< PreviousCOVER STORY 20 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Qatar at Cundall, tells Construction Week. He adds: “The entertainment industry is continuing to develop with a number of water and entertainment parks currently under development. There is also decentralisation of projects outside of the capital, with more resorts and eco-hotels on the horizon.” Hotel construction pipeline In the region, the hotel construction pipeline has been dominated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but Qatar also has been investing heavily in the tourism sector and stepping up construction activities to build more hotels and hotel apartments across the country. According to the COO, there are over 105 hotels and hotel apartments currently under construction. Approximately, 50 hotels from the pipeline will be finished in time of the tournament. Trenkel says: “The properties that are currently under construction will broaden Qatar’s appeal to a range of travellers and enhance the visitor experience, as we continue to turn the country into a world- leading destination. “These properties are at different stages of construction and each of these new hotels contributes a unique amenity or experience to Qatar’s strong portfolio of 183 properties, which are collectively made up of nearly 32,000 room keys.” Qatar recently opened the five- star Banyan Tree Doha, designed by renowned interior designer Jacques Garcia. According to Trenkel, other hotels set to open later this year include the JW Marriott West Bay, Steigenberger Hotel, and Pullman Doha West Bay by Accor. The Pullman Doha West Bay will feature 375 rooms and suites and 93 apartments. Meanwhile, the 53-storey JW Marriott West Bay will be home to 297 rooms. Qatar’s hotel construction portfolio also includes five hotels within Place “We have seen a wave of new hotels and hotel apartments, theme parks, shopping malls, and major leisure projects open and look forward to welcoming more in the lead up to and beyond the tournament” BERTHOLD TRENKEL COO, QATAR TOURISM Berthold Trenkel, Chief Operating Of cer, Qatar Tourism [Image: Supplied] Qatar recently opened the ve-star Banyan Tree Doha, designed by renowned interior designer Jacques Garcia [Image: Qatar Tourism] COVER STORY NOVEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 21WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM facilities, Cundall’s Dodds says: “We are starting to see hospitality companies looking into getting certified for wellness with the WELL Building Standard. “By incorporating WELL, owners can improve the overall human experience and differentiate from other hotels.” ‘Small is beautiful’ Qatar is an 11,500km2 peninsula extending northwards into the Arabian Gulf, with a coastline spanning 563km. “Personally, I find Qatar interesting and inspiring; as it provides incredible access to the Middle East,” Trenkel says. He adds: “It provides a convenience dimension due to the easy access and everything being reachable within 45-90 minutes from Doha – or as I sometimes call it ‘small is beautiful’.” For Trenkel, who previously held a similar position in Dubai Tourism, the experience gained from his global work in Paris, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Germany, South Korea, and Singapore flows into his new role as the COO at Qatar Tourism. As Construction Week wraps the first-ever interview with Trenkel and Qatar Tourism, the COO talks about his excitement as the country is open to fully- vaccinated tourists. “Now Qatar’s borders are open to all Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)- approved fully-vaccinated travellers. Those who visit us soon will be among the first to experience a host of new attractions, including theme parks, hotels, and hotel apartments as well as activities and restaurants,” he concludes. Vendome, a multi-billion Qatari Riyal mixed-use development in Lusail City. Spanning across 1.15km2, the development will also feature a mall with 580 different retail outlets. Wellness promotes tourism In Trenkel’s words, “Qatar is an idyllic destination for a relaxing getaway, offering sun, sea, and sand as well as world-class wellness resorts and facilities”. Trenkel, who took up the role as the COO in January 2021, stresses that Qatar Tourism aims to grow tourism demand, which fuels the domestic ecosystem in building world-class assets and attractions in the nation. He says: “We are aiming to create a tourism demand multiplier effect that will boost the domestic economy and strengthen ecosystems across hospitality, retail, food and beverages, cultural and creative industries, sports, transportation systems, and business events.” According to him, wellness plays a crucial role in improving the visitor experience and this has been supported by the construction of facilities that support wellness. The Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva- Som is one such unique, sustainable resort located in Al Ruwais that is adding to the hospitality