Khansaheb Civil Engineering has been operating in Dubai and the UAE for more than 60 years and is associated with many of the country's prestigious building and civil engineering projects.

As main contractor for the prestigious Al Gurg Tower, Khansaheb's quality-driven approach made the company a natural choice to construct this high-specification high-rise building.

From the outset the owner of the building, HE Easa Saleh Al Gurg, ambassador to the UK and Eire, has been involved with all aspects of the architecture, design, and construction of the tower. All buildings reflect the owner's wishes and this is particularly so with the Al Gurg Tower, with its spectacular exterior and high-performance interior, expressing the wishes of the ambassador and the Al-Gurg family. After final fitting out later this year, Al Gurg Tower will become the headquarters for the Al Gurg Group of companies and will also provide prestige office space for local and international companies.

As well as the architecture, the ambassador was closely involved with the selection of the site on Beniyas Road and the location of the building within this area of Dubai overlooking the creek. Thus, the completed building reflects to a very high degree the underlying philosophy of the ambassador, a man who has helped spearhead the national development of the UAE for more than 50 years whilst becoming one of its leading businessmen.

As well as the symbolic significance of the site overlooking the creek, the ambassador also wanted to have a building that would be built to the very highest specifications that would allow building users to gain the maximum benefit from the location.

Al Gurg Tower is 100 m from the creek with magnificent views towards Shaikh Zayed Road. A team of 12 Khansaheb engineers were involved on the project plus a labour force of 175 at peak construction time. According to a spokesman for Khansaheb, the construction schedule worked according to programme with a tightly knit engineering team cooperating well with the various sub-contractors and consultants.

Established in 1935 by Khansaheb Hussain bin Hassan Amad, the company was the first contractor in the then Trucial States. Today, Khansaheb ranks amongst the largest and most successful construction companies in Dubai.

From the outset, Khansaheb was associated with key development projects often undertaken in difficult physical and climatic conditions. Two of the most significant contracts were the construction of the first road between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in 1935, and the first causeway between Mugtta and Abu Dhabi in 1952.

In 1948 the founder retired with the business taken over by Hussain Abdul Rahman, the current chairman, under whose direction Khansaheb Civil Engineering has continued to flourish into one of the most respected contracting companies in the UAE today.

Khansaheb has a large fleet of construction plant and equipment and a professional technical team that combines to make Khansaheb as one of the leading, quality contractors in the UAE with a staff of 300 and labour force in excess of 2,500.

In order to maintain its momentum and ensure continued access to the latest leading-edge developments in construction methods and technology, Khansaheb made an association with Douglas International Limited, the offshore arm of Robert M Douglas Holdings, a Birmingham-based UK construction group. In 1991, this association was further strengthened when Tilbury merged with Douglas Holdings to form Tilbury Douglas.

Khansaheb is renowned for high-end quality construction and has adopted a policy of diversification over recent years into various activities directly relating to the construction sector. The construction division remains the core business and accounts for some 85 per cent of annual turnover. Separate divisions now operate alongside the contracting division including joinery, epoxy-coated rebar, steel fabrication, electrical contracting and quarrying.

Khansaheb also has the licence to sell Reckli, a German formliner product and recently received the agency for Laticrete, a world name in the field of tile adhesive, grouts and related products.

Initially, Khansaheb primarily competed in the medium-sized contracts market but in 1992 the strategic decision was made to compete for major construction contracts.

Since the early 1990s, the company has successfully completed several major projects including City Tower II office block, Wafi Shopping Mall and residential complex and the Trade Centre underpass.

As well as a fleet of construction equipment, Khansaheb operates two asphalt plants, two readymix concrete batching plants and a precast concrete fabrication facility. The plant division has heavy earthmoving equipment, tower and mobile cranes, paving machines and all types of construction equipment.

The asphalt plants are strategically located in Dubai and Fujairah primarily established to supply Khansaheb's own asphalt requirements although the company does sell on the open market. Both plants are supported by laboratories and asphalt testing facilities to ensure conformance to specification and quality of product.

The readymix concrete batching plants have the ability to produce in excess of 80 cu m/hr of concrete with the company operating a fleet of 10 transmixers of various capacities and two concrete pumps also available for hire. Precast concrete products are designed and manufactured at the company's batching plant in Jebel Ali.

Khansaheb is a quality-driven innovative organisation and with its building and construction expertise spanning more than 60 years, the company applies best business practices throughout its operations.

A dedicated contract management team melds international construction methods with an understanding and appreciation of local working conditions and the traditions of the UAE.

The construction division is currently upgrading its procedures to comply with the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 and anticipates certification by the end of 2002.

Through its association with Tilbury Douglas, whose name changed to Interserve in 2001, Khansaheb is able to draw on the resources of the UK company to enhance its capabilities. The Interserve group employs almost 14,000 people worldwide and provides facilities, industrial, equipment and project services.

Khansaheb can thereby enhance and scale up its capabilities at short notice, bringing in additional specialised management and construction experience, should a particular contract require it.

Currently, Khansaheb is working on the Dubai 2003 convention hall, car park, office building, podium and concourse, due for completion at the beginnning of 2003.