Majid Al Futtaim Development has awarded the role of main contractor for its Elysian Mansions project to Innovo Build, the design and construction arm of Innovo Group. Elysian Mansions is a luxury development within Dubai’s Tilal Al Ghaf community; the project contract is valued at AED1.13 billion ($817 million).

Headquartered in London, the Innovo Group is a leader in urban development, specialising in the design, engineering, and construction of city projects across four continents. It has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Toronto, Cairo, Senegal, and Riyadh.

A premium project for Majid Al Futtaim, the Elysian Mansions development will feature 94 five and six-bedroom mansions, which are expected to be completed by mid-2026. Living areas start at 11,000 sq.ft.

The development will bring together art, culture, architecture, and nature to create human-centric living spaces fostering a strong sense of community.

On the contract win, Innovo Group CEO, Bishoy Azmy said: “Innovo is proud to continue to be the contractor of choice for major developments in Dubai. We are particularly excited to bring our commitment to sustainable building practices to this community, delivering Dubai’s first BREEAM-certified project.

“This project will also allow us to harness our fantastic team and cutting-edge technology to deliver a flagship community for our customers. The construction of the Elysian Mansions demonstrates our ability to build the highest quality homes that place people and the community at the heart of all the residential developments we create.”

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a leading science-based validation and certification system for a sustainable built environment. It uses recognised measures of sustainable performance set against established benchmarks, to provide an independent, third-party evaluation of a building’s specification, design, construction and use.

The post Innovo Build wins Elysian Mansions contract appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Mapei Group, the leading Italian manufacturer of chemical products for use in the building industry, has announced the successful acquisition of Bitumat, a waterproofing specialist in Saudi Arabia.

The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Mapei Group as it bolsters expansion plans to strengthen its presence in the Middle East region.

Wholly owned and developed by Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), Bitumat’s extensive reach will enable Mapei Group to tap into key source markets, aligning with its expansion strategy in the region.

Bitumat’s infrastructure includes its main factory, spanning an area of over 100,000 sq. m. in Dammam, KSA, and a manufacturing plant in Bahrain.

The leading waterproofing solutions manufacturer has offices and warehouses in Riyadh and Jeddah, and sales offices in UAE and Oman. Bitumat’s waterproofing products have been used successfully across numerous building sites in the Middle East and Africa.

On the strategic takeover, Mapei Group CEO, Veronica Squinzi, said: “With this acquisition, Mapei Group will strengthen its foothold in the Middle East region, one of the biggest growth markets for us. At Mapei, our revenue increased by over 37% in 2022, and we made important regional investments in recent years.”

Acquiring Bitumat will enhance Mapei’s portfolio of waterproofing solutions and increase the Italian multinational’s competitiveness in regional markets – extending its footprint to 102 subsidiaries across 57 countries and 90 manufacturing plants in 35 nations globally, with a workforce of over 11,900 employees.

Mapei has already supplied its technical solutions and cutting-edge services to numerous projects in Saudi Arabia, including the NEOM giga-project; the designated Expo 2030 site in the capital city Riyadh; the Red Sea development; and the conservation of the Heqra archaeological site.

Mapei also invests heavily in the region, operating a manufacturing plant in UAE, and having a local presence in Saudi Arabia under the name of Mapei Saudia.

The post Mapei continues to build local presence with Saudi waterproofing takeover appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Albal Design says the UAE’s first science-based concept, ‘Tafaseel’, can transform “any home or commercial space to reflect an individual’s personality, style/mood or brand identity”.

Emirati interior designer Noura Alghandi has developed the concept ‘Tafaseel’ by integrating psychology, music and art to provide design cues to showcase a brand’s identity/ individual style.

“We spend so much time indoors – so, your home, office or even a retail outlet should be able to reflect your personality, company culture / identity or be able to connect with a customer,” said Alghandi.

Tailormade to each client and project, it empowers creative storytelling and ability to transform it to a tangible design, says Albal Design

Clients are given the freedom to express themselves by scribbling on a piece of paper over any music and blindfolded. Applying cognitive psychology to indicate a connection between shapes and feelings or memory, Albal’s team analyses the scribbles to extract details such as shapes, texture, colours and patterns.

