< PreviousSTAT OF THE MONTH 10 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM BAHRAIN’S $30BN STRATEGIC PROJECTS PLAN TO INCREASE TOTAL LAND AREA BY MORE THAN 60% The Government of Bahrain has revealed the details of its Strategic Projects Plan, which will oversee $30bn invested in Bahrain’s national infrastructure and its strategic priority sectors. The new multi-year projects represent one of Bahrain’s most significant ever injections of capital investment and will drive the Economic Recovery Plan, designed to enhance the long-term competitiveness of Bahrain’s economy, and stimulate post pandemic growth, a report by Bahrain News Agency stated. Comprising of 22 signature projects across key sectors – including telecoms, tourism, education, manufacturing, and health – the plan will also contribute towards the realisation of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. New projects include the creation of five cities situated on newly constructed islands, increasing Bahrain’s total land area by more than 60%. Fasht al Jarim, the largest of those planned, will span 183km2 providing a residential, logistics, and tourism hub that will house a new airport. The new 25km, four lane King Hamad Causeway will facilitate cross border trade and travel with Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, and strengthen political, strategic, economic, and cultural ties. Within Bahrain, a new metro system will offer travel choice, reduce congestion, and contribute to the Kingdom’s plans to achieve net zero. The metro network of over 109kms, will connect all major population hubs in the country. The 20-station first phase of the metro will run from Bahrain International Airport to the residential and commercial area of Seef, linking both to Manama and the Diplomatic Area. The transport connectivity will be complemented by technology investment in land and sea fiber optics. Next generation cloud-computing services will be supported by significant investment in several new data centre projects. Also, the building of Sports City, a complex that will house the largest sports stadium in Bahrain and a multi-purpose indoor sports arena will make Bahrain a centre for events, leisure, and sport. Following the announcement, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy in Bahrain, said: “The Strategic Projects Plan is an investment not only in Bahrain’s physical infrastructure but in the future prosperity of the Kingdom’s people.” Comprising 22 signature projects across key sectors, the Strategic Projects Plan will contribute towards the realisation of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 Bahrain Skyline: CW ArchivesTHE BIG PICTURE 12 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEASTTHE CORE DEVELOPMENT AREA OF NEOM’S OXAGON - THE LARGEST FLOATING STRUCTRE IN THE WORLD 48KM2 THE BIG PICTURE DECEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 13WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM OXAGON is the next phase of Saudi Arabia’s $500bn NEOM. Comprising a large area in the southwest corner of KSA’s futuristic development, it is centred around the integrated port and logistics hub. A net-zero city to be powered by 100% clean energy, the development of OXAGON is well underway and designs are in progress for its large manufacturing facilities. These include the world’s largest green hydrogen project; the world’s largest and most advanced modular building construction factory; and the largest hyperscale data centre in the region. [Image: NEOM]EXPO EXCLUSIVE 14 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM EXPO 2020 DUBAI'S JOURNEY TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY Image: Expo 2020 Dubai The World Expo kicked off two months ago, showcasing iconic country pavilions, each of which has a story to tell, as Construction Week's Reporter Mina Vucic explores 14 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM EXPO EXCLUSIVEDECEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 15 EXPO EXCLUSIVE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Time flies here in Dubai and believe it or not Expo 2020 has been rolling for over two months now, featuring iconic construction pieces, embedding cultural differences, and shining opportunities. This month Construction Week toured the Campus Germany, Jamaica, and Netherlands Pavilion - all very different, yet shine a common ground through the desire of showcasing the best of their nation. Campus Germany at Expo 2020 Dubai offered its visitors an educational journey with an “enrolment” process, for an entertaining, surprising, hands on digital experience, blending creative ideas with real life results. As visitors make their way through the German Pavilion, they will come across a number of campus-related features: a welcome event, a curriculum covering the topics of energy, cities of the future, as well as biodiversity. Mirroring the real-life campus and student experience, the journey will end with an exhilarating ceremony in the Graduation Hall. As part of the visit, Construction Week sat down with Sebastian Rosito, Deputy Commissioner General of the German Pavilion, discussing how their ideas came to life. Commenting on the pavilion Rosito said: “It was a very long journey for us, we made sure that in every displayed room, we have an Expo-themed connection. “The construction company who won this project, NUSSLI with facts and fiction, have done a great job not just for our taste but adapting the project to the region as well.” The pavilion showcases German innovations and