Saudi Arabia-based Alawami Planners and Consultants is set to expand further in the region with a network of offices in the Middle East, in a bid to capitalise on the construction boom in the region.

“We plan to kick off our expansion plans with a branch office in Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia and in Bahrain, which will be followed by the launch of two more offices in Oman, Qatar and Beirut in Lebanon by the year-end,” says Hussain Al Jumaa, vice president of the practice. “There has been a continuous healthy growth in the region's construction industry, with foreign investors playing a major role in boosting the sector. Alawami is poised to stake a major share of the construction pie.”
“We have sustained our growth and visibility in local and Gulf markets over the past year. We now have bigger projects on hand and are looking to penetrate the neighbouring countries in the near future,” he points out.
Over the course of last year, the company positioned itself strategically to win further business in the region by branching into new areas of activities, which include interior design and decoration, project management and supervision, and supply of local and imported furniture, fixtures and artwork. It has also upgraded its local area network (LAN), computer hardware and software facilities to cope with the rise in demand in the construction industry.
Alawami designs, prepares plans, manages and supervises projects nearly every type of construction project ranging from palaces and residential villas to commercial buildings, mosques, schools, hospitals, resorts and shopping malls.

Project portfolio
Last year, Alawami completed the design and drafting for more than 200 individual projects and 40 interior design and décor jobs. Some of the recent landmark projects that Alawami has been involved in Saudi Arabia include:
• The Millennium Centre for the Saudi Investment Group: Envisioned to be one of the outstanding landmarks in the Eastern Province, this is a prestigious commercial building of a post-modern architectural design to be built at an estimated cost of SR48 million ($12.79 million), along the commercial district of Dammam. The project is expected to be launched shortly with negotiations currently under way with the contractor. The Millennium Centre will consist of a two-storey building plus a mezzanine floor in a floor area of 5,500 sq m, nested in a 12,600 sq m plot (see project report).
• The Arar Municipality Building: Currently under construction, the SR32 million project in Arar comprises a four-storey building with a floor area of 2,700 sq m, situated on a 40,000 sq m plot.
• The Hail Commercial Building for Eid Al Harbi: This three-storey (plus mezzanine floor) building – work on which will start soon at an estimated cost of SR8.5 million – will have a floor area of 940 sq m and will occupy a 1,630 sq m site in Hail.
The practice’s order book includes 50 ongoing projects that are under its project management and supervision.
“Our technical and engineering staff is well-versed with computers and utilises the latest technology for design and problem solving. They use software such as AutoCAD for design and drafting, 3D Max and Photoshop for rendering, Primavera for scheduling, STADD IV for structural design, and RISA far structural problem solving, to name a few,” he adds.
Alawami Planners and Consultants, started off as a small office with five employees in 1980 in Qatif, in Saudi Arabia, and has now grown to a multidisciplinary practice with more than 60 employees, including architects, architectural and interior designers; civil, electrical and mechanical engineers; surveyors, CAD operators and draftsmen.
The company offers architectural designs for all types of buildings in various concrete, pre-engineered steel and precast constructions. It also designs the foundations and infrastructure facilities, utilities and roads. Alawami prepares design studies for lighting distribution, power sources, public address and building operation system, electrical circuits and CCTV.
“We also design the internal and external sanitary works for buildings and other projects,” he continues.
Alawami also analyses internal designs, including the integration studies for architectural spaces, as well as design works for furniture, curtains and other complementary particulars. Its engineering staff has experience in supervising concrete and metal constructions as well as infrastructure, roads and finishing.
Al Jumaa says the company’s survey team can conduct all topographical activities and contour lines, and can also prepare gridlines for developed and undeveloped lands, farms and rest houses.