Work on Aluminium Bahrain's (Alba) $400 million coke calcining and sea water desalination project at its marine terminal is reported to be progressing well with foundations for several key areas now under construction.

Five contracts worth BD31.75 million ($84.22 million) have been awarded by Bahrain's Ministry of Electricity and Water for the reinforcement of transmission networks in the country.

A GCC joint committee is to establish a database on GCC housing information to support housing projects in the region. The database is expected to be completed in 2005.

Selecting the right consultant is crucial for the success of any project. Ashok Pavate, a reputed Oman-based consultant, provides some guidelines on how to make the choice.consultant (or a consulting engineering firm) is a person or body who assimilates the requirements of a client who is developing a project.

Construction work is expected to start later this year on the BD1.2 million ($3.18 million) Bahrain Football Association (BFA) headquarters adjacent to the National Stadium at Isa Town, Bahrain.

HEK Manufacturing of the Netherlands has appointed Al Laith Scaffolding as its agent for the UAE.Al Laith has purchased more than 30 HEK mastclimbing workplatforms, hoists and transport platforms, of which a substantial number are committed for rental orders. The equipment will be put into the company's rental fleet.

Kuwait Commercial Markets Complex Company (KSC) has signed a contract with Ahmadiah Contracting and Trading Company for the construction of Kuwait Hilton Hotel and Resort.Kuwait's new five-star hotel will extend along 1,600 m of beachfront in Mangaf, over a 250,000 sq m site.

International Projects Development Company, an international consortium bidding for a major waste water treatment project in Kuwait, has signed an agreement with Commercial Bank of Kuwait for a loan of up to KD120 million ($390 million) to help finance the project.

Dhofar Power Consortium (DPC), which was selected as the successful bidder for the RO86.5 million ($224.73 million) Salalah power system in Oman, is in negotiations with government officials in a bid to conclude a final concession agreement by April.

The BD11.8 million ($31.29 million) 25-storey National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) Tower, Bahrain's tallest building, is expected to be completed by June this year, two years behind schedule.

Seef Properties in Bahrain has signed a contract with Olympic Contracting for the construction of a BD3.18 million ($8.43 million) extension to the Seef Mall, which will include parking for 650 cars and the superstructure for a 10-screen cinema complex and several retail outlets.

Oman has awarded two natural gas pipeline contracts worth RO117.83 million ($306 million) to a group of foreign firms, a project official said.Indian firm Dodsal is reported to have won a RO47.87-million deal to build a 350-km pipeline from central Oman to the northern city of Sohar, which the government is promoting as an industrial city.

The UAE's General Exhibitions Corporation (GEC) and Addar Real Estate Services have announced that they will jointly develop the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Abu Dhabi at an estimated cost of Dh500 million ($136 million).To be developed in two phases, the WTC will be located at a site owned by the GEC on the Musaffah road.

Qatar plans to speed up the privatisation of its electricity and water sector, said Shaikh Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, assistant undersecretary at the Finance, Economy and Trade Ministry.The move will gain momentum after the formal announcement of the formation of Qatar Electricity and Water Corporation in April.

Qatari joint stock firm Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) is to implement the Ras Abu Fontas B (RAF-B) extension project in two phases with an overall production capacity of 600 MW of electricity and 27,000 gallons of water daily.Technical specifications for the estimated QR2.2 billion ($604.

Construction work is nearing completion on the Dh8.5 million ($2.31 million) new rental office compound at Sharjah Airport Free Zone (Saif Zone). The buildings covering 4,920 sq m comprise 122 offices and were due to be completed by March-end.

Sharjah Municipality in the UAE is to adopt new procedures starting next month for licensing new buildings and issuing permission for construction, said Dr Taj Eldin Hussain, head of the municipality's technical section.Under the new procedures, licensing of new buildings will be done in two stages instead of the current one.

Channels Exhibitions, a leading UAE-based exhibition organiser, has announced the addition of the Dubai Ideal Home 2000 exhibition to its annual portfolio of exhibitions held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

A section of the pipeline for Bahrain's Hidd water transmission system has been laid under the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway using trenchless technology to avoid traffic disruption. The thrustbore is situated near the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

Installation of thermal insulation in new buildings in Bahrain is now mandatory. The law, in its initial stage, makes insulation a must for all government buildings, industrial and commercial buildings as well as other buildings more than four storeys high.

Takreer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), plans to set up a Dh1.47 billion ($400 million) oil refinery in Ruwais in the next four years.Steakhouse to open by year-endManama: The BD500,000 ($1.32 million) Ponderosa Steakhouse, which is being built on the King Fahad Corniche facing the Regency-Inter.

Four consulting firms, HOK Architects, Skidmore Owings & Merrill both from the US, and WS Atkins International and Halcrow Group of the UK are expected to submit proposals for the $1 billion Phase 1 development of the Saadiyat Free Zone project in Abu Dhabi.

Water projects worth RO18 million ($46.76 million) will be implemented in Oman's wilayats this year.Water purification stations will be constructed at Al Khiran, Al Seefah and Fanis.