Construction Business News
Page 1 / 76
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS PROP TECH Why automation is set to take over the built world INTERVIEW All-in-One Proptech Solution PROJECT Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 | C B N M E . C O M WE BRING YOU THE 8TH EDITION OF THE POWER HOUR IN RECOGNIZING THE TOP PLAYERS IN CONSTRUCTION, REAL ESTATE, CONSULTANTS, SUBCONTRACTORS, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY, AND MUCH MORE POWERHOUR 2022
TOLL FREE 800 GLAZE (45293) | TEL: +971 6 5353 123 (SHARJAH) | TEL: +971 2 5502 390 (ABU DHABI) | MAIL: info@glaze.ae www.glaze.ae/ MARBLE | GRANITE | QUARTZITE | ONYX | TRAVERTINE | LIMESTONE | PRECIOUS STONE Surface Solutions, Designed By Nature
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 3 POWER HOUR 12 PROP TECH WHY AUTOMATION IS SET TO TAKE OVER THE BUILT WORLD Rajavel Subramanian, Co-founder & Head of Product - Facilio outlines the best practices and benefits of re- imagining CaFM as a workflow-driven software that can meaningfully connect systems, people and processes 14 INTERVIEW ALL-IN-ONE PROPTECH SOLUTION In conversation with Uros Trojanovic, Divisional CEO of EAST-O Holdings 18 PROJECT PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN NONPROFIT CITY appoints Dalkia EDF Group to implement sustainable solutions 20 SOFTWARE RIB CCS Celebrates 40 Years of Embedding Technological Best Practice in Construction Industry 74 MACHINERY BOBCAT launches new MT100 Loader at Galabau 2022 Fair WE BRING you the 8th edition of the POWER HOUR in recognizing the top players in construction, real estate, consultants, subcontractors, facilities management industry, and much more 22 IN THIS ISSUE CBNME 12 20 74
SIGN UP & SAVE 30% ON STAYS WITH BREAKFAST INCLUDED ALL.COM SUMMER OF
10 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM EDITOR’S NOTE CBNME T he Expo 2020 Dubai event has provided a boost to the economy, while low base effects and pent-up demand helped to spur the industry's growth in 2021. Reflecting the 2020 downturn, however, the construction industry's output is expected to remain below 2019 levels until 2022. Growth over the forecast period will be driven by the country's development agenda of strengthening industrial, transportation and energy infrastructures. The government announced plans in September last year to implement a series of developmental and economic projects aimed at accelerating the UAE's development and transforming it into a comprehensive hub in all sectors as part of the Project of the 50, with the goal of attracting AED550 billion ($149.8 billion) in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next nine years. The UAE became the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area to pledge to carbon neutrality, establishing a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The government intends to invest AED600 billion ($163.4 billion) on renewable energy over the next three decades to meet this goal. The government's aim to raise solar PV capacity from 2.1GWp in 2020 to 8.5GWp in 2025 will also help the energy and utilities sector's output throughout the projection period. CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net DIRECTOR Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818 MANAGING EDITOR Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net ASSISTANT EDITOR Jochebed Menon EDITORIAL DESIGN Christian Harb MARKETING EXECUTIVE Aaron Joshua Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net PHOTOGRAPHER Alexander Bungas Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website and social media platforms CBNME.COM Kasun Illankoon Managing Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net For all commercial enquiries, contact jo@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved © 2022. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors. Construction Business News ME and all subsidiary publications in the MENA region are officially licensed exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by Construction Business News ME. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. Images used in Construction Business News ME are credited when necessary. Attributed use of copyrighted images with permission. All images not credited courtesy Shutterstock. Printed by UPP PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 CBNME @CBNME CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME CONSTRUCTION GROWTH IN UAE
12 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME PROP TECH L et us imagine a simple, yet important, workflow that’s likely to occur in any property operations – a client raises an issue in one of your buildings. In response, your facilities team will manually generate a work order in the CaFM / CMMS. Based on the job, they’d involve a suitable vendor, manage back- and-forth on cost estimates, invoicing, client approvals and payment cycles with them (over calls, emails, and an accounting software). Finally, once the payment status is manually updated on the CaFM, a technician will be dispatched for the job. By the time the issue is resolved, tenants have already escalated it multiple times. Now, imagine a parallel universe. The moment an issue is raised, a work order is generated. Work is dispatched to a vendor, and an invoice is triggered from your CaFM. The supervisor will have the quote info right within the CaFM, and can trigger emails for client approvals. Your CaFM is integrated with your accounting software so the vendor will get notifications for approvals, send technicians as soon as payment is processed—and business happens as usual. The key difference between the first and the second scenario is what is gamechanging in property operations: Workflow automation. Oftentimes, technical jobs and on-site issues are kept waiting just because someone didn’t update the payment/ work status on the CaFM system. So much is lost in manual delays/errors when processes are not automated. With Facilio’s workflow automation capabilities, for the scenario we outlined above, a leading CRE owner/operator in the UK achieved 80% reduction in response time and 40% reduction in downtime, increasing overall client satisfaction. But first, some context. What is workflow automation? Workflow automation is automating various steps along the workflow of any process. In the facilities management landscape, this includes creating work orders, sending alerts, notifying WHY AUTOMATION IS SET TO TAKE OVER THE BUILT WORLD RAJAVEL SUBRAMANIAN, CO-FOUNDER & HEAD OF PRODUCT - FACILIO OUTLINES THE BEST PRACTICES AND BENEFITS OF RE-IMAGINING CAFM AS A WORKFLOW-DRIVEN SOFTWARE THAT CAN MEANINGFULLY CONNECT SYSTEMS, PEOPLE AND PROCESSES
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 13 WHY AUTOMATION IS SET TO TAKE OVER THE BUILT WORLD technicians, passing on information, generating reports etc. Workflow automation eliminates the need for humans to perform repetitive, non- revenue generating tasks that can easily be automated. Why is workflow automation important? Typically, today, operations teams work with a system of records. This means that ‘information’ is stored and passed on between people through a multitude of tools. For instance, teams use emails to communicate, spreadsheets to update status, phone calls/chat to clarify etc. In addition to this, they also make investments in additional software or build their own. Analytics and dashboard software is a great example of this. So, every workflow goes through a range of tools—both digital and otherwise— becoming inefficient, unintelligent and tedious, at each consecutive step. To say nothing of the fact that they eat into the operating margins. To overcome this, and move from a ‘system of record’ to a ‘system of action’, enterprises need workflow automation. What can workflow automation do for enterprises? Here are six valuable outcomes you can gain by automating the workflows involved in your day-to-day property operations: > Save time The most basic value workflow automation can deliver is saving time for all stakeholders. Like you saw in the example above, teams no longer need to spend time creating workorders, informing technicians, raising invoices, tracking processes etc. All of that is taken care of, well, automatically. > Improve team productivity: When the mundane is handled, the team has time and mental energy to focus on adding value to customers. For a leading facilities management company in the Middle East, we automated approval workflows. In essence, the process from technician raising a quote to completing the task was automated with single- click approval. With this, the client experienced a 97% rise in SLA adherence with a 13% improvement in workforce productivity. Strengthen compliance posture Facilities and audit teams spend significant time bringing together work reports for compliance reasons. Much of this is manual, even if not handled with pen and paper. A robust workflow automation system can generate work reports in real-time. It can also conduct all compliance checks to make sure the audit is smooth at the end of the year. > Gain greater visibility The biggest problem with manual workflows is that the information is siloed and inaccessible. In several buildings, knowing whether a technician has performed FDD or not happens on the phone, often not in real-time. A connected CaFM with strong workflow automation and mobility features can make this seamless. The app can track technician location automatically and the status can be updated with a click of a button on their mobile phone! > Experience better asset maintenance Automated fault detection and preventative maintenance are nearly impossible with manual workflows. But automation changes the game altogether. Facility managers can set thresholds for asset performance and gain visibility into potential breakdowns even before they happen. With proactive maintenance, they can almost entirely eliminate asset downtime. > Journey to customer delight At the end of the day, workflow automation’s biggest impact is on customer experience. Imagine the impact on customer experience when a technician hitting a button the moment s/he reaches the location and letting all stakeholders—facility managers and tenants—know that work is underway. Imagine tenants receiving regular notifications about the status of their complaint automatically without ever having to follow up. Imagine quicker, more effective resolution for complaints on a consistent basis. Also imagine collecting feedback for every job automatically and improving processes regularly. It is definitely time to re-imagine how property operations are managed so that systems, people and processes are meaningfully connected. “Workflow automation eliminates the need for humans to perform repetitive, non-revenue generating tasks that can easily be automated.” Rajavel Subramanian, Co-founder & Head of Product, Facilio
14 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM E AST-O Holdings, the technology division of Eltizam Group, has newly launched ‘PropEzy’, a cloud- based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to manage customer experience and optimise operations in real estate management in the MENA region. Conceptualised in the UAE, the app was developed to merge different technology platforms used to manage the built environment into one integrated product for community, property, security, workplace and facilities management. An ‘all-in-one’ solution, PropEzy facilitates the residential and commercial real estate industry globally to effectively reduce costs and increase return on investment for asset owners and operators. We had the opportunity to sit down with Uros Trojanovic, Divisional CEO of EAST-O Holdings, to discuss the plans for the company and how it will disrupt the real estate management market. Introduction to PropEzy PropEzy is a digitalised proptech platform that encompasses optimised real estate solutions on one integrated system. The pioneering solution tackles the problem of fragmention in the built environment through its all- encompassing system for community management, property management, security management, workplace management and facilities management; where managers can benefit from the digitalisation of operations, real-time data & insights for better decision- making and an improved customer experience. IN CONVERSATION WITH UROS TROJANOVIC, DIVISIONAL CEO OF EAST-O HOLDINGS >>> ALL-IN-ONE PROPTECH SOLUTION CBNME INTERVIEW
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 15 ALL-IN-ONE PROPTECH SOLUTION | UROS TROJANOVIC “WITH THE LAUNCH OF PROPEZY, MANAGERS CAN FINALLY ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE BY USING A SINGLE PLATFORM THAT COMBINES ALL THEIR KEY OPERATIONS IN ONE SYSTEM.”
16 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME INTERVIEW PropEzy allows managers to run day- to-day operations in a simple and more effective manner, through the digital dashboard operating teams can organise bills, payments and collections, communicate with residents or employees and generate analytical reports. On the other hand, end- users can manage their requests, post complaints or feedback, book facilities, receive community updates and make online payments. PropEzy has partnered with Eltizam to deliver the digital platform that brings efficiency to portfolio operations and seamless digital experiences to customers. Eltizam’s entities have also been launch partners, helping PropEzy develop the initial product suite. Filling the gap in the market Using numerous solutions and apps results in higher costs and reduced ROIs for asset owners and operators which is a widespread issue in the residential and commercial real estate market worldwide. PropEzy was developed to address the issue of a lack of technological integration across various platforms in the built environment. Instead of silo applications for Facilities Management, Property Management and Security Management, we’re building a platform that integrates all three. So that a single building can have a single data set and related analytics for more effective real time decision- making. With the launch of PropEzy, managers can finally address this challenge by using a single platform that combines all their key operations in one system, enhancing the teams’ productivity and resulting in an increased ROI for organisations. Goals and Objectives for 2022 Our primary goal in 2022 was to prove that the platform can support a critical mass of business-end and customer-end users. With the platform processing over 10,000 customer payments, 5,000 customer requests and 3,000 amenity bookings per month, I believe we have achieved that key goal. Growth In terms of growth plans, on platform development we are continuing to focus on building out core modules while also partnering with a specialised systems integration industry leader to build out a new smart building platform that combines elements of access control, parking control, energy management and indoor air quality by way of IOT sensor networks. In terms of markets, while we expand our portfolio in our home market in the UAE, we are starting deployment in Egypt in H2 2022 and working on expansion plans across MENA through 2023. Opportunities The UAE market is very competitive in community management solutions with both, home-grown and international competitors operating extensively in the country. The same can be said for Facilities Management solutions, many of which have been around for a long time in the UAE’s advanced FM industry. What we have found is that there are not that many solutions offering an integrated platform where one client can deploy a single system with out of the box integration of community, facilities, security and property management systems and benefit from live BI analytics that offer a single point of truth. Enhancing Customer Experience PropEzy was designed to digitise and simplify real estate operations, which in turn enriches the customer’s experience. We created a single system with end-to- end solutions which brings together all stakeholders in the real estate industry including managers, customers, visitors, service providers and retailers. The aim was to create an all-in-one solution to lower costs, streamline operations and optimise day-to-day management. PropEzy continuously provides community and property managers with data-powered insights while simplifying operations through services like process automation in amenity bookings, lease management, payments, finance and accounting, service request handling and communications. Property/community residents and owners are provided with an easy-to-use mobile application for regular payments and bookings, news, updates, latest offers. upcoming events, feedback and complaints. Moreover, workplace managers have access to workplace analytics, enabling them to monitor meeting space occupancy and utilisation. Employees gain a better experience through digitised tools to book meeting rooms and hot desks, invite outside visitors and have seamless entry and exit throughout facilities. Middle East Market Now, proptech is the ‘topic of conversation’ in the real estate industry in MENA and companies are racing to
