THE Future Ceramics factory is the biggest project that Modern Design and Engineering Consulting (MDEC) has designed and supervised to date, says the leading Saudi consultancy firm which was set up some four years ago.

It is one of the most complex industrial projects involving a building elevation of 1 km, the company comments.
“We are honoured to work on the Future Ceramics factory, where we were responsible for the engineering designs for what is considered to be one of the largest factories of its kind in the Middle East,” says Audah Al Ahmadi, general manager, MDEC.
The factory consists of two main production lines, one for ceramic and another for porcelain. “During our design work on the project, we worked with the project management team, who were very helpful,” he says.
Since its inception in 2004 as a consultant firm in Al Khobar, MDEC has been offering various engineering services, including design, general and detailed planning, as well as project management and supervising services for residential projects; commercial projects (large and medium-size malls, educational buildings, laboratories, and governmental buildings); industrial and infrastructure projects (planning industrial and residential cities, designing roads and services networks).
MDEC offers comprehensive design services (conceptual design), detailed engineering design (architectural, structural, civil, mechanical and electrical), tender document preparation (bill of quantities, specifications and contract documents), surveying works and project supervision and management.
Recently, the practice has also expanded to include a land survey department, and is planning to establish a new laboratory for soil tests.
“The company has gained a reputation for design excellence by meeting the challenge of modern building architecture across the kingdom,” says Al Ahmadi. “MDEC’s vision is to become one of the top design consulting offices and continue to build a team of engineers with the best expertise, experience and technical knowledge in design, engineering and construction management.”
“MDEC is working on establishing a sound reputation and drawing up strategies to catapult the company toward a market leadership position. Its commitment is on providing innovative designs, accurate implementation, quality performance and meeting deadlines,” he adds.
Apart from the Future Ceramic factory, its other industrial projects include:
• Model Factories, owned by Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon). MDEC was responsible for conducting studies, designs and preparing a comprehensive report to establish the standards or provisions required for model factories. This project aims at providing fully-equipped factories as per specifications, to allow investors to begin operations as soon as possible on a build-operate-transfer basis through Modon, thus saving time;
• Fibreglass pipe factory in the light industries zone in Yanbu for Future Pipes Industries, one of the leading manufacturers of fibreglass pipes. The facility will cater for the growing demand for large-diameter fiberglass pipe in the Western Province;
• Yamamah Steel Industries Factory: Covering 53,000 sq m in the Second Industrial Zone in Dammam, the factory has been designed to produce various steel products such as galvanised steel pipes and steel sewage ducts;
• Cable trays factory in the Second Industrial Zone in Dammam for Thomas & Betts, one of the international companies in the field;
• JDFF ductile fittings factory; and
• Jazera Chemical Factory.
Over the past four years, the company has completed many other projects, including office and government buildings, malls, health and educational institutes and infrastructural developments, according to Khalid Mohammed Ayoub, head of design and projects department.
Office buildings: Having completed the designs for the eight-storey Galaxy Tower, owned by Al Haqbani Company, MDEC is now working on the initial plans for the eye-catching trapezoidal 23-storey Al Zahrani Tower in Dammam.
Governmental buildings: MDEC has produced the designs for a new four-storey building for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on King Fahad Road (Airport Road) in Dammam, which will cover a total area of 7,500 sq m; as well as an eight-storey building for the Ministry of Commerce on Jeddah-Makkah old road in Jeddah. The project, which will cover an area of 15,000 sq m, is under study.
Malls: MDEC, in cooperation with United Consulting Engineers (UCE) in Riyadh, is currently offering project management and supervision services for the construction and management of Al Otheim Mall One in Dammam. Built over an area of 50,000 sq m, the mall offers three storeys of luxurious commercial outlets, with a fourth storey dedicated to leisure facilities and restaurants. The ground floor and the basement are also dedicated for car park.
Also with UCE, the firm is working on designing Al Othaim Mall Two, which will spread over 50,000 sq m near the Dammam College of Technology.
Health and educational institutes: MDEC has prepared designs for:
• Al Bassam School complex in Dammam on an area of 20,000 sq m, comprising three schools – primary, preparatory and secondary, as well as a multi-purpose hall for 500 persons. It will also have swimming pools, covered and open courts;
• Koran recitation school for children, owned by Al Bir Charity Society in Tabuk;
• Early cancer detection centre, owned by Cancer Society in Al Khobar; and
• A quality control laboratory in Jizan, over an area of 5,000 sq m, for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Infrastructure projects: MDEC is providing project management and supervision services on the third phase of the Second Industrial Zone in Dammam, covering an area of 5 million sq m, at a total cost of SR154 million ($41 million). The scope of works includes roads, rainwater drainage, sewage, electricity and lighting network. The project is owned by Modon.
The practice is also preparing studies and detailed plans for the infrastructure of a residential city in the Second Industrial Zone in Madinah; and completing redesigns and developing the existing road network as well as main steel entrance gates and trucks parking in Hofuf for Saudi Cement Company.
MDEC is registered to offer design and supervision services to the municipalities of Dammam, Madinah and recently of Jeddah, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Organisation for Industrial Estates and Technology Zones (SOIETZ), Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu, Ministry of Health, Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and several large private companies.