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www.meed.com Middle East Construction Leaders 2013 | MEED | 3

ContaCts

Contents

3 Letter from MeeD’s editorial director

4 Introduction

6 the leaders

21 Construction leaders at a glance

F ew industries can match construction for excitement and a sense of achievement. From the smallest house extension to the biggest megaproject, construction companies and construction professionals

are daily creating and reshaping the world in which we live and are, literally as well as figuratively, laying the foundations for the future. The sector is also the region’s largest employer and wealth creator.

But it is, without question, the most challenging industry to work in. Even the most routine construction scheme raises technical challenges ranging from structural engineering through to project management and site logistics.

From a business perspective, construction seems perpetually locked in a cycle that twists between overheating boom markets that overstretch resources and corporate cash flow, and severe market contractions that destroy profits and shed talent. In an industry that is constantly shifting focus from one type of project, say commercial real estate, to another, such as rail, it is extremely diffi-cult to ensure that the right resources are in the right place at the right time.

Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is managing the key relationship between the client and the construction contractor delivering the scheme.

When client and contractor are working with the same aims, projects succeed and everybody benefits, while the fallout from projects teams in conflict can run for years, damaging businesses, relationships and ultimately the projects them-selves. That is why the construction leaders profiled in this special MEED supple-ment are so important.

The individuals appearing in MEED’s Construction Leaders 2013 list are the people whose vision and energy enable them not only to navigate the many chal-lenges, but also to thrive and drive the region forwards through their shared desire to deliver great schemes.

This list is not exhaustive; there are currently more than 1,000 companies delivering some $389bn-worth of major projects across the Middle East and North Africa region, and there is no question that many other great construction leaders can be added to the list. However, a detailed analysis of the numbers reveals that almost half the work is being delivered by just 50 firms, less than 5 per cent, while the 25 clients featured in the list account for 41 per cent of the investments.

But the Construction Leaders 2013 list also raises an important question that must be addressed by the people featured this year. Why are there so few women on the list? The construction and engineering sector around the world has long struggled to attract women, but times are changing. Failing to address this issue is a great disservice to construction and to the region as it would deny this vital industry some of the strongest talent the region has to offer.

I hope this Construction Leaders 2013 supplement provides you with informa-tion and inspiration that is valuable to you. If you wish to nominate other great construction leaders for the list, please email your suggestions to me at my email address below, along with a 150-word description of their role and achievements.

I look forward to hearing from you.

RIChaRD thoMpson EDITorIAL DIrECTor

[email protected]

The vision and energy to deliver great projects

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

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Middle East Construction Leaders

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4 | MEED | Middle East Construction Leaders 2013

REgion’s PRojECts MaRkEt booMs MEED identifies industry leaders taking

advantage of the growth in schemes

The story of the evolving Middle East con-struction industry is full of strong leaders.

Visionary rulers have long understood the trans-formative effect of infrastructure in terms of eco-nomic stimulation. Ambitious clients have chan-nelled investment into buildings, services and transport networks, and pioneering engineers have designed and built the roads, ports, airports and buildings that support regional development.

Transport in particular has played a crucial role in development, with roads, ports and airports creating huge opportunities for logistics and freight industries. This is set to continue into the future with investment in a regional rail network, led by Saudi Arabia, and local metro systems boosting inner city development and connectivity.

Elite groupAccording to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, there is currently $389bn in construction work for buildings and transport alone being executed in the region by about 1,000 companies. However, an elite group is leading this investment. Of the work under way, $175bn, equivalent to 45 per cent, and more than the gross national product of Kuwait, is being carried out by 50 firms. This is true for cli-ents too, with the leading 25 owners responsi-ble for $159bn in projects.

In considering today’s leaders of the construc-tion industry MEED identified the people driving these companies forward in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Many of these lead-ers are continuing a legacy that was started by their families, who have been planning, designing and building the infrastructure of the Mena region since as far back as the early 1900s.

Construction firms set up by individuals that began by excavating single-track roads and vital water supply pipelines are now fully international conglomerates, just as comfortable building the

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Growth: The increasing scale of the region’s construction industry has drawn international contractors

“there is currently $389bn in construction work for buildings and transport alone being executed in the region”MEED Projects

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world’s tallest towers as they are selling cars, insurance and heavy equipment or investing in real estate and telecoms. Local firms such as Saudi Binladin Group, Saudi Oger, Al-Naboodah Construction Group, Arabian Construction Com-pany, Al-Jaber Group, Consolidated Contractors Company, El-Seif Engineering Contracting and Arabtec are now multibillion-dollar giants that continue to lead the industry in their home mar-kets and overseas.