adopt new technologies and develop innovative solutions. The market which was previously dominated by established proptech players is now witnessing a new wave of local start-ups which is giving rise to unique products that are helping elevate the proptech scene in the UAE to a new level. While majority of the emerging solutions in the region have been centred around real estate listing sites or property financing, the UAE’s proptech space has seen palpable growth in the development of customer experience platforms. With real estate customers becoming more tech-reliant, the rise in cutting-edge digital platforms was inevitable. There is a huge opportunity in integrating building data technology with building construction now that more companies are shifting to deploying sensors and metres to generate data and insight which can assist managers in making crucial decisions. Overall, we have a positive outlook on the future of proptech in the region; as many new players and products are emerging in the market, setting it up to be the most advanced real estate market. Challenges and Opportunities We believe the fragmentation of real estate solutions serves as an obstacle in the built environment. In most cases, each service is managed through an independent system, which makes the task of offering smooth, uninterrupted end-to-end service to customers near impossible for property /community managers. When records sit in a segregated system, managers are burdened with lengthy and complicated procedures, resulting in manual efforts and a reduced output and lower ROIs. Uros’ experience in the proptech industry My experience with proptech started with process mapping Facilities Management operations for digitalisation through Maximo back in 2004. Since then, I have worked on projects to deploy Oracle for property sales, Salesforce for property management (leasing), SAP for large-scale community service charge management and for the last four years have primarily looked at proptech in customer experience enhancement. This journey has equipped me with broad knowledge of how various systems in our industry interact, what are the blind spots (e.g. data & analytics) and with that what are the opportunities for disruption. We are not setting out to create a copy-cat product. We feel that while the platform shares functionalities available in individual competitor products in the market, our unique product and feature mix is what will drive PropEzy’s growth in the region and beyond. Real Estate’s evolution with Technology It is a tale of two sides – technology that is primarily cloud-based and SaaS driven including web and mobile apps is very rapidly innovating how real estate assets are managed. It is providing asset managers with more tools and data analysis to be able to manage bigger portfolios more efficiently. At the same time, it has delivered better digital experiences for customers / end users who can now avail of many services and stay informed in real-time, 24/7. On the other side, real estate technology that is linked to hardware such as smart home & smart building systems, has lagged in comparison. As far back as 2002 off-plan sales centres in the UAE had show-homes displaying the latest in smart home technology, offering customers the opportunity to control the AC as well as the washing machine remotely. We have not seen these technologies deployed in the market in any meaningful way. Instead, deployments are limited to individuals seeking to upgrade their own home systems on an ad-hoc basis. Most building dwellers in the UAE still rely on parking FOBs, access cards, intercom systems and AC thermostats just as we did 10 years ago. With companies like Google (Mesa building energy program) and Amazon investing heavily in R&D in the areas of home automation, hopefully more progress can be made to deploy these solutions on a mass scale commercially in this region in the future. “WHILE MAJORITY OF THE EMERGING PROPTECH SOLUTIONS IN THE REGION HAVE BEEN CENTRED AROUND REAL ESTATE LISTING SITES OR PROPERTY FINANCING, THE UAE’S PROPTECH SPACE HAS SEEN PALPABLE GROWTH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE PLATFORMS.” ALL-IN-ONE PROPTECH SOLUTION | UROS TROJANOVIC
18 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME PROJECT > With sustainability as one of its core pillars, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City aims to be a LEED Gold City > The City has appointed Dalkia and ADC Energy Systems to design, build and operate the first phase of the district cooling plant of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN NONPROFIT CITY appoints Dalkia EDF Group to implement sustainable solutions
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 19 UPSCALE VIBES | LIFESTYLE DEVELOPERS & YOO STUDIO P rince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City has appointed Dalkia EDF Group to implement the highest standards of sustainability solutions at the newly launched destination. As part of the City’s vision to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, several sustainability initiatives will be rolled out across the development, commencing with a district cooling plant to be built by Dalkia EDF Group and its partner ADC Energy Systems. The ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City attended by senior officials including the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ludovic Pouille; David Henry, CEO of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City; Sylvie Jehanno, Chairwoman and CEO of Dalkia EDF Group, and Ibrahim Sleiman, Executive Chairman of ADC Energy Systems. This project is part of the City’s approach to promoting sustainable development, offering an effective alternative to conventional air- conditioning solutions and creating opportunities for green jobs. It is expected to save up to 100,000 tons of CO2 over a 10-year period. David Henry, CEO of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City, said: “Through our pioneering initiatives in promoting the City’s sustainability features, we aim to set a new model for the region and take tangible measures to achieve the Kingdom’s vision to be Net Zero by 2060. The district cooling is one of the first steps we are initiating, with several more to follow, that will help cut the City’s carbon emissions by as much as 50 per cent. Our goal is to serve as a model in sustainable development by achieving LEED Gold certification with eco-conscious energy and water use solutions.” Sylvie Jehanno, Chairwoman and CEO of Dalkia EDF Group, stated: “We are honored to sign this agreement with Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City to provide, alongside with ADC Energy Systems, solutions that enable a sustainable environment for residents and visitors of the City. This is a stepping stone in our strategy to develop in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the energy transition theme of Vision 2030.” Ibrahim Sleiman, Executive Chairman of ADC Energy Systems, stated: “We are privileged to be part of the development of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City and to team up with the Dalkia EDF Group delivering more of our extensive EPC record in district cooling and to be part of the Kingdom’s energy conservation initiatives.” Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City will have a connected load demand of almost 40,000 tons of refrigeration when fully occupied. This demand will be met by two district cooling plants with an interconnected network to facilitate the availability of chilled water throughout the City. The first phase of the district cooling plant is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year in addition to a chilled water network. The plant will use treated sewerage effluent as condenser cooling water as a water conservation measure. Another feature of the system will include thermal energy storage, which will reduce power consumption during peak periods by producing and storing chilled water at off peak periods and using this chilled water during peak power demand. Advanced control systems will be used to operate and monitor the district cooling systems. Dalkia EDF Group, a leading provider of energy services in France, will operate and maintain the future district cooling network. The engineering, procurement and construction company ADC Energy Systems will be in charge of the construction work. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City is located in the Irqah neighborhood, adjacent to Wadi Hanifa, on an area of around 3.4 square kilometers.
20 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM R IB CCS has been at the forefront of technological evolution in the engineering and construction industry for 40 years. Celebrating this milestone, newly appointed Vice President, Peter Damhuis, reflects on the business’s evolution to meet its customers’ ever-changing needs. He says when Peter Reynolds started RIB CCS (formerly CCS) four decades ago, he had already spent four years developing what would become Candy, an estimating, planning and project control solution, while working at Murray & Roberts. “When the construction company decided that systems development was not part of its core business, Reynolds bought himself out and started CCS in 1982. At about the same time, IT and civil engineer, Peter Cheney, had begun developing fit-for-purpose cost and enterprise management software for the construction industry, culminating in the launch of BuildSmart in 2000. The two men would come to epitomise the company’s forward-thinking approach and its ability to leverage technology in support of the RIB CCS customers. Damhuis says Reynolds and Cheney were pioneers at a time when the world was transitioning from paper to computers. “In those early days, estimating was conducted manually or on “back of page”, an inefficient process that both Reynolds and Cheney wanted to change.” Back then, operating platforms were not what they are today. From DOS through to Windows 95, 98, 2000 and XP, operating platforms were evolving rapidly and CCS had to keep up with the changes. “In addition, computers were slow, with tiny screens, small hard drives and cumbersome keyboards. With almost no internal memory, Reynolds was compelled to even build hardware – computer boards that could be inserted into a computer – that Candy could run on. CBNME SOFTWARE RIB CCS Celebrates 40 Years of Embedding Technological Best Practice in Construction Industry PETER DAMHUIS, Vice President, RIB CCS
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 21 “With no internet or networks at the time, Candy also had to be installed on computers via a set of stiffy discs, with an IT expert going from one computer to the next to complete the process,” notes Damhuis. As computers and operating platforms evolved, and RAM and storage became more efficient, the way Candy was installed and updated on computers changed. “As tech platforms evolved, so CCS embraced this change to keep Candy relevant. The focus was (and remains) on developing tool sets for contractors to make their jobs easier by supporting them with a seamless computer environment. Today, Candy updates are a mere click away and take very little time to complete,” adds Damhuis. Forty years ago, CCS did not have a sales department. “Peter Reynolds would visit potential clients to get his products into their businesses. These weren’t IT people trying to computerise the construction industry. Rather, they were people with deep industry insight focused on creating efficiency in the construction, estimating and project management spaces,” says Damhuis. And that’s where he believes RIB CCS’ business success lies. “It started when Peter and his team left Murray & Roberts to become independent operators with the intention of harnessing ideas from various players in the market and collaboratively developing Candy year after year.” What started as an estimating module has scaled into so much more and Candy now offers estimating, planning and project control. RIB CCS continues to employ construction professionals who understand the industry’s needs and are able to capture these needs in its software. Damhuis points out that some of RIB CCS employees have been around since the company’s inception. “We also employ a growing generation of young, talented professionals, who are helping to grow the business in South Africa and globally.” The merge between CCS and BuildSmart happened in 2008, resulting in the creation of a unique integrated cost management solution. Once again, the business had listened to its customers by providing them with an integrated, purpose-built solution that better met their needs. Damhuis says much of RIB CCS’ sales growth has been organic, coming from users moving from one company or country to the next and introducing its products in their new situations. “Whether our users change companies or emigrate to Dubai or Australia, we have several examples of our products being introduced in this way. “Notably a major part of this journey has been users who have established themselves as business development partners of RIB CCS, in the UK, Portugal, India, Australia and New Zealand, each one of these carrying the product, support and service culture of the business to these new markets. Today, our products are used by more than 40,000 users in over 80 countries,” he adds. In September 2020, CCS was acquired by software multinational RIB Software – also an innovator in the building and construction industry – changing its name to RIB CCS. The partnership provided opportunities for greater investment in R&D, access to new technology and innovative solutions such as the first construction industry cloud platform, new channels to market, and partnerships with other RIB companies. RIB CCS | EMBEDDING TECHNOLOGICAL PRACTICE “With no internet or networks at the time, Candy also had to be installed on computers via a set of stiffy discs, with an IT expert going from one computer to the next to complete the process.”
22 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 POWER HOUR 22 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 23 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD Construction Business News ME – the region’s world-class construction magazine – brings you the 8th edition of the POWER HOUR in recognizing the top players in construction, real estate, consultants, subcontractors, facilities management industry, and much more. The cover discusses the 60 most sought- after companies, looking at their stories and influences in neighboring sectors. Ranked based on the company’s overall performance, project delivery, and revenue, it gives our readers a chance to gain insight into these companies. CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 23
24 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 L eading ALEC to the top of the list is Kez Taylor, with more than thirty-five years’ experience in the industry, twenty of which spent with ALEC Engineering & Contracting, Kez Taylor is the Chief Executive Officer, one of the Middle East’s largest main contractors. An honours degree graduate from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Kez’s career has overseen the delivery of more than 100 challenging projects in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Zambia, and Ethiopia including airports, retail, hospitality, and high-rise, while leading a community of over 11,000 highly skilled personnel. With revenues in 2021 exceeding USD 1bn, ALEC is one of the Middle East’s most influential construction companies. Last year alone, the company successfully delivered several iconic projects including 23 pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, and was awarded its first megaproject in Saudi Arabia, the Qiddiya Waterpark project. It also established its Strategic Projects and Developments division and established two new subsidiaries, LINQ Modular and ALEC Data Centre Solutions. ALEC consistently expands into new markets and bring disruptive innovation to segments including construction, MEP, renewable energy, fitout, data centres and more. The company is pioneering the digitalisation of the sector and has achieved both the ISO 19650 and the Kitemark (BIM) certifications. ALEC is also deeply committed to championing sustainability in the sector and this year unveiled its first ever sustainability report which is publicly available and conforms to GRI standards. To maintain this leadership, ALEC actively develops new internal learning and development programs to foster new skillsets within its workforce. Through these efforts and the strategic reinvestment into the business, ALEC continues to set new industry benchmarks. ALEC has developed and grown the business to include a series of successful subsidiaries, such as ALEC 01 CEO | ALEC ENGINEERING & CONTRACTING Kez Taylor
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 25 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD Energy, ALEC FITOUT and LINQ Modular, and work on several of the UAE’s most ambitious projects including twenty-three Expo 2020 pavilions and One Za’abeel, the world’s largest cantilevered building. Pivotal Projects ALEC was one of the most active and important contractors at the EXPO site, having delivered a staggering 23 pavilions. This included the flagship Mobility, Opportunity (fitout work) and Vision Pavilions and the Dubai Exhibition Centre, and the country pavilions for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and many others. The works done by ALEC at pavilions ensured they were the highlights of visitors’ experiences at the EXPO. Dubai Hills Mall was another large- scale retail designation delivered by ALEC and especially noteworthy aspects of this project included our delivery of Storm, the mall’s thrilling indoor rollercoaster, and the solar panelling which greatly aids reduction of the Mall’s energy consumption footprint. Innovation in Expansion of the Business Far from resting on its laurels, ALEC looks to consistently expand into new markets and bring disruptive innovation to these segments – helping advance the transformation of their verticals. I Last year, ALEC launched LINQ, a specialist modular home manufacturer. This also entailed the establishment of a brand-new production factory in Jebel Ali, Dubai which employs a highly skilled and specially trained workforce, and world-class processes to minimise material and energy consumption. I Building on our strengths in construction, MEP, logistics, fit-out, and technology integration, and looking to cater to growing demand for regional data centres, we announced the establishment of ALEC Data Centre Solutions. ALEC Data Centre Solutions focuses across three primary lines of business — traditional data centre construction solutions, prefabricated solutions, and modernisation & retrofit solutions. I We are also set to launching a new division focused on strategic projects and developments. This division will specialise in preconstruction services (Design and build, Construction Management, and Turnkey Developments) with the aim of delivering comprehensive value from the design stage onwards I ALEC also entered joint venture with BUTEC, a leading contractor in the fields of construction, engineering, logistics and related businesses. This partnership enables our clients to benefit from unparalleled economies of scale, construction excellence, sectorial expertise, and availability of resources. I In line with our focus on advancing digitalisation, both within ALEC and for the project we work on, we invested time and resources to achieve both the ISO 19650 certification and the Kitemark certification for BIM process. I This year, ALEC will also unveil its first ever Sustainability report. This report which will be made publicly available conforms to GRI standards and comprehensively details our ESG goals and the measures we have been taking to achieve them. Commitment to Employees and Highest Quality Standards To maintain our market leadership, we actively develop new internal learning and development programs to develop and enhance new skillsets within its workforce. An example is the ongoing development of employees through the ALEC EVOLVE program. In its first variant - EVOLVE C – the program is aimed at the company’s entry and more junior level staff. This program combines various learning initiatives including mentor support, classroom training, book reviews, PDPs and project delivery. This is rounded out by THRIVE, our Leadership Development program that aims to support employees at the mid-management level on their journey to become senior leaders. With the ultimate goal of nurturing their emotional intelligence in order to refine their ability to manage people, this program covers topics such as “Leadership as Coach”, “Hiring and Firing Effectively”, “Data Storytelling” and “Improvisation”. The works done by ALEC at pavilions ensured they were the highlights of visitors’ experiences at the EXPO.
