Samana Developers has launched its US $68.1mn ‘Samana Portofino’ residential project in Dubai Production City. The project is the developer’s ninth project launch out of the 12 projects it has planned for 2023.

The B+G+11-storey project will feature 226 apartments, and will epitomise ‘commune-style’ Italian architecture, which blends water features, a town centre, and pedestrian-focused, luxurious living. Every unit in ‘Portofino’ will feature a built-in private pool, the developer said.

Imran Farooq, Chief Executive Officer, Samana Developers said, “Samana Developers is moving forward with the right speed of developments and in the right areas across Dubai. I thank our investors for their trust in Samana projects, which yield better returns for them as compared to current market rates. That is one reason that our projects sell quickly and we move on to the new launch.”

“In return for this trust, Samana is committed to new offerings, such as helping investors to sublet apartments to tourists and visitors to Dubai, which adds more returns on their investments. For this, we launched Samana Holidays to help units convert to holiday homes. In addition, Samana property assets guarantee competitive 24% returns,” he stated.

The Dubai Production City free zone (formerly known as The International Media Production Zone) is master-developed by Tecom Group, and is a mix of residential freehold and commercial areas. The residential freehold offers 100% foreign ownership.

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Two major contracts totalling US $160mn have been awarded by Damac Properties for its master development, Damac Hills. The contracts were awarded to Engineering Construction and Reconstruction Company.

According to the developer, the first contract valued at $93mn is for the main works of the Gems Estates cluster within Damac Hills. The second contract is designated for the main works, as part of Cavalli Estates, also located within the prestigious Damac Hills community, and is valued at $67mn.

The developer said it is dedicated to the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship, and innovation. It added that these contracts reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to push boundaries and redefine luxury living in the Middle East and beyond.

“We are delighted to announce the awarding of these two significant contracts for Damac Hills. These contracts underscore our unwavering commitment to delivering on our promises of excellence and luxury. We believe that Gems Estates and Cavalli Estates clusters will set new standards in upscale living, offering our customers unparalleled value and quality,” stated Mohammed Tahaineh, General Manager of Projects, Damac Properties.

The developer said that Gems Estates is an ultra-luxurious collection of high-end mansions branded by Swiss jeweller de Grisogono, with home interiors branded by famed Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli, making it the first co-branded real estate project in the world. The contract includes the construction of a range of high-end villas and amenities that will elevate the lifestyle of residents to new heights. From lush green spaces to cutting-edge recreational facilities, Gems Estates cluster promises to be a haven for those seeking luxury, comfort, and convenience, the developer explained.

Cavalli Estates is said to embody the essence of sophistication and elegance. Damac is set to create a distinctive enclave of villas that blend modern aesthetics with timeless charm. Residents of Cavalli Estates will enjoy a harmonious blend of privacy, security, and community living, all set against the backdrop of Damac Hills’ picturesque landscapes, it noted.

The commencement of construction on Gems Estates Cluster and Cavalli Estates marks the beginning of a new chapter in Damac Properties’ legacy. The company is determined to continue its tradition of creating iconic developments that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the region.

Damac Properties has consistently demonstrated its dedication to creating world-class, sustainable communities that redefine modern living standards. The awarding of these contracts signifies another milestone in Damac’s mission to deliver luxurious and aspirational living experiences to its customers, the statement noted.

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The Big Project Middle East editorial team has announced that the 2023 edition of its Digital Construction Summit (DC Summit) saw attendance from over 210 professionals. The event took place at the Habtoor Grand Resort, JBR, Dubai on the 26^th of September and was extremely well received by attendees, the team revealed.

The event, formerly the Middle East BIM Summit, comprised three panel discussions that put project delivery, operational efficiency and health and safety (during construction and post construction) in focus. The event opened with a keynote address by Juan Tena Florez, Digital Services Director at KEO International Consultants who discussed why data management is critical through all the phases of the lifecycle, and how data becomes important as it advances and changes its nature.

