Germany-based Epoc Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s top exhibition organisers, is hosting 10 trade shows in May in Dubai.

The Hotel Show, the Middle East’s leading supplies exhibition targeted at the region’s hospitality and leisure sectors, has confirmed the participation of a number of leading UK suppliers, looking to make their presence felt or consolidate their existing market share. British companies, such as myfotowall.

A rapidly-expanding Turkish airport group valued at $1.5 billion is planning to consolidate its presence in the Gulf region by opening a new office in Abu Dhabi.

Following the success of Cityscape Dubai, the region’s premier international property investment and development event, the Institute for International Research (IIR), the organiser of Cityscape, is launching two new Cityscape brands in Singapore and Shanghai to capitalise on the major growth potential of South East Asia and China.

Foundation date setManama: The foundation stone for the $1.8 billion Bahrain-Qatar Friendship Causeway will be laid at the beginning of next year, Bahrain’s Southern Municipal Council chairman Khalid Shaheen Bu Alainain said.

The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia is currently viewing the preliminary designs of the master plan for the King Abdul Aziz International Airport development and upgrade project at Jeddah, to be built at an estimated cost of SR4 billion ($1.06 billion).

Bahrain could become home to the world's tallest skyscraper if a project by Danish company Henning Larsens Tegnestue gets the go-ahead. Company project director Louis Becker is planning to have a meeting about the proposed project with a building contractor in Bahrain.

Bahrain’s first independent electricity generating station began commercial operation on schedule last month following the completion of phase I of the project. Phase I will make available 470 MW of generating capacity to the national grid, thus contributing to a reliable supply of electricity during the coming hot summer months.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has signed a loan agreement totalling up to $1 billion in project financing for the Al Hidd Independent Water and Power Producer Project.

Bahrain Bay Development has announced the signing of an agreement with CapitaLand Commercial and Integrated Development Company - a subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited - which will see the latter acquiring land and developing a $600 million residential and retail zone within the Bahrain Bay development project.

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company has recently launched Fox Hills, Phase II of its masterplanned Lusail development in Qatar, which is the country's largest domestic real estate project. Spanning over 1.6 sq km, Fox Hills will have a park, golf course and waterfront views.

Dubai-based Ostermeier has made an official foray into the Bahraini market by appointing Mohammed Fakhroo and Brothers as the sole selling agents for the company's range of products in Bahrain.

Ashghal (Public Works Authority of Qatar) is currently investing QR1.5 billion ($410 million) in rebuilding the sewage network in Doha and Al Khor, Qatar. Saad Ahmed Al Misnad, director of contract and engineering affairs at Ashghal, said: "The sanitation sector has signed 24 contracts valued at QR1.

Having completed several projects in the kingdom, the Alasco Group - a leading Bahrain-based player in innovative solar protection systems - is looking forward to boost its presence in the region following the recent opening of a new office in Bahrain.

Bhatia & Company has launched the complete Voltas cooling solutions range in Bahrain. The range from Voltas, which is India's premier cooling solutions provider, consists of window air-conditioners, high wall and ductable splits, slimline and cassette air-conditioners as well as water dispensers in various models.

Saudi-based United Properties Company (UPC) has recently awarded Freyssinet of France a SR250 million ($66.6 million) contract to build the Aliat Al Madinah Mall. The mall will have a built-up area of 74,600 sq m. Work was started this February and is expected to complete next March.

The seventh 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.

Kuwait has prequalified 11 international companies for the construction of a new $6.3 billion oil refinery with a capacity of more than 600,000 barrels per day (bpd). Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), which owns all Kuwaiti refineries, said the project had been divided into four major contracts.

Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC) has recently awarded a Malaysian team of Professional Services Development Corporation (PSDC) and Kuala Lumpur City Centre Property Berhand (KLCCPB) the project management contract to oversee the construction of the SR12 billion ($3.

Group 7 has agreed to open a facility management centre at Durrat Al Bahrain, which will provide state-of-the-art security for the $3 billion mega development under construction at the southern tip of the island. The newly-formed building management systems firm, which is comprised of seven Finnish companies, is part of the Al Bader Group.

The Land – a Middle East-based property development company operating across the region - has recently awarded the construction contract for its first three towers in the Porto Arabia harbour district in The Pearl-Qatar project to Saudi Arabia-based Al Arrab Contracting Company.