Makkah crane crash ... Saudi Binladin cleared.
News in brief
01 November 2017
Saudi Binladin gets clean chit in Makkah crane crash
A Saudi Arabian court has cleared the Binladin Group of responsibility for the 2015 collapse of a crane in Makkah which killed 100 people, reported AFP citing the Saudi press agency.
At least 107 people were killed and some 400 injured on September 11, 2015, when the crane toppled over near the Grand Mosque in Makkah, just days before the annual Hajj pilgrimage, said the report.
The Saudi-based Binladin Group’s defence team claimed the group could not have predicted the severe thunderstorm and violent winds that caused the crane to fall, according to the Arabic-language Asharq Al-Awsat daily.
The Penal Court in Makkah which heard the case also acquitted all 13 people who were charged with negligence. The court declared that they were not criminally responsible for the incident, reported the Saudi Gazette.
However, senior legal experts said the verdict can still be appealed.
The Binladin Group was hit by a string of Saudi-issued sanctions after the crash, stated the report. These sanctions were lifted last year by the government, which allowed it to continue bidding for state contracts and completing other projects.
The construction firm had been working for years on a multi-billion-dollar 4.3-million-sq-ft expansion of the Grand Mosque to accommodate the increasing numbers of pilgrims to the site, it added.
Hyundai E&C to build $437m Qatar road project
Korean builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company has been awarded a 492 billion-won ($437 million) contract to develop a key road in Qatar, reported South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
As per the deal, Hyundai E&C will expand a 2.88-km six-lane street into an eight-lane thoroughfare besides building supplementary facilities, it stated.
The Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has sent a Notice to Commence (NTC) to the South Korean builder, allowing it to start the project, said the Yonyap report. Ashghal and Hyundai were due to officially sign the street expansion project contract last month (October).
The work is expected to be completed within three years, it added.
Al Shirawi wins Dubai luxury tower FM contract
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Valrani ... service excellence. |
Al Shirawi FM, a leading single-source provider of integrated facilities management in the UAE, said it has won a contract for the 118 Luxury Tower in Downtown Dubai, which is said to be the only residential tower in Downtown with one apartment per floor.
As per the deal, Al Shirawi FM will provide the complete spectrum of IFM services including mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), specialised services management, housekeeping and security services, in accordance with the terms of the agreement with the client, Signature Estates.
CEO Navin Valrani says: “At the heart of our strategic growth plan for the region is the pursuit of service excellence. Through partnerships to strengthen our sector-specific expertise, continuous investment in training and the quick adoption of digital and other innovations within the industry, we are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring service excellence.
“Our efforts are clearly paying off as we continue to add more prestigious properties to our roster.”
Evie Boustantzi, the general manager, Al Shirawi FM, says: “Catering to the luxury segment demands utmost professionalism, the highest standards of hospitality and a team that is proactive and truly committed to offering the finest service to its clients.”
“At Al Shirawi FM, we are always focused on delivering value to our end-users. This entails listening to their needs, aligning our mode of operation and customising our services accordingly,” he adds.