The first panel discussion ‘Construction 4.0: Fiction or Future?’ was moderated by Babette Cilliers, Managing Quantity Surveyor, ISG, and comprised several speakers, including: Ahmed Balawi, Engineering Manager, Engineering Contracting Company; Allison Wicks, Founder, Director of Quality Integration, Qualitaz; Martin Angus, Digital Lead, AECOM; Samy Al Olabi, Director of Project Management; Project Controls, Claims and Disputes, OPMSconsult Project Management Solutions and Stephanie Sadaka, Enterprise Account Executive, Procore Technologies.

The second panel session – Enhancing Operational Efficiency with Technology – was hosted by John Shenton, Chair of Dubai Hub, CIOB with speakers, including: Debasish Roy, Associate Vice President, Pinnacle Infotech Solutions; Premanand Velumani, Solution Consulting Manager, Zoho Corporation; Rohan Chandavarkar, Associate Digital Delivery, AESG; Waleed Ishreim, Principal Sustainability Engineer, Project & Delivery Services, JLL, and Yasser Ahmed, Director of Digital Buildings and Software, Schneider Electric Middle East & Africa.

The final panel – Elevating Safety in the Built Environment – was moderated by Cristina Savian, Founder and Managing Director, BE-WISE, and comprised several speakers: Iain Taber, Senior Director, Health & Safety GDC+P, Equinix; Imad Itani, Innovation Manager, ALEC Engineering & Contracting; Lucynda Jensen, Project Lead, Project & Development Services UAE, JLL; Matthew Lloyd, Project Quantity Surveyor, Omnium International; Philip Rawlinson, Head of HSSEQ, Emrill, and Ross Hopwood, HSQE Manager, ISG.

The day also saw presentations from SoftwareOne (Ineffective information management in the Construction industry: Hype or Reality?) and Thinkproject (From Blueprint to Long-Life Value: Construction to Asset Lifecycle Management). The session were delivered by Walid Abdelaziz, Business Development Manager, SoftwareOne and Atif Rehman, Regional Manager Middle East, Thinkproject respectively.

Ahead of the presentations, Toufic Riman, Country Manager – Gulf at Autodesk sat down with Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East to discuss digital transformation, the adoption and usage of technology in the built environment, and what the future of construction may look like.

“It’s always gratifying to see months of hard work translate into a successful summit. The content at the 2023 edition of the DC Summit has been very well received, with conversations on social media continuing beyond the event’s planned runtime. As the event also recorded over 210 attendees on the day, Big Project Middle East has solidified the summit’s standing as a key event for construction professionals in the Middle East, and is primed to expand its scope in 2024,” said Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East.

The 2023 Digital Construction Summit is supported by:

Gold sponsor: KEO International Consultants, Procore, RIB Software, SoftwareOne
Strategic Partner: Zoho
Strategic Content Partner: ALEC
Technology Partner: Autodesk
Silver Sponsor: AECOM
Bronze sponsor: AESG, Thinkproject
Supporting Partner: JLL
Endorsements: Chartered Institute of Building

To learn more about the 2023 DC Summit, please click here.

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General Trading & Equipment CJSC, known as GTE, has taken a significant step toward expanding its market share in the Middle East by becoming the exclusive importer of Keestrack mobile crushing and screening equipment in Saudi Arabia.

Founded in 1976, GTE has emerged as a prominent provider of Construction Equipment and Construction Systems solutions, earning a reputation for its exceptional after-sales service and customer support. The company has played a pivotal role in the growth of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and industries.

Dr. Mohamed Shams Elramly, general manager at GTE, outlined the company’s mission, stating, “The mission of GTE is to have strong relationships with its customers by providing best-in-class solutions, products, and service and support. This is why GTE is happy to add Keestrack state-of-the-art crushing and screening equipment to our product portfolio.”

