The proposed commercial building in Hail ... an Al Awami project.
Sustaining growth
01 October 2006
In a bid to capitalise on the heightened construction activity in the region, Saudi Arabia-based Al Awami Planners and Consultants is set expand its area of operations in the region with a network of branch offices in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia and Beirut in Lebanon.
“We have sustained our growth and visibility in the local and Gulf markets over the past year and are poised to stake a major share of the construction pie in the Gulf, with larger projects now unfolding in Bahrain and other neighbouring countries,” says Hussain Al Jumaa, vice president of the company. “However business has been extremely competitive in the domestic market with many new local competitors who are trying to capture a larger share of the market by quoting low rates,” he adds.
To enhance its efficiency and capabilities in the region, the company last year upgraded its local area network (LAN), computer hardware and software facilities to cope with the rise in demand in the construction industry. Al Awami has also positioned itself strategically to win further business in the region by branching into new areas of activities, which include interior design and decoration, project management and supervision, and supply of local and imported furniture, fixtures and artwork.
Al Awami designs, prepares plans, manages and supervises projects nearly every type of construction project, ranging from palaces and residential villas to commercial buildings, mosques, schools, hospitals, resorts and shopping malls. Its in-house
technical and professional workforce utilises the latest technology for design and problem-solving, including advanced software such as AutoCAD for design and drafting, 3D Max and Photoshop for rendering, Primavera for scheduling, STADD IV for structural design, and RISA for structural problems.
Last year, Al Awami completed the design and drafting for more than 200 individual projects and 40 interior design and décor jobs. Its current order book includes 50 ongoing projects under its project management and supervision.
Among its most recent projects is the designs and supervision of construction of a car showroom and 1,000 sq m service centre for the Al Jomaih Automotive Company in Saudi Arabia. Located on a 30,000 sq m lot Dammam, the facility opened for operations last month.
Al Awami is also in the process of completing the designing and drafting of two 15 commercial buildings in Al Khobar. These include a commercial and residential building on a 1,750 sq m area for Mohammed Ben Al Jarbouh, and a commercial complex for Abdullah Al Nemer on a 2,400 sq lot.
A Awami Planners and Consultants started off as a small office with five employees in 1980 in Qatif in Saudi Arabia, and has now grown into a multi-disciplinary practice with more than 60 employees, including architects, architectural and interior designers, civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, surveyors, CAD operators and draftsmen.
Offering architectural designs for all types of buildings in concrete, pre-engineered steel and precast constructions, Al Awami also designs the foundations and infrastructure facilities, utilities and roads. Al Awami prepares design studies for lighting distribution, power sources, public address and building operation systems, electrical circuits and CCTV and also specialise in analysing internal designs.
