ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE LUXURY DESTINATIONS FOR SHOPPING P42
WORKS TO ENSURE CLIENT EXPECTATIONS FOR BUDGET, QUALITY, SCHEDULE & SAFETY P52
OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY IN THE QATAR CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS P56
GLOBAL ARCHITECTS AND MASTER PLANNERS P08
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Rod Millington r.millington@tpg-media.com
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Close to 10 million patients from across the world seek overseas treatment each year, contributing to a global industry worth up to $40 billion. Known as ‘medical tourism’, it centres around ‘travellers’ who have chosen to have medical/surgical/dental treatment in a foreign country. Cosmetic surgery, dental procedures and cardiac surgery are the most common procedures that medical tourists undertake.
Medical tourism can be defined as the process of travelling outside of one’s country of residence in order to be given medical care. Growth in this sector has captured the imagination of researchers, policymakers and media. In the beginning, the term referred to patients travelling to developed nations from less-developed countries to take advantage of treatments not available back home. However, today people travel from richer to less-developed (although not necessarily poorer) countries to access health services, which means that medical tourism has become a multibillion-dollar phenomenon that is expected to expand significantly over the next 10 years.
Of course, the standard of medical facilities and available treatments vary widely around the world, and with medical tourism now becoming more and more common, Qatar, with its state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained medical staff, has become an attractive proposition for people looking for fast, thorough and compassionate treatment. This has quite naturally fuelled the number of private healthcare facilities in the country, which has increased considerably in recent years.
Between 2011 and 2015, the total revenues of the health sector increased from QR 1.4 billion to QR 3.8 billion, a 169% growth
in five years. During this period, significant growth occurred in the area of added value (the difference between the value of production and production inputs), which increased from QR 6.2 billion to approximately QR 10.6 billion, a total growth of 70.3% for the entire period.
In 2015 hospitals accounted for 41% of the added value in the private health sector, followed by dental centres and clinics with a contribution of 22%, and non-specialised centres with 17%. The exceptional growth in the added value of the health sector was driven primarily by an increase in the number of health service establishments, which climbed dramatically by 78% in 2015.
Around 1.4 million Americans alone travelled outside of the United States for medical care in 2016, and this number will continue to grow, fuelled by an ageing global population that is more affluent and the high quality of healthcare now available.
It is interesting to note, too, that the globalisation of the healthcare market has created a number of opportunities for investors and forward-looking healthcare organisations. Indeed, the health sector is still in need of more services in Qatar, not only in response to medical tourism, but also due to the extraordinary growth of the population in recent years. This shortage provides investment opportunities for the private sector, allowing it to contribute to the development and improvement of health services throughout the country.
Rod Millington Editor
Al Hazm is designed for connoisseurs who appreciate the finer things in life. Not only does Al Hazm offer exclusive brands and contemporary luxuries in a fashionably refined setting, it also anticipates the needs and the evolution of Qatari society. For shopping and fashion lovers, Al Hazm will be a distinctive destination.
Many people know Place Vendôme as the prestigious square created as a monument to the glory of the armies of Louis XVI, the Sun King, in Paris. But today there is another Place Vendôme; a $1.2 billion retail and hospitality development located 11km outside of Doha, in the Entertainment City of Lusail.
The month-long Shop Qatar Festival saw an increase in arrivals to the country of 16.8% compared to the same period last year, according to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). The QTA also revealed that from January 7 to February 7 Qatar’s hospitality sector recorded a 70.5% occupancy rate thanks to a number of special offers that revolved around the festival. QTA figures state that 188,523 nationals from an assortment of GCC countries visited Qatar in the period coinciding with the festival, an increase of 23% compared to the equivalent period in 2016. Many of these visitors came from Saudi Arabia, with a total of 133,849 people visiting Qatar during the festival. Moreover, many of these visitors arrived during the January school holiday in Saudi Arabia, which was a 43% increase on the previous year. Hotel occupancy during this period, including both weekends, reached 82.3% on average, with a peak reached midway through the holiday with occupancy rates in excess of 90%.
Gulf Contracting, sustainability is how they do business –the way they work and what they do. They believe that the progress they are making towards delivering against their outcomes is making them a more competitive and stronger organisation that is aligned to the needs of both their customers and society.
In this issue of Qatar Projects, we meet with Chris Lanksbury, Director at Chapman Taylor, the architectural firm behind the WMall of Qatar. Chapman Taylor was established in 1959 in the UK. Our first project was the iconic London Police Headquarters called New Scotland Yard, with the revolving Triangle sign located in front of the building, which is recognised around the world. Today we have a international network of design studios across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and we work on projects in over 90 countries around the world.
Our design philioposhy is to marry our creativity with our commercial know-how to deliver successful environments that people enjoy. In addition, we challenge convention, offer advice and propose new ways to overcome old problems, but most importantly we listen to our clients to deliver their aspirations.
In 1976 we worked for His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum on the masterplan for the new city of Jebel Ali. Although it was not built as we planned, it was a fascinating introduction to what would become over the years one of the greatest real estate stories, as Dubai became a major world city. We started working in Qatar in 2011 working on a number of hospitality masterplans and began the concept design work of the Mall of Qatar in 2012.
Los Angeles World Airports’ CEO Deborah Flint said: “Our passengers will soon experience LAX in a new and exciting way. With our vision of delivering gold-standard airports, the Midfield Satellite Concourse will be built with sustainability principles and architectural features that reflect Los Angeles with great views and natural daylight.
Petrofac, a provider of oilfield services, has secured a contract worth nearly $600M to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services on the Salalah LPG extraction project in Oman.The contract has been awarded by Salalah LPG SFZCO (SLPG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Oman Oil Facilities Development Company (OOFDC).
RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) successfully loaded and delivered its 2,000th cargo of LNG to Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) on 25th April, 2017. The cargo was lifted by the KOGAS vessel, “SK Summit”, which also carried the first cargo of LNG supplied by RasGas to Korea in August 1999.
IN THIS ISSUE OF QATAR PROJECTS, WE MEET WITH CHRIS LANKSBURY, DIRECTOR OF CHAPMAN TAYLOR, THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM BEHIND THE MALL OF QATAR.
Qatar Projects: Can you give a little background on Chapman Taylor; when and where it was established and what is your design philosophy?
Chris Lanksbury: Chapman Taylor was established in 1959 in the UK. Our first project was the iconic London Police Headquarters called New Scotland Yard, with the revolving Triangle sign located in front of the building, which is recognised around the world. Today, we have an international network of design studios across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and we work on projects in over 90 countries around the world.
Our design philosophy is to marry our creativity with our commercial know-how to deliver successful environments that people enjoy. In addition, we challenge convention, offer advice and propose new ways to overcome old problems, but most importantly we listen to our clients to deliver their aspirations.
QP: When did the practice first start working in Middle East, and what was its first project in region?
Chris Lanksbury: In 1976 we worked for His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum on the masterplan for the new city of Jebel Ali. Although it was
not built as we planned, it was a fascinating introduction to what would become over the years one of the greatest real estate stories, as Dubai became a major world city.
QP: When did Chapman Taylor first start working in Qatar? And how did the practice get involved in the Mall of Qatar project?
Chris Lanksbury: We started working in Qatar in 2011 by working on a number of hospitality masterplans and began the concept design work of the Mall of Qatar in 2012. We already had a working relationship with the client, who was aware of our design portfolio and experience of
designing successful retail projects around the world.
QP: Tell us about your project, the Mall of Qatar?
Chris Lanksbury: The Mall of Qatar is one of the largest shopping malls in the world, offically opening in February 2017. At 500,000m2 it is a mega project in every way, providing visitors with 500 stores, 100 restaurants, 7000 parking spaces, a premium Carrefour hypermarket, a family entertainment area featuring KidzMondo, and an indoor streetscape with double height flagship stores from across the globe. It also includes 19 cinema screens, including the largest Imax laser 3D in the
world, and a five-star Fashion Hotel operated by Curio Collection Hilton.
QP: What was the biggest challenge when designing the Mall of Qatar?
Chris Lanksbury: The major design challenge was giving character to such a large project which we think we have achieved through designing in features such as fountains, art pieces, and ‘The Oasis’. The Oasis is at the heart of Mall of Qatar, which we developed from an initial idea by the client. It is a 5000m2 landscaped entertainment arena featuring interactive fountains and waterfalls. It is also home to
the world's first resident troupe, which offers entertainment to customers all year round. This takes retailtainment, the mixing of retail with entertainment offers, to the next level.
QP: What would you say is Chapman Taylor’s USP?
Chris Lanksbury: One of our key USPs is the fact we are a fully international practice, with integrated design studios in 17 locations across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This team is made up of 50+ nationalities and we speak something like 35 different languages. This means wherever our clients operate, we have the skills and resources to help.
Another USP is that our design studios work as a collaborative and cohesive group and we pool skills and resources to deliver the best design solutions to our clients. This often means our London and international design teams collaborate on projects to offer the best design expertise and knowledge available in the group.
QP: What other projects are you carrying out in Qatar and the wider Gulf region?
Chris Lanksbury: We are currently working on a wide range of projects from Ezdan Mall in Al Wakra, which will open
soon, exciting new cinema developments in various locations, and a number of major masterplans in other areas of the Gulf.
QP: How do you see the practice evolving over the next 5 to 10 years?
Chris Lanksbury: Our business strategy is very straightforward. We want to continue to grow our practice around the world, to design a wider range of building types, but also to enjoy ourselves at the same time.
A MEMBER OF SHARAKA HOLDINGS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED OVER 48 YEARS AGO NOW OPERATES AROUND 30 SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN EIGHT DIVERSE SECTORS, LE MIRAGE REAL ESTATE IS A PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY WITH SOME OF MOST PRESTIGIOUS PROPERTIES IN QATAR.
Collaborating with brands and businesses that make peoples’ lives easier and better, the company’s portfolio includes developments in the commercial, residential, hospitality and retail sectors.
Established in 1998, Le Mirage wrapped up its first project, Le Mirage Village, just two years later in 2000, which has since become one of the most respected and most sought-after residential compounds in Doha. Following this, over the past two decades, the company has completed numerous world-class properties, including Le Mirage Executive, an ultramodern apartment building; the 14-storey commercial building, Mureikh Tower; and the award-winning five-star boutique hotel, Amari.
Le Mirage currently has several new properties across the residential, commercial and hospitality sectors, either at an advanced stage of design or under construction.
Meanwhile, Le Mirage City Walk is an astounding residential development that features 400 contemporary apartments. It is also situated in the centre of Doha’s busy commercial zone and, the crown jewel in the Le Mirage portfolio, features an entertainment zone that encompasses a state-of-the-art rooftop jogging track, swimming pools, children’s pools, football courts, golf driving range, a spa, and tennis court. It has also been designed to house neighbourhood retail convenience stores such as a supermarket and pharmacy in order to service all of the Le Mirage residents in Bin Mahmoud. Situated right next door to the LRT station, Le Mirage
City Walk offers fully furnished apartments that provide the last word in status and premium comfort. There are five buildings, with retail stores on the ground floor and one, two and three-bedroom (Duplex) fully furnished residential apartments. Le Mirage Downtown is yet another stunning development, featuring fully furnished residential apartments, consisting of one and two-bedrooms on 10 typical floors, with four basements, a ground floor, mezzanine and penthouse. A mixed-use development with a total built-up area of 38,000 m², this tower is designed in a sleek, modern style with retail shops on the ground and mezzanine floors.
