SEPTEMBER 2020
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS
Discussion
PROJECT THE LATEST ON ITHRA DUBAI'S DEP PROJECT
AUTOMATING CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
TITAN Kez Taylor, CEO of ALEC
P36// CCS AND RIB SOFTWARE PARTNERSHIP CULMINATES IN RIB CCS REBRAND
CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net
// CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2020 // ISSUE #67
Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net Group Publishing Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net
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+971 50 440 2706
Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818
Deputy Editor Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net Art Director Aaron Sutton
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NEWS COVER STORY SOFTWARE PROJECTS REBRANDING LAUNCH MACHINERY REAL ESTATE
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aaron@bncpublishing.net Marketing Executive Aaron Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net
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CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 //
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// EDITOR'S NOTE
EDITOR’S NOTE MITIGATING ONGOING CHALLENGES According to Maximiliano Development Management Services, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt in major industries in the region, including the real estate market, where developers are eyeing a reduction in unit prices by as much as 25% and company mergers to minimize business risks and significantly increase the ease of doing business. As uncertainty continues, real estate developers are deploying a range of measures and policies to mitigate the ongoing challenges, succeed in strengthening their position and deepen their relationships with their employees, investors, end-users and other stakeholders. Eng. Marwa A. Murad, Managing Director of Maximiliano Development Management Services (MDMS) says: “One of the major risks facing the real estate mar-
ket is the inability of buyers to pay the instalments so strategies must be adopted such as the reduction in unit prices by 25% in the event of cash sales and small developers who may face the risk of bankruptcy might consider merging with another developer to protect its business.” Since the virus outbreak, there has been a stiff competition between real estate developers and it will intensify as the unprecedented crisis has created a supplydemand imbalance in the sector. Murad adds: “The risk facing the real estate market is the inability of customers to pay the instalments, thus causing a delay in the construction work. As a result, developers may require a shorter period for the instalments which eventually leads to an oversupply of units, thereby creating a negative business cycle.”
ON THE WEB Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com
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Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net
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اﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﻓﻲ دﻳﺮة إﻛﺘﺸــــﻒ ﻣﺘﻌﺔ اﻟﻌﻴﺶ اﻟﺠﺪﻳــــــــﺪة
إﻧﻀــﻢ اﻟـــﻰ اﻟﺤﻴـــﺎة ﻓـــﻲ دﻳــﺮة، ﻗﻠﺐ دﺑــﻲ اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
DEIRA LIVES EXPERIENCE THE URBAN REJUVENATION JOIN THE DEIRA COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF THE DUBAI TRADING HUB
ﻟﻺﺳﺘﻔﺴــﺎر
FOR ENQUIRIES
ﻣﺎرﻛﺔ اﻟﻮاﺟﻬﺔ اﻟﺒﺤﺮﻳﺔ WATERFRONT MARKET
ﺑﻮر راﺷﺪ
CO
ﻣﺸﺮوع إﺛﺮاء دﻳﺮة
اﻟﻤﺮﺣﻠﺔ اﻻوﻟﻰ
DEIRA ENRICHMENT PROJECT
PHASE ONE
HE
IC
RN
PORT RASHID
IRA DE
T AT CY HY EN G RE ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻟﻠﺤﺎﻓﻼت BUS STATION
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو ﺑﺎﻟﻢ دﻳﺮة
PALM DEIRA METRO STATION
ﺳﻮق دﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﺬﻫﺐ
DUBAI GOLD SOUK DUBAI AIRPORT
ﻣﻮﻗﻒ ﺣﺎﻓﻼت اﻟﺼﺨﺒﺔ
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو اﻟﺮاس
AL RAS METRO STATION
AL SABKHA BUS STATION
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﺳﻮق اﻟﺬﻫﺐ اﻟﻘﺪﻳﻢ
DEIRA OLD SOUK STATION
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو اﻟﻐﺒﻴﺒﺔ
اﻟﺼﺨﺒﺔ
AL GUBAIBA METRO STATION
AL SABKHA
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﺑﻨﻴﺎس ﻟﻠﻨﻘﻞ اﻟﺒﺤﺮي BANIYAS MARINE TRANSPORT
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻣﺘﺮو اﻟﻔﻬﻴﺪي DU
BA
IA
IR
PO
EK
RE
IC
BA
DU
AL FAHIDI METRO STATION
RT
.اﺣﺠــﺰ ﻣﻜﺘﺒــﻚ أو وﺣﺪﺗـﻚ اﻟﺘﺠﺎرﻳـــﺔ اﻟﻴـــﻮم ﻓـــــﻲ ﻗﻠـﺐ دﻳﺮة اﻟﻨﺎﺑـﺾ .ﻣﺴﺎﺣــﺎت ﻣﺘﻌﺪدة ﻣﺘﻮﻓـﺮة ﺑﺸﺮوط ﻣﻴﺴـــﺮة RESERVE YOUR OFFICE OR RETAIL UNIT TODAY IN THE HEART OF DEIRA. MANY SIZES AVAILABLE AT GOOD TERMS. 04 605 3000 اﺗﺼﻞ ﺑﻨﺎ اﻟﻴﻮم ﻗﺒﻞ ﻧﻔﺎذ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﺣﺎت اﻟﻤﻄﺮوﺣﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﺄﺟﻴﺮ ﻋﲆ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ
أو ﺗﻔﻀﻞ ﺑﺰﻳﺎرة ﻣﻮﻗﻌﻨﺎ اﻹﻟﻜﺘﺮوﻧﻲ ﻟﺘﺴﺠﻴﻞ اﻫﺘﻤﺎﻣﻚ
CALL US ON 04 605 3000 BEFORE LEASING SPACES RUN OUT OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
www.deiraenrichmentproject.com leasing@ithradubai.com KEY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
ﻣﻌﺎﻟﻢ اﻟﻤﺸﺮوع اﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴ ّﻴﺔ
POPULATION 30,000+
40 + RESTAURANTS
OFFICES GFA 721,182 FT2
2 METRO STATIONS
8,000+ PARKING SPACES
30,000+ ﺗﻌﺪاد اﻟﺴﻜﺎن
ﻣﻄﻌـــﻢ٤٠ +
إﺟﻤﺎﻟﻲ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺔ اﻟﻤﻜﺎﺗﺐ ٢ ﻗﺪم٧٢١،١٨٢
ﻣﺤﻄﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺘـــﺮو٢
ﻣﻮ ﻗﻒ ﻟﻠﺴﻴﺎرات٨,٠٠٠ +
RETAIL GFA 834,203 FT2
700+ SHOPS
ﻣﺘﺠﺮ٧٠٠ +
NEW EXTENSION TO THE GOLD SOUK
1,450 HOTEL ROOMS, 8 PROPERTIES
VERTICAL STORAGE
إﺟﻤﺎﻟﻲ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺔ ﻣﺘﺎﺟﺮ اﻟﺒﻴﻊ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﺠﺰﺋﺔ ٢ ﻗﺪم٨٣٤،٢٠٣
إ ﻣﺘﺪاد ﺟـﺪﻳﺪ ﻟﺴﻮق اﻟﺬﻫﺐ
ﻣﺒﺎﻧﻲ٨ ﻏﺮﻓﺔ ﻓﻨﺪﻗﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ١،٤٥٠
ﻣﺨـــﺎزن ﻋﻤﻮدﻳﺔ
.إن اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣــــﺎت واﻟﻤـــﻮاد اﻟــــﻮاردة ﻫﻨﺎ ﺑﻤــــﺎ ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ اﻟﻨﺼــــﻮص أو اﻟﺮﺳﻮﻣــــــﺎت أو ﻏﻴﺮﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻨﺎﺻـــــﺮ " أﻋــــــﻼه" ﺧﺎﺿﻌـــــﺔ ﻟﻠﺘﻐﻴﻴـــــﺮ The information and materials contained herein including text, graphics or other items are provided “as is” and subject to change.