ecosystem in Qatar. Spanning 280,000m2, the resort is set to be the largest wellness destination in the country and the first well-being resort in the region. Talking to Construction Week about the growing demand for wellness-certified QATAR TOURISM: FACTS & NEW PROJECTS Qatar Tourism shares interesting facts and a list of new tourism projects that have been completed and opened in the last 19 months As Qatar prepares to host the six- week-long FIFA World Cup 2022, here is a list of new hotels, theme parks, and football stadiums that visitors can experience. Berthold Trenkel, COO of Qatar Tourism also shared details of projects that excite him the most. • Qatar is set to welcome six million visitors a year by 2030 • Eight stadiums are built to host the FIFA World Cup 2022 • Qatar has over 183 properties comprising about 32,500 rooms • Over 100 new hotel and hotel apartments are under construction in the country • Zulal Wellness Resort, Pullman Hotel West Bay, and Place Vendome are set to open this year • Place Vendome will present a piece of Paris in Doha, with the development inspired by iconic Parisian Haussmann architecture Hospitality companies in Qatar are looking to get certi ed for wellness with the WELL Building Standard [Image: Qatar Tourism]LEADERS KSA 22 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The developer is using post-tensioning concrete, which not only helps reduce cost but builds the structure ef ciently The recent Construction Week Leaders KSA 2021 summit marked our inaugural conference in the Kingdom and outlined the huge developments in the country. The topics in focus at the conference ranged from affordable housing, opportunities in expanding within Saudi Arabia, growth of entertainment projects, to modular construction. The event was sponsored by Platinum Sponsor, Al Bawani; Gold Sponsor, Parsons; Silver Sponsor, Hammad & Al-Mehdar (HMFE); and Legal Partner, Reed Smith. The Leaders in Construction KSA 2021 conference was held at the Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences on 28 September 2021. MAIN BUSINESS HUB FOR THE MIDDLE EASTMAIN BUSINESS HUB FOR THE MIDDLE EAST In February 2021, Saudi Arabia announced it would cease contracts with foreign companies which do not have a regional headquarters in the Kingdom, effective from 2024. What does this mean for international firms which have thus far considered other countries its Middle East base (read: UAE); and what are the opportunities of expanding into the Kingdom? Construction Week explored this at its Leaders in Construction KSA Summit 2021, through the panel titled: ‘What Are the Opportunities for Expanding into Saudi Arabia?’ The panel was moderated by Construction Week’s Editor Ranju Warrier and featured Eng. Nasser Al Shawaf, Director/Board Member, Al Bawani; Martin Dufresne, Partner/ Design Principal, U+A; Suhaib Hammad, Head of Commercial & IP practice, Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law Firm. “Saudi Arabia of today is taking a much more holistic view when it comes to development,” said Eng. Al Shawaf, adding that the aforementioned decision and/or mandate issued by the Kingdom makes correct sense, and will ensure major spenders be conscious of the impact of such expenses on the economy. “Parties that we are buying from should ideally set up in the Kingdom and be closer to us [stakeholders].” Offering the legal perspective associated with the mandate, Hammad said: “Two of the main challenges in the region is finding the right talent and localisation. It has been tricky to bring expats to stay here. Further, he said: “We are trying to create a better environment to attract foreigners and foreign investment.” The new regulation will make companies “rethink” their strategy of how they are entering the market. Adherence to the new regulation also calls for companies to undergo a reset in terms of their operations and business function.” Dufresne concluded: “It’s an amazing opportunity to plunge into the varied options here in the Kingdom. And doing so entails understanding the objectives of the government to want to have firms in the Kingdom.” IDEAS, DISCUSSIONS, AND DELIBERATION SHINE AT LEADERS KSA 2021 Construction Week highlights the key takeaways from the Leaders in Construction KSA Summit that addressed the opportunities surrounding Saudi Arabia’s construction and housing sectors “The Kingdom is focused on “The Kingdom is focused on keeping foreign companies keeping foreign companies here so that they develop here so that they develop local talent, train people local talent, train people on-ground, and encourage on-ground, and encourage collaboration with local collaboration with local Saudi companies”Saudi companies” Suhaib Hammad Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law Firm Moderator, Ranju Warrier; Panellists, Eng Nasser Al Shawaf, Al Bawani; Martin Dufresne, U+A; Suhaib Hammad, Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law Firm [Images: ITP Images]LEADERS KSA NOVEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 23WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM “A NEW ERA”: LOOKING AT SAUDI ARABIA’S ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS Saudi Arabia is growing to be synonymous with entertainment in the Middle East with development of innovative rides, cultural and historical attractions, mega sporting hubs and cinemas driving this growth. But, what does this massive change and disruption mean for the Kingdom? Any change comes with its set of challenges. We explored all this and more topics in our panel focused on Saudi Arabia’s entertainment projects. The panel was moderated by Ranju Warrier, Editor of Construction Week featuring inputs from Kostas Dimitros, Business Development Director at Parsons, and William Hitch, Regional Director, KSA at Compass Project Consulting, on how the projects are changing the face of the Kingdom’s entertainment sector. Dimitros commented: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investing a lot in the entertainment sector mainly as a transformation for the economy and for the vision of the Ministry of Tourism.” As per figures released by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Tourism, the sector contributes to some 10% of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Last year, the tourist growth rate stood at 3.9%, while the global economy achieved 3.2%. Referring to the growth of entertainment projects in the Kingdom, Hitch said: “It’s a massive change as there wasn’t a big entertainment sector before. You’ve got a huge demand for entertainment projects from a young and dynamic population.” It is expected for the tourism sector to grow by 3.7% by 2029, which will contribute to more than $13bn in the global economy that equals 11.5% of the global GDP. Furthermore, Dimitros alluded to the opportunities the sector has created for Saudi Arabia’s construction industry, and how it is strengthening collaboration between developers. The Kingdom has created a very healthy competitive environment with all of these mega developments. KEYNOTE SPEECH At the half-day conference, we began proceedings with a keynote speech by Ibrahim Al Asseri, President, Al Bawani Capital, who deliberated on the changes and challenges as well as opportunities prevalent in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry, aligned with the National Transformation Plan and the Vision 2030. He stated that Saudi Arabia’s projects are becoming increasingly “complex and large”. On his part, Hitch noted: “It is all about opportunities. All of these towns and cities have children that need to go to certain places. And, this population demands entertainment across the entire Kingdom.” On a concluding note, both the panellists, Hitch and Dimitros indicated the significance of supply as well as talent in undertaking entertainment projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s extensive entertainment landscape Moderator, Ranju Warrier; Panellists, Kostas Dimitros, Business Development Director, Parsons, and William Hitch, Regional Director KSA – Compass Project Consulting [Images: ITP Images]LEADERS KSA 24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM CW CAPSULE In line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s Housing Program works to provide housing solutions that enable Saudi families to own and benefit from suitable houses based on their personal needs and financial capabilities. The program also seeks to improve housing conditions for current and future generations through the provision of suitable and guaranteed financing solutions. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN KSA’S HOUSING MARKETIN KSA’S HOUSING MARKET “A lot of young Saudis in the market have appreciation and understanding of different housing products.’’ Fouad Khoury, Vice President and Sr. Programs Director at Parsons Saudi Arabia’s push to build more affordable homes for the Kingdom, although having improved in the past couple of years, continues to face its struggles. We explored the opportunities, changes and challenges facing Saudi Arabia’s housing sector at the third panel of the half-day conference titled Addressing the opportunities and challenges in the Saudi housing market. The panel was moderated by Construction Week’s Editor Ranju Warrier and featured panellists in Fouad Khoury, Vice President and Sr. Programs Director at Parsons and Kaveh Samsamy, Partner, Development Management at Knight Frank. Speaking at the panel, Samsamy said: “One of the main challenges in terms of affordable housing is land prices. When they rise, it immediately puts pressure on affordable housing.” Commenting on the supply and demand for affordable housing in the Kingdom, Khoury said: “We have to be careful how to tailor it in order to include the majority.