The 5th gigaproject; Atlantis The Royal’s design team; Arada awards a $129 million contract; NEOM-GHM agreement

What a productive week! From construction milestones and project launches, to new appointments and million-dollar contract awards, this week saw a mix of it all.

Although busy months are no stranger in the construction world, having an eventful week has proven to be a lot less common. Especially when big names in the industry such as NEOM and Arada take the front stage.

In The Construction Digest this week, we highlight some of the loudest stories that flashed on your feeds, from the Saudi Crown Prince’s announcement of the 5th gigaproject, Dubai Municipality’s new and innovative recycling centres, to major milestones reached by Orascom, and Arada’s $129 million contract for its Sharjah master community.

Saudi Crown Prince reveals the kingdom’s 5th gigaproject

The fifth PIF-backed gigaproject has been revealed to be the?Diriyah Project?by HRH Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

The Diriyah project aligns with PIF’s strategy to focus on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors, including tourism and culture, to support Saudi Arabia’s position as a top tourism and cultural destination,?PIF said in a statement.

The statement said that gigaprojects form a crucial part of PIF’s strategy due to their ability to create new economic ecosystems that drive economic growth and diversification in the kingdom.

Arada awards $129 million contract to Gulf Asia Contracting

Arada?has awarded a major contract to Gulf Asia Contracting Company (GAC) to build four buildings in the Vida Aljada hotel complex located at the Aljada megaproject in Sharjah.

The $129 million contract will result in the construction of the 175-room Vida Aljada hotel, as well as 255 branded residences and 149 branded serviced apartments, all of which are based in Aljada’s cultural district.

Milestone alert: Orascom lifts the ZED Towers Sky Bridge?

The contractor has lifted the ZED Towers Sky Bridge 65 metres above the ground. The structure is a 380-ton curved steel bridge of 40 metres in length.

Orascom has accomplished this exceptional milestone using specialised hydraulic strand jacks, making it the first of its kind in the Middle East. The bridge connects the top ends of two luxury 19-storey residential and commercial towers.

Along with the Orascom Construction team, other companies who worked towards this noteworthy achievement include Ora, Mace, ECG, Cosmos, NSF, Freyssinet Middle East, and Hebetec Engineering AG.

NEOM selects General Hotel Management to run The Chedi Trojena

General Hotel Management (GHM) is the second hotel partner for?Trojena?– a unique perennial mountain destination and host venue of the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

Integrated within the Slope Residences atop the mountain peaks, The Chedi Trojena will be part of an iconic residential village in one of?TROJENA’s six distinctive clusters: Gateway, Discover, Valley, Explore, Relax and Fun.

The hotel’s location in the Relax Cluster serves as a sanctuary for reflection, recreation, and rejuvenation with world-class wellness programmes.?

Meet the design firms behind Atlantis The Royal?

Atlantis The Royal, The newest landmark at the Palm Jumeirah has recently opened its doors to guests, revealing its unique perspective on luxury and contemporary architecture.

With a focal theme of water and fire, the structure has been crafted by the world’s leading designers, architects, and artists.

In this exclusive feature, we list down five firms that contributed to the overall design of the iconic project.

Also read!

Dubai Municipality launches a recycling centre made from cargo shipping containers

Dubai Municipality?has launched the Recyclable Materials Collection Centre project using cargo shipping containers, which is considered one of the smartest and most environmentally sustainable centres.

The Centre aims to reduce waste production in Dubai, promote a culture of waste separation, and raise recycling rates, thus enhancing the quality of life of individuals in general.

From the magazine!

The January 2023 issue of Construction Week Middle East reflects on the Women in Construction Conference, which brought together inspiring individuals as well as leaders from the industry to bring sustainable change in the sector.

This month the cover indicates how women are playing an equally important role by ‘Building Bridges’ in the construction sector with stronger voices. Equality, diversity and inclusivity has been proven to play a pivotal role in enhancing productivity in a workplace. As the fastest growing market in the region, the construction industry is making strides by addressing issues around diversity and inclusion, as well as finding solutions to fill gaps on the road to equal representation.

The latest issue has several special features and comment pieces that highlight the trends driving the region’s construction industry. Click this?link?to view our cover story as well as other intriguing features and comment pieces.

January Editor's Letter

As the industry becomes more competitive in 2023, all eyes will be on developers and contractors as they bring some of the most complex projects to life, writes Editor in Chief Ranju Warrier . For what we know, companies will have to differentiate themselves in the market, as 2023 promises to be another rewarding — but challenging — year.

That's all for this week. Thank you for reading!

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