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aRCHITECTURE • EnGInEERInG • COnSTRUCTIOn • PMV FEBRUARY 2010 UAE gets tough on standards, but what more is needed? HEALTH anD SaFETY In COnSTRUCTIOn SPECIal DEBATE Aldar, Hyder Consulting and Dubai International Real Estate discuss safety issues KSA Market analysis and an insight into some of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious projects planned AUCTIONS World Wide Auctioneers and Richie Bros. offer their top tips on bagging a bargain CAREERS Job listings and Group Armour comments on the state of the construction jobs market PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
Transcript
november 2009
aRCHITECTURE • EnGInEERInG • COnSTRUCTIOn • PMV
february 2010
UAE gets tough on standards, but what more is needed?
HEALTHanD SaFETY
In COnSTRUCTIOn SPECIal
dEBAtEAldar, Hyder Consulting and Dubai International Real Estate discuss safety issues
KsAMarket analysis and an insight into some of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious projects planned
AUctioNsWorld Wide Auctioneers and Richie Bros. offer their top tips on bagging a bargain
cArEErsJob listings and Group Armour comments on the state of the construction jobs market
PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
4 Editor’s LEttEr
6 NEWs BULLEtiN Stay in the loop with our pick of the region’s top stories of the month.
10 sUppLiEr spotLightNews, appointments and product launches from Middle East suppliers.
13 NEWs iN focUs Interview with the new Bahrain Centre of Dispute Resolution CEO James MacPherson.
16 sAUdi ArABiA UpdAtE Market analysis and insight into some of KSA’s most ambitious projects.
21 LEgAL commENt Taylor Wessing head of construction Donald Turley seeks to clarify UAE legislation relating to health and safety.
24 thE Big dEBAtE Experts from Aldar, Hyder Consulting and Dubai International Real Estate attend The Big Project’s roundtable discussion to share their views on what is needed to improve industry safety standards.
february 2010Contents
16
42
24
31 covEr storyExclusive interviews with Dubai Municipality, Build Safe UAE, Al Habtoor Leighton Group and Halcrow among others to identify and tackle safety issues on UAE construction sites.
35 iNtErsEc 2010Senior show manager Victoria Lee on highlights from last month’s safety exhibition.
37 BiddiNg for sUccEss World Wide Auctioneers and Richie Bros. offer auction-room tips for bagging a bargain.
39 gEttiNg tEchNicALBuildingSMART on the benefits of a paper-free construction site with BIM technology.
42 AdhEsivEs ANd sEALANts Three international suppliers explain why the region is looking to overseas adhesives and sealants companies to fill the market gap.
46 cArEEr LAddEr ANd joBsRecruitment tips from Group Armour MD Damien Lee and this month’s jobs listings.
49 middLE EAst tENdErs Keep up-to-date on the latest projects.
37
31
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 3
Welcome to this month’s health and safety special issue of The Big Project. When I first approached this topic, the message seemed pretty simple — don’t put your staff at risk.
But digging deeper opened up a new can of worms. Some contractors are safety focused; others aren’t. Some legislation is adequate; most is confusing. Authorities are increasingly proactive in promoting and regulating standards, but are perhaps not working together as well as they could.
However, there is one common factor; everyone has good intentions. But is this enough? According to Build Safe UAE,
it isn’t. The not-for-profit organisation has been operating since March 2008 and while it has made significant headway in bringing key industry representatives onboard and raising awareness of best practice, it still hasn’t been able to get full governmental support in the emirates. For example, like Build Safe, Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Labour UAE strive to improve health and safety standards in construction. So why aren’t the three publicly working together for this shared cause?
I contacted them to find out. While the Ministry of Labour chose not to comment, Build Safe UAE assistant project manager Elias McGrath informed me that following my email, the Ministry had coincidently been in touch to arrange a meeting in February to discuss further collaboration.
Dubai Municipality, on the other hand, did respond to my questions. Principal safety engineer Ahmed Khalil AbdulKareem, from the Engineering Supervision Section of the Building Department, said Build Safe had not made significant attempts to clarify what its legislative position was; McGrath disagreed. I left the two to discuss.
While actions may speak louder than words, sometimes simply talking about an issue brings you one step closer to resolving it. In this edition, we do just that; featuring exclusive interviews on the subject with Aldar Properties, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Hyder Consulting and Dubai International Real Estate in The big debate on page 24. Dubai Municipality, Build Safe UAE, Halcrow International Partnership and Al Habtoor Leighton Group among others comment in our Safety first cover story on page 31, and Taylor Wessing Law Firm’s head of construction seeks to clarify health and safety legislation on page 16. See the outcome for yourself...
THE BULLETINStay on top of Middle East construction news headlines with The Big Project’s pick of the month’s stories Labourer denies
killing colleague
A Pakistani man denied that he killed a compatriot after the victim allegedly insulted his family, a court heard.
The victim was stabbed to death at the Headley Construction labour camp in Dubai on May 30, 2009 after allegedly getting into a heated argument with three Pakistani men, including the 30-year old suspect, The National reported.
The victim’s body was found lying in a pool of blood. Forensic evidence reports show he was stabbed several times and that a knife handle recovered from the suspect matched the blade found in the defendant’s possession.
The presiding judge, Hamad Abdel Latif of the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, adjourned the case to February 8 so that the defendant could be provided with a court-appointed attorney.Heart of Doha
project renamed
Dohaland’s US $5.4 billion signature project Heart of Doha was renamed Musheireb by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani at a groundbreaking ceremony. Dohaland CEO Issa M. Al Mohannadi said the ‘Musheireb’ project will be completed in five phases, with the first phase due for completion by 2012.
The development is expected to comprise 226 buildings and will be home to 27,637 residents. It will have around 13,700 parking lots as well as a dedicated tramway, with a combination of commercial and residential properties, retail, cultural and entertainment areas. There will be parks and open spaces with a total area of 122,217m². The entire project will be completed by 2016, he added.
Bahrain’s unsafe sites blacklisted As many as 43 construction companies in Bahrain were blacklisted by the government for breaking health and safety regulations last year.
The figure was an increase of nearly a third compared to the 29 firms that were penalised in 2008, Labour Ministry Labour Inspection Directorate manager Ahmad Al Haiki told Gulf Daily News. “Work was stopped at 12 sites last year and seven in 2008, as companies did not comply with regulations,” asserted Al Haiki. He added that 335 cases were sent to the Public Prosecution last year, compared to 448 in 2008, and Improvement Notices were sent to 362 companies, which was up from 354 in 2008.
There was also a 16% increase in the number of inspections carried out by the Labour Ministry with 6124 undertaken last year, compared to 4435 in 2008.
Abu Dhabi plans 26 infrastructure projects for 2010Abu Dhabi Municipality will develop 26 new infrastructure projects this year in the capital.
Speaking at the first municipal forum hosted by the Department of Municipal Affairs at Yas Island, director of contracts and tenders department Salma Al Junaibi said 16 of the new projects will be related to roads and infrastructure and 10 to urban planning.
The most significant road and infrastructure projects were outlined as the construction of infrastructure for the commercial area at Khalifa City, completion of the second phase of roads at Mohammed bin Zayed City and completion of projects at Al Salam, East Coast and Presidential Palace roads.
Urban planning projects include development of health, security and environmental procedures.
B r e A K I N G
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Dubai’s RTA approves AED 10 billion budgetDubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has approved an AED 10.741 billion budget for 2010, of which AED 7.9 billion has been allocated to capital and projects.“Total revenue forecast during 2010 amounts to AED 3.3 billion and the approved projects budget is estimated at AED 7.5 billion allocated for undertaking about 120 projects; 13 of which are new projects relating to roads, marine transport, public transport and operational building projects, and the remaining part will cover the completion of 107 projects underway,” said chairman of the board and executive director of RTA HE Mattar Al Tayer. He added that 46% of the budget will be allocated to Rail Agency, 29% to Roads and Traffic and Roads Agency, 13% to Public Transport Agency and the remaining 12% will be allocated to licensing, marine agencies and corporate services.
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority will focus on infrastructure projects in 2010.
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10 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
neWs sUPPLIeRs
Collaboration, Management and Control solutions (CMCs), a saudi Arabia-based capacity-building firm, has launched a certified training programme to
L-R: Schneider Electric president and CEO Jean Pascal Tricoire with Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
Suppliers in the spotlightA ROUND-UP OF THE LATEST NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM INDUSTRy SUPPLIERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
CMCS offers new construction courses in KSACapacity-building firm offers certified training programme aimed at Saudi nationals
solar power was one of the most prominent issues addressed at the World Future energy summit 2010, which was held in Abu Dhabi last month
the solar industry had a particularly strong presence among the sustainable energy sectors, which included wind, environment, green building and water.
“More than 160 of the world’s largest solar power companies exhibited at the summit, including ABB, suntech, Ge energy, schneider electric, siemens, Brisban solar, Azur solar, solarone, Canadian solar, oerlikon solar, BP Alternative energy, Acciona, Yingli Green energy, solaria and terna energy. solar Power featured significantly in the summit programme as well,” said an official show spokesperson, who added that a number of deals had been secured.
For example, energy-management company schneider electric partnered with Masdar to provide energy-efficiency and renewable energy solutions for Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City.
solar Power Group marketing representative Mauricio Rojas La Rotta, who was also at the event told the Big Project: “We’ve secured some strong business leads that we are confident will develop after the show. the event is becoming a reference point in the Middle east region.”
emirates Central Cooling systems Corporation (empower) and pre-insulated pipe manufacturer Logstor have teamed up to launch empower-Logstor Insulated Pipes systems (elips), the UAe’s largest pre-insulated pipe-manufacturing facility.
the Us $25 million factory in Jebel Ali, Dubai, will cater to the requirements of district cooling services and the oil and gas sector across the Middle east.
speaking at the launch, empower Ceo Ahmad Bin shafar said: “this factory represents Dubai’s success in bringing fresh investments into the emirate. Furthermore, it demonstrates
Solar power focus at WFES 2010
UAE Elips launched Dubai companies’ progressive outlook reflected in investments in new ventures and expansion of existing facilities to provide full integrated solutions, and the production of raw materials internally instead of importing them.”
Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions CEO Bassam Samman.
The official launch of Empower-Logstor Insulated Pipes Systems.
encourage more project managers among saudi nationals: “Projects being planned throughout saudi Arabia in 2010 will require systematic management and a saudi Arabian workforce capable of dealing with any possible operational problems. our challenge is to develop and build the know-how needed by the burgeoning local projects sector to fulfil its role in sustained economic recovery,” Ceo Bassam samman told the Big Project.
samman added that demand for workers equipped with solid project-management skills had increased following the government’s announcement of a 16% increase in project spending to sAR 260 billion in 2010, as part of a government effort to attain a 4.5% economic growth rate within the year.
“While the programme will be available for nationals and expats, saudi nationals will be given priority, particularly female applicants,” he added.
the company is certified by oracle University to provide the accredited training programmes in saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and egypt. samman said organisations such as Aramco, sABIC, Ministry of Interior and the Royal Commission had shown an interest.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 11
sUPPLIeRs neWs
the Dubai branch of the international architectural firm RMJM has recently appointed Martin Butler as its new senior interior designer.
Butler has 12 years’ experience in exhibition- and Interior design. His experience stretches across the globe from Australia to the UAe, where he has been involved in the design of commercial developments and projects such as the Al Ghandi office headquarters, InterContinental Hotel Resort in Fujairah and the Bahrain Bay Residences.
“I was drawn to the Middle east because of the variety and scale of projects; the opportunity to work on contracts you can only dream of in other parts of the world; and to work with people from all walks of life,” said Butler.
RMJM Dubai appoints senior designer
Danube Building Materials is targeting 50% growth and plans to open 12 new showrooms in the region in 2010, according to chairman Rizwan sajan.
the company reported revenues of AeD one billion in 2009, and intends to secure 30% of its 50% annual growth target within the first quarter of this year.
“the GCC was an important market for us in 2009, considering the developments that transpired in the region despite the recession.
“In 2010, we are confident that it will be easier for us to boost our business and achieve our targets given that the impact of the global financial crisis has not been as severe in this region as in other parts of the globe,” asserted sajan.
“We are currently undertaking expansion initiatives in Jeddah, saudi Arabia, and planning on venturing into Riyadh and Dammam, as well as further into Qatar, India and the African region by way of franchise agreements and dealer networks, and we are confident that we will realise the goals we have set for this year.”
Danube Building Materials has been active in a number of high-profile projects, including the construction of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island development, Dubai International Airport terminal 3, Meydan Race Course, Dubai sports City, Dubai Motor City, emirates Golf Course, Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Khalifa.
other recent initiatives included the introduction of Danube Buildmart; a retail complex that offers a personalised shopping experience with a design-assistance service.
“our commitment to the UAe market is underlined by our continuous expansion efforts, which are aimed at addressing the building materials requirements of our customers across the emirates,” added sajan. Chairman of Danube Building Materials Rizwan Sajan.
Butler’s design experience extends throughout the Middle East.
Strengthening class More than 100 engineers and project managers from firms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi attended a free educational seminar on concrete-strengthening techniques and design considerations, hosted by Structural Preservation Middle East and VSL Middle East.
The seminar was held at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai last month and presented by Structural Group’s strengthening division VP Jay Thomas and engineering manager Tarek Alkhrdaji PhD PE.
arabtec signs nablus deal An AED 44.7 million agreement has been signed by Arabtec Construction and Al Mukawilon Contracting Company joint venture with Nablus Municipality for the Water Loss Reduction Phase Two Nablus-Palestine Project.
The project is expected to be completed within 20 months and has been financed by KFW Bank. It forms part of the donations programme set for Nablus Municipality. “This is an important social project for helping the people of Nablus, and is part of our geographic expansion in the MENA Region,” said Arabtec Holding CEO Riad Kamal.
Momentum logistics enters Iraq Gulftainer subsidiary Momentum Logistics has opened a new office and depot location in Iraq.
The new branch is located in Zakho, in northern Iraq on the border with Turkey, and is approximately 8000m² in size, inclusive of the office and transport yard: “The operations of the Iraq office will dovetail with our operations in Turkey, through our partner Demas, as roughly 1000 trucks cross the border between the two countries every day, positioning Momentum Iraq as a logistical hub and a significant gateway into North and Central Iraq,” said momentum general manager Matthew Derrick.
“A manager has already been appointed to oversee Momentum Iraq’s operations and he will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, as well as much of the set-up and expansion process for the office.”
In BRIEFDanube plans 12 new showrooms
Bahrain Centre of Dispute Resolution (BCDR) chief executive officer James MacPherson speaking at the launch of BCDR-AAA on January 11.
The centre is expected to feed the demand of increased disputes, such as unpaid contracts, in the Middle East.
MacPherson said it was natural that there were increasing pressures on businesses worldwide, which had led to an inevitable increase in demand for effective regional and international resolutions.
He told The Big Project that Bahrain had wanted to provide a mechanism that was tailor made for those doing business in the kingdom and the wider region, offering a degree of certainty in the legal system to multi-national businesses.
BCDR-AAA will manage cases ranging from major infrastructure-, power- and utility projects to smaller building contracts between state agencies, private employers, constructors and design professionals.
“Historically, the construction industry has been among the most active users of arbitration and mediation services globally – and the wider Middle East is no exception,” asserted MacPherson.
He recommended that parties contact BCDR-AAA in the early stages of a development for assistance in drafting a ‘future disputes clause’ addressing the party’s specific needs for the contract.
However, if the contract already exists, the centre can administer the arbitration or mediation clause, or assist in bringing parties to the table when there is no mention of ADR in the contract.
Over the coming months, MacPherson said the centre’s employee base will increase
two-fold, with ongoing investment into training Bahraini lawyers. The team includes eight Bahraini national lawyers trained in case management at AAA’s New York head office: “We will continue to work with London’s Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to train arbitrators in Arabic,” he added. TBP
Bahrain’s new dispute resolution centre deemed the world’s first arbitration “free zone”
BcDr to boost investor confidence
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 13
neWs in focus
“BCDR-AAA will provide speedy, effective dispute resolution options for the myriad disputes that are part of every sector of the construction industry,” he added.
In fact, it is thought that the average time taken to resolve disputes through arbitration in Bahrain is 365 days. In the various national courts, the length of time can extend to several years, which can be very expensive. But, MacPherson claimed the average time it takes to resolve disputes through mediation is 60 days.
“Whether a mediation results in a binding settlement agreement or arbitration delivers an enforceable award, parties have relied on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for decades in order to provide the desired resolution of their disputes or claims,” he said.
The Bahrain Centre of Dispute Resolution (BCDR), recently launched by the Ministry of Justice and delivered by the American
Arbitration Association (AAA), will be governed by rules codified by Bahrain’s domestic legislation and is expected to increase investors’ confidence in the market.
As such, the centre has been deemed an arbitration “free zone” by the AAA: “Awards made by arbitrators at BCDR-AAA, when the parties agreed in writing to be bound by the
outcome, will not be subject to challenge in Bahrain. This is a world first and overcomes a problem that has plagued other such centres internationally. Too often in the past, awards have been set aside, impeding the whole process of resolution,” said BCDR-AAA CEO James MacPherson.
“historicALLy, thE coNstrUctioN iNdUstry hAs BEEN AmoNg thE most ActivE UsErs of ArBitrAtioN ANd mEdiAtioN sErvicEs gLoBALLy”
16 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
Ksa UPDAte
population is reckoned to be less than 20 years old and 70% is under 30 years old. Unemployment is highest among Saudis in their twenties — estimated to be close to 25%. Government figures suggest that approximately 175,000 new jobs are being created each year, but the number of new job entrants (which is almost exclusively male) is at least 340,000, reports Euromonitor.
To combat unemployment, local industries are being promoted with increased production of natural gas; a
While the economy in Saudi Arabia only entered a mild recession in 2009, construction
was one of the hardest-hit industries, with projects worth US $39 billion cancelled last year, according to Euromonitor International.
The country continues to face long-term economic challenges, including high levels of unemployment and one of the world’s fastest population-growth rates. Around 60% of the indigenous
programme which involves multi-billion dollar investments in infrastructure; expected to create 100,000 new jobs per year. A mismatch between the skills of young Saudis and the demands of the labour market has also propelled the government to push forward in creating a huge institution for graduate research. The new university will have an endowment of roughly $10 billion.
Furthermore, in an effort to diversify, the government has embarked on the biggest industrialisation programme ever attempted. The centrepiece of the new programme is an ‘economic city’ costing $26.7 billion. Five other similar cities are planned in different regions. It is hoped that this spending will attract
domestic and foreign investment, broaden economic activity and create thousands of new jobs.
Alongside these projects, the government has planned several large public-private investments in real estate, infrastructure and manufacturing which will total $220 billion between 2007-2012. Euromonitor acknowledges the country’s ambitious programme of economic diversification is promising, but it suggests it is unrealistic to expect Saudi Arabia to reduce its oil
With one of the world’s fastest growing populations and a high level of unemployment, Saudi Arabia is investing in massive industrialisation programmes and a number of infrastructure projects that demand more construction skills
fit for a kingdom
Local industries are being promoted in Saudi Arabia to combat high levels of unemployment. Alongside these, the government has planned several large public-private investments in infrastructure and real estate.
King Abdullah economic city
Construction started on King Abdullah Economic City, owned by Emaar Economic City Company, in 2006, with a projected completion date of 2025. The development will comprise four major phases including seaport, industrial zone, business parks and city districts.
The seaport calls for the design and construction of a 13 million m² seaport district in the city. The port will be able to handle 20 million containers annually and is expected to be able to capacitate the world’s largest super container ships and receive 300,000 pilgrims every year.
Dredging work on the port, located between Jeddah and Rabigh, has already commenced and completion is expected in 2020.
King Saud University — women’s college
To address the skills shortage, Saudi Arabia is investing in it educational institutes, in particular those for women considering the majority of people in employment are male. The King Saud University project calls for the design and construction of a new college for women at King Saud University in Riyadh.
The development will include 12 buildings comprising colleges for dentistry, science, pharmacy, nursing, food and agriculture, computer science, arts, business administration and languages. The project is on track to be completed in December.
Be in it to win it...Five ambitious projects to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 17
UPDAte Ksa
dependency significantly. The best that can be hoped for is that the investments help to smooth out long-run fluctuations in growth; forecast at 4-5% between 2011 and 2013.
This month, Proleads provides details of five key developments underway.
BUSInESS InDICaTORS
BUSINESS START-UP
Cost (% of GNI per capita) 7.7
Duration (days) 5
DEALING WITH CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
Time (days) 94
Cost (% of GNI per capita) 32.8
EMPLOYING WORKERS
Rigidity of employment (index)
13
Ratio of minimum wage to average value added per worker
0
Redundancy costs (weeks of salary)
80
TAX RATE
Total tax rate (% profit) 14.5
Labour tax and contributions (% of commercial profits)
12.4
Documents for export (no.) 5
Time to export (days) 17
Cost to export (US $ per container)
681
IMPORTING
Documents for import (no.) 5
Time for import (days) 18
Cost to import (US $ per container)
678
PROTECTING INVESTORS
Investor protection index 7
CLOSING A BUSINESS
Time (years) 1.5
Cost (% of estate) 22
Source: Euromonitor International based on the World Bank (www.euromonitor.com)
Owned by Emaar Economic City Company, King Abdullah Economic City is expected to be completed by 2025 in four major phases.
Haramain High-Speed rail Project
The $1.9 billion 450km Makkah to Madinah rail link will be fully electric-run and equipped with the latest signalling and communications system.
Developed by Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO), high-speed trains equipped with the latest techniques and equipment will be provided.
Five passenger stations are being built in the first phase, including two in Makkah and two in Jeddah, in each of the downtown areas, and in King Abdulaziz International Airport, and the fifth station will be in Madinah. It is expected that one more station will be established in the second phase in King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.
King Abdullah Financial centre
Saudi Arabia’s financial district will be built close to the business centre of Riyadh. The site is 1.6 million m² and the development will have a floor space of three million m².
Having started construction in 2007, the owner, Public Pension Agency, describes the development as a fully self-contained centre for doing business and facilitating investment and enterprise.
The project calls for the design and construction of 28 buildings that will form the centre in Riyadh. Saudi Binladin Group has been awarded the main contract and the development is expected to be completed by March 2012.
Abdulrahman University in riyadh
Expected to be completed by 2012, Saudi Arabia’s first university for women is expected to cover eight million m², with a built-up area of three million m², situated on King Khalid International Airport Road, north of Riyadh.
The university comprises 13 administration buildings, a 700-bed student hospital, laboratories, research centres and a residential area, including student- and staff accommodation. The university will be able to capacitate 26,000 students. TBP
“mULti-BiLLioN doLLAr iNvEstmENts iN iNfrAstrUctUrE ArE EXpEctEd to crEAtE 100,000 NEW joBs pEr yEAr”
18 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
Ksa UPDAte
King Abdullah Financial Centre is intended as a fully self-contained centre for doing business and facilitating investment and enterprise.
Situated in Riyadh, King Abdullah Financial Centre calls for the design of 28 buildings that will form the focal point to be completed in 2012.
A modern aquarium will be an attraction at the financial centre.
King Abdullah Economic City is expected to include a golf course.
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prioritising and applying them in a consistent manner, which recognises their differing origins and consequences of breach.
One stakeholder has counted 170 different pieces of legislation, regulations, orders and guidelines covering health and safety in the UAE and there are clear differences in applicable legislation in each emirate. Clearly, avoidance of personal injury or damage to property is a matter of significant public interest.
Typically, as is the case in many other jurisdictions with a developed construction industry, one would find primary legislation setting out fundamental principles and establishing agencies to regulate and enforce health and safety provisions. It is then usual to
find a raft of subordinate legislation or regulations, which are industry-specific and flesh out the general principles with detail.
too confused to comply This, however, is not the position in the UAE. There is no one piece of legislation, either at federal or local level (i.e. laws enacted by one of the
individual emirates that apply only to that particular emirate) that deals specifically with health and safety. Instead, there are numerous laws that touch upon health and safety in one way or another, although often in very general terms and without specifying any technical requirements or standards of compliance.
Perhaps the most well-known example of these laws is the UAE’s Labour Law, which includes generic guidelines on health and safety standards that can theoretically be applied to any industry or workplace. The general nature of these provisions limits its practical use in setting and enforcing standards on construction sites in the country.
The Labour Law is supplemented by a Ministerial Decision (No. 32 of 1982), which deals specifically with the construction industry, but again avoids technicalities or codified requirements that could be used to ensure compliance.
The UAE’s Penal Code similarly deals with acts or omissions that result in injuries or death, but again does not
Stakeholders in the UAE construction industry face challenges in ensuring compliance with the country’s
health and safety provisions. Although there are a substantial
amount of obligations placed on those working in construction, the problem is the difficulty in compiling the various pieces of legislation, regulations, orders and guidelines, and in correctly
Laying down safety law
“sitE Activity coULd BE LimitEd By thE issUE of AN improvEmENt NoticE or, iN A sErioUs cAsE; sitE Activity coULd BE shUt doWN compLEtELy By thE issUE of A prohiBitioN NoticE”
Taylor Wessing law firm’s head of construction donald turley says a set of comprehensive and binding provisions at federal level is required to stop confusion over health and safety regulations in the UAE and to ensure compliance
Taylor Wessing law firm’s head of construction Donald Turley.Breach of regulations could result in a site being closed down.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 21
legal comment
specifically relate to health and safety issues. Civil Defence authorities also have the power to impose sanctions over construction sites where there are breaches of fire safety regulations.
An incident involving personal injury or damage to property may result in a police investigation where the police will usually seek a technical report from the appropriate local authority.
The potential sanctions for failing to give proper regard to health and safety requirements are onerous. Site activity can be limited by the issue of an Improvement Notice or, in a serious
case; site activity could be shut down completely by the issue of a Prohibition Notice. In cases of injury or fatality there is the potential imposition of fines of up to AED one million (US $272,330).
All relevant health and safety officers can be the subject of a police investigation with the possibility of passports being surrendered pending the conclusion of such investigation.
Police prosecution could result in fines, imprisonment and even deportation. Some enforcement authorities have the power to remove individual site managers from specific sites or from other projects where that individual has responsibility for health and safety matters.
imposing penalties A step towards a more thorough codification of obligations was made by the Department of Municipal Affairs in Abu Dhabi when it issued a Code of Practice for Construction Projects which includes levels of training, reporting procedures and the appointment of safety engineers.
Similarly in Dubai, the Dubai Municipality has issued a Code of Practice for Construction Projects, which includes health and safety
requirements. Although these codes have not yet been formally enshrined in law, it does indicate that the individual emirates are considering ways of improving the current position for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
However, given the variation in health and safety requirements between emirates and the large number of stakeholders that operate in multiple emirates, the time has perhaps come for a comprehensive and binding set of provisions, whether in the form of legislation or code of practice, to be implemented at a federal level. This ought to be coupled with the creation of a statutory body (or authority within an existing governmental department) empowered to enforce all health and safety requirements and investigate any occurrences. In the meantime, stakeholders must work together to set standards of best practice and compile and understand the current deluge of
health and safety rules that exist in the UAE. A prudent stakeholder would set its own minimum standards at the most onerous level required by the applicable laws or codes of practice. TBP
Turley: One stakeholder counted 170 different regulations and guidelines.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.
The UAE Labour Law is restricted in setting and enforcing standards.Turley: A prudent stakeholder would set its own minimum standards at the most onerous level required by laws or codes of practice.
“thE timE hAs pErhAps comE for A comprEhENsivE ANd BiNdiNg sEt of provisioNs, WhEthEr iN thE form of LEgisLAtioN or codE of prActicE, to BE impLEmENtEd At A fEdErAL LEvEL”
Turley is a major projects and construction lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience as a barrister in new Zealand and australia before he moved to Dubai in 2008. He has appeared as counsel for clients in a wide range of commercial litigation that has been resolved by alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation, court proceedings or arbitration. He is a certified mediator.
The Big Project met four experts from leading developers and consultants at Radisson Blu Dubai Media City to discuss what the government and industry are really doing to tackle health and safety issues in the Middle East construction sector
Expert developers and consultants meet The Big Project to discuss health and safety issues in the region’s construction industry.
how do health and safety standards in the middle East industry compare to standards in the rest of the world, based on your experience? Andrew Broderick: There are excellent world-class sites and there are awful sites. Similarly you have fantastic international
contractors that are doing a great job; they’ve got established health and safety cultures and are working to policies they were working to in the countries they were based.
On the other hand, there are bad standards where people have been brought up in a country that does not have an ingrained health and safety culture, so it is important that you then educate those people.
Karl simons: Globalisation is coming into it. An international contractor — no matter where they’re working — will work by the same standards; certainly when the company is linked to shareholders because a major catastrophe could impact on share
value. However, local contractors need to remain competitive and as standards around them are gradually increasing, they say ‘why can’t we do that’. And we’ve seen local contractors across the Middle East reviewing their standards.
how far has globalisation forced the region to progress over the years?moawia himmo: I’ve seen a difference in the UAE from 15 to 20 years ago. It’s
going in the right direction, but it all comes down to money. For a contractor to comply with standards it will cost them and therefore someone needs to monitor that the company is complying with its obligations. Unless you put it as legislation it is not going to get done.
is adequate health and safety legislation in place in the gcc? Ks: Legislation comes from contractors and consultants initially implementing procedures; the government watches and says ‘that’s good, we’ll implement that as law’. Industry will always lead legislation. Bodies such as Build Safe and the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) represented by safety practitioners will advise the government on where to implement legislation so employers understand their responsibilities. The most significant action the government took in the UAE was to stop labourers working in midday sun.
AB: Legislation is helping the situation in Abu Dhabi. There are codes of practice for organisations to understand what their responsibilities are. The municipality has implemented these codes of practice on designers, consultants and contractors. International Building Codes are scheduled to be implemented in the first quarter of this year. There needs to be one standard in place. If you take fire codes, for example, some people are
“it’s ABoUt EdUcAtiNg coNtrActors thAt A sAfE sitE is A prodUctivE sitE ANd oNE thAt WorKs to schEdULE”
Himmo: Health and safety compliance comes down to money.
24 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
the big debate
using American regulations and others are using British codes.
mh: I don’t think legislation is the saviour of the industry. Consultants and contractors should be guided by the contract, the contract should adhere to legislation and this must be enforced by the government.
Are the industry’s big players and the regional governments pro-active in enforcing existing legislation? AB: It’s extremely important that the government and large organisations back health and safety initiatives. When Build Safe asked me to become its Abu Dhabi spokesperson, I accepted and the CEO of Aldar loved the idea so Aldar became the first developer in the UAE to sign up to Build Safe.
It worked a treat for us because when we organised and sponsored the official signing ceremony, word spread quickly around Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE, and people who worked for us wanted to join. So immediately every contractor and consultant working on our projects chose to abide by the codes set by Build Safe.
Ks: That shows the influence big organisations have over the industry. They’re one of the most important factors in influencing the health and safety culture.
mh: There are still some clients that need to be educated; it’s not just the workforce. Developers from all over the world have settled in the GCC in the last five years.
Ks: For me, organisations that see health and safety as something that bolts onto the side aren’t taking the welfare of their people seriously. Good safety is good business. A lot of organisations have realised that now, and they are doing things the right way.
AB: Just this month in Al Ain, the government has really stepped up health and safety having just employed Atkins to establish a regulatory Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Department for the Building and Construction Sector.
PanEl
andrew broderick
head of health, safety,
security & environment,
aldar ProPerties PJsc
When andrew
broderick joined
aldar four
years ago, the
company had
no health and
safety staff or
policies in place.
he implemented
processes, management training
systems, contractual requirements and
as the company has since grown and
diversified, broderick has appointed
dedicated occupational health and
safety team members.
andrew is also the abu dhabi
spokesperson for build safe uae and
the institute of occupational safety and
health (iosh).
Prior to joining aldar Properties,
broderick worked with union
Properties in dubai. he achieved his
professional qualifications in england.
Karl simons msc,
director of health, safety,
quality and systems,
hyder consulting
having recently taken up his current
role at hyder consulting, Karl simons
has a varied career background. he
has clocked up 20 years’ health and
safety experience, 10 years of which
has been spent
in construction.
before
joining hyder
consulting,
simons was
ims director
at carillion
alawi, oman.
he initially joined the military as a
mechanical and electrical engineer,
and later moved into a risk assessment
role, which led onto similarly-focused
roles spanning a number of projects.
aside from his day-to-day position,
simons puts his experience to good use
chairing build safe oman, promoting
best practice in health and safety.
alistair mitchell
PrinciPal mechanical
engineer, burJ Khalifa,
hyder consulting
With 22 years’ experience in the
construction industry — the last 15
of which have been spent working
on large construction sites — alistair
mitchell brings first-hand knowledge of
health and safety in practice.
he joined
hyder
consulting five
years ago to
work solely on
the construction
of the world’s
tallest building.
Prior to that,
mitchell worked all over the uK on a
wide cross section of projects such as
factories, office blocks, and residential
and infrastructure developments. his
career has also taken him to developing
countries such as Kazakhstan and
uzbekistan, which both posed unique
construction challenges.
engr. moawia himmo
dubai international
real estate
moawia himmo’s experience in the
middle east construction sector stems
back to 1972 in iraq. he has worked
in dubai for the past 25 years covering
contractor-,
consultant- and
client-led roles.
he took up his
current position
as contracts
manager
at dubai
international
real estate in June 2009 and is
largely responsible for identifying
risks, which need to be addressed at
contracts stage. once the risks have
been identified, himmo’s responsibility
is to ensure that they have been
accounted for in documents that
cover the necessary health and safety
requirements. most of the projects he
works on today comprise privately-
owned real estate developments.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 25
the big debate
it was reported that 43 construction sites in Bahrain were blacklisted last year by the government for bad health
and safety practice; is the government as pro-active in other regions? AB: I haven’t heard of any sites being blacklisted in Abu Dhabi.
Ks: I haven’t seen any blacklisted in Oman either. Bahrain has developed and implemented legislation and it has empowered a group of inspectors to be able to blacklist sites.
Closing down 43 projects goes a long way towards expressing its zero tolerance. It’s a huge step that is welcomed by the industry.
can other governments learn from Bahrain’s no-tolerance approach? Alistair mitchell: Some contractors are more than capable of policing safety themselves and most projects will have ran themselves well to date, but some won’t because of the teams and those are the projects that need auditing.
Ks: I believe that the governments in other GCC countries needs to employ the right threat. If the threat is real, organisations will take it seriously. If organisations take it seriously, competitive tendering for companies that offer standards that comply with health and safety requirements will follow. This means that the cheapest price will no longer do the job.
AB: No developer wants their site closed.
Ks: Or to be publicly acknowledged as a project that has had this huge incident.
What are the implications of non-compliance; can that lead to circumstances such as the newly-built, eight-storey building collapsing in deira at the end of last year?AB: That’s a number of people’s fault.
mh: Blame extends from design phases through to building phases.
Am: There are often lasting implications as well, for example in Abu Dhabi,
where there was a huge fire on an Al Reem Island project two months ago and work has still not started again.
so what is the cost-effective solution to achieving a safer working environment? AB: We’re trying to educate contractors that safety does not mean money. We have to show them they may have to buy new, safer scaffolding, for example, but we can prove that providing this also makes easy access, a good platform where they can work safely and in doing so, they will also work quicker so production will increase.
It’s about educating contractors that a safe site is a productive site and one that works to schedule.
mh: It’s true that production can be faster, but still some contractors go ahead without these safety precautions and complete the job without these expenses. However, if accidents do happen on site it will slow work down and have a massive impact on the company’s reputation.
Ks: Implementing health and safety onsite doesn’t necessarily have to be a massive investment; it’s about the process and construction sequence. The high-profile jobs like Burj Khalifa are so important, prestigious, complex or technically difficult that it’s normally the big, international contractors that are on the tender list. These contractors have that health and safety culture and bring it to the Middle East. There are numerous small, local subcontractors and contractors from other parts of the world and they get dragged up with
Mitchell: Some contractors are capable of policing safety.
Himmo: If accidents happen on site, it will slow work down and have a massive negative impact on a company’s reputation.
“thE proBLEm comEs doWN to thE LEgisLAtioN; it is Not BEiNg poLicEd”
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 27
the big debate
big contractors’ policies, they have to comply with them onsite.
mh: Generally 80-90% of the labour workforce is from overseas and it’s not in their minds to be health and safety conscious. They’re often ignorant and negligent to those standards.
Ks: I wouldn’t say the workforce is ignorant. Labourers are predominantly from India and their first language is Hindi. Many have no levels of literacy; we reckon 60% can’t read or write. Their social upbringing means that we should take ownership and accountability to educate these people properly onsite through hazard awareness.
is the necessary training currently available in this region? AB: When I started working with Aldar, we only had a few operational projects, but I noticed the training companies contractors were using were awful. I
looked at 100 training companies and chose one from Northern Ireland, built them a training facility and made it the preferred trainer. The company offered its services across Aldar projects and we were reassured the companies we were working with were properly trained.
Ks: There are many good training organisations currently operating in this region, which are aimed at project leaders and deliver training in English. The issue comes when you step towards operative level and training has to be delivered in the employee’s own language, so a lot of contractors bring this level of training in-house.
is it a challenge for contractors to deliver training at operator level in-house?Ks: The people at supervisory level are the link in the chain between westernised expat leadership teams and the labour workforce, and these guys speak English, Hindi and Punjabi. If we channel education properly through
these trained supervisors it can have a huge impact on morale and production.
mh: But still in some Middle East countries people are working at high levels unsupervised and not wearing a harness and it’s overlooked.
Am: The workforce just needs the correct supervision. In my culture the mantra is that we’re all responsible for each other’s safety, if you see anything on site
not being done properly you report it; you can’t just walk by.
Here, contractors do educate their workforce, they have safety talks, instruct how to use safety harnesses properly — all those things — but you need to supervise as well.
There has to be more emphasis on safety teams here. On Burj Khalifa, the main contractor’s safety team could be identified immediately; they’d have red hats on and would patrol the site all day to keep the guys on their toes.
mh: The contractor needs to delegate authority and enough power to the safety officers.
What health and safety precautions can be taken from the early stages? Ks: Consultants and design teams can have a huge effect during preconstruction. The client does not need to have an in-depth understanding of construction; they need confident consultants, good designers and project-management teams to identify and mitigate risks the contractor would otherwise face during construction.
Am: You have to be able to work closely with contractors and the right standards need to be outlined in contracts and any documents upfront at the beginning of a development.Broderick: I selected a preferred trainer and built it a facility.
“thE coNtrActor NEEds to givE AUthority ANd poWEr to thE sAfEty officErs”
28 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
the big debate
all companies adopt correct systems; prosecution should be an afterthought for if companies fail to comply.
Ks: It is on the agenda and each Gulf state government body is starting to
introduce legislation that challenges status quo and will drive performance and improvement. It would certainly be nice to see the same standards enforced right across the Gulf. TBP
can you give an example of how risks can be minimised through design? Ks: A major cause of concern in the regional industry is working at height. Many consultants and contractors are not asserting collective methods of control, such as active-edge protection. Defaulting to putting people in harnesses is considering you’re allowing the person to fall in the first place rather than protecting the edges of the
building. As consultants and designers we look at how we can minimise risks from the beginning.
Am: I was speaking to a cladding engineer recently — he was doing a presentation for some cladding on a new building — they’d done the bracketing for the cladding on the slab as opposed to the edge of the slab and when asked why, he explained it was so that someone doesn’t have to lean off the edge of the slab when putting the brackets in place. It’s a very simple element but brilliant because that process will have to be done thousands of times on the project and you’ve taken away the risk with a small detail.
Ks: It takes a handful of committed individuals with a passion for educating the industry. Permission from the government is also needed to set up an
organisation such as Build Safe. As it grows you organise the conferences and the monthly meetings and you start to build up momentum.
so what is the first step needed in moving the industry forward? mh: The construction boom meant this area went crazy after 2005, within 10 years thousands of towers had popped up like mushrooms. It was a matter of supply and demand and the level of demand on construction was 10 times more than the capability of the good contractors so the less-qualified and cheaper contractors would be used.
Am: The marketplace has slowed and there will be a saner pace of growth in the future, hopefully allowing people to stand back and look at health and safety practices right from design phases, and good practice will be given the time it deserves. Setting a sensible timeline for a project is important.
AB: The driver for legislation should be related to educational compliance so
TOP 10 COnClUSIOnS
1. Industry leads legislation. 2. There needs to be consistent
standards across the GCC. 3. Legal obligations must be outlined at
contract stage. 4. Al Ain and Bahrain are increasingly
active in enforcing health and safety standards in construction.
5. Other GCC governments are expected to follow and employ threats for non-compliance.
6. Bad practice has massive cost, reputation and moral implications.
7. Large companies have the power to influence health and safety culture.
8. The expat nature of the Middle East workforce poses training challenges.
9. Training should focus on supervisor level and these individuals need to be empowered to enforce standards.
10. Becoming more safety focused doesn’t have to be costly and speeds up production.
Simons: The GCC is introducing legislation driving improvement.
Mitchell: Often risk can be taken away by considering details.
“thErE WiLL BE A sANEr pAcE of groWth iN thE fUtUrE, hopEfULLy ALLoWiNg pEopLE to stANd BAcK ANd LooK At hEALth ANd sAfEty prActicEs”
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 29
the big debate
Recent construction health and safety initiatives suggest that the UAE is leading the way in promoting best practice, but more collaboration is needed industry wide to develop clear regulations and ensure compliance. Louise Birchall reports
enforcement officer and main contractor in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
In November 2009, Al Habtoor Leighton Group suffered two serious incidents onsite, which resulted in fatalities. Having witnessed how these occurrences were dealt with, Riley concludes that there is no consistency.
“There is no continuity, no enabling-type act from federal authority, no defined legislation, no single body of enforcement or sense of fair play,” he recalls.
“One single EHS enforcement authority which acts as legislators, investigators and guidance providers would be a more effective way of striving towards what we all want, which is zero fatalities and a significant reduction in workplace injuries,” adds Riley.
It looks like 2010 is going to be an influential year in achieving best practice in the region’s construction industry, with recent government-led initiatives
sending a clear message that safety is being taken seriously.
In the UAE, Abu Dhabi is leading the way. Last month, Al Ain Municipality partnered with design and engineering company Atkins to establish an
Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Department for the Building and Construction Sector in Al Ain.
Furthermore, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipal Affairs intends to implement International Building Codes to raise standards in the first quarter of this year, providing a clear set of guidelines for contractors to follow.
While these steps may be considered long overdue by some, they certainly
are a move in the right direction; addressing the core issues currently preventing industry from providing a safe working environment.
the issuesThe first of which is a lack of health and safety legislation at federal level or one single set of guidelines for the UAE, and the second is the burgeoning need for one designated regulatory body in
the emirates; like the new Al Ain EHS department, but UAE wide.
Al Habtoor Leighton Group divisional safety manager for Dubai and Oman Robert Riley has more than 32 years’ experience in construction, which includes site safety manager roles on some of the UAE’s largest construction sites. During his career, he has investigated eight site fatalities and many serious accidents from the perspective of
“BLAcKListiNg is oNE WAy forWArd thAt mUst BE EXpLorEd fUrthEr. thEsE ArE thE ActioNs thAt WiLL mAKE AN impAct ANd rEALLy BE tAKEN sErioUsLy”
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 31
cover story
Halcrow International’s regional H&S manager Peter Neville.
And inconsistencies in regulations and enforcement aren’t confined to between the emirates. Within Dubai, for example, responsibility for regulating safety onsite is divided among a number of controlling authorities, such as TECOM, JAFZA and Dubai Silicon Oasis. Each zone has its own set of guidelines and penalties for non-compliance (for more information on legislation turn to page 16).
“The problem arises when organisations do not know exactly what set of regulations apply. This is compounded by the fact that some large projects straddle more than one administrative boundary,” says Halcrow International Partnership regional health and safety manager Peter Neville.
Neville suggests that in such cases, contractors resort to Abu Dhabi construction guidelines as a matter of good practice. However, in many cases contractors choose to simply ignore the regulations instead, according to not-for-profit organisation Build Safe UAE assistant project manager Elias McGrath.
penaltiesMcGrath calls for a greater onsite presence from regulators and harsher penalties for non-compliance.
“We need to see more regulators having a presence onsite and when penalties are imposed, they need to be made public. There’s no good in hiding which are the bad contractors because they’ll just carry their bad practice through to another zone,” he says.
In fact, both McGrath and Neville suggest that the UAE could learn from Bahrain’s ‘no tolerance’ approach to health and safety, after it was reported that the government in the Kingdom
blacklisted and halted construction on 43 sites last year due to poor health and safety standards.
“Blacklisting is one way forward that must be explored further. These are the actions that will make an impact and really be taken seriously,” asserts McGrath.
“Blacklisting sends out a clear and unequivocal message to the construction industry that poor standards of safety will not be tolerated,” adds Neville.
Furthermore, Neville says severe penalties are one way of scaremongering the industry into best practice.
“Penalties may be fines following a prosecution, contractual penalties or, of course, damage to a contractor’s reputation, delays to works while the
accident is being investigated and loss of staff due to fatalities,” he explains. However, Neville points out that this is not the only channel for increased awareness, with Build Safe promoting the cause and many of its membership organisations operating offices in other Middle East countries and actively spreading the word.
These large multinational companies are certainly in the powerful position of being able to increase competition and set benchmarks in health and safety for smaller, local companies to meet. This increases the overall standard and was highlighted as a key conclusion from February’s roundtable debate (see page 27 for the full article).
Build Safe UAE assistant project manager Elias McGrath.
The most common cause of fatalities on construction sites in the region is falling from height, according to Build Safe UAE.
“WE NEEd to sEE morE rEgULAtors hAviNg A prEsENcE oNsitE ANd WhEN pENALtiEs ArE imposEd, thEy NEEd to BE mAdE pUBLic”
32 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
cover story
While Build Safe and the municipalities work on raising awareness for a safer working environment, McGrath says industry is required to take this knowledge on board and lead change. However, there needs to be more collaboration between industry, organisations and official regulators, suggests McGrath, who says that Build Safe does not receive full, public governmental support.
collaborationThe Big Project contacted the Ministry of Labour UAE and Dubai Municipality to investigate whether the organisations would be interested in publicly working with Build Safe to promote health and safety standards.
The Ministry of Labour chose not to comment, but shortly after we had been in touch, McGrath informs us that the body contacted Build Safe to discuss further collaboration.
Meanwhile, Dubai Municipality responded saying that it was still unclear about Build Safe’s legislative frame.
“Dubai Municipality widely supports [the] safety field and especially at construction sites,” says principal safety engineer Ahmed Khalil Abdulkareem, engineering supervision section, Building Department, Dubai Municipality.
“The Building Department regularly maintains a link with small and big establishments working in the same field,” he adds.
McGrath points out that Dubai Silicon Oasis, a government authority, has been a full signatory member of Build Safe for more than one year and Build Safe claims to be receiving a positive response from the Ministry of Labour UAE and government agencies from the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
“We believe [these relationships] will continue to grow stronger as we begin to collaborate closer with them this year,” adds McGrath.
It looks as though part of this collaboration could include the establishment of EHS departments in other emirates following Al Ain’s lead and bringing industry that one step closer to establishing one regulatory body representing the UAE.
“Since Al Ain released its statement [announcing the EHS Department], I’ve
had non-stop phone calls from Abu Dhabi Municipality wanting to come and see me, asking if it’s one of our projects. So it’s going to happen there as well, and of course we’ll welcome it,” said Aldar Properties head of health, safety, security and environment Andrew Broderick, who is also the Build Safe UAE spokesperson for Abu Dhabi.
Neville adds: “It’s never too early to establish an occupational health and safety regulatory body. With such an organisation in place, alongside the local provision of prescribed standards, levels of awareness and general safety of working practice can only improve. TBP
Combined data submitted by 18 main contractor members of Buidsafe UaE
BUiLdsAfE UAE2008 figures represent an average of 388 projects, employing 296,093 people for 8.7 million man hours worked.
2009 figures represent approximately 329 projects, employing 204,892 people for 6.6 million man hours worked.
Build Safe UAE suggests that harsher and public penalties are required for breach of health and safety regulations in the UAE.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 33
cover story
It is still hot and the temperature is over the average level. This is a challenge for us! We are working hard to give you all in the UAE and sourrounding countries a nice, comfortable and healthy indoor climate, without draught, sound and drainage, to help you regain your strength.
To increase our service to you, we are cooperating with the company InterCool. Bassel Anbari, the Managing Director of InterCool, has more than 15 years of experience in this region.
special device that continually monitors a construction worker’s body temperature via a handheld PDA unit. It can therefore help to avoid medical emergencies caused by exhaustion, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses that affect workers within the construction industry during the summer.
does becoming more safety focused require an initial investment? Investment in the correct health and safety equipment, and advanced training programmes needs to be made to meet international safety standards and ensure the safest work environment. Team incentives and awards are also great initiatives. Certificates or a team get-together for reaching one million man hours without an accident and other such incentives all help towards ensuring a safer workplace.
how did the number and quality of visitors at this year’s event compare to previous years?We achieved nearly 20% more trade-only visitors than last year and as such it was an extremely successful edition for us. There was a large number of safety, health and environmental professionals at the trade fair.
does this reflect a positive change in attitude towards health and safety in this region? The construction industry in the Middle East has witnessed massive growth in
the last decade. It is no longer acceptable to have anything less than the correct international standards implemented on all sites. Training has become another element within the industry that is receiving more attention.
What is the main cause of accidents in the regional construction sector?Human error and unsafe behaviour accounts for more than 90% of all accidents and injuries in a workplace. Types of human error causing accidents on industrial sites include operational error and judgemental error or job-related error, caused by psychological factors affecting human behaviour. Construction site falls are believed to be second only to motor vehicle accidents as a cause of fatalities. These types of accidents often involve a number of variables including unstable working surfaces, mishandling of fall-protection equipment, and of course, human error.
What solutions were proposed at the event to tackle such hazards? On all construction sites employers should ascertain all exposures to hazards and determine the protective equipment available that could safeguard workers. At Intersec 2010, we had a special fall-protection display as one of our indoor demo areas. This offered companies a dedicated platform to present and demonstrate their products. TBP
how many exhibitors attended intersec 2010?More than 700 exhibitors from 50 countries attended covering four main categories relating to construction, these included commercial security, homeland security and policing, fire, rescue and safety, and health.
please give an example of relevant products launched at the show.Hudson International introduced its new Hothead Technologies. This is a
safety show
“coNstrUctioN sitE fALLs ArE BELiEvEd to BE sEcoNd oNLy to motor vEhicLE AccidENts As A cAUsE of fAtALitiEs”
Intersec Trade Fair 2010 senior show manager Victoria Lee.
Following the 12th security and safety Intersec Trade Fair and Conference on January 17—19 in Dubai, we spoke to senior show manager victoria Lee to find out how the event addressed safety issues in the region’s construction industry
Companies demonstrated safety equipment for working at height.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 35
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see the equipment On average, more than 2100 items are sold in each auction. Ritchie Bros. displays all of that equipment at the auction site in the weeks leading up to the auction, so you can test, inspect and compare items for yourself — or send your trusted mechanic to do so. It’s important to assess the condition and value of an item before you bid on it. Be confident about what you’re bidding on.
decide your priceVisit rbauction.com to look up selling prices from recent Ritchie Bros. auctions so that you can assess the current market value of an item.
come earlyAuctions start promptly at 9:30am and it helps to familiarise yourself with our office, staff and the equipment yard before the auction. Register in advance, read terms and conditions or deposit/payment rules and find out when the items you're interested in are going to be sold. Don’t miss a good opportunity because you were late!
Watch the auctionThe auctioneer will announce each lot as it is being sold, then call for bids. You will see the lot number and current asking price displayed on an electronic signboard. To place a bid, raise your hand or listing catalogue. Ensure the bid catcher can see you placing bids and try not to be shy. Make eye contact. The bid catcher will relay your bids to the auctioneer. Remember: you can never bid too early, only too late.
Know what you’re bidding onWe drive our rolling stock over the ramp in front of the auction theatre for our customers to view during the auction, so they know exactly what they are bidding on. We also sometimes use our virtual ramp to sell stationary items; bidders can see large photos of the exact items without leaving the auction theatre. TBP
Web: www.rbauction.com
Bidding for successTwo of the region’s leading companies Richie Bros. and World Wide Auctioneers share their top tips on bagging a bargain
do the maths Auction prices are 20% less than the retail asking price in the market. In fact, you can only determine real market prices at an unreserved auction. All the dealers are there and the prices and bidding are transparent. In a weak market, nobody really
knows what the equipment is worth that month so they must go to the auction to find out.
come preparedBring a cash or bank cheque for AED 100,000 (US $27,238) as a deposit. And bring a decision maker, or at least a phone to call one on. Arrive at least one hour before the items you have an eye on are due to be sold.
Be discreet I like to sit at the front of the audience so I can be seen by the bid catchers and not by others. It is best to keep a low profile. Other bidders are encouraged to bid when they see other ‘clever’ people bidding.
Know when to stop This is basically when it gets too expensive so don’t get too caught up in the moment; think to yourself, do you really need this particular item?
Watch outSometimes bidders complain that they did not bid. Normally this happens when they feel they have made a mistake, paid too much for a unit that is not as good as they thought it might be. Or, someone came up to them and said: “I have a better unit for the same price in my yard in Sharjah.” But it’s not possible to get away with it. We have the deposit, we have them on camera, and we know the game.
Winning bidOnce you’ve won the bid, it’s best to go and get the invoice from our office and pay within seven days. The sale may be collapsed if payment is not within that timescale.
Web: www.ironauctions.com / www.wwagroup.com
WORlD WIDE aUCTIOnEERS’ CHaIRMan ERIC MOnTanDOn RICHIE BROS.’ REGIOnal ManaGER STEVE BaRRITT
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 37
AUCtIons Pmv
There are a lot of errors that are currently allowed to slip through the design stage right through to construction and even those that are minor can cause major problems in later stages of a development, according to Jellings.
Take, for example, building piles being designed slightly off centre, if the piles have to be repositioned it can amount to enormous costs. Furthermore, even if a problem only costs a few hundred dollars to resolve, it may cause delays and that is when expenses add up. Implementing BIM allows for early identification and removal of problems so that they do not translate right through to construction phases, he says.
There are two ways that the model is used; either basing BIM on traditional design processes, or more effectively, creating a single model right from the concept stage through to construction and building management.
“So you’re using one single source and updating that model, where as currently a new design is produced and sent out to a number of contractors, who all produce
their own elements of that design and there are thousands of hard-copy drawings floating around. With BIM, all construction stakeholders can work with the same information at the same time through one model,” explains Jellings.
Keeping up to speed He says the Middle East is lagging behind in terms of its technology deployment and skill level, which is one of the reasons the region has such a high expatriate
International not-for-profit organisation buildingSMART ME communications director Dave jellings says the secret to slashing project costs, boosting efficiency and increasing sustainability in construction is Building Information Modelling technology, but the region is still lagging behind
contribution to production, because the indigenous skills are not available.
“In more established technology markets; most of Europe and the US in particular, these technologies have been
available and implemented for a number of years and the academic institutions are providing training for people using these technologies so the market is more advanced. These markets have the processes in place that improve efficiency, reliability, quality and sustainability in the construction industry,” he adds.
BuildingSMART was established internationally in the mid-1990s and launched in the Middle East last November: “The construction industry
Up until September 2008, the Middle East property market was expanding at such a phenomenal rate that no-one
stopped to consider the commercial need to improve efficiency of the construction process, according to buildingSMART ME communications director Dave Jellings.
If a project was not completed on time, it was easier to increase the cost of the real estate than consider why delays occurred. Why bother? Investors caught up in the market boom were more than happy to foot the bill.
“But then the bubble burst and the whole construction industry has had to relook at the way it is doing business,” observes Jellings.
And one of the key areas that buildingSMART has identified as in desperate need of improvement is technology.
BuildingSMART is an international, not-for-profit organisation focused on ensuring projects are completed on time, with optimum efficiency, high levels of sustainability and within
budget. It suggests this can be done through implementing a process called ‘interoperability’ utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology.
Early remedies BIM effectively creates a construction project in a virtual environment. Not just for visual purposes, the model is an accurate, dimensional representation of a building, which stores all of the relevant design and construction data.
“thE coNstrUctioN iNdUstry iN thE middLE EAst is UsiNg 20 to 30 diffErENt tEchNoLogiEs for EvEry LArgE projEct ANd NoNE of thEsE ArE dEsigNEd to commUNicAtE With EAch othEr”
BuildingSMART ME communications director Dave Jellings talks BIM.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 39
getting technical
in the Middle East is using 20 to 30 different technologies for every large project and none of these are designed
to communicate with each other. So if you want to transfer data between one contractor and another it’s a very difficult process and instead of sending electronic data, which is usually faultless, you end up sending a hard copy,” observes Jelling.
“The technology buildingSMART promotes is collaborative, which basically provides the process and software to enable the current platforms to communicate. So you immediately have the advantage of being able to work from the same information at the same time”.
cost of non-communicationJellings says the communication between the different parties involved in the design and construction process is crucial to the efficiency of developments and the cost. This is of paramount importance since the onset of the global economic downturn, which has made investors increasingly wary of the risk of delays and
costs involved: “Investors have to find ways of protecting their level of risk, but we’re not trying to squeeze contractors on
prices to save 1% of the project cost here and there; we’re looking at a paradigm shift. We need to look at ways of taking off 7% plus and guaranteeing we can reduce costs by improving efficiency and ensuring projects are completed on time.”
Generally speaking, Jelling estimates using BIM from the early stages of a project process would require an investment of around 0.5-1% and result in an estimated saving of more than 5%.
It isn’t just investors that are protected with these savings; developers benefit and contractors and consultants incorporating the process perform better, have fewer problems on site and are more likely to deliver projects to cost and on time, according to Jellings.
Breaking the norms However, not all developers have warmed to the idea: “As with any new technology, some are open to new methods, others
“coNtrActors ANd coNsULtANts iNcorporAtiNg thE procEss pErform BEttEr, hAvE fEWEr proBLEms oN sitE ANd ArE morE LiKELy to dELivEr projEcts to cost ANd oN timE”
are not. Every time you introduce a new process, you have the leaders, the watchers and the ignorers,” he observes.
But according to Jellings, buildingSMART ME has already partnered with a project in the region worth in excess of US $5 billion and anticipates that eventually its BIM implementation rate in the Middle East will equal that of the US, where he estimates that around half of the industry is abiding to BIM standards outlined by buildingSMART in the National Institute of Building Scientists (NIBS) and National CAD guidelines. This is made possible through an umbrella organisation called the BIM Support Bureau; a collection of members, which are independent organisations accredited by buildingSMART to provide a consistent level of service delivery that utilises BIM.
“We’re not here to promote any specific organisation or particular technology provider; just to give advice to members and signpost which companies can provide the service,” asserts Jellings. He adds that the organisation also offers single accreditation programmes so
individuals can acquire the necessary skills through a certified training course. The early phases of training are available in the Middle East and buildingSMART ME is currently in the process of customising the NIBS and National CAD standards for the region. TBP
A professionally-qualified and certified engineer, jellings has been involved in business process re-engineering, innovative technology and development of software applications for a decade. operating at senior management level, he has focused on the integration and interoperability of construction processes. jellings has written and presented papers on sustainable construction, ‘green’ technologies and MrP in the construction process.
For more information on BIM visit:www.bimjournal.com
PROFIlE: DaVE JEllInGS
Jellings: There are different plans produced at each stage of a project and thousands of drawings floating around, which hinders accuracy.
40 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
getting technical
International adhesives suppliers are flocking to the attractive Middle East construction market, offering value for money and the latest ‘green’ products,
according to three international companies that are expanding in the region.
The trend towards green and sustainable building is continuing in the UAE and reaching out into the GCC, which is why France-headquartered adhesive supplier Bostik is commercialising products that minimise environmental impact and promote health and well-being of customers, says Bostik Middle East area manager Stefan Carpentier.
protection, MEP, renovation, decorating and specialist assembly. Furthermore, in response to a growing demand for its products, especially those that are considered ‘green’, Bostik is expanding its operations in Saudi Arabia and plans to secure a foothold in Iran this year.
“In Saudi Arabia, a significant amount of hospitals, schools and universities are being built or scheduled.
“The requirements are huge, though the market itself is very competitive. To meet the market requirements a distribution network is being put in place, which will also provide local support and assistance,” says Carpentier.
And Bostik is not the only overseas headquartered adhesives and sealants supplier expanding in the region.
Everbuild UK-based sealants, adhesives, fillers and building chemicals manufacturer, Everbuild Building Products Ltd, identifies the Middle East as one of its biggest export markets.
“Every building within the Middle East requires sealing to avoid temperature loss and Everbuild is well placed to provide the cost-effective acrylic sealants; the market demands for these types of applications,” says export area manager – Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe Rob Dugdale.
“There are a number of local manufacturers within the Middle East, however, with sterling being at its lowest level, the cost of goods manufactured in
“We have a large range of LEED compliant products, which meet VOC requirements for low-emitting adhesives and sealants,” he explains.
Bostik, backed by the resources of international oil company Total, designs, manufactures and markets adhesives, sealants and coatings for three key sectors; industry, construction and consumer.
The company supplies a range of products, a wide variety of which are technological solutions for projects in tiling, flooring, waterproofing, fire
The region’s demand for adhesives and sealants is huge, but many projects are turning to foreign suppliers due to favourable exchange rates and the ‘green’ products on offer. Three international manufacturers tell us more
Bostik’s Middle East designated area manager Stefan Carpentier.
The trend for green and sustainable building is growing in the Middle East, according to Bostik, which offers a range of green products.
signed, sealed, delivered
42 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
Products ADHesIVes
facility in England. Dugdale adds that the products are regularly put through stringent quality-control tests.
dow corning Also new to the region is US-based Dow Corning, which recently opened its first office in the Middle East in Bahrain. The joint venture owned by The Dow
Corning Chemical Company and Corning Incorporated produces silicon-based materials and solutions under its Dow
Corning and Xiameter brands. The Bahrain office will house engineers, chemists and sales professionals with expertise in silicon-based technology.
While the company has been active in the region for a number of years, its Bahrain operations will supply construction-, textiles-, petrochemical- and oil and gas industries throughout the region, according to regional business development manager Alan Collins.
“Most recently, Dow Corning’s silicone materials were used in the construction of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The company worked closely with the building’s structural engineers to ensure that the building can withstand the region’s high winds and extreme heat,” recalls Collins.
Acknowledging opportunities for international suppliers in the region, Dow Corning is seeking collaboration with academic, government and other research organisations looking to boost efficiency and environmental sustainability through materials used, says Collins. TBP
the UK is very attractive, therefore people are turning to UK-based manufacturers, like Everbuild, to supply their sealant and adhesive requirements,” he adds.
Everbuild’s core products are silicones (neutral cure and acetoxy), acrylic sealants, fire-rated sealants, grab adhesives (solvent, non-solvent, MS), building chemicals and fillers.
These, along with a wide range of other products, are manufactured at the company’s 250,000ft² manufacturing
Everbuild export area manager Rob Dugdale represented the UK-based company at last year’s The Big 5 exhibition, which was held in Dubai.
Dow Corning regional business development manager Alan Collins.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 43
ADHesIVes Products
“With stErLiNg BEiNg At its LoWEst LEvEL, thE cost of goods mANUfActUrEd iN thE UK is vEry AttrActivE”
TROllEY
Everbuild Building products Ltdwww.everbuild.co.uk
Bostik c/o total Lubricants middle Eastwww.bostik-eemea.com
dow corningwww.dowcorning.com
To remain competitive, suppliers should not resort to cutting prices and quality or tagging onto the latest
trends, instead, it is all about listening to and meeting clients’ needs, according to Tiger Profiles & Insulation (TPI) executive director Bernard Nasr.
“We’ve seen other companies ‘go green’ to keep up with trends; we’ve witnessed those that slash prices to meet competition. But in our case, we believe in maintaining our values and beliefs, and this has helped us maintain the quality and cost of our products,” he says.
Nasr also claims that the company was one of the first in the region to give the trend for environmentally-friendly products the time it deserved.
Many of TPI’s products adhere to internationally-recognised quality certificates, including ISO 9001 Quality Management Standards, ISO14002 Environmental Management Standards and OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety
Management Standards. Furthermore, the group is a member of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Emirates Environmental Group.
However, Nasr says the core of the company’s success is listening to clients’
Roofing and cladding manufacturer Tiger Profiles & Insulation’s executive director Bernard Nasr advises on what is needed to remain competitive in a tough business climate
needs and building on them for customer satisfaction. While he acknowledges that business has been tougher than previous years, the company has been able to rely on repeat business from its loyal customers.
And this strategy appears to be paying off. TPI, which is the ‘cladding’ arm of Tiger Steel Group, was established in 1993 and today has an annual production capacity of Z and C Purlins exceeding 2.6 million metres at its three UAE-based factories. TPI is also regional manufacturer of PU panels based on its annual production capacity of its continuous PU line that exceeds 2.5 million m². The company has partnered with major projects, including Dubai International Airport, Al Ain University and Dubai World Trade Centre.
“We cater to the infrastructure industry and are seeking to tap into new markets; expanding activities into the GCC, Middle East and Asia,” says Nasr.
The company also recently launched two new insulation products; Solasteel, an environmentally-friendly, heat-reflecting pre-coating for metal and Solacoat, an environmentally-friendly heat reflecting post-coating for exterior surfaces.
“It has been scientifically proven that the coatings reflect 80% of heat, reduce energy consumption by 30-45%, reduce maintenance costs, protect metal structures from thermal expansion effect, protect concrete surfaces from cracking due to heat exposure and increase points for LEED and Green Star Ratings,” says Nasr. TBP
t-Seam and K-Span systemsPU/PIr/rockwool insulated systems composite sandwich panelsconcealed fix wall panelsPre-insulated partition panelscold-store panelsVentilation ductsroof tiles and profilestrapezoidal and sinusoidal profilesZ-purlins, c-purlins and c-channelsDry-wall partitions Floor deckingFlashings and accessoriesSolasteel and Solacoat
PRODUCTS anD SERVICES
44 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
suPPlier RooFInG AnD CLADDInG
TPI has partnered with major projects in the UAE including Dubai International Airport, Al Ain University and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Tiger Profiles & Insulations executive director Bernard Nasr.
46 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
recruitment and training
from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.
Dubai’s construction boom may have ended — with other Middle East
Career ladder
“thE hiriNg procEss is sLoWEr; BUsiNEssEs ArE mAKiNg sUrE thEy’rE choosiNg thE right pErsoN ANd Not jUst ticKiNg 50-60% of thE BoXEs”
It goes without saying that it has been a tough year for the construction industry in the Middle East and worldwide, with
the cancellation of many developments resulting in widespread redundancies.
In the past 12 months, thousands were laid off, says GroupArmour Recruitment managing director Damien Lee, however, many were able to find work in the region – and in spite of stories about many expats fleeing the Middle East – not everybody left.
In fact, the company estimates that 70-80% of those made redundant in the GCC were able to find work in the region.
However, it cannot have been easy; with competition rife, companies are putting more thought into hiring, he says.
“The hiring process is slower; businesses are making sure they’re choosing the right person and not just ticking 50-60% of the boxes. Client demands are much more aggressive”.
But it looks as though circumstances are improving, and Lee describes the jobs market in Dubai as being around 50% “healthier” than this time last year, with more people coming in from abroad, which suggests the market is picking up.
“Our surveys tell us more than 60% of companies will be hiring in Dubai alone. And Dubai is in a weaker position than its neighbours, so this looks positive for future business development.”
Lee has witnessed a shift in the construction sector’s working population
Lee: Businesses are making sure they’re choosing the right person.
countries overtaking the emirate in terms of expanding portfolios, but the most common client request is still to ‘find me a job in Dubai’, explains Lee.
“People have remained upbeat and a lot of confidence is returning to the emirate. The correction in the jobs market could take a few more years, but I believe investment will return to Dubai; the signs are already there.”
Moving forward, GroupArmour is focused on progressing the skills sector; working with local universities and is currently in the process of developing an Emiratisation programme to increase the number of UAE nationals in the construction sector. TBP
GroupArmour recruitmentWeb: www.grouparmour.com
Contact
Career ladderGroupArmour Recruitment MD Damien Lee addresses the challenges in furthering your construction career
PROFIlE: DaMIEn lEE
Having been in recruitment for more than 15 years, Damien Lee has covered a number of sectors including construction, marine, nuclear, aerospace, banking, It and telecommunications.
He established GroupArmour last year when many firms came under pressure with the onset of the global economic downturn. According to Lee, the intention was to simply provide basic recruitment services based on service quality and delivery focused on the region’s growing business community, including construction and engineering.
February 2010 THE BIG PROJECT 47
CLASSIFIEDSENIOR CONTRACTS SPECIALIST Group ArmourDoha, QatarRef: KP695-18 THE ROLELeading project management company in Doha delivering full range of consultancy services, are now looking for someone who is MRICS and has at least 12 years’ relevant experience of large projects ideally within the Middle East.
This role will involve establishing project-specific procurement and contracting guidelines and participating in negotiations with clients, vendors and sub-contractors to protect companies’ interests at project site. Lead and manage timely and effective contract administration and procurement activities at assigned project site, guiding the procurement and contracts engineer and ensuring compliance to contracting policies and procedures and ensuring effective monitoring of all contractual terms and conditions related to at all stages of project.
Oversee the activities of preparation of bids, process specifications, tests, progress reports and other documents through the tendering process. Ensure risk assessment, data relevance and adequacy to complete the tendering processes. Manage subcontract administration and negotiations.
Monitor subcontractor performance for conformance to the order requirements and maintain continual reviews to ensure that all terms and conditions are met and that the subcontract is in accordance with legal requirements.
RequirementsMRICS and has at least twelve years’ relevant experience of large projects ideally within the Middle East.
Candidates need to be university graduates and fluent English Speakers.
They must have a strong background within the commercial and/or legal sectors of the construction industry.
PROJECT DIRECTOR -ICONIC PROJECT Group ArmourRiyadh, Saudi ArabiaRef: KP695-10 THE ROLEOur client has been active in the UAE and KSA market since the start of 2001, providing a full range of construction and property consultancy services across the Middle East. It operates out of its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and whilst delivering projects in Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, which offer expert advice in cost consultancy; project management; development management and a comprehensive range of specialist services.
Its portfolio of commissions in Saudi Arabia comprises projects across the commercial, health, hotel & leisure, offices
and within the UAE their portfolio of commissions comprises of projects across the commercial, education, retail & mixed-use, transport, hotel & leisure, residential, offices and transport and infrastructure including projects for clients including: Alder, ADNOC, Al Arabiya Real Estate Company, Blue Lake Properties, DURL Consortium, Evolvence Capital, Ishraq Gulf Real Estate BSC, KOC, James Law Cybertecture, Masdar, Mubadalla, Omniyat Properties, Rasis Time Developers LLC and The Al Badie Group.
THE PROJECTOur client will be will be providing cost and project management services on an iconic project in Riyadh. It is a mega-scale new development that will provide a new economic platform in the heart of the capital city hence a new position has been created.
PROJECT DIRECTOR Group ArmourAbu Dhabi, UAERef: KP695-28 THE ROLE Our client will be providing cost and project management services on an industrial park project near Abu Dhabi. The scale of the project costing AED four billion is large and complex and will involve the completion of all infrastructure and a labour camp. The ideal candidate will:• Manage the strategic aspects of large
engagements and mitigate any risk. • Oversee senior managers working on client
engagements within practice. • Review high-level deliverables across practice. • Ensures engagement reviews and quality-
assurance procedures take place for all practice engagements.
• Report profit and loss figures.
• Consolidate and analyse profitability, revenue, margins, bill rates and utilisation.
• Helps create pipeline forecasts and broad-based financial picture for practice.
RequirementsFinancial Management• Develop and meets revenue and other financial
goals for practice. • Accurately forecast revenue, profitability,
margins, bill rates and utilisation. • Manage the negotiation of contract pricing
when necessary. Business Development• Provide leadership and guidance in all aspects
of the sales cycle. • Takes a lead role in monitoring the
identification and development of strategic accounts.
• Involve as appropriate the sales team in order to achieve sales goals.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, ABU DHABIGroup ArmourAbu Dhabi, UAERef: KP695-12 THE ROLEWe are seeking an experienced structural engineer. Our client is a leading and forward-thinking company that has been involved in the construction of some of the most impressive structures in the last decade. They have a wealth of experience and commitment to quality at all times. They are highly thought of within the industry and are proud to say that over 90% of their customers return due to the exceptional service and quality of products.
The successful applicant will report directly to the Associate Director. You will be responsible for scheme, concept and estimate designs to British / European Standards with the management and monitoring of design budget information where appropriate.
Reporting programme status at appropriate frequency, they will also liaise with clients,engineers, architects and other internal departments to achieve appropriate designs.
You will also be required to attend design team- and technical launch meetings. This will enable the job holder to assist with product research, design and development and provide design input to draft people on a day-to-day basis. In addition you will provide mentoring and technical assistance to junior members and assist with training.
PQS QUANTITY SURVEYOR Group ArmourDoha, QatarRef: KP695-11 THE ROLEProject Quantity Surveyor (PQS) Or client is a private quantity surveying practice that has an established reputation within the UK and for the past 7-8 years in the Middle East.
The JobThe Quantity Surveyor / Project Quantity Surveyor will handle a range of construction projects including a number of ‘blue chip’
clients. You will be expected to run projects from inception (feasibility studies and client budget estimates from architect drawings) through to completion of final accounts.
The Quantity Surveyor will have the autonomy to head up and work closely with the clients covering every aspect of pre and post contract and project management work whilst joining a good team of circa 20 - 25 people.
RequirementsB.Sc. in Quantity Surveying or related subject 6 years’ Quantity Surveying experience PQS / Consultancy background Construction experience.
SENIOR PLANNER (MEP)Location: Abu Dhabi
Organisation description:Our client is a leading building contractor, across a variety of sectors including industrial, commercial, retail and major building projects.
THE ROLEA position has become available for a senior project planner. Projects will involve new build and large renovation projects up to $200 million in value. You will be involved in tender opportunities,
presentation of contractors proposals, logistics planning, tender and construction planning.
RequirementsCandidates MUST have experience working as an MEP Planner for a construction main contractor on new build projects.
OUR CLIENT IS ALSO ONLY INTERESTED IN CANDIDATES WHO COME FROM THE UK OR IRELAND AND ARE CURRENTLY BASED WITHIN THE GCC REGION – IMMEDIATE START AVAILABLE FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.
status ExecutionUpdate Construction work is scheduled to start in March 2010 on
the qatar Bahrain Causeway. Completion of the railway is expected by 2015.
owner qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundationconsultant COWI - qatarcontractor VINCI Construction
Project NOGA - AWALI FIELD DEVELOPMENTvalue (Us $) 1,500
status ExecutionUpdate The production from the field is expected to be 75,000 barrels
per day (bpd) within five years and reach 100,000 barrels per day. And to raise the natural gas output to 2.5 billion cubic feet a day from 1.7 billion cubic feet at present.
owner Bahrain National Oil & Gas Authority (NOGA)contractor Baker Hughes
Project BAHRAIN 11KV DISTRIBUTION NETWORK REINFORCEMENTvalue (Us $) 1000
status ExecutionUpdate Towell Al-Zawraa Engineering Services Company has been
awarded the main contract for the project.owner Bahrain Ministry of Electricity and Water
contractor Towell Al-Zawraa Project DURRAT AL BAHRAIN - GOLF COURSE CLUB
value (Us $) 955status DesignUpdate The development is still in design.owner Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain Company
consultant WS Atkins and Project NOMAS TOWERS - BAHRAIN
value (Us $) 800status DesignUpdate Tender for main contract
has not been issued yet.owner Nomas Enterprises
consultant WS Atkins and Project MARINA WEST RESORT - BAHRAIN
value (Us $) 700status ExecutionUpdate Construction work is in process scheduled to be completed
during March 2010.owner Marina West Real Estate Company
value (Us $) 600status ExecutionUpdate The project is scheduled for commissioning in September 2011.owner Bahrain Ministry of Finance & National Economy (MoFNE)
consultant Mott MacDonald contractor Degremont SA
Project NORTH BAHRAIN NEW TOWN (NBNT) - PHASE ONEvalue (Us $) 500
status DesignUpdate Construction work is expected to start in June 2010.owner Bahrain Ministry of Works
consultant Ama - ArchitectureProject BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ExPANSION - PHASE ONE
value (Us $) 400status DesignUpdate BAC will invite architects for some facilities within two
weeks and then will invite consultants for the engineering design of the new passenger terminal. Construction work is expected to start on terminal two by June 2010.
owner Bahrain Ministry of Worksconsultant Jacobs Engineering
Project DIAR AL MUHARRAq - PHASE ONE - INFRASTRUCTUREvalue (Us $) 400
status DesignUpdate Detail design work is in progress on the development.
Tender for the main contract will be issued in December 2009. Infrastructure work will start in June 2010.
owner Kuwait Finance House (KFH)consultant Hyder Consulting
Project DILMUNIA HEALTH ISLAND - INFRASTRUCTUREvalue (Us $) 400
status DesignUpdate Mott MacDonald has been awarded design and supervision
contract on the infrastructure. Construction work will complete in June 2013.
owner Ithmaar Development Company (IDC)consultant Mott MacDonald
KUWAitProject KMOE - SUBIyA POWER PLANT
value (Us $) 3,000status ExecutionUpdate The consortium of Hyundai Heavy Industries
and General Electric (GE) has been awarded the main contract for the project.
owner Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Watercontractor Hyundai Heavy
Project SUBIyA CAUSEWAy (SHAIKH JABER AL AHMED AL SABAH value (Us $) 2700
status BiddingUpdate Tender has been issued for the main contract. Bid submission
is expected by June 8, 2010.owner Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW)
consultant COWI - KuwaitProject KOC FACILITIES UPGRADE & FLOW LINE REPLACEMENT - GROUP B
value (Us $) 2000status ExecutionUpdate Commissioning has been delayed until q1 2010.owner Kuwait Oil Company (KOC)
contractor Petrofac - SKECProject KMOE - AL ZOUR NORTH PHASE 1 - POWER
value (Us $) 1800status BiddingUpdate The bid submission for the main contract
is due on 29 December 2009.owner Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water
A number of infrastructure development projects are currently up for tender in Kuwait.
50 THE BIG PROJECT February 2010
tenders
Project KMOE - AL ZOUR POWER & DESALINATION PHASE 2 - POWERvalue (Us $) 1700
status ExecutionUpdate National Contracting Company (NCC) has been awarded the
main contract for the project.owner Kuwait Ministry of Energy
contractor National Project SILK CITy - MUBARAK TOWER
value (Us $) 1500status DesignUpdate Silk City Development will be separated from grand
projects (Failka island, Bubiyan port) and will be executed on a B.O.T basis.
owner Tamdeen Real Estate - Ajial Real Estateconsultant OHA Engineering
Project KMOE - SHUAIBA NORTH - POWERvalue (Us $) 1300
status ExecutionUpdate Sources indicate that construction is expected to be
complete by June 2010.owner Kuwait Ministry of Energy
consultant Parsons contractor Doosan Heavy
Project KMOE - AL ZOUR NORTH PHASE 2 - DESALINATIONvalue (Us $) 1140
status BiddingUpdate The main bid submission is due
around 29 December 2009.owner Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water
consultant Parsons Project KMPW - JABER AL AHMED AL SABAH HOSPITAL (SOUTH SURRA HOSPITAL)
value (Us $) 1091status ExecutionUpdate Kuwait Arab Contractors Company has been appointed as
main contractor.owner Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW)
consultant Gulf Consult contractor Kuwait Arab
Project KOC - GATHERING CENTRE 24 AND WATER INJECTION IN SABRIyAvalue (Us $) 1000
status ExecutionUpdate Sources indicate that construction work is progressing and
should be commissioned as planned.owner Kuwait Oil Company (KOC)
status BiddingUpdate The bid submission date for the EPC contract has been
extended to January 26, 2010.owner Saudi Aramco
consultant Worley-Petrocon Project AL WASL DEVELOPMENT IN RIyADH
value (Us $) 12,500status ExecutionUpdate The second phase of the earthworks is expected to start
by October 2009.owner Limitless
Project KINGDOM CITy - HIGH TOWERvalue (Us $) 10,000
status DesignUpdate The project is awaiting initial approval from Jeddah
Municipality to start construction work.owner Kingdom Holding Company (KHC)
consultant ArupProject JIZAN ECONOMIC CITy - POWER PLANT
value (Us $) 9000status ExecutionUpdate The project is expected to be completed in February 2011.owner Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA)
consultant MMC Corporation contractor National
Project SAUDI EGyPT (RED SEA) POWER INTERCONNECTIONvalue (Us $) 8500
status BiddingUpdate The main award is due in February 2010.owner Egyptian Ministry of Electricity & Energy / Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Water & Electricityconsultant Tractebel & Cesi
Project MEDINA KNOWLEDGE ECONOMIC CITy (KEC)value (Us $) 7000
status DesignUpdate Tender document for grading work is expected to be issued
in January 2010.owner Medina Knowledge Economic City (KEC)
consultant Hellmuth; Obata &Project KING ABDULLAH FINANCIAL CENTRE IN RIyADH
value (Us $) 5426status ExecutionUpdate Saudi Binladin Group has been awarded the main contract
for GCC Central Bank Tower and World Trade Centre.owner Public Pension Agency (PPC)
Project PIF - NORTH SOUTH RAILWAy (NSR)value (Us $) 5000
status ExecutionUpdate Thales and Saudi Binladin Group
were awarded the communications and security systems contract on the North South Railway project.
owner Public Investment Fund (PIF)consultant Berger - Systra - contractor Saudi Binladin United Arab Emirates
(photo saved in folder as abu dhabi ) Project ENEC - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
value (Us $) 15,000status ExecutionUpdate The joint venture of Kepco - Hyundai Samsung has been
awarded the main contract for the project.owner Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec)
consultant CH2M Hillcontractor Kepco - Hyundai
Project ADNOC - SOUR GAS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - SHAH FIELDvalue (Us $) 14,300
status BiddingUpdate A technical bid has been submitted for Sulpher Pipeline, Gas
Gathering Facility, shah Field O&U and Sulphur Recovery Units packages.
owner Abu Dhabi National Oil Company - ConocoPhillips JVProject ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ExPANSION - PHASE ONE -
Coming up next month: bridges railways roofing/cladding Pmv
Feedback at the big Project we welcome and value your feedback. Whether you’ve got a story to tell, an industry issue you simply want to get off your chest or if you would like to suggest how we can improve the magazine to meet your needs, get in touch. email: [email protected]
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sense and sustainability
Regional hotels turn their attention to
improving green credentialsOCTOBER 2009
ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEERING • CONSTRUCTION
MOBILE MONEYMarwan Al Qamzi reveals the challenges of completing the Middle East’s first monorail.
PROFILEABB chief on the state of the power and automation industry in today’s climate
GOING GREENThe pros and cons of energy production versus energy-efficiency
BANKING ON ITMAG Group CEO on why banks need to start lending sooner rather than later
JULY 2009
ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEER ING • CONSTRUCT ION • REAL ESTATE
ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEER ING • CONSTRUCT ION
August 2009
sense and sustainabilityRegional hotels turn their attention to improving green credentials
cable creationDucab reveals plans for the future in the Middle East’s cabling industry
Filling in the gapsPittsburgh Corning Europe on taking the insulation market by storm
IFA Hotels & Resorts’ Vice President on the Palm Jumeirah launch
golden opportunity?
August TheBigProject.indd 1 7/28/09 10:11:04 AM
ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEER ING • CONSTRUCT ION • REAL ESTATE
OCTOBER 2009
After an uncertain year, what’s next for
Cityscape?
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
THE BIG PROJECTPhilippe Chaix, Managing Director of EPAD on Paris’ La Defense district
SUPPLIERHörmann Middle East reveals its plans for the region
FEATURERitchie Bros boss on the construction vehicle market
TBP October.indd 1 9/28/09 3:27 PM
NOVEMBER 2009
ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEERING • CONSTRUCTION
JANUARY 2010
Market analysis and 10 projects you should know about
QATAR UPDATE
Shopping tips from trade experts in the Middle East
BUYERS’ GUIDE TO STEEL
How construction of the world’s tallest building has paved the way for future mega-projects
B U R JB U R JB U R JKHALIFAKHALIFAKHALIFA
OTHERS: ABU DHABI INVESTMENT PAINT SUPPLIERS BUILDING CODES
PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
New Year S p e c i a l Pull-out 2010 calendar inside
OCTOBER 2009
UNDER THE
ARCHITECTURE • ENGINEER ING • CONSTRUCT ION • REAL ESTATE
NOVEMBER 2009
SINK OR SWIM?Septech boss, David Heffernan on
survival in the water industry
SOFTWARE SOLUTIONSCCS’s General Manager on the
benefits of construction software
GULF STATES REPORTRLB’s construction analysis on
the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait
BAHRAIN BOOM?
TBP November.indd 1 10/29/09 1:11 PM
During the construction boom of 2006, it was widely believed that Dubai had 15-25% of the world’s
cranes, but it’s unlikely that this is true.Ahead of the Middle East Cranes
Conference taking place from February 24-25 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, Sharjah-based Tosh General Trading LLC director Jitu Rohera updates us on the current state of the market: “At the advance stage of Middle East project implementations, substantial demand for new and used cranes was created, boosting
>> smALL tALK <<the sales and profits. But over a period of time there was a slowdown in the progress of ongoing projects.
“In reality there were times when debtors got slow in paying up and creditors demanded repayment. In spite of financial difficulties and low liquidity in the market, crane sales are moderate but demand for cranes in Middle East is well-placed, being backed by requirements from new construction projects and oil refinery project expansions.”