Keestrack CEO Frederik Hoogendoorn and Giovanni Bartoli, area sales manager at Keestrack, expressed their enthusiasm for collaborating with GTE to expand their presence in the Saudi Arabian market. Hoogendoorn noted, “GTE is a very professional and experienced company in the construction business with excellent staff, and they have the same customer focus as Keestrack: solution-oriented.”

Headquartered in Damman, GTE operates through nine branches, each equipped with its own sales and after-sales support, alongside five service centers with workshops. The company comprises three divisions: Construction Equipment, Cleaning & Industrial Equipment, and Construction Systems, serving diverse sectors, including construction, agriculture, infrastructure, mining, warehousing, facility management, utilities, industrial factories, and oil & gas. Giovanni Bartoli pointed out that, for Keestrack equipment, the initial focus in Saudi Arabia will be on quarrying and mining, with potential expansion into recycling businesses.

One standout reason for GTE’s decision to become a Keestrack dealer is the ability to offer fully electric-powered mobile crushing and screening equipment. Keestrack’s cutting-edge machinery is designed to reduce the cost of ownership while providing flexibility in drive systems and electric interconnectivity. This introduction of mobile crushing and screening technology will offer GTE a significant opportunity in Saudi Arabia, where stationary applications are more prevalent. Bartoli expressed confidence in GTE’s ability to convey the advantages of high-capacity mobile crushers and screens to their clients.

Keestrack, a global specialist in mobile crushing and screening equipment for the mining & quarrying, recycling, and aggregates industry, has been a pioneer in electric drives since 2012. The company introduced electric plug-in systems with onboard diesel/gen-sets for situations where electric plug-ins were unavailable. In 2021, Keestrack took a giant leap with the ZERO-drive machines, which eliminate the need for any onboard combustion engine. Electric motors power most of Keestrack’s mobile equipment, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, a tracked engine/generator unit, introduced in 2022, serves as a backup power source for the ZERO-drive machines, ensuring continuous operation even in areas without grid connections.

With GTE’s extensive experience and Keestrack’s innovative technology, the partnership is poised to revolutionize the construction and mining equipment landscape in Saudi Arabia, offering customers cutting-edge solutions and exceptional service

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Joanne Behrens has been appointed as Senior Vice President (SVP) of Architecture & Spatial Design at the Jumeirah Group. The appointment is said to be a pivotal step in the group’s commitment to evolving the Jumeirah brand with a guest-centric design approach, blending creativity, lifestyle, and local elements across its physical spaces.

According to a statement, Behrens has almost two decades of architectural and design expertise in the luxury hospitality sector, and will spearhead the evolution of Jumeirah’s design ethos to align with the brand’s new expression of luxury hospitality.

“Since the creation of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah over two decades ago, Jumeirah has consistently broken boundaries and created the exceptional. Our hotels offer immersive experiences, connecting the most discerning travellers, cultures and communities,” stated Katerina Giannouka, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group.

With capital assigned to grow its portfolio globally, as well as refine its existing properties, Behrens will play a central role in elevating Jumeirah’s brand vision across all new projects, renovations, and conversions, including Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab Dubai, Jumeirah Le Richemond Geneva and Jumeirah Red Sea, the firm noted.

“As we enter a new era for the Jumeirah brand, we are taking the opportunity to evolve our business and our entire value proposition, with a very human-centric approach. This new role forms an essential part of our vision for Jumeirah to shine brilliantly, with a refined position among the highest echelons of luxury hospitality operators,” added Giannouka.

Behrens brings an impressive track record, having collaborated with world-renowned designers and artists to conceive and deliver distinctive designs, fashioning the guest experience with captivating and unique spaces. She has held senior positions with renowned luxury brands, including most recently Rosewood Hotel Group, where she was VP of Design & Project Services for the Americas, the statement concluded.

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Pantheon Development marked a significant milestone today as they broke ground for their latest venture, the AED 150 million Elysee Heights, situated in the heart of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). This exciting G+4P+11 project, located in District 15 of JVC, will span an expansive 200,000 square feet, offering a new dimension of urban living to residents.

