23
october 2014
international
construction
REGIONALREPORT
Global showpieces
>
Costing US$ 2.9 billion, it is being developed in order to
enhance the emirate's credentials as a tourist destination and
meet the demands of around 20million passengers a year.
The initial phases of the project started in 2006, with a
4,000 m long runway designed to handle the Airbus A-380
aircraft.
But with Saudi Arabia driving a large share of the region’s
economic development, it is perhaps unsurprising the Middle
East’s grandest scheme, the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, falls
within its territory.
Building work on the US$ 1.2 billion project which at 1 km
highwill become theworld’s tallest tower, began thisApril. Prior
to that Bauer Foundation Contractors completed foundation
work on the project, which is due for completion in 2018.
Qatar
Another of the region’s construction hotspots is Qatar. Chosen
as the venue for the 2022 FIFAWorld Cup, preparations are
said tobe on trackdespite the controversyover staging the event
in scorching summer temperatures.
Tenders for the stadiums, which will cost a total of US$ 4
billion according toQatar’sMinistry of Business andTrade, will
be issued later this year.
Aecom has been appointed towork on one of theWorldCup
venues, the Al Wakrah Stadium which will hold up to 40,000
people. Its design, according to its developers, is said to ‘reflect
the seafaring heritage of Al Wakrah and the traditional dhow
pearl fishing boat.”
The second venue to be unveiled, the Al Bayt, was announced
this summer. Located at Al Khor, 30 miles (48 km) north of
Doha, it has been designed as a 60,000-seat venue forecast to
be completed by 2018. Its modular construction is to be based
on black andwhite tents used by nomadic tribes in the region.
According to Qatar’s Supreme Committee (SC) for Delivery
and Legacy, the venue will stage one of the semi-finals for the
World Cup. The stadium has been designed with removable
seating for its upper tier to enable re-used for other sporting
venues after 2022.
SC secretary general HassanAlThawadi confirmed that plans
for five of the country’s venue are now under way. The final
matches of the tournament are to be played at Lusail Iconic
Liebherr has supplied cranes to Qatar’s new national
museum, which is scheduled to open at the end of this year.
Focus on Excellence
Keepingmajor projects like the newBasra Sports Stadium in Iraq on track, requiresmajor logistical support in
addition to unique and innovative solutions that are engineered tomeet challenging programme times.
Whether it is the co-ordination of equipment delivery, the design of formwork and falsework systems, or safe
access and egress solutions, our teamof technical experts at RMDKwikform are continuously developing industry
leading formwork and falsework systems, that ensure your project is supported throughout its construction.
So if you have a challenging project, why not contact RMDKwikform today and see howwe canhelp you create.
Tailored Solutions
•
Global Expertise
Formore information contact
our specialists nowon
+44 (0)1922743 743