This process helps stir memories/ emotions that they are most comfortable with, which is then translated to create unique designs that can be applied to interiors, branding, furniture and even couture.

This design process can be incorporated into any space, leading to better productivity/ sales in commercial projects, staff well-being, or a sanctuary for homeowners.

“Psychology and design go hand in hand – and this collaborative process just helps articulate a customer’s story to bring a fresh perspective, and a fantastic and unique design,” added Alghandi.

The post Albal Design launches UAE’s first ‘science-based’ interior design concept appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Saudi Egyptian Developers says it is now ready to accept interest from house buyers for the second phase of the ‘Arabesque’ residential project after its formal launch.

The project in Cairo is taking shape near the Museum of Civilization and appropriately, the firm announced on its Facebook page that it is: “Taking you on another journey through history. Arabesque is launching Phase TWO”

Mohamed Al-Taher, CEO of Saudi Egyptian Developers, was reported by Zawya as stating that the project’s second phase will feature 340 residential units across 13 buildings of varying sizes.

The New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) has entrusted Saudi Egyptian Developers with the marketing, sales, and customer service operations for its Arabesque project.

This initiative marks the debut of the first comprehensive gated community in Majar al-Oyoun, situated in the historic core of Old Cairo.

Al-Taher highlighted that the architecture of the buildings blends traditional arabesque designs with contemporary elements, offering a unique aesthetic appeal.

He further elaborated that the Arabesque project encompasses 79 buildings, housing a total of 1,924 residential units in a variety of sizes. The community also boasts commercial spaces, including restaurants, cafes, a cinema, a theater, and a shopping mall, offering a holistic living experience.

The post Arabesque in Old Cairo enters 340 housing unit second phase appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has marked the commencement of construction for its new logistics centre at the Jeddah Islamic Port.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on February 18, saw the laying of the cornerstone for this cutting-edge facility, which is set to span over 95,436 square meters.

Managed by Bahri Logistics, the centre is poised to elevate the country’s logistics capabilities and supply chain efficiency.

The event was graced by the presence of notable figures, including Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority, alongside Omar Hariri, President of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), and Engineer Ahmed Ali Al Subaey, CEO of Bahri. Their attendance underscores the project’s significance to the nation’s strategic logistics vision.

Designed to cater to a broad spectrum of storage needs, the Bahri Logistics Center will feature temperature-controlled areas, comprehensive handling services, and a suite of value-added services. This initiative aims not only to enhance logistics operations within the Kingdom but also to attract multinational companies looking to establish logistics hubs in the region.

Omar Hariri highlighted the centre’s pivotal role in reinforcing the maritime transport and logistics sector, aligning with the National Transportation and Logistics Strategy (NTLS). This strategy is a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s ambitious vision to stimulate economic growth and increase non-oil exports.

The post Bahri begins build on new logistics centre at Jeddah Islamic Port appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The post Powered Access Report 2024 appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The post Construction Machinery ME – January / February 2024 appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The foundation stone for Bharat Mart, a market and trading platform for Indian businesses in Dubai, has been laid by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. The ceremony took place during the World Governments Summit 2024.

Plans for the marketplace were unveiled by DP World. Expected to open in 2026, Bharat Mart will offer a world-class trading platform for Indian manufacturers and exporters to access global markets, a story by WAM outlined.

Bharat Mart is projected to house 1,500 showrooms catering to retail and wholesale customers, and over 700,000sqft of Grade A warehousing space, providing tenants with combined free zone and onshore benefits. The facility will also offer light industrial units, office spaces and meeting facilities. It will be located 11km from Jebel Ali Port, and 15 km from the Al Maktoum International Airport, providing multimodal logistics solutions for Indian exporters.

Conceived to spread over an area of 2.7m sqft, the project is to become a mega distribution hub for Indian businesses to trade domestically in the UAE and re-export to regional and global markets. Phase One of the project encompasses an area of 1.3m sqft.