Kalpesh Kinariwala, Founder of Pantheon Development, expressed his enthusiasm for this distinctive project during the groundbreaking ceremony, stating, “Elysee Heights is yet another innovative residential project from Pantheon, endorsing the significance and value of the niche of affordable luxury we continue to focus on and nurture ever since our inception.”

The event saw the presence of esteemed representatives from Al Serh Al Kabeer Construction LLC, the main contractor, and Al Khawajah Engineering Consultants, the design consultant, alongside key officials from Pantheon Development.

Pantheon Development emphasised that Elysee Heights will complement the company’s prior projects while contributing to the ongoing growth and allure of Dubai as a global real estate and property investment destination. Speaking about investor interest in the project, Mr. Kalpesh added, “As in the case of our earlier projects, investor enthusiasm for Elysee Heights has also been very high, which also vindicates the value proposition of affordable luxury Pantheon has been promoting.”

Elysee Heights features a total of 183 residential units, providing investors with a range of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options. Additionally, the development will incorporate ten retail units, offering an array of choices to meet diverse lifestyle needs.

Studio apartments at Elysee Heights will range from 390 to 425 square feet, one-bedroom units from 650 to 800 square feet, and two-bedroom residences from 850 to 1,100 square feet. The planned handover of Elysee Heights is scheduled for Q4 2025.

Residents can look forward to modern kitchen appliances in all residential units, as well as an impressive lineup of amenities, including a swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym, a dedicated kids’ play area, and retail spaces for shopping convenience.

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AMEA Power has announced the financial close of its US $86mn, 120MW solar PV project in Tunisia.

The solar plant is being implemented by Kairouan Solar Plant, a project company registered in Tunisia and fully owned by AMEA Power, and will be located in Metbassta, Kairouan governorate. The project is being financed by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Once the project is commissioned, it will be AMEA Power’s first operational asset in the country.

The project was awarded to AMEA Power in December 2019 following an international tender program launched by the Ministry of Industry and SMEs in Tunisia. The Concession Agreement and the Power Purchase Agreement were signed in June 2021 and ratified by the government of Tunisia in May 2022.

“The Government is expressing its firm commitment to successfully develop the 120MW Kairouan PV Solar project, which represents a significant step forward in the country’s energy transition,” said Tunisia’s Head of Government, Ahmed Hachani.

This is the first solar project to reach financial close under the concession regime in Tunisia. The concession regime covers projects over 10MW for solar PV, awarded through a competitive bidding process. The solar project is being built under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model and will generate 222GWh of clean energy per year, enough to power more than 43,000 households. The solar plant is expected to be commissioned by mid-2025 and will avoid 117,000 tonnes of CO2 over the course of its life, the statement from AMEA Power noted.

As part of AMEA Power’s ‘Community Investment and Development Program’, it is working closely with the local community on planned initiatives aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

AMEA Power’s Chairman, Hussain Al Nowais said: “We are delighted to reach financial close on this 120MW solar power plant in Tunisia, our first project in the country. This is a significant milestone for AMEA Power and for Tunisia, as it represents the largest solar project fully developed in the country to date. Despite all the challenges that the market has been experiencing since the COVID pandemic, we are proud that we are delivering this project and honoring our commitment to supporting Tunisia’s transition to clean energy. We are grateful for the strong support of our lenders and the Tunisian government in making this project a reality.”

The government of Tunisia said that it aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to 35% by 2030. This is a significant commitment in a country that is highly dependent on fossil fuel-based energy, mostly through imports. The Kairouan project directly supports the reduction of Tunisia’s energy dependence and improves the trade deficit of the country.

