AL AWAMI Planners and Consultants has been prolific in meeting the design requirements of the kingdom’s vibrant construction sector, with close to 200 projects having emerged from its drawing boards last year.

The Qatif-headquartered consultancy is now focusing on expanding its area of operations even further, armed with an extended portfolio of services which covers the gamut of design, supervision and project management services.
Over the past year, the practice has completed designs for several projects in Saudi Arabia including the proposed Industrial Energy Park (see separate article), a camel racetrack grandstand, high-rise hotels and apartments, a medical centre, residential compounds and villas, apartments, commercial buildings, mosques and industrial structures.

“This year, many more job orders have already been finalised with complete design and drawings included, while several projects are still under study awaiting approval from clients,” says Hussain Al Jumaa, vice-president.
Some of the other major Saudi projects in which Al Awami is currently involved are:
• An estimated $5.5 million warehouse project in the Second Industrial City of Dammam for Saudi Feed Premixed Company (Saudi Mix). The concept design of the project has been approved and preparation of a full set of drawings is ongoing, with implementation due to commence next month. The project involves raw materials and finished products warehouses covering a total area of 4,000 sq m spread across a 15,000 sq m plot, and will use pre-engineered steel plus cladding, an insulated roof with gutters and parapet.
• Somac Commercial Complex, a mixed-used development in Dammam. The estimated $15.8 million project to be built on an area of 7,872 sq m involves four structures and consists of shops, apartments, a food-court and offices. The project is awaiting the go-ahead from the Ministry of Planning.
• Dr Al Awji Commercial Building, estimated to cost $22.4 million. The seven-storey hotel building will occupy a 5,119-sq-m site in Al Khobar. This project too is awaiting Ministry of Planning approval.
• The estimated $12.6 million Dossari Commercial Complex in Al Khobar. The project, which also awaits ministry go-ahead, will comprise a seven-storey building with commercial outlets and coffee shops on the ground level and typical office floors above.
The company is also designing the estimated $150 million Rafedain Resorts to be built in Baghdad, Iraq, and a three-star hotel in Qatar.

Al Awami Planners and Consultants specialises in designing, preparing plans, managing and supervising projects for virtually every area of the engineering and construction industry. These include residential villas, houses and palaces, residential, commercial and industrial buildings, mosques, schools, hospitals, hotels, resorts and malls.
“We have recently ventured into interior design, decoration, and in the field of construction, landscaping design and implementation, project management and supervision,” says Al Jumaa.
Al Awami Planners is now also a supplier of local and imported furniture and fixtures, artworks and decoration. With these new services, the practice continues to serve its market in the region which, apart from Saudi Arabia, also includes Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain.
According to Al Jumaa, Al Awami kept abreast with the trends to successfully maintain its market share during the global downturn. Additionally, it put through strategies such as operational cost-cutting and project cost discounting, as much as possible to tide over the hard times. “We hope to increase our competitiveness and serve the regional market better amidst hopes that 2010 will brighten up the industry,” he says.

Al Awami hopes to draw on the increasing prospects of the construction industry by expanding its regional presence. In line with this, the company plans to open branch offices in Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Beirut in Lebanon.
“Our technical and professional workforce is well versed in the latest technology for design and problem solving,” says Al Jumaa.
Al Awami Planners and Consultants, which was established in September 1980, has grown considerably in size as well as in services rendered and today employs a team of well over 60 members, including architects, interior designers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, surveyors, CAD operators and draftsmen of all specialties, and other personnel and service crew.
“Our technical and professional workforce utilises the latest technology for designing and problem solving. We use AutoCad for design and drafting, 3D Max and Photoshop for rendering, Primavera for project scheduling, Staad IV for structural design, as well as word processors, final planners and spreadsheets,” he says.
The consultancy is now keen on growing even further and extending its portfolio of professional services to the entire Gulf region.