26 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 A hmed Abou Hashima is known as a remarkable patriotic self- made Egyptian entrepreneur. He is one of the main pillars of the national economy in Egypt. In 2010 he founded Egyptian Steel Group with investments exceeding 1 billion dollars. Egyptian Steel consists of 4 plants with the latest eco-friendly technologies in the steel industry that produces 2.3 million tons per year of steel rebars. His choice of the Group’s four plants to be strategically located across the nation gave the company a logistic and competitive advantage in covering the whole country. Port Said Plant started in 2012. Alexandria plant started in 2015. The Beni Suef Plant started in 2016. Al Ain Al Sokhna Plant started in 2018. In 2016, Ahmed Abou Hashima established Egyptian Media Group, a conglomerate of all types of media services that has more than 17 companies in all the different fields of the media under one umbrella with the strongest digital media, visual and audio platforms. He established Egyptian Cement in 2017, where he created what he calls “a one-stop shop for building materials” with investments of over 6 billion pounds and an annual capacity of 2 million tons. In May 2021, marked the actual commencement of production of Egyptian Cement plant in Sohag governorate, the first plant of its kind in Upper-Egypt. Ahmed Abou Hashima is a strong believer that his success in the business world will not be complete without an equally successful community role. He launched several initiatives, aimed at achieving sustainable development, developing the young generation of Egypt and supporting gifted athletes and special needs champions. In addition to social initiative aiming at supporting the community in times of needs. Ahmed Abou Hashima CEO | EGYPTIAN STEEL | EGYPTIAN CEMENT 02
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TOP 60 INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN THE GCC. 40 YEARS OF RUNNING TOGETHER IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.
28 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 GROUP CEO | AL BAWANI GROUP Eng. Fakher Alshawaf 03
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 29 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD E ng. Fakher has been at the helm of Al Bawani Group for over two decades. and has strived for growth and brand recognition in the company. Al Bawani is a diversified group of Saudi companies. Established in 1991, the past three decades have seen their business grow from a modest civil-works firm into a fully-fledged general contracting corporation with a sizeable portfolio, strong financial position, and a significant presence in a broad range of industries. Al Bawani’s construction division is now among the five largest operators in KSA. The company specialises in core- and-shell work, renovation work, fit-outs, architectural facades, MEP work, turnkey design & build, and project management contracting. Furthermore, the group has strong capabilities across the EPC project lifecycle, and we deliver innovation- driven solutions for their clients. To date, the company has completed over 250 projects, building long term partnerships, and earning the trust and loyalty of their clients in the process. Furthermore, Al Bawani currently have SAR 9bn (USD 2.4bn) worth of projects. The group has bolstered its reputation by adhering to international standards and developing rigorous quality management systems in its business sectors. The group has also established rigorous procedures to ensure the safety of their personnel which has resulted in minimal errors and getting projects delivered on time and within budget. Al Bawani specialises in core- and-shell work, renovation work, fit-outs, architectural facades, MEP work, turnkey design & build, and project management contracting.
30 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 J ohn Pagano is the Group Chief Executive Officer of The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind some of the world’s most ambitious development ventures, including luxury regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA. John is leveraging his 38 years of international experience in delivering large scale multi-billion-dollar developments covering every facet of the real estate value chain, including site acquisition, master planning, project structuring, financing, construction and asset management. The Red Sea has demonstrated significant progress over the last 12 months, with phase one now more than 50 percent complete. Work is on track to welcome the first guests in 2023, when the first hotels will open, with the balance of phase one set to complete by early 2024. Several key assets are already fully operational, including a four-star management hotel, on-site offices, and the largest landscape nursery in the region. Earlier this year TRSDC established its first joint-venture agreement for the destination with Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Co., a subsidiary of the Al Mutlaq Group, worth SR 1.5 billion. This partnership demonstrates the belief the investment community has in its projects, as well as the wider tourism opportunity in the Kingdom. At AMAALA, TRSDC recently revealed the iconic designs for its stunning Triple Bay Yacht Club, which it expects will ensure the evolution of the Red Sea coast become an international hub for luxury yachting. Across both destinations, over 1,250 contracts worth in excess of 30 billion riyals have been awarded – critically, over 70 percent of the total value of these contracts has been awarded to Saudi firms. Various new programs have been launched to upskill and prepare young Saudi talent for jobs of the future, including the 4th annual edition of the Elite Graduate Program. The Red Sea destination and AMAALA are set to cement Saudi Arabia as a leader in luxury, sustainable tourism. GROUP CEO | THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TRSDC) John Pagano 04
At Havelock One Interiors, we understand that every workplace strategy is unique and needs to be differentiated with an inspiring space having a seamless experience to match the brand vision. If you are planning to refurbish or fit-out your office, our interior design specialists can guide you with the ideal design vision for your business to thrive. As a superior fit-out contracting and manufacturing services company, our technical expertise, our resources, facilities and our collaborative approach allow for the best possible implementation of your workplace, regardless the circumstances. www.havelockone.com Havelock One. Consider it done. OFFICE DESIGN & BUILD PARTNER YOU CAN RELY ON.
32 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 M ohamed Alabbar is a global entrepreneur with active interests in real estate, retail, hospitality, e-commerce, technology, logistics, F&B and venture capital. Since 1997, he has been at the forefront of global real estate, leading marquee re- al-estate development companies such as Emaar Properties (developer of world’s tallest building) and Eagle Hills (leading emerging markets real es- tate developer). He has spearheaded the growth of Emaar Properties attaining unmatched track record of successfully developing iconic futuristic residential, retail, entertainment, hospitality & lei- sure assets transforming the lifestyles of people globally. Over the years he has developed world- class mixed used projects, including his retail busi- nesses, across 20+ markets of Middle East, North & Sub Saharan Africa, Central & Eastern Europe and South & South East Asia and US. Emaar Development PJSC recently announced that it achieved its highest ever property sales during the first half (January to June) of 2022 un- derpinned by recent successful launches creating value for the future. Property sales for H1 2022 is increased by 10% to AED 15.216 billion (US$ 4.143 billion) compared to AED 13.825 billion (US$ 3.764 billion) in H1 2021. During first half of 2022, Emaar Development successfully launched fifteen projects in various master plans, such as Talia and Orania in The Valley, Elie Saab II and Bliss 2 in Arabian Ranches III, Rosewater, Lotus, Creek Palace, Orchid, Creek Crescent and Island Park I in Dubai Creek Harbour, St. Regis in Downtown Dubai, Address The Bay in Emaar Beachfront, Greenview 3 in Emaar South, Park Field in Dubai Hills Estate and Seagate in Rashid Yachts & Marina. In the first six months of 2022 (January to June), Emaar Development reported EBITDA of AED 2.564 billion (US$ 698 million) an increase of 15% com- pared to the first six months of 2021 and revenue of AED 7.282 billion (US$ 1.983 billion). Due to this exceptional performance, Emaar now has a robust sales backlog of AED 32.753 billion (US$ 8.917 billion), which will be recognised as future revenue for the business. Mohamed Alabbar 05 FOUNDER | EMAAR PROPERTIES
34 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 06 J erry Inzerillo is one of the hospitality industry’s most influential figures, acting as a champion for the sector and its people for more than five decades. From CEO of Forbes Travel Guide to CEO of Morgans Hotel Group, Inzerillo is now leading the transformation of the world’s most iconic tourism destination, Diriyah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In June 2018, he was appointed by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the first Group CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA). The Authority will turn the historic city of Diriyah into a centre of arts, culture, commerce and science. With the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif at its heart, it is set to become Saudi Arabia’s most iconic lifestyle and tourism destinations. Upon completion, the USD 50.6 billion development will add 27 billion Saudi Riyals to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and provide 55,000 job opportunities. The development will be home to 100,000 people and will aim to attract 27 million visitors annually. In 2021, Inzerillo was named Corporate Hotelier of the World by HOTELS magazine during their prestigious annual awards, DGDA’S FUTURE PLANS DGDA is building a world-class destination, from restaurants and hotels to cultural centres and residential areas: In the entertainment sector, Diriyah is opening its premium dining district, Bujairi Terrace, hosting Michelin-starred restaurants and leading Saudi brands. Diriyah has also been host to the Formula E races, major boxing matches and the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. In terms of tourism, Diriyah is a global player. DGDA has announced 14 global brands will join their 38-hotel-strong hospitality offering, including the Four Seasons, Armani, Ritz- Carlton, Rosewood, Six Senses, and many others. Diriyah is also preparing to open the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif to the public permanently for the very first time later this year. Diriyah’s uniqueness lies in its ability to tangibly connect the destination to its deep- rooted history and cultural past while driving innovation to bring it into the future. Its buildings will be constructed using handmade mud bricks in the traditional Najdi style that is native to the region. Diriyah’s first assets are slated to open this year, including the historic At-Turaif which will welcome guests permanently for the first time. CEO | DIRIYAH GATE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY GERARD J. INZERILLO
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 35 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD I n the span of seven years, despite economic slumps and pandemic challenges, Joe persevered, formulated vision/ mission, planned everything around the future, from business strategy to financial situation and started exploring for work in different geographies and other sectors like healthcare. Subsequently, JT&Partners grew to more than twice its original size. His initial staff rose to +70, its Dubai office increased to +300sqm and the company expanded its practice to Abu Dhabi and Beirut. Taking advantage of multi-skilled resources availability in the region, Joe employed people from multicultural backgrounds, of +15 different nationalities with diverse professional experiences. Thus, JT&Partners has an energetic, collaborative, creative team of innovative individuals with their fingers on the pulse of global architecture and construction, from latest technologies and trends, to oldest traditions, producing bespoke designs that reflect diversity in culture, experience and understanding. Joe is a firm believer of applying innovation at different levels: design, business, client approach, project approach and good support team. He uses “unconventional” management strategies for JT&Partners to sustain its reputation as a world- renown consultant, delivering iconic, environmental and socially sustainable projects world-wide as well as retaining and expanding his clientele and contacts. A talented, insightful and creative architect, he has the gift of being able to understand, interpret local cultural requirements/ aspirations and reflecting all these into cost-effective building design solutions. He creates buildings and communities that transcend Proactive in his commitments to CSR, Joe is heavily involved in raising awareness on sociable/sustainable communities, giving his team good health/financial benefits, fostering future generation, conducting business ethically/fairly, supporting worthy causes. Outside of the practice, he attends international industry related exhibits, actively participates in university lectures/ panel discussions and grants interviews to share his knowledge, experiences, viewpoints. Joe is an inspiration to designers and architects. He achieved success through his innovative ideas in design and management, creativity to “think outside of the box” and being a flexible and adaptable visionary. To be ranked amongst the most powerful architects and influencers in the Region is an honour for Joe. Joe Tabet MANAGING DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER JT+PARTNERS 07
36 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 GROUP CEO | ARADA Ahmed Alkhoshaibi 08
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 37 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD A hmed Alkhoshaibi is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Arada. Based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Arada was founded in 2017, under the Chairmanship of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, and the Vice Chairmanship of HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal. Alkhoshaibi has leveraged his previous extensive experience in the real estate sector in Australia to help establish Arada as one of the UAE’s most active developers. In the short period since Arada was launched, the company has amassed projects valued at a total of AED33 billion, spread over a 48 million square foot area, with 34,000 units in its backlog. So far, Arada has delivered 2,500 units, with another 6,500 currently under construction. The company’s first project, Nasma Residences, was launched in March 2017 and swiftly became Sharjah’s fastest-selling community. Nasma Residences was completed earlier this year, following the delivery of the sixth and final phase. In September 2017, Arada launched the AED24 billion mixed-use megaproject, Aljada, which was unveiled by HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah. Aljada is Sharjah’s largest ever project and has also witnessed record sales. So far, 1,500 homes at Aljada have been completed, and Arada is aiming to deliver another 5,000 units in 2022. Masaar, a 4,000 villa and townhouse community also located in Sharjah, was launched at the beginning of 2021, and the developer is hard at work constructing the 450 homes in the first phase of the project. Following on from its success in Sharjah, Arada is now diversifying aggressively into other markets, including Dubai. In the last quarter of 2022, the developer will launch two new projects in Dubai, including on the last remaining beachfront location on the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah islands. The company is also looking at further project sites in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and in Saudi Arabia. Perhaps the company’s biggest achievement in the last year has been the award of favourable ratings from Moody’s and Fitch, which were a precursor to the successful conclusion of Arada’s debut public financing deal, a $350 million sukuk. As Group Chief Executive Officer of Arada, Alkhoshaibi is responsible for all aspects of corporate performance, including the execution of a successful long-term strategy, as well as planning, development, marketing and sales, all of which have added considerable shareholder value. In the short space of time since the company was launched, Alkhoshaibi has also been responsible for the recruitment of a 550-strong team of real estate professionals, each of whom have extensive experience in this field.
38 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 Sultan Sobhi Batterjee CHAIRMAN AND CEO | IHCC 09
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 39 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD S ultan Sobhi Batterjee is the Chairman & CEO of IHCC as well as a leading Executive and Board Member in Bait Al Batterjee Holding and the Saudi German Hospitals Group. He is also the founding Board Member of Batterjee Foundation, and a founder of multiple companies and organizations including Lifestyle Developers and The Innovation House. His leadership of IHCC plays a vital role in positioning the company as a world-renowned design and build company and turnkey solution provider specializing in healthcare, education, and mixed-use development projects in the Middle East and North Africa. As a prominent Saudi Class (A) company, IHCC is firmly aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, through the creation of various business units in key disciplines. The in-house capabilities of IHCC encompass the prime components of the successful delivery of megaprojects and reflect the company’s strength in leading on the provisions of high-performance buildings solutions. IHCC acts as a single source for integrated turnkey solutions that cover design & engineering, construction, MEP, finishing & fit-out, energy efficiency, building sustainability solutions, facilities management, and investments. The company’s experience and offering are provided through various channels including Design & Build, EPC contracts, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP’s), and EPC Financing solutions. IHCC has a proven track record that highlights its steady growth and its major role in Vision 2030 giga-project developments. At present the company is delivering on numerous large-scale contracts in the KSA, UAE, Egypt and Morocco, including advanced medical cities in Makkah, Dammam, and Alexandria. Each medical city is comprised of hospital buildings, specialty centers, educational and residential facilities, mixed-use and commercial buildings, recreational facilities, and landscaping.
