M Glory Holding Group and Dubai Industrial City have announced the opening of the 45,000sqft Al Damani Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Factory. The new plant houses the temporary assembly line, which has a maximum production capacity of 10,000 cars per year.

In its official statement, M Glory explained that the move represents a major milestone in the manufacturing of electric cars to meet rising demand for green mobility and the reduction of global carbon emissions.

The factory’s groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Majida Al-Azazi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of M Glory Holding Group, and Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Executive Vice President – Industrial Leasing at Tecom Group, along with other business leaders and media representatives.

In March 2022, the company laid the foundation stone for the facility.

Al-Shawareb said: “We are delighted to announce the inauguration of Al Damani Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Factory in Dubai Industrial City. This historic milestone will provide another low-emission energy source and contribute to creating a more sustainable future for the UAE and the region. By delivering cutting-edge, technologically supported solutions in line with Operation 300bn and driven by our partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, the manufacturing sector can play a crucial role in supporting the national Net Zero strategy.

“The opening of M Glory in our community illustrates our dedication to boosting the manufacturing sector and our belief in providing a comprehensive ecosystem that enables regional manufacturers like M Glory to establish businesses and further the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative,” he added.

In July 2022, Abu Dhabi launched a $2.72bn drive to expand the manufacturing sector to over $46bn while, in September 2022, KIZAD inked a deal to establish Abu Dhabi’s first EV assembly facility.

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Luxury sanitaryware and tiles retailer Casa Milano has opened its second showroom in Abu Dhabi’s Musaffa area. The firm said the modern showroom will replicate the same concept of catering to 360-degree luxury home requirements ranging from sanitaryware, tiles, parquet, landscaping & pools, kitchens and solid surfaces as it is in Dubai, but in a bigger space.

In its statement, the firm said it has also partnered with premium German sanitaryware group Hansgrohe. It noted that the German brand is one of the top players in the space, and is also one of the oldest sanitaryware manufacturers in the world.

In March 2022, Danube launched a 1,000 unit affordable housing project in Dubai while, in August 2022, Danube Home inks deal to enter the Mauritius market.

“We are delighted to launch our second showroom in the capital and even more elated to partner with one of the best names in the sanitaryware industry, Hansgrohe. People are now looking to add an aesthetic luxurious touch to not only their house, but also to the bathrooms which is the new ‘me’ space. We intend to showcase all our products including Hansgrohe in a way that the customer can visualise having it in their homes,” said Azhar Sajan, Director at Casa Milano.

The store is said to feature a 206sqm area dedicated to Hansgrohe products, which is billed as the largest display for the brand in the UAE.

In September 2022, Danube appointed Naresco Contracting as the main contractor for Skyz Tower.

Andreas Wolf, Managing Director Hansgrohe SE Middle East Hansgrohe concluded, “We are very pleased to have partnered with Casa Milano and are looking for great development. We’re sure of having a long standing relationship, since the core values of both the companies are in sync.”

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Savills has said that increased emphasis on lifestyle has led property buyers to ask for greater indoor and outdoor space, and focus on wellness credentials and connectivity to their homes. The findings were part of its Global Destinations for Second Homes report on top second home locations in the world.

The firm stated that while hybrid working has been widely discussed, the trend of ‘hybrid living’ – splitting time between a city-base and a second home – is beginning to take off. Flexible work arrangements now allow users to use second homes more throughout the year, rather than just a few weeks during peak holiday seasons, creating more than just a holiday home, the firm pointed out.

“With the increased focus on personal health and wellness, second home locations have to pull double-duty by providing both the traditional sun, sea and countryside, as well as the key amenities to promote personal wellness. Looking ahead, we expect some second home markets to become even more domestic and regional, as buyers continue to value close proximity to their city base for easy commuting by train or by car,” says Kelcie Sellers, Associate, Savills World Research.

In September 2022, in an exclusive interview with Middle East Construction News, Jennie Stallings, Partner and Commercial Manager at ChelseaGREEN said, “Wellness initiatives deliver commercial benefits and there are studies to demonstrate ROI for the business”. Stallings made the comments ahead of her presentation at Middle East Consultant’s 2022 Wellness in Construction Summit, which took place on 5 September.

