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THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS P60 - This month's unsung hero is Magdalene Thusheetha Jumeirah Comes to The Marina Latest Update on the Construction Projects in the Region. Feature Preferred Bank Partner June 2019 Select Group and ALEC provide us with the latest update on the Marina Gate Tower III project
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construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 3 Ed Note NEWS Latest updates from around the region COVER Site visit to Marina Gate III TALKING POINT How Does Ramadan Affect the Dubai property market? INTERVIEW Interview with Adrian Lindon, Managing Director, Design and Engineering at Atkins FEATURE With 2019 going by so fast we at Construction Business News wanted to bring you up to speed on the latest projects REAL ESTATE Q&A Samuel Dean Sidiqi, CEO of RAK properties SUSTAINABILTITY OP-ED Social Media in Construction by Sila Simsek UNSUNG HERO – 60 8 14 20 26 28 32 44 48 50 54 60 // contents June 2019 // Issue #52 S U B S C R I B E subscriptions@bncpublishing.net 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 Sales Manager Vishvanath Shetty vish@bncpublishing.net +971 52 119 3077 Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818 Deputy Editor Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net Contributor Sila Simsek Art Director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net Photography Dhananjay Shekar Poojari PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 For all commercial enquiries related to Construction Business News ME contact sales@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved © 2015. 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
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// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 8 // Editor's note MENA Property Sector Ripe for Digital Disruption Just a quick update on latest trends in the con- struction industry, this time focusing on the digital disruption for the property market. Digital disruption is forcing innovation in nearly every single industry, and real estate is no exception. From showcasing inven- tory using virtual and augmented reality to deploying artificial intelligence and block- chain across portfolios and enhancing asset benchmarking and property configurations by leveraging data and analytics, innovation is driving value in many different ways across the sector. The transformative effect on the Middle Eastern property sector is already evident. One recent example from Bahrain shows how property transactions in the country jumped 14% in the first quarter of this year follow- ing the launch of a new electronic system designed to improve processing times and ac- curacy at the Land Survey and Registration Authority. Consequently, about 6,762 transactions were approved as compared to 5,920 over the previous period. The procedure has reduced waiting periods to such an extent that the transfer of ownership takes only one day if the transaction is introduced before 10am. Gains of that sort have caused industry players to take cognizance of and prepare for this coming disruption. A 2018 KPMG sur- vey shows that 60% of decision makers in the global property industry feel technology will significantly impact their business. About three-quarters see emerging property tech- nology, or Proptech, as an opportunity, and 30% of all respondents from traditional real estate organisations say they currently invest or plan to invest in Proptech start-ups. With levels of internet penetration in the GCC well over 60%, the region could quick- ly emerge as a hotbed for real estate technolo- gy as an increasing number of players look to tap the region’s lucrative real estate markets. We hope that you enjoy this edition of Construction Business News ME and we at BNC Publishing wishes all of you a Happy Eid al-Fitr. editor’s note Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com On the web
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// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 12 For News, features and more, Visit www.CBNme.com Follow us on twitter for breaking news: @cbn_ME Follow us on Facebook for up-to-the-minute breaking news An update from around the region Residential Update // According to Dubai-based and RERA award-winning real estate development company Tebyan, more than 70% of its latest development, Sparkle Towers in Dubai Marina, has now been sold, as it prepares for handover. “We have sold 265 apartments leaving just over 100 still avail- able. The profile of our inves- tors and end users has been in- credibly diverse, coming from as far afield as Sweden, Russia, US, South Africa, Italy and the UK as well as Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” said Mohamed Faraj, Managing Director, Tebyan Real Estate Development. The towers are made up of 373 luxury studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apart- ments as well as two pent- houses, a host of amenities and a range of retail units. Sean McCauley, CEO of Dubai-based property devel- opment consultancy Devmark, which is providing strategic advisory as well as managing sales and marketing for Spar- kle Towers commented: “Even though prices in the Dubai real estate mar- ket have been soft of late, demand for Sparkle Towers has been very healthy. “Quite apart from the de- sign aesthetics and value for money, location and out- look are always of prime consideration when buying property and there are very few plots available with sea views overlooking Dubai Marina. Market-savvy buyers will have realised that this project will provide a sound return-on-investment. That is always the hallmark of a quality development.” “Investors have been pur- chasing into the Sparkle Towers project due to the attractive projected rental yields that can be achieved due to its proximity to the beach and tram station and its strategic waterfront loca- tion in the Dubai Marina,” said Richard Aybar, Manag- ing Director, DevMark. The unique architecture of the two interconnected tow- ers, is superbly enhanced by 1,700 exterior lights that fade in and out in a striking se- quence, echoing the brilliance of its Swarovski-studded inte- riors. In addition to a bejew- eled lobby the ultra-modern residences are also accented by crystal-encrusted signage and door numbers. Residents of the develop- ment will be greeted by a marble entrance and a crystal decorated lobby and common areas thanks to the creative use of thousands of Swarovs- ki crystals. The apartments and penthouses all feature marble and ceramic flooring, granite countertops, and the finest European bathroom fit- tings and finishes, along with crystal encrusted apartment number plates. 70% of AED 750 million Sparkle Towers sold ahead of handover
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 13 Property Emaar Properties achieved one of the highest quarterly proper- ty sales in Dubai during the first quarter (January to March) of 2019 recording an increase of 53 per cent to AED 5.979 billion (US$ 1.628 billion) compared to the Q1 2018 sales of AED 3.906 billion (US$ 1.063 billion). The sales to international customers more than doubled in Q1 2019 to AED 2.645 bil- lion (US$ 720 million) com- pared to AED 1.187 billion (US$ 323 million) in Q1 2018, highlighting the significant in- terest of international investors in Dubai real estate and the strength of Emaar brand. Dubai has emerged as a global hub for all businesses including financial services, logistics, travel, hospitality and trade, and is steadily grow- ing in other sectors such as healthcare, technology and clean energy. This growth in these businesses is nurturing a Emaar Properties records one of the highest quarterly sales in Q1 2019 of AED5.979bn strong and diverse knowledge base and community of trained professionals. The growth in the knowledge economy and the vibrance of city are the primary drivers of the growth in sales of real estate recorded by Emaar in the first quarter of the year. Emaar reported a net profit of AED 1.742 billion (US$ 474 million) in Q1 2019 compared to the net profit of AED 1.625 billion (US$ 442 million) dur- ing the same period in 2018. Q1 2019 revenue was AED 5.894 billion (US$ 1.605 bil- lion), similar to the revenue in the first quarter of 2018. Emaar’s sales backlog, re- flecting the revenues to be rec- ognised over next three to four years, increased from AED 48.404 billion (US$ 13.178 bil- lion) as of Q4 2018 to AED 50.012 billion (US$ 13.616 bil- lion) at the end of Q1 2019. Emaar has a sales backlog in Dubai of AED 37.960 billion (US$ 10.335 billion) similar to the backlog in Q1 2018 in spite of the significant increase in revenue to AED 15.411 billion (US$ 4.196 billion) in 2018. The strong backlog reflects the robustness of Emaar’s fi- nancial position to maintain high revenue, profitability and return to shareholders in the foreseeable future. Mohamed Alabbar, Chair- man of Emaar Properties, said: “Our focus on timely proj- ect execution and cash flow generation underlines our market leadership. Emaar’s operational strategy of build- ing premium residential as- sets, and expanding the malls, hospitality and entertainment operations to meet the aspira- tions of the new generation of customers continues to drive our growth. The surge in sale of Emaar’s real estate developments in Dubai to in- ternational investors not only highlights Dubai’s position as the region’s leading business centre and hub city, but as the one of the most dynamic and growing market economies.” Kuwait wins World Stadium Congress award for the new Sabah Al-Salem Stadium. The new stadium project comes as part of an ambitious plan to double the stadium’s capacity to 30,000 seats & its ability to embrace other sports. Mina Al Sultan Qaboos’ (MaSQ) on-site discovery centre is currently being outfitted, and will soon open its doors in Q3 2019, announced DAMAC. The centre is in a strategic partnership with the Oman Tourism Development Company. Nurol took delivery of four new Raimondi LR213 luffing jib cranes in Dubai. Raimondi Cranes mobilised three teams for the offload, assembly & installation of the new cranes at the Beach Vista luxury development. Oracle powers full BIM model coordination for design and construction teams. The BIM- methodology uses 3D, 4D and 5D modeling, in coordination with a number of other factors, to provide digital representations of the physical & functional characteristics of places. // Bitesize news
// NEWS // construction business news me // JUNE 2019 14 Projects global map as a real estate investment destination.” Chawqui Derradji, CEO at Siadah International Real Es- tate Development added: “We are delighted to invest in Yas Bay and to bring our projects to such an exciting destina- tion. As the two plots become bustling communities, we aim to mirror Miral’s vision of of- fering unique and immersive Miral Closes Two Residential Plot Sales at Yas Bay experiences by developing residential units with direct views of Yas Bay waterfront.” The latest addition to Mi- ral’s portfolio, Yas Bay, is progressing to schedule. The project recently wit- nessed the completion of concrete works at its first hotel, due to be operated by Hilton. In addition, the first phase of road infra- structure and landscaping of the public realm, parks and promenade have also been completed. Yas Bay Arena, the first-of-its-kind multi- purpose indoor arena in Abu Dhabi, also marked a major construction milestone in March of this year with the installation of the largest roof truss for the 18,000 seat Arena. Miral, Abu Dhabi’s creator of destinations, has signed two land sales at Yas Bay with Siadah International Real Es- tate Development LLC, which in its turn plans to develop two residential buildings on the waterfront. Yas Bay – Yas Island’s vi- brant new waterfront com- munity to live, work and play, also includes other available residential and commercial plots for poten- tial investors and partners. “We are happy to an- nounce that we finalised the sale of the first two plots for residential development at Yas Bay with Siadah Interna- tional Real Estate Develop- ment,” said Mohamed Ab- dalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral. He added, “With the recent changes in the law issued by the Abu Dhabi govern- ment, allowing foreigners to acquire freehold lands and develop properties in des- ignated zones, Yas Island’s Yas Bay is now firmly on the // In numbers Ventures ONSITE Projects Intelligence Platform: www.venturesonsite.com 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 Buildings Infrastructure Energy UAE 34,246 29,947 5,808 5,117 15,038 13,291 KSA 11,348 18,608 10,396 6,374 10,886 15,205 Qatar 7,105 10,548 3,598 5,822 2,107 1,291 Oman 5,873 4,134 207 1,915 2,023 8,607 Kuwait 3,533 4,312 2,336 2,297 782 7,174 Bahrain 2,420 1,535 862 732 1,637 1,678 GCC Contractor Awards, 2018-2019
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// NEWS // construction business news me // JUNE 2019 16 Residential Waste management Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE), the world-class residential golf destination offering luxu- ry homes and leisure facilities set amid two internationally- acclaimed championship golf courses, announces the com- pletion of Alandalus towers A and B. One, two, three and four- bedroom apartments in both towers have already sold out, offering large indoor- outdoor living spaces, with the handover of tower A completed earlier this year, and tower B currently being handed over to owners. Tower C is scheduled to be handed over in Q4 2019 and the remaining towers D, E, F, and G are on track for Q2 2020 handover. Designed to offer a life- style that combines luxury, Abu Dhabi Waste Manage- ment Center (Tadweer) has installed the Aaber Smart Gate access control system at Al Dhafra Landfill to automate access and fee collection from waste transportation ve- hicles using the facility. The smart gate seeks to save Tadweer customers time and effort and increase their satisfaction with its ser- vices through reducing wait- ing time at landfill gates, in addition to preventing hu- man error. The system utilizes state-of- the-art technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), number plate recognition cameras and interactive dis- plays that direct the vehicles’ movement automatically according to the types of waste and vehicle permits. Through effectively elimi- nating the need for human intervention and presence among waste collection ve- hicles, the smart gate en- hances the health and safety of workers as well as cus- tomers entering the landfill. Dr Salem Al Kaabi, Acting Jumeirah Golf Estates Announces the Completion of Alandalus’ Towers A and B Tadweer Inaugurates Aaber Smart Gate at Al Dhafra Landfill Andalusian-inspired living and affordable prices, Al- andalus offers 715 apart- ments, 95 townhouses, a mosque, a hotel, and a community retail centre, making this a complete, integrated community. Yousuf Kazim, CEO of Ju- meirah Golf Estates, said: “Demand for Alandalus has been exceptional since it launched, and we are hap- py to start welcoming the first batch of Alandalus resi- dents. We have dedicated all the efforts to provide an un-matched development in the market, and the high demand we witnessed for these state-of-the-art apart- ments shows that Jumeirah Golf Estates is committed to meeting the needs of all kinds of buyers.” General Manager of Tad- weer, said: “This ambitious project is part of Tadweer’s ongoing digital transforma- tion, aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of its services. Through leverag- ing the latest technologies in service delivery, we sup- port the Abu Dhabi govern- ment’s vision to become one of the best governments in the world.” He also noted that the Aa- ber Smart Gate enables ef- ficient and foolproof vehicle authorization. In line with its sustained efforts to provide best-in-class services to its customers, Tadweer plans to roll out the smart access control technology across other facilities, including landfills, waste transfer sta- tions, incinerators and fertil- izer plants. As part of the scheme, the Licensing, Tariff and Cus- tomer Service Department at Tadweer has replaced the Aaber Pass with e-permits that customers can obtain online without having to visit one of the center’s branches.