40 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 T ariq Chauhan is the Group CEO and Co-founder of EFS Group, a regional and premium FM brand. Tariq is a visionary business leader and is widely acknowledged for his contribution to FM in the region. He established EFS as a household name in less than a decade, taking its turnover from less than AED 100mn to over a billion and an enterprise value of over two billion. In this period, Tariq expanded its company presence from 5 countries to 21 countries across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Turkey and 22,000 employees. The Group’s strategic growth has accelerated the FM market share in the region, bringing key clients into the portfolio across its Global operations. Several projects, such as a Technology Major, landmark aviation projects and many more, became part of the strategic market acquisition for EFS to deliver extraordinary services. Earlier in the year, EFS also announced new appointments across the Group, which saw internal and external promotions and additions to the team to contribute to its growth and expansion. Apart from its project successes over the past 12 months, EFS has been at the forefront of being a ‘People-First’ company and was recognized for this at the Taqdeer Awards in 2022. They were awarded this for their contribution to Expo 2020 Dubai’s Worker Welfare and Health & Safety standards, implementing the best labour practices and exceptional service towards Expo 2020 while maintaining highly engaged and motivated staff. Group CEO of EFS, Tariq Chauhan, said: “The concept of ‘People First’ evolved with my journey at EFS, where business is centered around people. They directly render more than two-thirds of services, and most of the cost of running the company is also related to them. I realized that for employee happiness is integral to company wellbeing. I adopted ‘People First’ as my crucial strategy to build an organization where employee happiness and self-actualization mattered. In our outreach to build a true People First Organization, we realized that the company’s Human Resources focus must rest with the engagement of its blue-collar workforce.” Tariq was featured in Forbes amongst the Top CEOs in the Middle East in 2021 and 2022, as well as listed as one of the Top 5 Indian Executives in the Forbes Ranking. He is recognized and ranked twelfth amongst the Top Business Leaders whilst being second rank amongst the FM Power 30 by Construction Business News. He was awarded the Innovative Leader of the Year and the Industry Leader of the Year by Innovation in Construction & FM Awards and nominated by GCC GOV HR Awards as the People First Leader in 2021. Tariq is relentlessly working to build the case of upskilling in the FM industry and raising the bar in built environments and workplaces. He has set new benchmarks in facilities management through quality service delivery, people initiatives and innovation. Tariq Chauhan GROUP CEO AND CO-FOUNDER | EFS GROUP 10
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 41 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD W ith over a decade of management experience in banking, construction, oil & gas, and hospitality, Farhad Azizi is the Chief Executive Officer of Azizi Developments, one of Dubai’s leading private property developers with an extensive portfolio of modern luxury residential and commercial properties across the emirate’s most sought-after locations. Farhad is responsible for the company’s overall operation and management and has been the driving force behind the strategy, guidance, and direction of the managerial team. A business strategist and real estate expert, Farhad has an exemplary track record in project implementation and has contributed substantially to the overall value of the organisation. With his customer-centric mindset, focus on quality, and strong business insights, he has positioned Azizi Developments as a leading real estate developer in the region. Having been featured in Arabian Business’ GCC 100 Inspiring Leaders List, having won several other prestigious accolades, and being a committed philanthropist who is passionately involved in a variety of causes, Farhad Azizi is a true force for change. Epitomizing leadership in action, Farhad is an example of doing what you love, and loving what you do. Just as comfortable at the boardroom table as he is on a construction site, Farhad is passionate about every aspect of his family business. His hands-on involvement from planning and finance, through to project completion and after-sales service has positioned Farhad as a thought-leader in the industry. Farhad subscribes to – and is a strong proponent of - the mantra of ‘quality means doing it right when no one is looking.’ Under his stewardship, Farhad Azizi drove company’s expansion and fortified the Azizi footprint in high-growth and international markets. Azizi Developments is currently working on around 100 projects that are to be delivered by 2023, with more than 100 projects worth several billion US dollars being planned and projected to be delivered between 2023 and 2025. CEO | AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS Farhad Azizi 11 D r Najib has been with K&A for 25 years, including four years as Chairman and five years as CEO. In the past year Dr Najib has played a vital role in steering the company through the global challenges associated with Covid-19. Dr Najib’s leadership and steady hand were vital in giving confidence to staff from the earliest stages of the pandemic, and through to today as we seek to ensure the business is well placed to benefit from the regional economic recovery. Dr Najib was responsible for spearheading a Covid taskforce to ensure special measures could be quickly and efficiently implemented in the best interests of the com- pany and our people. His foresight in driving investment in digitalisation throughout the past decade was a key factor in enabling K&A’s business continuity, thanks to our smooth transition to remote working strategies. Having been an early adopter of the cloud, the foundations Dr Najib had laid ensured we were quickly able to deploy our design staff to work from home without impacting client projects. CHAIRMAN & CEO | KHATIB & ALAMI Dr. Najib Khatib 12
42 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 A s Chief Executive of the Middle East and Africa, Hamed is focused on advancing a culture of technical excellence and innovation with an emphasis on quality and responsiveness to client needs. His extensive industry knowledge and strong client insight ensure that AECOM delivers solutions that solve its clients’ most complex challenges. He remains engaged in the technical delivery of projects by serving as a project executive sponsor for major programs across the region. Notable high-profile projects in which Hamed is involved include: I Hamad International Airport, Qatar I Midfield Terminal Complex, Abu Dhabi, UAE I Saudi Customs PMO I The Line, NEOM, Saudi Arabia I NEOM Bay, Saudi Arabia Highlights over the past 12 months In Saudi Araba, Hamed has played a leading role in AECOM’s ongoing expansion and market dominance. His strong leadership and relentless focus on flawless project delivery were key to AECOM securing significant contract extensions on Vision 2030 projects, such as NEOM Bay, for which we provide program management consultancy services and NEOM Spine Infrastructure, for which we provide design services. In addition, we were awarded the role of Executive Program Management by the Royal Commission of AlUla and Majid Al Futtaim appointed us as the lead design consultant for its mixed-use development in north Riyadh. In Qatar, Hamed continued to forge delivery relationships with Ashghal, adding the management of their local roads and drainage program to our portfolio. We also secured a six-year contract with Hamad International Airport to provide PMC services for a new cargo terminal and Amiri Flight Facilities. In the UAE, Hamed is a trusted advisor to clients. We continue to deliver transformative projects for the public and private sector, and secured contracts for large-scale projects with Aldar and Miral. Since launching Sustainable Legacies, our ESG strategy and services, in April 2021, we have secured work through frameworks providing net zero advisory services to clients. By embracing services that are being valued differently by clients we have embedded this new revenue stream in our regional business and boast the largest market share of voice on net zero. Key projects we’ve worked on and completed over the past 12 months The flagship projects we have completed across the Middle East & Africa include: I Dubai Expo Public Realm, UAE – masterplanning & public realm I Dubai Expo Roads, UAE – design and construction supervision I Museum of the Future, UAE – cost consultancy I ICD Brookfield Place, UAE – project management I Doha Oasis, Qatar – project management I Diyar Al Muharraq infrastructure, Bahrain – design and construction supervision I Habitas Hotel, AlUla – program management I Mall of Oman, Oman - lead design and construction supervision I Tema Port Phase 1, Ghana – construction supervision I Transformational projects we continue to work on include: I Saudi Customs PMO I MOMRA PMO I Midfield Terminal Complex, Abu Dhabi Airport I Diriyah Square I King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh I Red Sea International Airport I Jeddah Stormwater Master Plan Hamed Zaghw CHIEF EXECUTIVE | AECOM MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA 13
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 43 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD S ince stepping into the role of Emrill’s CEO in 2019, Stuart Harrison has spearheaded initiatives that have enabled the business to achieve year-on-year growth while prioritising the health, safety and wellbeing of Emrill’s employees and clients. Celebrating 20 years of operations in the UAE, Emrill announced a 32 per cent increase in revenue and an 81 per cent increase in profitability in the first half of 2022. Servicing over 190 contracts, Emrill has achieved a contract retention rate of 82.26 per cent, demonstrating the effectiveness of its client-centric approach and commitment to providing innovative solutions and market-leading services. Harrison is passionate about innovation and continuous improvement, and Emrill’s adaptability has been at the heart of the organisation’s success. In the last 12 months, Emrill has launched an efficiency- enhancing app for vertical communities, building on the success of its award- winning app for horizontal communities. Utilisation of the app has enabled the organisation to increase manpower efficiency by 20 per cent and reduce manual task supervision by 10 per cent. To enhance delivery of technical services, Emrill also launched the TechCompanion app. Utilised by over 2,000 technicians, engineers and supervisors, the app empowers Emrill’s employees to access and utilise data to drive efficiencies. Under Harrison’s leadership, safety has remained a core pillar of Emrill’s business. The organisation has achieved over 23 million safe manhours across its contracts since the beginning of 2022. To further promote health, safety and wellness, Emrill launched ‘Safety By Choice – Not By Chance’. Since its launch, Emrill’s lost time frequency rate has decreased by 50 per cent, which is a clear sign that the programme is keeping Emrill’s people and clients safer than ever. Building on this foundation of safety, Harrison embraces a holistic approach to employees’ development and wellbeing, promoting diversity and inclusivity across every level of the business. To expand its learning and development offering, Emrill achieved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation in 2021 and has gone on to have twelve courses accredited. Emrill also launched Masterminds, a knowledge-sharing programme developed to circulate relevant, credible and current knowledge, experience and expertise through masterclasses, enabling employees to connect with experienced and trusted subject matter experts. To prioritise employees’ wellbeing beyond their physical safety and education opportunities, Emrill launched ‘A Better You’. As part of this initiative, Emrill’s Employee Assistance Programme gives Emrill’s employees, and their families, access to mental health services and professionals. Stuart Harrison CEO | EMRILL 14
44 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 W ith more than twenty years of experience working in the GCC’s facilities management industry, Mohamad held senior positions in various local and multinational organizations. He is known for his passion towards his customers and the service quality delivered to them. Mohamad has a proven track record in implementing international best practices, improving safety standards, increasing profitability and driving efficiency. For the past 4 years, Mohamad has held the position of CEO at Deyaar Facilities Management and is also the recipient of CEO of the Year 2021 by CBN ME. At Deyaar FM our aim is to achieve sustainable growth. We have started off this year on a high note and expect to continue with the same momentum whereby exceeding the expectations. For any company the biggest asset is their staff and it is important that we take care of them. With the recent weekend changes, Deyaar FM decided that our white-collar staff will work a 4 and half day week to increase productivity and motivation within the work week. We have already noticed a positive change with this decision. From a growth perspective, it was important for DFM to add more services in-house, hence we have started in- house chiller maintenance and façade cleaning and repairs as a new segment. Moreover, we also aim to penetrate into new sectors and provide those Clients with tailor made solutions. Deyaar FM will continue investing in technology, particularly in the augmented reality domain with an aim to improve service delivery, increase customer satisfaction and to reduce costs. As part of enhancing and streamlining our internal processes, we have now launched our new comprehensive app enabled HR system whereby all the activities are done online and in real time. We have seen the FM market re- emerging strongly out of the pandemic. At Deyaar FM we have been successful in achieving the expected growth for the year 2021. Deyaar FM recorded a 60% increase in manpower for the year 2021 achieving an 18% overall business growth where we have signed 29 new contracts. We have also ventured into new sectors within the UAE market like Healthcare and Retail. Deyaar FM successfully attained the ISO 41001 Facility Management certification as well as the BICSc certification thus reaffirming our commitment to providing quality services to our Clients. These accreditations will help us standardise our policies and procedures further enhancing our service delivery. We now have two fully equipped training centres where all our staff shall undergo professional training. We have successfully executed a transformational strategy to meet the highest international standards and best practices, which positioned the company as one of the UAE’s leading FM service providers known for delivering high quality service and cost-effective tailored solutions. Mohamad Abou Laban CEO | DEYAAR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 15
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 45 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD F ounded in 2002 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Select Group is a dynamic and diverse entity with premium real estate and property development at its core. Consisting of diverse investments in various sectors across the Middle East and Europe, its development portfolio comprises over 20 million square feet of award-winning residential, commercial, hospitality, retail and mixed-use developments, having delivered to date over 7,000 units. The Group’s flagship developments include Jumeirah Living Marina Gate, Intercontinental Dubai Marina, Studio One, 15 Northside and the most recent under development projects such as Six Senses Residences The Palm, Dubai, the master waterfront development Peninsula and 98 Baker Street in London. Backed by its ethos and market reputation of delivering premium waterfront projects, Select Group continues to elevate the concept of exceptional living, contributing to the well-being and high-quality standards of lifestyle communities. Diversification has been a critical strategy for sustainable growth for Select Group with several other investment ventures within the fitness, wellness, technology and asset management sectors. As one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors, hospitality is integral to Select Group’s diversification and growth strategy. The Group has an impressive local and international hospitality portfolio and a proven track record of achieving significant success while fostering prosperous partnerships with leading hospitality brands, including IHG, Jumeirah Group, ACCOR, Six Senses, Radisson and Melia. With premium delivery, best-in-class and diverse strategies, and transparent business integrity as its core values, Select Group has established itself as one of the region’s most trusted and successful privately-owned companies. The key to its success and continued growth is the founder and CEO, Rahail Aslam. “As a result of our prudent approach, we have grown steadily and remained resilient despite challenging market conditions. We are fortunate to have diligently built a best-in-class team, both in- house and externally, together with the implementation of high standards of corporate governance, which has supported the success of our business verticals. With our rigorous selection process to secure the more trusted partners for our projects, we are well-positioned to continue delivering on our quality promise whilst consistently exceeding expectations of investors and owners.” Select Group has a development pipeline of 7 million square feet of real estate (equating to 4000 homes) to be delivered over the coming 24 to 36 months whilst diligently seeking diverse investment and asset acquisition locally and abroad, further enriching its investment portfolio. Rahail Aslam CEO | SELECT GROUP 16 We are fortunate to have diligently built a best-in-class team, both in-house and externally, together with the implementation of high standards of corporate governance, which has supported the success of our business verticals.
46 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 W ith more than 15 years under his belt, Ahmed Al Suwaidi is an industry veteran who has played an instrumental role in enriching Dubai’s housing landscape and enhancing its appeal as a global destination to live and work. He is at the helm of Dubai Asset Management, the residential leasing arm of Dubai Holding Asset Management (DHAM), which manages a portfolio of 15 strategically located residential communities that provide ideal solutions for individuals and families as well as corporate clients. Dubai Asset Management provides a spectrum of housing, from studio apartments to luxury villas, across more than 25,000 units. Its assets include premium living at Layan, Dubai Wharf, Manazel Al Khor, City Walk, and Bluewaters, family communities at Ghoroob Square, Ghoroob, Shorooq, Bayti Villas, Um El Sheif Villas, and Remraam, value communities at Al Khail Gate as well as convenient staff housing at Nuzul, Al Quoz Accommodation, and Rahaba Residences. Al Suwaidi’s comprehensive experience encompasses the full spectrum of property management solutions and innovative services in leasing, with emphasis on customer relationship management and tenant happiness. His vision to promote digital transformation in real estate and property management have enhanced resident experiences and enabled Dubai Asset Management to significantly contribute to Dubai’s paperless strategy, as one of the first real estate players to digitize the leasing and payment system. Under Al Suwaidi’s leadership, Dubai Asset Management’s Residential Communities successfully and resiliently surmounted a global pandemic with noteworthy milestones and achievements. High occupancy rates across the portfolio over the past 12 months echo a global shift in tenant expectations for more balanced offerings, including a demand for spacious homes, greener spaces and convenient amenities, and reflect strong confidence in Dubai’s real estate market. Dubai Asset Management successfully launched Ghoroob Square in 2020, an intimate community of 39 large two-bedroom townhouses designed for families. Along with an exclusive gym, swimming pool and a dedicated Ahmed Al Suwaidi MANAGING DIRECTOR | RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES - DUBAI HOLDING ASSET MANAGEMENT 17 Under Al Suwaidi’s leadership, Dubai Asset Management’s Residential Communities successfully and resiliently surmounted a global pandemic with noteworthy milestones and achievements.