The company’s research arm, Savills Research, said it examined three second home locations within easy access to a major world city and ranked them based on the residential offering, wellness amenities, and connectivity:

The firm said that the locations that excel are those offering ample gyms, high numbers of golf and tennis courts and access to spas. Air quality is also a key element in the wellness score as well as internet connectivity and the need to be close to a major world city, it stated. In early September 2022, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment introduced its National Air Quality Agenda 2031.

Savills revealed that the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) is the top destination for three world cities. The depth of the property market, abundance of wellness activities, and strong connectivity has kept the international destination on buyers’ wish lists for over a century, it explained.

In late September 2022, Nakheel unveiled its new brand focus in line with Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and said that it will focus further on developing inclusive communities and ensuring the wellbeing and quality of life of citizens, residents and visitors.

It added that Spain was also a key market for second homes for buyers from across Europe. Sotogrande, the wider Costa del Sol, and the Balearics were revealed as key destinations for buyers from Germany, other northern European nations, and even Dubai. Over the past 12 months, prices in the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands have increased more than 10%, as buyers bid up prices for the limited supply of residential property, it remarked.

For Dubai, which is one of the top performers in the Savills World Cities Prime Residential Index, its strategic location gives it access to second home markets in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The top three second home locations listed for Dubai were Maldives, Seychelles, and Costa del Sol in Spain, Savills highlighted.

Swapnil Pillai, Associate Director – Middle East Research commented, “With its unique and strategic geographical location, Dubai is easily accessible to the east and the west, allowing its primarily expat residents a range of options to choose from for their second homes. Further, Dubai International Airport is one of the most connected airports internationally, which ensures that people can seamlessly move between their residences located in multiple locations.”

Zāzen Properties also announced its new sustainability and wellness project in Dubai later in September 2022.

In its analysis of second home locations with wellness credentials, Savills said it also created its inaugural ‘Yoga Index’ for those looking for the ultimate retreat.

By measuring the number of yoga studios and classes, quality of life, air quality and access to necessities such as high-quality leggings and low-cost smoothies, the index can be used to identify locations, which might be most desirable for buyers looking to prioritise wellness or for those considering a new business venture, Savills explained.

The firm said that yoga has long been associated with wellness and revealed that the industry is worth approximately $80bn and has an estimated 300m people (and counting) practicing.

In June 2022, real estate brokerage Union Square House (USH) stated that a quarter of homebuyers in Dubai are on the hunt for living spaces that provide mental health benefits.

The firm’s Yoga Index ranked Bali and Phuket as the top locations. Savills said that both are well-known destinations and have built their brands on yoga retreats and getting back to nature. Each location has a high number of yoga studios where classes can be taken for relatively low costs.

They also have low-cost yoga essentials and high quality of life scores. Three European locations round out the top five – Liguria, Galicia and Costa Del Sol, the last of which is listed as a second home destination for Dubai, it concluded.

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Weir Group will integrate vertical stirred grinding mills technology into its business, as part of a new alliance with Swiss Tower Mills Minerals AG (STM).

Designed to improve throughput and energy efficiency, STM’s vertical stirred grinding mills for coarse grinding applications offers a low energy alternative to traditional high energy consuming tumbling mills. According to Weir, it will be integrated into a single flow sheet, delivering significant reductions in energy use, driving down costs and carbon emissions.

The technology is already well-known for energy efficient comminution in the mining market with more than 80 units currently operating in the hard rock mineral processing industry globally. It is used within the comminution segment of the minerals processing circuit as part of a series of crushing and grinding processes that create the fine particles from which minerals can be extracted through floatation, the company explained.

In August 2022, Weir announced a new president for its minerals division, while Sandvik said that it had won a record $32mn order for battery-electric mining equipment.

Comminution is one of the most energy intensive parts of the mine, accounting for 25% of the final energy consumption of an average mine site. The vertical stirred grinding mills further complement Weir’s existing comminution technologies, such as Enduron HPGRs which the company says are driving down energy consumption by around 40% for its customers.

In a statement announcing the new alliance, Ricardo Garib, Weir Minerals Divisional President said, “Weir and STM share the same vision of enabling primary resource providers to produce resources in the most sustainable manner. This is a perfect match of best-in-class technology providers.”

