“OUR REPUTATION IS OUR BIGGEST ASSET” AL BAWANI’S CEO ENG. FAKHER AL SHAWAF SHARES HIS VISION FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD IN SAUDI ARABIA ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS JULY 2021 • ISSUE 777CONTENTS JULY 2021 • ISSUE 777 Saudi contractor Al Bawani’s CEO, Eng. Fakher Al Shawaf, outlines what it takes to succeed in the Kingdom’s competitive market CO V ER S TOR Y 24 INTERVIEW Egypt’s MT Architects shares its design and architecture prospects for the New Administrative Capital EXPO EXCLUSIVE ENOC’s Group CEO provides an insight into the “Service Station of the Future” at the Expo 2020 Dubai site INSIGHTS Netix Global B.V. is set to fuel Brown eld Revolution in the region with a new program launch INFRASTRUCTURE Hassan Allam Holding reveals plans for infrastructure growth in the water and transport sector across Africa EDITOR’S LETTER Ashley Williams bids farewell to the region’s construction industry as he pens his nal column for the title ONE-ON-ONE Alex Davies, Chief Commercial Of cer for Dubai Holding Real Estate, talks to Disha Dadlani about the business’ portfolio, which maps the coastline of Dubai 10 12 14 16 20 22 STAT OF THE MONTH $9.8M GREEN ECO FRIENDLY ZONE Ajman Free Zone on using 297 tonnes of steel and 13,130m3 of concrete for the project QUOTE OF THE MONTH “GOOD PIPELINE FOR KSA” Despite its bankruptcy case, Katerra remains optimistic about its Saudi business 08 06 FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 Mohammed Al Atwaan, Project Manager of Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, speaks to Ranju Warrier about building “the world’s rst fully dismantlable stadium” at the FIFA World Cup 2022 30 JULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 3WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM4 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM PUBLISHED BY AND © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. PO Box 500024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates TEL +971 4 444 3000 WEB: WWW.ITP.COM Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi MANAGING DIRECTOR Alex Reeve EDITORIAL CW EDITOR ashley.williams@itp.com CW DIGITAL EDITOR ranju.warrier@itp.com CW MULTIMEDIA REPORTER disha.dadlani@itp.com MEP EDITOR anup.oommen@itp.com PMV EDITOR dennis.daniel@itp.com FM EDITOR rajiv.pillai@itp.com ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Saraswati Agarwal TEL +971 4 444 3352, EMAIL saraswati.agarwal@itp.com SENIOR SALES MANAGER Moutaz Gadelhak TEL +971 4 444 3177, EMAIL moutaz.gadelhak@itp.com ITP LIVE GENERAL MANAGER Ahmad Bashour TEL +971 4 444 3549, EMAIL ahmad.bashour@itp.com STUDIO SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Aasiya Jagadeesh, Ajith Narendra, Fritz John Asuro PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION GROUP PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR Kyle Smith PRODUCTION MANAGER Basel Al Kassem PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Mahendra Pawar SENIOR IMAGE EDITOR Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Avinash Pereira CIRCULATION EXECUTIVE Rajesh Pillai MARKETING DIRECTOR OF AWARDS & MARKETING Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies WEB www.ConstructionWeekOnline.com SUBSCRIBE online at www.itp.com/subscriptions NOTICE The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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The most important project, contract, and tender information, updated every week To have your copy of Construction Week delivered to your doorstep, subscribe by logging on to www.itp.com/subscriptionsMARBLE GRANITE QUARTZITE ONYX TRAVERTINE QUARTZ PRECIOUS STONE Surface Solutions, Designed By Nature www.glaze.ae/ Staturio Marble6 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021 QUOTE OF THE MONTH WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM KATERRA NOTES “GOOD BUSINESS PIPELINE” FOR KSA DESPITE BANKRUPTCY CASE US-based tech-enabled off- site construction company Katerra is currently wading through troubled waters, but simultaneously ensuring business continuity for its international operations and hinging on to a debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing of $35m, from SB Investment Advisers (UK) Limited. The company and certain of its US and Cayman Island entities recently — voluntarily — filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, as it continues taking steps to conduct a marketing and sale process to maximise value for its stakeholders, it said in a statement. The $35m DIP financing from SB Investment Advisers (UK) Limited will be used to fund the parent company’s operations during the Chapter 11 process. Katerra’s bankruptcy filing does not include or impact the day-to-day operations of its international affiliates, such as Katerra Saudi Arabia and Katerra India, which was formerly KEF Katerra. Speaking with Construction Week, Ghassan Mirdad, President and CEO of Katerra Saudi Arabia, said: “Katerra Saudi Arabia has noted that international operations are not part of the Chapter 11 filing in the US. We’re pleased to be moving ahead with our activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with strong demand and a good