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// NEWS // construction business news me // JUNE 2019 18 Property wasl properties (wasl), a sub- sidiary of wasl Asset Man- agement Group, announced the success of the company’s strategy of encouraging tar- get groups, especially Emirati youth and small Arab fami- lies, to invest in real estate. wasl achieved its intended goals during the campaign with notable sales of its units at ‘The Nook’. wasl’s investment strat- egy — launched in October 2018— is tailored to encour- aging the youth to save and invest in real estate to achieve balance between the funda- mental necessities of life and investing in the future. The strategy revealed the emergence of millennial in- vestors in the Dubai real es- tate market who contributed to the success of wasl’s cam- paign through the unprec- edented sales of studio apart- ments and one-bedroom units at ‘The Nook’. The company managed to also gain market insights that will enable it to focus on and target various segments of the society in the future to meet the signifi- cant demand from youth and small Arab families. Zainab Mohammed, Chief Property Management and Marketing Officer at wasl properties, said: “One of the most important results we achieved was attracting this segment of the youth, especially locals, in a man- ner not experienced before and for them to understand the vision and the feasibility of investing in the real estate sector to secure their future. I am pleased to see them take such investment deci- sions at an early age as this will greatly benefit their families in particular and the society as a whole.” 50% of the investors were in the 25 – 39 age group followed by 30% in their 40s and 50s. As for the nationalities of the in- vestors, 50% were Emirati, 10% were Arab, and 40% were international. The Nook is ideal for young people as it enjoys a pres- tigious location within wasl gate — the master develop- ment— offering a variety of recreational options that ac- commodate to their vibrant lifestyles and passion for exploration as well as be- ing a conducive climate that inspires innovation and em- braces entrepreneurial proj- ects, ideas, and opportunities. 50% of ‘The Nook’ buyers are Emiratis – wasl properties reports
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 19 Appointed by Rashed Al Rashed for International Schools Group (ISG) in 2018, Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) have unveiled the plans for the new campus in the up- and-coming area of Aziziyah. Jason Burnside, partner at Godwin Austen John- son, who leads the design team revealed a modern campus that blends state- of-the-art design with the evolving needs of the 21st century learner. “The schools have been Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading global provider of comprehensive software and digital twins services for advancing the design, con- struction, and operations of infrastructure, announced the acquisition of Keynetix, a UK-headquartered provider of cloud-based software for cap- turing, visualizing, modeling, and sharing of geotechnical data. The addition of Keynetix software expands Bentley’s geotechnical offerings and accelerates Bentley’s vision of enabling subsurface digital twins for infrastructure proj- ects and assets. Subsurface digital twins can be vital for assessing and man- aging risks in infrastructure projects, and to the planning, design, construction and oper- ations of infrastructure assets. Bob Mankowski, vice presi- Construction GAJ Unveils New ISG School Campus Plans Technology Bentley Systems Announces the Acquisition of Keynetix designed to incorporate the latest aspects of modern- day design while ensuring that they will be fit for pur- pose for everyday use as a modern educational facility,” said Burnside. ”Once con- structed, the new ISG school campus will be the premier dent and business unit execu- tive of digital cities for Bentley Systems, said, “Infrastructure professionals know that the geologic, hydrologic, chemical and engineering properties of a potential project site, and the infrastructure assets buried be- neath the soil, roads, and other structures represent some of the greatest risks to infrastruc- ture project safety, budgets, and schedules. Having a sub- surface digital twin – a 3D rep- resentation of the subsurface coupled with models to ana- lyze and simulate behavior – will be immensely valuable in educational facility of its type in the Eastern Province of KSA.” The new school campus, which is located within the Canary Vista residential com- pound to the west of central Khobar, will accommodate both American and British all phases of the asset lifecycle. The Keynetix team and their technology bring decades of experience and cutting-edge cloud services to Bentley’s already strong geotechnical portfolio – gINT, PLAXIS, and SoilVision – and will accelerate the progress of our vision for subsurface digital twins.” Roger Chandler, managing director of Keynetix, said, “Today’s announcement pro- vides our team, customers, and partners with an once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance digital engineering in the geotechnical industry. At curricula within an intercon- nected series of buildings and shared facilities and will cater to a total of approxi- mately 2500 students. The International Schools Group (ISG) was founded in 1962 to serve the needs of expatriate families living and working in the King- dom of Saudi Arabia. ISG is a not-for-profit, forward- looking school district com- prised of six schools across four locations in the East- ern Province. Keynetix, our mission has al- ways been to make geotech- nical data more broadly ac- cessible and valuable. Today’s announcement will truly open up geotechnical data col- laboration across Bentley, Au- todesk, and other platforms.” Greg Bentley, CEO for Bentley Systems, said, “My colleagues and I welcome our new teammates from Keynetix, led by principals Roger Chandler, Gary Mo- rin, and Carl Grice, who for many years have envisioned the potential and necessity of geotechnical and geoenvi- ronmental data management to enable better designs and more successful projects. The geotechnical and infrastruc- ture professions will benefit from their continued and ex- panded leadership, now with- in Bentley Systems!”