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// UPDATE AN UPDATE FROM AROUND THE REGION
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CONTRACTS
BAHRAIN AWARDS US$1.7bn CONTRACTS IN H1 2020
Bahrain awarded 769 tenders in the first half of 2020 worth a total of US $1.7 billion according to new data released by Bahrain’s Tender Board – the country’s government procurement regulator. The construction and engineering sector took the lion’s share of contracts in the first six months of the year, with awarded tenders totalling some US $588.3 million, emphasising the Bahrain Government’s continued commitment to its extensive pipeline of infrastructure projects. The construction and engineering sector was followed 14
by the oil and gas sector; the materials and equipment sector; and then the services sector, which saw a total of US $416.3 million, US $292.6 million and US $202.4 million of awarded tenders respectively. The aviation sector brought up the rear, with awards worth US $172.2 million in the same period. Commenting on the new data, the Chairman of Tender Board, Shaikh Nayef bin Khalid Al Khalifa said: “Bahrain awarded a total of 47 public tenders worth a combined US$ 21.8 million to Small and Medium Enterprises SMEs as per the Cabinet decision to assign some
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public spending to the SME sector.” In terms of tenders value, Tatweer Petroleum topped the list for the awarded tenders, worth a total of US $396.5 million followed by the Electricity and Water Authority with awarded bids worth some US $305.3 million and subsequently the Ministry of Housing awarded tenders worth US $238.6 million in the first six months of the year. The Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning followed by Gulf Air awarded tenders standing at US $165.2 million and US $156.4 million respectively.
The total value of awarded tenders for other public entities stood at around US $410 million. Some of the key service projects that were settled by the Board and have a direct impact on the livelihoods of citizens and residents include wrapping up several tenders to carry out construction and maintenance works at residential units under the Ministry of Housing, worth a combined US $238 million, as well as some US $297 million worth of awarded bids in the fields of sewage works, infrastructure and electricity and water services.
REAL ESTATE
SULTAN BIN ALI AL OWAIS REAL ESTATE INTRODUCES THE ‘SMART-MOVE’ PLAN FOR NEW TENANTS
Recent reports indicated a visible increase in relocation amongst tenants across the UAE. The movement includes families moving to larger units and even cross emirate movement due to reduced rents. However, even with lower rents, moving houses can be an expensive proposition if you add on costs like commissions, deposits and advance rentals. To ease the process and Move-In overheads, Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate has introduced a 90 day campaign dubbed ‘Smart – Move’ for new tenants across its 3000+ properties across UAE. The campaign offers flexible rent payment WWW.CBNME.COM
plans, Zero Percent Commission and tenants can move in before the payment of any security deposit. The Company specifically develops properties for rent, and owns and manages a portfolio of over 3000 properties across the UAE is known for its emphasis on its long-term rental ethos and retention of residential tenants exceeding 20 years. “Moving houses can be a daunting task, even if we leave out the financial outlay involved, which can be filled with unaccounted for charges like commissions and deposits. While the wellbeing of an entire sec-
tor is dependent on some of these fees, organizations need to assume a responsible stance during such challenging times. Smart-Move is our small contribution to ensure the industry’s buoyancy and support individual circumstances,” said Haleema Al Owais, CEO, Sultan Bin Ali al Owais Real Estate During the course of this year and the limitations that the pandemic has brought about, homes have turned into a place to also work from, study and relax in. Tenants are now seeking homes that are suitable for all purposes and everyone occupying it. The weeks
during the lockdown saw a visible increase in searches for more accessible locations, large apartments with balconies and villas and townhouses with outside space such as gardens and balconies and pools. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate was established in 1972 and has grown to become a prominent real estate company since. The company operates as a holistic conglomerate with all functions of rental real estate like Facilities Management and Security under its own umbrella through its offices in Dubai and Sharjah.
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// NEWS
CONTRACTS
MODON SIGNS LONG-TERM LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LULU GROUP INTERNATIONAL FOR COURTYARD MALL
Modon Properties, mandated by the Government of Abu Dhabi to develop integrated tourism destinations and sustainable residential communities, has signed a longterm lease agreement with LuLu Group International for the operation of retail outlets at the Courtyard Mall complex in Riyadh City. The agreement is the result of Modon’s ongoing cooperation with leading retailers as a part of its efforts to meet the needs of residents of Riyadh City and ensure the steady progress and on-schedule delivery of the Courtyard Mall. The 25-year lease covers the rental of an area of 3,661 16
square metres within Riyadh City’s Courtyard Mall commercial complex for the operation of the LuLu Hypermarket chain of stores. The development of the commercial complex in Riyadh City is in line with Modon’s objectives and the Abu Dhabi Government’s strategy of building vibrant residential communities that incorporate the highest standards of sustainability and cater to the needs of citizens and residents by offering an integrated range of community facilities. The commercial complex extends over an area of 8,683 square metres at lot 23 within the North of Riyadh
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City. Upon its completion, the project is slated to include seven restaurants, 13 shops, and a supermarket. The assortment of outlets is designed to meet the needs of residents when it comes to shopping for groceries and household items, further enhancing the integrated nature of the community. Mr. Saifee Rupawala, Chief Executive Officer of LuLu Group, said: “We are proud to launch our first ever fullfledged hypermarket in Riyadh City. It has always been our goal to make the highest quality products both affordable and accessible to shoppers in metropolitan areas as well as in residential com-
munities, so no one needs to drive a long distance. Following the express store that we opened last year, we are delighted to make this new shop possible in partnership with Modon, in order to fulfil the growing demand for lifestyle essentials within the vicinity.” Upon completion, the entire Riyadh City project will include 28,574 residential plots, 26,696 villas, 2,693 townhouses, four universities, 33 schools, 27 nurseries, one hospital, 33 medical clinics, 182 mosques, eight civil defence centres, 18 fuel stations, 16 government facilities, 60 social service centres and 213 commercial plots.