The increasing scale and complexity of the regional construction industry has also attracted world-leading contractors to increase their regional presence. Although international firms have come and gone, some have grown from strength to strength in the region. Several inter-national firms have formed lasting partnerships with local organisations. Al-Habtoor Leighton, Al-Futtaim Carillion and Qatari Diar Vinci Con-struction are bringing the best of both local and foreign expertise to their projects.

Then there are the international companies that have made the region a core part of their international portfolio. Chinese contractors have a long history in the region and have been joined by South Korean firms such as Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Turkish companies led by TAV Construction, and Bel-gian firms such as Besix, which operates in the region as Six Construct.

It has not been an easy journey for any of these enterprises, especially recently when the global financial crisis caused projects to flounder, finance to dry up and some clients to vanish. Payments to contractors, particularly in Dubai, stopped and the construction bubble burst, leav-ing the most exposed companies in dire straits.

Consistent demandHowever, the region’s consistent need for basic infrastructure meant that slowly but surely the projects market ticked on, and in markets such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, clients have taken advantage of the slump in commodities prices and pushed ahead with major investments at lower cost. The strongest contractors held firm, rode out the storm and are continuing to deliver the region’s much-needed infrastructure. “The past three years have been challenging for HLG [Habtoor Leighton Group] as, like most con-tractors in this region, we’ve had to deal with the fallout from the global financial crisis,” says HLG chief executive officer (CEO) Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis (see Q&A, page 17). “We believe that most markets have now bottomed out, and we are seeing positive signs in all our key markets. In general, the market outlook is very positive.”

These views are shared by most of the leaders interviewed by MEED, who now feel growth is

back. “The past three years were record years for Saudi Oger, where we delivered some of the most iconic projects in Saudi Arabia, such as King Abdullah University of Science & Technol-ogy,” says Ayman Rafic Hariri, vice-chairman and deputy CEO of Saudi Oger (see Q&A, page 14).

Construction leaders point to industrial projects, healthcare, education, aviation and railways as key drivers for future work. Events such as football’s Fifa World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and the potential for the UAE to host the Expo 2020 (for which it is currently bidding) are also set to drive further investment in infrastructure. The construction leaders point to Saudi Arabia and Qatar as show-ing most promise, followed by Kuwait and the UAE.

Saudi Arabia in particular has huge potential for contractors as it seeks to expand its airports and build a new rail network. Of the region’s largest cli-ents by projects under way, nine of the top 25 are in Saudi Arabia and account for 40 per cent of work being undertaken. This is followed by the UAE with 23 per cent and Qatar with 10 per cent.

Saudi Arabia is also pioneering public-private partnerships (PPPs) in its transport infrastruc-ture. In late 2011, a consortium led by TAV Air-ports Holding won the first fully fledged PPP air-port development contract in the GCC, the Medina Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Interna-tional airport. Under this deal, the Tibah consor-tium, consisting of TAV, Saudi Oger and Al-Rajhi Holding, will design, finance, build and operate

Top 25 CoNSTRUCTIoN ClIeNTS by CoUNTRy*

*=total value of projects under execution. source: MEED projects

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the Medina airport for 25 years. TAV Construc-tion’s regional director tells MEED that works on site have already begun and operations from the new terminal building will commence in 2015 (see Q&A, page 7).

However, despite improved market sentiment, meeting the demands of the industry will not be without its challenges. Some firms report that although payment conditions have improved since the downturn, they are still slow and unpre-dictable. “This is a major challenge,” says Gary Wells, CEO of the UAE’s Al-Naboodah Construc-tion Group (see Q&A, page 20). “Also, we see a shift towards unfavourable contract terms and conditions weighted against contractors. This is not good for the industry at a time when all project stakeholders should be doing the reverse and getting closer in their joint delivery of banka-ble project development solutions.”

Increased competitionThe tighter margins and unfavourable contract terms are unfortunate side-effects of the region’s competitive construction sector, which sees con-tractors diversifying into new markets and sec-tors, increasing the pressure on existing firms.

“The past few years have seen an influx of international contractors into the region, leading to increased competition in our existing and new markets,” says Lopez-Monis. “As a result, mar-gins have come under extreme pressure and this is likely to continue.”

At the same time, companies are looking to new technologies and techniques to give them a competitive advantage, from prefabricated mod-ular infrastructure elements to more mecha-nised forms of construction that reduce the amount of labour required.