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 20 // Cover Story Project details • MEP sub-contractor: ALEMCO • Fit-out sub-contractor: ALEC Fitout • Marina Gate is ALEC’s first design and build project with its subsidiaries • 1,100 workers on Jumeirah Living at Marina Gate • 80-90 façade panels on each floor
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 21 J umeirah Living Marina Gate com- bines the Jumeirah Group’s luxury hospitality experience with Select Group’s commitment to creating an ex- ceptional standard of living. Never be- fore have Marina residents had access to Jumeirah’s impeccable standards for a curated lifestyle, coupled with the exceptional attractions found in one of Dubai’s most captivating locations. Jumeirah Living Marina Gate repre- sents the third and final tower of the prestigious Marina Gate community located at the original entrance to Dubai Marina, a place where residents can relax and appreciate the best that life has to offer in a luxurious water- front setting. “Jumeirah Living Marina Gate is Ju- meirah Group’s first venture in Dubai Marina. By combining Jumeirah’s luxury hospitality experience with Select Group’s commitment to creating an exceptional standard of living, this development is designed to offer resi- dents access to the amenities and luxu- ries of a five-star hotel in the comfort and privacy of their own home. With a BUA of 1,292,800 ft2, the design-led luxurious living destination includes 104 service apartments, 389 branded residences, and 15 villas. Ju- meirah Living Marina Gate (JLMG) of- fers an exclusive range of facilities and amenities including lifestyle concierge services, a temperature-controlled in- finity pool, state of the art gymnasium, residents’ lounge and business centre. Residents are provided with a dedi- cated guest relations team, including an onsite residential manager, security, housekeeping and valet services,” Ian Stapely, Senior Manager, Projects, Select Group. The development has a gross devel- opment value of AED 1.6 billion. “Located in the heart of Dubai Marina, JLMG provides panoramic waterfront and cityscape views. Direct access to the cosmopolitan Marina Walk opens a world of leisure options for residents. Restaurants, five-star hotels, coffee shops and a variety of retail outlets including international supermarkets and stylish clothing boutiques add to the development’s charm. Beauty salons, a polyclinic, and a nursery school complete the offering for a curated family-friendly lifestyle,” said Ian. Designed from the inside out, the Marina Gate development has been conceptualized with great attention to detail. The striking, all glass façade features strategically placed mesh fins with illumination and was inspired by the need to maximize the stunning waterfront and cityscape views for residents. “Every apartment in Jumeirah Living Marina Gate is planned to maximize indoor space with high ceilings and right angles. Beautifully appointed ensuite bathrooms and built-in ward- robes add to the comfort of spacious bedrooms. The highly functional kitchens are equipped with premium fixtures and state of the art appliances. Spacious balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views whether you focus on the distant horizon, the city skyline or the tranquil waters of the Marina,” said Ian. Select Group and ALEC provide us with the latest update on the Marina Gate Tower III project Jumeirah comes to the marina
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 22 ALEC, the multi-award winning, world-class contractor was awarded the contract for the main works of Jumeirah Living Marina Gate. Speedy Progress With Marina Gate I and II completed, Marina Gate III is expected to be completed by Q2 2020 and as of April 2019 the project is at 51 percent completion rate. Falling behind on construction proj- ects and schedules is a slippery setback that happens slowly. It only takes miss- ing a few small deadlines and then the whole project can be off schedule. This isn’t the case with this project. The speedy progress of the main works of Marina Gate III can be attrib- uted to a precise schedule that ALEC is following. “With the site operating on a 24-hour construction schedule, with two shifts for the 2000 to 3,000 workers on-site, this flexibility and support from the clients and authorities has been crucial for ALEC – working as a design and build contractor for this project – being able to meet deadlines and handover projects on time,” said Johan Moolman, Senior Contract Manager, ALEC. “From a design point of view, is a design and build contract, we’ve got a bit of flexibility in terms of managing the process. It’s a lot more efficient – any changes that come out, we sit down with the client and they assist us in getting through the line. Select has been very helpful and we’ve estab- lished a great relationship with them,” Johan further added. Recently, Select Group announced the top out of Jumeirah Living Marina Gate, the third and final tower in the Marina Gate development. It was a significant milestone for the project, the day was marked by the placement of the final concrete to the upper roof slab. The ceremony was attended by representatives from JumeirahTM Group and ALEC. In addition to being the design and build contractor, ALEC also has two of its subsidiary businesses involved on // Cover Story
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 23 the project – ALEMCO and ALEC Fit- out and Interiors, who handle the MEP work and interior finishes respectively. Having an in-house team involved not only makes project milestones easier to achieve, as they all have the same agenda but also ensures better collabo- ration and coordination. “On Jumeirah Living Marina Gate, the consultants have worked hand-in- hand with us in terms of developing the design. On Marina Gate I and II, we adopted an existing design which was enhanced during the construc- tion process. Daily workshops were conducted in order to ensure that the BIM model worked in terms of coor- dination and necessary requirements. Of course, you do pick up issues as you go along, but it’s something you can fix quite quickly. BIM modeling allowed us to identify issues at an early stage and amendments to the design could be made accordingly,” said Johan. Challenges Johan also went into details about the challenges faced during this project. The Dubai Marina community is devel- oped around a large water body, there was always a risk of water infiltration during the excavation and construction of the underground/basement levels. As such, the project team needed to seek approvals to ensure that their plan to mitigate the risk of water infil- tration was approved. “In addition, various changes to the authority regulations were introduced halfway through construction and needed to be incorporated within the existing design which affected approv- als and constructability of the tower” “Other challenges included build- ing a site with limited access, as the road leading to the plot was not yet constructed. Restrictions were also in place for construction during the night to ensure that there was limited noise disturbance for the neighbouring buildings,” remarked Johan. This was a challenge that continues into the construction of Marina Gate II and Jumeirah Living Marina Gate, Moolman says, explaining that ALEC has had to devise a clever system to allow them to bring in materials on time while also keeping on-site disrup- tions minimal. “The key for us on-site is to ensure that all of our supply chains buy into an on-time delivery strategy. Gener- ally, what happens with projects is that materials get delivered way too early and or out of sequence which causes limitation of work front as well as dis- ruption to certain trades. Storage space was very limited on site, hence the “on-time delivery strategy” was almost non-negotiable.” Innovations During the construction of these tow- ers, Johan pointed out the two key innovations that helped ensure the construction project was both efficient and productive. The first involved hoist monitoring which is a combina- tion of digitisation, IoT and analytics that have been utilised to track hoists at Marina Gate. “Using the collected data, decisions are now based on facts & numbers only. Notifications are being sent to the logistics team and an incentive scheme has been put in place to make sure operators are efficient and saves 40% time-saving is recorded in peak
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 24 times due to this initiative,” said Johan. The second innovation highlighted is the changing sequence of the build- ing façade. The Marina Gate team appointed their contractor early on the Marina Gate III project which allowed for design items to be completed well before the first level of panel instal- lation was required on level 9. The Façade contractor also subcontracted their façade design to a specialist who worked with ALEC’s design team. All issues encountered on the first two towers were taken into account for the tower 3 design. This led to efficient façade design and allowed for the site to execute a streamlined approach that will follow the floor access strategy of the project. Following from the de-shuttering of the concrete, the façade team changed the installation process from panels being installed from the same level as the storage using a robot glazing machine to install internally compared to monorail system installing the panel from above and externally. Logistics was set out that panels would be delivered to the same floor as the panel installation which reduced storage area on the tower. “Strict delivery timing and crane timing was adhered to by all parties allowing efficient panel delivery. The robot machine allowed the panels to be installed while the tower was still be constructed and allowed the block work to terminate once against the fa- çade. This also allowed safety on the slab edge to be increased as the façade is closed reducing the risk of items to fall off the tower,” said Johan. The wet trades and the rest of the finishing sequence had also to be aligned with the façade installation sequence to strictly follow the line of balance. They have also introduced a warning system in case any of any delays to make sure the building se- quence is adhered to at all times. The result is a project progressing excep- tionally well with minimal disruption to different trades. // Cover Story
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// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 26 // Talking point Do a lot of people travel during Ramadan? We all live in a cosmopolitan and ma- turing city. Residents of Dubai have jobs, have children in schools and we tend to carry on with our usual routines during the Holy month of Ramadan. There are over 300 schools in Dubai and this year Ramadan has fallen in term time which will result in fewer people travelling. How Does Ramadan Affect the Dubai property market? Carl Allsopp, COO of Allsopp & Allsopp explains the misconceptions between the holy month of Ramadan and the Real Estate market of Dubai. Over the past 5 or 6 years, Rama- dan has happened to fall over the summer months. This has led to a presumption that families travel dur- ing the month of Ramadan but that is far from the case. When children are on their sum- mer school holidays there are a lot of families who will choose to beat the heat and head to cooler climates, myself included. This should not be associated with Ramadan and people should not presume that a lot of resi- dents will travel during this time. Any special Ramadan Property Offers? During the month of Ramadan, Dubai property developers demonstrate their generosity to potential buyers with exclusive offers. This Ramadan, Emaar Properties have put together a few exclusive offers for home buyers to avail. These
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 27 has also become more apparent over the last 5 or 6 years, again, because Ramadan has happened to fall over the summer months. When schools break up for sum- mer this can occasionally be a time where families will move on and sell their property but, gone are the days of distressed summer sales. We see fewer people leaving the city and more people taking advantage of the school holidays to move to a different home in Dubai. It is a myth that sellers will slash prices during Ramadan and over the hotter summer months and this is something buyers should be aware of. Do you see less people viewing properties during Ramadan? The simple answer is, no. As a matter of fact, we often see more viewings in the month of Ramadan than any other month of the year. The reduction of working hours during the Holy month gives buyers and sellers more time. Allsopp & Allsopp also tend to have more buyer and tenant registra- tions during Ramadan for the same reason – people have more time to look for homes. We find that with more time, buyers and sellers are less stressed with their day to day lives and have more time to focus on future plans. According to Property Finder, the most property searches during Rama- dan take place from Sunday through to Wednesday. Their data also shows that the property market keeps its frenetic pace during Ramadan. What advice would you give to sellers and landlords during Ramadan? I would suggest that sellers and land- lords are flexible with viewing times. One change we do notice during the month of Ramadan is that view- ings can take place later in the day. Our brokers are working late into the evening to ensure fasting clients receive quality service when it is most suitable for them. If you are looking to sell or rent out your property over the months of Ramadan, it is essential that you take fasting times into consideration. It is also hugely important to keep constant communication with your real estate broker to ensure they are aware of the times available to view your property and the most conve- nient times to contact you. include a 100% waiver on Dubai Land Department Fees, a 3-year waiver on service charges on the property and a 25/75 offer whereby buyers pay only 25% of the sale prior to move in and pay the further 75% over a three 3-year period post completion. However, buyers in the secondary market can sometimes misinterpret Ramadan as a time to get a distressed sale and can even hold off buying until the Holy month arrives. This
Interview with Adrian Lindon, Managing Director, Design and Engineering at Atkins, MEA, on their latest projects and what makes them stand out from the rest Setting the Standards // Interview // construction business news me // June 2019 28
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 29 What is the EDPM business focus within the SNC-Lavalin Group and which sectors do you cover in the GCC? Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is one of the world’s most respected engineering, design and project management (EDPM) consul- tancies. For over 50 years, we have been delivering design and engineer- ing consultancy services for clients in the Middle East region and have influenced many of the region’s iconic projects. The Atkins business also includes the brands of Faithful+Gould and Atkins Acuity. Faithful+Gould pro- vides integrated project and pro- gramme management consultancy, independently or alongside Atkins. Faithful+Gould shares our determina- tion to work closely with our clients and achieve shared success. Together we create a more valuable contribution that leads to effective and successful outcomes for our clients – protect- ing their assets and maximising value. Acuity is the end-to-end advisory business from Atkins. Acuity Combines management consulting, financing and technical capabilities to help clients solve complex front- end problems in the built environment. Within the design and engineering business, our focus is around the Built Environment, Civil, Infrastructure and Transportation, and Digital & Technol- ogy sectors. Our Built Environment Sector focus is primarily around master planning, hospitality, residential, and mixed-use developments, as well as commercial and cultural projects such as the Dubai Opera House and Bahrain World Trade Centre. Under our Civil, Infrastructure, and Transpor- tation sector, we focus on major metro projects such as the Dubai and Riyadh Metros, International Airports such as King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, and major civil/ infrastructure projects in KSA. Could you describe your role in the latest Dubai Festival City marine station project? This project was an international con- cept design competition run by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in 2017. We were delighted to be the winners of this competition and incorporate in- novative solutions to meet the project- specific demands by RTA. As for this project, the design that we created was aimed to be self-sufficient in terms of energy generation, to utilise 3D printing and to be modular to allow flexibility in rolling out the modules at different locations and with different scales around the canal. The cano- pies housed photovoltaics cells that both provided shade and generated energy for the facility. The design for the Marine Transport Station provided a prestigious customer service and operational facilities building on the new canal from Business Bay to Jumei- rah. The sustainable design aimed at generating its own power and hence reduce operational cost and reflect RTA’s commitment to the environment. The station was successfully launched in May 2019. How is your business focusing on sustainability? At Atkins, we increasingly think about our performance along the three dimensions or triple bottom line of sustainability—economic, social and en- vironmental. Our goal is to embed this perspective in our approach to every- thing we do. Over the years, we have looked at several initiatives for driving sustainability into the design of our projects. We approach all our projects with a ‘doing more with less’ attitude, and we particularly look at how we can reduce the operational costs and, therefore, the environmental impact once the asset is operational. We then look at digital asset management allow- ing clients to manage their assets in the most efficient way possible. In the built environment, our plans and designs aesthetically and functionally blend human and natural elements, while promoting resource conservation and cost efficiency for projects ranging from full-scale communities to individual buildings. In addition, we are also com- mitted to building the UN Sustainable Development Goals into our business strategy which is positive and exciting.