He concluded, integrating STM mills with Weir’s comminution products, which includes Enduron high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) and Enduron screens, will improve throughput and help bring substantial reductions in carbon emissions. This is a real win-win.”

In September 2022, Caterpillar inked a deal to replace the haul truck fleet at a Chilean mine.

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Two major contracts worth $124mn have been awarded by Sharjah-based developer Arada to Airolink Building Contracting. The deal will see the construction of nine premium apartment blocks comprising 740 homes in Aljada, the developer’s 24m sqft mixed-use mega-project located in the Muwaileh area of New Sharjah.

According to the developer, the buildings include five Sokoon blocks and two new apartment blocks, which are located close to Aljada’s museum, and the two Gate buildings, which are based in different parts of the Aljada master plan, where almost 7,000 units are currently under construction.

“Sharjah’s most exciting new master development is now growing at an incredible pace, and we’re working hard towards reaching our goal of completing 5,000 homes during 2022. We continue to welcome hundreds of new families relocating to Aljada’s first residential phase, who are enjoying the extensive retail, dining, educational and entertainment facilities on offer,” said Arada Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi.

In May 2022, the developer awarded contracts worth $125mn to build the first residential district at its Masaar development. In June 2022, the developer awarded a $20.4mn contract to build Sharjah’s largest and most technologically advanced fitness centre.

The first contract, valued at $102mn is for the construction of the five Sokoon apartment buildings and two apartment blocks located next to the museum. Arada noted that work will soon start on the Sokoon buildings – comprising 482 homes – and the museum-facing buildings – featuring 138 homes – and are due for completion in mid-2024. Both sets of buildings are based in Naseej District in Aljada’s cultural neighbourhood.

The second contract, valued at $20.9mn, was awarded for the development of The Gate, which consists of two apartment buildings located at the entrance of Aljada. Construction works on the 120 homes in The Gate will begin immediately and will take 16 months to be completed, the developer stated.

Alkhoshaibi concluded, “The award of these two contracts demonstrates our commitment to press ahead with construction at new areas of the Aljada site, which is already one of the most complex project sites anywhere in the region. We look forward to fulfilling the trust placed in us by our buyers by delivering beautifully designed homes finished to an immaculate standard.”

In early October 2022, the developer launched the Masaar Discovery Centre.

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ACWA Power has announced the signing of MoUs with the National Water Company of Senegal (SONES) and the National Electric Company of Senegal (SENELEC).

The first MoU will cover the development of a 300,000cu/m per day seawater reverse osmosis plant (SWRO) in Grande Côte, located approximately 40km north-east of the capital Dakar. In a statement, ACWA Power said that it will work in close collaboration with SONES to oversee the development of the SWRO development.

The project will be the first desalination facility in the country and is being facilitated on a public-private partnership basis. It will also be the largest desalination project of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In June 2022, Acwa Power inked a PPA with SPPC for a $107mn solar PV plant.

The second MoU announced will see ACWA Power working closely with SENELEC to develop a Combined Cycle Gas-Turbine (CCGT) plant in Cap des Biches, with an initial design capacity of 160MW. In line with Senegal’s Gas-to-Power strategy, which aims to increase the country’s energy independence, reduce the cost of electricity, and provide universal access to electricity, the development of the new facility will furthermore assist the country’s efforts to reduce its GHG emissions by at least 23% by 2030.

“The signing of these agreements between the Saudi Group ACWA Power and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, on behalf of Senegal is in anticipation of rapid demographic growth and consumer demand in the Dakar-Mbour-Thies triangle, which represents over five million consumers,” said Charles Fall, Managing Director of SONES.

“The agreement we have just signed is above all an essential step taken in response to the demand for drinking water within the framework of the Plan Sénégal Émergent (PSE). Furthermore, this first PPP experience will have no impact on water prices. Last but not least, this partnership framework is a testimony of the strong cooperation ties between Saudi Arabia and Senegal and represents an opportunity for the local private sector through the creation of a Senegalese company operating under Senegalese law,” he added.

Later in June 2022, ACWA Power signed a $1.15bn deal to develop one of the largest windfarms in the world.