NAME OF THE PROJECTS: CITYWALK, ICON AND DOWNTOWN
PROJECT OWNER: LE MIRAGE REAL ESTATE EST COMPLETION: 2017-2018
Le Mirage Icon, for instance, is set in the heart of Doha’s bustling commercial centre, and features fully furnished apartments with a stunning rooftop air-conditioned jogging track, gymnasium, children’s play area, and a striking clubhouse. The development consists of four buildings of seven floors each, with all apartments boasting twobedrooms and being fully furnished with up-to-the-minute, stylish furniture.
Le Mirage has a number of other up-andcoming projects in the pipeline, including:
• Le Mirage Boulevard: Californian style shopping mall in the prestigious Abu Hamour suburb of Doha. This mixed use development features a total built-up area of 157,000 m², housing retail outlets, apartments and offices
• Le Mirage Hotel: Developed to serve as an extension to the existing Amari Hotel, Le Mirage Hotel is designed to bring to market hotel apartments in one, two and three bedroom configurations. It is connected to the existing Amari Doha Hotel through a bridge at the mezzanine level and shares common services such as the reception, gymnasium, swimming pool, spa, and coffee lounge.
• Le Mirage Lifestyle and Vogue: Located within the iconic Fox Hills development of Lusail, these residential developments feature stylish fully furnished apartments in two typical towers.
• Le Mirage Marina Drive: Located in Lusail, Le Mirage Marina Drive will comprise elegant fully furnished apartments overlooking the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
All five of the above developments are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.
Once constructed, all Le Mirage properties are handed over to Le Mirage Property Management for operation and management, where it delivers what is universally agreed to be the very finest services and amenities in the Qatari marketplace.
Le Mirage Elite, for example, offers three and five bedroom palatial villas with the finest Italian furniture. With designer living and dining areas, including a family lounge area, awe-inspiring kitchens, master bedroom with luxurious Jacuzzi, and a charming garden area, each villa features the ultimate balance of design, style and harmony.
At Le Mirage Village each villa comes fully furnished with European-style furniture and fittings, with the ground floor being designed to include a formal living room, a family room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and two washrooms. Over at Le Mirage Residence, the comfortable, spacious and fully furnished apartments are fully serviced with cleaning twice a week. There are 50” flat screen TVs in the living room and master bedroom, as well as elegant porcelain fittings and fixtures and an American-style kitchen. Le Mirage Executive is equally well-appointed, with high quality furniture, accessories and woodwork, including a welldesigned kitchen equipped with stainless steel
Le Mirage Corniche overlooks the capital’s dazzling Corniche and features fully furnished two-bedroom hotel apartments with a clubhouse, children’s play area, roof top pool, pool deck, Jacuzzi and gymnasium, offering just the right blend of comfort and style.
On the commercial front, Mureikh Tower is for those companies and organisations that require the ultimate in adaptability and flexibility.14 floors of impressive blue Creaton tile Cladding with glistening silver aluminium edges distinguish the tower in the Doha skyline. The design is modular and the
interiors present a canvas for progressive minds. Mureikh is built for better business, providing superior finishes and easy maintenance.
The first real estate developer in Qatar to build a rooftop air-conditioned jogging track and rooftop entertainment facilities, Le Mirage will operate and maintain approximately 2000 residential units by the ends of 2018. Supporting Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and its commitment to developing worldclass real estate, Le Mirage’s heritage as one of the country’s oldest property developers has enabled it to establish itself as a market leader in the domestic property sector.
International Business Machines Corporation (commonly referred to as IBM), an American multinational technology company with operations in over 170 countries, has launched a trade finance blockchain initiative with Dubai government agencies, Dubai Customs and Dubai Trade, plus enterprise partners, Emirates NBD, du, Aramex, and Banco Santander.
IBM has teamed up with IT provider Dutech to delve into the use of blockchain as a trade finance and logistics solution for
the import and re-export process of goods in and out of Dubai. By utilising Hyperledger Fabric and IBM Cloud, shipment data can be transmitted in order to allow key stakeholders to acquire real-time information about the condition of goods and the status of the shipment.
Taking fruit as an example, stakeholders will be able to receive timely and appropriate updates on cargo being delivered to Dubai from India by sea, before being manufactured into juice in Dubai, and then exported to Spain by air.
Trade finance has been identified as the ideal scenario for blockchain-based ledgers. The concept developed by IBM also leverages Watson IoT for device-reported data to revise or endorse code on the blockchain, which carries out business rules. IBM explained that the system integrates all of the key trade process stakeholders from the ordering stage, in which the importer obtains a letter of credit from their bank, through to the intermediary stages of freight and shipping and ending with customs and payment.
It was back in February 2016 when the Dubai government declared its interest in positioning itself as a blockchain hub. With this in mind, the Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation established the Global Blockchain Council in which IBM is a member. Furthermore, Dubai plans to carry out all of its transactions on the blockchain by 2020, as part of its Dubai Blockchain Strategy.
Group Chief Information Officer of Emirates NBD Group, Ali Sajwani, commented: “The bank has always had a
culture of innovation and several of the bank’s most successful products and features can be attributed to this forward-thinking mindset. We are excited to participate in streamlining the trade finance process using the futuristic blockchain technology, which has the potential of transforming the way we conduct business between heterogeneous entities.”
Amr Refaat, General Manager at IBM Middle East and Pakistan, added: “IBM believes that blockchain will do for transactions what the internet did for
information. Dubai is at the forefront of adopting this transformative technology as government agencies and businesses realise the need to have a shared secured ledger that establishes accountability and transparency while streamlining business processes. Our collaboration today with leading Dubai organisations across different sectors in trade finance and transportation will showcase how blockchain will revolutionise the way businesses interact with one another and with their customers and suppliers.”
Building Trust in Governments, a blockchain study carried out by the IBM Institute for Business Value, discovered that a number of governmental organisations are embracing blockchain technology to encourage more widespread collaboration.
Up to 90% of governmental organisations plan to invest in blockchain for use in financial transaction management, asset management, contract management and regulatory compliance by 2018.
Throughout the MENA region, contract management is viewed as the business model
that shows most potential for blockchain, providing near instantaneous and transparent reconciliation between all parties.
A lot of principal players, including banks, logistics companies and technology providers, have been enthusiastically forming consortia and working hard on trade finance blockchain concepts. IBM draws upon its cloud-based reach, analytics, IoT capabilities and the Hyperledger block chain fabric to produce smart networks and hubs, connecting key trading ports such as Dubai and Singapore.
The new five-storey concourse, which is an extension of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), will cover an area of 69,700 sqm. The facility will be linked to the terminal by a 1,000 ft-long underground pedestrian tunnel with moving walkways.
It will feature 12 new gates, two of which will accommodate the larger Airbus 380 and Boeing 747-8 jets. The remaining will accommodate the Boeing 777s and 787s, and Airbus 330s and 350s.
The new concourse will also incorporate several sustainable features including the use of daylight wherever possible, energy and water conservation, the construction of building roofs and pavement to reduce the heat produced, and the use of recycled materials.
The facility will include an early-bag storage and baggage make-up system, which is expected to be the largest integrated baggage carrier system in the US.
Altogether, the Midfield Satellite Concourse and Baggage Optimisation construction program, expected to be
operational in 2019, will cover a total area of 97,700 sqm.
Los Angeles World Airports’ CEO Deborah Flint said: “Our passengers will soon experience LAX in a new and exciting way. With our vision of delivering gold-standard
airports, the Midfield Satellite Concourse will be built with sustainability principles and architectural features that reflect Los Angeles with great views and natural daylight.We will provide our guests a new concourse ready for the technology enhancements of tomorrow.”
Midfield Satellite Concourse will be constructed by a joint venture of Turner/ PCL, and designed by Corgan in association with Gensler and gkk works.
UK-based infrastructure group Balfour Beatty in a consortium with Prysmian Group has won a €219M contract to install a 65km power cable between France and Great Britain through the Channel Tunnel.
The contract has been awarded by ElecLink Limited — a new project to design, install and operate a high voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnector between France and Great Britain.
Upon completion, the ElecLink HVDC interconnector will have a capacity of 1GW, and will offer enough energy to power over 1.65M homes annually. The project could support the development of Europe’s ‘super grid’ project.
Balfour Beatty said that it will continue its tradition of firsts in infrastructure with the world’s first installation of a HVDC interconnector in a live rail tunnel environment.
Under the contract, two 50km cables through the North tunnel will be installed and connected to the converter stations in Northern France and Kent.
Prysmian Group will design and manufacture the 320kV cabling and jointing services.
Balfour Beatty will use offsite jointing facilities in Calais and Folkestone to assemble 2.5km sections of cable and computer modelling to model the build in a virtual environment.
Balfour Beatty’s managing director for power transmission and distribution Ian Currie said: “Balfour Beatty’s expertise as an international infrastructure group has enabled us to create innovative solutions to fulfil the requirements of this project.
“As global leaders we have been trusted with the first ever installation of a High Voltage Direct Current interconnector in a live rail tunnel environment. We will draw on our extensive experience of cable tunnel engineering projects, including the London Power Tunnels electricity superhighway, to deliver the project successfully.”
The project will create up to 300 jobs in the region.
SapuraKencana Subsea Services won a contract for the provision of underwater services for Petronas Carigali (PCSB).
The two-year contract will involve underwater services along with vessels, air and saturation diving, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and other related services, such as inspection, maintenance and repair to support PCSB’s underwater facilities at the offshore waters of Peninsular Malaysia.
SapuraKencana GeoSciences secured a contract from PCSB to provide soil investigation services at the Peninsular Malaysia operation and Sarawak / Sabah operation area. The contract has a oneyear term, with an option to extend it for a further one year.
SapuraKencana TL Offshore (SKTLO) won a contract from Hyundai Heavy Industries for offshore installation work of BNCPP-B jacket, foundation piles, and bridge structure between BNCPP-B to BNG-B in East Malaysia. The contract is expected to start in the first quarter of 2017.
SKTLO secured another 12-month contract from Repsol Oil & Gas Malaysia
for the transportation and installation of pipeline, substructure and topside for Bunga Pakma Development Project.
The project will also involve the transportation and installation of Bunga
Pakma, a well-head riser platform comprising jacket, piles, topside, wet gas pipeline and subsea composite cable.
Additionally, SapuraKencana Drilling won a contract from BSP for the provision of its
Tender Assist Drilling Rig SKD Alliance. The five-year contract is expected to begin in April 2018, with an option to extend it by another five years.
Siemens and its Japanese consortium partner Marubeni have secured a $550M contract to deliver a turnkey combined cycle power plant in Thailand.
The gas-fired power plant, named South Bangkok, will be located at 20km south of Bangkok in the Mueang district. It will feature two units in a single-shaft configuration and will include two H-class gas turbines for the first time in the country.
Under the contract, awarded by the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Siemens will deliver the key components for the project, including two SGT5-8000H gas turbines, two SGen5-3000W generators and two SST5-5000 steam turbines.
The order also includes the provision of two heat recovery steam generators engineered by NEM and the SPPA-T3000 control system.
Marubeni will be responsible for the civil and erection works, the cooling tower, the high-voltage gas insulated
switchyard and some balance of plant equipment.
Willi Meixner, CEO of Siemens’ power and gas division, said: “This marks not only the fifth order from EGAT for the two consortium partners for a power plant in Thailand but is also the first time that Siemens will supply its largest and most efficient gas turbine to the country.
“We have been able to offer a power plant solution with optimised levelised cost of electricity for the customer’s specific requirements. Siemens is looking forward to executing this project successfully and to continue its partnership with EGAT and Marubeni.”
Once operational in 2019, the power plant will have a capacity to generate about 1,200MW of electricity — enough to power 1.5M Thai households.
