Prequalifying bids for Makkah job

Contractors have been invited to prequalify for initial work on a massive commercial and residential project in Makkah.

When completed, the Jabal Khandama Development will be able accommodate about 50,000 pilgrims during the Ramadan and Haj periods. It will be built on a hill overlooking Al Haram.

Bids were due for site preparation and infrastructure works covering a total area of around 160,000 sq m. This will include excavation, levelling and demarcating the area into 90 to 93 plots that will be leased or sold to developers.

The scope of works also entails provision of utilities such as electricity supply networks and water supply, sewage and stormwater drainage networks, and construction of asphalted roads extending 2,800 m.

Work on the estimated $100 million project is expected to start before the end of the year and is to be completed within 20 months.

Consultancy goes to Space Consult

Dubai: Dubai-based Space Consult has won the design and project management consultancy contract on a 34-storey high-rise in Dammam.

The Al Dhahran Tower will cost Dh75 million ($20 million) and will be the tallest structure in the Saudi city. The residential apartment complex will have seven apartments on each floor and will be surrounded by a green landscaped park.

Space Consult managing director Nabil Hashem said tenders should be announced shortly after the civic authorities approve the technical drawings. Construction work is expected to start by the year's end and should be completed before the end of 2004. Hashem said his company has won a contracts for a number of projects in Saudi Arabia, mainly in the Al Khobar region.

Desal plant commissioned

Riyadh: The third phase of the Al Khobar desalination plant and drinking water distribution system has been commissioned. The plant, with a total capacity of 500,000 cu m of water and 800 MW electricity, will serve the Eastern Province. The project includes a 155-km pipeline.

There are 30 desalination plants in the kingdom with a daily capacity of 2.8 million cu m of water and 5,000 MW electricity.

The report said 60 per cent of a project to supply water to Al Ahsa and Abqaik has been completed and should be ready next year.

SFP's ISO honour

The caption of the story 'ISO honour for SFP' (GCM September 2002) should have read SFP manager Mohammed Mushabab Arshan. The error is regretted.

New tenders law issued

Manama: A new law designed to safeguard public funds and end influence-peddling in the award of government tenders and purchases has been issued by Bahrain's King, HM Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The decree is intended to reinforce the principles of impartiality, competitiveness and equal treatment. It is also aimed at achieving further transparency on the basis of equal opportunity.

Sanitary ware mart up by 7pc

Muscat: The sanitary ware products market in the Sultanate is expected to grow by seven per cent in the next few years, thanks to a boom in the construction industry, seen as a result of increased government spending in development projects, said Hamad bin Suleiman al Ghraibi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources.

The future demand for housing is also expected to be very high during the next 10 to 15 years with 52 per cent of Oman's population being below 15 years age, he observed.

Barrister moves to Bahrain

Manama: Leading international law firm Norton Rose has relocated Martin Lucas, a barrister at its Construction and Engineering Group, to Bahrain.

The move is aimed at positioning Norton Rose at the forefront of legal services for the Middle East construction market.

Lucas comes from a construction industry background, working for five years at a main contractor in the construction industry before being called to the Bar. He joined Norton Rose in 1999.

Norton has carried work on Qatar's first independent water and power project at Ras Laffan and on the Taweelah power and desalination project in Abu Dhabi, said group partner Peter Hall.

Link to market Super Vision

Dubai: Link Marketing of Bahrain has been awarded the exclusive rights to sell and promote the Super Vision range of fibre optic lighting products in the country by Insight Communications, the Dubai-based international representative of Super Vision International in the Middle East.

School opens new block

Manama: Bahrain's Indian School has officially opened its Golden Jubilee administration block in Isa Town. The new BD105,000 ($278,500) building is designed to give parents easy access to the school administration and the students counsellor.

The work was carried out by Almoayyed Contracting and Mohammed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau.

Portal to feature airport tenders

Dubai: The Middle East AirportXchange (MAX) portal will feature all tenders for upcoming projects at the Dubai International Airport.

The online marketplace for regional airport operators (www.ax-max.com) signed an agreement with the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation to offer potential bidders an exclusive one-stop point for tender-related information. MAX would also handle general pre-qualifications for suppliers to these projects. This process will lead to the creation of a database of suppliers.

Since the last eight months, MAX has helped to pre-qualify suppliers for expansion projects worth Dh15 billion ($4 billion) at Dubai International Airport.

The portal is further negotiating with other regional airports for such crucial tie-ups in order to make the portal a one-stop platform for all aspects of airport development.

Sharjah to build 12 parks

Sharjah: The Sharjah Municipality will add 12 new neighbourhood parks as part of its programme to increase the green cover of the emirate, said Ahmed Fikree, director-general of the civic body.

A comprehensive plan is currently being chalked out to increase the number of public parks so that each district can have its own green area, he said.

Currently, there are 21 parks spread over 411,000 sq m and 12 new ones will be constructed in various areas.

Each park will be provided with an entertainment arcade for children, in addition to playgrounds for football, volleyball and basketball.

JAFZ Phase II nears completion

Dubai: The second phase of development of the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafz) is nearing completion.

The zone is now carrying out extensive work on the other side of Shaikh Zayed Road to accommodate new companies, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zones Corp (PCFC), said.

All the communication and road networks have been upgraded to link the next phase with the free zone. The zone is now in the earthworks preparation stage to launch the next phase for new companies to set up their offices and facilities. More than 2,300 companies currently operate inside Jafz.

Road rehab project complete

Dubai: The Dh46 million ($12.5 million) Dubai-Hatta Road rehabilitation project undertaken by Dubai Municipality has been completed and the road has opened for traffic. The project - work of which began in June last year -involved the rehabilitation of the 106-km long Hatta Road from Bu Kadra roundabout to the border of the Sultanate of Oman beyond Hatta.

Cable protection system introduced

Dubai: UAE firm Interface is introducing a new brand of heavy-duty GI cable protection systems in the Middle East and Africa. The heavy-duty conduits, sold under the brand name WM, are suitable for protecting electric cables in external car-parking, basement, swimming pool and outdoor applications, among others, Ajman-based Interface said.

Municipal works contracted out

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town Planning Department has contracted out its sewerage, drainage and irrigation duties on Abu Dhabi Island and Greater Abu Dhabi. Private firms Mace, Tamas and Al Hamed have taken over the work previously performed by the drainage networks division of the sewerage directorate. The firms' duties cover all roads, streets, public places in these areas.

Ikea lands Hyatt contract

Dubai: Swedish global furniture retailer Ikea has recently won the contract to furnish 11 Grand Hyatt staff accommodation villas in Al Quoz in Dubai, as part of its newly-created interior design consultancy service.

Dubai to get new park

Dubai: Work on a new park at Umm Suqueim in Dubai is due to begin by the end of the year. The park will be ready next August.

The park is part of the Dubai Municipality's efforts to bring greenery and recreation facilities closer to the city's residents, said Mohammed Hassan Al Ali, head of the Projects Design Section, at the General Projects Department. The final design of the 1.6-hectare park is ready and the project will be tendered shortly.

MTE gets new GM

Dubai: Mehrtash Trading Enterprises (MTE), Dubai-based floor coverings specialist, has recently appointed Dave Williams as general manager. He will focus on maintaining MTE's high quality and service standards.

Williams has worked with Ulster Carpet Mills' South African operations for over 27 years. He spent three months at the Burj Al Arab managing the project on behalf of MTE, as part of Ulster support system for its clients.

Technal trade centre project

In the article 'Bosco builds success on three principles' (GCM October 2002), the caption should have read: The Abu Dhabi Trade Centre ...Technal project. The error is regretted.