“ “Saudis are waiting to own their houses, and the government is trying to create the supply and therefore you have a situation where there is an increase in supply on housing.” He further said: “A lot of young Saudis in the market have appreciation of different housing products. Now, they are more accepting of what is being offered.” On a concluding note, Samsamy said: “The critical thing is how are we to deliver the affordable housing and then, we must put systems in place and better understand how to approach this.” Moderator, Ranju Warrier; Panellists, Fouad Khoury, Vice President and Sr. Programs Director at Parsons and Kaveh Samsamy, Partner, Development Management at Knight Frank [Images: ITP Images]LEADERS KSA NOVEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 25WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM IS MODULAR THE WAY FORWARD FOR SAUDI ARABIA’S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR? Success stories within Saudi Arabia’s busy and bustling construction sector all point towards one thing: that modular is the way forward. But, have we fully understood our modular capabilities yet and the opportunities available to us? Ranju Warrier, Editor of Construction Week, ignited a discussion among panellists Waleed Khaled, Regional Sales Director at Losberger De Boer and Ihab Ramlawi Managing Director and Co-Founder, DuPod on the final panel of the Leaders in Construction KSA Summit 2021. “‘Expertise’ is among the biggest challenges in KSA’s modular construction sector,” said Ihab Ramlawi of DuPod. He continued: “It is very hard to bring talent to the construction sector. When we work in a factory-controlled environment, we believe this will help bring the talent we want, including female talent. Plus, modular construction creates an environment for productivity.” “Saudis and non-Saudis are aware of the capabilities of modular construction, but there is a need for more training in this respect,” said Waleed Khaled of Losberger De Boer. Khaled further went on to commend the modular capabilities associated with the Jeddah Superdome project, which recently won the company the Modular Construction Project of the Year title at the CW KSA Awards. Khaled wrapped up the panel saying: “The look and feel of modular construction ten to twenty years ago and now is so different, and this is because of technology and the demands of clients. It is definitely a futuristic path and as leaders in the industry, we have to embrace this.” Construction Week successfully wrapped up its inaugural Leaders in Construction Saudi Arabia edition on the same days as the Construction Week KSA Awards, where key stakeholders, initiatives, projects and companies were awarded for excellence and commendable efforts instrumental to changing the landscape of Saudi’s construction sector. DID YOU MISS IT? We’ve got you covered! Look up the hashtags #LeadersKSA and #CWLeadersKSA for any social media coverage and/or relevant highlights and insights from the recently-concluded Leaders in Construction KSA Summit. The panels are also available for you to view across Construction Week’s YouTube channel. “The look and feel of “The look and feel of modular construction modular construction ten to twenty years ago ten to twenty years ago and now is so different, and now is so different, and this is because and this is because of technology and the of technology and the demands of clients.”demands of clients.” Waleed Khaled Regional Sales Director Losberger De Boer Moderator, Ranju Warrier; Panellists, Waleed Khaled, Regional Sales Director at Losberger De Boer and Ihab Ramlawi Managing Director and Co-Founder, DuPod [Images: ITP Images]26 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM HEALTHCARENOVEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 27 HEALTHCARE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Construction Week’s Multimedia Reporter, Disha Dadlani speaks to Ramez Al-Khayyat and Moutaz Al-Khayyat of UCC Holding, about The View Hospital, a 95,000m2 hotel-turned-hospital project located in the Al Qutaifiya district, close to Lusail, Katara and The Pearl Qatar Opening Image: Supplied HEALTHCARE REENGINEERED Healthcare is undergoing an overhaul in the capital of Qatar and this is evidenced in “high- end” amenities such as deluxe rooms, aquariums, suites, and a resort-esque healing garden concept within hospitals. Doha’s The View Hospital project has a fascinating story to tell, one that goes beyond its superlative façade and strategic location. The hotel-turned-hospital tells a story of dynamism, adaptability and flexibility. And at the helm of contracting affairs is Qatari construction giant UCC Holding, which falls under Qatari conglomerate Power International Holding. The 95,000m2 and 242-bed healthcare project, which was originally to be a hotel, underwent a transformative concept and design journey in a bid to aid the Qatar government and relieve the burden on public healthcare. UCC Holding, the main contractor of the project, has marked nearly 38% construction completion on The View Hospital, and is working to deliver it for the client, Assets Real Estate Development, Ramez Al-Khayyat, Vice Chairman and Group