Petrofac, a provider of oilfield services, has secured a contract worth nearly $600M to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services on the Salalah LPG extraction project in Oman.
The contract has been awarded by Salalah LPG SFZCO (SLPG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Oman Oil Facilities Development Company (OOFDC).
The scope of the 36-month contract will include the construction of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) unit and associated facilities, including the tie-ins to existing pipeline infrastructure, together with LPG storage and jetty facilities at the Port of Salalah.
Petrofac’s chief operating officer Marwan Chedid said: “This contract is our eleventh in the Sultanate and reinforces our commitment to Oman where we have been present since 1988.
“This project will further support our commitment to increase in-country value. We will continue to maintain strong focus
on this aspect of our delivery, particularly by engaging the local supply chain and recruiting local resources. We are very much looking
forward to growing and strengthening our team working alongside OOFDC to deliver this project.”
Italian turnkey contractor Saipem has won two contracts worth around $1bn from Saudi Aramco for the works related to the development of three offshore oilfields in Saudi Arabia.
Under the contracts, Saipem will provide engineering, procurement, installation and construction services for the development of fields in Marjan, Zuluf and Safaniya, located in the Arabian Gulf.
The contracts will also include implementation of subsea systems, in addition to the laying of pipelines, subsea cables and umbilicals, platform decks and jackets.
Furthermore, the two contracts will also include additional maintenance and dismantling works on the existing platforms operating in the fields.
Saipem CEO Stefano Cao said: “With these contracts, Saipem is further reinforcing its presence in the Middle East, a highly strategic area.
“New contracts from a long-standing customer like Saudi Aramco are also an important, strong mark of its trust in Saipem as, once again, the high quality of its services and its solid expertise in the construction and installation of offshore platforms are recognised.”
TRL, the global centre for innovation in transport and mobility and Qatar›s Ministry of Municipalities and Environment (MME) has announced the launch of ‘VegeBlock’, a new innovative building block designed to help increase sustainability across the country›s construction segment, in a special seminar held at the Ministry of Municipality & Environment Tower. Present during the launch were Dr Mohammad bin Saif AlKuwari, Head of the Environmental and Municipal Studies Institute - MME and Dr Khaled Hassan Country Director and Head of Middle-East Infrastructure, TRL, along with key stakeholders in the construction industry. The launch of VegeBlock, also described as ‘Smart Block’, represents the latest stage in an ongoing program of collaborative work between MME and TRL to improve the sustainability and adoption of green construction in Qatar and the rest of the region. Previous projects have focused on the use of locally available recycled and secondary aggregates in place of imported primary aggregate.
The project was funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) at the Qatar Foundation, National Priorities Research Programme (NPRP 6-1472-2600). During the event, attendees were briefed on how VegeBlock has been developed from small scale samples produced in laboratories to full-size building blocks using materials and techniques specifically suited to Qatari conditions and the Gulf region. The properties of VegeBlock were described, including the announced plans to take their production forward to full scale and the release of a Best Practice Guide for its reproduction.
VegeBlock is composed entirely of recycled aggregates and used vegetable oil, and is manufactured in a similar way to conventional concrete blocks, except that they are cured at higher temperatures for longer periods. The product has similar properties to low strength concrete and is suitable for use as non-load bearing blocks in buildings. By using recycled materials and avoiding the use of cement, the cost of production and the carbon footprint of VegeBlock are significantly lower than that of conventional concrete blocks being used today.
The aim of the project was focused on the development of innovative pre-cast blocks for the construction industry without the use of cement or primary aggregates. VegeBlock is expected to make a significant contribution to the sustainability of construction in Qatar. The project enabled the VegeBlock concept to be adapted to the specific conditions and materials available in Qatar-particularly to maximise the use of recycled and waste materials.The initiative falls in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 objective of balancing economic development with the protection of the environment. VegeBlock contributes to sustainable development and the implementation of the green construction concept through the re-use of materials that might otherwise be disposed of as waste and avoiding the import of the aggregates and cement that are used in conventional concrete building blocks. VegeBlock has been developed into a practical technique adapted for the specific circumstances and recycled materials locally available in Qatar.
VegeBlock is produced from excavation waste material (limestone) and used vegetable oil. The components are mixed and compacted in a mould and cured in an oven at 170°C for up to two days. The heat treatment results in oxidation and polymerisation of the oil to act as a binder for the aggregate resulting in cured blocks with adequate strength and durability for use as construction blocks.These innovative blocks have strength and durability properties similar to non-load bearing concrete blocks (M4 & M6 in the Qatar Construction Specifications QCS 2014) but do not require the use of cement, water or imported aggregates.
A series of laboratory testing programs were carried out to optimise the process and determine which materials to take forward for the full-size production of VegeBlock. The optimisation process included different types of recycled aggregates and oils, oil content, compaction level, temperature and duration of curing. The laboratory trials demonstrated the diversity of using various types of waste material, including unwashed sand, Incinerated Bottom Ash (IBA) and excavation waste (limestone).
Various types of used vegetable oils were also utilised including, Palm oil, Soybean oil and Canola oil. For each combination of aggregate and vegetable oil, the optimum oil content was established and the optimum compaction level, curing temperature and curing duration determined. It was found that the optimised mixtures produced VegeBlock-meeting and complying with Qatar Construction Specification (QCS 2014) requirements for compressive strength and water absorption for non-load bearing concrete blocks. Durability tests indicated that VegeBlock was resistant to damage from water, salts and fuel.
Full scale production trials were then carried out at the Khalid Cement Industries factory in the Industrial Area in Doha. The aggregate used was limestone derived from excavation waste, screened to be finer than 8mm. Used vegetable oil was selected as the binder, thus using only recycled materials as well as avoiding the use of cement and imported aggregate. The production was carried out using the same facilities available for producing conventional concrete blocks in Doha. The process resulted in the production of large sized blocks (400*200*200mm) that met the Qatar Construction Specification requirements for non-load bearing blocks.
A trial wall of full size VegeBlocks was constructed outdoors at the Qatar Standards offices in April 2016 with a wall of conventional concrete blocks for comparison. The condition of the wall has
been monitored through the heat of summer and heavy rains in winter. To date, it is still intact after 10 months in service. Monitoring and testing of the trial wall will continue to provide more confidence in use.
VegeBlock offers various advantages as compared to conventional blocks including the use of locally-available waste and recycled materials and avoiding imports. VegeBlock also provides environmental benefits in terms of reduced emissions of CO2 compared to conventional concrete blocks. Carbon footprints results indicated that VegeBlock has a distinct advantage by saving 88 percent in carbon emission over conventional concrete blocks. The great advantages of VegeBlock can be seen in the elimination of the use of cement and imported aggregates. The new and innovative product does not require the addition of water to the mix-a significant advantage as compared to concrete blocks in a desert climate like Qatar.
A preliminary economic analysis indicated that the production costs (materials plus operational costs) for VegeBlock could be significantly lower than concrete blocks. The material and operational cost for manufacturing is estimated to be two thirds the cost of conventional concrete blocks. However, there is a need to develop a bespoke system for full-scale production of VegeBlock, which may impact on the capital cost. A more detailed economic analysis should be carried out when a specific plant is under consideration.
RasGas Company Limited (RasGas) successfully loaded and delivered its 2,000th cargo of LNG to Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) on 25th April, 2017.
The cargo was lifted by the KOGAS vessel, “SK Summit”, which also carried the first cargo of LNG supplied by RasGas to Korea in August 1999.
In recognition of this significant milestone, RasGas Chief Executive Officer, Hamad Mubarak Al Muhannadi, stated, “We are deeply proud of our long-standing partnership with KOGAS, which has been maintained for more than two decades. KOGAS is not only RasGas’ largest long-term customer, it is also our foundation customer, and we are honoured by the trust they have placed in RasGas over the years to safely and reliably deliver LNG to meet Korea’s energy needs from Qatar.”
KOGAS CEO, Mr. Seung-Hoon in a statement said "I would like to congratulate on this memorial event of 2000th cargo shipment and thank the colleagues of RasGas for their contributions to the uninterrupted services in the course of delivery of LNG from Qatar to Korea.
Over the last few decades, RasGas and KOGAS have been proving the power of harmonious partnership between seller and buyer. I strongly believe that the partnership brought us this achievement."
KOGAS was established in 1983 and is now the largest single importer of LNG in the world, committed to providing clean, safe and convenient energy to the people of South Korea. In October 1995, RasGas signed its first-ever long-term SPA with KOGAS. RasGas and KOGAS have subsequently entered into two further long-term SPAs, and today RasGas delivers more than 9 million tonnes of LNG to KOGAS on an annual basis.
RasGas’ Interim Marketing and Shipping Officer, Ali Khalaf Al Kaabi, confirms, “This 2,000th cargo delivery truly does underline the commitment both our companies have to providing customers with flexible, competitive and cleaner energy. Our relationship with KOGAS has been mutually beneficial in this respect, but it has also ensured a sustainable energy supply for the people and the economy of Korea. This is something we are especially pleased to have been part of.”
Categorically states, that a new generation of mobile workers have traded cubicles for coffee shops, and offices for hotel rooms around the world. As long as digital nomads have Wi-Fi and a laptop, they can get the job done just about anywhere-be it from the pool, beach bar, or a trendy restaurant. By 2022, the global mobile workforce is expected to grow from 1.45 billion in 2016 to 1.87 billion, accounting for 42.5% of the worldwide workforce.
Current trends in Dubai will see more than 10,000 new hotel rooms in the lead up to 2020, the hospitality industry here is one of the fastest growing in the world. The UAE currently has over 6,000 F&B outlets, with another 19,000 expected to open by 2019. While in Africa, business travel is challenging leisure tourism as the main reason for African visits. According to the Johannesburg consultancy Corporate Traveller, nine out of 10 business travellers
to African countries stay in four or five-star hotels, costing at least 3,000 rand (Dh772) per night. Almost half of these guests stay in five-star hotels, while most of the rest opt for four-star lodging.
We know that physical environments and technology have impacted the way we live, work and travel. People have become the most critical asset of every organisation and spaces must be designed to support their needs and activities, whenever and wherever they need to work.
However, are hotels creating an engaging guest experience? Are these spaces meeting the changing needs of guests? Are guests provided with the tools to satisfy their individual requirements? Are the MICE offering (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) appropriate for different groups, events and activities?
Most tools that workers need to do their jobs are inside their laptops and smartphones. What they need are places to sit comfortably and effortlessly-either together or alone.
At Herman Miller, we recognise each person and organisation has their own unique requirements, that's why our
furniture portfolio offers a variety of tailored solutions. By understanding the design of spaces, we increase the effectiveness of these environments, therefore increasing the productivity of both user and the organisation.
We have been exploring ways in which tools and technology and design-in addition to management methods-can affect productivity and belonging. Belonging is one of the six fundamental human needs we identified based on an in-depth review of literature, study, and research from the past 80 years. For example, balancing technologies with spaces that encourage face-to-face interactions helps improve perceptions of belonging, as does creating a space that supports collaboration, mobility, and proximity.
We provide an important aesthetic to our customers in delivering world class business facilities. We bring people together to help businesses succeed. This for the hospitality sector translates into increased revenue, customer loyalty and repeat guests. All in all, a new and more engaging guest experience.
Unipart Rail and Arabian Railway Company are to form a joint venture company to deliver world class projects, supply chain services and consultancy in Saudi Arabia.
UK Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Unipart Rail and Arabian Railway Company during the Middle East Rail 2017 conference in Dubai.