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 30 // Interview You have worked on various transportation projects all over the world. What are the unique challenges you face in the GCC countries when designing with such commission? The GCC region continues to trans- form to meet the needs of its growing population. There is a great op- portunity to introduce industry best practices, such as developing design guidelines for transportation projects and to bring in global engineering expertise with local knowledge to help provide greater advantage and agility in projects. The Dubai Metro is a great example where Atkins supported the JV contractor, Japan Turkey Metro Joint Venture (JTMJV), by providing full multidisciplinary design and manage- ment of the civil works on the project. Key to our success was integrating the specialist skills from Atkins' interna- tional offices to work with our local presence on this high-profile project. Another challenge was to tackle the project in a carbon-critical way. Our approach resulted in less aluminium, glass and more insulation than the original designs. Our recom- mendations saved just over 500m3 of aluminium and a saving of approxi- mately 12,900t (CO2-e) and reduced estimated peak cooling load by around 35%. The first line of the Dubai Metro opened to the public on 09 September 2009. It is the longest automated, driv- erless system in the world and it has eased traffic congestion by improving mobility throughout Dubai. How digital transformation in design and engineering is affecting your projects? As mentioned, we have a dedicated market sector and practice that wholly focuses on digital and technology. Our business is becoming more and more about data and how we manage this data in the way we operate, the way we design and the way we behave as a business. We have been using BIM on our projects for well over a decade now but developments in 4D all the way to 7D are starting to impact on the way we design our projects. Our digital asset management team is focused on building our capability and solutions for clients in asset investment planning, asset performance manage- ment, and asset management systems. What are your views on the transport sector in the region? Is there something extra that needs to be done? At Atkins, we combine traditional en- gineering with new technologies and are constantly innovating for clients in the region, by bringing our transporta- tion clients’ ideas to life while meeting increased demands on infrastructure. It is imperative to understand the pros and cons of design and build contracts as this is generally the preferred con- struction contract for major infrastruc- ture projects. Ensuring the preliminary engineering design and documentation has sufficient detail, and is approved in principle, prior to sending out the tender documentation is crucial. We are also encouraging clients to incor- porate digital innovation and sustain- ability in their projects and make these among the key technical requirements that bring in long-term efficiencies and improve the quality of the user experi- ence. What is your business strategy and what are some current projects you're working on? Our strategy is focused on delivering high-quality services to our clients across the region, while also driving business growth opportunities in key markets such as Saudi Arabia. We are heavily involved in some of the King- dom’s major projects such as Public Investment Fund (PIF) projects includ- ing the design and site operations on several packages on King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh and the Diriyah Gate masterplan. In the UAE, we have several exciting projects including Marsa Al Arab in Dubai, Saadiyat Grove in Abu Dhabi and the extension to the Dubai Metro into the Expo site, Route2020.
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// Feature // construction business news me // June 2019 32 With 2019 going by so fast we at Construction Business News wanted to bring you up to speed on the latest updates on projects that are taking place in the region.
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 33 Azizi Developments, one of the lead- ing private developers in the UAE, is bringing the next generation of urban connectivity to life with Connect by Azizi, a spectacularly-designed and strategically-located residential devel- opment in Al Furjan. The exception- ally well-thought-out master-planned community that hosts this property is situated in the growth corridor of Dubai, boasting outstanding accessibil- ity while being a serene escape from the bustle of the city. Offering customers the opportunity to live in one of the most up-and-com- ing locations in the Emirate, Connect by Azizi features 245 units, including 190 studios as well as 41 one- and 14 two-bedroom apartments spread across seven levels that overlook sce- nic vistas of the city’s skyline. Situated near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and the new Expo 2020 Route metro line, Connect by Azizi is remarkably well tied to the entirety of Dubai’s marvellous points of interest. With its ease of access to the bustling Expo 2020 site, as well as to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the development is at the very forefront of global interconnectedness. Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Develop- ments, said: “Location, and especially connectivity to major retail, leisure and business hubs, remains a key factor in the home purchase decision making process, as our research consistently underlines. We’re introducing Connect by Azizi as a response to this growing demand, in a location that is witness- ing increasing rental yields and superb investor response. Our developments in the blossoming area that is Al Furjan have sold out at exceptionally swift rates and have proven to be outstand- ing investments. We are delighted to add this remarkable development, which reflects the city’s popularity as a metropolitan hub and gateway to the world, to our portfolio.” Connect by Azizi reflects masterful craftsmanship and interior artistry with homes that have intricate marble floor- ing, graceful wall and ceiling décor, and generous counter space. Built to the highest standards of environmental sustainability using eco-friendly materi- als, Connect by Azizi homes not only assure enhanced wellness for residents but also improved indoor air quality and lower utility bills, given its focus on the sustainable use of energy and water resources. With the company marking 2019 as its ‘Year of Construction,’ Connect by Azizi will have an accelerated completion schedule. Offering residents a stylish and urban lifestyle, Connect by Azizi combines practicality, convenience, and harmonious living, all in the epicentre of Dubai’s high-growth corridor. Connect by Azizi a new residential development strategically located in Al Furjan
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 34 During Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2019, Bloom presented its diversified portfo- lio of real estate developments across the UAE. Furthermore, the developer provided investors with updates on several developments that are cur- rently under construction or nearing completion and introduce them to the exclusive post-handover payment plans on offer. Sameh Muhtadi, CEO of Bloom Hold- ing, said: “Cityscape Abu Dhabi has served as a key platform for Bloom to introduce its latest projects to a wide range of regional and global investors, engage them in its future development plans and expand its client base.” He added: “Our upcoming partici- pation in Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2019 assumes special significance, as we are set to hand over two of our most eager- ly anticipated residential developments in Abu Dhabi, Park View and Soho Square. The exclusive post-handover payments plan we are offering during Cityscape on the ready-to-move-in units is a great way to appreciate our investors for their continued trust in the quality of our offerings and our ability to exceed their expectations.” In addition to Park View and Soho Square on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dha- bi, Bloom Properties will also showcase Bloom Heights and Bloom Towers in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) in Dubai at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2019. Over the years, Bloom has built an impressive track record as a developer with an uncompromising approach to- wards design and quality. Its growing portfolio of integrated communities, such as Bloom Gardens, FAYA, Bloom Marina and Bloom Central, offers the advantages of high-quality living spaces and family-oriented activities for residents. Preferred for their strategic locations, premium amenities and excellent potential to generate significant returns on investment, Bloom’s developments have attracted high investor uptake, and continue to witness sustained demand from investors from across the world, as evidenced by the strong response it received during its recent international roadshows. To date, the company has deliv- ered more than 2,000 residential and commercial units across eight devel- opments, as well as two world-class hotels, four schools and two nurseries. Bloom Properties showcases diversified projects // Feature
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 35 Living Garden, soon-to-rise modern residential units in the up and coming neighbourhood of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), will be the newest ad- dition to Lootah Real Estate Devel- opment’s portfolio of high-quality, affordable and sustainable properties in Dubai, offering residents not just a home, but also a lifestyle. The project features a modern, yet elegant façade composed of aluminum vertical elements and glass windows while its interior finishing will include porcelain tiles and counter tops de- signed to suit a contemporary lifestyle. Residents, whether individuals, couples or small families, can choose from expert-built yet affordable studios its commitment in providing the high- est standard of living for its residents without missing on affordability. Living Garden is a modern-inspired property that will not just provide a home, but also a lifestyle, as it will strategically be situated in a prime location where resi- dents can easily access the city but at the same time enjoy suburban living.” Residents of Living Garden can enjoy an environment that provides a sense of community and a healthy lifestyle, as well as live life to the fullest as it is within the reach of the city. JVC pro- vides easy access to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, and offers an extensive range of facilities including a mosque and parks. Lootah Properties launches Living Garden and one-bedroom apartments with areas ranging from 300 to 1200 sq. ft, having spacious bathrooms, sophisti- cated apartment palette, ceiling finish- ing, and elegant lighting. Living Garden will host state-of-the- art amenities including exceptional fix- tures and fittings, fully equipped gym, as well as covered parking, amongst many others. Saleh Abdullah Lootah, Executive Director of Lootah Real Estate Develop- ment, said: “Living Garden is a reaf- firmation of Lootah’s commitment to be the top lifestyle developer and the leader of innovation in the real estate development sector. Through this de- velopment, Lootah remains steadfast to
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 36 // Feature Miral, Abu Dhabi’s creator of destina- tions, is investing AED 6.2 billion into entertainment and leisure projects on Yas Island, with steady growth reaf- firmed as it achieved 28 million visits in 2018. It doesn’t end there: Miral has more development plans as it continues to grow Yas Island into an entertainment, leisure and business destination. Upcoming attractions to come in- clude CLYMB, a new sport facility that immersive attractions and experiences. Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi’s ultimate wa- terfront experience, is also progressing and will be a vibrant community to live, work and play. Once complete, it will include Yas Bay Arena, The Residences – which will feature 15,000 residents – a promenade and pier with 37 cafés and restaurants, 19 retail outlets, a beach club, and two hotels. It will also become the new hub for Abu Dhabi Media Zone, twofour54. Miral projects worth AED6.2bn under construction on Yas Island will feature the world’s widest indoor skydiving flight chamber and highest indoor climbing wall, complements Yas Island’s existing experiences. It also provides a record-breaking op-tion for adrenaline and fitness enthusiasts. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, a next-genera- tion marine-life theme park which also includes the UAE’s first dedicated R4 ma- rine research, rescue, and rehabilitation and release center, is another project that will be an exciting addition to the island’s
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 38 UAE-headquartered upscale residential, hospitality and commercial property developer Seven Tides has broken ground on SE7EN City JLT, its first mixed-used development in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), in Dubai. The project, valued at over AED1 billion and due for completion during Q2 2021, completely sold out phase one in less than a week following its launch in May 2018 – selling 661 apartments, valued at AED 301,863,775 million, sales now total over 800 units. “To sell out phase one of our project in less than one week is remarkable, particularly given the tough trading conditions many developers are fac- ing,” said Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides. “We are offering excellent value at a competitive price point. In addition, we offer a very attractive easy payment option consisting of a 5% deposit, followed by payments equal to 6% of the cost price to be paid every subse- quent quarter. We estimate that studios should yield 12% per annum.” Spread across 3.5 million square feet and situated within Cluster Z in DMCC, opposite the Montgomery and Emirates’ golf courses and the Emirates Hills community – the development is made up of 2,744 units – with its residential element consisting of 2,617 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments as well as a limited number of duplex apartments, plus 78 hotel rooms. The striking design sits upon a common podium, which plays host to promenade restaurants overlooking a lake. The tower also features a gym, health club, infinity pool, children’s pool, a roof garden, cafes, other dining options, a large retail offering featuring 48 retail shops, covering 150,000 sqft over three floors, which will include a hypermarket, as well as car parking spaces totalling 2,718, with an ad- ditional 620 spaces dedicated to retail age outlets, gym and a health club. However, when residents do venture outside, they’ll still be able to enjoy the urban vibe, with the excitement and fast-paced, hustle and bustle of city life, right on their doorstep.” SE7EN City JLT by Seven Tides // Feature parking, including valet. Bin Sulayem, added: “SE7EN CITY JLT is designed to provide every- thing a resident might possibly want, with various retail options, entertainment, food and bever-
