Al Hidaya to build twin towers
RealCapita has awarded a BD3 million ($8 million) construction contract to Bahrain-based Al Hidaya Contracting to build its BD4.5 million ($12 million) Real Suites twin towers.

Rising from two plots of land in Umm Al Hassam, the towers will consist of 68 fully-furnished, luxurious residential apartments of which eight are studio apartments, 36 are one-bedroom apartments, 20 two-bedroom apartments, and four with three bedrooms.
The towers will also have ground and first floor parking for residents, then 10 storeys above it, a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, squash courts and a gymnasium.
Construction work on the project has been launched with Keller undertaking the piling work, while Daylami Consulting Engineers is the main consultant.
The total built-up area will be 129,168 sq ft while the plot area is over 14,510 sq ft.
The project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2008.

New tower for Qatar corniche
Qatar’s Al Khayarin Group Trading and Contracting Company has been awarded a contract worth QR35 million ($9.6 million) for the construction of Al Jassim Tower at the Corniche.
The mid-rise, state-of-the-art tower, located at Corniche near Movenpick Hotel in front of the Qatar Red Crescent building, will be constructed under the supervision of Qatar Design Consortium (QDC) in 18 months.
The tower will consist of two basements, ground and 14 typical floors.

Go-ahead for Bahrain airport upgrade
A $3.8 million Bahrain airport expansion was given the go-ahead last month.
The project is being carried out jointly between Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) and Bahrain Duty Free.
The scheme includes shops and fast-food outlets of international standards at the departure lounge.
The area between gates 11 and 14 will be further expanded and redesigned, with new floor, ceiling and lighting.

Hospital poised for expansion
Work on the BD5 million ($13.2 million) KIMS Bahrain Medical Centre (KBMC) expansion will start shortly in Salmaniya, on a piece of land adjacent to the Joslin Diabetes Centre.
The 50-bed hospital in a ground-plus-four-storey building will be one of the most modern of its kind in Bahrain.
KBMC hopes the hospital project will be completed by early next year.

Aramco plans mega sea water job
A giant sea water treatment project is expected to be implemented by Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) by expanding one of its plants in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
The expansion of the sea water treatment plant of Khuraiya, 40 km east of Beqiq, would contribute to adding about 4.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of water to the plant’s present capacity.
On completion of the project, the plant's production is expected to rise to 14 million bpd to become the world’s largest sea water treatment plant used to extract oil.

Juffair freehold set to rise
Landmark Properties has awarded a contract to Al Namal Construction Company to build a 17-storey freehold luxury residential tower in Juffair, Bahrain. Estimated to cost BD6 million ($15.9 million), the Marvida Tower will offer a total built-up area of 22,000 sq ft and is designed by Al Jazeera Engineering, Bahrain.
The tower, facing the sea front over the marina, will have four floors of parking, a fully-equipped business centre, leisure facilities and a health club, which will include a swimming pool, said a spokesman for the developer.

$1.5bn spent on Bahrain housing
Bahrain will spend more than $1.528 billion (BD566 million) on housing projects over the next four years, Works and Housing Minister Fahmi Al Jowder said.
More than BD130 million is to be spent on 4,500 new houses in new residential areas and BD151.7 million on 3,500 other houses in expansions to 10 villages.
Fifty per cent of the reclamation work on the new BD1 billion Northern Town has been completed and 5,500 houses are expected to be completed within four years out of the 15,000 planned.
Land earmarked for these projects totalled to 4.8 million sq m and could accommodate up to 15,253 houses.
Al Jowder said the ministry was working with the private sector to build 7,000 housing units worth BD286 million over the next four years.