As part of the agreement, Unipart Rail will be opening a Saudi Arabian office in MIG's prestigious new tower block on King Fahd Road, which is opposite the King Abdulla Financial District.
Noel Travers, Deputy Managing Director, Unipart Rail, commented: "Unipart Rail is pleased to be signing this agreement with Arabian Railway Company. The next 10 years will witness unparalleled reform of transport within the Middle East. Expansion on this scale, in this time-span, has never been seen before.
“The size and scale of railway development projects are vast, and there are good opportunities for Unipart Rail and Arabian Railway Company throughout the supply chain. Unipart brings a strong heritage in the rail sector, a growing range of services, and The Unipart Way of working, which has been adopted by many of our clients globally as a route to continuous productivity improvement."
Khalid Al-Jumaid, CEO President Arabian Railway Company said: "Unipart is coming from an area where they are very expert on managing all of the supply chain.They take all the challenges and difficulties that could face an operator, and manage it on their behalf. They come with an excellent track record and experience, as well as knowing the Middle East market very well – and that’s why I believe that Unipart will be successful here."
MAMARY ALUM. AND SKYLIGHTS FACTORY L.L.C P.O.Box: 40470, Al Sajaa Industrial Area, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 6 5361040 | Fax: +971 6 5361041 | Mob: +971 502122568 Email: mamary96@emirates.net.ae, maen@almamary.ae Website: www.almamary.ae
S&T Interiors and Contracting has won the Silver Award for the second consecutive year at the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2017 for their global groupwide HSE initiatives. The prestigious annual scheme is run by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
S&T’s global HSE initiatives including Visual Impact Training (VIT), C.A.R.E HSE global newsletter, HSE posters, heat stress awareness training, and emergency evacuation training contributed towards winning of the award.
The Visual Impact Training (VIT) crosses language and literacy boundaries and demonstrates to employees the impact of unsafe acts in their day-to-day lives by replicating the site scenarios. The C.AR.E. newsletter is a dedicated means of communicating vital safety-related information to all staff worldwide. Heat Stress Prevention Program provides workers with training and equipment necessary to protect them from heat related exposures and illnesses.
The Emergency Evacuation Training is designed to make people aware of fire prevention procedures and practices. HSE plays a central role in S&T’s business strategy, in creating a safe workplace.
Mr. Wayne Taylor: Group Head - Health Safety and Environment, S&T receiving the RoSPA Silver Award 2016.
The RoSPA award will be presented during a ceremony at the ExCeL, London on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.The award was achieved during a special year for family-safety charity RoSPA, as it celebrates its centenary.
Through the RoSPA Awards scheme, which is open to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas, judges consider entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. The awards are now in its 61st year.
Wayne Taylor, S&T group head HSE said:
“Winning the coveted RoSPA Silver Award is a proud moment for us and winning it for the second consecutive year reaffirms S&T’s
commitment towards health and safety at all times. C.A.R.E. - Creating a risk-free environment is our aim and this recognition is testament to the tireless efforts by our HSE teams, staff, management and our clients in continuously improving systems and instituting sustainable solutions.”
Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events, said: “The RoSPA Awards are the most prestigious in the world of occupational health and safety, and held in high regard around the world, as winning one demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record. Achieving the standard required is no mean feat.”
“This is a special year in the history of RoSPA, and we congratulate all of our winners in this, our centenary year”, she added.
The majority of awards are noncompetitive and mark achievement at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Gold medals, President’s Awards and orders of distinction are presented to organisations sustaining
the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years. For the first time in 2017, the Patron’s Award has been presented to those organisations that have achieved consecutive gold awards for 25 years or more.
Competitive awards go to the best entries in 24 industry sectors including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education.
There are specialist awards for occupational health, environmental management and fleet safety, and excellence trophies for the best international, new entry, workforce involvement and organisation operating or based in Scotland. RoSPA’s top accolade is the Sir George Earle Trophy.
Headline sponsor of the RoSPA Awards 2017 is NEBOSH – the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health – for the 12th consecutive year.
For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards
THE LEADING GLASS SOLUTIONS COMPANY IN QATAR TODAY, SERVES A BROAD PORTFOLIO OF CLIENTS THROUGHOUT NUMEROUS MARKET SECTORS, SPECIALISING IN GLASS SOLUTIONS FOR THE FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF DECORATIVE AND ARCHITECTURAL GLASSWORKS FOR THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF BUILDINGS.
What’s more, it is a company that refuses to stand still, constantly investing and innovating in order to provide ever greater quality, service and choice through technological advancements and research.
The leading glass solutions company in Qatar today, Spectra Arts serves a broad portfolio of clients throughout numerous market sectors, specialising in glass solutions for the fabrication and installation of decorative and architectural glassworks for the exterior and interior of buildings.
The techniques that the company utilises are as follows:
• Stained
• Etched and Carved
• Fused
• Painted
• Printed
• Laminated
• Tempered
• Curved / Bent
• Fire rated
• Mirrors
This broad array of techniques can be applied to a number of uses and applications, such as:
• Glass Partitions (shower enclosures, office partitions etc.)
• Facades/Shop Fronts
• Skylights and Roofs
• Windows and Doors
• Glass Floorings and Ceilings
• Wall Cladding
• Glass/Stainless Steel Staircase and Balustrades
• Counters and Wash Basins
AT LEAD CONSTRUCTION, THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORKMANSHIP, WHILST MAINTAINING THE UTMOST IN INTEGRITY AND COMMUNICATION.
Moreover, everyone within the company understands the balance of relationship and business that is required in the modern world, and the importance of being effective in the execution of their daily goals. Indeed, Lead Construction, from the very beginning 11 years ago, was committed to providing a distinguished service based on delivering high quality end finishes, projects on time and within budget.
The company’s success has allowed it to build up a strong reputation within the industry, with the amount of repeat business and referrals it receives attesting to its trustworthiness in getting the job done to the satisfaction of its clients. Lead Construction is also committed to a positive and safe environment for both its clients and its employees. Its team is experienced in many types of construction projects, and handle each with its clients’ goals in mind. As a result, the company has successfully completed numerous landmark projects in Qatar, with some of the most notable being:
• Qela Fashion Boutique, The Pearl Top
- a 1000m² high-end luxury boutique.
• The Village Restaurant, Souq Waqif - a two-storey restaurant with an area of 2300m² that was completed in a record time of seven months.
• Megu Restaurant, The Pearl Qatar - a 1000m² restaurant with a 15 m clear height.
• Guy Savoy Restaurant,The Pearl Qatar - a three-star Michelin chef restaurant, designed by Jean Michelle Wilmotte.
• Zahr Laymoun Restaurant, Shoumoukh Tower - a 500m² restaurant completed in just 3.5 months.
One of the company’s most exciting projects, of course, is Al Hazm Mall, an Italian inspired luxury shopping destination that is unashamedly targeting the region’s wealthiest residents. Within this most prestigious of developments, Lead Construction is in the process of completing the construction work for Le Train Bleu Restaurant, Bugatti Lifestyle Boutique, Palais Bugatti, Tardini Shop, Amici di Moda Boutique and Al Manjab Restaurant. These are all highly prestigious
brands, and refuse to compromise when it comes to design or construction. With this in mind, it is no surprise that they chose Lead Construction, since it offers a complete range of pre-construction and construction services, including interior works of high-end finishes. Delivering quality projects on time and within budget is the keystone on which the company has built its reputation.
“Our many completed works reflect the level of our professionalism and dedication to client satisfaction. The quality of the services we provide stems from the calibre of our staff and the integration of their strengths; a unique blend of merged competencies, talents, experience and education,” explains Lead Construction Managing Partner, Eng. Georges Nehme.
Catering to the residential, commercial, hospitality and recreational sectors, Lead Construction is today active in both Qatar and Lebanon, and going forwards is looking to continue to grow its business, knowing that the quality of its people is the key to its success.
Project Qatar 2017, the 14th edition of the International Trade Exhibition for Construction Technology, Building Materials, Equipment and Environmental Technology, began its workshop series during the opening day, featuring key topics on various construction concerns in the GCC – from advancing construction codes and global best practices to quality assessment and sustainability in building design.
The first day featured four key topics: ‘Cooperating to Advance Construction Codes in the Gulf Region’ by Mark Johnson, Executive Vice President, Business Development, International Code Council (ICC); ‘Quality Assessment - Strategic Approach’ by Muhammed Farooque, CEO – Managing Director of Excelledia; ‘The “World Best Practice” Paradox’ by Samer Deaïbess, Management Systems Consultant
of EGS; and ‘LEED and Water SavingSuccess in Building Design’ by Joe Azzarello, Senior Sustainability Engineer of Kohler Co. Key workshop discussions on the second day included ‘Conflict Avoidance: The Alternative to Dispute Resolution’ by Rob Jackson, Regional Director of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); ‘Integrated Systems and Smart Services’ by Ibrahim Kocagoz, Project Manager of Qatar Project Management – Smart City; and ‘Overview of the International Green Construction Code’ by Dave Wells, Executive Director for Sustainability Programs of the International Code Council.
A Live Demo session was also held with a presentation by Ed James, Head of Content and Analysis at MEED Projects, MEED, followed by a panel discussion on ‘Innovative Solutions to the Biggest Issues in the Qatari Construction Industry’.
George Ayache, General Manager, IFP Qatar, said: “Qatar’s construction sector is keen to address the pertinent issues that affect the sector to ensure that the country adopts global best practices and sustainability trends. The series of workshops were carefully chosen to help contribute in knowledge growth in the sector and translate into efficient use of resources. Qatar’s ambition to be among the leading countries in the world when it comes to infrastructure growth demands that construction is of high quality and on par with international standards. We are confident the workshops fully cover these key concerns.”
Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, CEO, Manateq commented, “We are proud to commit our support for the 14th edition of Project Qatar, whose continuous success complements our vision to drive in more growth for Manateq. Our company is committed towards supporting various programs, initiatives and exhibitions that looks towards contributing to the move to help bolster the local economy. Our presence as one of the sponsors of this event will allow us the opportunity to reach a larger targeted audience and we look forward to meeting exhibitors and visitors in our booth located in A37 – Hall 2.”
On the third day of the workshop, participants will look into ‘Quality AuditsA Value Added Tool Within the Construction Arena’ which will be delivered by Arlene O. Aguilar, QA Consultant of ATKINS/ Faithful + Gould. The other workshop will talk about ‘Design of Quality Control
Systems to Improve the Quality of Concrete Construction in Complex Infrastructure Projects’ by Stephen Stacey, from CTL Group.
The fourth day will discuss two areas: ‘Identification and Mitigation of Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) in Concrete Structures’ by Anthony Bentivegna, Laboratory Manager and Consultant of CTL Group; and ‘Sustainability Is All About People’ by Dr. Olga Revina, Management Consultant of Investors in People.
Considered as the country’s largest exhibition for building, environmental technology and materials, Project Qatar 2017 showcases products and services of 516 exhibitors from 33 participating countries, impressing visitors with a wide variety of technological innovation and the latest digital solutions for the construction and building industry. Two major industryrelated trade events are also being held on the sidelines of the show: the Qatar Stone Tech 2016, the 6th International Stone and Stone Technology Show, and Heavy Max 2016, the 14th International Exhibition for Heavy Machinery.
Some of the event’s main sponsors and partners include the Qatar Tourism Authority as Strategic Partner; Manateq as Economic Zones Partner, NBK Automobiles, as Official Transportation Partner, Al Sraiya Group and Palmera as Platinum Sponsors; QD-CPC Industries, a subsidiary of QDSBG as Gold Sponsors; and Ali Abdul Sattar Business Group, BITUMODE Qatar Waterproofing Factory, Qatar uPVC as Silver Sponsors.
