Gulf Construction Online - Gulf a focus area for British companies

Britain & the Mideast

Smith ... Gulf focus.

Gulf a focus area for British companies

British Expertise has, through a series of workshops, been facilitating British companies in the booming GCC economies and informing them about the bright future the region holds despite the global slowdown.

01 June 2013

BRITISH Expertise, a leading organisation supporting British companies working to offer professional services internationally, believes the Middle East – and particularly the GCC – offers ample opportunities for its members and has increased its focus on the region.

In partnership with the Middle East Association, the organisation has recently commenced a series of events looking at the construction and infrastructure sectors across the whole of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, with the Gulf region getting attention in the very first session.

In that session, the delegates received some fascinating case studies and presentations from Gleeds, James Cubitt and Partners, Jones Day and Aedas, showcasing a wealth of expertise and experience of working in the region.

British Expertise chief executive Tracey Smith says ever since she took over the leadership of the organisation earlier this year she has been struck by the ambition and drive of UK infrastructure and construction-focused companies working overseas.

“From Luanda to Tashkent, British Expertise companies are seeking out new opportunities. One region, however, stands apart as a particular engine of economic growth and development – the GCC countries,” she says.

“Even though the effects of the global financial crisis continue to impact upon economies across the world, international monitors still predict a stable outlook for the GCC countries. Through the powerful combination of high oil prices, expanded oil production, expansionary fiscal policies and low interest rates, growth has continued and prospects remain positive for companies working in infrastructure and construction in the region.

“With these hydrocarbon-based revenues, many Gulf countries are investing heavily in infrastructure projects. A 19 per cent growth in the construction sector is forecast in 2013, with completed construction projects set to reach $81.6 billion in value. The value of new construction projects in the GCC is also expected to rise in 2013. Projects valued at $64.5 billion are set to be awarded to contractors over the coming 12 months. In particular, the educational, hospitality and medical sectors of the construction industry are likely to experience large growth.”

British Expertise continually gives attention to these opportunities coming out of the GCC. “Several proposed and ongoing prestige projects throughout the region highlight the dynamic and varied nature of the construction industry in the Gulf region,” says Smith. “From the $38 billion worth of investment in Qatar’s rail network to Saudi Arabia’s multi-billion-dollar projects to improve its infrastructure and meet its substantial housing needs, the GCC is in a state of constant evolution and growing interconnectivity.”

Smith says that her organisation has, over the years, led numerous delegations to the Gulf region looking at opportunities across the construction and infrastructure sectors for UK consultancies. These have covered a breadth of topics including project finance, hospital construction, ports and major sports projects.

British Expertise’s members range from major international multidisciplinary consultancies to individual specialists, and are involved worldwide in the development of social and physical infrastructure.

“Our regular programme of events keeps our members and friends involved and updated on these markets. These sessions bring in regional experts to discuss case study projects in a relaxed yet informative environment,” she adds.

One such programme is being conducted with the Middle East Association and is entitled Middle East and North Africa Construction and Infrastructure Series.

Furthermore, two GCC-based projects won awards at this year’s British Expertise International Awards (BEIA), which is hosted annually by the organisation to recognise and celebrate outstanding international achievements by companies in the UK professional services sector. The BEIA ceremony is an annual occasion where leaders from the UK’s leading organisations working in the social and physical infrastructure sectors can come together to celebrate their achievements.

The winner of the Outstanding International Architecture Project was Foster and Partners for the work on the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

“The MIST is the first part of the Masdar City masterplan to reach completion and in many ways it embodies the vision of the Masdar project in one building,” Smith comments. “Drawing on traditional Islamic architecture, the building is powered entirely by renewable energy and the design incorporates a variety of sustainable environmental strategies that allow it to serve as a test bed for technologies that may be implemented in future buildings in Masdar City.”

The second award went to URS for Outstanding International Environmental Project for its off-shore silt disposal trials in Bahrain.

This initiative came about when a proposed reclamation development in Bahrain was constrained when it became clear that the majority of the site was covered in cohesive seabed material that rendered it unsuitable for construction. URS’s trials provided a technically acceptable and environmentally friendly solution, she says.

“It has been a great pleasure to celebrate the success of British companies in the GCC, and I look forward to seeing more of these bold and innovative projects emerge in the coming years. A particularly interesting focus for the future will be funds from GCC countries supporting developmental construction projects around the world, for example, Qatar’s key support of the Rawabi project in the West Bank,” says Smith.

“As the geopolitical role of the GCC countries increases, I hope that UK companies will be drawn not only to work with their Gulf partners in their region, but that the strong relationship between the UK and GCC countries will be able to draw UK expertise to explore fascinating construction projects the world over,” she concludes.