INVESTMENTS
AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS WORTH OVER AED 3.5bn
Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, announces its plans to invest over AED 3.5bn in the next 2-3 years to develop 14 and 22 buildings in Riviera Phase 3 and 4 respectively, its three Avenue buildings in MBR City, two projects in Dubai Healthcare City, and four projects in Al Furjan. This announcement comes in light of it having sold over 80 per cent of its current ongoing projects and inventory, and demand projected to surge, especially in MBR City, DHCC and Al Furjan – the three most sought-after residential destinations in all of the UAE. WWW.CBNME.COM
The construction of the Al Furjan and Dubai Healthcare City projects, which will feature around 645 and 973 units respectively, Riviera’s Phase 3, comprising approximately 3,700 units, Phase 4, with around 5,400 units, and the 423 Avenue units, will commence between August and December of this year. CEO of Azizi Developments, Farhad Azizi, made the announcement with the following remarks: “Our launches are based on demand, which has been exceptional in MBR City, Dubai Healthcare City and
Al Furjan. Our current stock across these up-and-coming locations is nearly sold out, which is why we are now planning further developments accordingly. The new communities will be unique in the lifestyles they grant residents – they are a new type of product, and we will be reaching out to new markets with them.” “The AED 3.5bn will be spread out across several years, with more than 11,000 homes being developed. We are confident that this investment in Dubai, the most promising, forward-thinking
and growth-inclined city in the world, is well placed, and look forward to further catalysing the emirate’s vision and development”, he added. For the construction of the 45 buildings, Azizi will minimise vertical supplier structures by sourcing materials, such as concrete, steel and aluminium, locally. It will also continue to build its engineering team and construction methods, making the developer less contractor-dependent and taking efficiency and reliability to new heights.
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CONTRACTS
TOTAL COMPLETES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLAR-POWERED ROOFTOP OF ITS LUBRICANTS BLENDING FACILITY
Total has completed the installation of a solar-powered rooftop at its Dubai Lubricants Blending Unit. The project has been managed by Total Solar Distributed Generation Middle East, its affiliate dedicated to the development of distributed solar energy solutions in the region. The 500 kilowatt-peak solar-powered rooftop installed at the blending unit covers an area of over 2,500m2, equivalent to 13 18
tennis courts. The solar power generated by the rooftop will be able to cover nearly 35% of the facility’s energy needs. As a result, the solar-powered rooftop will offset CO2 emissions by estimated 7,000 tons* over the expected life-span of the installation. An extension of the project is currently under consideration, with a target to cover approximately 70% of the facility’s energy needs. “Total shares the ambi-
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tion, together with society, to become carbon neutral by 2050, for all of its activities, from its production to the use of the energy products sold to its customers,” highlighted Karine Singh, Managing Director for Total Marketing Middle East. “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our blending plant, we are delighted with the completion of this solar rooftop, an illustration of our commitment to re-
duce the carbon footprint of our own operations here in Dubai.” This project is part of Total’s solarization project, which includes the installation of solar panels at its offices, blending units and around 5,000 of its service stations in more than 50 countries around the world, contributing to Total’s target of 25 GW of renewable generation installed capacity by 2025.
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// NEWS
PROJECTS
ARADA AWARDS AED 423mn CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO BUILD EAST VILLAGE, THE SECOND PHASE OF ALJADA PROJECT
Arada has awarded a major contract to build East Village, the second phase of Sharjah’s AED24 billion mixed-use district, Aljada. Located in the heart of Aljada, the East Village community is targeted at the younger generation and comprises a series of apartment blocks that are characterised by fresh and bold designs. Featuring just under 2,000 units in total, East Village is now 95% sold out. 20
Valued at AED423 million, the full contract to build East Village was won by Best Building Contracting Company (BLDG CO – BEST – LLC) and involves the construction of 16 apartment blocks, set within a landscaped master plan. Work on East Village will begin immediately and the first homes are scheduled for completion in December 2021.
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Founded in 1975, Best Building Contracting Company is one of the UAE’s most established and reputable contractors. Among its major completed projects are the two Al Zahra Hospitals (in Sharjah and Dubai) and many of the high-rise towers that constitute the Sharjah skyline, including Al Hind Tower, Crystal Building, Sara Tower and Al Qassimi Building.
The East Village contract award comes during an extremely busy period of Arada. In July, the developer announced that its first-half sales had increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2019, citing significant investor uptake from UAE nationals as well as ramped-up interest following the successful opening of Madar at Aljada.
A Smart Move For New Possibilities New Quester’s flexibility makes it suitable across a variety of applications and segments such as general cargo, long haul and construction. And now, ESCOTs’ added power and performance in New Quester means assignments can be carried out with increased fuel and driver efficiency. Optimized specifications such as reduced tare weight allow you to carry more. And with the introduction of smart new connected features such as telematics, you can stay on top of your tough daily schedule. A smart move for your business
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CONSTRUCTION TITAN Kez Taylor, CEO of ALEC
All business leaders have diverse experiences and perspectives on the approach and qualities necessary for effective leadership. And not all situations require the same type of leadership style. Great leaders adapt to their surrounding environments and empower the team to succeed together. For the past two decades, Kez Taylor, CEO at ALEC, has led the charge in taking the organisation to new heights with his forward-thinking approach. ALEC has consistently evolved and grown over the last 20 years to become a trusted partner to execute complex and iconic construction projects. The company builds and provides construction solutions to exceed our clients' expectations for quality, safety, functionality, and aesthetics. The exponential growth is due to Kez's forward-thinking approach in how the organisation should be run, from employee management, adapting to new technology, and encouraging the use of innovative strategies in projects. EMPLOYEE GROWTH Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their workforce without WWW.CBNME.COM
micromanaging — they trust there trained employees to take authority over decisions in their assigned jobs. It's a management style that's designed to give employees more room to be creative, look to the future, and find new solutions to old problems. Employees on the leadership track will also be prepared to become transformational leaders themselves through mentorship and training. Let's take a closer look at two key initiatives that were introduced to help grow leadership qualities within ALEC: PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY ALEC's manager and supervisors will be attending a four-course program at their Performance Leadership Academy to enhance their leadership level amongst their team. The academy will focus on providing all managers and supervisors the tools and techniques to become a more well-rounded leader. The objective is for the participants to communicate more effectively with their team, provide feedback to develop their skillset, and conduct a proper performance review.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ALEC introduced the Axonify platform into its learning management system. This was to help ensure that employees are given the opportunity to continue their growth, development, and skill set. After the employees have finished their training, they will be asked daily, simple questions regarding the training content. This will help reinforce the learnings, but also help participants to embrace a constant desire to improve. Furthermore, employees will have the opportunity to earn points for participating in these daily quizzes for prizes such as coffee certificates, additional time off, additional training and much more. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION To succeed in the digital age, businesses must embrace technology and develop "digital leaders" to increase organizational agility, collaboration, and transparency. The construction industry is one of the oldest and largest in the world and is now standing on the brink of a technological sea change. Kez was quick to recognise this and push ALEC towards a new era of digital transformation.
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// COVER STORY
ALEC has driven a number of initiatives to fulfill Kez's vision for ALEC to be the leading innovative construction group in the region. Kez explains: "In addition to having an innovation department, which capably drives and assists with over 100 innovative initiatives per year, we have numerous developments occurring in our digital transformation space. We are digitising our core at ALEC through our HIVE initiative which aims to connect over 53 applications, 219 core processes, scores of departments/business units/sites and our staff." This will enable ALEC to drive realtime business operations, providing maximum value to its customers. 24
The company has also fully migrated all their services to the Cloud in 2019, and have established a second cloud tenancy for redundancy, business continuity and maximisation of services from ALEC's technology partners. "The cloud migration, business continuity plan, and the high levels of digital workplace tools adoption like Microsoft Teams and OneDrive preCOVID-19, provided us with a strong foundation to seamlessly transition to remote working. Our teams are utilising our growing BIM environments to collaborate and speed up the quality and delivery outputs – these run through our estimation and commercial teams before moving to procure-
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ment, engineering and finally our operations teams on site," said Kez. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY From a technological standpoint, many construction technologies are in their infancy and have rapid development cycles that make adoption on live projects challenging. Mature technologies from other industries are inflexible enough for construction projects, and adapting them to our changing environment is equally challenging. ALEC's proactive steps, though, have made technology and innovation a priority. Recently, ALEC signed a deal with CMiC, the innovation leader in ERP and field operations software for the
construction industry in North America, to use its platform and software to run financials and field operations. CMiC's Single Database Platform™ architecture, which delivers a single version of the truth to users across all functional areas, was the key advantage over alternative ERP software vendors. As the only ERP solution built specifically for construction, CMiC includes functionality designed to support international best practices and collaboration. Furthermore, ALEC has been utilizing data, analysis, and calculations as a basis for making decisions. By analyzing their operations and concentrating on low productive areas, they have seen improvement ranging from 10 % WWW.CBNME.COM
to 400 % due to some of the initiatives. Data collection & utilization is vital in modern construction. Kez points out, "ALEC has been a leader in the UAE construction industry mainly due to the different mindset and willingness to always revamp and improve processes and procedures. Our people thrive for continuous improvement, learning & development, thus every new project applies learnings from the previous ones which increased our market competitiveness. ALEC is the middle of executing its digital transformation across many elements including implementation of a new ERP, increase of BIM utilization in addition to using software and digital
solutions across different processes to become information enabled leading to a data driven decision making." ALEC's innovative use of BIM on a large scale has introduced new processes and ways to design a project. BIM has been revolutionary in the construction industry. Through the production and development of digital models representing the various elements of a project, designers, contractors, and owners are afforded greater flexibility and control over all phases of a project from design and construction through to operation. If implemented correctly, BIM will bring with it the benefits of improved efficiencies and reduced costs. BIM also plays its part in a more comprehensive "internet of things" in construction projects, which will see the generation and exchange of data amongst users and electronic devices. In turn, this will lead to the use of "big data" and analytics to improve efficiencies, flexibility, and cost control. Again, this will not be limited to the design and construction phases but beyond the projects' operational phase. Kez said: "Architecture and design are iterative processes that have traditionally been manually intensive. Now, architects, structural engineers, and builders all need to view different pieces of information and use unusual design templates. Different models must then be made to show clients. When any changes are made, care needs to be taken that all documentation is updated. A BIM database improves collaboration, it also provides a store of architectural and design data that can be used for 3D modeling and software simulations." ALEC's vision towards the future has seen them introduce smart and green power solutions to address new market trends by utilizing their subsidiary divisions such as ALEC Energy, which is a provider of financially sound green energy solutions, in addition to
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// COVER STORY
ALEC Modular which is intended to supply fully integrated modular units to ensure that they are ready for the future of construction. Due to that, the number of innovation initiatives being implemented is on the rise year-on-year. ALEC continues to collaborate with external stakeholders, including the micro-environment suppliers and business partners, and they have contributed positively to their innovation initiatives. Furthermore, ALEC is now considering 3D Printing for specific business elements and introducing automation and robotics for certain projects. ONE STEP AHEAD 2020 will forever go down as the year of COVID-19. The pandemic has made a systematic shift in how the world operates. The pandemic has been impacting construction and engineering projects worldwide in numerous ways, and many projects have been stopped or delayed as a result. 26
However, ALEC has seen a different result thanks to their digital transformation, which began well before the COVID-19 crisis. There seems to be a clear correlation with companies that have a robust digital infrastructure being able to navigate through this. During 2019, ALEC implemented numerous/several digital initiatives to become more efficient, sustainable, and transform the construction industry. These implementations provide maximum safety for employees and ensure productivity and enhanced collaboration during the pandemic. Of course, the key component in ensuring that ALEC was prepared was Kez and other senior management leaders' involvement. "ALEC reacted to the crisis very early and put great effort into drawing up 'what-if' scenarios with detailed strategies behind each. We moved directly to an online digitized tracking and management platform that allowed us to keep control of all cases and their contacts ensuring we were able to look after our
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people as well as communicate in real time. A dedicated, senior level crisis team met daily discussing the changes in the situation and adapted our strategies on the spot," said Kez. The leadership team was involved in the daily crisis team meetings. Their guidance and support were instrumental in enabling the crisis management team to remain effective and assist people working on construction sites. This allowed for construction sites to remain open and continued to deliver despite the difficulties they faced. ALEC appointed a dedicated team to deal with this crisis in charge of every aspect of the business and try to navigate all the processes and protocols to align with the local authorities and worldwide recommendations. Putting aside the pandemic, there is no doubt that ALEC has so much more to showcase, and with Kez at the helm, the company continues to earn well-deserved accolades in the construction industry.
AUGMENT YOUR REALITY With the Augmented Reality feature available in Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for excavators, operators can view 3D models in a real-world environment at a true-life scale, in the context of existing surroundings. Augmented Reality simplifies complex concepts by allowing users to work faster and safer using a blend of digital content and real-world environments.
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// SOFTWARE
AUTOMATING CONSTRUCTION Construction Business News ME caught up with Trimble and AVEVA to discuss how will automation, technology, digital twin technology, and software solutions are changing how construction sites operate in the aftermath of COVID-19
SCOTT CROZIER General Manager of the Civil Construction Field Systems Division at Trimble AUTOMATION RESHAPING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY “Automation is reshaping the construction industry in many ways, including through improved safety, increased efficiency, and easing the challenges caused by a global workforce shortage. Grade control solutions have reduced or eliminated the need for a survey crew to work alongside machinery to verify progress, which is one sure way to improve jobsite safety. Equipment collision avoidance technology is another step along the autonomous road that will become standard on machines, much like backup cameras on passenger cars. With radar and cameras, heavy equipment will be fitted with technology that can stop a machine before it hits 28
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powerlines or runs into something out of the ordinary on the jobsite. Further, automation capabilities in the construction space have largely focused on blade and steering control, which incorporate sense-and-avoid detection sensors, as well as geofencing capabilities to confine movement to a defined area, along with other safety features and tele-operated observer controls. Semi-automatic excavators have been out for some time, as have dozers, motor graders and paving machines, all of which are already helping to vastly improve jobsite productivity. In today’s market, a contractor of any size can gain almost immediate value in productivity with machine control technology, while
continuity through Covid-19 - and through any unexpected disruptions to business. New hardware and software solutions like Trimble WorksManager are making it easier to enable connected workflows and manage projects remotely, with capabilities that include the wireless transfer of 3D designs and dashboards that show real-time job progress. Technology advances such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality are helping drive efficiencies through remote training, collaboration, jobsite management, and quality control and assurance, which are all valuable when it’s important to keep the number of people on a jobsite to a minimum. Augmented and mixed reality technologies can help workers visualize a job site remotely and collaborate between the office and the field, improve issue resolution and drive productivity. With this year’s release of Trimble Earthworks 2.0, AR is available in the cab of the excavator, which helps operators more easily understand 3D models, cut/fill information, slope data and other bench points and reference points.”
setting themselves up to take advantage of future autonomous capabilities. Some contractors are already realizing double digit improvements in productivity after implementing machine control technology. All of this helps ease the challenges of the workforce shortage by making construction jobs more appealing to a broader and younger audience, and by enabling current machine operators – both new and experienced – to work more efficiently and with greater precision. Machine control systems like Trimble Earthworks quickly help make inexperienced drivers good and experienced drivers great. Automating construction equipment and increasing the use of robots on job sites helps improve the WWW.CBNME.COM
health and safety of workers by literally keeping them out of harm’s way. Machine control technology reduces the need for people working on the ground near heavy equipment, and robots and drones can both gather information from tight and perilous spots that would be risky or hard to reach by workers. The use of automated equipment and robots can also help alleviate concerns around the spread of germs by helping reduce the number of people required on a jobsite.” TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE IN COMBATTING ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19 “Technology can help contractors remain resilient and ensure business
EMBRACING DISRUPTION “Often, forced disruptions open the door to new opportunities, and we believe this will be the case with the construction industry. We are seeing customers, dealers, partners, our own product development teams and the entire industry find innovative solutions to what are all of the sudden everyday problems as the result of COVID-19. The pandemic environment has also helped increase the adoption of digital processes in the construction workflow. Even when the day-to-day impacts of the pandemic are behind us, the solutions that have helped people work more efficiently even while they are physically apart from each other will help drive increased productivity and profitability for contractors.”
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// SOFTWARE
ANDREW MCCLOSKEY AVEVA’s CTO and EVP R&D
HOW THE DIGITAL TWIN IS REIMAGING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Worldwide, construction is already one of the largest industry sectors. According to PwC, Global Construction 2030 forecast, the volume of construction output will grow by 85% to $15.5 trillion worldwide by 2030, with three countries, China, US and India, leading the way and accounting for 57% of all global growth . However, the sector is still dealing with four on-going challenges: (1) poor productivity and profitability; (2) project performance – primarily timing and budget issues, (3) skilled labor shortages; and (4) sustainability concerns. An answer? Digital Twin technology. Digital Twins provide the ability to create a virtual replica of potential and actual physical assets, processes, people, places, systems and devices that can be used for various purposes. 30
Companies use Digital Twins for many reasons including testing new assets or procedures before launching them in the real world where it becomes more expensive and complicated to fix any issues, the improvement of ongoing operations or training employees. In practical terms, this type of technology can help improve the safety on an oil rig, improve the efficiency of a production plant, or ensuring buildings meet sustainability, efficiency or regulatory requirements. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, a Digital Twin can help predict potential failures before they happen and suggest ways to prevent those failures. AUGMENTED OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE When assets are deployed or construction is commissioned, a Digital
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Twin can be continually updated with ongoing operational and process data such as maintenance and performance records, and) Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensor information. During the operational stages, variations from optimal process and asset design are captured during run-time, and the Digital Twin is automatically updated with this information. Knowing the current state of an asset, the digital model can use predictive learning technology to proactively identify potential asset failures before they occur and even suggest ways to prevent those failures. In other words, the Digital Twin can predict when its physical counterpart will break, well before that happens. The Digital Twin can also utilise artificial intelligence with advanced process control, control strategy design and process optimization. These tools
incorporate necessary variations from process and asset design into the engineering asset or plant data, enabling a complete and efficient digital value loop and unified lifecycle management. As organisations scale-up to a Digital Twin of the enterprise operating model, inefficiencies and opportunities in their ongoing operations can be identified and executed upon in real-time. DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE DIGITAL TWIN STRATEGY Digital Transformation merges the latest innovative tools and processes with organizational in-house domain expertise. This enables not only the contextualization of new and existing data but also delivers actionable insights and information. Enterprises can then execute upon these new insights and close the loop towards continuous process improvement. For this to occur, every Digital TransforWWW.CBNME.COM
mation journey needs to begin with the critical understanding that information and data have become a priceless and strategic asset to the enterprise. To establish an effective Digital Twin strategy, each asset requires a different set of asset data services, together with engineering master data, effective visualization tools, plus collaboration and workflow procedures: 1. Create a Digital Twin model that uses accurate data feeds to help understand product or operations performance and adjust critical control points to deliver short- and long-term value. 2. Identify where Digital Twin simulations and predictive maintenance can deliver the best value, for example, improvements in operations or processes, reduction in costs or risks. 3. Build a Digital Twin architec-
tural roadmap that enables program and project planning for digital transformation. 4. Data insight is king. Use a Digital Twin for deployments or projects as this will expose how the organization or project connects with its current state and how it is likely to respond to internal or external changes. A Digital Twin incorporates data from these diverse data points, and creates a myriad of potential benefits, including the ability to test changes to processes before they are implemented, making better and accurate decisions based on data. Construction companies that succeed in realizing the potential savings from effective intelligent master data management will reap the transformative benefits of Digital Twin technology and have a lot to gain through unlocking the boundaries of creativity without the burden of risk.
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// PROJECT
ITHRA DUBAI ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF PLOT 3 OF THE DEIRA ENRICHMENT PROJECT (DEP) Ithra Dubai, wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, announces the launch of Plot 3 of Phase 1 of the Deira Enrichment Project (DEP.) Known as “Sherina Plaza,” Plot 3 has entered the close-out and handover phase, leading the way before Plots 1, 2, 11 and 12 soon to be completed within Phase 1 of DEP 32
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The announcement was made during a media tour of Plot 3 organized by Ithra Dubai and attended by the developer’s principals Mr. Issam Galadari, Director and CEO and Mr. Raad Jarrah, Chief Development Officer, as well as engineers and architects who helped bring this project to life. Plot 3 is the first installment of DEP to be launched within the massive mixed-use development meant to rejuvenate and revitalize Dubai’s heart of commerce and oldest community. It features 350 residential 1,2 and 3 bedroom units, ranging from 861 to 2,045 square feet, a four-star hotel with 290 rooms operated by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, 45 restaurants and retail units, and 721,182 square feet of office space. “We are happy to announce the launch of Plot 3 of the Deira Enrichment Project. We are driven by one objective and that is to enrich cities and add value to their citizens, whether by elevating lifestyles or offering integrated solutions that balance work, living and leisure,” said Issam Galadari in marking this occasion. He continued "We are committed to delivering the project in a timely manner without compromising on the highest in quality standards. Inspired by the Dubai vision, DEP will reaffirm Deira’s historic standing as Dubai’s original trading hub and will play a vital role in the future development of the city.” Commenting on this new achievement, Raad Jarrah said “DEP broke ground in 2017 and is today launching the first of its mixed-used plots. From deference to heritage with a modern application in design and architecture, to incorporated green spaces and a concern for sustainability, DEP accounts for every aspect of Ithra Dubai’s vision.” He added: "The development will ease navigation in and around Deira thanks to multi-storey car parks and an integrated transportation hub under construction in Plot 4. All of Dubai Transport Authority services such as a WWW.CBNME.COM
Issam Galadari, Director and CEO, at Ithra Dubai
metro, buses and taxis will be available, facilitating access to public transportation and minimizing dependence on private cars.” Commenting on the buildings ready to be delivered: " DEP was at all times meant to be the place where people want to spend their time, whether to live, work or play. Plot 3 for instance consists of two residential buildings, a hotel and an office building with panoramic views of the waterfront, as well as small parks with nearby children play areas. Residents will enjoy a number of facilities such as rooftop pools, gyms, a plaza, prayer rooms and public baths. Sherina Plaza is ready to receive its new residents and welcome future tenants.” Next to Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the proj-
ect, DEP features the Waterfront Market and the Gold Souk Extension scheduled to open for the public beginning of next year. Phase 1 includes 50 mixeduse buildings, 2,200 residential units, 416 commercial units, 843 retail units, restaurants and cafes, as well as eight hotels with more than 1,450 rooms and serviced apartments, multiple leisure facilities, a park overlooking the waterfront, green landscapes and multi-storey parking space. Ithra Dubai will next be launching Plots 1, 2, 11 and 13, equally consisting of mixed-use facilities and boasting of lush green areas and ample parking spaces. Plots 11 and 13 are dedicated to the Gold Souk Extension and designed to suit the unique needs of gold traders and precious stone merchants.
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// PROJECT
REACHING THE SKIES The First Group reaches major construction milestone for Ciel, the world’s tallest hotel
Integrated global property developer The First Group is making rapid progress in the development of Ciel – its largest and most ambitious project to date – with the high-profile Dubai Marina property’s foundations nearing completion. The Dubai-headquartered firm, which ranks among the city’s fastest-growing developers of upper midscale hotels, is building the future icon with development partner China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC). More than 11,800 cubic metres of concrete and in excess of 3,000 tonnes of steel are being used to construct 34
the building’s foundations, highlighting the sheer scale of the project. The largest concrete pour, completed this week, comprised 7,000 cubic metres of concrete over a continuous 48-hour period. A final pour consisting of 1,000 cubic metres of concrete is scheduled for 3 September. “We are proud to mark this important milestone in the development of Ciel, which is set to become one of Dubai’s most iconic buildings and a landmark hotel of global significance,” said Rob Burns, CEO of The First Group. “Ciel is The First Group’s 18th project in Dubai and our largest and most
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complex undertaking to date. This spectacular tower will truly be a jewel in the crown of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Ideally located in Dubai Marina, Ciel guests will enjoy worldclass hospitality, F&B and entertainment facilities.” Recognised as the world’s second largest construction and engineering company by revenue, CRCC is the main contractor overseeing the prestigious project, bringing its globally renowned expertise in mega developments to building what will become the tallest hotel on the planet. “Having worked with The First
Group constructing major hotel projects in Dubai for more than a decade, we are proud to partner with the firm in the development of Ciel, the world’s tallest hotel,” commented Gao Jinping, General Manager of China Railway 18th Bureau Group. “I am confident our partnership will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.” Designed by award-winning architectural firm NORR, the 365-metre tall skyscraper will house 1,042 guestrooms including 150 suites, premium guest amenities and facilities, such as the Ciel Observatory & Lounge on the 81st floor and a signature rooftop Sky Terrace featuring a stunning infinity pool, bar and observation deck affording sweeping panoramic views of Dubai’s worldfamous skyline, the Palm Jumeirah and Arabian Gulf. Abstractly sculpted in metal and glass, the building’s gently curving exterior represents an inspired response to high-rise living. In a city known for its architectural feats, Ciel will be a unique addition to the Dubai skyline – a triumph for design that elegantly combines scientific analysis, sculptural form and landscaped terraces. “Ciel will set a new benchmark for innovative design in super-tall buildings, not just in Dubai, but globally,” commented Yahya Jan, President & Design Director for NORR. “This landmark project will become an exciting addition to the famous Dubai Marina skyline.” Standout design features include a 300-metre tall atrium with vertically stacked landscaped and naturally ventilated terraces spanning the building’s 82 floors, which will provide occupants with shared communal and interactive space. Ciel’s interior design is inspired by the concept of Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese tradition with a key focus on understated elegance and rustic, warm aesthetics. A signature specialty restaurant befitWWW.CBNME.COM
ting Ciel’s luxury status will spearhead the hotel’s F&B options, which will also include an all-day dining venue, Sunset Lounge (75th floor) and Horizon Bar (77th floor). A luxury spa and health club will be located on the building’s 55th floor, offering a remarkable location for guests to unwind, relax or workout while soaking in the incredible ocean-front views. Confirming its global significance, Ciel has already earned a number of prestigious industry accolades including 2019 International Property Awards (IPAs) for Best International Hotel Architecture, Best Hotel Architecture Arabia and Best Residential High-rise Architecture Arabia. Ciel has also received the top prize
in four major categories at the 201920 Dubai, Africa & Arabia Property Awards: Hotel Architecture; New Hotel Construction and Design; Commercial High-rise Development; and Residential High-rise Architecture. Ciel is the flagship development of The First Group’s fast-growing portfolio of hotels situated in prime locations across Dubai, which includes awardwinning Wyndham Dubai Marina, Millennium Place Marina and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai. Landmark hotel projects are also under construction in Dubai’s thriving Business Bay and Jumeirah Village districts, while the company continues to assess sought-after locations across the emirate with a view to further expanding its development footprint.
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// REBRANDING
RUNNING TOGETHER
CCS and RIB Software partnership culminates in RIB CCS rebrand
Construction Computer Software (CCS) is taking on a new identity under the moniker of RIB CCS. This is after the company’s recent partnership and 100% acquisition by software multinational RIB Software SE - an innovator in the building and construction industry. Andrew Skudder, RIB CCS Chief Executive Officer, says the benefits of the partnership and rebranding are numerous, with the new identity coming as a result of new technology demands, the implementation of new thinking and working methods, and shareholder 36
alignment on digital transformation. “The partnership with RIB provides a wealth of opportunity for RIB CCS in the form of investment in R&D, access to new technology and innovative solutions such as the first construction industry cloud platform, new channels to market, and partnerships with other RIB companies,” he says. “Outside of our new name and identity, we can assure customers that it is business as usual. We will continue to provide the same solutions, support and service that customers have become accustomed to, as well
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as providing access to new, innovative technologies that complement our own solution stack.” The investment by RIB in CCS affirms the company’s position as a market leader in the provision of cost and enterprise management solutions to the construction and engineering industry. “We believe the Middle East and African continents will benefit greatly from our iTWO 4.0 and MTWO platform technology. The rebranding of the company to form RIB CCS is an important step in our mission to
ABOUT RIB CCS For four decades RIB CCS has been the preferred supplier of specialised software solutions to the construction and engineering industry, serving more than 1,800 Clients and 40,000 Users in over 50 countries. Underpinned by more than 35 years of expertise, passion and innovation, RIB CCS offers software solutions that are intelligent by design, fit-for-purpose and aimed at enhancing productivity, transforming operating models and adding value to the businesses it serves. RIB CCS is an RIB Software SE company, pioneer in the transformation and digitization of the engineering and construction industry. For further information please visit www.ribccs.com.
Andrew Skudder, RIB CCS Chief Executive Officer
maintain our position as the international market leader for 5D BIM digital transformation in the building and infrastructure industries,” explains RIB Software SE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Wolf. RIB CCS’s new visual identity is reflective of the combination of the two entities’ industry solutions, and incorporates RIB’s leading product offering, iTWO. The product is the only end-to-end 5D enterprise solution on the market. Using Big Data technology, iTWO integrates business and construction processes, allowing buildWWW.CBNME.COM
ings and infrastructure to be designed virtually before physical construction begins. Operating with the concept of ‘Running Together’, RIB CCS looks to transform the engineering and construction industry and shape the future for generations to come. “This is an exciting new chapter in the long and prestigious history of CCS and we're determined to further cement the relationships we have with valued stakeholders under our new name and identity,” concludes Skudder.
ABOUT RIB SOFTWARE SE RIB Software SE is an innovator in the building and construction industry. The company develops and offers cutting-edge digital technologies for construction enterprises and projects across various industries worldwide. iTWO 4.0, RIB's flagship cloud-based platform, provides the world's first enterprise cloud technology based on 5D BIM with AI integration for construction companies, industrial companies, developers and project owners, etc. With over 50 years of experiences in the construction industry, RIB Software SE focuses on IT and engineering and becomes the pioneer in construction innovation, exploring and bringing in new thinking, new working methods and new technologies to enhance construction productivity. RIB is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany and Hong Kong, China, and listed on the prime standard Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2011. With over 2,700 talents in more than 25 countries worldwide, RIB is targeting to transform the construction industry into the most advanced and digitalized industry in the 21st century.
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// LAUNCH
ELTIZAM LAUNCHES OMNIUS ESTATE SERVICES Eltizam Asset Management Group, a leading physical asset management company in the Middle East, has launched Omnius Estate Services to provide technology-powered end-toend property management services across the MENA region. The launch reflects Eltizam’s continuous efforts to strengthen its footprint and become a leading player in the region’s physical asset management market. With offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the new company will be distinguished through its deployment of innovative technology solutions to operate assets efficiently and sustainably, and deliver exceptional customer experience to satisfy the needs of the region’s growing tech savvy customers. Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam, said: “Omnius provides asset owners with comprehensive and integrated property management services set to globally recognized standards and the best industry practices. The team comprises of global professionals who have both local and regional market experience and are committed to delivering top level value to their clients involved in residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate developments.” Part of its range of effective endto-end asset management solutions include property management, financial management, sales and leasing, tenant relationship management, facilities services management, energy management and portfolio insights and analytics. On energy management, the company’s capabilities increase through the use of the latest digital tools to monitor electricity consumption, identify & prioritize savings opportunities and deploy passive and active strategies to 38
Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam
reduce an asset’s environmental impact and operating costs. This approach is in line with the Middle East governments’ initiatives to lower carbon footprint and promote rationalized use of power and other resources. Further, Omnius deploys a business intelligence platform for insights and analytics in order to monitor asset portfolio performance. The systems dashboards allow property managers and clients to track parameters including occupancy, service levels, work status and utility consumption, amongst others enabling
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data-driven decisions in real time. Roberts added: “The Omnius team of asset management experts are fully capable of addressing challenges and concerns that asset owners in the region constantly face. These issues include establishing supply and demand dynamics driving leasing trends; controlling energy and cooling expenditures; making data-driven decisions for large portfolios, and many more. As each asset is unique, Omnius provides a tailored approach to ensure long-term asset valuations.”