Oman upgrades three airports
Galfar Engineering and Contracting has won a contract worth RO7.7 million ($20 million) to build paved runways for airports at Fahud, Qarn Alam and Marmul in Oman.
The contract calls for a major upgrade to Petroleum Development Oman’s (DPO) existing unpaved airstrips at Qarn Alam and Marmul, while the work at Fahud involves upgrading of the existing paved runway. The intention is to develop these sites into hard topped airports that are capable of handling aircraft larger than the turbo prop aeroplanes that they are currently handling. Each upgraded airport will feature 2,440 m of paved runway   enough for the take-off and landing of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737.
In addition, small terminal buildings will be constructed with facilities for check in, baggage handling, and control room operations; separate buildings will additionally house the fire and rescue unit as well as rest areas for aircrew. All upgraded airports will be operational by the end of this year.

Sumitomo to power investment wharf
Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer), the developer of Bahrain Investment Wharf (BIW), has named Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation as the designer of a 66 kV electrical substation that will provide power into the BIW.
The contract calls for the detailed design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the primary 66 kV electrical substation to provide the required electricity within the development.
“Sumitomo Corporation brings a wealth of experience in the development of state-of-the-art facilities to serve such a major development,” said a spokesman for the project.
BIW is strategically located near the Khalifa bin Salman Seaport and Bahrain International Airport.

Stone is the natural attraction
Stone+tec 2007, which takes place in the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from June 6 to 9, will reflect the entire spectrum of the natural stone industry.
“Visitors can not only look forward to a comprehensive range of materials, technology and accessories from all over the world, but also to a rich spectrum of information and ideas,” says a spokesman for NürnbergMesse, the organiser of the German show.
He continues: “Natural stone is extremely popular in interior design, but it requires a different installation process to ceramic tiles. As seminars on this subject were very popular at Stone+tec 2003 and 2005, a presentation will once again be held in co-operation with the Fliesen und Platten magazine on the first day of the show, under the theme ‘Recognising, Processing, and Laying Natural Stone’.
“Experts will provide valuable information about technical applications and processing natural stone and elaborate on the right installation procedures. Attendance is free.”
Companies at the bi-annual exhibition will feature natural stone for interiors, facades and exteriors; processing, fixing, maintenance, preservation and restoration techniques, industrial safety and environmental protection services.
Stone industry associations will also be present.
Also in the spotlight will be machinery and tools for quarrying, processing, moving and installing natural stone as well as for the manufacture of diamond tools; and conveying, transport, and packaging services.

Focus on Istanbul restoration
An exhibition and conference focusing on urban renewal projects in Istanbul is to be held this June in the Turkish capital.
Called the Tadilat Istanbul 2007 Fair, the event will be held at the Istanbul Expo Centre from June 7 to 10, and supported by German fair specialist Messe München International, according to the event’s organiser Akdeniz Tanitim (Yapex Exhibitions).
The exhibition will feature construction and building materials companies, which are experts in renovation and restoration.
The conference’s topics will include ‘The Renovation Chain, from the City to the Buildings’ organised by Istanbul Branch of the Chamber of Architects with three exhibits; ‘Urban Renewal Projects’ organised by Istanbul Metropolitan Planing (IMP); ‘Structural Reinforcement in Building Renovations’ organised by Pamukkale University; ‘Why Timber?’ organised by Turkish Timber Association; ‘Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Istanbul’ organised by Italian academics; ‘Urban Planning’ organised by Planlama.org; and “‘Restoration Samples from Istanbul’ organised by Mimdap.org.

Aluminium in the spotlight
Hundreds of exhibitors and delegates are set to attend the Alumex 2007 exhibition and conference in Dubai, UAE, this month.
To be held from April 22 to 24 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event is being organised by Trans Continental Fair Management in collaboration with Edimet-Metef.
As many as 100 international firms will take part in the exhibition, which will occupy a floor space of around 4,000 sq m, while another 100 delegates are to attend the conference entitled ‘Growth via Aluminium – Technology and Innovation’, which will feature 40 eminent speakers.

Date set for power show
POWER-GEN Middle East 2008 will be held from February 4 to 6 next year at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Seef, Bahrain.
 Owned and produced by PennWell Corporation, event is expected to attract over 3,000 industry professionals, who will gather for three days to enjoy the industry’s leading conference and experience the latest developments and ideas for the future of the Middle East power and water sectors.
As many as 100 exhibitors will take part in the event.