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 39 Vincitore Realty, a Dubai-based devel- oper of quality properties and a pioneer in branded realty, today announces the launch of Dubai’s first wellness and affordable branded realty project – Vin- citore Benessere – the developer’s third such project in Dubai that will change the way people see real estate in this part of the world. With a development value exceed- ing Dh375 million, Vincitore Benessere will host 380 branded residences ranging from Studios to 3-Bedroom luxury apartments – all fitted with the best-in-class facilities and ameni- ties suited for medieval-era European royalty and landed aristocracies. It will include 38,000 square feet of high street boulevard retail to the serve the entire community in and around the area. The project is located in Arjan, next to Miracle Gardens with the magnificent views of the floral display at the Miracle Garden. The launch of Vincitore Ben- essere more than doubles the develop- er’s real estate portfolio value to Dh730 million (US$200 million), including the Dh135 million Vincitore Palacio and Dh230 million Vincitore Boulevard. ‘Benessere’ in Italian means wellbe- ing in terms of health, comfort, and happiness. Keeping wellness at the cen- ter of the conception, design, creation, breathing in and make them enjoyable and happy experience every day,” Vijay Doshi, Chairman of Vincitore Realty, said. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-Presi- dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is inspiring the UAE to cultivate wellbeing as a way of life and enrich the greater happiness of the nation through National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing Initiative and we at Vincitore completely support this thought and Benessere is our contri- bution in the multi-billion dollar real estate segment of Dubai to make this happen, by giving people a place to live where they can dwell in happiness and complete wellbeing.” Benessere by Vincitore Realty and development of homes which are comfortable and convenient, Vinci- tore is developing Benessere, which encompasses all these elements and features in the project which will impart wellness to their customers in terms of happiness and well-being. The project has more than 100,000 square feet of luxurious world-class amenities that will cater to all the wellness needs of each and every resident of the project ensur- ing their happiness and comfort. “Real estate is not limited to four walls and a roof. It means a lot more as most buyers put their life savings into a property that they want to live in and call it a ‘home’. We are mindful of that and we are putting all our efforts to make the homes worth living in,
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 40 Emaar Development today marked the ground-breaking ceremony on Arabian Ranches III – the newest phase of the premium gated villa community, which recorded a sell-out response from inves- tors and homebuyers with its first two neighbourhoods SUN and JOY. Arabian Ranches III is an extension of Dubai’s well-established Arabian Ranches destination. In line with its slogan ‘Find Your Hap- py’, Arabian Ranches III will increase the happiness and well-being of its residents with a lazy river, sports courts, kids splash pads, a clubhouse, a central park and a retail area, among numerous other family-friendly amenities. The key feature of Arabian Ranches III is the central park designed for unwind- Town Square Dubai by Nshama, which focuses on building homes highly sought-after by families in trendy neigh- borhoods away from the bustle, will hand over 5,000 additional residences this year taking the total number of homes handed over to more than 6,600. By end-2019, Town Square Dubai will be home to over 18,000 people making it one of the thriving residential communities in Dubai. Fred Durie, Chief Executive Officer of Nshama, said: “Working with estab- lished contractors, we are making strong progress on the delivery of an additional 5,000 homes that deliver on the promise of ‘live life at your price’ in Town Square Arabian Ranches III by Emaar Town Square Dubai by Nshama // Feature ing and neighbourly get-togethers. It will stretch across 30,000 square metres (about 7.5 acres, or more than four foot- ball pitches), with a central plaza, lawns, adventure zones, a parkour course, a skate park, barbeque areas, a gymna- sium, jogging tracks and a cricket pitch. Residents will also have a choice of smaller parks with children’s play- grounds, and a 4-kilometre long bou- levard. A mosque, reputed schools and healthcare facilities are also nearby. Once complete, Arabian Ranches III will also offer a direct connection to the 86-kilometre long Al Qudra Cycling Track, while the 42-metre-wide boule- vard loop in the heart of the community will promote a healthy, pedestrian- friendly lifestyle. Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director of Emaar Properties, said: ‘“We are thrilled to commence construction on this remarkable new extension of our highly successful Arabian Ranches. How great is to have a large central park, private gardens, top-of-the-line amenities and sports for everyone – all in one place?” Mr Al Matrooshi added: “We are par- ticularly proud of the fact that Arabian Ranches III will be a haven for families and children, with man-made rivers, hammock areas, outdoor pools and a cinema, playgrounds, a tree house, and much more. We will soon be announc- ing a new opportunity for investors in what we believe will be Dubai’s defini- tive family community.” Dubai. As the pioneering master- planned development in Dubai focused on offering homes for families through attractive payment plans, Town Square Dubai has set the standards in residen- tial developments for families. With the homes recording strong demand, inves- tors are assured of strong returns and rental yields while residents become part of a full-fledged lifestyle community.” From left to right Mark Phoenix, Senior Direc- tor, Emaar Development; Milind K. Nadgir, Manager - Projects, Emaar Development; Bader Hareb, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar
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// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 42 For years, humans have recognised images better than computers. Our error rate has been steadily at 5 percent while computer algorithms were at 30 percent. However, with the rise of computer vision and deep learning, the gap between humans and computers has slowly closed. Within the last two years, researchers have seen computer algorithms show an error rate of less than 5 percent, surpassing humans. These advance- ments bring significant potential to many different industries. Within the last five years, artifi- cial intelligence—or AI—has gone mainstream, no longer relating to just the technology industry. It is being adapted and applied to increase its value across all sectors, such as cus- tomer service, business intelligence, marketing and sales, and even the legal service. To keep up, the infra- structure industry has begun increasing its use of reality modeling applications across all types of projects. Implementing Deep Learning Often, people confuse AI, machine learning, and deep learning. While having very different meanings, the terms are all interconnected. AI is the most generic term, applying to anytime a computer does something smart or reasons with the data. Deep learning, however, has been crucial in developing AI for users of reality modeling applications, and it will help digitalise the infrastructure in- dustry. This type of learning, a subset of machine learning, is when a com- puter can act like the human brain, with multiple layers of artificial neu- rons helping that process. Researchers have been training these very large deep learning neuro-networks to do all kinds of things, such as image and feature recognition, object detection, and language processing. Seeing Structural Defects Today, reality modeling applications use deep learning to overcome many industry challenges. Machine and deep learning make it possible for com- puter vision and image recognition to identify problems with projects or individual pieces of equipment before they happen. By implementing com- puter vision, researchers are teaching computers to see like humans. The computer can classify objects, meaning it can say if a single image is a tree or if it is a car. The next step is teaching the computer to detect objects, asking the computer to identify trees and cars in the same image. The computer should be able to tell the difference between the two objects. Lastly, the computer can segment the object. This step involves drawing around the exact shape of an object, whether the image is in 2D or 3D. Visualising Advantages in the Field One exciting feature about image recognition is the ability to train the multi-layered artificial neural network with thousands of images to recog- Recognition and Reasoning: How Artificial Intelligence is helping the Infrastructure Industry in Going Digital by Chintana Herrin, Senior Manager Product Marketing, Bentley Systems Infrastructure Going Digital // Digital
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 43 Another way that AI can help the industry is by using it to advance reality modeling applications themselves. AI could then improve both the technolo- gy and the user’s experience. Recently, Bentley announced its Early Access Program for ContextCapture Insights, a reality modeling solution that automati- cally detects and locates objects using 3D machine-learning technology. It provides automation to help reduce time and costs associated with the analysis of real-world conditions from reality data. By creating 3D models, users will have better visibility into their project’s progress and end-goals. Using reality modeling applications to create the models will accelerate the design process while keeping every- one informed of changes. Reality mod- eling using AI can be applied to many different areas of the infrastructure industry, and help with all stages of an asset’s lifecycle. As the technology continues to advance, it becomes clear that there is no limit to what reality modeling can do. nise an object. This type of model was featured during CH2M Fairhurst’s project in Europe. The project team wanted to design and create a 3D model for an upgraded road. To com- plete this project, the team needed a model without trees on either side of the road, as they were planning to widen the road to add more lanes. Team members also wanted to create a new surrounding landscape, so they needed to remove the trees to better visualise their options. Their team provided a dataset to the research team, who first classified the trees on both sides of the road and then removed them. Normally, users would have to go into the program and manually remove all the trees. This time-consuming process was eliminated using reality modeling. Skand Pty Ltd also recently used this type of model for its project at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technol- ogy (RMIT). Located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the university wanted to integrate drone imagery and analysis into its award-winning forty- year asset lifecycle program. Start- ing with the university’s Brunswick campus, Skand used a done to capture images of the 65,000-meter site. The project team then used a web program to incorporate the informa- tion into RMIT’s existing building envelope project inspection brief, turning the 2D images into meaningful datasets mapped to a 3D reality model. The program also used computer vi- sion and machine learning to identify and categorise defects, such as cracks, moss, algae, bird nests, and other forms of corrosion and building mate- rial degradation. Skand not only wanted to provide a platform to integrate drone imagery into RMIT’s asset lifecycle program, but also deliver a superior quality of model and mapping of defects for better asset maintenance planning. By combining machine learning and reality modeling applications with 3D visualisation and reporting into a single service, Skand created a cost- effective integration of drone imagery and analysis with RMIT’s asset lifecycle program. The final results were im- proved safety, as users could conduct roof and façade inspection without needing to leave the ground, and re- duced time, as the works were carried out using computers. The solution also saved significant value, as the Skand solution is about 60 percent cheaper than traditional inspection methods. The Endless Possibilities There are many ways that the infra- structure industry can apply computer vision, or AI in general, to keep the industry moving forward. One place is with reality modeling applications and their ability to classify images in reality meshes. The industry wants to eventu- ally use neuro-networks that have already learned objects from other images. Researchers want to have a way for users to select objects in their images so that the reality modeling application will learn the objects and automatically detect them in the future.
