GOVERNMENTS across the GCC are closely looking at their building codes and high-rise safety norms following aftershocks experienced due to the earthquakes that struck Iran last month.

MOTT MacDonald has been named owner’s engineer for the $350-million Ghubrah Independent Water Project (IWP) in Muscat, Oman. A consortium led by Malakoff International and including Sumitomo Corporation and Cadagua is developing the seawater reverse osmosis desalination facility.

HEMPEL, one of the world’s largest, independent suppliers of decorative, marine and protective coatings, recently launched in Oman an efficient solution for passive fire protection of steel structures.

QATAR has signed contracts with cement suppliers from the UAE and Oman in order to meet an anticipated rise in demand for cement and avert any possible rise in prices, the local Peninsula newspaper said, quoting Global Investment Houses’ GCC Construction Contractors – 4Q12 report.

MORE than a dozen local and international construction firms are preparing to bid for a contract to build one of Oman’s largest fishery harbours at Duqm in Wusta Governorate.

KUWAIT plans to spend KD4.5 to KD5 billion ($15.8 to $17.5 billion) on development projects in the fiscal year 2013-2014, said Finance Minister Mustapha Al Shamali. Domestic political tensions have been delaying work on parts of a KD30-billion ($105.

MOTORCITY, the sole distributor of Hyundai Heavy Industries in Bahrain, has launched the first ever Hyundai backhoe loaders in the country. The machines were launched after being stringently tested on all terrains for more than two years.

THE Wave, Muscat, Oman’s premier lifestyle destination, has unveiled the latest waterfront residences project following the successful launch of the first phase of the marina apartments at the end of last year.

AL BATINAH Power Company and Al Suwadi Power Company said the Sohar Two and Barka Three independent power plants (IPP) achieved full commercial operation last month. Al Batinah Power Company is the owner of the Sohar plant while Al Suwadi Power Company is the owner of the Barka facility.

DRAKE & Scull International (DSI) has been awarded a set of engineering and general contracting contracts collectively worth Dh663 million ($182 million) for three government complexes in Makkah in Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE.

MORE than 27 and 13 per cent of the Haramain rail stations in Jeddah and Makkah, respectively, have been completed and the project will be completed on time, according to Muhammad Al Suwaiket, head of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO).

SAS International has installed a range of its architectural metalwork solutions at the new 103,000-sq-m terminal at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) in Amman, Jordan. These include the visually striking Tubeline ceiling system.

MAKKAH Municipality has signed four contracts worth SR1.49 billion ($399 million) for the construction of intersections with various highways crossing the new Ring Road IV in the Saudi city. Makkah Mayor Osama Al Barr said the municipality aims to develop an advanced network of modern roads to link various places and districts in the city.

A LEADING design expert has highlighted the need for increased public and private sector commitment to multi-layered community development that will accommodate all tiers of society in the Gulf.

THE BAHRAIN government has allocated BD300 million ($795 million) this year for housing projects that will be built as part of developments in the Northern Town, Hidd and Sitra. The projects will be funded from government coffers and by the $10-billion Gulf Fund, said Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer.

ALSTOM, a global leader in power generation equipment and service, has won a $972-million contract to supply equipment for the Yanbu Three power and desalination plant on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.

AS PART of plans to strengthen its foothold in the region, Darasas, a supplier of advanced industrial solutions, is promoting in the GCC quality machines that use high frequency (HF) technology for welding PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PU (polyurethane) and polyester materials.

INFLATION in Qatar’s construction sector could reach 18 per cent a year over the next decade, effectively adding billions of dollars to the cost of building Qatar’s future, said a report published by EC Harris, the global built asset consultancy.

MALAYSIAN construction firm MMC Corp said the Saudi government had terminated the rights of its joint venture with Saudi Binladin Group to develop the $30-billion Jizan Economic City in Saudi Arabia.

A LEADERSHIP in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) Green Associate training course was held in Qatar, to spread more awareness on the green building concept and to help design professionals earn certification for green design, construction and operations.

KHALED Juffali Company (KJC), a Saudi investment company, and Soitec, a world leader in semiconductor materials for the electronics and energy industries, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly promote the growth of the solar industry in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

HONEYWELL has been selected by Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water to modernise the water distribution network that supplies more than 280 million gallons of fresh water daily to Kuwait’s growing population.

AL AREEN Holding Company has signed a key contract with Al Kooheji Electrical Contractors and Construction for the execution of cabling work for Oryx Hills, a residential project worth $2 billion in Bahrain. The scope of work includes the supply and installation of 11 kV feeder cables from BSP Al Areen substation to Oryx Hills.

ABDULLAH A M Al Khodari Sons Company, a leading general contracting firm based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, has won a construction contract worth SR779.8 million ($208 million) from the Saudi Ministry of Housing.

SAINT-Gobain PAM, the parent company of Saint-Gobain’s Pipe Activity, has signed a contract to supply pipes and fittings for Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water.

POLYONE Corporation, a premier global provider of specialised polymer materials, services and solutions, announced that Juffali PolyOne Masterbatch, a joint venture between PolyOne Corporation and E A Juffali and Brothers, has opened its new production facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

ALDES Middle East, a leading global solutions provider for fire protection, ventilation and air distribution and the local arm of Aldes Group, is planning to expand and leverage its expertise to drive an eight per cent growth across the GCC region.

A NEW set of e-learning courses to conduct or review health and safety risk assessments have been launched by the British Safety Council.