Mideast's construction show a big draw
Dubai: Dubai: The combined construction equipment shows, the Middle East Construction and Industrial Equipment Show 2005 and the Elevators and Escalators Show – held in Dubai last month – attracted more than 2,000 trade visitors from across the region, including architects, designers, civil engineers, builders, housing sector specialists and contractors.

Organised by Mediac Communications and Exhibitions at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, the shows attracted nearly double the number of exhibitors in the previous edition of the show.
Participants from the key segments of the construction sector included representatives of leading construction equipment manufacturers and elevator specialists from the UK, Canada, US, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, China, and Turkey as well as the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries.
“Doubling the number of exhibitors this year is evidence of the tremendous success of these shows,” said Abdulla A Abulhoul, director, Mediac Communications and Exhibitions.

Palme adds three more sectors
Dubai: Now in its third year, Palme – the Middle East’s premier professional sound, light, music, audio-visual and systems integration exhibition – has introduced three new sectors.
“Install, Event 360 and Musac – the three new sectors of Palme are the result of extensive industry research,” says Darren Brechin, project director, Palme. “It was clear from our in-depth discussions with exhibitors, visitors and industry associations that, given the highly buoyant nature and rapidly-growing sophistication of the regional market, there was a real demand for additional dedicated events that would complement the core concept of Palme.”
The three new sectors that have been integrated into Palme 2005 further enhance the focus of the event, providing an unrivalled platform for companies looking to maximise their share of the business opportunities throughout the Mena region. With the highly lucrative Middle East sound and lighting sector alone estimated to be worth $2 billion a year within five years, major industry players are choosing Palme as the launch platform for their new products and innovations – over 100 regional launches are expected to take place at Palme 2005, which is to be staged at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from April 24 to 26.

Work on Amwaj Plaza II begins
Manama: Work on a BD2.8 million ($7.4 million) residential tower has started at Bahrain's Amwaj Islands. The 10-storey tower will be called Amwaj Plaza II.
A turnkey contract for the construction of the multi-storey apartment building was awarded to property developers and civil engineering contractors, AAA Homes.
The project, with a land area of 1,587 sq m, comprises of 55, one, two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, including two penthouse apartments on the top floor, said Mohammed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB) projects director Sushil Kher.
The building has an approximate gross built-up area of 12,000 sq m, including utility areas and provides 55 parking spaces at basement and ground level for the residents.
Amwaj Plaza II will be fitted with modern electro-mechanical services including fire fighting and garbage disposal system. It will also sport a terrace level swimming pool alonside adjoining state-of-the-art health club facilities.
The project is to be completed by end-July 2006 under a 16-month construction contract.

BIIC receives Saudi investment
Manama: Saudi-based businessman Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali Al Rashed will invest $50 million to build the Bahrain International Insurance Centre (BIIC) within the upcoming  $1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH).
The announcement of the partnership with Sheikh Saleh was made at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of BIIC held on the BFH construction site under the patronage of Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, governor of the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA).
The purpose-built BIIC is conceived to be a world-class insurance hub.

Bahrain, Qatar interested in rail link
Manama: The leaders of Bahrain and Qatar have expressed interest in taking part in a German-led project to connect Gulf states by high-speed rail, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said.
Schroeder said during a visit to Bahrain that he had invited members of the GCC to Germany to discuss details of the proposed 2,000 km-long railway stretching from Kuwait in the north to Oman in the south.

Bids for Shoaiba IWPP opened
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Water & Electricity Company (WEC) has opened bids to build, own and operate (BOO) the $1.5 billion Shoaiba independent water and power project (IWPP).
The 650 MW-900MW and 880,000 cu m per day is the world’s first oil-fired IWPP and will be the world’s largest private desalination plant (when complete). A request for proposal (RFP) was issued last July.

NDIA invites prequal for major works
Doha: Contractors have been invited to bid for two packages on the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) project. The contract for the passenger terminal complex for the NDIA includes construction of the passenger terminal complex, and the design and build of special systems.
The air traffic control and navigation aids facilities package includes a design and build package that involves, detailing of the conceptual design, and the design engineering, procurement, construction, installation, testing and commissioning.

Jet Aviation plans new terminal
Kuwait City: Jet Aviation–Kuwait, is to launch the construction of a private jet terminal at the Kuwait International Airport starting this month.
“The terminal, to come up on 130,000 hectares, will be constructed over a period of two years and will receive private aircraft of businessmen. It will also handle additional passengers that the Kuwait International Airport can’t handle,” says a spokesman for the company.
The company will construct the new terminal – what is designed to accommodate 33 private planes in parking bays and hangars – on a build, operate, transfer (BOT) system.
The new terminal that will be constructed and managed by the private sector will offer multifaceted services to the businessmen coming to Kuwait as their first stop.

Hyundai seals mega deal
Kuwait City: South Korea’s Hyundai Construction and Engineering said it has won a $397 million order to build an ethane recovery plant in Kuwait.
The order was placed by Kuwait National Petroleum Company with completion due for September, 2007, Hyundai said.

Oman's Wave to rise in May
Muscat: Site preparation work on The Wave, Oman’s top tourism and seafront residential development project, will begin this May allowing the start of construction of phase-1 of the project which involves reclamation of land, infrastructure development – including an 18-hole PGA Golf Course and Marina.
The Wave, which will be established along a 7.3 km beachfront just west of Muscat, is a joint venture comprising Oman’s Waterfront Investments, representing the Government of Oman, the National Investment Funds Company that represents the Omani Pension Funds and State General Reserve Funds, and the UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim Investments.
The second phase of the project will feature the development of hotels, villas, condominium towers and upscale apartment complexes, as well as retail and restaurant outlets.