Email: info@tpg-media.com
COLORTEK® is an international paints producer with a franchised retail concept conceived as a designer space providing home owners, architects, designers and paints professional with unique decorative wall and floor finishes.
COLORTEK® delivers a memorable customer experience through a process of discovery that answers all creative needs while providing you with all the tools, advice and training required to facilitate your choice.
COLORTEK® has a co-branding agreement with DOW®, the leading supplier of advanced coating technologies with whom they have developed RESPISAFE®, a FORMALDEHYDE ABATEMENT paint that answers both the aesthetics and safety concerns of today’s customers by combining air purifying technology with performance features such as anti-burnish and anti-bacterial properties to ensure the safety and durability of the paint over time.
Unique decorative finishes and functional high-performance paints, manufactured following international standards and certified by third-party agencies, place COLORTEK® at the forefront of wall and floor paints innovations.
Standard, one of the leading providers of innovative bathroom solutions operating across Europe, Middle East and Africa, has proudly revealed Connect Air, its latest multi-product bathroom collection in the MENA region, offering a unique mix of timeless modern style that connects to all the requirements in any bathroom.
The collection, which can be previewed at the Ideal Standard’s Design Bathroom Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, in Dubai, offers a comprehensive range of bathroom solutions. The extremely light weight and durable Connect Air collection brings care lavished on every detail to guarantee, with its high quality materials, the highest possible standards of comfort and functionality, style and design.
Designed by world-famous creator and product designer Robin Levien and his team at “Studio Levien”, the Ideal Standard Connect Air collection comprises ceramics –including WCs, bidets, basins, vessels, vanities -, furniture, bathtubs and shower trays.
In her comments, Dimitra Dotsia, Marketing Manager at Ideal Standard, said: “Connect Air brings unprecedented elegance to the bathroom with a range of ceramics, baths and furniture in an array of sizes and finishes, granting an airy feel to any environment and creating efficient, durable and stunning bathrooms.The collection can be configured to suit individual needs and different spaces.”
The brain behind the range, Robin Levien, added:“The Connect Air collection taps into the minimalistic trend for sleek and slim line interiors, which can now be transferred throughout the household to include the bathroom. It is all about lightness at every element of design.”
Connect Air WC’s have been designed with an invisible fixation system that enhances the beautifully elegant, airy design. The WCs additionally feature the famous AquaBlade® technology in which, unlike existing flushing systems, the water covers the entire surface of the inner bowl.
In traditional WC’s, a significant area of the bowl is left unwashed on flushing, whereas AquaBlade® guarantees total hygiene, as the area below the rim is rinsed clean.
The
bowl for better performance and there is no overhanging rim, giving the unit an unprecedented look.
Connect Air’s alluring sleek look manifests itself in four shapes: vanity, vessel, basin and semi-countertop. Sizes start from 40cm up to a 134cm option and are designed to offer flexibility of installation and variety in style. Ultra-thin rim for the vessels, slim low profile for the vanities, angled low exterior sides for the basins. While each offers the same crisp elegance,
each makes a decisively individual design statement.
Connect Air furniture is designed to highlight the soft and curved lines of the ceramics. Its strong, concise shapes present a solution that gives personality to any room, keeping it organised at the same time, thanks to an infinite choice of styles and sizes – basin units with drawers and shelves
options, side column cabinets in different sizes. The range finishes come in six bicolour combinations, chosen by designer Robin Levien to fit diverse houses and styles.
Connect Air bathtubs and shower trays complete the range, both offering thin contours to increase the comfort area, but also to contribute to total range harmony.
With the new Connect Air collection,
the perfect solution for a large spectrum of projects, Ideal Standard – associated with some of the most prestigious projects in the Gulf, is committed to reinforce its market presence with its adherence to product quality, innovation, design and sustainability leading to functional bathroom solutions, which meet every demand where aesthetics are as important as performance.
CROWNED AS THE ‘CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR’ AT THE CONSTRUCTION WEEK OMAN AWARDS 2017, S&T INTERIORS AND CONTRACTING HAS KICK-STARTED THE YEAR ON A HIGH NOTE.
A mainstay of contracting in Oman since 1977, the company brings unparalleled construction and contracting standards built on the pillars of excellence and quality.
Strong foundations
S&T Interiors and Contracting is one of the largest contracting and interior fit-out companies in the GCC region. In the last four decades, S&T has perfected the art of skilled craftsmanship with a dedicated team of experts and in-house manufacturing capabilities to become a one-stop solution for construction, MEP, interior fit-out, global procurement and contracting services; globally. S&T has grown beyond its origin of Oman to compete on the world stage, with operations in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, UK, France, Italy, India, Sri Lanka and Brunei.
Recognition
2016 and 2017 have proved to be very successful years for S&T. They were
selected as “Best Contractor of the Year” for the year 2016 by Dossier Infrastructure & Summit Awards, Oman, “Contractor of the Year” for the year 2017 by Construction Week Oman Awards, “Hospitality Project of the Year 2017” by Construction Week for Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar - a five star hotel resort in Jabal Akhdar, Oman for
S&T-ALEC JV project, an accolade that echoes the ethos of S&T’s commitment to partnership.
Project showcase
S&T has several large, complex, iconic projects that demand different approach to delivering on time and quality.
A talented workforce of
worldwide bring in engineering, backward integration model, architectural, BIM, management and contracting expertise to overcome challenges and come up with innovative and sustainable approaches. Repeat clientele order is a testimony of S&T’s performance.
One of S&T Real Estate’s marquee project “The Waterfront”, is a contemporary mix-use development project at the centre of Muscat, Oman, expected to be completed by 2018. S&T Interiors and Contracting is the main contractor of the project. This turnkey construction project with a LEED gold pre certification is sure to set construction benchmark in the industry. It is a mix-used commercial retail office and spa development with basement car parking, ancillary areas and external landscape areas. Facing the Muscat seafront, the 5000 sq. m plot of the Waterfront oversees the expansive view of Gulf of Oman, making its construction demanding and challenging. (www.waterfrontmuscat.com)
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, a 115 key, iconic five star luxury resort in Oman was recently delivered by S&T Interiors and Contracting (in JV with Al Jaber Engineering & Contracting - ALEC). For this impressive project, S&T received ‘Hospitality project of the year award’ at Construction Week Oman awards 2017. The company delivered turnkey construction and high-end joinery and gypsum works for the resort.
Permanent Accommodation for Contractors (PAC) – Duqm is a flawlessly planned and executed state-of-the-art mix use development by S&T, comprising of accommodation for over 16,000 employees, club for entertainment, residences, restaurant and mosque. In Qatar, S&T is the fit-out partner for one of the most prestigious projects, the Mandarin Oriental in Doha, part of the Msheireb Downtown Doha development.
The Lalit, London; Movenpick Hotel, Colombo; Premier Inn Matrix, Heathrow; Strategic facilities in Oman; Lapita Hotel, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Autograph
Collection; and British Airways Lounge, Gatwick Airport are among the latest projects successfully delivered by S&T. Over 150 landmark projects have been executed by S&T in the luxury hospitality sector and high-end residential and commercial projects.
Training, technology & system based approach forms the core strength of our business. S&T has invested extensively in these areas to ensure speed, operational complexities and continuous improvement approach in all their operations. A Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Coimbatore, India is a technology-driven centre that offers engineering and support services for all global projects. It acts as an extended arm of the client’s studio providing Building Information Management (BIM) and CAD solutions for civil, architectural, MEP and ID divisions of the company. Technology support aids the company in keeping track of budgets, timeline, supply
chain management, safety, logistics and most of all delivery schedules.
Despite the economic uncertainties, S&T continues to make sound and focused decisions to strengthen its stronghold in its current markets.With its global presence and local foothold, the company has several projects in the pipeline across Oman, UAE, Qatar, the UK, India and Sri Lanka. S&T Interiors and Contracting is part of S&T Investment Holding, a leading multinational and multiproduct conglomerate with operations in 15 countries. Over the past four decades, S&T Group has diversified into several businesses over and above its core activities of Interiors & Civil Contracting into Real Estate, Oil & Gas, Mining, Information Technology, Healthcare, Trading, FMCG and Procurement for the Hospitality industry along with other non-operating investments.
THE MONTH-LONG SHOP QATAR FESTIVAL SAW AN INCREASE IN ARRIVALS TO THE COUNTRY OF 16.8% COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO QATAR TOURISM AUTHORITY (QTA).
The QTA also revealed that from January 7 to February 7 Qatar’s hospitality sector recorded a 70.5% occupancy rate thanks to a number of special offers that revolved around the festival.
QTA figures state that 188,523 nationals from an assortment of GCC countries visited Qatar in the period coinciding with the festival, an increase of 23% compared to the equivalent period in 2016. Many of these visitors came from Saudi Arabia, with a total of 133,849 people visiting Qatar during the festival. Moreover, many of these visitors arrived during the January school holiday in Saudi Arabia, which was a 43% increase on the previous year. Hotel occupancy during this period, including both weekends, reached 82.3% on average, with a peak reached midway through the holiday with occupancy rates in excess of 90%.
The direct impact of inbound tourism on the gross domestic product (GDP) has been estimated at QR1.6 billion, a considerable increase from similar estimates during previous festivals. During the Qatar Summer Festival in August 2016, for instance, the impact of inbound tourism was said to be around QR639 million.
In addition to festival activities, offerings and promotions, other festivals around Qatar, such as the Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah festivals, have contributed notably to tourism growth and strong sector performance, with QTA Chief Tourism Development Officer Hassan al-Ibrahim explaining: “Through exciting new additions to our calendar of events, as well as new retail, entertainment and cultural products, we are building all the ingredients needed for a touristic experience reflective of Qatar and its people.”
Shop Qatar was launched following significant growth in the country’s retail sector, which was matched by a strong performance in tourism. Featuring a broad range of live entertainment and cultural shows, outdoor activities, beauty and fashion events, shopping promotions, musical performances, comedy acts, and a QR1 million mega draw, it has proven to be a great success. However, Qatar has always been extremely popular as a shopping destination, representing a larger portion of inbound and domestic tourism spending in 2014 than tourist accommodation or food and beverage, contributing QR6 billion to the economy.
Rashed al-Qurese, QTA’s Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer, concluded: “The collaborative spirit shown from the various private and public sector partners for the first edition of Shop Qatar has yielded remarkable results across several sectors.This gives me confidence that together we can continue to expand this festival in the years to come and reinforce Qatar’s position as a destination of choice for shoppers and families.”
IN THIS ISSUE OF QATAR PROJECTS WE CHAT WITH MOHAMMED AL EMADI, FOUNDER AND CEO OF AL EMADI ENTERPRISES, A NATIONAL PIONEER IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
Qatar Projects: Can you please give a little information on your background and your own personal business philosophy?
Mohammed Al Emadi: I started my career at the age of seven, when I was accompanying my father to work to help him, after returning from school. During this time, I learned self reliance, hard word and the art of dealing with customers and how to be self reliant, I learned the skills that prepared me to become a successful businessman. This experience was vital to my fufure success in life.
Qatar Projects: What were your aims and objectives when you established the company over 20 years ago?
Mohammed Al Emadi: My objective when I established my companies was to give something back to my beloved country and add a value to the existing projects in line with the vision of the Qatar.
Qatar Projects: What do you think your competitive edge is in the marketplace?