Managing Director of UCC Holding shared in an exclusive interview with the build and design, as it was still in its early stages. He said: “We increased the built up area by almost 20% at the shell and core stage to accommodate operating rooms, clinics, and emergency departments. However, we didn’t change too much in the rest of the building, barring the core in order to comply with healthcare requirements.” He further stated that the change in rooms’ design was limited, with only the system receiving an overhaul. "If we were to do this from scratch again and anywhere else, we would do it in the same manner," he said. Sharing a current update on the project, [Moutaz] Al-Khayyat said: "The 15-floor building shell and core has been completed and is currently undergoing final closure on the skeleton package. The screed and partitioning of all floors is ongoing along with a fully-functional mock up on various floors." The project is due to achieve construction completion by August 2022, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said. UCC Holding was among a “number of contractors that were invited to the tendering process, and won the Construction Week. The View Hospital will be operated by Elegancia Healthcare, and is being carried out in partnership with the internationally- renowned Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. A transformative approach Transforming a luxury hotel concept into a "high-end" healthcare project requires a reassessment through a macro perspective, an overhaul in terms of design, infrastructure and more. "This transformation meant we had to demolish the original skeleton and redesign the building, for example, to ensure the elevators were suitable for a hospital. Traffic circulation also had to be redesigned to ensure patients can be safely and swiftly moved throughout the building," said Moutaz Al-Khayyat, Group Chairman of UCC Holding. Change, if drastic, can increase associated costs. On his part, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat asserted that no compromises were made to transform the project into the hospital it is today, despite a revised mandate. The project, which was originally designed to be a luxury hotel, saw minimal changes in EXPO EXCLUSIVE 28 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM project based on the client's [Assets Real Estate Development] requirements, and were deemed the best technically and financially." The luxe hospital will feature a royal suite, VIP suites, deluxe inpatient room, entrance suite, companion bedrooms, and a healing garden among other features. Outlining the “luxury” aspect of the hospital, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said: “This means that we have a variety of suites, something you don’t see in any other hospital in Qatar. Luxury is also visible in the hotel experience, the type of finishing, food- and-beverage offerings, and our portfolio of visiting physicians from abroad.” UCC Holding aims to achieve a “luxury of space”, which in itself is a luxury, perhaps absent from many [healthcare] projects otherwise. The contractor also captured luxury in its essence through the materials used, as well as the guest experience offerings. However, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat shuns the concept of luxury associated with the project, explaining that the hospital caters to everyone, with ranging and dynamic facilities. “For instance, we have a 40m2 room as well as 300m2 room. It depends on what our guest/patient is looking for, allowing for affordability and luxury at the same time,” he said." on offer at the facility, exuding a sense of tranquility and well-being. Fitting medical equipment UCC Holding dispatched a total of 14 packages to medical contractors for the project for several facilities. These include operating rooms’ integration (Supplier: Khalid Scientific Co.; Brand: Getinge); Ceiling Pendants (Supplier: Khalid Scientific Co.; Brand: Getinge/Maquet); Central Sterile Supply Department (Supplier: Khalid Scientific Co.; Brand: Getinge); Radiology Major Equipment (Supplier: Ali Bin Ali Medical; Brand: Siemens), Pharmacy Hoods and Bio Safety Cabinets (Supplier: Sedeer Medical Services & Trading; Brand: Labconco), Anaesthesia and Ventilators (Supplier: Mannai Corporation; Brand: Draeger), Neonatal and new-born major equipment (Supplier: Mannai Corporation; Brand: Draeger), Patient beds and stretchers (Supplier: Mazaya Medical Trading; Brand: Hill-Rom), Macerators (Supplier: Khalid Scientific Co.; Brand: DDC Dolphin); and Ceiling Mounted Lifts (Supplier: Mazaya Medical Trading; Brand: Hill-Rom). “Medical equipment is an integral part of The View Hospital and the brands used for the project are from Sweden, Germany, (LED) Façade in focus Earlier this year, UCC Holding appointed global architects and masterplanners Chapman Taylor to develop the design for the façade of the project. Speaking with Construction Week, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said: “The