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 44 // Real Estate Real Estate Boom in Sharjah & Ajman Affordable rates and high ROI attract investors to Sharjah and Ajman says Bayut’s latest market report, says Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut Both Sharjah and Ajman remain afford- able alternatives for buying and rent- ing properties in the UAE. Prices have dropped on average across popular districts for both Sharjah and Ajman, but ROI has remained high, reaching up to 7% in Sharjah and over 11% in Ajman for certain neighbourhoods as per Bayut’s Q1 market reports for 2019. Sharjah: Price trends for Q1 2019 reveal that apartments in Sharjah have mostly wit- nessed minimal decreases between 2% - 6% for both sales and rentals, with prices staying stable in certain areas. According to Bayut’s data, larger apartment units for sales in popular locations like Al Majaz and Al Khan have seen price declines under 6%. The most significant rental price changes have included decreases around the 11% mark in Abu Shagara and Al Khan. Accord- ing to search trends, Al Majaz is most popular with investors to buy apartments in Sharjah. However, potential tenants turn to Al Nahda as their first choice for renting apartments in the emirate. When it comes to villas in Sharjah, the area of Al Sabkha generated the most searches by both investors and renters. Ajman: For apartments in Ajman, the overall price trends for both sales and rents show marginal declines between 1%-6% with prices remaining stable in many areas. For apartment sales, the only significant declines are at the 7%-8% margin for units in Garden City and Al Sawan. As for the rental apartments, the most significant decreases are for units in Ajman Downtown, Al Rashidiya and Al Jurf, where prices have gone down by an average of 6%. In terms of popularity, Ajman Downtown has received the most interest from investors while for apart- ment rentals, Al Nuaimiya retains the top position in Q1 2019. For villas in Ajman, Al Mowaihat is the most popular among investors whereas tenants are most interested in Al Rawda. Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut, said, “The property markets in both Sharjah and Ajman have grown substantially in recent years, with reputed builders such as Eagle Hills and Emaar exploring options here. Over the first quarter of 2019, both Sharjah and Ajman present a lucrative opportunity for investors. From a rental perspective as well, the com- bination of reasonable rents and easily accessible schools makes both these emirates extremely attractive options for families in the UAE.” Offering a complete suite of real estate services and insights, Bayut releases detailed market reports highlighting the property trends in the UAE on a regular basis. Bayut is already a great success story in the UAE and has recorded impressive growth in the last few years, growing over 100% year-on-year over the last 5 years. It is well on its way to becoming the largest real estate portal in the UAE and have Bayut’s presence felt across the region.
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 46 Middle East and African automotive aftermarket valued at US$61 billion in 2018, with more growth anticipated Automechanika Dubai Preview Show Director of Auto- mechanika Dubai. “This in turn impacts the aftermarket and Auto- mechanika Dubai, with its trans-regional reach, is the ideal platform to meet and interact with key players and buyers in this market. With the biggest names in the business present this year, the exhibition is a great place for buyers, industry professionals, distributors and government representa- tives to get a feel of market trends, developments and the way ahead.” Country-wide, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the biggest Middle East markets for vehicle parc according to Techsci’s report, with Saudi contributing 7.49 million (5.11 million PVs, and 2.38 million CVs) to the region’s fleet, and the UAE 2.57 million (1.96 million PVs, 610,000 CVs). The second hand auto spare parts market in the Middle East has also de- veloped into a full-fledged multi-million dollar indus- try, boasting more than 100 small and medium-sized enterprises spread across the region. The UAE is the major supplier of automo- tive spare parts within the Gulf region as well as for Iran, the CIS, Indian sub- continent and Africa. Organised by Messe Frank- furt Middle East, Auto- mechanika Dubai covers the six product sections of Parts & Components; Electronics & Systems; Accessories & Customizing; Repair & Main- tenance; Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning; and Tyres & Batteries. The 2019 edition will feature four new sub- sections of Agricultural Parts & Equipment; Body & Paint; Motorcycle Parts & Compo- nents; and Oils & Lubricants. A key returning highlight is the Innovation Zone, a dedi- cated area at the centre of the show floor featuring presen- tations and product showcas- es that are steering the course for the regional and global automotive aftermarket. Other features include the Truck Competence initiative, where more than 1,000 ex- hibitors will showcase their products dedicated to the entire value chain in the truck sector, from truck parts and accessories, to work- shop equipment, body re- pairs and care. The Middle East and Africa’s auto aftermarket was worth a combined US$61 billion in 2018, while a projected rise in car sales, and more manu- facturing bases will steer the wider region toward six per- cent annual growth over the next six years, a newly pub- lished report said. This is estimated to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8 percent over the next six years, valu- ing US$39.6 billion in 2024, while in Africa, demand for aftermarket spare parts and services, valued at US$33.17 billion in 2018, is tipped to increase at a CAGR of 6.25 percent over the same peri- od, valuing US$47.73 billion. TechSci’s Middle East and Africa Automotive After- market report was prepared exclusively ahead of Auto- mechanika Dubai 2019, the wider region’s largest inter- national trade fair for the auto services industry, which takes place next month from 10-12 June at the Dubai In- ternational Convention and Exhibition Centre. “In the coming years, de- mand for both passenger and commercial vehicles will rise across the Middle East and Africa, driven by recovering economic condi- tions, government incentives to boost regional produc- tion plants, increasing per capita income, and ongo- ing construction activities,” said Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, // Event preview
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 48 // Q&A Tell us what were your personal goals, objectives and vision were for RAK Properties? My personal goal for RAK Properties is to make sure that we are delivering a quality, sustainable product to our resi- dents and Business occupants. A master development isn’t just repeating four walls and a roof over and over again, it is about building healthy, intercon- nected communities. If we can deliver that, then we are on the right track. Tell us about your vision and plans for the future? How are RAK Properties going to continue to be a major player? This year we are delivering Gateway in Mina Al Arab. It has 144 units with ocean views on one side and Lagoon views on the other. It is brilliantly walkable, one way you walk to Lagoon Walk with its coffee shops, boats and services, and the other you walk to a beautiful public beach. Then, next year we will deliver the 350 key Interconti- nental on Hayat Island which I believe will be the nicest resort in RAK and will compete for the best resort in the UAE. Can you tell us about the First Solar Power Plant at the Mina Al Arab Lagoon Walk? It is our first time with solar, so we see it as a small experiment but still a very elegant solution. We are planning to install more than 1500 photovoltaic panels over 6700 meters to generate 1 MW of power. What is great is that it will be dual use. The same panels that are generating electricity, will also give shade to customers parking before they shop at lagoon walk. We look for- ward to completing it this year. Holistic Approach Kasun Illankoon spoke with Samuel Dean Sidiqi, CEO of RAK properties, about their latest projects and how their projects are geared to a more sustainable living community Tell us about the newest projects being developed or introduced by RAK Properties? Marbella is the most recent project I am excited about. It is 205 villas and townhouses on Hayat Island in Mina Al Arab. Any time you have the chance to build a villa community on the water, it’s an amazing op- portunity because it is so rare. These villas have a great design, they are on the water, and they have amaz- ing greenery and other amenities. Its Island life, but still a short walk over the bridge to all the services you need in the Lagoon Walk. Tell us about any current or future in- vestments taking place in Abu Dhabi? In Abu Dhabi we are Building Julphar Residences on Reem Island, it comprises 266 units that are a mix of Studios, 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom units with great ameni- ties. One thing that is wonderful about Julphar Residences location is that it is in walking distance to Reem Mall which will be leading shopping destination in downtown Abu Dhabi.