Mohammed Al Emadi: In any business you will face competition. Nowadays, to be outstanding you need to be different and
create new experiences. Our companies have many achievements in various sectors, but the most outstanding one remains the commercial development of Al Hazm. This edifice is characterised by its prime location and authentic classical architecture. It is considered the finest destination in Qatar, comprising distinct brands and unique restaurants.
Qatar Projects: Can you talk a little about the Al Hazm project. In a region with so many high-end shopping destinations, how does this one stand out?
Mohammed Al Emadi: Al Hazm is not competing with any other destination, but aims to create a new experience Al Hazm is about art, culture, and luxury. It is a mix
between European classical architecture and Qatari hospitality. It is inspired by the Renaissance era with a respect for Islamic values, incorporating a unique selection of retail and fine dining concepts that are opening for the first time in Qatar, offering the highest standard in terms of quality and service.
Qatar Projects: What other projects are you working on at the present time?
Mohammed Al Emadi: For the time being my main focus is to ensure a great experience for Al Hazm visitors. I believe that we have
achieved this through the unique architecture and atmosphere. However, the focus remains on delivering services and quality that meet the expectations of our guests.
Qatar Projects: How would you define your method of leadership? Do you feel it is important to have good role models around the company in order for it to evolve and expand?
Mohammed Al Emadi: I treat my employees as part of my family. I try to nurture them and give them freedom to work to their best ability, because I believe
people should be loyal to the company not to the money, and they should work with their heart not for the pay cheque.
Qatar Projects: Do you feel that corporate social responsibility is increasingly important in the modern age, and how does the company approach this?
Mohammed Al Emadi: Supporting others is part of our religion and belief structure, and at Al Emadi Enterprises we believe that it is part of our social responsibility through different types of activity, such as sports, small
businesses, charity and individuals. It is our duty to support organisations and individuals in different ways.
Qatar Projects: What is your vision for the company over the next 5 to 10 years?
Mohammed Al Emadi: As a long-term vision, with God’s help, I wish to achieve more success and growth for my companies, and keep raising my limits to meet the vision of the country. In the shorter term, I would like Al Hazm to be the ‘top of the league’ in Qatar and GCC when it comes to art, culture and luxury destinations.
THE CURRENT ECONOMY STATUS REQUIRES ORGANISATIONS TO DO THEIR BEST TO EXCEL. HIGHER QUALITY OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES WITH LOWER COSTS AND OPTIMUM USE OF RESOURCES ARE ALWAYS THE ULTIMATE AIM. WHETHER AN ORGANISATION IS FROM THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR, MANUFACTURING OR SERVICES, BIG OR SMALL, IT SHOULD MANAGE ITS RESOURCES WELL TO ACHIEVE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE.
Over the last 25 years, the business excellence model has been assisting many organisations to enhance their management systems and processes to achieve sustainable growth.
What is Excellence Award?
Quality Awards and Excellence Awards are usually national award programmes that recognise organisations that perform exceptionally in all aspects of their business. A nationally agreed business excellence model with standard criteria is used as a framework to gauge the performance of the participating organisations.
The Use of Organisational Excellence Models:
The most famous organisational excellence model is the Malcolm Baldrige Excellence Model in the United States and the EFQM Excellence Model in Europe. In the US around two million copies of the Malcolm Baldrige Excellence Model have been distributed since the award’s launch in 1988, and this does not include copies that are available in books, state and local award programmes, or those downloaded from the website. It was recently estimated that there are at least 76 countries operating national business excellence awards. In Europe alone, the European Foundation for Quality Management believes that at least 30,000 organisations are using the EFQM Model.
Values of Excellence Awards to Qatar Business Market:
Qatar established the Qatar Quality Award Programme in 2003. The Award was introduced as a mean of leveraging the standards of businesses operating in Qatar, thus boosting external and internal trade. The Award aims to engage organisations that demonstrate commitment to best practice in their respective fields.
Establishing a national programme to sponsor and manage the award programme obviously adds tremendous value to Qatar’s economy, as it significantly improves the performance of organisations operating within the different Qatari business sectors. It also paves the way for deploying the latest techniques and best practices in customer service, strategy, employees, leadership, processes, services, products, society and business results.
The process of assessment (self or third party assessments) provides an opportunity to evaluate the performance of the organisation at a window in time to determine the extent to which the best management practices have been deployed, results have been achieved, and whether excellence principles are embedded in the culture of the organisation and to what level. The results of any assessment exercise are shown in a comprehensive feedback report given to the organisation to help the management identify strengths as well as opportunities for improvement.
AS THE WORLD IS RAPIDLY CHANGING, THE RETAIL INDUSTRY NEEDS TO FIND A WAY TO ACCOMMODATE THESE CHANGES. IN RECENT YEARS, RETAIL HAS BECOME A BATTLEFIELD TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS, OFFERING THEM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
The competition between shopping destinations is greater than ever and nowadays people are looking for worldclass shopping malls.
The Al Hazm Experience
With countless deluxe brands available throughout the city and constant updates in trends and clothing lines in the market, what will make Al Hazm unique? Firstly, Al Hazm has embodied a new luxurious lifestyle that makes it much more than just a shopping destination. It will be a spectacular social scene in a classical European environment in the heart of modern Arabia.
Designed for connoisseurs who appreciate the finer things in life. Not only does Al Hazm offer exclusive brands and contemporary luxuries in a fashionably refined setting, it also anticipates the needs and the evolution of Qatari society.
For shopping and fashion lovers, Al Hazm will be a distinctive destination with a clever mix of the world’s most exclusive fashion, beauty and luxury brands, displayed in sophisticated and elegant boutiques. Not only that,
Al Hazm will also offer a global gastronomic journey, with a wide range of delicious culinary options to satisfy every visitor’s taste buds.
Al Hazm is a unique commercial development in Qatar, situated in the heart of the capital, making it very accessible from anywhere in the city, and is surrounded by a wealthy residential area that is home to both
Qataris and expatriates. Al Hazm is designed to cater to the enlightened, sophisticated and affluent of the region, while bringing together ‘Art, Culture and Luxury’.
Astonishing Architecture
Al Hazm, a handcrafted architectural marvel that pays tribute to Italy’s timeless classicism and Arabia’s hospitality, will be
the home to the world’s finest restaurants, trendiest cafes and most desired fashion labels. It aims to become the place that brings together the community, offering them somewhere to connect and be entertained. A place where they can share values and a mouth-watering meal while relaxing and spending quality time together with friends and family. Put simply, Al
Al Hazm uniqueness is evident in several ways. Designed for connoisseurs in search of excellence, it embodies a new lifestyle gathering together the world’s most valuable brands in a classical architectural setting of contemporary spirit, combining luxury fashion boutiques and the best culinary experiences.
Each country has something distinctive to offer, and the architectural gem that is Al Hazm successfully combined the best of many countries to build a shopping destination that will leave its visitors stunned.
Each country’s finest offering is clearly evident and displayed in the fabulous architecture of the mall. For example, the
marble is imported from Italy (Carrara and Siena) and Greece (Thassos), whilst the stone is imported from Palestine. Importing stone from Palestine created many challenges, but the company was delighted to deliver job opportunities for the Palestinians in the Al Hazm project, which in turn supports the economy and industry in Palestine. Furthermore, there are olive trees from Spain and Italy that are between 250-800 years old, and since the Indians and Turks are universally recognised as the best carvers, they were handpicked to carve and shape the many intricate details within Al Hazm Mall. Reflecting the finest each country has to offer, either as a concept, material or workmanship, Al Hazm has ‘raised the bar’ to previously unimaginable levels.
To keep visitors entertained throughout the year, as well as offering a one-of-akind experience to all visitors, Al Hazm has translated its core values ‘Art, Culture and Luxury’ into innovative seasonal attractions in collaboration with renowned international agencies.
This will be the most versatile aspect of what is a spectacular destination, using the technology of a custom-fitted projection system on the façade of the main building. The projection will be visible from almost the entire Al Hazm Piazza, and is precisely
mapped to the architectural features of Al Hazm to allow for dazzling lighting and 3D effects. The key to a truly incredible show, though, is the content and not the technology, which is why it has ensured that the content of the projection is kept engaging for all visitors. The canvas will play a large variety of
programmes exclusively produced for Al Hazm, including:
• Architectural lighting
• Imagery and video material, narrating the Al Hazm story, its origins and inspirations
• Seasonal content developed for specific periods that will support complementary activities.
Accommodating rare and valuable volumes in addition to a world-class selection of classic publications, the Cultural Centre will promote learning, reading and information literacy. Visitors have the opportunity to browse through countless books and magazines in order to wind
down and escape the stresses of everyday life. It’s an excellent opportunity to slow down and relax by enjoying such a simple and time-honoured experience as reading a good book.
The Cultural Centre also offers several activities and clubs, such as Kids Interactive Learning, where simulation activities are
based not only on fun activities, but are also educational. This will be held for children between the ages of 4 to 11 years old. In addition, the centre will present The Ladies Social Club, which welcomes ladies from all walks of life to explore and mindfulness, amongst many other opportunities.
Established in 1999, Al Emadi Enterprises has grown to become one of Qatar’s leading real estate companies, and has cemented its position as a national pioneer by reinforcing its reputation for excellence, dynamism and unmatched ambition with the launch of Al Hazm.
The company has developed successful enterprises across a number of strategically important sectors through close partnerships with leading national, regional and global organisations, representing a wide range of complementary fields. These include Al Emadi Hospitality, Al Emadi Solar Systems, Al Emadi Fire, Al Emadi
Visionary leadership, strong management and a talented workforce provide the expertise, skill and will needed to continue to execute on its strategy and drive the growth and success of Al Emadi Enterprises for many more years to come, and Al Hazm is the
MANY PEOPLE KNOW PLACE VENDÔME AS THE PRESTIGIOUS SQUARE CREATED AS A MONUMENT TO THE GLORY OF THE ARMIES OF LOUIS XVI, THE SUN KING, IN PARIS. BUT TODAY THERE IS ANOTHER PLACE VENDÔME; A MULTI BILLION BILLION RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENT SITUATED FROM THE CENTER OF DOHA, IN THE ENTERTAINMENT CITY OF LUSAIL.
Based on Parisian architecture, this fascinating and prestigious project broke ground on March 17, 2014, and is due to open in 2018. A 1 million m² development, it will host two five-star luxury hotels, serviced apartments, a mall featuring up to 600 different retail outlets, with a luxurious wing dedicated to top designer brands, and a central entertainment component that will showcase a neverending stream of attractions.
Inspired by the ‘City of Light’, Place Vendôme will be reminiscent of the fashionable high-end shopping street in Paris, Rue de la Paix, with the architecture intended to radiate luxury and extravagance whilst also capturing Qatari culture. And whilst the local version of Place Vendôme does not have the River Seine close by, it does have a canal running through it directly from the sea, providing a beautiful open plaza experience with cafes and restaurants overlooking the water.
On Top of Everyone’s Wish List
Superior quality and attention to details are at the heart of the Place Vendôme
development. Towards the end of 2016, for instance, the first consignment of marble for the floor arrived. It is a pretty unique material too, and hard to find. It has been sourced from all over Europe, including Italy and Greece. And with the MEP contractors now working at full speed, everything is on track for scheduled completion, with the first mock ups for the hotels also having been completed.
The developer, United Developers, is working closely with Starwood, the assigned hotel operator, in order to ensure that the interiors are not only consistent with the brand, but will also delight and surprise guests upon arrival.
