable floor space fewer columns and enhanced architectural design.