idea was to add to Doha’s skyline with this project. We called the ten best architectural firms worldwide and had them go through a competition. Chapman Taylor’s design was chosen as it was the most innovative and impressive of the lot.” Chapman Taylor worked alongside South Korea-based LED screens specialist G-SMATT to bring an innovative mandate to life. About the façade, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said: “As per our mandate, the façade had to be creative, something that hasn’t been done in the Middle East before. We have a LED screen spanning 4km2, the largest in the MENA region. The façade is made of a double layer of glass which holds a transparent LED screen, allowing patients to see through it.” The design of the hospital responds to the waterside context with a sleek and contemporary façade which integrates LED technology to produce the effect of water flowing across its centre. The bright exterior reflects the luxury hospitality healthcare UCC Holding, the main contractor of the project, has marked nearly 38% construction completion on The View Hospital [Image: Supplied]NOVEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 29 HEALTHCARE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM the US, and the UK. All these companies are working with Qatari-based agents such Khalid Scientific Co., Ali Bin Ali Medical, Mazaya Medical Trading, and Mannai Corporation,” [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said. Big plans for sustainability The View Hospital is being designed and built as per a Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) three-star rating. Furthermore, the healthcare project aims to include a robotic operating theatre and a fully-automated sterilisation system in place. Commenting on how the contractor aims to converge optimum use of sustainability with technology, [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said: "The façade will have a smart glass which will allow natural light into the building. Plus, we have a healing garden and aquariums inside the hospital and at different levels." UCC Holding is “on track” [Ramez] Al-Khayyat confirmed that the contractor is "on track" to achieve the handover of the project ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022. UCC Holding is undertaking and engaged in a number of projects associated with the upcoming mega sporting event. The View Hospital in Doha, Qatar, comprises a healing garden and aquariums inside the hospital and at different levels [Image: Supplied] The contractor is building two residential projects — one for families and the other for workers — worth more than $1.37bn (QR5bn) in the heart of Al Wakra and by Barwa Real Estate (BRE). To accelerate this, Barwa Real Estate signed a deal with UCC Holding for the construction for the projects ‘Madinatna’ for families and ‘Barahat Al Janoub’ for the labour accommodation. "Our scope includes a total of 700 buildings to be built across 16 months. Again, we are on track to deliver the project by early next year." [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said. On his part, [Moutaz] Al-Khayyat, said that these residential projects will benefit Qatari communities for many years to come as it will serve as residential housing after the World Cup. The contractor is also working on the Seef Lusail development, which features luxury apartments; the Doha Marriott hotel project which is set to be rebranded; the Gewan Island reclamation scope; and Hamad International Airport taxiway expansion. "There are many projects we are tendering for. We are eyeing the Africa market as well as the UK market, where we are already doing two projects," [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said. On his part, [Moutaz] Al-Khayyat said that the company has already started bidding for projects and registering its international branches in several new markets including Kuwait, KSA, Oman, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia. In terms of healthcare projects, UCC Holding doesn't stop at The View Hospital. Its upcoming healthcare portfolio includes the Korean Medical Center (KMC), and marks the operator Elegancia Healthcare's keenness to bring Korean medicine into the region. "The project spans an area of 36,000m2 to accommodate clinics, one-day surgery centre, and several other amenities. It's quite an interesting model and will be located in the Boulevard which is currently being built in the centre of Lusail," [Ramez] Al-Khayyat said. Commenting on the contractor's forward- looking plans, [Moutaz] Al-Khayyat said: "We have diversified our project portfolio by pursuing opportunities in the energy sector, public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and expanding international operations." The contractor has extensive experience in markets such as Maldives, France, the UK and Oman, and is now focused on utilising its experience and know-how to expand operations in the Gulf region, Europe and Africa, he concluded. Next >