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// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 50 A sustainable design merging innovation, tradition, and energy efficiency for the future of housing in the UAE. The KNOW HOWse class architectural quality and high energy/environ- mental benefits. A multi-disciplinary team of students and instruc- tors, led by Project man- ager: Dr. Vittorino Belpoliti, Assistant Professor at the Architectural Engineering Department of University of Sharjah, and in partner- ship with the Research Centre Architettura>Energia - University of Ferrara - Italy, Shurooq - Sharjah Investment and Develop- ment Authority, and Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, designed, built, and pre- sented a prototype house at DEWA’s Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 in Dubai, being awarded as Best Middle Eastern University. The house design strives to re-educate the occupants to the traditional Emirati dwelling, originally a flex- ible complex of tents with different functions for men and women, and almost replaced by the western functional typologies when oil was discovered. The KNOW HOWse in- vestigates and reinterprets the heritage techniques and typological layout of the traditional Emirati dwelling, updating it by means of contemporary design prac- tices and materials, propos- ing a prototype house that re-educates its occupants to a more sober and resource- aware lifestyle. The container size (110 m2), granting an energy- conservative compact build- ing, could be a limitation for the design objective. For this reason, flexibility was provided by means of movable partitions that allowed implementing houses’ traditional features regardless the small dimen- sion: ground and first-floor rooms can be isolated by means of movable parti- tions (the living room can be turned into a private male Majlis, while female guests can stay in the separated adjacent room), and the spacious double- The UAE Vision 2021, endorsed to promote the country’s upgrade in several areas, also aims at improving the energy performance of the built environment, with special regard for the residential sector, responsible for most of the overall country’s energy consumption. Within this framework, in 2016 the University of Sharjah initiated the KNOW HOWse project to tackle better accommoda- tion solution for the new generations, especially encouraging local families to rediscover a new way of “living small” but with quality, combining top- // Sustainability
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 51 height area can be divided vertically by a sliding floor enlarging the first-floor area, or even creating an extra separated space. The KNOW HOWse is designed to reconfigure its interior volume and shape to adapt to the dynamically changing climatic phenom- ena (temperature, humidity, wind). The double-height space benefits from the natural stack effect push- ing heat up and keeping cool the lower area as in a Qa’ah, but can also emu- late a Barjeel effect (wind tower): in the morning the south terrace catches the dry desert wind, filters it through its curtains, then pushes it inside, naturally cooling the living area of the house. KNOW HOWse is a play- on-words formed from KNOW HOW (the knowl- edge and skill required to do something correctly) and HOUSE. It signifies the educational objective of instructing its occupants to a more energy-aware lifestyle. Working within the framework of the UAE Vision 2021, the KNOW HOWse implements new technologies and innovative techniques with the aim of becoming an example of environmental sustainability and energy best-practice for the building sector. To this regard, the objec- tive of the project is mod- ernizing the UAE construc- tion market, introducing semi-prefabricated structural systems to rapidly build af- fordable and environmental- friendly houses. The CLT system (cross-laminated tim- ber) used for the structure is characterized by an advanta- geous carbon footprint. Despite its structural solid- ity, it is ductile for creative architectural solutions and totally reversible as it does not require cement, mortar or glue. Moreover, thanks to its semi-prefabricated nature it allows assembling a building in a very short time (somehow quoting the construction technique used by Bedouins for their nomadic tents, which could be mounted and dismantled very quickly). Many other house features promote the occupants’ healthy lifestyle. The LED lighting devices are encased in a special photocatalytic shell that improves the indoor air quality by purifying pol- luting gases. A compact water treatment system recycles, fil- ters, and re-employs pre-used water saving over half of daily consumption. A home- farming hydroponic system allows cultivating fruits and vegetables indoor without soil, saving water, and overall reconnecting with nature, and rediscovering the pleasure of eating what you have grown yourself. Finally, the innova- tive combination of PV solar modules and reflective cool roof increases the systems’ ef- ficiency and makes the house nearly energy self-sufficient. Finally, most important of all, the KNOW HOWse is a “smart” and “connected” environment that continu- ously communicates with the occupant through live-measurement systems, explaining its energy de- mand and consumption: the Building Automation system plays a fundamental role in interacting with users, chal- lenging them to optimize consumption day after day, and therefore promoting a more eco-friendly behav- iour. This is possible thanks to a complex set of sensors and monitoring devices that are connected to the house’s air-conditioning systems, lighting, and appliances. As estimated, if this educational approach was extended to the broader UAE residential scenario, the whole national electric- ity consumption could be reduced by 12% and more. For this reason, the KNOW HOWse is not just an inno- vative and energy-efficient project; it is overall an edu- cational program.
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 52 // Sustainability Fady Juez, Metito Managing Director, tell us all about their latest Biopipe product, which is the world’s first fully in-pipe biological wastewater treatment technology and what are the future challenges that Metito expects to face and overcome Biopipe completely safe for use in organic farming, irriga- tion, underground aquifer injections, discharging into lakes, rivers or seas, or alternatively, it can be stored in water tanks for later usage. The technology is patened to the Swiss company Bio- pipe Global AG, based in Zurich, and is available in Asia and Africa exclusively through Metito.The sustain- able system serves many applications in the most efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective manner. We believe that desalina- tion, wastewater recycling and reuse will be centric to our business in the coming years in this region and beyond to support gov- ernments in their ultimate objective of achieving water security and keeping up with the ever-increasing demand for water. Our goal is to play an effective role inbridging the gap between water supply and demand while simultane- ously addressing the vicious cycle of environmental and social issues such as climate change and industrlization, urbanization and pollution. We will continue scouting, developing and commer- cilialsing novel technolo- gies that can achieve more efficiency and less energy and will continue expand- ing our business offerings in the renewable sector which we launched earlier this year. Partnership with Biopipe Global Metito continously scouts new technologies and in- vests in technology start-up companies that offer revo- lutionary sustainable solu- tions in the water industry and that have the potential to be developed and com- mercialized for full on ap- plications. Biopipe began as a concept in 2011. It was invented by then student Enes Kutluca , who estab- lished Biopipe AG in 2013 with his business partners. Brief description of Biopipe. Biopipe is the world’s first fully in-pipe biologi- cal wastewater treatment technology. The complete process takes place entirely inside the lego looking like pipes. This is a system that can recycle wastewa- ter without creating waste by-products; no sludge, no odour, no sound and no waste – a revolution- ary advantage for small to medium size capacity treat- ment plants and individual houshold users. The system doesn’t require any chemicals in or- der to operate the system, making the treated water
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 53 Metito saw big potential in this innovative system and after spending quality time developing and integrating the technology in commer- cial applications through our exclusive license for Asia and Africa, Bioipie be- came a strong contender in the race towards integrat- ing more sustainable water management technologies and systems. We offered the right platform to devel- op the technology and the extensive network needed to drive interest and create awarness of such an alter- native system to traditional/ conventionalwastewater treatment solutions. Introducing Biopipe to the UAE Biopipe has mainly been delployed for domestic municipal sewage treat- ment and domestic sewage treatment. Since there is no air blow- er used within biopipe sys- tem , power and electricity consumption is least among other sewage treatment systems. It is also feasible to run biopipe system with solar PV panels –which Metito also provides. Biopipe has been very well received in the UAE and beyond. In UAE ; in Dubai we have the Biopipe installed in Dubai Invest- ment Park sewage treat- ment plant and in Sharjah Agriculture and Environ- ment Municipality cel- ebrated the launch of the first-of-its-kind ecofriendly sewage treatment plant in the region, utilizing the Bi- opipe. The plant has been designed and developed by Metito alongside a profes- sional and inspiring team in the workshops of the Ag- riculture and Environment Sector. The plant is aimed at strengthening the munici- pality’s leading status in the field of sewage treatment operations. Also at DEWA’s data hub marina office the system is operational and Al Dhaidh police complex. In Umm AlQuwain it has also been used for individ- ual households wastewater treament. In other countries the system has also been well received and success- fully integrated ; Egypt, Saudi, Turkey, the Mal- dives, Bangladesh and Mor- roco just to name a few. Challenges and Opportunities in the GCC Market There is always reluctance and sometimes resistence with any new technology that deals with water. This is understandable given how critical water is in all areas of life. Testing new technologies/solu- tions, developing them and preparing them for commercialization is the key to build a strong base from which to launch any new technology. Our experience in the field allow us to do this at the most advanced levels and only after undoubt- ed confidence we take the next steps towards commericliazation and developing the technology to serve mutliple applica- tions. Knowledge transfer through our strong rela- tionship with new andex- isting/recurrent clients and the media across the GCC market, successful projects integrating the technology and meeting or exceeding clients’ expectations are then able to overcome any challenges. We see vast opportunities in the area of desalina- tion, wastewater recycling and reuse and renewables. There is also an increased appetite for Public Private partnerships which we are surely to benefit from given our track record and expe- rience in this area, which in many ways is unmatched. Key projects related to major global events, such as Dubai Expo 2020 will roll out and we see ourse- leves playing a role to sup- port such milestone events one way or another. In the technology front, we have recently launched our newest product called ‘Metito 4’. This allows inte- gration of advanced sens- ing, instrumentation, fluid handling, and data com- munications technologies to bring the most sophisticat- ed cooling tower and boiler controller services in the water treatment industry. In terms of collaboration with key industry players, we recently partnered with Cooley, an American com- pany for polymer chemis- try and technical textiles, to develop unique liner materials that support water management requirements in the MENA market.
