Profi ling Donna Sultan’s transformative leadership as President and CEO of KEO and its rise to a global consultancy VISIONARY AT THE HELM AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION JANUARY 2024 • ISSUE 807CONTENTS JANUARY 2024 • ISSUE 807 6 24 10 6 QUOTE OF THE MONTH Dubai successfully inaugurates the world’s largest concentrated solar PV project 10 CITY FOCUS Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City is set to build the region’s fi rst ‘net-zero mosque’ 36 INTERVIEW Thomas Bell-Wright’s journey from regional expertise to global leadership in building safety and innovation 50 THE LAST WORD Miestone System’s Paul Park on how smart cities and AI are revolutionising urban development in the Middle East JANUARY 2024 3 3650 COVER Profiling KEO’s President and CEO, Donna Sultan, on her transformative leadership and the company’s rise to a global consultancy under her innovative guidance4 JANUARY 2024 After wrapping up the 2023 event line-up, Construction Week Middle East is gearing up for more exciting events in 2024. As we step into the fi rst quarter, we are excited to host industry leading events once again. These include the Leaders in Construction Conference series across the UAE and KSA, as well as Infrastructure Summits and Annual Awards. EVENTS CALENDAR For more information on conferences, contact Priyadarshini Rampuria, Conference Producer (priyadarshini.r@itp.com). For all award-related inquiries, contact Dmitry Lazarenko, Marketing and Events Manager (dmitry.lazarenko@itp.com). If you would like to be one of our partners and take advantage of our sponsorship opportunities, contact Anup Nagpurkar, Group Commercial Director (anup.nagpurkar@itp.com) or Moutaz Gadelhak, Commercial Director (moutaz.gadelhak@itp.com). *Dates are subject to change at the editorial team’s discretion* EVENTS CALENDAR 2024 CONFERENCE CONFERENCECONFERENCECONFERENCE CONFERENCEAWARDSAWARDS FEBRUARY MARCH SEPTEMBER MARCH NOVEMBER JUNE NOVEMBER Construction Week Technology Summit Women in Construction Conference Leaders in Construction KSA Summit Leaders in Construction UAE Summit KSA Infrastructure Summit Construction Week KSA Awards Construction Week Middle East AwardsJANUARY 2024 5 | EDITOR’S LETTER | A BLANK CANVAS Julianne Tolentino Digital Editor W elcome to 2024. The year of action, the age of transformation, and the dawn of unprecedented possibilities. To say that 2023 was an interesting year is a massive understatement. The construction industry evolved before our eyes as we witnessed the biggest, most ambitious, and innovative projects come to life, and it will only go up from here. With several major contracts signed and megaprojects in the pipeline, we can only look at the new year with anticipation. What’s more? A pronounced, hyper-focus on sustainability. After the successful wrap-up of COP28, the Middle East is entering a period of green development. Stakeholders now understand that sustainable construction is no longer just another certifi cation to tick off but rather a standard in the industry. In 2024, the construction industry is set to be a driving force in the region’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The projects we showcase on these pages will not only be marvels of engineering and design, but also benchmarks for eco-conscious development. There will also be a particular focus on Saudi Arabia that we cannot ignore, especially following the country’s successful bid to host the Expo 2030. There is a lot to see and a lot more to know and the team at Construction Week Middle East has never felt excitement quite this palpable before. Amidst the anticipation, we are kicking off the year with a powerful woman on the cover, proving once more the growing role of women in construction as conversations about gender equality and diversity continue to gain momentum. Along with special reports, the latest trends, and opinion pieces, this edition features an exclusive interview with Donna Sultan, CEO and President of interdisciplinary AEP fi rm KEO, whose leadership has made her an inspiration for young, aspiring professionals. As we enter 2024, I look forward to charting new milestones with the CW team, breaking ground on exclusive content while collaborating with the industry to tell their stories. Thank you for tagging along on this journey, and on that note, I wish you a happy and prosperous new year! Signing off! PO Box 500024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates TEL +971 4 444 3000 WEB: WWW.ITP.COM Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve EDITORIAL Group Editor Kate-Lynne Wolmarans +971 4 444 3541; kate.wolmarans@itp.com Digital Editor Julianne Tolentino +971 4 444 3855; julianne.tolentino@itp.com Commercial Editor Angitha Pradeep +971 4 444 3278; angitha.pradeep@itp.com Deputy Editor Muhammed Alharari +966 11 512 2570; muhammed.alharari@itp.com Digital Reporter Mahnoor Bari +971 4 444 3238; mahnoor.bari@itp.com ART Art Director Amjad Ayche amjad.ayche@itp.com Art Editor Tofiq Memon tofiq.memon@itp.com Contributing Designer Muhammed Nahas ADVERTISING Group Commercial Director Anup Nagpurkar +971 4 444 3573; anup.nagpurkar@itp.com Commercial Director Moutaz Gadelhak +971 4 444 3177; moutaz.gadelhak@itp.com Senior Commercial Manager Robert Cole +971 4 444 3417; robert.cole@itp.com Senior Sales Manager Ahmad Amer +966 11 512 2570; ahmad.amer@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Videographer Muhammad Kaleem Senior Video Editor Liju Cheruvathur Social Media & Production Manager Andy Ruedas PRODUCTION Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles DISTRIBUTION Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Website www.constructionweekonline.com NOTICE: The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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Scan to learn more and register for our events!