Al Habtoor Engineering was the main contractor on the new Dubai headquarters for the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC). The company started work on the project in January 1999 and finished it on time in March this year.

Describing the project, Salah Yatim, project manager for Al Habtoor, says: "The 10-storey building has an astonishing design, with the front of the building, from top to bottom, taking the shape of a ship's hull complete with portholes as windows, while the rest is fully glazed to ensure total exclusivity. It is a unique building and we are glad we finished the work within a short span of 13 to 14 months despite the challenges thrown up by the building's design.

"At the peak of construction there were around 200 men working two shifts round-the-clock."

Established more than 30 years ago, Al Habtoor is today one of the largest contracting companies in the region. It has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Amman, Jordan and is represented in the UK and the US.

It was also the first engineering firm in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to receive the much-sought-after ISO 9002 award in 1996, Yatim says.

The company's experienced international management team is capable of undertaking construction projects ranging from multi-complex hotels, hospitals, residential apartments, villas and special projects such as military bases and camps.

Over the years, the company has been involved with several prestigious projects which include the Holiday Centre Complex on Shaikh Zayed Road, the 29-storey Dubai Creek Tower, Jumeirah Beach Resort, Burj Al Arab and the Metropolitan Palace Hotel, in the UAE.

Among the special projects previously undertaken by the company is the Abu Dhabi Armed Forces Officers Club. This comprises a parabolic shell dome, which is one of the largest shell spans in the world. Beneath this self-supported structure, Al Habtoor has installed a wide range of finishes.

The company also specialises in hospital construction, having built some of the major hospitals in the emirates, including Al Wasl and the New Dubai Hospital.