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 54 One thing in 2019 is quite clear; social media is here to stay and will play an integral role in almost every business marketing plan more than ever before. In this day and age every company should be on social media – regardless of industry; whether the strategy in- cludes paid social media advertising or content creation to engage audiences, encourage likes, shares and drive traf- fic to a company website. It can be argued that the construc- tion industry has been one of the slower industries to become active social media users and benefit from the opportunities these platforms pres- ent. The construction industry might not be considered as very tech-savvy, however, these days it is said that approximately 70% of construction companies are starting to engage with followers compared to 55% in 2014, demonstrating that there has been a promising growth in social media us- age within the industry. Times are cer- tainly changing for everyone, including construction companies. According to a survey from The Construction Marketing Association, 97% of construction professionals are active on social media. It’s also important to note that blogging, post- ing videos on YouTube, and Tweeting have increased rather significantly, which is refreshing for an industry that was once predominantly driven by word-of-mouth marketing. Although some companies find using social media to be simple and straight forward, others find it difficult to find their place in what can seem like crowed internet space. For some time, count- less construction companies fell into that category and deliberated whether social media could be leveraged in a profitable and resourceful way. Making things a little more compli- cated, social media algorithms play a very crucial role in the ability for marketers and companies to make an impact online. And as difficult as algorithms can be to understand, it’s necessary to learn how to work with them and not against them if we want to find success. Regardless of the platform you’re posting on, focus on creating content that will encourage engagement and conversation. Including call-to-actions in posts when appropriate, engaging with followers, and sharing unique content as much as possible is key to having algorithms work for you. Also, platforms like Twitter and Facebook take a page’s credibility into account, so it’s essential to post consistently. And it’s not only about the likes and shares you get. Construction company professionals are using social media, like LinkedIn for example, to culti- vate new business relationships and enrich existing ones, increase brand awareness and keep up-to-date with the latest industry news, among other benefits. When managed successfully, this can open up new business op- portunities for construction companies resulting in increased revenue. No doubt, social media has much to offer when it comes to differentiating companies from the rest. Given that there are hundreds of construction com- panies in the GCC alone, the need to have prominence is essential – making social media an extremely useful tool. by Sila Simsek Social Media in Construction // Op-Ed
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 56 Power Machinery & Equipment // CASE creates a breakthrough in sustainable construction as it reveals the world’s first wheel loader which runs en- tirely on alternative and re- newable fuel. ProjectTETRA, CASE’s methane-powered wheel loader concept, demon- strates a clear pathway to a renewable future for con- struction equipment, shift- ing away from a reliance on the traditional diesel engine and addressing one of the world’s most press- ing issues – environmental sustainability – with a prag- matic solution for the con- struction industry. ProjectTETRA reimagines wheel loader design, mark- ing a clear departure from anything seen in construc- tion equipment to date. The concept includes a methane-powered engine, specially designed and de- veloped by sister brand FPT Industrial for construction applications. With a maxi- mum 230hp, it delivers the same power and torque as its equivalent diesel engine found in the CASE 821G wheel loader. It’s powered by biometh- ane which is produced in biodigesters from waste products such as waste food, wood chippings and animal waste. With carbon-neutral production, biomethane provides a closed-loop, vir- tuous energy cycle, convert- ing waste into useful energy. ProjectTETRA not only uses a sustainable energy source but also benefits the environment in other ways. The methane-powered wheel loader concept pro- duces 95% less CO2 when running on biomethane, 90% less nitrogen dioxides and 99% lower particulate matter than a diesel-pow- ered equivalent. It delivers an 80% reduction in overall emissions and also achieves a 50% reduction in drive-by noise levels. All-around visibility is achieved with the use of viewing cameras instead of wing mirrors. These are automatically linked to the direction of the machine and viewed on the A-pillar mounted displays. The uncluttered design means all controls are ac- cessed through ergonomic joysticks and an integrated, armrest-mounted, colour touchscreen monitor, which adds to the feeling of space and a panoramic view. The lightweight and ro- bust structure has been designed to withstand the extreme conditions pres- ent in construction envi- ronments. In addition, the airless tyres reduce overall machine weight and a large footprint delivers low con- tact pressure. Advanced connectivity is achieved with integrated sensors, providing a stream of real- time data to both the oper- ator and the control room. When active, the integrated sidewall lights are illumi- nated and also function as an additional safety feature. ProjectTETRA employs the latest biometric tech- nology to ensure the safety and comfort of the operator. Before the operator reaches the machine, it is ready for operation. Remote retinal scanning, accessed through any mobile device, activates heating and cooling to ad- just the cab to the optimal operating temperature. Biometric facial recog- nition technology is inte- grated into the access and start-up sequences to en- sure that only fully-quali- fied operators have access to the machine. As a demonstration of CASE’s development into autonomous technology, ProjectTETRA includes in- tegrated obstacle detection technology, alerting the driver to any possible haz- ards on site. Furthermore, this concept is compatible with the com- plete range of buckets and was fitted with high-tip and quarry versions from Leon- ardi Benne during the initial testing activities. CASE unveils the world’s first methane- powered construction vehicle
construction business news me // JUNE 2019 // www.cbnme.com 57 Equipment Custom Equipment LLC, an in- dustry leader in high-quality, low-level access equipment, introduces the all-new ZT- 1630, the ultimate compact lift with precision maneuver- ability. The new lift is a mem- ber of the Zero-Turn Series, part of Hy-Brid Lifts’ next generation of lifts. The ZT- 1630 is a premium machine built with professional opera- tors in mind, making it ideal for applications including construction, facility mainte- nance and more. The ZT-1630 is the tallest offering from Hy- Brid Lifts, delivering a 16-foot platform height and a work- ing height of 22 feet. “The ZT-1630 is a natural extension to our product line,” said Terry Dolan, Hy- Brid Lifts president & CEO. “Not only does a 16-foot lift help meet the needs of various industries, the ZT- 1630 is a premium machine for serious operators. Con- tractors seek machines that boost their productivity and allow them to tackle chal- lenging projects. This lift does just that.” The new generation of lifts — comprised of the Push-Around Series (PA Series), Pro Series (PS Series) and Zero-Turn Se- ries (ZT Series) — aligns with Hy-Brid Lifts’ commitment to increased efficiency and safety on the jobsite. The ZT-1630 offers premi- um features and precise ma- neuverability. Its innovative point-and-go-style drive al- Custom Equipment Introduces ZT-1630 Hy-Brid Lift for Precision Maneuverability lows unrivaled ease of move- ment in confined spaces and the proportional controls provide feather-like control for optimal lift positioning and precise jobsite mobility. The ZT Series of lifts features a compact size, large work platform and high lift capac- ity. It also includes the built- in tool tray and signature lightweight design of Hy-Brid Lifts, which allows for earlier access to sensitive flooring. The ZT-1630 is a safer and more secure alternative to a traditional mast lift. The scissor stack supports the weight of the platform with four points of contact while mast lifts are supported by only one point of contact. The lift also provides the operator a larger work area than standard mast-style lifts. Hy-Brid Lifts designed the ZT-1630 to comply with the all-new ANSI A92.20 stan- dards, even though they won’t be required until the end of the year. This regu- lation, which will become effective December 2019, covers design, calculations, safety requirements and test methods for mobile elevat- ing work platforms. “Our dedication to leader- ship and innovation drove us to design the ZT-1630 to meet the new ANSI stan- dards ahead of schedule,” Dolan said. “We’re commit- ted to leading the industry in terms of these regulations and ways to improve our customers’ lives. Comply- ing with the new standards means rental companies and end users are able to remain ahead of the curve when buying a compliant lift.” All Hy-Brid Lifts are heavy- duty, safe and lightweight, with low wheel loads that allow users to maneuver them over delicate floors and get onto green con- crete sooner. They are USA- made with high-grade steel, and all feature non-mark- ing tires and a low step-in height. All lifts are covered by a two-year parts and la- bor warranty and a five-year structural warranty.
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 58 // Machinery & Equipment Fuel Efficiency Machinery Often the best ideas are the simplest. Volvo CE has taken this idea to heart with its in- genious new EC300E Hybrid, which is now entering field testing. Unlike other systems that capture the swing energy of an excavator’s superstruc- ture to electrically assist the engine, Volvo’s novel hydrau- lic hybrid harvests ‘free’ en- ergy generated by the down motion of the excavator’s boom and uses it to super- All this simple and uncompli- cated cleverness takes load off the engine, and in the pro- cess delivers between 10- 12% lower fuel consumption, up to 12% less CO2 emis- sions – and all with no loss of performance. When used in production ‘dig and dump’ applications (esp. those with a 90o swing) the payback of this simple approach can be a little more than a year. The machine provides the same levels of controllability and performance you would expect from the equivalent conventional machine, and up to 17% fuel efficiency improvement dependent on application. Not only is the idea simple – the componentry is too – consisting of just a few add-on components that are simple to maintain. While not commercially available yet, EC300E Hy- Simple Volvo hybrid set to improve fuel efficiency by up to 17% Rapid payback in dig and dump applications charge the hydraulic system. The powerful and regular boom-down motions charge 20 litre hydraulic accumu- lators, which then deliver energy to drive hydraulic as- sist motors that help power the hydraulic pump. There are the same levels of con- trollability and performance as the standard EC300E, in- cluding the ability to work in ECO mode and Hybrid mode simultaneously. brids are currently under- going field tests at custom- er sites in order to validate the technology in real world applications. Technologies such as this are another example of Volvo CE delivering on its commitment to innovate and develop more sustain- able and cost effective so- lutions for customers.
www.automechanikaDubai.com Network. Source. Trade. Succeed. 10 – 12 June 2019 Now in its 17th edition, Automechanika Dubai – MEA’s largest international automotive aftermarket trade show – is geared towards business success. Meet, source and trade with the world’s leading aftermarket brands and suppliers, check live product demos and new innovations and gain insights from the industry’s key decision makers, all under one roof. Register your visit today at www.automechanikaDubai.com/BNC 61 Countries 1,801 Exhibitors from 31,971 Trade Buyers 23 Country Pavilions * 2018 show figures
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 60 Goals and Objectives Increase awareness of products and standards through consistent promotion and visual identity across the region not just directly but through our dealer network as well. Increase the market share through innovative strategies and dealer engagement. Reinforce the brand image as market leader. Listen more, learn more. Positioning Genie as a market leader Being a global brand and one of the most prominent names in the access industry has its perks as the brand recognition precedes us as premium. We are one of the market leader in the region in terms of market share and coverage. In terms of marketing, we (the department) are the voice of the brand and we make it heard through our dealer network across the region and participation in prominent events such as IPAF summits, industry conferences, representation in major exhibitions, endorsement by rental giants in the re- gion such as Access Hire, Manlift, Rapid Access, Byrne, Hertz, Johnson Arabia, Al Laith, AJI to just name a few. Being a part of Genie’s journey Being in the region for more than 20 years has given me an exposure to various cultures and languages. You ex- perience harmony in diversity at its best in this beautiful country and master the ability to adapt to change and cultures. Working with prominent names in Construction industry and region in the past paved a path for me to be a part of this wonderful team. My experience in the construction industry, instilled a passion for equipment and fascination for the industry itself and has taken me to different countries on the job. Being creative and thinking outside the box is something that is habitual and has helped me fit right into a part of a multi- cultural, innovative and creative team. Importance of Teamwork In Genie, our unofficial motto is “Team- work makes the dream work”. At Genie EMEAR marketing team, we have a di- verse mix of individuals who each have unique expertise they bring to the table and each member is assigned a region in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Rus- sia. Every market is exclusive and dif- ferent in terms of maturity, awareness, safety standards, size. Our Marketing director, Simona Mar- tini, believes in the same message to be conveyed across the EMEAR region and empowers us as individuals responsible in the region to carry through the strat- egies we put together efficiently. We talked to Magdalene Thusheetha, Regional Marketing Coordinator, about her role and how she is helping contribute to Terex Aerial Work Platforms division, Genie, success Thusheetha Unsung Heroes JUNE 2019
// construction business news me // JUNE 2019 62 // Save the date Mark your calendar Save the date Automechanika Dubai Dubai, UAE Automechanika Dubai is the lead- ing international trade show for the automotive aftermarket and service industry targeting trade visitors from the wider Middle East and African regions. The product like Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Repair & Maintenance, Tyres & Batteries, Car Wash, Care and Customizing and Accessories & Customizing. Hardware+Tools Middle East Dubai, U.A.E Representing a broad spectrum of segments within this ever-grow- ing industry, the show presented manufacturers and suppliers with a platform to network, evaluate market trends and source prod- ucts and solutions across cost ranges from a variety of interna- tional brands. June June June June 10-12 10-12 25-26 26-28 Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit Melbourne, Australia The more populated our cities become, the taller and more vertical grow the buildings housed within them. Traditional notions of skyscrapers being isolating, unimagina- tive structures are cast aside as we begin to embrace the potential of tall buildings not only aiding wellness and social interaction, but benefiting their surrounding cities – environ- mentally, socially, aesthetically, and impor- tantly, for the future.The 3rd Annual Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit 2019 will provide a platform for leading architecture, engineering, construction and design experts to explore the latest trends, concepts and solutions related to future-proof high-rise design. Smart City Expo Shanghai, China Smart City Expo focuses on the construction and development of smart cities, and aims to provide an effective supply-demand platform to promote a better collaboration between government and enterprise. Keep up to date with all the latest events and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com On the web
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