ASGC puts Onyx project on track

Al Shafar General Contracting Company (ASGC) of the UAE has completed all the structural construction work on The Onyx development in Dubai, UAE, putting it on track for completion by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Located near The Greens and Emaar Business Park on Sheikh Zayed Road, The Onyx is an exclusive Class A three-tower mixed-use development that consists of two office and residential buildings, a four-star boutique hotel, and a three-storey podium of restaurants and retail shops. The hotel will offer 210 rooms and suites and the project will accommodate approximately 1,400 parking spaces.

ASGC was awarded the Dh405-million ($110 million) contract by Ishraqah for Development, and started construction of this phase in July 2013. Apartments and offices in The Onyx are currently on sale.

Bishoy Azmy, the CEO of ASGC, says: “We are delighted to announce the completion of all structural construction work on the Onyx development which is located opposite Media City and adjacent to Sheikh Zayed Road. This high-profile project once again demonstrates our ability to deliver major projects on time and reaffirms the strength of the ASGC brand, built over the last 25 years, as both a trusted and expert construction company.

“As we continue to win high-profile contracts such as the recent Union Museum and Bluewaters projects, we are also focusing on new high growth sector opportunities within the oil and gas and healthcare sectors, which will support our ongoing growth momentum both within the UAE and across the region.”

Al Naser ... milestone.

$79m MEP contract for DSI

Drake and Scull International (DSI) says its engineering unit has won a Dh290-million ($79 million) contract for a high-end luxury mixed-use development project in Downtown Dubai, UAE.

Under the terms of the agreement, Drake and Scull Engineering (DSE) will provide detailed MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) works, including supply, installation, testing and commissioning for the mixed-use development. The project win raises DSI’s total project awards to Dh1 billion ($272 million) in value in the first four months of 2015.

Ahmad Al Naser, managing director, DSE, says: “The project award is a significant milestone in our five decade history in the UAE, which continues to be a major market for the DSI group of companies.”

DSE earlier this year secured the Jewel of the Creek MEP contract and a $91-million iconic hotel project in Dubai.

Meanwhile, DSI and Saudi-based Lamar Investment and Real Estate Development as co-developers of the upcoming SR1.72-billion ($458.2 million) Lamar Towers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have awarded a SR200-million ($53.3 milllion) external façade works contract to Technical Glass and Aluminium Company, marking the next construction phase of the twin structures.

Its contracting unit in Saudi Arabia, Drake and Scull Construction KSA, is the general contractor.

Technical Glass and Aluminium Company will design and supply glass and aluminium and all the façade works of the towers including the unitised curtain-walls, precast, stone and cladding panels.

Khaldoun Tabari, CEO and vice-chairman of DSI, says: “The creation of the curtain wall is a major stage in the construction lifecycle of any project. As a co-developer and the general contractor on this project, the Lamar Towers is a vital showcase of our technical construction and engineering prowess.”

Haji Hassan busy with several projects

Haji Hassan Group, a diversified construction-focused group headquartered in Bahrain, showcased the prowess of its various units that cover 13 sectors of the industry, at the recent gulfBID exhibition held in Bahrain.

The group, which also has joint venture partnerships across the GCC, promoted the products and services from its portfolio of joint venture partners and divisions, including Bahrain Precast Concrete, Bahrain Blocks, Haji Hassan Readymix, Arabian Chemical Industries (Isola), Haji Hassan Reinforcement, Arabian Parts Company and Bahrain Pipes.

Commenting on the readymix industry, Andy Rogers of Haji Hassan Readymix says there is a lot of pressure on the prices of materials with production not meeting demand. Qatar, for instance, is paying a premium to guarantee supplies. However, due to Haji Hassan’s huge stocks and heavy investment, customers are insulated from any inflation in prices, he says.

Haji Hassan Readymix is supplying readymix concrete to a significant number of projects in Bahrain, including housing projects in Al Madina Al Shamaliya (Northern Town), where it is involved in two phases of supplies with Tamcom and Ahmed Mansour Al A’ali (AMA). It is also supplying a high-rise project for Cebarco in Busaiteen.

In other projects, Haji Hassan is bringing to completion the structural concrete phase of the Fontana Towers, a three-tower development by Kooheji Contractors in Juffair.

It is also gearing up to supply upcoming projects like the oncology unit in Awali, Bahrain International Airport development, a project in Bapco and others. Haji Hassan has supplied to many bridge projects in Bahrain such as the North Manama and Sitra causeways.