Dalal Consultants and Engineers, a leading India-based company, has opened an office in Doha, Qatar. An ISO-accredited organisation, Dalal Consultants specialises in concept-to-commissioning of projects in chemicals, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food processing, power, textiles, plastics and polymers, commercial and institutional building projects, roads, drainage and allied sectors.

The local office will seek to play a role in Qatar's industrial growth. It has registered itself as a Class A consultant for industrial and infrastructural projects.

The company provides a complete range of services including business planning, investment studies, design and detailed engineering, project management, and environmental and pollution control studies.

In Qatar, it provides services to Qimco, the Department of Industrial Development, local turnkey contractors and multinational consultancy companies.

New cladding facility to open

Dubai: A new aluminium solid cladding facility will go on stream in Dubai's Al Quoz industrial area next year.

The Dubai-based International Business Ventures (IBV) is tying up with global aluminium major Van Dam of the Netherlands and Alcan Group of Canada for the project, the Gulf News said.

About Dh5 million ($1.36 million) will be invested in the project - considered one of the first of its kind in the Gulf - in the first year, said chief executive Leslie Hamilton. The three partners would share investment in the project equally.

The project aims to replace the widely-used composite cladding with the new solid cladding, Hamilton said. The company, named Van Dam Gulf, hopes to provide aluminium cladding at comparable or better prices.

Property expert sets up 50th office

London: Tim Weale, partner at UK-based property consultant Healey & Baker is breaking new ground this month when he moves to Dubai to set up the firm's 50th office. Weale has spent the last 11 years as Healey & Baker's senior auctioneer. Overall, he has worked in the property market for 30 years.

"I am delighted to have the chance to head up this new operation which will offer the full range of Healey & Baker's services,'' says Weale. ''We already have offices in Kuwait and Beirut and this will further consolidate our position in the Gulf region.

"As we have already acted for several international corporate clients in Dubai, the new office is a clear reflection of client demand and we have identified many more opportunities. It has become increasingly obvious that we should have a physical presence here."