Gulf Construction Online

UAE Focus

Update

01 March 2011

Brighton College structure complete
BLOOM Properties, the property and lifestyle development arm of Abu Dhabi-based National Holding, said it has completed the structural works for Brighton College Abu Dhabi in record time.

Bloom Education has partnered with Brighton College to bring the school to the region, with the first school opening in September at Bloom Gardens.

“Bloom Properties is committed to delivering on its promise of completing the project on schedule. Our joint efforts with the contractors, mandated to comply with our stringent quality standards, are beginning to bear fruit,” said Hani Raydan, general manager of Bloom Education.

“To date, 15,000 cu m of concrete have been poured into the school structure and over 2,500 tonnes of steel reinforcements utilised for the 34,000-sq-m project,” he said.

“A total of 1,000 labourers worked around the clock to complete the structural work in record time. The dedication of all involved in the project is truly commendable and has resulted in the completion of structural works earlier than forecast,” he added.

Dewa to set up power regulator
THE Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) will establish an independent regulator charged with establishing a framework for private investment in future power projects.

Dewa is accepting bids for an advisory contract to answer legal, strategic and technical questions for the proposed investment framework. It is following in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi, Oman and Qatar, all of which have private participation in power and water projects varying from 100 per cent in Oman to 40 per cent in Abu Dhabi. Dubai has yet to announce the extent to which it will allow outside investment. The first project to involve private investment is expected to be the 1,500-MW Hassyan power project close to the Abu Dhabi border.

Dewa stressed that additional power capacity would continue to be added while the rules for private investment were being established.

Hi-tech workers quarters
RAK Ceramics has completed construction of two new three-storey buildings for accommodation of semi-skilled workers of its manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah.

About 1,428 employees can be accommodated in the buildings which together have 238 rooms, each provided with television and Internet cables.

The entire facility has been built near basketball and volleyball courts to allow employees to exercise and socialise through sports.

The construction of the buildings are part of RAK Ceramics’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, aimed at protecting workers’ welfare.

Anchor Allied to expand factory
ANCHOR Allied, one of the largest manufacturers of adhesive tapes and specialty adhesives in the Middle East, plans to invest Dh26 million ($7.07 million) in the expansion of its factory in Sharjah.

The expansion, split into two phases, is set to be completed in May this year, providing the plant with an additional capacity to produce new products within the specialty aerosols, adhesives and sealants space.

A subsidiary of Masharie, the private equity arm of Dubai Investments (DI), Anchor Allied made this move in response to greater demand for the products from Central and South Africa as well as Eastern Europe. Mustafa Kachwala, general manager of Anchor Allied, said: “Anchor Allied remains focused on consolidating its position as the largest manufacturer of adhesives and sealants in the Middle East. This project expansion that is in line with our corporate growth strategy reaffirms our commitment to increasing our presence across categories that are in high demand.
“Once the expansion is complete, we will have the capacity to produce over 18 million additional cans of aerosols per year from our Sharjah factory and cater to new markets.”

Abu Dhabi to award $40bn deals
THE UAE emirate of Abu Dhabi is expected to award construction contracts worth $39.8 billion this year, an increase of 12 per cent compared to last year, according to a Ventures Middle East report.

Recent figures gathered by Ventures showed that amid economic slowdown in 2010, the construction industry in Abu Dhabi witnessed fresh contracts awarded valued at $35.5 billion, 66 per cent of the value of contracts awarded in the UAE for 2010.

The total value of all construction projects in the UAE capital is currently calculated at $562.8 billion. By sector, buildings contributes $304.4 billion to the total value of construction projects, energy (oil and gas, petrochemicals and power and water projects) adds $129 billion, and projects in infrastructure (roads, bridges, rail, sewerage, wastewater and marine projects) account for $129.3 billion, the report said.

Arabtec unit wins $56m contract
A UNIT of Dubai-based Arabtec Holding has won a Dh206 million ($56.08 million) construction contract for the Shah Gas development project in Abu Dhabi.

Target Engineering Construction was due to start work on the project from March 1 and construction was expected to last 33 months, Arabtec said.

The contract awarded by Italy’s Saipem includes construction of 12 substation buildings and equipment shelters with a total area of 20,000 sq m.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) awarded Occidental Petroleum its giant $10-billion Shah gas project, after US energy major ConocoPhillips pulled out of it last year.