“This ambitious, renewable energy project will not only bring more affordable, clean energy to the people of Tunisia, but it will help Tunisia achieve its energy goals and attract more private investments into future green projects. Through the project, we’re proud to build on our partnership with AMEA Power to expand their operations across North Africa, helping address the effects of climate change in the region,” remarked Sérgio Pimenta, IFC’s Vice President for Africa.

Dr Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth at the African Development Bank concluded, “We are delighted to reach this milestone, the signing of project agreements, making the first disbursement, and therefore commencement of construction of Tunisia’s first solar Independent Power Producer (IPP) project imminent. This accomplishment is testament to AfDB’s dedication to promoting sustainable energy solutions in Africa. Moreover, the successful collaboration between the Government of Tunisia, AMEA Power, the African Development Bank, SEFA, and the IFC speaks volumes about our collective commitment to helping Tunisia reach its 35% clean energy target by 2030.”

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R.evolution is making its debut in the United Arab Emirates with a new project, “Eywa.”

Described as a next-generation residential building promises to redefine urban living in Dubai, setting new standards for luxury and well-being, claims the developer.

Nestled along the picturesque Dubai Water Canal, Eywa stands as a testament to harmonious living and well-being. It offers a curated selection of 2-to-5-bedroom residences, each boasting views of the Dubai Canal, Downtown Dubai, and the iconic Burj Khalifa.

Eywa is a boutique building with just 48 meticulously designed apartments catering to diverse lifestyles, complemented by two luxurious penthouses.

Open AD is the lead concept and design architect, and Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG) is serving as the executive architect and lead design consultants.

All units are thoughtfully crafted to prioritise the well-being of its community, fostering an environment close to nature and radiating positive energy, according to R.evolution, and each residence features spacious living areas, including family rooms, front-of-house kitchens, and service kitchens, while all bedrooms are equipped with walk-through wardrobes and exquisite en-suite bathrooms,

Taking inspiration from Vastu Shastra, a holistic concept that combines science, art, astronomy, and astrology to enhance wealth, health, prosperity, and happiness, Eywa integrates 1,450 specially selected crystals, gemstones, and geodes into its structure.

This unique approach aims to make Eywa a ‘well-being generator,’ infusing each floor with positive energy while purifying and dispelling negativity. Residents are set to benefit from these well-being effects, including reduced conflict, improved concentration, and the promotion of mental and physical well-being, particularly in children.

Eywa’s architecture draws inspiration from the Banyan tree, representing the tree of life, and China’s renowned quartz sandstone mountain, the Southern Pillar of Heaven. With circular open columns, an organic interweaving of branches, this living building is certainly unlike anything seen before in Dubai.

The building’s façade appears adorned with greenery from every angle, “celebrating the magic and mastery of the tree of life in both form and function”.

Eywa offers a wealth of state-of-the-art amenities. These include an elite spa, open-air and indoor cinema, library, three swimming pools, children’s playgrounds and a playroom, outdoor fireplaces, modern high-end gym, and a yoga room.

Eywa has achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certifications, affirming its commitment to sustainable development, a healthy environment, and the well-being of its residents. The project is slated for completion by 2026 and promises to serve as a gateway to extraordinary lifestyle experiences in the heart of Dubai.

Alex Zagrebelny, Chairman & CEO of R.evolution, expressed his excitement, saying, “The Eywa residential building is a true testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainable design. Its unique blend of cutting-edge technology and nature-inspired architectural elements will redefine how we perceive urban living. We are excited to unveil this iconic landmark that showcases our vision for the future of sustainable cities.”

Qasim Mansoor, Chief Development and Operations Officer of R.evolution, added, “This marvel of a residential property represents a pivotal moment for our company. It is not just a mere structure but a symbol of our dedication to creating environmentally conscious spaces that seamlessly integrate with their surroundings. The meticulous design and incorporation of sustainable features will not only enhance the quality of life for its occupants but also contribute towards a greener and more harmonious urban landscape.”

Christie’s International Real Estate Dubai has been appointed as the exclusive real estate broker for this unusual project.

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