‘Decade of Design’ launched
THE Office Exhibition 2011 has launched its ‘Decade of Design’ commercial interior design competition. In partnership with the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the competition seeks to recognise outstanding commercial interior design in corporate, healthcare, hospitality, and retail projects in the UAE.
Any UAE-based project completed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 is eligible to enter the competition. Companies interested in participating should visit www.theofficeexhibition.com/decade. The deadline to submit entries is March 30, 2011.
‘Decade of Design’ seeks to highlight the significant impact that design has had on the changing landscape and working environment of the UAE. Shortlisted entries will be displayed at exhibition, which runs from May 17 to 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The winning projects will be acknowledged at an official awards ceremony during the event.
Pipes industry to expand six-fold
TEKNOTUBE Arabia 2011 – the 10th international trade fair for industrial machinery, metalworking, machine tools, dies/moulds, tubes, and pipes – concluded last month with the message that the pipes industry will expand six-fold in the next five years.
The event that ran concurrently with ArabPlast together attracted 18,680 visitors constituting a cross-section of the world’s tube and pipe customers.
Chinese participation in TeknoTube Arabia rose by 40 per cent. Jun Yao, the general manager of Baosteel, said there was a huge market for Chinese companies in the Middle East and he was looking for agents from the region. “Tubes and pipes manufacturers from China are coming here to test the market,” he said.
Saudi urban transport in focus
THE Saudi Urban Transport Conference will explore the kingdom’s transport development plans this month (February 19 to 22) at the Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Saudi Arabia.
The event is being organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs and the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC).
Saudi Arabia is to construct 6,600 km of new roads costing approximately SR11.3 billion ($3 billion) this year as part of planned developments that reflect a five per cent increase in government funding for transportation and communication projects, the value of which is expected to reach SR25.2 billion ($6.72 billion).
“The conference will provide valuable indicators on the performance of various key projects across the kingdom and how they fit into the country’s overall transport infrastructure. The conference is also an excellent platform for transferring knowledge and discussing key trends such as the evolution of Makkah’s traffic, public transport and crowd movements,” said Dr Ossama Albar, the mayor of Makkah.
Smart solutions at power forum
A ONE-DAY forum during Middle East Electricity 2011 in Dubai this month will examine ways of improving energy efficiency with the help of smart solutions.
The Middle East Electricity Leaders’ Forum will bring together regional and international experts who will discuss ways in which the UAE and the wider region can wean themselves off carbon-producing natural gas and oil, to produce clean and renewable energy.
Middle East Electricity takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from February 8 to 10.
Exhibition director Anita Mathews comments: “Smart grids use existing technology that can efficiently deliver reliable energy as well as integrate clean and renewable energy, increasing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. By tracking the growth in peak demand, energy management systems can allow the integration of higher ratios of cleaner energy sources, such as wind and solar power, into the system. Smart grid technologies also help to manage variances in output and streamline reliability giving a more balanced and sustainable supply.
At the forum, Alan Shingler, chair of Sustainable Futures Group, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), will look at energy conservation through a building design approach.
Peri to take part in three expos
PERI will showcase some of its state-of-the-art products at three regional exhibitions next month.
A wide range of new products and services as well as proven formwork and scaffolding work will be presented at Saudi Construction Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (March 21 to 25), The Big Show in Muscat, Oman (March 21 to 23), as well as at the Arabian Construction Week in Abu Dhabi, UAE (March 28 to 30).
The Peri stand will provide a wealth of information to industry professionals, including discussions with a Peri team of experts, tours of the exhibited products, latest documentation and live product demonstrations.
Conference to focus on sustainability
THE Cost-Effective Design and Construction Saudi Arabia conference will look into issues facing stakeholders in the delivery of sustainable projects while showcasing latest case-study examples from the region and around the world. Organised by the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC) and now in its second edition, the event will be held at the Riyadh Marriott between March 13 and 16, 2011.
Sultan Faden, a founding member of the Saudi Green Building Council, will share his perspectives on complying with current and future sustainable building codes in the kingdom by examining the impact of international and regional building codes on the construction industry. He will also evaluate initiatives which encourage the adoption of certified and rated building projects and review recommendations in promoting sustainable practices and culture.