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 47 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD children’s pool, the community has established schools and healthcare facilities nearby and a quaint retail complex featuring a nursey, boutiques and restaurants. Another addition to Dubai Asset Management’s residential portfolio in 2021 was Al Khail Gate Muhra, a centrally located master community. Amplifying affordable and high-quality living options amid an all-time demand high for Dubai’s property market from 2021-2022 reinforced Dubai Holding Asset Management’s commitment to offering a spectrum of housing catering to a wealth of different lifestyles. The 2019 launch of DubaiAM Life app, a digital platform and app, further promoted enriched living experiences and focused on simplifying the brand’s day-to-day interaction with individual and corporate customers. The integrated app pioneered enabling residents to make digital rent payments and renew leases on the app, while also allowing them to raise maintenance and community care requests, communicate with management and manage move- ins and move-outs efficiently for an enhanced tenant journey. As of December 2021, more than 85% of individual customers are registered on DHAM’s DubaiAM app. In H1 2022, app-based transactions made up nearly 87% of the payments, while more than 21% of residents use DubaiAM Life to pay completely cheque-free. Moving into 2023 and beyond, tenant- centricity and community management remain a focal point for Al Suwaidi. Enhancements, ongoing maintenance and upgrades are poised to play a considerable role in minimising the communities’ environmental footprint, leveraging new technologies and delivering high-quality residences. As part of Dubai Asset Management’s commitment to provide the best possible services to residents, the Company plans to continue carrying out a range of community improvement projects to boost efficiency, comfort and engagement. Additional efforts to amplify sustainability across the portfolio are in the pipeline. Dubai Asset Management is installing electric car stations at select communities to promote the use of fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as solar panelling at common parking areas to produce renewable energy, in line with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 efforts. Several of Dubai Asset Management’s residential communities, such as Remraam, Layan and Ghoroob also offer vibrant landscaped areas, playgroups, sports courts and more. Looking ahead, Dubai Asset Management has a roadmap for promoting a sustainable lifestyle in Dubai, with plans to work with its partners to implement a host of waste management initiatives across its communities. Such plans are part of the Company’s mission to develop future-proof communities designed around the needs of residents, whilst being strategically aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan ambitions. Al Suwaidi remains steadfast in his commitment to providing approximately 100,000 residents across the portfolio world-class living experiences by using a data and consumer behaviour driven approach to building and enhancing communities. His determination to keep residential offerings on par with changing trends is an integral value, and core to reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the most dynamic cities in the world.
48 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 Y ousef Al-Shelash, Chairman of the Board and one of the founders of Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, has spearheaded the company’s 28-year journey as one of the largest listed real estate companies in KSA and the region with a total of 32 billion Saudi Riyals in assets. As a pioneer in the real estate sector, Al-Shelash has been instrumental in shaping the concept of space in Saudi Arabia and beyond. For Dar Al Arkan, he has not only set a benchmark for residential, commercial, and mix-use projects in KSA but also expanded its footprint to other markets like Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Bosnia to build its international success, with iconic projects. An advocate of innovation, he has been diversifying the company’s offerings in the digital arena by buy building a world-class digitized real estate hub coupled with curating limited edition projects with globally renowned luxury brands such as Roberto Cavalli, Elie Saab, Missoni, and Pagani Auto- mobili. Al-Shelash brings years of invaluable knowledge in real estate development, financial, and investment banking sectors and is currently on the board of several leading financial institutions. CHAIRMAN | DAR AL ARKAN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Yousef Al-Shelash 18
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 49 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD F rancis Alfred, the Managing Director of Sobha Realty, one of the leading luxury real estate developers in the region, is a visionary with immense experience in the real estate industry. He led the company’s business operations across India and the UAE for two decades, before being appointed Managing Director of Sobha Realty’s Middle East operations in 2016. He was at the forefront of some of the firm’s notable achievements and has overseen the company’s global expansion and diversification strategies, propelling it into the top tier of real estate developers in the UAE. He has managed, monitored, and planned the design and delivery of several key real estate projects for the company. His leadership style and experience has been monumental for the high quality and standard of Sobha Realty’s projects. The company has achieved numerous milestones under his guidance. Francis supports digitalisation and is in favour of the introduction of next-generation technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics in the construction sector. He advocates lean manufacturing and plays an important role in the implementation of Sobha’s backward integration model. He plays a key role in the completion of the Sobha Hartland project, which is the group’s luxury freehold property spread across eight million sq. ft. with an estimated cost of USD 4 billion. Due to increased investors’ demand, the company also intends to begin development work on another 11 million square feet area under Francis’s directions, which is also valued at USD 4 billion. Francis Alfred MANAGING DIRECTOR | SOBHA REALTY 19
50 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 B K Gulf Facilities Management (BKG FM) is recognised as a truly integrated facilities management service provider. The ability to undertake specialized engineering services, based on local and international standards and supported by certified, qualified, experienced staff, has been the result of achieving a strategic objective of distinguishing themselves by offering engineering services on par with traditional MEP companies, but within a facilities management service delivery methodology and framework. For BKG FM, 2021 continued to be a success with new and key contract wins, including clients like The Accor Group, Brightstart, Etihad Arena, Jumeirah Group and Multiplex. The forecast going forward is positive, with a focus on increasing the portfolio with its existing clients, as well as breaking new ground within other areas and regions of the market which align with both its business development game plan and overall strategic objectives. During 2021 BKG FM have focused on digitalization and successfully implemented its ARTech assist and several other innovative technologies which have significantly increased its productivity and allowed it to fully integrate various systems, resulting in a proactive and seamless approach to taking over projects and collecting functional, relevant, and uncompromised data, delivered from day one of any new contract. The firm’s portfolio has significantly increased, reaching a total of over 35 million sqm managed facilities. BKG FM takes pride in retaining and increasing manpower, along with increased employee motivation and boosted loyalty which has reflected into higher productivity and profitability. The approach is to not only train, but mentor and promote young FM Professionals. After experiencing 38% growth in revenue during the previous year, it has continued to secure further new contracts in 2022 and grow its secured portfolio. McGregor says: “We have experienced new contracts from existing clients and others from completely new clients. BKG FM continues to exceed approved budgeted requirements of our shareholders both in revenue growth and profit. We are hugely excited by some behind the scenes development that we are currently undertaking with a European partner which compliments the Emirates Supreme Council of Energy plans to cut carbon emissions by 30% by the end of 2030, as part of the UAE’s efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and will take our FM business to a completely different level to that of our competitors. “ More will be seen of this when the company is ready to launch. He adds: “We will also continue our focus on digitalisation and implementation of latest technology, allowing a proactive and seamless approach to new projects as well as excellent service delivery.” McGregor further told Construction Business News ME: “We continue to progress and grow and have some great opportunities ahead of us. The work we are doing with a European partner will be our next big step in asset management and will certainly be a differentiator for us in the market. We continue to find differentiators that enable us to be a progressive and forward-thinking business, and I applaud our clients who work with us and understand the value that we add to their assets and businesses, as well as the savings we create for them through excellent facilities management. Later this year we will launch our game changer and I’m truly excited about it.” GENERAL MANAGER BK GULF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT 20 Stuart McGregor
MORE UPTIME, MORE COMFORT, MORE SECURITY, MORE FUEL SAVINGS renault-trucks.com NEW RENAULT TRUCKS T HIGH, T, C & K NEW RENAULT TRUCKS T HIGH, T, C & K One of the best steering column of the market, new super comfortable bunk, monitoring vehicle’s components in real time, and more. We have gone a long way to support you better. Find out more in your local Renault Trucks dealership.
52 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 R AQ has been constructing diverse projects across the United Arab Emirates and has established itself as a premier construction company in the built and design and build space. RAQ is committed to exceeding the expectations of our customers by adapting powerful thinking, fostering rewarding partnerships and facilitating an environment for empowerment. The last year has been the busiest for RAQ since the start of 2019. As a result of our push to diversify the types of industries we participate in during and after Covid, we have seen significant benefit. Together we have been able to overcome this pandemic, strengthen our house, and look forward to returning much stronger in 2021-22. Delivering nine pavilions at Expo 2020, 4 being in active operations, 5 winning awards in their own categories, the delivery of Aviv Clinic, one of a kind, LEED Gold Certified, HBOT Clinic and a successful opening of the new Grand Hyatt extension at Oud Metha are among a few projects that have started during the pandemic and seen successful completions. RAQ were awarded the ‘Commercial Project of the Year’ for their work on the Italian Expo Pavilion at the Construction Innovation Awards 2021 by Construction Business News Middle East In addition, FedEx’s hub at Dubai World Central airport, Dubai South, 115 villas compound, Sarab 2 with Arada, Zaha Hadid-designed leisure facilities in Al Jada with Arada, Amazon Fulfillment hub in Abu Dhabi, Emarat, and Landmark Group’s distribution center in Jebel Ali are a few of the big names we are working with. Furthermore, in the past year RAQ’s intention was to focus internally, ensure legacy projects are closed, and invest in the team. While most clients started to gain trust in the market, contracts of quality with big brand names, fair conditions, and healthy margins were few. Rami Al Qaisi CEO | RAQ 21
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 53 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD A lan has worked for Turner & Townsend for 25 years and has been Regional Managing Director for the Middle East since 2017. Over the last five years, he has led the growth of our Middle East business, growing the team from 340 to 700+, increasing revenue by 59% Over the past twelve months, Alan has led the growth of the Middle East business, recently reporting an increase in annual revenue of 12%, and headcount by 22% for FY 21/22. The Saudi business has grown by over 80% as Alan drives Turner & Townsend’s Vision 2025 – to work on the biggest programmes that will shape the future of the region’s-built environment. The business is now supporting several of the region’s most ambitious programmes for clients such as NEOM, King Salman Park Foundation, Sports Boulevard Foundation, and others. Over the coming 12 months, Alan will continue to lead Turner & Townsend’s regional expansion across the Middle East. Key focus areas for further growth and development include the acceleration of digital service delivery and supporting clients in delivery of their sustainability and net zero aspirations. REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR TURNER & TOWNSEND Alan Talabani 23 S ajwani is a pioneer of the property market expansion in Dubai. In the mid-90s, he built several hotels to accommodate the growing influx of people coming to the emirate to do business and trade. In 2002, he identified a growing market opportunity and established DAMAC Properties, which has grown to become the one of the largest property development companies in the Middle East. Today, DAMAC Properties has several prestigious projects in key global cities like Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Baghdad, Toronto, Maldives, Miami and London, employing nearly 2,000 professionals. To date, DAMAC Properties has deliv- ered c. 39,400 homes and has c. 28,000 at various stages of progress. As a market leader, DAMAC Properties has also joined forces with some of the most recognisable lifestyle brands, to bring distinguished living concepts to the market. Projects include luxury apartments and villas with interiors by Italian fashion-houses Versace Home, Fendi Casa and Just Cavalli and the uniquely conceptualised Paramount Ho- tels & Resorts, which delivers serviced living at its most opulent. As an astute businessman and inves- tor, Sajwani also has a proven track record of successful forays into the global equity and capital markets. CHAIRMAN | DAMAC GROUP Hussain Sajwani 22
54 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 C ompared to 2021 figures, Majid Al Futtaim – Properties’ revenue rose 51% to AED 2.4 billion, while EBITDA was up 27% to AED 1.4 billion. New community launches in Tilal Al Ghaf remain well- received by the market. The Alaya Beach project and Elysian Mansions, consisting of ultra- exclusive mansions and grand villas, were released in February and May, respectively, and recorded sales of over AED 2.4 billion, with 181 units sold by 30 June. In its pursuit of being economically resilient during the second half of 2022, Majid Al Futtaim will continue to support sustainable economic development while adhering to a prudent financial management strategy. Majid Al Futtaim is wholly committed to the markets in which it operates, working to deliver ex- ceptional experience not just for its cus- tomers but tenants, employees and its key stakeholders. The business will also look at investing on corporate initiatives including digital transformation, data and analytics, customer experience and loyalty programmes. Majid Futtaim Properties continues to make progress on its pipeline develop- ment projects, including Mall of the Emir- ates redevelopment and Mall of Saudi. Alain Bejjani: “A strong, customer- focused strategy supported by unri- valled data and analytics capabilities has enabled Majid Al Futtaim to deliver sustained growth through H1 2022. Our efforts have been further amplified by MENA’s steady progress in moving beyond post-pandemic recovery as we collectively turn our efforts toward economic expansion and regional prosperity.” Alain Bejjani CEO | MAJID AL FUTTAIM 24
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 55 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD A rmed with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Sciences and Communication with a specialty in Public Relations and Advertising, Ismail began his career with Dubai’s Department of Economic Development in 1997, followed by stints at Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai Industrial City and the TECOM Group. In 2013, he decided to follow a life-long passion and establish Al Ruwad Real Estate. Two years later he founded Biznet Consulting and has helped investors and owners to initiate and complete their projects in Dubai through an array of innovative services, such as facilitating government relations strategies. With more than 22 years of experience, Ismail is a leading figure in Dubai’s real estate and business scene being known as a deal maker offering invaluable insights for local and international investors. Since the inception of Al Ruwad, it has achieved real estate sales of Dhs60 million under the real estate brokerage field and properties valued over Dhs500 million have been marketed. The firm has also rented out more than 200,000 sqft of retail space and has launched a real estate culture initiative to spread awareness on real estate. Ismail is a firm believer that with an appropriate leadership structure, any business can thrive even during economic challenging times and that real leaders are forged in crisis. While the world is emerging to a new normal, both Al Ruwad Real Estate and Biznet Consulting are taking not only social responsibility, but a stance to adapt to the new consumer’s requirements, digital transformation, and new business practices. Maximising productivity and achieving business goals in 2022 are still a priority for Ismail, while putting his team’s health and safety first. Ismail Al Hammadi FOUNDER AND CEO RUWAD REAL ESTATE & BIZNET CONSULTING 25 “While the world is emerging to a new normal, both Al Ruwad Real Estate and Biznet Consulting are taking not only social responsibility, but a stance to adapt to the new consumer’s requirements, digital transformation, and new business practices.”
