< Previous40 CONSTRUCTION WEEK APRIL 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM THE BIG PICTURE FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEASTLOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ MASTERPLAN, SIZES OF INNER RESIDENTIAL PLOTS WITHIN MOZOON START FROM 320M2. 320M2 APRIL 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 41 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM THE BIG PICTURE Bahrain’s Diyar Al Muharraq has launched its latest freehold residential plots project, Mozoon, which provides a prime waterfront location overlooking the main canal. [Image: Supplied]42 CONSTRUCTION WEEK APRIL 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The developer is using post-tensioning concrete, which not only helps reduce cost but builds the structure ef ciently Under Saudi Arabia’s National Trans- formation Programme (NTP), which was launched in 2016, the development of the public transport system has been considered as one of the key areas for the kingdom’s transporta- tion sector. The development of the public transport network addresses several strategic objectives including energy-saving environmental conservation, and improving the quality of life for Saudi nationals, residents, and visitors in the country. Supporting these objectives is the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda that aims to create a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation, which is part of the country’s sustained period of infrastructure expansion and regeneration. As part of the two-day virtual KSA Infrastructure Summit, held on 2 and 3 March 2021, Construction Week brought together government representatives, industry experts, and key contractors to address the issues and opportunities for KSA’s infrastructure development. The summit featured a series of four panel discussions and a keynote speech, delivered by Jonathan Timms, Chief Design and Development Officer at Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA). ENABLING TRANSPORT ENABLING TRANSPORT INFRA DEVELOPMENTINFRA DEVELOPMENT Infrastructure is the key enabler of the growth of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and major infrastructure proj- ects across the country including the ongoing Riyadh Metro have been a key factor in underpinning this growth. Speaking at the panel titled, ‘Analysing the Current State of Saudi Arabia’s Infrastructure Developments’, were industry experts including Diriyah Gate Development Authority’s Senior Development Director, Mohamed Saad; ACCIONA Cultural Engineering’s Country Manager for KSA, Daniel Orti; Depa Interior’s Director, Abdoullah Albizreh; and Autodesk’s Senior Director for Infrastructure Industry and Business Strategy, Theo Agelopoulos. Opening the panel discussion, ACCIONA’s Orti said: “The infrastructure development will enable the social development and cultural development of Saudi Arabia. Projects including the development of water treatment plants as well as desalination plants are set to shape the Kingdom, further supporting Vision 2030.” Supporting Orti’s comments, Albizreh explained: “Saudi Arabia’s construction and infrastructure is probably one of the largest in the GCC and transportation sector has been one of the biggest contributors. We’ve seen airports upgrade expansion as well as the development of Riyadh Metro.” Joining the panel from the US, Autodesk’s Agelopoulos, stressed that “the level of commitment from the Kingdom to make the appropriate investments” has been something that has massively boosted the development of the infrastructure sector in the Kingdom. Stressing on how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the sector to shift to technology adoption, DGDA’s Saad remarked: “COVID-19 has changed the way we do business. It has become more evident that investing in digital infrastructure for companies and countries is not a luxury but a must.” “Saudi has great potential in digital transformation.” KSA INFRA DEFINING THE “TRANSFORMATIVE” ROLE OF SAUDI ARABIA’S INFRASTRUCTURE Construction Week highlights the key takeaways from the virtual KSA Infrastructure Summit that addressed the issues and opportunities surrounding the kingdom’s infrastructure developmentAPRIL 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 43WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM COLLABORATION IS “MOST FUNDAMENTAL” Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” — this is true for the construction and infrastructure sectors, where collaboration continues to shine like a king. The second panel on Day 1 of the summit, titled ‘Building an Integrated Public Transport System’, was headlined by Toby Randle, Fenwick Elliott’s Lead