The foundation stone laying ceremony was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, along with other high-profile dignitaries including S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India; Ajit Doval KC, National Security Advisor of India; Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World Group.

“By laying the foundations for Bharat Mart, we are paving the way for stronger trade ties between the UAE and India. Our nations have set themselves the target of reaching US $100bn in non-oil bilateral trade by 2030, and Bharat Mart will support this goal, creating more opportunities for Indian manufacturers and contributing to government initiatives like Make in India and D33,” said Bin Sulayem.

He added, “With our world-class infrastructure, logistics capabilities and business-friendly ecosystem in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Bharat Mart will be the ideal gateway for Indian goods to efficiently reach the UAE and other high-growth markets in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.”

Through the Jebel Ali ecosystem, traders will have direct connectivity to more than 150 maritime destinations and air links to over 300 cities, the report said.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GCC remarked, “India is among the UAE’s top five trade partners, a relationship that has been significantly accelerated by a post-pandemic economic surge. This has created a dynamic trade landscape, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering continued growth. Bharat Mart is designed to complement Jafza’s existing offerings, providing Indian SMEs with a seamless platform to export their cargo to new markets and strengthening our position as a key trade gateway between the two nations.”

The post Foundation stone for ‘Bharat Mart’ laid by officials from UAE and India appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

A joint venture between Saudico and the fit-out unit of ALEC has secured a major contract from King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company (KAFD DMC). Specifically, the contract is for an exclusive new hospitality destination – a 16-storey luxury hotel – within the freezone development.

King Abdullah Financial District is a premier business and lifestyle destination reflecting the core values of Saudi Vision 2030.

The announcement comes shortly after another JV between Saudico and ALEC successfully completed work on the Diriyah Gate Visitor Centre, which serves as an immersive exhibition venue, offering business leaders, tourists, social media influencers and prospective investors a showcase of the experiences and investment opportunities within the Diriyah Gate Development site.

Commenting on the new hospitality project at KAFD, Saudico said it was a 210-key property with a built-up area (BUA) of 26,500sqm.

Interior design will be managed by LW while the Saudico-ALEC FITOUT JV will be responsible for all aspects of fit-out design completion and implementation, including civil and structural works, furnishings, MEP, sanitaryware & accessories, lift interiors, kitchen and laundry equipment, and selected landscaping and facade works.

Gautam Sashittal, Chief Executive Officer, KAFD DMC commented, “With a targeted tourist inflow of 150m visitors by 2030, Saudi Arabia is all set to showcase its authentic history and hospitality through world class destinations featuring the finest of facilities and experiences, a fact that is front and centre to KAFD’s unique lifestyle offering. With yet another state-of-the-art marvel emerging in our iconic district, it was only natural for us to partner with Saudico and Alec Fitout given their track record in delivering aesthetically pleasing and sustainable projects across the Kingdom and the GCC.”

The post Saudico-ALEC alliance lands prime KAFD project appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has awarded contracts worth US $2.58bn for the development of Phase One of Sultan Haitham City, in Muscat.

Spanning an area of more than 5m sqm, Phase One of Sultan Haitham City will feature 7,000 residential units with a capacity for 39,000 occupants. The construction area itself will cover 3m sqm.

This phase will include the creation of a central park (along the wadi), the National Centre for Women and Children’s Health, a referral hospital, the buildings of Oman Medical Specialty Board, the Higher Institute of Health Sciences and the Oman Health College. There will also be a government university, to be set up on an area of more than 299,000sqm, and the College of Advanced Technology, which will be home to 1,500 students.

It will also house a Youth Centre, a Rehabilitation Centre for People with Special Needs, a complex of government schools, an international private school, a police station and a civil defense centre.

As part of these Phase One development works, more than 35 development and partnership agreements have now been finalised by the ministry with major players in the engineering, consulting services and real estate development sectors. The raft of activities is set to be completed by 2030.

The post Deals worth US $2.6bn finalised for Sultan Haitham City appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews