Dubai-based master developer Nakheel has awarded the main contract for the construction of residential villas within its contemporary waterfront project, Rixos Dubai Islands, Hotel & Residences. The development is a contemporary waterfront residential retreat offering beachfront homes and upscale amenities.

The project will be home to over 80 resorts and hotels, including luxury and wellness resorts, boutique, family and eco conscious hotels, supporting the city’s consistent ambition to grow the tourism and hospitality sector.

Nakheel said the contract for the construction of Rixos Bay Residences and Villas has been awarded to Sembol Construction, with work set to commence soon.

A spokesperson for Nakheel commented, “Part of the contemporary landscaped residential development at Dubai Islands, Rixos Bay Residences and Villas project has been designed to provide a luxurious lifestyle set within a family friendly neighbourhood. The meticulously crafted one, two, three and four bedroom apartments, duplexes, and luxury villas offer world class amenities with panoramic views of the waterfront for families looking for a resort-style living experience.”

Dubai Islands comprises five islands with a total area of 17sqkm and 20km of beaches, offering waterfront living within 20 minutes of Downtown Dubai, as well as key locations including the airport and marine ports.

The post Sembol Construction wins prime Nakheel contract appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has entered into a strategic partnership with Shamal Holding to develop a series of entry/exit points for Dubai Harbour.

Under the agreement, the RTA will undertake the construction of a two-lane bridge in each direction, spanning 1,500m. The bridge will extend from Sheikh Zayed Road to Dubai Harbour.

On the new bridge, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, said: “It will extend from the fifth intersection on Sheikh Zayed Road (near the American University in Dubai) to Dubai Harbour Street. Once ready, the new bridge will accommodate 6,000 vehicles per hour. It passes by the intersection of Al Naseem Street with Al Falak Street and crosses over the intersection of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street up to Dubai Harbour.”

He also explained that the project also includes surface improvements at four intersections along the bridge: the fifth intersection on Sheikh Zayed Road, the intersection of Al Falak Street with Al Naseem Street, the intersection of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street with Al Naseem Street, and Dubai Harbour Street.

“When completed, the project will improve the flow of traffic and reduce the travel time from 12 minutes to 3 minutes,” he added.

Shamal Holding Chief Portfolio Management Officer, Abdulla Binhabtoor remarked, “We are pleased to collaborate with the RTA to accomplish this strategic project, which represents a major turning point in the development of the Dubai Harbour district. This aligns with our plans and aspirations to offer the best integrated community in terms of quality of life and the well-being of residents and visitors. Upon its completion, the bridge will provide free traffic flow to and from Dubai Harbour, which occupies an exceptional location on the scenic seafront.”

The post RTA in new partnership for Dubai Harbour bridge appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Developer Omniyat has awarded the main works contract for its premium residential project, Orla, Dorchester Collection, Dubai to Innovo Build. This is Innovo Build’s second contract win from Omniyat, following its contract win for AVA at Palm Jumeirah, Dorchester Collection, Dubai in September last year.

According to the developer, ORLA, Dorchester Collection, Dubai by Omniyat is seeing a speedy commencement of its main works since the plot’s ground-breaking in April 2023. With the work in full swing, the developer said the project will be delivered as per schedule in Q2, 2026.

“Omniyat is committed to delivering the promise of elevating living combined with an ultra-luxurious lifestyle. In pushing artistic boundaries to create what appears and feels unconventional, Omniyat is showcasing the power of craftsmanship when applied to the human experience,” said Omniyat Founder & Executive Chairman Mahdi Amjad.

Billed as a contemporary beachfront structure sitting at the apex of the Palm’s crescent, ORLA combines 270-degree views with calming turquoise waters, enjoyable from any of its 85 two-to-four-bedroom homes, three Sky Palaces and the largest private mansion on Palm Jumeriah. Exclusively managed by Dorchester Collection, residents will enjoy privacy, prestige and personalised service that ensure an unparalleled living experience, stated the developer.

ORLA will incorporate private terrace swimming pools at the end of large cantilevers that extend up to 13m in length, virtue of some of its residences. The steel structure will employ curved-edge floor plates and a complex, multi-level slabs-and-formwork system to enable its intended form to come to life.

“In addition, ORLA’s construction will bring an extensive use of travertine – along with double-height and curved glazing panels – to the building’s façade, which will help achieve its ultra-luxury feel. We will continue to exceed expectations as a visionary developer through honouring our project commitments,” concluded Amjad.

The post Omniyat appoints Innovo Build for main works on Orla project appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

AESG has attributed its positive growth in 2023 to the region’s healthy economic climate, noting that the market is creating ‘strong growth opportunities for market-leading consultancy firms in the region’. The firm said it tracked a 46% year-on-year revenue increase in 2023 and secured over US $54.4mn contracts in the last 12 months.

According to a statement from the firm, it reinvested its gains into a 34% increase in headcount which further enhances its ability to play a pivotal consultancy role in the region’s many mega and giga projects, which have been a significant contributor to its growth over the last year.

“Middle East markets – in particular Saudi Arabia and the UAE – are bucking global trends and drawing the focus of the global development and construction community to the region. While the opportunity is indeed exciting, the ambitious projects being undertaken require global expertise to be balanced by a deep understanding of regional practices, nuances, and norms,” said Saeed Al Abbar, CEO at AESG.

He added, “Our success through 2023 is the culmination of over a decade of continued investment into the best global talent and deploying highly-qualified teams as close to our clients as possible. Our newest offices in AlUla and Al Madinah in Saudi Arabia, and Masdar City in the UAE are prime examples of this commitment. Alongside our international offices in Singapore, London and the newly opened South Africa office, we are able to draw on the best talent globally to work closely with our clients on the ground to deliver the complex solutions required to achieve their visionary goals.”

AESG’s business momentum also offers key insight into the factors that will drive the success of the region’s giga projects. From One Za’abeel in Dubai which boasts the world’s largest cantilever bridge, to The Line in Neom which represents a revolutionary new approach to urban and living, the projects now underway in the Middle East are breaking new ground, and thereby setting new benchmarks for the global construction industry, the statement outlined.

“As with any world-first, these projects require the best and brightest talent, use of the latest technologies and materials, and excellence in collaboration, and project and cost management. Success is to be found at the nexus of these forces and is making the region the epicentre of engineering innovation,” explained Al Abbar.

AESG says it has earmarked areas for ongoing investment in 2024, in a bid to continue its support for ambitious developments in the region. Through a mix of organic growth, and strategic partnerships and acquisitions, the company is set to expand and enhance three key aspects of its business, the firm noted.

“On the back of the recently concluded COP28, tackling climate change is high on regional agendas and our hundred strong sustainability and environmental consultants are stepping up to help governments and private entities realise their ambitions. At the same time, the complexity of projects has warranted greater demand for our specialist engineering line of business. And as these projects approach delivery, clients are realising immense benefit from the services of our cost management and commissioning teams,” Al Abbar stated.

Having recently crossed the milestone of having over 300 expertly-qualified consultants on its employee roster, AESG is now one of the region’s largest privately-held construction consultancies in the region.

“The depth and scale of our multidisciplinary practice perfectly positions us to be the partner of choice to the most complex and unique projects. We have every intention of capitalising on these opportunities and are projecting 30% growth this year,” concluded Al Abbar.

The post AESG tracks 46% growth on the back of healthy regional economic climate appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Queequeg Renewables is said to be due to submit planning permissions for more than a dozen renewable energy projects across the UK by the end of June 2024. The projects include solar installations, onshore wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to the tune of 750MW.

The applications are said to follow submission the company made for a 40MW BESS facility near Stockport, Greater Manchester late last year.

“Policies such as the 2008 Climate Change Act and the Renewable Energy Roadmap have put in place a regulatory framework that encourages investment in long-term renewable schemes, stated Mark Roberts, Project Development Director at Queequeg Renewables.

He added, “Ongoing advances in solar, wind and battery storage technologies also improve the feasibility and efficiency of proposed projects, which in turn makes them more attractive to investors and planners. And as installation costs for renewables fall and become more competitive versus traditional energy sources, developers can secure funding and gain planning approval for their proposed projects more easily.”

Recent changes in distribution and transmission policies by grid operators have removed obstacles to connecting and monetising the energy generated by renewables, while customer demand has risen, he concluded.

The post Queequeg Renewables to apply for permissions for 750MW of energy projects appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Serco has acquired sustainability and engineering consultancy Climatize. The move is expected to strengthen Serco’s end-to-end capabilities to empower governments and businesses to achieve their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals and impact a better future.

According to a statement, the strategic acquisition solidifies Serco’s commitment to delivering top-tier sustainability and environmental services within and beyond the built environment sector, with the announcement taking place one year on from the launch of its Advisory with Purpose division.

The move will create what is billed as a ‘first in market’ offering; the acquisition will blend the best of Serco’s international capabilities, regional network and expertise with the specialist skills and real-world operational experience from Climatize, the statement noted.

Governments and businesses alike will now be able to benefit from a unique offering to the Middle East, with the acquisition being part of the company’s ongoing strategy to lead with purpose, embedding a sustainability-driven mindset in the heart of the work it does, it added.

“Sustainability and leading with purpose is no longer simply a choice, it’s an imperative. Doing the right thing is ingrained in each and everyone one of us here at Serco, and we are excited that our ethos has been matched in the team at Climatize. With this acquisition, we will not only be able to bolster our advisory capabilities, but we will actively be able to help governments and organisations to accelerate their journey towards Net Zero, providing a greater suite of ‘end-to-end’ services that benefits both the business and the planet, impacting a better future,” said Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East.

Climatize was founded in 2018 and will bring a wealth of consultancy-based services to Serco, including Net Zero and green building consultancy, life cycle assessments, resource efficiency management and integrations of green technologies. With an aim to elevate its clients to responsible stewards, the acquisition will ultimately help clients to meet their ESG commitments.

Engi Jaber, Managing Director of Climatize

Additionally, organisations will be able to show their commitments in a way that also enables them to reduce operational costs through digital asset management, impacting a better future for citizens and residents by providing customer experience expertise, all whilst enabling clients to reach their Net Zero ambitions, the statement explained.

“Engi and the team at Climatize have a relentless passion for what they do, and we’re excited to harness their expertise in purpose-driven sustainability so that we can continue to grow and cement our market position as leaders in our field. 2024 is a pivotal year for us, and we’re thrilled to welcome Climatize to the Serco family as our commitment to sustainability goes from strength to strength,” Malem added.

The move is not only expected to grow the capabilities of Serco in the region, but it is also expected to create further employment opportunities in market, as part of Serco’s ongoing commitment to live by its focus of bringing national visions to life. The acquisition is a first for Serco’s Advisory with Purpose division, which is said to have enjoyed a successful first year following its launch in early 2023.  The acquisition is timely as the region is ever-more focused on the environmental agenda in in the wake of COP28, the statement said.

Engi Jaber, Managing Director of Climatize added, “We’ve always had grand ambitions to scale and grow our offering in 2024, and we’re proud to have started the year strong. As soon as we met the team at Serco, we knew that we had a shared passion and culture when it comes to advancing sustainability efforts. The acquisition will enable us to enhance our ability to contribute to more impactful and innovative solutions, whilst expanding our footprint into new markets and sectors, ensuring that the team remains at the forefront of industry advancements.”

“Together with Serco, we are entering a new phase of growth and innovation. 2024 is a transformative year for us, COP28 helped put climate change firmly on the agenda – and so we’re looking forward to working hand in hand as part of Serco to bring our unique expertise to governments and organisations to make operating with purpose a business imperative,” Jaber concluded.