Partner for Saudi Arabia; Roger Cruickshank, SNC- Lavalin’s Atkins Acuity’s Senior Director; and Alexandre Jonard, Systra’s Project Director. Focusing on the dominant options for travel in the Kingdom and the diversification of the transport sector within Saudi Arabia, panellists collectively agreed that for the Kingdom’s infrastructure development to prosper, “there must be and continue to be better collaboration.” Highlighting collaboration as the “most fundamental” process for the industry, Randle said: “The best way to deliver a project is to continue to improve collaboration and maintain transparency. There must be continued collaboration between all parties, mainly five stakeholders comprising founder, owner, designer, contractor, subcontractor, and then there is a sixth one – the supply chain. Talking about how lawyers, such as himself, could add value right from the construction stage of a project, Randle stressed: “It is important for lawyers to get involved right during the construction stage, and not the stage of the dispute. This should be to assist the parties to collaborate, to identify what the problem is at an early stage, to recognise further challenges, and to identify the right solutions.” Randle stressed that the four Cs that are key in delivering transport infrastructure projects are collaboration, commitment, cashflow, and continuity. During the discussion, Jonard reflected on Saudi Arabia’s focus on rail infrastructure following the development of Riyadh Metro. He added: “I see a big change in Saudi Arabia, and the transportation sector is one of them. Previously, the Kingdom had been mainly focusing on air transport. But on the other side, what we have seen, with the development of major projects including Riyadh Metro, the Kingdom has been investing a lot in transportation and railway, not only for the city but between different cities.” Cruickshank echoed Jonard’s comments. He said that there has been a revolution in the infrastructure sector in the kingdom. “It started with the demand to Riyadh, and from Riyadh to Northern Saudi Arabia. Now the focus is certainly on Riyadh and Jeddah, with Jeddah being on the back burner at the moment, but Riyadh is moving forward with the metro.” CW CAPSULE HIGHLIGHTS: There is a lot of blank canvas in Riyadh and across the Kingdom. It is so much easier to deliver a superb system, if you are starting afresh with a blank canvas.” A rendering of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Metro [Image: CW archives]KSA INFRA 44 CONSTRUCTION WEEK APRIL 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 pushed countries across the globe to improve their existing network of social infrastructure projects, essentially hospitals, medical centres, clinics, among other facilities, to cater to the rise in demand for healthcare services. This has been equally applicable to Saudi Arabia, which is home to about 500 hospitals. In line with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has been taking a positive direction for social infrastructure development, with the introduction of various schemes to build more schools, universities, and healthcare facilities. Revealing more about the change social infrastructure landscape has been experiencing in Saudi Arabia was ‘The Growth of Social Infrastructure in KSA’ panel, which hosted Eng. Nasser Al Shawaf, Director and Board Member at Al Bawani; Sultan Sobhi Batterjee, CEO of IHCC; and Richard Stratton, Partner and Managing Director of Cundall for the Middle East and North Africa. Looking back at how the pandemic impacted the design of social infrastructure projects, Cundall’s Stratton said: “The pandemic has forced industries to change. In terms of the impact on designing buildings, the reality is, we are still learning. The pandemic has probably lasted longer than most people initially thought. That has changed people’s views as we come out of it.” Meanwhile, Eng. Al Shawaf pointed out the government’s futuristic approach towards social infrastructure. He said: “Government spending has not remained traditional, it has become more creative and demanding. It’s time to wake up to the new reality. That’s new Saudi Arabia, you need to be more agile and creative to be successful.” However, the kingdom’s construction and infrastructure landscape are rapidly changing. The big question is: how can the big players respond to these changes? Batterjee explained that infrastructure in the kingdom has been becoming more “industrialised”. “We have to think more about manufacturing, and modularisation will play a big role in this switch.” “Saudi Arabia’s “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is Vision 2030 is outstanding, outstanding, where