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Northcroft Middle East LLC Wins ‘Construction Consultancy of the Year 2019’ Award at MEA Business Awards 2019

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Justin Murray

Northcroft Middle East LLC was presented with the prestigious ‘Construction Consultancy of the Year 2019’ award not only for being one of the leading construction consultancy service providers in the Middle East, but one of the most well-established.

“Firm foundations are key for many construction projects, and this business’ foundations continue to serve it well” according to the MEA Markets 2019 issue.

About Northcroft Middle East

Having worked on an unparalleled number of projects in Qatar and the MENA region, Northcroft Middle East provide a full range of Quantity Surveyors and Cost Management services, Claims and Dispute Resolution, Planning and Project Management services from project concept through to completion, operation and disposal.

Using the latest Digital Cost Management methodology we follow our traditional heritage and leverage modern surveying techniques, allowing for accurate and timely cost analysis at any stage throughout the design process, during construction and post construction. Northcroft Middle East can deliver a complete service from project inception or we can work as a traditional Quantity Surveyors estimating team to create quantity take-offs, cost plans and VE updates throughout all phases of the design development. Including pre-qualification of design teams and administering design competitions, we have long standing relationships with trusted partners to form an integrated delivery team.

Similarly, we have an internationally experienced team of Claims and Dispute Resolution experts, inclusive of Forensic Planners, available to support any project requirements and to ensure our client’s rights and entitlements are secured.

About MEA Markets

The MEA Markets is a quarterly publication dedicated to researching and publicising the major moves and events as they happen across the entire Middle East & Africa region. MEA Business Awards Ceremony has been a tradition within the Middle East since 2015.

MEA Business Awards hosted by MEA Markets celebrate the copious amounts of diverse talent that can be found in this region. The awards are an opportunity to honour those whose dedication and hard work have strived to sustain the region’s dominant status within the business world. The MEA Business Awards are proudly a merit-based awards programme, where the judge’s decision is only influenced by the achievements of the business and as opposed to many nominations are received.

Read the full issue here.

New e-system to apply for building permits to boost Qatar’s construction sector

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Justin Murray

The new e-system to apply for building permits among other reforms to be introduced by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment will benefit the country’s construction sector, Ezdan Real Estate said in a report.

The new reforms are expected to enter into force by February, which will positively reflect on the growth of construction activity during the year, Ezdan noted.

The weekly report highlighted the completion of the draft law pertaining to urban planning, which is expected to be notified by mid-2020, and said it will be a “significant stride” in the country’s urban development plan.

On real estate activity in Qatar during January 5-9, Ezdan said some 53 property sales transactions were registered by the Real Estate Registration Department with a total value of nearly QR231.6mn, covering six municipalities: Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Daayen and Al Wakrah.

The sales activity included land plots, multi-use buildings, multi-use land lots, and residential buildings, at a price of up to QR550 per square foot, totalling QR26.1mn.

Al Daayen Municipality ranked second by deal value, through the sale of a vacant land of 9,453 square metres in Jarian Janayat, with a value of QR25.9mn, at a price of QR254 per square foot.

Meanwhile, Doha municipality recorded the lowest deal by value for a building in Al Najma area spreading over an area of 142 square metres, at QR598 per square foot.

Source: Gulf Times

7 Construction Industry Trends to Watch in 2020

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Justin Murray

Despite the construction industry’s traditional resistance to new technologies, some are making significant strides in rounds. Notable examples include, but are not limited to: mobile technology, drones, AI and more.

Here are the construction tech trends should you watch in 2020:

Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR)
3D printing
Robotics
Sustainability
Modular and Prefabricated Construction
Exoskeletons
Building information modelling

Click here to read more.

Mall of Dilmunia in Bahrain plans to open ‘first of its kind’ entertainment hub

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Justin Murray

Dilmunia Mall Development Company has announced that a major new entertainment hub at Mall of Dilmunia in Bahrain is in its final stages of development.

Funscape World, the “first of its kind” in Bahrain, will offer a wide range of entertainment space which will include various zones, including Funscape Adventure, Funscape Play Zone, Funscape Ice and Funscape Sport, a statement said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Duaij Al Khalifa, CEO of Mall of Dilmunia, said: “We are delighted to announce that Funscape World will be completed within the next few months. Funscape World aims to further diversify the existing realm of indoor entertainment and set a new standard for entertainment offerings within the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

“We are extremely proud to be collaborating with leading international companies with the aim of developing this tourism attraction and including more comprehensive entertainment options for visitors of all ages,” he added.

Once launched, Funscape Ice will be a major entertainment attraction in Bahrain, covering an area of 1,054 sq m on the first floor of the mall and will include an ice rink.

Funscape Play will cover a space of 2,122 sq m on the second floor of the mall, featuring a number of attractions including token redemption games, soft play area for toddlers, bumper cars, VR games, an indoor rollercoaster, carnival games and video games while Funscape Adventure, located on the ground floor, will include wall-climbing areas alongside a zipline.

Funscape Sport will cover 1,837 sq m on the third floor, and will also include two football pitches, robo-goalkeeper challenges, as well as indoor sporting facilities and a football training academy.

Photo Source: Trade Arabia

Source: Arabian Business

Hyundai E&C to Build Rusail Plaza Tower in Qatar

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Justin Murray

Hyundai Engineering and Construction (Hyundai E&C) has landed the Rusail Plaza Tower PLOT4 construction project in Qatar.

The project was awarded to Hyundai E&C by Rusail Real Estate Development Co. in Qatar. Hyundai E&C will build a 70-story office building with a five-story basement in the financial district of Qatar’s Rusail City. The construction period is 34 months, with work completion slated for late October 2022.

Hyundai E&C entered Qatar for the first time in 1979 with the construction of Doha Hotel and the Doha Conference Center. The builder has won a total of 22 projects worth US$9.4 billion, including the Ras Laffan IWPP Project, Phases 5 and 6 of the QAFCO Fertilizer Plant Project and Phase 2 of the Hamad Medical City Project and the Rusail Highway Project. Currently, Hyundai E&C is engaged in four projects worth US$2 billion, including the Qatar Al Maha Infant and Youth Medical Center Project and Qatar Al-Bustan Roads Project.

Source: Business Korea