Gulf Construction Online

Regional News

Update

01 December 2007

Abraj Al Lulu ahead of schedule
Pearl Development and Real Estate Company said the construction work at the landmark BD95 million ($252.1 million) Abraj Al Lulu project in Bahrain, is progressing ahead of schedule with the completion of more than 50 per cent of the finishing work.

With the structural work nearing completion, the project has completed eight million man-hours, said Dadabhai Construction director Pranay Thacker.
“It gives us great pleasure to announce this achievement which validates our commitment in providing all our stakeholders with world-class quality on time,” he said. “Having concluded over 50 per cent of the finishing work, eight million man-hours and the project nearing structural work completion of the three towers, we are now way ahead of schedule.”
Abraj Al Lulu, a private sector freehold residential development, houses 903 apartments in one complex comprising three towers along with 1,200 parking spaces.
Peikko eyes Middle East markets
Peikko Group, a leading precast solutions provider, has decided to enter the growing construction market in the Gulf area after its successful expansion in Europe.
“Peikko’s advanced precast connections and patented composite beam, Deltabeam, are very suitable in the Gulf area where the construction time and quality are becoming more important,” says a company spokesman.
“The precast building method is increasing its share in the market, with the current productivity and quality issues, creating an opportunity for Peikko’s innovative products,” he adds.
Peikko has started its operations both in the UAE and in Saudi Arabia. Peikko Gulf in Ajman Free Zone, close to Dubai, will focus on the sales and engineering services for the customers in the UAE. In Saudi Arabia, Peikko Group has made a pre-agreement to start sales and manufacturing activities in Dammam, together with Rashed Al Rashed and Sons company.
The manufacturing operations in Saudi Arabia are expected to start next year and will offer fast and reliable supply for products in the area. Once the joint venture is running, it will be responsible for all activities in the Gulf region, the spokesman adds.
Bahrain approves $488m plan
Bahrain’s Cabinet has approved a BD184 million ($488.2 million) six-year development plan for the King Faisal Highway. This is part of a series of projects to enhance Bahrain’s infrastructure to meet the requirements of the current investment boom and to upgrade the road network to minimise traffic congestion, according to a recent report.
One of the main features of the project is the transfer and protection of services in addition to the construction of a tunnel.
This will ease traffic movement during the work and construction of a road from Bahrain Bay to the junction of Al Fateh Highway with King Faisal Highway and also the completion of the road network and proposed bridges in the north of Bahrain, the report stated.
Works set to start on Sunset Hills
Infrastructure work is set to start at the Sunset Hills Project, part of $1.3 billion Al Areen development in Bahrain.
The $100 million project, which is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Investment house (ADIH) and Kuwaiti investment firm Sorouh Investments, has successfully completed the first and second phases ahead of schedule.
Scheduled for completion next year, Sunset Hills occupies 200,000 sq m in Al Areen Development, situated in the development’s southern gateway.
Russian firm gets Bahrain approval
Roszheldorstroy Construction Company, a joint stock company of Russian Railways, has been granted a licence by Bahrain’s Works and Housing Ministry to carry out various construction projects and building maintenance work.
Established 170 years ago, Russian Railways ranks among the giant railway firms in the world.
The government-owned company transports overall 1.5 billion passengers and 1.8 billion tonnes of merchandise inside Russia, employing 1.5 million workers. It boasts up to 22 institutes specialised in studying projects, in addition to 19 other affiliate construction companies.
The company also boasts a chain of institutes specialised in forming engineers, railways and construction experts, qualified in turnkey mega projects.
Berger opens new Bahrain showroom
Berger Paints has inaugurated its new Colourworld Colour-mixing showroom, in Tubli, Bahrain.
The showroom is Berger Paints’ 17th such showroom in Bahrain, and one more among the more than 8,500 Colourworld showrooms across the world.
It will allow customers to bring any fabric, paint chip, carpet cutting, and have the shade exactly matched to the paint colour, said a spokesman.
SEC appoints legal advisers for power project
The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has named Baker Botts, in association with the law firm of Mohanned bin Saud Al Rasheed, as legal adviser on all aspects of the development of two independent power plants to be built in Saudi Arabia, which will add more than 3,000 MW to the country’s power grids when completed.
The projects planned for Rabigh and Riyadh are scheduled for commercial operation in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
The plants are to be built on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis with the SEC as sole offtaker.
Malaysian firm mulls $2bn development plan
Construction and engineering firm Malaysian Resources Corp is in talks over a $2 billion transport and property development in Saudi Arabia.
The development, involving rail, road and air transport systems as well as residential and commercial buildings, will be located in one of four Saudi cities. The government has asked the Malaysian company to study locations in the capital Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah and Madinah.
Amiantit wins $51.2m orders
With a network of 33 manufacturing facilities strategically spread around the world, the Amiantit Group is reaping rich rewards from the ever-increasing global demand for pipe systems for both municipal and industrial infrastructure projects, with recent orders from three countries alone adding up to more than €34.5 million ($51.22 million), says a spokesman for the company.
The two biggest orders are for projects in Saudi Arabia exceeding €18 million. Both projects are using GRP (glass reinforced plastic) pipes for seawater cooling systems produced by AFIL which is the largest fibreglass pipes and tanks manufacturer in the Middle East, he adds.
The largest project has been awarded to Amiantit Fiberglass Industries Limited (AFIL) by Al Marafiq project in Jubail with a price tag of €11 million. The second largest, valued at €7.4 million, has been also awarded to (AFIL) for GRP pipes and fittings for the seawater cooling system at Desalination Plant located at Ras Al Zawr, north of Jubail.
Amiantit Group manufacturing facilities in Spain and Turkey have also secured a number of orders. While figures for the biggest Turkish orders cannot be revealed due to contract confidentiality clauses, Amitech Spain has announced three recent contract awards totalling €8 million.
Import delays affecting construction
Delays in importing construction material from Saudi Arabia into Bahrain have been blamed on the strict anti-terror screening by customs officials at the King Fahad Causeway.
Traffic coming to Bahrain is rigorously checked for ammunition and explosives, according to sources.
According to media reports, major construction projects in Bahrain were being brought to a standstill by delays in trucking cement from Saudi Arabia.
This was said to have cost the industry millions of dinars in the past few months – during which time traffic has been cut by almost a third, according to the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
Oman inks agreements worth $15m
Oman has signed 14 agreements worth RO5.9 ($15 million) for various projects, according to a recent report.
The agreements, signed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al Rowas, Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, covered a number of municipal service projects in Al Buraimi Governorate, the northern and southern Al Sharqiyah, and Al Dakhiliyah regions.
The agreements include municipal projects, internal road construction, road lighting, public car parking areas, sunshades at vegetable markets, livestock markets, developing slaughterhouses, beautification of public streets and changing power lines into ground cables.
ECQ plans to follow global green standard
Energy City Qatar (ECQ) plans to follow a global standard for high performance environment-friendly buildings, says a report.
Only “green buildings” will be allowed in the 72-hectare energy hub, where local and international oil and gas firms and other service industry and infrastructure companies will be setting up various facilities, the report said.
Energy City Qatar’s current plan is to get the US Green Building Council’s LEED Rating by 2010 or 2011.