the where the whole country’s whole country’s initiatives and initiatives and goals have been goals have been cascaded down to cascaded down to actual milestones actual milestones and KPIs” and KPIs” Sultan Sobhi Batterjee, Sultan Sobhi Batterjee, CEO, IHCCCEO, IHCC “Saudi Arabia is a relatively young country, one where the government has been investing in infrastructure spending” Eng. Nasser Al Shawaf, Director and Board Member at Al Bawani EVOLVING NATURE OF EVOLVING NATURE OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURESOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE EduEduEduEd catcataacata ionionnon ffaff cilities inccludingngngngnngingn shshoolooloooo s as andndd uninnninnnnn vvervevevevervevevee sities are rreedede n nnninngnggnginininggg trtrttr dadidia titionalnanaaaaa buibuibuibub ldididldiidddddiding ngng ng ddesdesignigns for a post-CO-CO-CO---COCO-C-C-C VIDVIDDD-191-19 wowowowoo lrlddr[[[I[III[II[[ mmamamagmmm ge:e Pixabaay]y]y CW CAPSULE The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, study, and work. But with the oubreak of the pandemic, social distancing measures were put in place. This has increased the need for up and coming social infrastructure projects, including hospitals, schools, and universities to plan design changes for a post-COVID-19 world. These changes have ultimately called for such facilities, mainly schools and universities, to rede ne the traditional building designs.APRIL 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 45WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM ARE PPPs PROVIDING RIGHT “VALUE FOR MONEY”? For infrastructure ambitions to thrive, the involvement of the private sec- tor is inevitable. The limitations on investments caused by low oil prices have made way for large funding gaps, which can only be bridged through private sector involvement. Hence, the formation of public-private partnerships (PPPs), where a government entity collaborates with a private organisation to finance, build, and operate projects, including public transportation networks, education as well as healthcare and utility projects, support countries in situations when public finances remain strained. But, what is more interesting, is to find out the long-term benefits of increased adoption of PPPs for infrastructure projects. Are PPPs providing value for money and will they improve the functionality of projects? Panellists at ‘The Role of PPPs for Infrastructure Projects in KSA’ panel including ACCIONA’s Managing Director for the Middle East, Jesus Sancho, ENGIE’s Head of PPP’s for Saudi Arabia, Hyerin Park, and The Red Sea Development Company’s (TRSDC) Chief Project Delivery Officer, Ian Williamson, answered this question, while also touching upon how PPPs are benefiting the Kingdom. Reflecting on PPPs role as a long-term revenue source, Sancho said: “There is a huge pipeline of PPP projects announced in the GCC and Saudi Arabia makes for the majority of the pipeline.” “Traditionally, we have seen a mature market in the most scarce resources like power and water. The exciting part is how, after the National Transformation Programme, and the creation of the National Centre for Privatisation, we have seen a widening of the spectrum of all these sectors and projects that could be pending on a PPP scope. “Compared to EPC, the PPP scheme will give the company 25 - 30% more recurring revenue.” Sharing her experience as the head of PPP in Saudi Arabia at Engie, Park answered the million-dollar questions: what makes a PPP tender attractive to international developers? “Bankability - as simple as the answer is, it owes a bit of an explanation. We talk about funding gaps all the time. The world does not have a shortage of capital, it is just about finding the right investment-ready project.” PPPs have been receiving the fair share of attention they deserve in the Kingdom, mainly because they fundamentally diversify the economy. TRSDC’s Williamson remarked: “The model [PPP] lends itself from another source of revenue from the private sector.” However, the private sector has had certain worries about the level of risk being passed to them by the government in PPPs. “At the moment in Saudi Arabia, we are regulated under the government tender and procurement law. And the PPP law is under preparation,” explained Sancho. “We don’t want to get to a point in which we have to juggle between the sector law and the PPP law. It would be nice to have a clear definition and output of a PPP law that could give us the legal and commercial framework.” Sancho stressed while calling for a PPP law that it would be very helpful “to see on the PPP law to define full transparency”. FINAL NOTE Focusing on how can PPPs play a key role in addressing the challenges of ef ciency and capacity in the kingdom, Sancho said: “If done right, PPPs have the potential to save billions of dollars. And in the case of Saudi Arabia, for the next thirty years, for both direct and indirect costs. That is going to happen if it is implemented in the way that Vision 2030 and National Transformation Programme had underlined. 