The post Serco acquires sustainability and engineering firm Climatize appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Saudi-based Riyadh Cables Group has entered into a deal with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to supply a high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable system for a major solar project in Dubai.

According to the contract, valued at US $43.5mn, Riyadh Cables will be responsible for the manufacture, supply and supervision of a 260km HVAC cable system for the sixth phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park project (MBR Solar Park).

The entire supply work will be completed by Riyadh Cables within the first quarter of 2025, said a statement.

A company representative commented, “As part of its strong push towards environmental sustainability, Riyadh Cables Group has introduced multiple products in recent years catering specifically to the renewable energy sector. MBR 6 will increase the park’s total renewable energy production capacity to 4,660MW, thus making it one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world.”

The MBR Solar Park is the largest single-site facility in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030 and on completion, it will save over 6.5m tonnes of carbon emissions per annum.

The post Riyadh Cables named as supplier for MBR Solar Park appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Real estate developer Damac Properties has signed up UAE-based Al Qandeel Contracting to provide main works services for its new Verona Cluster in Damac Hills 2.

Launched in 2014, Damac Hills 2 is a 55m sqft master community and home to more than 30,000 residents. The second phase of the developer’s first master community, Damac Hills, it was then followed by Damac Lagoons in late 2021.

Billed as a major cluster within the community development, Verona will feature rows of four-bedroom townhouses and will offer residents a range of state-of-the-art facilities to enjoy, including water parks and sports activities. Other amenities include an outdoor cinema, a dog park, a petting farm and jogging and cycling track. There are also tennis and basketball courts, a cricket pitch and vast spaces in the Central Park, where residents can do yoga or any other type of fitness activity.

As per the US $49mn contract, Al Qandeel will provide construction of the main works package for 384 villas at the Verona cluster.

Mohammed Tahaineh, General Manager of Damac commented,  “Since the launch of Verona in the second half of last year, we have seen strong interest in the cluster and community. It gives me great joy to see this demand, as well as the progress our second master community has made and continues to grow each day. With a range of new amenities for our residents, including our own Malibu beach and a lazy river, we are happy to see the community continuing to attract investors and residents to Damac Hills 2.”

He also described the ambience of Damac Hills 2 as offering a “Californian coastal vibe” to Dubai, for the residents to enjoy.

The post Damac Properties awards contract for Verona villas appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Two contracts worth more than US $3.3bn have been awarded by Saudi Aramco to a joint venture (JV) between Spanish contractor Técnicas Reunidas and Chinese firm Sinopec.

The JV will serve as an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor for the construction of the Riyas NGL Fractionation Facility in Saudi Arabia.

According to a report, the JV is 65% owned by Técnicas Reunidas and 35% by Sinopec Engineering Group, which means that the Spanish company will account for more than $2.15bn of the total investment.

The works will be developed on the basis of two EPC contracts for the execution of Riyas NGL Fractionation Trains (Package 1) and Riyas NGL Common Facilities (Package 2), which includes utilities, storage and export facilities.

The new facility will produce ethane, propane, butane and pentane, the report concluded.

The post Saudi Aramco awards $3.3bn in contracts to JV for construction of new facility in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

A new agreement has been formalised between the European Commission and the African Development Bank. The deal will see increased investment flow into infrastructure projects in Africa.

According to a report, the European Union has increased its co-financing of operations with the African Development Bank to US $1.1bn. The two parties said that figure would increase further following the signing of a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

The partnership is expected to open up new opportunities for both organisations to deliver joint financing for infrastructure projects, as per the African Development Bank. Planned investments include more funding for strategic transport corridors in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in energy and digital connectivity.

One of the main joint projects is the development of the ‘Lobito Corridor’ to enhance export possibilities for Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For the European Union, the partnership would be in keeping with the priorities of its Global Gateway initiative. Between 2021 and 2027, through the Africa-EU Global Gateway Investment Package, the EU is expected to support the African continent with $162.4bn.

The post Deal inked to increase investment into infrastructure projects in Africa appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews