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Al Thumama Stadium takes shape

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Justin Murray

Al Thumama Stadium, one of the stadiums to hold FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches, is fast taking shape. It will be hosting matches through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), posted some latest aerial views of the stadium under construction on their Twitter handle.

As per SC website the stadium’s concrete frame is now finished. Work on upper-tier stands is approaching an end and roof column installation is complete, making it easier to visualise what a magnificent venue this will be.

The 40,000-seat Al Thumama Stadium, inspired by the ‘gahfiya’ headpiece worn by men in Qatar and across the MENA region, is the first venue designed solely by a Qatari architect, Ibrahim Mohammed Jaidah.

After Qatar 2022, Al Thumama Stadium’s seating capacity will be reduced to 20,000. The 20,000 seats to be removed from the stadium will be donated to countries in need of sporting infrastructure. In addition, a branch of the world-renowned Aspetar Sports Clinic will open on site. A boutique hotel will replace the stadium’s upper stands.

“Al Thumama Stadium is a nod to the past, while offering an exciting glimpse into Qatar’s tomorrow. In Arab culture, the gahfiya forms an important part of every young boy’s path to adulthood.

“Every family from the region recognises the gahfiya, as they will all recognise this magnificent stadium once it has brought the world together in 2022.

“It is an arena that symbolises Qatar’s youth, the country’s emergence as a major player on the global sporting scene and the shared Arab heritage that inspired its creation,” the SC website added.

The venue’s distinctive design, based on the traditional gahfiya cap, won the prestigious MIPIM / The Architectural Review Future Project Award in May 2018.

Source: The Peninsula Qatar

Photo credit: The Peninsula Qatar

Qatar’s construction sector has an optimistic outlook, shows Pinsent Masons survey

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Justin Murray

Qatar’s construction sector has a bullish outlook for the next 12 months on account of many projects in the pipeline and also that Doha has now joined Singapore mediation convention, which encourages direct enforcement of cross-border settlement agreement between parties resulting from mediation, said a survey by a global law firm.

International law firm, Pinsent Masons, and Constructing Excellence Qatar have revealed the results of their 2019 Qatar Construction Improvement Survey – which is the first-of-its-kind ever produced for the country’s construction industry.

Eliciting the responses of 127 construction industry professionals, the survey found the majority of them expected an over 10% increase in workload in the next year, reaffirming Qatar’s 2030 vision and the projects that are expected to come to market in the next 12 months.

Additionally, transport was seen as a sector with the strongest opportunities, which correlates with Qatar’s ambition to expand not only its existing metro area coverage but also the Hamad International Airport (HIA), giving it the capacity to be the 13th largest airport in the world.

HIA recently unveiled its second massive expansion, which will see annual passenger capacity soar to 60mn. The expansion will also see the construction of a new cargo terminal that will increase capacity handled to an estimated 3.2mn tonnes per year and comes as part of Qatar’s well calibrated strategy to transform HIA into ‘destination in its own right, than just a gateway’.

“The results of the survey have been incredibly insightful and have provided us with a much deeper understanding in terms of what is working well in the sector and what still requires improvement,” said Pamela McDonald, senior associate, Pinsent Masons.

The survey also revealed that the vast majority of respondents agree that Qatar is a good place to do business in 2020. A large number of participants also expressed that they were considering PPP (public private partnership) opportunities being brought to market in Qatar under Ashghal.

As part of the presentation, specialists in Qatar’s construction sector offered some insights on key themes within the survey, especially the recent introduction of a unified form of demand guarantee letter announced by the ICC Qatar, which aims at attracting more foreign investment into Qatar.

McDonald also discussed changes in the dispute resolution landscape in Qatar including Qatar’s adoption of Singapore Mediation Convention on August 7, 2019, which provides robust enforceability confidence for users of mediation as an alternative to litigation and arbitration in Qatar.

The United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation was signed by 46 nations in Singapore, which is intended to facilitate the enforcement of settlement agreements that have been entered into with the assistance of mediation.