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Email the editor: ashley.williams@itp.com FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEAST The $544.5m (AED2bn) destination, which is being developed by Diamond Developers and under the umbrella of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has marked 35% construction completion on Phase 1 of the project. Construction on the rst set of residential villas at the destination has marked completion, with landscaping slated for completion by the end of 2020. Phase 1 will include the construction of 280 villas. The villas will feature three, four, and ve bedrooms, once complete. SHARJAH SUSTAINABLE CITY Location Sharjah Visited November 2020 Expo 2020 Dubai offered Construction Week the chance to be among the rst to experience Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion before it opens to the public later this year. The iconic pavilion, designed by Grimshaw Architects, sets an example for sustainable building design. Built to be net-zero for both energy and water, it features 1,055 photovoltaic panels arranged on a 130-metre-wide roof canopy and atop a series of ‘Energy Trees’. The pavilion also uses cutting- edge water-reduction strategies, water recycling and alternative water sources. SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION Location Expo 2020 Dubai Visited January 2021 Located at Sobha Hartland, the Experience Studio takes visitors on a behind-the-scenes journey of the aspects of its design and construction process. The Experience Studio highlights the quality, materials and efforts that go into delivering luxury living spaces to Dubai’s residents and its attention to detail in every aspect of the execution, workmanship and service. Upon arriving at the Sobha Experience Studio, visitors are welcomed into a theatre, where they can watch an informative video that introduces Sobha Realty. SOBHA EXPERIENCE SHOWROOM Location Dubai Visited February 2021PROJECTS WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMAPRIL 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 47 Following the easing of lockdown restrictions as a result of the impact of COVID-19, Construction Week conducted its rst site visit in almost six months to Kleindienst Group's The Heart of Europe - the $5bn master-planned leisure tourism island destination - off the coast of Dubai. Construction Week gathered updates of the man-made island's Côte d’Azur Resort, which comprises four boutique hotels – Monaco, Nice, Cannes and St. Tropez – and offering distinct European hospitality and culture in Dubai, and the Rainy Street covering 1km, where it will rain on command. THE HEART OF EUROPE Location Dubai Visited August 2020 Property development giant Ithra Dubai, which is wholly- owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), marked a major milestone on it’s One Za’abeel project in October 2020 with the nal lift of the 900-tonne second section of ‘The Link’. The Link quali es One Za’abeel to attempt to break the Guinness World Record title for the “Longest Cantilevered Building” in the world. Among the stakeholders of the One Za’abeel twin tower development include ALEC as the main contractor and WSP Middle East as the multi- disciplinary engineering consultant. ONE ZA'ABEEL Location Dubai Visited October 2020 Construction Week toured Al Marjan Island's upcoming $147.8m (AED543m) Mövenpick Resort and Hampton by Hilton hotel to note project updates and progress on both. Mövenpick Resort at Al Marjan Island is set to create new offerings for the emirate and a sense of community within a community. Meanwhile, Hampton by Hilton stands at 85% completion, slated for overall completion by next quarter in 2021. AL MARJAN ISLAND Location Ras Al Khaimah Visited November 2020 Deyaar has concluded 50% of the 46ha Midtown development through completion and delivery of rst two districts Afnan and Dania. Constituting a total of 13 buildings and more than 1,200 apartments, the two districts hosts more than 554 families.Phases three and four will add more than 2,973m2 of retail space to the development. Located in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Dubai Production City near Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, the Midtown development comprises more than 