The two hotels will be Le Meridien Lusail and The Luxury Collection Hotel. They will be built in collaboration between United Developers, a group of four Qatari companies, and US-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Each hotel will have 250 guest rooms, and Le Meridien Lusail will also have 150 serviced apartments. In addition, there will also be presidential suites, a deli cafe, swimming pools, kids’ clubs, rooftop lounges, ballrooms, a spa and a business centre.
On the retail side everything is moving along nicely too, with agreements with around five of the main luxury groups now in place, although names are not being revealed at present time. What we can say, though, is that they are at the top of everyone’s wish list! Contracts have also been signed by some of the major regional retail operators, ensuring that there will be something for everyone.
Place Vendôme’s combination of boutique style shops, fashion brands and dining outlets has been meticulously designed and laid out to ensure the widest possible choice for visitors, without compromising on the shopping experience. Spread out over four levels of stunningly designed interiors, the retail spaces offer matchless visibility and appeal. Indeed, a significant proportion of the mall has been designated and specially decorated to host the world’s foremost designers and boutiques in a setting worthy of such world-renowned brands.
Then, of course, there is the food and beverage aspect. Place Vendôme can naturally attract many of the outlets and concepts that are now present in malls throughout the world. However, there is a commitment to make sure that Place Vendôme is just a little bit different, with a number of new food concepts. That’s why the management team have been travelling far and wide, looking at what’s new in food in a variety of different countries in order to amaze customers.
Nowadays, of course, no complex such as
this is complete without entertainment ... and what entertainment it will be! The developers of Place Vendôme are working hand-in-hand with a US group at the present time, creating a new unique concept in terms of family entertainment. It is completely complementary to the overall brand, and will appeal particularly to younger customers. The team in question has a history of working with such blue-chip organisations as Disney and Universal, bringing with them extensive knowledge and experience of the entertainment industry. As a result, the entertainment within Place Vendôme will be family orientated and unique - delight and surprise will be the order of the day!
It will also be easy to get to. Once completed, transportation options will include the Lusail Expressway, the Doha Metro System (when it officially opens for passengers in late 2019), water taxis, buses and limousine services. Furthermore, a cycle and pedestrian network is also being planned.
The Lusail Expressway will connect Lusail to the Doha Exhibition Centre, the tourist hotspot of Katara Cultural Village, and West Bay, the commercial hub of the city. For those
who prefer not to drive, the Doha Metro will bring visitors directly to the Place Vendôme station, which connects directly to the mall.
Naturally, the question has to be asked if anyone would anyone choose Qatar over Paris when it comes to shopping? Well, first of all it needs to be understood that the experience is completely different. Paris may
have the history and culture to pull people in, but Qatar has its own ‘ace’ - its geographical location.
Qatar Airways is one of the most successful airlines in the world and gives a boost to every kind of facility and service in the country. When somebody is transiting through Hamad International Airport, for instance, they will plan to perhaps stay for a couple of hours, but more and more people
are seeing what Qatar has to offer and are extending that brief period to two or three days. Because so many people go through the airport, there is a ready-made audience, and Place Vendôme will do everything possible to attract them to what is an exceptional shopping, dining and entertainment venue.
In fact, from November 2014, Place Vendôme has been getting the message out by sending senior representatives to such globally significant cities as Paris, Milan, Cannes, and Dubai. Events have been carried out in Florence and Seoul too, keeping the destination in contact with the leading CEOs and decision-makers of the big brands.
A Sustainable Future
Place Vendôme adheres to and supports the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. The project reflects United Developers' commitment to Qatar's economic diversification, as well as human and social development through the opportunities and jobs that the project has created during construction and then upon completion.
Construction, as already stated, is on target for scheduled completion. So much has been achieved in so short a time, with close to 1 million m² of land being developed in a little over 18 months, which is unheard of in Qatar. The sheer drive of the owners and the incredible performance of the contractors
have made this a truly unique project. It’s a very sustainable project too, with district cooling being used, which is by far the most efficient way of cooling a building of this scale in this environment. This allows Place Vendôme to have an efficient carbon footprint.
In addition to this, and looking at the bigger picture, around 5000 people will be working in the mall, so in terms of economic sustainability there will be a lot of jobs for a lot of people.
Looking at practical yet achievable sustainable targets is at the heart of this project, and with the state-of-the-art building systems installed, United Developers is ensuring that it has a system in
place that monitors the performance of every piece of equipment and makes it as efficient as possible.
Everyone involved in the project has focused on delivering something that will be a benchmark for Qatar.
Lusail is an exciting new aspect to the Doha experience; a long-term vision for the country that aligns with the 2030 Vision. Combine the facilities and location (on the coast) and it is a very appealing and unique environment. And Place Vendôme will be one of the jewels in the crown, a magnet for discerning consumers who want something a little bit different: and it is something that will enchant, amaze and enthral them!
As the Mall opens its doors with a celebratory bang, the Mall promises even more entertainment and surprises are yet to come!
Doha Festival City, the largest entertainment, retail and hospitality destination in Qatar, managed and operated by Al-Futtaim, opened its doors to the public 5th April 2017. Thousands of visitors flocked to the new Mall from 10am to be amongst the first to shop, dine and be entertained. With something for everyone, visitors enjoyed the country’s biggest Marks & Spencer, the market’s first West Elm, the much anticipated Muji and the new flagship stores from H&M and Centerpoint. Over the next few weeks visitors will also be able to enjoy brands including the first VOX Cinemas in Qatar and the world’s largest Monoprix Hypermarket amongst many others.
Trevor Hill General Manager of Doha Festival City Mall said, “We currently have an extensive number of new-concept and first-to-market stores opened and are looking forward to many more over the coming weeks and months including Harvey Nichols, Mama’s & Papa’s, All Saints, Hanna Andersson and four unique theme parks. The first Angry Birds World globally, indoor snow park Snow Dunes, ‘edutainment’ park Juniverse and digital experience Virtuocity, will all be open by the end of the summer. We have also opened our purpose built Outdoor Leisure Trail, a 3km track designed with fun and fitness in mind – with this element free for our customers to enjoy.”
Nick Batey, General Manager, Marks & Spencer Al-Futtaim, MENA, “As the biggest store opening for Marks & Spencer in Qatar this year, we are proud to be launching our world renowned chilled
food for the first time in Qatar, as well as our table service M&S Café, which offers our customers a more leisurely experience. After much anticipation M&S in Doha Festival City has received a very positive reaction from our first customers.”
Raphael Rouget, a customer who visited the mall said,“Doha Festival City is absolutely beautiful and we are really impressed with the selection of shops already open – with some of our favourites as well as a few we have never seen before. We came here early to try and beat crowds, but actually our experience has been stress-free throughout. The mall is really spacious and all the staff and security teams have been really helpful. We can’t wait to come back.”
In order to further enhance its customer’s journey, Doha Festival City has partnered with twelve hotels across Doha to offer its guests complementary trips to and from
the Mall – with shuttle services running throughout the day seven days a week.
As a ‘Smart Mall’, Doha Festival City has incorporated a number of innovative concepts that combines with unique technology, enhancing its visitors’ experience at every part of their journey within the destination. From digital wayfinding, smart car parking and free high-speed wifi to its extensive digital media network– every ‘Smart’ aspect has been considered throughout.
Hill, continued, “After many months of anticipation, we are tremendously proud to finally welcome the public to our worldclass destination and are already enjoying the positive feedback. We invite visitors to come and celebrate with us time and again, as we have a number of surprises in store at Doha Festival City to ensure ongoing one-of-akind experiences for all.”
A MEMBER OF THE AL JABER GROUP OF COMPANIES (AJC) BASED IN ABU-DHABI, AL JABER AND PARTNERS – CONSTRUCTION & ENERGY PROJECTS W.L.L. (AJP) FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS FOR BUSINESS IN 2002 WITH A CLEAR FOCUS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET IN QATAR.
Acting as a Main Contractor, AJP manages the complete fulfilment of a project and, over the past 15 years, has gained an unrivalled reputation for problem solving and providing clients with the best possible outcome.
AJP offers clients a number of distinct benefits and advantages, including delivering quality and value on each project through industry-recognised expertise, knowledge and technical excellence. However, it is through its highly qualified and motivated personnel that the company truly differentiates itself in what is a fiercely competitive industry.
Each member of the project team will deliver on the company’s core principles of developing long-term relationships, integrity, and performance. Or to put it another way, AJP does exactly what it says it is going to do, putting its clients’ needs ahead of everything else and continually striving to exceed their expectations.
As a company, AJP has a workforce of over 4500 employees and more than 2600 pieces of construction equipment and
heavy vehicles, as well as four asphalt plants, two sub-base plants, and nine screening and crushing plants throughout Qatar. In addition, the company has a 25,000m2 main workshop located in Industrial City, Doha, with a pre-cast yard of 10,000m2. AJP also has labour camps situated in Lusail, Al Wukair, Al Wajba and
Creative, flexible methods mean AJP listens carefully and communicates clearly, building on a solid infrastructure of proven
systems, procedures and processes that allows no room for cutting corners. This goes a long way to explaining why the company wins a great deal of its work through repeat business and referrals; cultivating long-term relationships has been the foundation of AJP’s success.
One of the finest testimonies to the quality of its works and the integrity of its people is the list of clients the company has served more
than once. For AJP understands its clients’ businesses, protects their interests, and brings dedication, integrity and reliability to every project. What is more, every project for every client has helped the company to understand how to deliver services in a way that makes a difference in the quality of a structure and in the totality of the service provided. And with the experience, expertise and resources to take on the largest and most
Modern economics thrive on the supply-demand dynamics of energy, which – in all of it forms – is a vital driver for growth and progress.
ROOTS
challenging infrastructure projects in Qatar, AJP has been active on some of the country’s most important landmark projects, all of which have been built to last and made to perform, including such prestigious developments in the Al Muntazah Street (Highways, Highway Structures and Construction of Four Interchanges), Lusail City (Primary Infrastructure Works & Landscaping
Works), Messaied City (EPIC for Earthworks, Filling, Roads Network &Infrastructure), Um-Alhoul-QEZ3 (D&B Earthworks and Site Grading), Education City (South Site Wide Infrastructure & Landscaping Works and North Site Utility Tunnels) and RasLaffan Industrial City (Effluent Treatment Plant, Camp Construction & Site Preparation Works at The Pearl GTL Projects).
ROOTS is proud to be a game changer and an integral part of the energy sector in Qatar. Our immense experience in Oil & Gas industry, infrastructure, MEP works and Operation & Maintenance within both the private and the public sectors, places us at the forefront of Qatar’s economic growth and evolution.
(A Subsidiary of TADMUR Holding)
Al Waab, Building D1, Salwa Road
PO Box: 22867
Doha Qatar
Phone: +974-44019666
Fax: +974-44019777
Email: info@roots-energy.com
AJP works to ensure client expectations for budget, quality, schedule and safety are exceeded in each job it undertakes.
At AJP, they believe that every accident, and as a result every injury, is preventable. The company has embedded this philosophy into every project through a combination of technical field procedures and ongoing training. This revolves around a system in which the scope of works is first defined, before analyzing the hazards and developing and implementing hazard controls. AJP then ensures that it performs all works within these controls, whilst providing continuous feedback and improvement.
AJP Health Safety, Security, Environmental and Quality Management is combined under an Integrated Manpower System (IMS) and meets the requirements of ISO
9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS
18001:2007.The IMS provides the framework to ensure that all AJP activities are identified with safety procedures to minimise the risk to workers, clients and members of the public. In addition it ensures minimal environmental impact, that all legislative and customer quality requirements are met.