56 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 F rom a humble beginning, AL SHAFAR UNITED FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL ENGINEERING LLC was a division of ASGC company under the direct supervision of Mr. Ashraf Botros. Having a 40-year solid background in his Engineering career combined with his loyalty and dedication, he carries forward and takes the responsibility to define the company’s success into reality. Now, he holds a prestigious role of a Managing Director he truly deserved. Today, our company has gone far and continuously received high ranking awards under Mr. Ashraf Botros strong leadership, and to be described, he is a visionary leader with commanding presence, a person with a good heart who is open to help many in his own way. He is fair in his judgement and makes a good decision towards its employees and business matters. The intelligence he possesses in his supervision brings out the best in every employee and builds confidence and trust towards the company. Being a socially responsible company, ASU strives to leave a positive impact on the environment and communities, that they operate in. ASU has left their mark in many iconic projects around Dubai that are part of the cultural, historical, and fundamental aspects of the UAE. All throughout the years this brings ASU a remarkable and stable result and one of the well-known and respected compa- nies in the UAE. Al Shafar United completed projects over the past few years included iconic Expo pavilions such as Morocco Pavilion, Pakistan Pavilion, Sustainability Pavilion, and Thematic district: Opportunity Pavil- ion. Furthermore, Mohamed bin Rashid Library, Signature Residences/ Vivanta by Taj, Blue Waters, and Coca-Cola Arena. Al Shafar United ongoing projects includes Miral and SeaWorld Entertain- ment ‘SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, project, Sabis International School Phase 2 & 3, Moro 2.0 Data Center, Vida Hotel & Residences, and so much more. Ashraf Botros MANAGING DIRECTOR | ASU 26 Being a socially responsible company, ASU strives to leave a positive impact on the environment and communities, that they operate in.
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 57 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD A passionate and motivational leader, Donna Sultan has proved to be a role model to many in the construction field. She is a true example of a successful leader, taking over a construction busi- ness that has since flourished, to become one of the leading consultants in the GCC and worldwide. Donna has held the title of CEO at KEO International Consultants for more than 30 years (1991-till date) and was appointed as President in 2016. With her excellent business leadership, the firm has grown over the past 50 plus years, from a handful of employees in 1991, to more than 2,000 professional and technical staff, drawn from more than 60 different nations. She has more than 45 years of experience in the Middle East. Born in France, and raised in the United States, she primarily identifies herself with the Gulf region. Her background includes strategic planning and management consulting. Donna is the only female President and CEO of a globally ranked multi-disciplined Architectural/Engineering/Construction (AEC) firm in the GCC. Donna has recently also been appointed Member of the Mass General Hospital International Advisory Board, in Boston, MA USA. Donna has personally been awarded many accolades for her efforts. These recognitions are a testament to Donna’s exemplary leadership and her efforts to meet market challenges, inspire her team, find innovative ways to improve the robustness of the businesses, and identify promising avenues for sustainable, long-term growth. Donna has previously been named ‘Construction Executive of the Year’ and received a highly coveted ‘Women in Leadership’ award in recent years. She has played an active role within the GCC as a mentor and supporter of such initiatives as the UN supported Forum of Tolerance and Peace Organization, receiving its top prize in Kuwait in 2015. Her latest awards and rankings include: I 2022 CEO of the Year at Design Middle East Architecture Leaders Awards 2022 I 2022 Middle East Women Leader I 2020 #38 Construction Business News Power Hour I 2018 #52 Forbes Middle East’s Most Influential Women She has managed to propel KEO up the international rankings while ensuring double-digit turnover growth through the expansion of services and markets, making it one of the top consulting firms in the world. Leading the business to great success and further growth, Donna has succeeded in pursuing her passion, leading a remarkable career and changing the face of the construction industry, which for long years has been a male dominant one. She has fostered and developed the firm’s renowned blend of design innovation, technical aptitude, sustainability principles, local knowledge and global insights. This has resulted in the highest levels of client confidence and industry respect. Under her guidance, the firm’s core offerings have expanded within all specialist areas of architecture, engineering, planning, landscape design, project and construction management and sustainability specialties. She personally oversaw the development of the allied practices, as subsidiaries, bringing in new revenue streams from new business streams: InSite, C-Quest and Black Mule. Donna has skillfully positioned the firm as a globally recognized multidiscipline practice working on some of the region’s largest and most prestigious construction projects in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Since her tenure as CEO, KEO’s impressive portfolio has grown to include finished or ongoing developments such as the Emirates Palace, Louvre Abu Dhabi, DAMAC Towers by Paramount Hotels & Resorts, the Kuwait Investment Authority headquarters, and many developments underway in Saudi Arabia. She has expanded the business throughout her reign. Today KEO has 9 offices in 8 locations across the Middle East and Europe. Donna Sultan PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER KEO INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS 27
58 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 H ani Tannir is the CEO of Al Masaood Group’s Industrial Division, comprising Power, Construction and Marine sectors. Known for his wealth of leadership experience, Hani brings to the Group the strong business network he has established over the years across the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa regions. His proven track record of closing ‘big ticket’ business deals serves as the key to the tactical rollout of strategic plans that will create new revenue streams for Al Masaood and bolster the business development operations of the units placed under his watch. He works towards fulfilling the commercial goals of Al Masaood Power Division, Al Masaood Bergum, Al Masaood Tyres, Batteries & Accessories (TBA), Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E), Al Masaood Projects & Engineering Services (PESD), and ARB Emirates. Hani was named Head of Commercial after re-joining Al Masaood in 2020, and later appointed as the CEO of the Group’s Industrial Division in 2021. He first became part of the conglomerate in 1994, transforming and taking its business services and logistics solutions to the next level. He was appointed to different managerial and commercial roles in Al Masaood’s commercial vehicle and equipment, specialist bodybuilding, construction, power, and tyre businesses until 2013. He then moved on to play multiple manufacturing roles in various companies, including start-ups, in Dubai, Qatar and Jordan. He was involved in strategic re-positioning techniques of some firms based in these three important regional markets. Boasting of more than three decades of professional experience, he led the establishment of world-class operations from scratch and developed expansion and cost-optimization strategies, amongst others, for companies whilst identifying immense market growth opportunities. Hani holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), UK. He obtained his BA (Hons) Economics from Portsmouth Polytechnic, UK. Hani Tannir CEO | AL MASAOOD GROUP’S INDUSTRIAL DIVISION 28 Hani was named Head of Commercial after re-joining Al Masaood in 2020, and later appointed as the CEO of the Group’s Industrial Division in 2021.
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 59 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD B rian has maintained an almost constant presence in the Gulf region since 1975 and in 1991 he opened the GAJ headquarters in Dubai. Highly respected in the industry and throughout the re- gion as a talented architect Brian believes “Architecture has always been a collaborative design process and the fact that the various other disciplines involved in the design of a building are becoming even more specialist means that archi- tects have to work hard to appreciate and understand the op- portunities and limitations that these various inter-dependent specialist design elements add to what needs to be a holistic design approach. Within GAJ we aim to provide bespoke one- off design solutions that respond to and build on the client’s hopes and aspirations to provide a lasting, functional and at- tractive environment.” Brian’s influence on modern Middle Eastern architecture is undeniable and comprises some of the region’s most recog- nisable and prized buildings. Among them is Dubai Creek Golf Club, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa and the Royal Mirage Hotel Arabian Court Residence & Spa, Dubai. His distinctive style and uncompromising resolve for design excellence has made Brian and GAJ a preferred partner for many distinguished projects across the region. Under his direc- tion the firm has a number of projects under design or under construction including a new resort development - part of Ashar Development in Saudi Arabia; a new residential district in KSA and a new hospitality project in Al-Ula County, KSA. The team have recently completed the ISG School in Al Kho- bar, the Warner Bros Hotel in Abu Dhabi and the DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh and are currently working on two new schools as well as a hospitality and residential project in Dubai. MANAGING PARTNER GODWIN AUSTEN JOHNSON Brian Johnson 29 F aris Saeed is the Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding, The global benchmark for sustainable operations across multiple sectors. Under the three pillars of sustainability: social equity, economic viability and environmental protection, SEE Holding handles a diversi- fied portfolio of subsidiaries committed to spearheading the global movement to- wards a net zero emissions future. In line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the urgency of worldwide climate action, SEE Holding companies prioritize innovation and leverage the most intelligent and sustainable advances. He is also the Chairman & Founder of Diamond Developers and a driving force in pioneering sustainable real estate developments in the region. Since estab- lishing the company in 2003, Faris has led Diamond Developers in the concep- tualization and delivery of an impressive portfolio of premium developments, which became landmarks of the city. Diamond Developers was one of the first companies in Dubai to enter the freehold property and real estate development industry when the emirate introduced freehold property ownership in 2002. Some of the major accomplishments in the past 12 months include their second city in Sharjah (Sharjah Sustainable City) is at 25% total completion, and 100% completion of phase 1, families are mov- ing into the community in September. In January 2022, they announced our first project in the capital Abu Dhabi in partnership with (Aldar). The Sustain- able City-Yas Island will span an area of 397,000 sqm in Yas North. It will be developed to align with the UAE’s net- zero goals and the highest sustainability standards, comprising 864 townhouses and apartments and 3,000 sqm of retail. In terms of expansion beyond UAE, they announced the launch of The Sustain- able City – Yiti in Muscat, Oman. With an investment value of nearly $1 billion, the city will be built over an area of 1 million square meters and will be developed within the phase one of the Yiti Integrat- ed Tourism Development Masterplan. The city is going to be the most sustainable city in the region, with plans to achieve net zero carbon by 2040. CHAIRMAN & CEO | SEE HOLDING Faris Saeed 30
60 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 A s CEO of AESG, Saeed founded and built AESG into one of the Middle East and Europe’s most respected specialist consultancy, engineering and advisory firms with a core focus on sustainable urban development. Under Saeed’s direction, AESG has developed a strong reputation for deliver- ing the highest quality consultancy in sustainable building design, fire and life safety, façade engineering, building com- missioning and digital asset manage- ment, environmental consultancy, strat- egy and advisory, carbon management and acoustic consultancy services. Saeed also served as Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council between 2013-2020 as well as Vice Chair of the World Green Building Council MENA Network from 2011 to 2014. Saeed has been a Board Member of the World Green Building Council since 2015 and is part of the Board’s Executive Committee, provid- ing leadership to the global sustainable building movement. Over the last 12 months, AESG increased its staff by over 100% and revenue turnover by 120%. The firm is currently working on Neom, The Red Sea, Amaala, Diriyah Gate, Qid- diya and a number of other giga-projects in the Kingdom. In the UAE, AESG is working on the iconic One Zabeel project along with numerous hotels throughout the Emirates. AESG also delivered key projects for Expo 2020, which included the UAE Pavilion, Expo Village, the Sus- tainability Pavilion and numerous national pavilions. The firm has committed to leading the digital revolution in the built environment and adopted the innovative approach of utilising BIM technology, parametric design, performance simulation, digital twins and IoT integration to optimise engineering solutions. AESG’s Data+ platform drives capabilities and offerings in data management of the built environ- ment. AESG is committed to being at the fore- front of supporting the public and private sectors in their decarbonisation journeys through its sustainability, net zero and strategic advisory solutions. CEO | AESG Saeed Al Abbar 31 A l-Futtaim Engineering & Technolo- gies (AFET), is a holistic engineer- ing and technology solutions company, led by its Managing Director, Murali Serpakkam, part of the Al-Futtaim Group. It operates in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. With over 45 years of operations, AFET is the premium choice and a trusted in- dustry leader providing superior reliable products and services such as MEP, Facilities Management, Air Condition- ing, Scaffolding and Access Solutions, Elevators and Escalators, Control and Life Safety, Building Products, Energy Management, Digital Transformation and Technology Infrastructure to the building industry. AFET targets businesses looking to advance and elevate customer and business partners’ reputations with quality, reliability, and on-time work providing complete business solutions for large, medium, and small customers. AFET is strengthening its competitive- ness within the building industry by executing and growing its business in other regions in the Middle East and Asia. As part of this ongoing strategy to grow its presence regionally, the com- pany has been expanding its pioneering engineering and technologies solutions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MANAGING DIRECTOR | AL-FUTTAIM ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGIES Murali Serpakkam 32
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 61 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD E gis is a leading global consulting, construction engineering and operating firm. Alaa Abusiam has been the CEO for Egis the Middle East since 2021. Alaa has over 20 years of experience in engineering, growth management, business transformation and development in fast-growing environments across the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, the United States and Latin America. Under Alaa’s leadership, the latest achievements in the region include: I Egis ranks in 6th place for the first time on ENR’s 2022 top 10 International design firms in the Middle East category. I The acquisition of Waagner Biro Bridge services broadening Egis’ offering into the construction of bridge structures, marine and coastal engineering, and O&M activities. I The growth of the Middle East team to over 2,000 employees (more than doubling in size) I The win of multiple big projects in the region in 2022: (projects to be announced upon client approval – currently we have approval to only announce our contract with DGDA) I An 30% increase in turnover (from 2020 to 2021) with a predicted much larger increase from 2021 to 2022 Future plans: I Continue to accelerate and grow our business in the Middle East organically and through acquisitions I The completion of the 2nd acquisition in the region in 2022, WME I As a group, the strategic priority to contribute to carbon neutrality by 2050 Alaa Abusiam CEO | EGIS 33
62 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 G raduating in 2011 from the International College of Engineering and Management with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Safety Management, Sam Alcock joined Tenable FEC’s Oman office as a fire consultant. In 2013, Alcock established Tenable FEC’s operations in the UAE, an opportunity that enabled him to develop the business before being officially appointed as Dubai Director in 2016. Since then, Alcock has built an industry specialist-led team and has established key relationships with prominent developers and consultants across the GCC and worldwide, cementing Tenable FEC’s position as one of the largest dedicated fire and life safety consultancies in the region. In the past eight months of 2022, Tenable FEC has been awarded approximately Dh. 11.5 million in projects and has also secured high- profile projects in Saudi Arabia, including three hotels on Shura Island in The Red Sea. Tenable FEC has other multiple high-profile projects in the kingdom in NEOM, DGDA, Amaala, Seven Entertainment and Qiddiya, which will be home to KSA’s Formula 1 track. Aside from these giga projects, Tenable FEC is involved in the first Islamic Art biennale, the Jeddah Islamic Biennale, which will enable visitors to experience and learn about Islamic art’s past. To support Tenable FEC’s expansion into the kingdom, the consultancy will be opening an office in Saudi Arabia later this year with a KSA-based team of industry experts to focus on the multitude of projects that Tenable FEC has won. With Alcock at the helm of operations in the UAE, Tenable FEC has won several global projects, including an island in the Maldives and future large-scale international projects in Nairobi, Kenya. To support the organisation’s growth in Asia, Tenable FEC has just opened its first office in Malaysia. 34 Sam Alcock DUBAI DIRECTOR TENABLE FEC