2,000 units and will be developed at a total cost of $163.3 (AED600m). MIDTOWN DEVELOPMENT Location Dubai Visited November 2020PROJECTS 48 CONSTRUCTION WEEK APRIL 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEAST VISIT WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM FOR PICTURES Located at Dubai's Science Park, Deyaar's rst design-and- build project is progressing ahead of schedule and will be delivered by December 2020. During an exclusive site visit to the project’s site, Ababneh told Construction Week that Deyaar had appointed design and engineering rm Kling Consult to supervise Bella Rose's design in April 2018. The project comprises 478 units, and its main contract was awarded to Condor Building Contracting in September 2018. DEYAAR'S BELLA ROSE Location Dubai, UAE Visited March 2020 One of the largest brown eld projects in the region, Alba's Line 6 expansion project was completed at the end of 2019 and is among the fastest expansion projects to be ever commissioned in the aluminium industry after just 23 months. Line 6 is one of the longest reduction lines in the world comprising 424 reduction cells built over an area of 1,400m2 – will add 540,000 metric tonnes per annum to the company’s total production capacity. ALBA Location Bahrain Visited March 2020 Dubai-based contractor ASGC Construction LLC, as the main contractor, is tasked with the Dubai Mall Boulevard Expansion project, which includes the conversion of multiple levels of the existing car parking to a double-height retail mall. Both, overall construction and MEP works at the project are 65% complete, with ASGC now moving ahead with t-out and nishing works, which includes the nal phase and external façade. ASGC is aiming to complete the project by September 2020. DUBAI MALL EXPANSION Location Dubai Visited April 2020 Dubai-based developer Samana Developers is currently in the nishing stages of its rst residential project with the handout letter being planned to be delivered in weeks. The development has a total of 122 units, with 116 comprising residential units. Samana Greens is located in the heart of Arjan within Dubailand. Samana Greens is an residential complex development comprising of studios, one and two bedroom apartments. SAMANA GREENS Location Dubai Visited May 2020Located within the master-planned mixed-use community Mohammed Bin Rashid City, along the 3.2km Dubai Water Canal, is Dubai-based real estate developer, Sobha Group’s $4bn (AED14.7bn) Sobha Hartland development - the group’s agship project in the Middle East. In October 2019, overall infrastructure work across Sobha Hartland was 90%. 30% of the 74.3ha master plan is enveloped in green spaces. Sobha Group employs 4,000 workers across its Hartland development, who recorded 27 million lost-time injury-free hours at the master community at the time of the site visit. SOBHA HARTLAND Location Dubai, UAE Visited November 2019 Located within the Jumeriah Golf Estates, Beaver Gulf's rst real estate development project - Zafran - is a $75m 40,413m2 residential development comprising 178.4m2 two-bedroom houses, as well as three-bedroom houses covering an area of 207.4m2 and 217.6m2. The project has crossed the 30% on site completion and is expected to be handed over on 20 October, 2020, coinciding with the start of the Expo 2020 Dubai. ZAFRAN Location Dubai, UAE Visited December 2019 Located in Downtown Dubai, the 75-storey tower will comprise 946 units, including studios, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom lofts and duplexes. Construction of the tower has been ongoing for 30 months, with the building being topped out in April 2019. Work on SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences is being carried out by Mapa & Gunal Construction, Aedas is involved as the architect, and the interiors are being led by Bishop Design SLS Location Dubai, UAE Visited January 2020 PROJECTS FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEASTVISIT WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM FOR PICTURES WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMAPRIL 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 49 Located off the shores of Muharraq, the kingdom’s historic former capital, Diyar Al Muharraq is a 12.2km2 waterfront development comprising a mix of residences, hotels, beaches and a shopping mall. Work on the project started in 2007 which will be divided into four to ve phases. Several contractors have been appointed for certain projects across the project, including Almoayyed Contracting Group, who are working on the Souq Al Baraha market. DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ Location Muharraq, Bahrain Visited February 2020Next >