Construction news updates from the GCC
Published by Rosalie Starling,
Editor - Hydrocarbon Engineering
World Cement,
Investment in infrastructure
The GCC is set to invest approximately US$121.3 billion to improve its land transportation infrastructure. According to local reports, major projects, including the construction and planning of new roads and bridges, are already underway in a number of the Gulf countries.
With the UAE and Qatar playing host to two major global events during the next decade, the 2020 World Expo and 2022 FIFA World Cup, respectively, there is a serious need to improve the region’s transport infrastructure, in terms of both capacity and efficiency. The UAE’s Road and Transport Authority has recently announced 35 major projects to be completed by 2020. These include the extension of Dubai’s Metro system and the upgrade of roads and junctions surrounding the Expo site.
Sustainable construction
Ventures Middle East has released a new report, “GCC Focus on Sustainability in Construction”, which examines green construction programmes, and the business opportunities they present, in GCC countries.
The sustainable construction market was slow to take off in GCC countries; however, governments have embraced and encouraged sustainable practices over the last three years through education and legislation. According to the report, the rise in sustainable buildings has resulted in increasing demand for green construction materials and the creation of new and unconventional building materials, which are in line with new building specifications.
Design and assessment methods for sustainable buildings have been introduced in all GCC countries, including LEED from the US Green Building Council, and the UK’s BREEAM. According to the report, there were 1236 LEED-rated projects in the GCC in 2013: 67% in the UAE, 16% in Qatar, 13% in Saudi Arabia, and 4% in Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling
Sources
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/africa-middle-east/28102014/construction-news-updates-from-the-gcc-748/
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