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 63 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD M ustafa Gun has nearly 20 years’ industry experience work- ing for major clients, contractors and consultancies in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, with sector experience span- ning oil and gas, energy, roads and bridges, infrastructure and marine works, airports and healthcare. During this time, Mustafa has undertaken various commercial, contractual and claims management roles and has held senior positions in the organisations he has worked for. Mustafa joined Driver Trett, a Global Construction Consultancy, in May 2016. During this time, he embedded himself within the business, overseeing the success and growth of the Kuwait office. In 2021 his role grew to cover the Qatar marketplace, where he works closely with his team as well as other Middle East teams to serve and support the growing list of clients across the region. Mustafa has been involved in reviewing and analysing extensions of time, cost claims and assessment of potential liability for projects up to $15 billion in value. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and an MSc in Construction Law and Arbitration. As well as being an RICS Registered Expert Witness, Mustafa holds professional memberships with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Mustafa Gun DIRECTOR AND QATAR COUNTRY MANAGER | DRIVER TRETT 36 A s CEO of Losberger De Boer’s Rental Projects Division, Francis Scholten and her team have delivered structures to support the events industry and help organisa- tions get back to work. Losberger De Boer has delivered world firsts, including the construction of Jeddah Superdome, which holds Guinness World Records™ titles for the world’s largest geodesic dome and largest dome with continuous roof. The modular construction specialist also delivered event spaces that captured the world’s imagination and helped reignite a passion for coming together, including providing the physical conference location of 37,500 square metres for COP26 — a mega assignment in which sustainability and carbon savings played a major role. Scholten has overseen the delivery of large-scale vaccination and testing centres throughout Europe and the Middle East. Designed by Losberger De Boer engineers, in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, these centres have enabled more people to be vaccinated safely. Losberger De Boer has also remained committed to sustainability, joining the EcoVadis platform to analyse the organisation’s CSR performance, enabling the company to further improve its policies, actions, and results, as well as setting realistic targets towards becoming a carbon neutral Losberger De Boer in the foreseeable future. CEO | LOSBERGER DE BOER’S RENTAL PROJECTS DIVISION Francis Scholten 35 C arlos Wakim is the Chief Execu- tive Officer of Bloom Holding. He manages operations across all Bloom Holding companies, including Real Estate, Education, Hospitality and Lease and Facili- ties Management Services. Carlos Wakim has over 20 years of leadership experience in some of the region’s leading real-estate companies, where he has led their success and expansion. Mr. Wakim will use his considerable industry experience to add value to Bloom Holding through the delivery of Bloom Holding’s strategic mandate to develop integrated real estate solutions and deliver superior living experiences. Prior to joining Bloom Holding, Mr. Wakim has held a number of senior leadership roles in the real estate industry. He joined Bloom Holding from AMAALA, a Public Investment Fund initiative in Saudi Arabia, where he held the position of Chief Development Officer overlooking the entirety of its projects’ portfolio. Carlos Wakin CEO | BLOOM HOLDING 37
64 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 H avelock One Interiors has established itself as one of the Middle East’s leading fit-out contractors and manufacturers of high-quality joinery, metal works, furniture, and shop fittings since 1998. They have operations across all GCC locations (seven offices/ two factories and five markets – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE). In Bahrain, Havelock One operates two large manufacturing and warehouse facilities totalling 520,000sqft. Furthermore, they have smaller but equally advanced operations in each country where they operate, as well as a global network of suppliers. They can deliver world-class projects at competitive prices by leveraging economies of scale, cutting-edge technology, a highly trained workforce, and a strong management team with ex- experience managing large-scale and complex projects. Havelock One’s team is dedicated to overcoming our clients’ challenges and is motivated by precision and a high frequency of project implementation. Havelock One Interiors managing director Syed Kashif Akhtar discusses market progression, business focus, and more. He says: “I am glad to confirm that this year has started with improved market conditions and a higher level of project activity as compared to the last two years of the pandemic. Most of our markets and divisions have secured new projects in the first quarter of 2022, and the pipeline of potential projects is gradually improving going forward. As per our business plan, we are targeting to return to the pre-pandemic level of turnover by the end of this year.” He further adds: “We expect a very busy second half of the year. Accordingly, we have started and will continue to further align our resources, gear up by hiring, developing, and deploying more people as well as creating the right infrastructure and processes to support our ambition. We have recently opened a new office in Riyadh, and our second factory in Bahrain will play a major role in providing the manufacturing support for our turnkey fit-out business model to expand further. Our positive impact on the interior design industry is mostly derived from the strong leadership team, financial stability, reliability as well as the culture of a collaborative approach across all our businesses. We continue to organise workshops with clients and designers on a regular basis to brainstorm ideas and solutions, picking the right materials, evolving prototypes further while doing R&D on the process and product innovation.” Duty-Free Shopping Head Quarters in Abu Dhabi; Al Areen Palace Resort & Spa by Accor in Bahrain; Empire Cinemas (three projects) in KSA; and Dolce & Gabbana, Hublot, and Moschino stores in Vendome Mall in Qatar are among their notable projects. SYED KASHIF AKHTAR GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR | HAVELOCK ONE INTERIORS 38
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 65 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD L C&Partners is an international multidis- ciplinary Construction Project Management and Integrated Engi- neering Consultancy Firm operating on an international basis with a keen focus in the Middle East. Originally established in 2004 in Italy, its international operations started in 2007, with a main focus on the Middle East Region, where a first subsidiary was established in Abu Dhabi in 2009 and a second one in Dubai in 2011. Progressive expansion followed with various projects across several GCC and African Countries. In 2015 the company underwent a substantial reorganization with the main focus on Portfolio, Programme and Construction Project Management, which was followed by the opening of new representative offices in Muscat, Riyadh, London and Kampala, with a staggering +400% growth over the following 5 years. It has recently established a Tokyo office to capitalise on the opportunities offered by Osaka EXPO 2025, and to progress new business development in East Asia. Lorenzo Candelpergher, Italian, is the founder, sole owner and CEO of LC&Partners Project Management and Engineering, originally established in 2004 as a small engineering practice with two fellow engineers which has grown to become Italy’s #1 international PMC with global operations, including the Middle East, where the company scored a stellar performance at Expo 2020 Dubai, managing the design, construction and (currently) dismantling of 13 pavilions. Since 2007 he progressively broadened his international exposure, with significant road, railway and airport and public buildings projects in Europe, Middle East and Africa, progressively shifting his focus from engineering to construction project management, which became the core business of LC&Partners since 2015, with a portfolio of projects diversified across a vast variety of asset classes ranging from high rise residential, mixed used and office buildings, low rise luxury residences, hospitality, healthcare, industrial, logistics, retail, energy efficiency, fairs and exhibitions, defence and more. Expo Dubai 2020 has brought LC&Partners under the global spotlight: the firm was, in fact, the busiest PMC in the context of the international exposition, appointed to manage design, construction, facility management and dismantling of 13 pavilions, including Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Chile, Peru, Angola, some of which received multiple awards. LC&Partners’s future is focused on progressing further growth across the GCC, especially in the UAE, KSA and Qatar, with a strong emphasis on the trending sectors of logistics, data centres and complex buildings / infrastructures (“where others may want to steer away, our company thrives on challenges and complexity”, says Lorenzo Candelpergher) but also in East Africa, where LC&Partners are busy with the construction of a flagship specialized hospital in Uganda) and the Far East, with an eye on the Osaka Expo 2025, for which the company has recently started operation of a Japanese subsidiary. Lorenzo Candelpergher CEO | LC&PARTNERS 39
66 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 L eading Ritchie Bros. Middle East branch since 2015, Eduard Faig and his team implemented the company’s global digital transformation strategy, which saw the successful transition to fully online auctions and marketplaces last year while further extending its suite of asset procurement, inventory management and asset disposition solutions. Eduard has previous experience managing Ritchie Bros.’ operations in Spain before relocating to Dubai. Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. is the world’s largest asset management and disposition company and a leading seller of heavy equipment, machinery, and vehicles, while also offering a range of data insights, services, and transaction solutions. Many positive changes have occurred at the company during the last 18 months, both at a global and local level. Under Eduard’s guidance, Ritchie Bros.’ successful transition to fully online auctions and marketplaces was recognised last year when the company received the Best Innovative Auction Solutions prize at the Construction Innovation Awards 2021 for its easy- to-use online infrastructure that successfully connects consignors to buyers by expanding global reach and facilitating cross-border sales. Nowadays, Eduard continues to drive Ritchie Bros.’ transition from an auction company to a leading global marketplace for insights, services, and transaction solutions. At the company’s recent June auction, it sold over 1,800 items through its Dubai auction site to online buyers worldwide, recording the highest number of buyers and sellers in the past five years for May/June auctions. Eduard and his team remain committed to continually delivering best-in-class asset management and disposition services to buyers and sellers throughout the region and globally. Eduard Faig REGIONAL SALES MANAGER - MIDDLE EAST, INDIA, AND AFRICA RITCHIE BROS. MIDDLE EAST 40
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 67 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD T his year, Jubail Island Investment Company has held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construc- tion for the new townhouses which will be part of the premium residential community at Souk Al Jubail on Jubail Island. Set to be completed by March 2024, the project will see 150 unique elegant and spacious townhouses, ranging from two, three and four-bedroom units, being built to the highest quality and standards that will redefine the living experience for tenants and new homeowners. The townhouses have been designed to offer flexibility and convenience for families with every home equipped with private parking space and en-suite facilities in every room. In addition, the townhouses will make the everyday lives easier given its proximity to gyms, schools, supermarkets, and entertainment venues. The AED10 billion Jubail Island, a project owned by JIIC and developed and managed by LEAD, will be home to an idyllic collection of six residential village estates located between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. 41 Jubail Island Investment Company U nited Real Estate Company. K.S.C.P (URC) is one of the leading real estate developers and investor in Kuwait and the MENA region, with consolidated assets of KD 612.2 million (US$ 2 Billion) as of 30 September 2021. Headquartered in Kuwait, URC was founded in 1973 and was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange in 1984. URC primarily operates through several operating subsidiaries and investment arms across the MENA region. URC’s core business is real estate development and operations and enjoys a diversified portfolio of assets that include retail complexes, hotels, residential properties, and high-rise office buildings. URC’s operations extend to construction and contracting services, facility management, and project management through its several subsidiaries. URC’s portfolio of assets is geographically spread throughout the MENA region such as Marina World, Marina Hotel, and KIPCO Tower in Kuwait, Salalah Gardens Mall & Residences in Oman, Abdali Mall in Jordan, Raouche View 1090 in Lebanon, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis & Waldorf Astoria Hotels, and Aswar Residences in Egypt, and Assoufid development including a golf resort, five-star hotel, and premium residences in Morocco. 42 United Real Estate Company (Kuwait) 43 I n the past year, Voltas limited has been involved in multiple projects of various scales. Some of them are in various stages of execution while others have been completed. The cumulative value of all these projects exceeds USD 800 Million. Some of the important projects the company is currently working on in the UAE are the DEWA HQ building, Dubai Waste to energy, Dubai Uptown Tower, Zayed Tun- nel, and Zayed National Museum. In other GCC countries, the company is working on the Commercial Boulevard district in Qatar and has completed the Oman Across Ages Museum in Oman. Voltas has also begun executing Solar projects in the region. The company continues to book and execute refurbishment projects. There has been an endeavour in the last 4 years to make the company’s processes almost paperless by going digital and increasing use of automation in the offices and on site. All project management from planning to execution is highly integrated. AR Suresh Kumar VICE PRESIDENT & HEAD IOBG | VOLTAS LIMITED A true property veteran, Robert has developed, marketed and sold some of the world’s largest projects across five continents. Embarking on his career from his native Can- ada, he developed the country’s largest master-planned urban community, Vancouver’s Concord Pacific Place, for the legendary Hong Kong magnate and philanthropist Li Ka-shing. From there he moved to Concord Adex Developments Corporations where, as Director of Development, he oversaw a $2 billion development scheme in Toronto that became his steppingstone to the world. Moving to Dubai in 2001, he joined Emaar Properties PJSC, holding various senior roles, including CEO of its North America region and CEO of the overall Real Estate division. He was instrumental in the development of Arabian Ranches, Emirates Living, Emirates Hills, The Greens, and The Dubai Marina, bringing 40,000 residential units onto the market. His crowning achievement was his involvement with the flagship Downtown Dubai project, where from day one he oversaw everything from hiring masterplanners to launching the hotel, retail and residential components, including the iconic Burj Khalifa. 44 Robert D. Booth CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR ELLINGTON PROPERTIES
68 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 P rabhu Ramachandran is the founder and CEO of SaaS company Facilio Inc. The company is an established leader in the connected buildings and facilities management software space. They offer an AI-driven property operations platform that allows real estate owners to aggregate building data, optimize performance, and control portfolio operations - all from one place. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Dubai, London, Chennai, Australia & Singapore, Facilio is a global company backed by leading investors including Accel Partners, Tiger Global Management, Dragoneer Investment, and Brookfield. It was the collective vision to enable true digital transformation within the property operations space that drove Prabhu and his co-founders to start Facilio. Their unified platform enables facilities managers & real estate owners to make the shift from traditional, tactical facilities management towards smarter, predictive facilities experience: thereby empowering people and machines to achieve their highest level of efficiency & sustainability. A global portfolio of customers trusts Facilio to automate and digitally transform their building operations & management. Prabhu’s career spans over 18 years of product, business, and customer experience focused on enterprise-scale software for IoT-based connected services, sustainable building solutions, and telecom network management. Speaking on the occasion, Prabhu said, “It is an honor to be featured in the FM Power 30 list once again, along with other leaders in the facilities management space. The future belongs to buildings that become operationally digital-native. We are proud to be playing a role in shaping this future.” Prabhu Ramachandran FOUNDER AND CEO | FACILIO INC. 45
