Gulf Construction Online - Structural glazing is executed by Al Abbar

The Fairmont Dubai

The Fairmont at night ... structural glazing in the spotlight.

Structural glazing is executed by Al Abbar

01 December 2001

Al Abbar, one of the leading aluminium and glass cladding specialists in the Middle East, supplied and installed 25,000 sq m of four-sided structural glazing to the envelope of The Fairmont Dubai.

It also installed 2,700 sq m of composite aluminium cladding to the central atrium, 3,000 sq m of internal frameless structural glazing, stainless steel-framed glazed screens and doors with artwork, glazed shower enclosures, the stainless steel canopy at the main entrance, stainless steel ceilings at the front and rear entrances, point-fixed structural glazing with stainless steel structure to the pre-function hall and 1,000 sq m of glazed skylight and corner turrets.

All the systems were custom-designed by Al Abbar to the specifications of the project's architect Khatib and Alami and were reviewed and approved by the US-based Curtain Wall Design Consultants (CDC) and Bureau Veritas of France.

"Experienced professionals and highly-skilled workers got together as a team to successfully complete the project," says M P Shajahan, project manager, of the UAE-based Al Abbar Aluminium. "This effort also helped maintain the quality and workmanship of the materials used for the project to the highest level."

"Each and every member of the team - as well companies who were behind the success of the project - can be proud of it," he adds.

Al Abbar Aluminium, established in 1987, is recognised as a designer and installer of international systems and services. Since the beginning of the year, the company has embarked on an ambitious programme for overseas expansion. It is currently focusing on the GCC market and has recently opened an office in Kuwait, which will be followed by one in Qatar.

In the long term, the Al Abbar group plans to expand beyond the Middle East to Europe and the Far East. The company has signed a joint venture agreement with the international contractor Seele, and is now supplying curtain-walling for the Seele projects in Europe and the Far East.

Although the focus of Al Abbar's future development is on overseas expansion, the company says it would continue to be in the front line of the industry in the UAE.

Recently, Al Abbar was granted a contract under the first phase of the imposing Dubai Marina project under which it will handle the external envelope - curtain walling, windows and cladding - of the marina's north package consisting of three towers, the podium comprising the retail development at the foot of the towers, 35 luxury villas and a health and fitness centre.

Other major contracts won by Al Abbar in the last 12 months are for the Capricorn Tower and Dubai Media City in Dubai; the Takreer/Atheer headquarters in Abu Dhabi; the Hilton Resort Hotel and the Al Bahar headquarters in Kuwait; and the Al Hodaifi Tower, the Doha Marriott Gulf Tower and Doha International Airport, all in Qatar.

The company is also investing in new equipment and technology. Al Abbar recently added a new water-jet cutting machine, which increases production volume and allows for patterning and cutting of intricate shapes. A second CNC machine station has also been purchased to increase capacity and enhance quality.

The group is heavily investing in its glass division too. A new laminating line is being installed, which will bring a whole new range of products to the group's portfolio. Al Abbar is also in process of installing a heat soak oven, which will help further improve the safety and quality of the glass. Al Abbar's tempering plant has secured a licensing agreement with Pilkington Architectural for the exclusive manufacture of its Planar systems throughout the Middle East.

"Currently, Al Abbar is the only provider of curved and tempered glass in the region," says Shajahan. "Al Abbar Glass also operates the most sophisticated double-glazing line in the Middle East. The ambition of the glass division is to establish its own line of products and services, complementing the package offered by the Al Abbar Group."