As one of the largest private operators of water desalination plants in the world, ACWA Power has a portfolio that collectively produces 6.4m m3 of desalinated water per day. This includes 10 mega-scale SWRO projects, the company stated.

“We are deeply honoured to contribute towards the strengthening ties of Saudi Arabia, our home country, and Senegal via the signing of two landmark MOUs today and we extend our sincerest gratitude to the Senegalese leadership for their trust and confidence in ACWA Power’s abilities to realise these strategic projects for the country,” said Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power.

“In line with our mandate to provide reliable delivery of power and desalinated water, ACWA Power is leveraging its global expertise to support the nation’s sustainable and socio-economic development for years to come,” he continued.

In August 2022, Doosan Enerbility won an EPC contract for the $640mn Shuaibah 3 IWP in Saudi Arabia.

ACWA Power’s global power generation portfolio of 42.7GW comprises a mix of conventional power, natural gas, and renewable energy solutions.

“ACWA Power will bring its long-standing experience as a leading developer and operator of desalinated water and power generation facilities to create utility infrastructure essential to Senegal’s future capacity requirements. We are also excited to lead the development of SONES’ 300,000 m3/d SWRO plant, which will be the first desalination project in the country to be conducted on a Public-Private Partnership basis and the largest desalination project of its kind ever created in Sub-Saharan Africa,” concluded Clive Turton, Chief Investment Officer of ACWA Power.

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JLL has inked a deal with Qatar-based real estate brokerage NelsonPark Property. The partnership is expected to promote residential property transactions in Qatar, while supporting investments in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“On the back of this strategic collaboration, we will be able to leverage JLL’s global expertise and services to better support our customers, while bolstering Qatar’s residential property market,” explained Jeffrey Asselstine, Managing Director at NelsonPark Property.

The firm noted that the weaker sterling has created a window of opportunity for Middle East investors in London.

In August 2022, Saudi Arabia said it had opened the expanded Salwa border crossing facility ahead of the FIFA 2022 World Cup.

He added, “This partnership has come at the right time as Qatar gets ready to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup in a few months. Global events such as the World Cup and other reforms in the Qatar real estate market are expected to generate high demand for both residential and commercial properties in the months ahead.”

In May 2022, the Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha opened to the public.

Through the agreement NelsonPark Property will have access to JLL’s expertise and services including residential property investment and consultancy services across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The deal will also enable JLL to collaborate with NelsonPark Property on some of Qatar’s most iconic residential projects.

“Our collaboration with NelsonPark Property – a real estate company that has been operating in Qatar for over a decade – supports JLL’s activity in the country’s real estate investment sector,” explained Will McKintosh, JLL’s Head of Residential & Investment – MENA.

He concluded, “With this collaboration, Qatari citizens and expats will be able to benefit from advice on real estate in Qatar, the Middle East and internationally, while also diversifying their assets in London and other parts of the United Kingdom.”

In September 2022, JLL appointed Saud Mohammed Alsulaimani as its KSA Country Head.

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Dingli has added new products to its large electric scissor series, focusing on increased battery life and high load capacity.

The JCPT1912DCL and JCPT1712DCL, which were recently added to the lightweight-designed series offer 500kg of load capacity and come equipped with a 48V420Ah high-capacity battery pack for long-endurance operations, the company says.

In July 2022, Dingli launched a new range extender series and, in August, the manufacturer launched nine new models in its high-metre boom series.

Both models are purely electric driven with zero emissions and have a width of 1.25m making them compact in size so they can easily fit through narrow passages, the firm explained.

Also included is a 1.2m one-way extension deck, allowing operators easier access and outreach to the point of operation. Complementing the range of large electric scissors under 20m, the total weight of the two devices respectively is 7,140kg and 6,280kg, making them especially convenient for transportation, Dingli adds.

The new machines further enhance Dingli’s scissor series which has maximum working height from six to 32m and a maximum load of 1000kg, including mini, compact (AC/HA), large electric, large rough-terrain (electric/ diesel), oil-free & all-electric series.

Construction Machinery Middle East will be hosting the 2022 Access & Handling Summit on 16 November. Registration is complementary but mandatory for industry professionals.

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