H osting a wealth of knowledge in the field, Dhar co-founded ZāZEN Properties and took the role of Chief Operating Officer, handling the real estate product development, from conception through to delivery. Being a hands-on leader, Dhar is involved in creating, executing, and managing the company’s formation, from strategy, government relations, to marketing sales efforts, and customer relationship management. Dhar is cur- rently leading the first development, ZāZEN One, carving out niche living spaces in the vibrant Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT) community. With ZāZEN One, and in-line with the Dubai 2040 vision, Dhar aims to create a sustainable community lifestyle within a building, across all ZāZEN’s developments. The management team aims to provide contemporary residences that are spacious, green conscious, well designed and have all the facilities you would need for the modern lifestyle. With a core belief to always design simple, clean spaces, and deliver quality products as promised and on time, Dhar aims to position ZāZEN as a homegrown brand that pushes the limits of what a ‘mid-market product’ should look like. Madhav Dhar CO-FOUNDER & COO | ZAZEN PROPERTIES 46 A s President and CEO for CRTKL, Kim Heartwell leads the firmwide vision and market growth strategies with a nuanced understanding of mak- ing organizations thrive. Her lasting commitment to CRTKL is evident. In her three decades at the firm, she has held numerous positions – from junior archi- tect to D.C. office leader to global Work- place practice leader. Specifically, her expertise in workplace design, change management, and mobility strategies for complex organizations will directly influ- ence the growth and advancement of CRTKL as it expands its footprint. Kim’s tenure with the company has led to some of the most impactful workplace projects, growing the business into an impressive global force. She has a genuine affinity for working with complex corporations and agencies to create spaces that unify and exemplify her clients’ mission-focused environments that boost morale, increase efficiency, facilitate communication and collaboration, and incorporate green principles. Kim believes the relevancy of a global, ideas-based practice like CRTKL is more relevant than ever to address the challenges humanity faces today – from health and well-being to resiliency and security, as the built environment impacts all. She ensures that every location across the firm is advancing positive outcomes in their communities. 47 Kim Heartwell PRESIDENT AND CEO | CALLISONRTKL B enoy Kurien is the Group Chief Executive Officer at Al Hamra, the leading real estate developer, services pro- vider, and investment company in the Northern Emirates, overseeing the operations and assets of the US$1 billion company. Benoy started his career with Al Hamra in 1998 and successfully earned his stripes, climbing the career ladder to his current position in a short span of time. He has a wealth of experience working across a range of functions including strategy development, implementation, retail management, leasing, people management, marketing and facilities management. Keeping himself up to date with all critical financial and strategic information, he focuses on driving Al Hamra’s sustained growth. An inspirational leader, Benoy has been instrumental in shaping Al Hamra and its many entities, keeping the team motivated to achieve new horizons of growth. GROUP CEO | AL HAMRA Benoy Kurien 48 49 N orman Foster is the founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners, a global studio for architecture, urban- ism, and design, rooted in sustainability. He was born in Manchester, and after graduating in architecture and city planning from Manchester University in 1961, he won a Henry Fellowship to Yale University, where he was a fellow of Jonathan Edwards College and gained a master’s degree in architecture. In 1967, he established Foster Associates in London with his late wife Wendy. Over more than five decades the practice has evolved and been responsible for a strikingly wide range of work, from urban masterplans, public infrastructure, airports, civic and cultural buildings, offices and workplaces to private houses and furniture design. Major projects include Beijing Airport, Millau Viaduct in France, 30 St Mary Axe (also known as the Gherkin) and the Great Court at the British Museum in London, the Hearst Headquarters tower in New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Recent projects include Apple Park in California, Bloomberg’s European Headquarters in London, the Comcast Tower in Philadelphia, and the Norton Museum of Art in Florida. Some of his current projects within the practice include 425 Park Avenue in New York, the Narbo Via museum in Narbonne, the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Center in Cairo, and a community boathouse in Harlem. Norman Foster FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN | FOSTER + PARTNERS
50 I n 1975, the Saudi Arabian Trading and Construction Company (SATCO) started its operations covering sectors in construction, landscaping, catering, airports support services and systems control. A few short years after its in- ception, SATCO witnessed the construction boom of Saudi Arabia and took full advantage by forming joint ventures with foreign companies. The growth in Saudi Arabia ended in 1985 and many of the companies in the region, including SATCO’s foreign partners, exited. SATCO reorganized by acquiring the joint ventures’ assets and transferring their employees into divisions of SATCO. By effectively absorbing the foreign exper- tise and knowledge from its JVs, SATCO became an operating company. Today, SATCO successfully continues its legacy as a private company that specializes in delivering first-rate products within the fields of airports support services, construction and industrial support services. Having more than four decades of experience in the industry and witnessing its rapid growth has allowed SATCO to obtain a deep-rooted market and consumer knowledge. This has positioned it to become an expert in its field, delivering world-class services all over the Middle East and Africa. SATCO 52 53 T hierry Delvaux has over 20 years of experience in the real estate con- sultancy industry, and is currently leading JLL’s Middle East, Africa (MEA) and Turkey business. In his role as the CEO of JLL MEA and Turkey, Thierry is responsible for setting and implementing growth strategies for the business, ensuring excellence in service quality for clients and managing top tal- ent to make JLL a great place to work. Since taking over the role four years ago, Thierry has worked with the country heads and business leads across the region to put the MEA on the global JLL map. As a result, MEA has now become one of the highest growing markets in JLL, and Thierry was appointed as a member of the European Strategy Board. Under Thierry’s continued leadership and guidance, JLL MEA was quick to respond to the pandemic by adopting agile ways of working and implementing the right technology. Thierry also supported and guided employees throughout the pandemic while ensuring the company’s exceptionally high standards of client service were maintained. “We have successfully developed and delivered many complex, large-scale, mega projects, and futuristic smart cities across the Middle East and Africa region. Our multi-service line capabilities, exceptionally skilled people, and the use of the latest technologies and digital solutions enable us to build and deliver high-quality real estate projects that transform communities and cities.” S erba Dinamik Sdn Bhd (Serba Dinamik), the primer partner of the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, has strengthened its presence in the Middle East by signing a MoA with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The MoA is expected to generate billions in annual revenue for Serba Dinamik Dato’ Dr. Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah, the group managing director and chief executive officer (CEO), said the MoA signed on May 19th, 2022, focuses on three areas: vertical farming, infrastructure and property development, and integrated solutions for the oil and gas industry. It is estimated that vertical farming may yield a gross margin of 40% and at the moment it is a new concept in the eyes of commercial investors. Vertical farming incorporates all the latest technology which every country will be able to use irrespective of the different climate and weather, he added. Serba Dinamik is currently discussing with the companies and organisation to explore on how the group can invest and be involved as consultants for their respective organisations. He hoped that at least 20-30% of these discussions would be materialised and ultimately turned into a substantial projects that would generate revenue and profits for the company. Thierry Delvaux Dato’ Dr. Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah CEO | JLL MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND TURKEY GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO | SERBA DINAMIK T he firm was born out of an official rebrand- ing announced by Omani-German architects Hoehler+Partner (H+P) in 2016. The company’s portfolio includes works on German University of Technology, Oman (GUtech), German Embassy Muscat, and Muscat Private Hospital, among others. Among its key milestones in the past 12 months is Hoehler + alSalmy’s completion on the Oman Oil and Orpic Group 25,000m2 office in Muscat Grand Mall. 54 Muhammad Al Salmy MANAGING DIRECTOR, PARTNER & LEAD ARCHITECT | HOEHLER + ALSALMY
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 71 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD W idely regarded as an international expert in the field of polyurethane-based innovation and solutions, Martin is a strong supporter of the increased use of PU- based applications in a range of industrial and everyday uses, in particular the building and infrastructure insulation sector to combat the effects of global warming due to their superior energy saving and sustainability attributes. With over a decade of industry experience in Germany and internationally, Martin is CEO of Pearl Polyurethane Systems, an award- winning polyurethane solutions innovator and largest system house in the Middle East and Africa, serving a range of clients globally. As a leader in the building and infrastructure insulation sector, the Dubai-based company has supplied polyurethane insulation foam systems for several iconic projects in the Gulf region, including Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, and more recently, the Germany Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 as well as Bustanica – the world’s largest vertical farm recently opened in Dubai. This year, the company released a new ground-breaking low lambda insulation product for continuous metal sandwich insulation panels as part of Pearl’s growing EcoPearl product range, with Pearl’s R&D team winning the coveted Innovative Insulation Project of the Year award for the first R&D initiative of its type launched in the Middle East. Adding to its growing list of industry firsts, this year Pearl became the first system house in the EMEA region to receive new carbon-neutral MDI material from its former joint venture partner and long-time supplier Covestro, helping its downstream customers to reduce their carbon footprint by offering a broader portfolio of more sustainable raw materials while reducing the carbon footprint. Currently well advanced on its strategic growth plan to double in size, the company is planning to grow its geographic footprint while servicing an ever-growing client base globally. Recently, Martin also spearheaded a successful diversity and gender equality drive at the company to address the balance in what has otherwise been a largely male dominated industry in the past. 55 Martin Kruczinna CEO | PEARL POLYURETHANE SYSTEMS
72 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME POWER 60 L aunched in 2004, Seven Tides is a privately owned luxury property developer and holding company with a portfolio of exceptional properties in some of the world’s most coveted locations. Seven Tides has developed and owns a variety of projects spanning residential, commercial and resort properties. Whether cre- ating homes of distinction, transforming the work place or offering laid-back holiday escapes – each and every offering is carefully planned and meticulously crafted. 56 Seven Tides 57 N igel Joined Musanadah in mid-2022 as Managing Di- rector, overseeing the company’s growing integrated facilities management operation throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nigel brings nearly two decades of extensive industry experience to Musanadah, following positions as IFM Regional Account Director at global commercial real estate services company, JLL, and a range of senior management positions with leading facilities management companies and property developers in the UAE and Australia. At the forefront of Nigel’s vision is the implementation of new technology and innovation as well as achieving sustainability goals. Saudization and investing in increased staff training are also key objectives. Founded in 2010, the Musanadah Facilities Management Company is a leading facilities services company in Saudi Arabia, a 100% Saudi owned subsidiary of Alturki Holding headquartered in Al Khobar. Early this year, the coveted ‘Customer Centric’ accolade at the Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA) awards was presented to Musanadah for anticipating and meeting the specific requirements and satisfaction levels of clients, resulting in consistently positive customer experiences. Maintaining customer-centricity as an organisational culture as well as putting the clients first by anticipating their needs and by providing customised solutions remains central to Nigel’s business strategy for Musanadah moving forward. Nigel Wright MANAGING DIRECTOR | MUSANADAH FACILITIES MANAGEMENT S ami has more than 30 years’ international experience in both oilfield services and upstream companies. He was Appointed Executive Vice President for Royal Dutch Shell’s upstream joint ventures in February 2016 until May 2019. From 2008, prior to joining Shell, he worked in BG Group plc where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer from November 2013. In this role, he was responsible for BG Group’s global upstream operations as well as BG Technical. From 2009, he was Managing Director for Africa, Middle East & Asia, where he was responsible for all upstream, midstream, and downstream activities in the region. Prior to BG Group, he held many key leadership roles with Schlumberger, undertaking assignments in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the USA. 58 Sami Iskander CEO | PETROFAC C K Khanna has spent more than 35 years at the Bahwan Engineering Company (BEC) as its General Manager. The company made its debut in the Con- struction Week Power 100 annual ranking in 2018. The company’s recent and ongoing contracts include MEP packages for Muscat International Airport; air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation works (ACMV) at Salalah Airport; civil mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation (MEI) works for the industrial facilities at the Sohar Refinery Improvement Project; engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the 400/220kV independent power producer (IPP) grid station at Ibri; MEP works for Mall of Oman; civil MEP works for the Sohar Desalination Independent Water Project, civil works for Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC), an EPC contract for a power plant for Petroleum Development Oman; and civil and MEI works for the Duqm Refinery project. 59 CK Khanna GENERAL MANAGER | BAHWAN ENGINEERING COMPANY
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 | 73 RECOGNIZING KEY PLAYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD A s General Manager of bfm, Karthik Ragothaman leads the UAE-wide operations, vision, and growth strategies for this leading integrated facilities management company, with a sound understanding of what makes FM organisa- tions thrive. Karthik has approximately 20 years of professional work experience in the facilities management sector and is currently spearheading a staff training and digital transformation programme at bfm that includes a BICSc-certified training centre, and newly-opened bfm EYE Command Control Centre in Abu Dhabi, monitoring an ever increasing number of remote client sites throughout the UAE. In addition to holding a mechanical engineering degree, Karthik is a full member of The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and also holds an MBA degree. Established in 2008, bfm is a division of Bloom Holding, a Abu Dhabi-based developer of premium real estate, and is a leading IFM service provider committed to delivering end-to-end, best- in-class customised FM solutions. Recent technological advances implemented by Karthik have enabled bfm to optimise workplace efficiency and deliver exceptional service to customers while effectively managing operational costs at the company. Protecting people and the planet are key objectives while providing memorable customer experiences through consistent quality service delivery. 60 Karthik Ragothaman GENERAL MANAGER | BFM #CBNMEAWARDS FACEBOOK.COM/CBNME @CBNME CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME CONSTRUCTION Innovation Awards 2022 OCTOBER 28 | SOFITEL DUBAI, THE PALM FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES JOAQUIM D’COSTA +971 50 440 2706 jo@bncpublishing.net FOR NOMINATIONS KASUN ILLANKOON +971 56 135 4769 kasun@bncpublishing.net
74 | CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 WWW.CBNME.COM CBNME MACHINERY B obcat will be exhibiting at the Galabau Exhibition in Nuremberg in Germany from 14-17 September 2022. At the show, the company will be presenting a range of new products for landscaping, gardening, horticulture, construction, rental, and other industries. Bobcat will launch the new MT100 mini track loader and preview the company’s mower products. The latter form part of the new Bobcat Grounds Maintenance Equipment range being launched in 2023. The new MT100 mini track loader removes the need for manual labour, replacing the use of wheelbarrows, shovels and hand tools in many types of work. The tracks on the MT100 allow travel over established surfaces with less worry about repairs and costs associated with surface damage. The compact dimensions of the MT100 provide easy passage through narrow gates and doorways and facilitate work in confined spaces. In addition, the MT100 shares many of the same attachments found on other small Bobcat loaders such as buckets, trenchers, breakers and sweepers using the same standard Bob-Tach system. As Bobcat continues to enter new product categories to strengthen its position in the compact equipment industry, the company will be entering the Grounds Maintenance market in 2023 with a new product range to complement its current portfolio. At Galabau, Bobcat is giving a preview of the company’s new mowers, part of the range that also includes new compact tractors and turf equipment alongside the company’s mini track loaders, small articulated loaders and related attachments. Visitors to Galabau will be able to see other products from the Bobcat range that encompasses skid-steer and compact track loaders, mini- excavators, telehandlers, compact wheel loaders and light compaction products. BOBCAT LAUNCHES NEW M T 1 0 0 L O A D E R
NEXT IS NOW. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR VISIT: WWW.BOBCAT.COM Backhoe Loaders Compact Track Loaders Telehandlers Small Articulated Loaders We invented the compact equipment industry, and now we’re reinventing it. Get the complete solution for any jobsite with our line-up of powerful and versatile machines. NEXT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT BOBCAT