News in brief
01 December 2015
Plafond launches FM division
UAE-based Plafond, a multi-disciplinary fit-out and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) contractor, has launched a new business division aimed at strengthening customer service.
Plafond Facilities Management has stemmed from the industry’s requirement for a single point of offering end-to-end solutions, says the company.
“We are passionate about providing the very best service possible for our clients. Building on our reputation in providing quality installations we want to offer our clients a full turn-key solution,” says Greg Ward, CEO, Plafond.
“With the launch of the new division, Plafond now has the in-house expertise to design, build and service our clients’ properties and facilities,” he adds.
Developers and project managers are often seen expressing their need for maintenance services for their properties to be offered from their fit-out partner, according to Ward.
Through the new facilities management (FM) division, he says the company aims to provide turnkey interior solutions, its maintenance and other building management services – offering a full package to the clients.
CECC awarded $76m Doha airport deal
Consolidated Engineering Construction Company, Qatar (CECC) has won a contract worth QR277 million ($76 million) for land reclamation and revetment works to facilitate the ongoing expansion of Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar.
The work includes an enlargement of the existing reclaimed platform on the north-western tip of the airport by approximately 110 hectares to enable the construction of new taxiways.
New Doha International Airport Steering Committee (NDIASC) chairman Abdulaziz Al Noaimi says: “We are gearing up for the expansion of the western airfield as necessitated by the growth of our national carrier and the requirements for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.”
The main elements include the reclamation of the project site up to a level of 3 m QNHD (Qatar National Height Data – groundwater elevation), the removal of existing rock revetments along the eastern and southern boundaries of the lagoon and the construction of around 690 m of new rock revetments along the northern boundary to afford the extended reclaimed platform adequate protection.
It is expected that the reclamation will be complete by Q1 2017.
Zamil Steel Construction wins $5m EPC contract
Zamil Steel Construction Company (ZSCC), a subsidiary of Zamil Industrial Investment Company (Zamil Industrial), has won an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract worth around $5.2 million from Saudi Aramco.
This is for the construction of Saudi Aramco’s new exhibition pavilion at Al Janadriyah Village located on the outskirts of Riyadh in the central region of Saudi Arabia, said an Arab News report.
The scope of the contract includes the design, fabrication, supply and erection of pre-engineered steel buildings, as well as the provision of all EPC works, including civil, electrical, mechanical, structural and finishing works for the stand-alone exhibition facility at Al Janadriyah Village, home of Saudi Arabia’s annual National Festival for Heritage and Culture.
ZSCC director Mohammed Al Sahib said: “Project requirements for the new exhibition centre are complex, including a variety of different components that must be designed, completed, and erected in accordance with stringent controls on safety and security as defined by Saudi Aramco. ZSCC is fully prepared to meet the challenges presented by this prestigious project.”
Healthcare contracts to rise by $1.45bn
The value of contract awards for healthcare projects will increase by $1.45 billion in 2015, a report says.
Titled GCC Healthcare Construction Market Outlook, the Ventures Middle East Onsite report was commissioned by the dmg::events, the organisers of The Big 5 show, which was held last month in Dubai, UAE.
The report revealed that around $5.9 billion in healthcare contracts were awarded in 2014, but that figure is set to rise to $7.3 billion in 2015, as population growth, higher per capita income, and life expectancy drive demand for healthcare services.
The healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia is projected to remain the largest in the region, and register a CAGR (compound anniual growth rate) of 9.2 per cent from 2015 to 2020. Compound annual growth of seven per cent will see the UAE join Qatar in registering the fastest growth as both countries seek to capitalise on an emerging medical tourism industry in the region.
According to the report, the UAE is building more than 20 hospitals to care for the half-a-million medical tourists that are expected by 2020, with medical revenues to hit $300 million by 2016. At the same time, the report states that Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait are also expected to register a significant rise in project completions in 2015.
Close to 70 mega-hospital projects are under construction, each of which are valued at over $100 million, and there are a further 280 smaller hospital projects mentioned in the report as being under construction.