sustainable solutions, where visitors can wear cutting-edge connected devices as they explore themed areas including The Energy Lab, The Future City Lab, and The Biodiversity Lab. The Deputy Commissioner General also discussed the theme of the pavilion stating: “Education is a very important topic in Germany, and in the UAE as well, and that is the reason why we had to take it.” Being a sustainability themed pavilion, Campus Germany allows the visitors to come across a number of innovative solutions and ideas in the field. “The topic of sustainability and renewable energy is very important for us, we have a dedicated Energy Lab where visitors can encounter a lot of innovations and technology in terms of renewable energy- its transportation and storage.” he added. After all, Germany is the place where the energy revolution known as the “Energiewende” was born. The country actively works towards securing a more sustainable future, and that is the message Campus Germany has been conveying in Dubai. • The Netherlands Pavilion harvests its own water, food, and energy. • The Jamaica Pavilion resembles a spontaneous street party in the midst of shipping containers from across the globe. • The 'Energiewende' energy revolution was born in Germany. • The Sustainability Pavilion, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is built to be net- zero for energy and water. DID YOU KNOW? Jamaica Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai features shipping containers [ITP Images: Adel Rashid] EXPO EXCLUSIVE 16 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Another pavilion that puts sustainability at the fore of its existance is the Netherlands Pavilion. The structure is all about showcasing its sustainable solutions through out-of-the-box creativity. The pavilion features its own climate system, brimming with sustainable solutions as they harvest water, energy, and food inside their cone-shaped vertical farm, also known as the biotope. Besides creating a circular system within, the Dutch also aim to keep the pavilion’s ecological footprint as small as possible. Construction Week directly spoke with the pavilion’s Director Niels Bouwman, and Michiel Raaphorst, the Lead Architect of the pavilion and Founding Partner of V8 Architects. Bouwman said: “All the pavilions on the Expo grounds are temporary. So the design team opted for a circular design, in which recycling and reusing materials is key.” Meanwhile Raaphorst explained: “Furthermore, where possible we have opted to use local materials, reducing the need for transportation. “After the Expo, the building materials will be repurposed or recycled locally. The same goes for the interior of our pavilion. “All materials used are either bio-based or biodegradable, such as floor tiles made from a combination of fungus and straw.” The Dutch biotope features solutions which are presented on a small basis, but have the potential to be developed on a larger scale, and create significant impact for the way we operate in the future. Construction Week also visited the Jamaica Pavilion, where Commissioner General Essie Gardner shared in-depth insights about the nation's participation in the World Expo. Being voted one of the coolest pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, the pavilion showcased seven zones, providing visitors an immersive experience of the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Caribbean Island. Speaking exclusively with Construction Week, Gardner said: “One of the reasons we are participating in Expo 2020 is to move forward with our idea of becoming the forth global logistics hub, connecting the Americas with the rest of the world.” The pavilion resembles a spontaneous street party in the midst of shipping containers from across the globe. Gardener added: “We always want to have a good time regardless of the business we are doing. Place us on a wharf with shipping Germany Pavilion's Energy Lab at Expo 2020 Dubai [ITP Images: Adel Rashid] Netherlands Pavilion showcases a bitope at Expo 2020 Dubai [ITP Images: Adel Rashid]DECEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 17 EXPO EXCLUSIVE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM containers and we will still have a party and enjoy it. “Our business is movements and logistics, but that doesn’t stop us from having a good time.” she concluded. Through discovering what makes Expo 2020 Dubai unique, we all have the power to build a better world and shape our future. Expo 2020 is teaching us that small actions grow into positive global movements, helping communities protect and preserve the world around us. In HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's words, “Expo 2020 Dubai will provide a unique opportunity for the world to come together, exchange knowledge, and develop innovative solutions for a better future.” Scan the QR code below to watch ExpoTalks Germany Pavilion features green solutions at Expo 2020 Dubai [ITP Images: Adel Rashid]COVER STORY 18 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM COVER STORY 18 CONSTRUCTION WEEK DECEMBER 2021COVER STORY DECEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 19WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM WORDS BY RANJU WARRIER | PHOTOGRAPHS BY AJITH NARENDRA / ITP MEDIA GROUP Construction Week’s inaugural Women in Construction Conference addressed current movements to promote a diverse, inclusive, and equal workplace and thus improve productivity and profitability COVER STORY DECEMBER 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 19Next >