Bahrain is rapidly becoming one of the Middle East’s exhibition hubs, and the gulfBID the building interior design expo, which debuts this May, will further reinforce the kingdom as a destination of choice for such events, says the event’s organiser.

Asia’s leading construction equipment show, Conexpo Asia 2006 has grown bigger this year with the addition of new exhibitors including global players. “Major Chinese and European construction equipment manufacturers have signed on to exhibit, joining the major North American equipment manufacturers,” says a spokesman for the organiser.

Established as the regional hospitality industry’s meeting place, The Hotel Show is set for a 30 per cent increase this year occupying seven halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre when it opens from June 4 to 6.

World of Asphalt 2006 – which is due to open next month (March 13 to 16) at the Orange County Convention centre in Orlando, Florida – has set a record, with more than 60,000 sq ft of space reserved for the show.

Intersec 2006, the region’s leading security and safety event which featured 450 exhibitors from over 40 countries, closed on a successful note with several exhibitors confirming multi-million dollar deals.

Universal Rolling (Unirol) is setting up a state-of the-art steel rolling mill – the first of its kind in Bahrain – to meet the soaring demand for rebar used in construction in the country, according to managing director Mazen Al Mahroos.

Saudi Arabia’s Zamil Steel Industries (ZSI), a sector business of Zamil Industrial Investment Company (ZIIC), has announced plans to establish a $20 million factory in Maharashtra, India, that will design and produce pre-engineered steel buildings (PEBs).

Tabreed, the Middle East’s award-winning district cooling pioneer, has joined hands with Saudi Arabia’s A Abunayyan Group subsidiary Aqwa Power, and Rasd International Bank to launch Saudi Tabreed a new district cooling company specialising in the kingdom’s requirements.

Booming development in Bahrain has pushed the value of government tenders awarded in the last three years to BD1.25 billion ($3.33 billion). Tender values soared by 163 per cent last year to BD640 million, said Minister of State and chairman of the Tender Board and of the National Oil and Gas Authority, Dr Abdul Hussain Mirza.

Leading Saudi Arabia-based paint manufacturer Saudi Industrial Paint Company (Sipco) has launched an interactive CD-Rom, which provides an in-depth insight into the company and its products and services.

New projects in the GCC – already at a record high – will continue to grow by up to 50 per cent in 2006, according to industry leaders speaking at a MEED forum on project finance in the Middle East.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Honam Petrochemical Corporation (HPC) to participate in the QR9.4 billion ($2.6 billion) ethane cracker-cum-aromatics complexes at Mesaieed, Qatar. The complex, set for commissioning in 2009, will be integrated into the existing Mesaieed refinery.

A consortium led by German engineering conglomerate Siemens has received a $2.14 billion order to build a power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. Siemens’ share of the order is about $1.3 billion, said a Siemens spokesman.

Sinoma of China is set to start work on the SR2.2 billion ($578 million) expansion of Saudi Cement Company’s (SCC) Hofuf plant, believed to be one of the largest cement projects in the world. Under the Hofuf expansion, two new production lines with an annual output capacity of 6.

The fourth part of the Cares Guide to Reinforcing Steels – a four-page insert is within this issue. The 10-part guide is being offered exclusively to Gulf Construction readers.

The Government of Bahrain has sold off the Hidd power and water station for BD279 million ($738 million) in the biggest privatisation project in the country’s history.

The Saudi Ministry of Finance and National Economy has signed a supervision agreement for the execution of the SR512.8 million ($136.7 million) North-South railway project with Louis Berger Group of the US, Systra of France, Canarail of Canada and Saudi Consolidated Engineering Company (SCEC) and Khatib and Alami of Saudi Arabia.

A consortium comprising South Korean builder SK Engineering & Construction Company (SKEC) and Italian builder Tecnimont will soon start construction work on a KD350.4 million ($1.2 billion) chemical plant for Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC).

The kingdom has planned the construction of 90 new water dams this year at a total cost of SR1.16 billion ($309.3 million), mainly to feed its rapidly diminishing underground aquifers, crucial for the agricultural sector.

Jeddah’s new King Abdul Aziz International Airport is expected to have two railway stations to help facilitate the flow of pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, according to Abdullah Rahaimy, head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.