“Our success in creating the world’s largest concentrated solar project underscores our determination to advance climate action” 6 JANUARY 2024 | QUOTE OF THE MONTH | “THE UAE HAS A CLEAR VISION TO TRANSFORM ITSELF INTO ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE NATIONS” T he world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) project was inaugurated in Dubai just last month as part of the fourth phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. With a total investment of $4.3 billion (AED15.78 billion), the fourth phase covers an area of 44km2 and features the world’s tallest solar tower, standing at 263.1-metres tall, said a statement from the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA). The 950MW Phase Four project uses three hybrid technologies — 600 megawatts from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from the CSP tower, and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. “The Molten Salt Receiver (MSR) on top of the solar power tower is the core and the most important part of the CSP plant,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA in a statement at the project’s inauguration. According to Al Tayer, the project will provide approximately 320,000 residences with clean and sustainable energy and cut carbon emissions by about 1.6 million tonnes annually. Al Tayer also mentioned that the success of the project has been achieved through pioneering strategies and projects driven by advanced research and development, Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, digital transformation, and the latest renewable and clean energy technologies. The project was inaugurated in a ceremony by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “The UAE has a clear vision to transform itself into one of the world’s most sustainable nations,” commented HH Sheikh Mohammed in his inaugural address. “Our journey towards sustainability is comprehensive, encompassing advanced clean energy projects across diverse renewable sources, and innovative solutions integrated into various spheres of the economy and society.” He added, “The Solar Park is at the heart of Dubai and the UAE’s commitment to create a world-class infrastructure for sustainability and a robust foundation for building an environmentally friendly future. Coming at the culmination of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, the launch of the fourth phase of the Solar Park is an important milestone in our sustainability journey.” “Our success in creating the world’s largest concentrated solar project underscores our determination to advance climate action and aligns with the goals of the UN Climate Change conference COP28, which the UAE hosted in 2023,” he concluded. Dubai has successfully inaugurated the world’s largest concentrated solar PV project Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park www.glaze.ae/ MARBLE | PORCELAIN |ONYX|SINTERED STONE| QUARTZ|PRECIOUS STONE Discover the ultimate selections of Natural Stones & top brands ofPorcelain Slabs.TOTAL BUILT-UP AREA (ABHA) 79,000M2 VALUE OF SEVEN’S PROJECTS TABUK THEME PARK YANBU THEME PARK AL HAMRA THEME PARK ALMADINAH THEME PARK GROSS FLOOR AREA (ABHA) 64,000M2 $267 MN $292 MN $798 MN $347 MN 8 JANUARY 2024 | STAT OF THE MONTH | SAUDI SEVEN INVESTS A TOTAL OF $2.1BN IN ITS ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS P IF-backed Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) has unveiled plans to inaugurate an entertainment complex in the Aseer region worth $350 million (SAR1.3 billion). The project is strategically located between the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, near Abha International Airport, and will be SEVEN’s fi fth entertainment destination in the kingdom and the fi rst in the Aseer region. According to a statement given by the company, the development is set on a 64,000m2 plot of land with a built-up area of more than 79,000m2. SEVEN has appointed Modern Building Leaders to undertake the construction works and will be partnering with Cundall, Theme 3, Top Notch, Holofi ce, Thinkwell, and Sea Quest to design the attractions. Designed by Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning fi rm, the architecture is inspired by the ancient stone buildings of the area to highlight the identity of Aseer and adheres to the region’s urban code, which emphasises the identity of local architecture. “Abha represents another ambitious project in the framework of our eff orts to support the entertainment sector across the kingdom following the objectives and goals of Vision 2030,” revealed Abdullah AlDawood, Chairman of SEVEN. He added, “We are forecasting a GDP contribution of more than $1.07 billion (SAR4 billion) and over fi ve million visitors by 2030, in addition to creating more than hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for the people of Aseer region.” The Abha destination marks the fi fth billion-riyal entertainment destination project by SEVEN. Projects already underway include theme parks at Tabuk (worth $267 million), Yanbu (worth $292 million), Al Hamra (worth $797.7 million), and Almadinah (worth $347 million). The Abha theme park is SEVEN’s fi fth billion-riyal entertainment projectNext >