pipeline of business.” “Katerra has multiple projects and activities underway across Saudi Arabia. The company is both committed to the completion of all ongoing projects and is actively seeking new projects. We look forward to continuing our productive relationships with both customers and vendors over time,” he said in a statement. At present, Katerra Saudi Arabia boasts a significant pipeline of customers providing substantial revenue visibility in the Kingdom. Mirdad shared with Construction Week: “Katerra Saudi Arabia intends to continue to make competitive business decisions in the Middle East based on the attractiveness of the project. While we cannot comment on the status of individual projects at present, Katerra has faced challenges — like most contractors — due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected operations in KSA. However, we are optimistic about the next few months and are looking forward to building a significant pipeline of business in the Kingdom.” The company has a portfolio of residential projects across the Kingdom, including Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company (NHC), related to approximately 14,000 housing units being built by Katerra. Katerra foresees having a dozen sites under-construction by the end of the year with five manufacturing facilities currently operational in the Kingdom. The company set up its first offices in Saudi Arabia in 2019. Within one year, it grew its workforce to more than 2,000 people across 30 sites and delivering a home a day on each site. The company also established four fully functional onsite factories to deliver 350-400 homes a month. In 2020, a Katerra spokesperson confirmed to Construction Week that the company was bidding (at the time) for the gigaprojects in KSA as well as projects in retail, commercial and healthcare. The construction company “is committed to the completion of all ongoing projects and actively seeking new projects” in the Kingdom, Ghassan Mirdad, President & CEO of Katerra Saudi Arabia shares Katerra’s bankruptcy ling does not include or impact the day-to-day operations of its international af lliates, such as Katerra Saudi Arabia and Katerra India [Image: Supplied]Constructive. Credible. Connected Construction Week is the leading industry brand delivering exclusive multimedia content that matters to the Middle East. Site Visits Experience hands-on access to the region’s construction sites through our multimedia platforms. Exclusive columns Get daily insights from the industry experts shaping the cities of the Middle East. Lists Read our comprehensive annual ranking of the Middle East’s most powerful names from the built environment. Multimedia platforms Be the first to hear our weekly podcast series, world-renowned webinar series and thought-provoking range of videos. Events Get early bird access to be first in line for our industry-leading conferences and awards. Tenders Learn about the latest tenders from the most exciting projects and developments throughout the Middle East. AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION Sign up today for unrestricted access to ConstructionWeekOnline.com8 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021 STAT OF THE MONTH WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM 297 TONNES OF STEEL AND 13,130M3 OF CONCRETE MAKES UP AJMAN FREE ZONE’S $9.8M GREEN ZONE PROJECT Ajman Free Zone’s (AFZ) $9.8m (AED36m) Green Eco-Friendly Zone has transcended the future of warehousing into a more sustainable one for investors and businesses, as it aims to ‘add value’ to the emirate’s business sector. The development, which has a built up area of 9,070m2, is home to 70 storage facilities, of which 58 measure 100m2, while 12 others are 200m2. Construction work on the green zone project commenced on 28 June 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak and continued to impact businesses. But, AFZ executed the project with the highest standard of safety to make sure it maintained the completion schedule. Construction Week spoke to Mohammed Ahmed AlZarooni, Facilities and Services Director at AFZ to gain insights on how the authority implemented the project along with the main contractor Al Zamalek, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to AlZarooni, the COVID-19 pandemic “slowed down the construction with delays in the delivery of materials”. This was mainly because of limited production by some of the manufacturing companies that were majorly impacted by the pandemic. He recalled: “To hurdle this challenge, we turned to ex-stock suppliers who could provide us the alternatives without compromising on quality. “We had to come up with a plan to ensure we could timely work on all the requirements, to simultaneously meet the demands of the construction work.” Amid the slowdown and delay in supply over the past year, the one reason that accelerated the construction activities of the Green Eco Friendly Zone has been its “100% focus on UAE-based suppliers, contractors and subcontractors”. Ajman-based Al Zamalek, which is the main contractor has also provided MEP services. Bel Yoahah Architectural & Engineering Consultants is the MEP consultant of the project, and is also providing