AJP puts its expertise to work to create practical solutions, working together with its clients to ensure project success. This has allowed it to work on a broad portfolio of important and prestigious projects, from utilities through to roads, bridges, flyovers, underpasses and tunnels. The company sees its clients as partners, understanding that its success stems from their success and vice versa. Only with such an approach can AJP solve the complex challenges of modern
engineering projects and reach its target of customer satisfaction and, in doing so, win repeat business. Its many awards stand witness to its achievements and belief in its core values.
Listening to its clients, AJP aims to establish a trusting relationship from the first meeting, and work tirelessly to maintain that trust throughout the project. What’s more, sticking to pre-agreed schedule, the company knows that its clients rely on it not only to produce top quality work on budget, but also on time.
AJP’s combination of skills has in recent years enabled it to develop solutions that support complex projects in defined specialist sectors where clients are on the lookout for a construction partner who really understands their product and shares their aspirations. Couple this experience with resources that include an innovative
value engineering team, a well-established supply chain, health and safety standards that are envy of its competitors and an approach to cost planning that allows it to swiftly produce reliable budgets, and you will quickly come to realise that AJP is the company you need to talk to before commencing your next project.
AJP’s chief attitude to quality is to advance and integrate the process to a position that is critical to success. Each plan collaboratively defines the quality requirements and provides the necessary controls and procedures to ensure the construction activities surpass clients’ requirements. One of the things that clients really appreciate about working with AJP is how much they enjoy the day-to-day involvement of senior management on their projects, who
take a very active role in each phase of the work as it progresses. AJP’s construction management team monitors the time, cost and quality performance throughout the build program.
If a build is taking place on an operational site, AJP’s expertise in construction phasing can often avoid major service disruption. Indeed, much of AJP’s dedication to
excellence comes from its management team, which has deep passion for sustainable and environmentally ethical business and the pursuit of innovative solutions for the construction industry.
The management team at AJP has built the company on a foundation of retained
clients, focusing on the ‘basic stuff’ that makes for good business: attitude, integrity, and relationships. Through a straightforward process of listening and learning, the AJP team understands that its clients want a relationship-based solution to include high level of communication without the inefficiencies and overhead costs that are prevalent throughout the industry.
With every project it executes, AJP is changing the way people think about the industry. Quality workmanship and customer service have never been higher, with the company continually encouraged by the feedback it receives from its numerous valued clients, which today demand more in terms of capability, innovation and flexibility: AJP is delivering on all fronts.
Al Raida Engineering and Industrial Services WLL(REISCO) is an established company (since May, 2005) engaged in the marketing of specialized services related to oil and gas related products, Water Networking, Sewage, Hydro-Thermal, Sanitary, Electro- Mechanical, Electrical, Heating and Fixing system products. REISCO offers a wide range of specialized products to a portfolio of Consulting Firms, Engineers and Contractors attached to development & construction related industries in Qatar.
GULF CONTRACTING COMPANY, A SHAREHOLDING BETWEEN AL DARWISH UNITED AND UK BASED INTERSERVE PLC, HAS OPERATED SUCCESSFULLY IN THE QATAR CONSTRUCTION MARKET FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
To ensure their business is successful and sustainable in the long term, they are implementing Interserve’s ground breaking Sustainabilities Plan.
The Plan focuses on achieving five outcomes:
• Places that benefit people
• Public service in the public interest
• More skills, more opportunities
• Positive environmental impact
• Sustainable growth
The way in which it is delivered is shaped by their four values (Everyone has a voice, Do the right thing, Bring better to life and Take pride in what you do) with objectives organised and performance reported on through four capitals: social, natural, knowledge and financial. They have set ambitious targets in each of these areas, for which they have recently been recognised for their achievements in receiving a special achievement award from Qatar Green Building Council for significant contribution to advancing sustainability in Qatar.
Social Capital
Over the last year, Gulf Contracting employees have undertaken over 1,600 days of volunteering, as part of their goal to ‘Go above and beyond in communities
where they work’. Activities include working with Doha English Speaking School to create a sustainable garden and learning area from surplus construction materials.The garden area features a shaded
structure – the tree of knowledge, whilst the desert area has native plants. A water fountain is powered by rooftop solar panels and a wind turbine. To further aid learning for the children, an online weather station has also been installed.
They have also been working with Reach Out to Asia, who operate as a nongovernmental organisation within the framework of the Qatar Foundation, to support local families in need by renovating homes. In total they renovated four homes, which included civil works, window repairs, installation of doors, tiling, plumbing and installation of electrical fixtures.
Further afield, as part of the Interserve Employee Foundation, in collaboration with a local not-for-profit organisation formed by volunteer engineers and architects, they completed the reconstruction of a school in the Nuwakot district of Nepal, following the earthquake that happened in 2015. The district was selected as this was where many employees who were affected by the earthquake originated from, with over 15% of Gulf Contracting’s workforce originating from Nepal. The new school will support 200 more pupils than the previous one; benefiting over 500 students. Furniture including desks, benches and white boards were also provided for the school.
As part of Gulf Contracting’s goal to ‘Embrace and promote wellbeing’, they have opened a licenced clinic and are providing a health surveillance programme for employees. They have introduced a diabetic kitchen for those diagnosed with high blood sugar levels in addition to offering healthier meal choices. They are also providing a fully managed laundry service and recreational facilities at their employee villages.
As part of natural capital, Gulf Contracting has goals to ‘Conserve and replenish water’, ‘Halve carbon emissions’ and ‘Make waste a thing of the past. Over the last year, these are all areas in which they have continued to make significant progress against their 2013 baseline achieving:
• 34% reduction in water use
• 51% reduction in fuel and electricity use
• 50% reduction in waste generated
These reductions have come about by establishing focus groups who have developed tools to assist their business teams in implementing practical actions to make a difference. Examples include installing water saving devices, ensuring the correct sizing of generators, adopting In Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) in their vehicle fleet and
identifying opportunities for reuse of materials.
Furthermore, as part of their goal to ‘Protect the natural environment’ their joinery division has gained ‘Forest Stewardship Council’ certification and they have instigated a native plant programme. They have invested in a plant nursery and agricultural expertise to grow indigenous
species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses to be planted at sites, offices and employee villages. Indigenous species are well suited to the dry terrain and thrive in a hot, dry climate without the need for pesticides, fertilisers or ongoing irrigation. In addition to reducing maintenance and demand for resources such as water, these species support local ecosystems and
enhance biodiversity. Planting trees and flowers also has a positive impact on people by enhancing the local environment, with trees providing shade and cooling air temperatures. With over 100,000 native seeds germinated and 65,000 native trees, grasses and wild flowers planted, their customers have also recognised the benefits asking them to help ‘green’ their offices and accommodation too!
As part of Gulf Contracting’s goal to ‘Inspire future professionals’, they have implemented a successful graduate training programme and have recently recruited their second graduate intake into the company. The scheme has provided a number of benefits to the organisation including drawing fresh new talent, ideas and energy into the business, whilst proving
beneficial for the graduates – providing ‘reallife’ experience and developing other more competencies such as people management, team work and communication skills.
The business has also trained over 3,000 frontline employees through its skills and trade training centre over the last year. The centre provides classrooms and areas to practice key skills such as tiling, block-work, masonry, painting and wall finishes. There is a strong emphasis on health, safety and sustainability throughout the training including reducing waste and recycling materials. Damaged materials returned from their construction projects are used by trainees to gain valuable practice.
In order to contribute towards financial capital, and as part of their goal to ‘Buy sustainable products and services’, Gulf
Contracting is implementing a sustainable procurement strategy and have conducted at number of engagement sessions with their supply chain in this regard. These engagements have led to the use of more sustainable products such as steel with higher recycled content and paints with low emissions.
Gulf Contracting has also been identifying opportunities to use low or zero carbon technology as part of their goal to improve clients’ energy security. As a result, they have designed and installed more than 20 ambulance shelters for Hamad Medical Corporation which are solar powered, self-sufficient from the national grid and self-supported in terms of energy use.
Furthermore they have partnered with Bionest to install 46 Bionest waste water treatment plants across Qatar. This has reduced the demand for sweet water by over
2,000m3 and eliminated over 40,000 truck journeys, reducing both cost and carbon emissions over the last year. The system has a number of benefits including being easy to install, relocatable and of a modular nature. Waste water is treated on site to produce high quality water which can be used in many applications.
For Gulf Contracting, sustainability is how they do business – the way they work and what they do. They believe that the progress they are making towards delivering against their outcomes is making them a more competitive and stronger organisation which is aligned to the needs of both their customers and society. It’s helping them improve efficiency, reduce cost and underpin growth in addition to enhancing the communities in which they work. It’s good for people, planet and profit.
Established since 2003, Techtrade Doors, a company dedicated to quality, reliability, integrity and self-improvement, is the representative of several selected International and professional Special high quality Door Manufacturers. In the past years, the company has grown to being the exclusive dealer in the Middle East, Asia & Africa.
A US company specialised in aircraft hangar doors. Norco manufacturers for airline, commercial, military, corporate, architectural and industrial applications.
A US company since 1828. Cornell product categories include: rolling service doors, insulated service doors, counter doors, fire doors, insulated fire doors, counter fire doors, smoke-shield products, rolling grilles and side folding grilles & accordion fire doors.
Techtrade has also now added to its scope: • overhead sectional doors, • fire and smoke curtains, • high speed doors, • cold storage doors, • operable partitions, • bullet/blast resistant products, • loading dock equipment, • Folding doors, • Fabric doors etc…
Each door system order is spearheaded by one engineer who manages that single
project from start to finish. All engineers have the necessary training required to manage and coordinate the projects for their related suppliers. Furthermore, engineers attend an annual Periodical training to assure the engineers are up to date and capable of managing all projects.
Techtrade consists of 50 employees other than the extra hired labor required in case of need for the installation of our doors. The number of subcontracted employees varies according to Techtrade’s workload.
Since its establishment, Techtrade has built itself branches in the U.A.E, K.S.A, Qatar and Lebanon, committing itself to covering the Middle East.
Techtrade has become a known and trusted subcontractor in the Middle East for installing many types of doors, and has taken on many important projects in the commercial, industrial, and military sector.
Throughout the years Techtrade has devoted itself to providing the best services to its client. This is done through our ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System ISO 14001:2004 environmental
management system OHSAS 18001:2007 occupational health and safety management systems, and IDA International Door association certification.
The competence of our company enables us to meet all requirements as dictated by the demands of our suppliers and clients.
Techtrade Doors has proved itself as the best source specialized in ordering the widest range of high quality doors from selected professional, international companies and supplying them to the Middle East, Asia, & Africa. Techtrade Doors focuses on selected high profile projects and offers them a personalized studied service.
Paints product range:
• ConDure – Primers & Fillers
• ConTxtra – Textured Coatings
• PinTura - Emulsions
• ConGuard –Polyurethane Protective Coatings
Pre Mix Plaster product range:
• Cement Plasters
• Gypsum Lime Plasters
• Decorative Plasters
• Tile Adhesive & Grouts
• Acoustic & Insulation Plasters
• Specialized Mortars
CONMIX LTD. is a well-established company in the eld of manufacture and supply of Ready Mix Concrete, Pre Mix Plaster, Construction Chemicals, Paints and Water Treatment Solutions in the United Arab Emirates since 1975. CONMIX products form an integral part of building and civil engineering works in the UAE and abroad. Its products are currently being exported to more than 30 countries globally.
Construction Chemicals product range:
• Non-shrink Grouts
• Concrete Repair Systems
• Surface Treatments
• Bonding Agents
• Floorings & Coatings
• Sealants
• Waterproo ng & Coatings
• Tile Adhesives & Tile Grouts
• Concrete Admixtures