The convention is likely to encourage parties involved in cross-border projects and deals to consider mediation as a time and cost efficient process as part of their dispute resolution mechanism.

Source: Gulf Times

Masterplan for 7.1mn sqm megaproject in Saudi Arabia revealed

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Justin Murray

Diriyah Gate Development Authority unveils masterplan for megaproject coming up on western side of the Saudi capital.

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has unveiled the masterplan for its 7.1 million sqm megaproject coming up on the western side of the capital, Riyadh.

Speaking during an industry event, Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority, said that the key highlights of the project include the setting up of the world’s largest Islamic museum, the restoration of the historic Wadi Hanifa, which will include the planting more than one million indigenous Diriyah date trees, and the transformation of Wadi Safar into a residential and hospitality district.

In a statement, DGDA said that Inzerillo’s speech and presentation at the event focused on the link between entertainment and culture and the steps the authority is taking, in collaboration with the direct leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the doors of Diriyah to the rest of the world.

He also added that the Diriyah masterplan gives emphasis on the kingdom’s three goals – to preserve, develop and celebrate the much-loved home of Saudi culture.

Considered one of the kingdom’s most important historical sites and the capital of the first Saudi state, Diriyah is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of At Turaif, a mud-brick city that stands as the birthplace of the first Saudi state.

“With hospitality, leisure and entertainment assets in our development plans, we’re hoping to attract millions of tourists who will fall in love with Diriyah, as there is only one Diriyah,” Inzerillo added.

DGDA will start work on the mega development next month, following the approval of three detailed plans for the development of Diriyah by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It will oversee the restoration of Diriyah and develop a number of major new historical and tourism assets including museums, academic institutions and edutainment facilities, as well as resorts, restaurants, wellness facilities and high-end retail outlets, he concluded.

Source: ME Construction News

Kuwait will launch region’s first hybrid outlet mall

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Justin Murray

Tamdeen Group says project will benefit from the country’s stable economy with a GDP of $142 billion.

Kuwait-based Tamdeen Group has announced that one of its subsidiaries, Tamdeen Pearl has launched the region’s first hybrid outlet, leisure and lifestyle destination. The hybrid outlet concept comes as a response to shoppers’ demands for an all-inclusive experience, Tamdeen said.

The Al Khiran Hybrid Outlet Mall, as it is called, will combine dynamic experiences through a mix of premium outlet shopping, unique dining options, cutting-edge entertainment, large format events, exhibitions and recreational leisure experiences, according to Tamdeen.

Spread across 350,000 sqm. in the heart of Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City, the mall will have 70,000 sqm of GLA with several key features that will set the project apart and position it as the mall format of the future, it added.

It is further complimented with recreational components like Kuwait’s largest marina with 900 berths, 1.25 km of beautifully-landscaped park and boardwalk, the Water Gardens and an active amphitheatre holding year-long programme of events, Tamdeen stated.

Mohammad Jassim Al Marzouq, chairman, Tamdeen Group said: “Tamdeen Group is proud to be launching the first hybrid outlet concept in the region, which aims to satisfy a changing customer and growing demand for great value and heightened experiences.”

“Kuwait’s 2035 Vision and, as part of it, the rigorous development in its South have furthered our role in the private sector of strengthening the position of Kuwait as a regional destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure,” he added.

Moreover, the mall will serve a catchment area that services most of Kuwait, the Eastern Saudi provinces and a robust Saudi tourist market, said Al Marzouq. He added that the total population base in the catchment area is estimated to be 4 million, which is complimented by an additional inflow of 2.5 million Saudi tourists arriving by near road.

“Today, the group is managing and developing over 464515.2 sqm. of space across regional, community, lifestyle, neighbourhood and mixed-use centres. With its diverse range of projects and ongoing investments, it is continuously re-emphasizing its commitment to contribute to Kuwait’s economic development,” Al Marzouq concluded.

Source: ME Construction News