AL-FUTTAIM, Qatar Islamic Bank and Aqar Real Estate Investment have signed a Dh6 billion ($1.6 billion) agreement to construct a state-of-the-art entertainment and retail complex in Qatar’s capital Doha which will be the first of its kind in the country.

CONSTRUCTION work on a two-lane carriageway flyover and dual three-lane carriageway underpass along Sheikh Salman Highway at Isa Town Gate in Bahrain is progressing as per schedule, said a top government official.

AS a quality-focused company that stakes claim to being the trendsetter in the paints sector, Sigma Paints Saudi Arabia asserts that “green” is the only way to go and is now focusing on its goal of getting the market to replace solvent-based paints with water-based ones.

SAND producers throughout the Middle East are taking advantage of new air classification technology introduced to the region by CDE Global. The Sirocco air classifier range was introduced to the Gulf in early 2009 to meet the demands of producers for sand production, offering efficient fines removal without the need for any water.

WALLPAPERS are being used to good effect to create stunning feature walls, which are the rage in interior design, according Danube Buildmart retail store chain.

WORK is well in progress on the two towers that are being built by Saudi Oger at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, the Saudi capital city.

MAJAAL, the flagship project of First Bahrain, has signed an agreement with Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE) to be the strategic logistics sponsor for the fourth Gulf Industry Fair (GIF) in Bahrain next year.

KRYTON International has unveiled a new three-step restoration and protection system for above-grade concrete structures.

ORASCOM Construction Industries (OCI) has confirmed that Six Construct Qatar, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Besix Group which is 50 per cent-owned by OCI, has been awarded a $675 million contract to build Phase II B of the Doha Convention Center and Tower in Qatar in joint venture with Midmac Contracting.

ARABIAN Construction Company (ACC) has won a $93 million contract to build the Rotana Hotel Tower in Amman, which on completion will be Jordan’s tallest building. Work on the 188-m-high, 50-storey hotel has already begun, and is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

THE General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia has asked eight prequalified firms to submit bids by December 15 to develop Phase One of the Madinah airport at a cost of $2 billion.

QATARI Diar Vinci Construction (QDVC) has been awarded a QR1.22 billion ($335 million) contract to design and build an underground car-park in West Bay financial and diplomatic district of Doha, Qatar’s capital city.

AS MANY AS 41 local and international construction companies are said to be eyeing an engineering, procurement and commissioning (EPC) contract worth $120 million to expand Salalah Port in Oman. The project involves building a general cargo terminal and a liquids jetty at the port, according to a report in the Times of Oman newspaper.

EXPERTS proposing to build an island that harnesses renewable energy off the coast of Manama in Bahrain, say it could be used as an offshore business centre, housing residential and commercial property as well.

ROGER Nickells has been appointed Middle East regional director by international multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold.

Housing project a step closerBAHRAIN’S Ministry of Housing has received two bids from local companies for the development of a social housing project, as the country seeks to address a housing shortage for low-income nationals. The project involves the construction of a minimum of 3,500 social houses.

GULF Plastic Industries (Gulfplas) has boosted its product portfolio with the addition of ASTM pressure fittings, which will be available on the market this month.

DAMAC Properties has awarded the main construction contract for the first phase of its exclusive Park Avenue shopping mall project in New Cairo, Egypt. Industrial construction and engineering company SIAC will begin work on Park Avenue, which is at the gateway to the Hyde Park residential development.