Scania Touring HD range
a privilege to own The Scania Touring is a coach designed to meet your needs for occasional service and regular service over long distances. You will enjoy full support from a single point of contact since all parts, maintenance and repairs are backed by Scania’s comprehensive
global service work. The possibility of fast deliveries gives your business plenty of flexibility. If you’re focused on good total operating economy, this coach is destined to be a profit source for years to come.
// MACHINERY
EASIER ACCESS FOR DIFFICULT, HIGH ALTITUDE CONSTRUCTION SITES
Accessing mountain roads in the middle of a forest is sometimes impractical, and without public trails, it’s practically impossible. And even if often the sole way is to reach the peak is by foot, it can be weary but so rewarding! Let’s think how difficult it is for companies that need to make or maintain the forestry trails. Image the challenges they must face to reach their location with the proper equipment for the job, while maintaining low operating costs, and without impacting the forest’s resources. They need to plan a project while adhering to their budget and environmental laws. Usually, these jobs are necessary and need to be completed quickly to avoid natural disasters like landslides, or to open resorts in 40
time for the season. To overcome all the challenges it’s crucial to rely on simple, versatile, and fast equipment. MB Crusher attachments open the road ahead, literally, for companies who use them: they can be installed on and transported with the machinery you plan to use for the project and can adapt to any job site to process material. They eliminate all struggle and expenses commonly associated with these forestry jobs. WHEN THE ROAD ISN’T THERE… Reaching the job site is the first expense and obstacle to consider, especially if the location is in an isolated area with limited or no access. Bigger machines require expensive, special-
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ized transportation difficult to obtain for similar projects. By mounting an MB crusher bucket on a piece of equipment, the unit is transported with your machinery, avoiding expensive transportation methods. This is what the forestry department in Nevada did, they re-surfaced the firebreaks roads by using the MB crusher bucket to process and recycle granite and river rock. By using the unit, the department eliminated all material hauling costs, this process helps save millions of dollars a year from transportation cost and also it reduces the invasive species and other type of minerals that were trucked in the past to do this type of jobs. A similar situation happened in Serbia, where the SrbljaSume state
soil and rock screened with an MB-S10 screening bucket. Not only did they eliminate all hauling fees, but also followed all environmental protocols by using material available at the location.
department – which is dedicated to constructing and maintaining all forest trails – is using the BF90.3 crusher bucket on an excavator. This MB unit is crushing basalt that will be used as road base to either construct or to preserve existing roads. A company in northern Italy had a similar project: to create a scenic path that leads into a forest. With the BF90.3 mobile crusher, they processed natural stone and rocks and managed harder materials with ease. Everything was efficiently done on site. The same thing happened in another region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, where a larger crusher bucket model, the BF120.4, arrived at a construction site in the mountains, despite it being difficult to reach. Mountain trails aren’t solely used for WWW.CBNME.COM
hiking. In the winter, snow transforms these locations into renowned ski resorts. These ski resorts have to be ready before the season officially starts, meaning that a quick turnaround is necessary. In Austria, a BF120.4 crusher bucket followed the ski slopes’ route, while crushing limestone and using it as base material. Separating and selecting dirt is the next crucial point when constructing trails: a common solution is to haul the material up and down the mountain. You can get rid of this step with MB Crusher’s units. MB’s screening buckets can access all construction sites and screen material on the spot. This happened on a job site in Canada’s forests where they built a path leading to a residential area using the
WHEN ROADS NEED TO BE CLEARED… Mountain trails need to be frequently cleared of obstacles such as tree trunks, branches, and debris moved onto the walkway by storms and winds. A massive storm that hit Italy in 2018, razed a large portion of forest in the Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto regions. To recover the fallen tree trunks and debris from roads and paths and equipment that would help move the materials regardless of how the tree trunks were laying: the MB Crusher MB-G demolition and sorting grapples. The full rotation and a strong clasping strength, allows to pick up materials at different angles while also ensuring nothing falls out of the sides. MB Crusher grapples are easy to operate and is the perfect tool to move objects with strength and precision. Trails have to be cleared of surrounding vegetation and brushwood that could be an obstacle to foot traffic. This can also be done with one of MB Crusher’s grapples: once they are mounted onto your equipment, you pair them with the correct accessory and get the job done. All over the world, our customers show how MB Crusher units are a great tool for the agricultural and forestry industries that have to deal with difficult-to-access locations, high operational costs, and environmental protection laws. MB Crusher’s units process material on any job site, making it available for immediate reuse or resale. All kind of materials are handled with ease and the units don’t need to be sent to special centers to be serviced, the maintenance can be done on the job site without lengthy downtime. There is no doubt, MB’s attachments are the ideal machines for those companies that wants to…. go a long way!
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// REAL ESTATE
DEMAND FOR VILLA/TOWNHOUSES REACHES NEW HEIGHTS Property Finder: This is historically the highest number of transactions recorded in a single month (July 2020) for this unit type
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, a new trend has emerged in the demand and movement of the secondary villa/townhouse sector in the Dubai real estate market. In July, we saw the highest number of sales transactions of ready villa/townhouses in a single month (493) as consumers were looking for ready units to move into. The number of transactions was a direct reflection of what Data Finder, the real estate insights and data platform under the Property Finder group, has analyzed in the number of searches and demand for villa/townhouses on the Property Finder website since the crisis started. In July alone this number compared to the 42
same period last year had increased by more than 58%. One of the reasons we are seeing this trend is due to the high demand for larger properties with more outside space. During the crisis and lockdown, search and demand data showed that people started looking for bigger properties. The search and demand data shifted from the traditional small family apartments to villa/townhouses. We can see in our data this trend has grown significantly since the crisis started and continues to have an effect on the market. The top areas for secondary villa/ townhouse sales were Nadd al Sheba (14.4%), Dubai Hills Estate (6.7%),
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020
Al Furjan (5.9%), Dubai Industrial Park(4.9%) and Mudon(4.7%). The top areas for off-plan villa/townhouse sales were Dubai South (28.1%), Dubai Hills Estate (23.4%), Arabian Ranches 3(15.6%), Town Square (10.9%) and Dubai Land (7.8%). Lynnette Abad, Director of Research and Data at Property Finder said “Nearly 35% of all searches for villa/ townhouses in the past four months have been concentrated around Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, Palm Jumeirah, Damac Hills and the Springs. Per the data, it is clear that consumers are looking for well-established communities with ready properties."
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