architect of record services. The project has used 297 tonnes of steel; 1,181 tonnes of reinforcement steel rebars; 13,130m3 of concrete; 60m2 of glass; and 552m2 of aluminium to date. Ajman Free Zone has made sure that more than 30% of materials used in the project “contain post-industrial and/or post-consumer recycled content”. More than 20% of the total materials used in the project possess recycled content, with over 20% of the materials being procured regionally,. According to AlZarooni the Green Eco Friendly Zone’s sustainability standards and the move to ‘localise supply chain’ is what make the project “eco-friendly” in its true sense. The Green Eco Friendly Zone has a built up area of 9,070m2 and features 70 storage facilities, of which 58 measure 100m2, while 12 others are 200m2 [Image: Ajman Free Zone] More than 30% of materials used in the construction of Green Eco Friendly Zone contains “post- industrial and post-consumer recycled content”INTERVIEW WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMJULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 9 RADISSON HOTEL GROUP STRENGTHENS FOCUS ON SERVICED APARTMENTS TO FUEL DEVELOPMENT PLANS RADISSON HOTEL GROUP STRENGTHENS FOCUS ON SERVICED APARTMENTS TO FUEL DEVELOPMENT PLANS Elie Milky, Vice President Business Development Middle East, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan chats with Construction Week about the hotel group’s growing global presence, focus on KSA, plans to maximise efforts towards signing serviced apartments, and a post-pandemic approach Radisson Hotel Group is accelerating its hotel signings within the Middle East and Africa markets, with the most recent property launches in Riyadh with Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Al Qurtuba; and in Dubai with Radisson Hotel Dubai Damac Hills; and with signings in Djibouti with Radisson Hotel Djibouti; and in Morocco with Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle. Growing presence Speaking with Construction Week, Elie Milky, Vice President of Business Development in the Middle East, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan, said that the hotel group signed — in 2020 — five deals and 1,500 keys including a resort in Dubai, a resort in Greece, standalone serviced apartments in Pakistan and hotel and serviced apartments in Riyadh. “Of the 1,500 keys, 600 of them will open this year. We have also signed two resorts in Saudi Arabia. Our focus has been on serviced apartments and resorts in the past 12-18 months,” he said. Focus on serviced apartments Noting an increased interest towards serviced apartments, the hotel group has been signing and offering such properties for 20 years. Serviced apartments’ have amassed interest from investors and consumers alike, Milky explained, adding that the popularity of such property was linked to the attractiveness of the model, as well as the high profitability margins and lower risk available to investors. While the hotel group delivered on the demand for serviced apartments pre-pandemic, this demand increased further during the global health crisis. “None of our serviced apartments’ operations in EMEA shut or lost money during the time, but 20-30% of our hotels shut during the pandemic and lost money. This goes to show how attractive the [serviced apartments] model is.” Radisson Group’s KSA operations Commenting on Radisson Group’s engagement in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on the capital, Milky said: “If you look at our existing portfolio in Riyadh, it is the most solid portfolio we have in the Kingdom. Riyadh is the powerhouse for Saudi Arabia. Our newly-launched Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Al Qurtuba, will be our fifth hotel in Riyadh, and our 25th hotel in Saudi Arabia.” With Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Al Qurtuba, Radisson aims to have a “balanced portfolio” in the capital. “Furthermore, we will soon be finalising our first Radisson Individuals for the region, potentially in Saudi Arabia,” Milky added. Meanwhile, Radisson Hotel Group is in “preliminary discussions” with different arms of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in Saudi Arabia to discuss some of the gigaprojects aligned with the positioning of the hospitality brand. The hospitality giant is eyeing developments in the Eastern Province, developments outside Riyadh and on the Red Sea. “While our interest is there, we haven’t advanced on any of the discussions. I believe that we will be able to sign a few hotels and resorts with PIF and some of the giga developments in the next 12-18 months,” Milky stated. Forward-looking approach Radisson Hotel Group’s five-year development plan, which was recently updated, in view of the current environment, is on-track, Milky said. For the Middle East region, the hospitality group aims to finalise five to seven signings and 1,000-1,500 keys per year. Commenting on the company’s ambitious targets, Milky concluded: “We look to double our portfolio in the Middle East in the next five years. We will keep the momentum going up to 2025 with the five-year plan; we are on track to deliver accordingly.” Radisson Hotel Dubai Damac Hills [Image: Supplied]Next >