Another challenge for the region is the political instability that continues to deter investment in post-regime-change markets such as Egypt, Libya and Iraq. Firms also point to the strict regu-lations on imports of labour and staff into coun-tries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia as being another issue for businesses.

Despite these concerns, the overwhelming impression given by the leaders of industry is a positive one. With Saudi Arabia finally meeting its project potential and Kuwait looking as though it could do the same, Qatar investing in its World Cup programme, the UAE investing in infrastructure and Iraq making major progress, opportunities for the big hitters of the regional construction industry are continuing to grow. With their mature supply chains, strong asset bases and experts such as the leaders identified in this report, the future looks good for the region’s best construction businesses.Bernadette Ballantyne

“We believe that most markets have now bottomed out, and we are seeing positive signs in all our key markets”Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis, Habtoor Leighton

04-05 Intro.indd 5 02/05/2013 17:16

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MohaMed alabbar Khalid MohaMMed al-anKary

SaliM bin Said bin haMad al-Fannah al-araiMi

yuSuF aKcayoglu

Saudi arabia MiniStry oF higher educationMinister of higher education

galFar engineering & contractingchairman

taV conStructionMiddle east director

eMaar ProPertieSchairman

Emaar Properties founder Mohamed Alab-bar has led the company since its inception in July 1997. His current focus is on grow-

ing the firm globally and continuing to grow its oper-ations in real estate, leisure, hospitality, healthcare, education and financial services. Alabbar is also chairman of the Islamic, Bahrain-based Al-Salam Bank, and a board member of Noor Investment Group, an affiliate of Dubai Group, the leading diver-sified financial company of Dubai Holding. He also chairs Emaar MGF, the joint venture of Emaar and India’s MGF Developments Limited, rolling out the country’s largest foreign direct investment in real estate. Alabbar is the chairman of RSH Limited, a large pan-Asian marketer, distributor and retailer of international brands. He holds an honorary doctor-ate in humanities and is a graduate in finance and business administration, both from Seattle Univer-sity in the US. Alabbar works closely with regional non-governmental organisations and is particularly committed to educational reform. WebSite: www.emaarproperties.comtel: (+971) 4 367 3333

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Higher Educa-tion Khalid Mohammed al-Ankary currently presides over one of the most strategically

important sectors in the kingdom, in a role he has held since 1991. Investment in its education pro-gramme accounts for a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s annual budget and data from MEED Projects shows that $10.5bn of contracts for new and improved university facilities are currently under way. At the same time, universities are improving their links with industries and are offering better opportunities for young Saudis. Prior to working in the ministry, Al-Ankary was minister of rural and municipal affairs from 1989, and before this, he was the deputy minister. His career began in academia as an assistant professor in the faculty of arts at King Saud University. Al-Ankary studied in the US, receiving a doctorate degree from the University of Florida. WebSite: www.mohe.gov.satel: (+966) 1 441 5555

Salim bin Said bin Hamed al-Fannah al-Araimi is the chairman of Oman’s biggest contractor, Galfar Engineering

and Contracting, which he started in 1972 and converted to a public joint stock company in 2007. In 2012, the firm reported an annual turnover of $874m, which was up from $798m in 2011. Major projects currently under way include the $361m Batinah expressway, the $265m Hasik-Shuwaymiyah highway and a $100m contract at Ras al-Hadd airport. Al-Araimi is also the chairman of Galfar Bank Sohar and Salim International Investment Holding, and sits on the board of direc-tors of the Oman Charitable Organisation. He holds an honorary doctorate from Glasgow Caledo-nian University in the UK. Al-Araimi’s previous roles include being vice president of Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry, being a member of the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce, and being the president of the Oman Football Association. WebSite: www.galfar.com

Yusuf Akcayoglu joined TAV’s UAE oper-ations in 2004 and in 2007-11, he was appointed as GCC regional director,

playing an instrumental role in TAV Construction’s rapid expansion in the region, which today sees it working on a projects portfolio worth more than $7.5bn. As regional director, Akcayoglu oversaw schemes such as the passenger terminal complex of New Doha International airport and the main con-tract of package 1 of Muscat International airport. In 2012, he became Middle East director and is responsible for projects including the Midfield Termi-nal at Abu Dhabi International airport. Akcayoglu began his career with the southern coast highway scheme in Turkey. After being involved in develop-ment projects in Russia for six years, he came back to Turkey in 1999 for the Istanbul Ataturk Interna-tional airport project. Akcayoglu has a master’s degree in business administration from California State University in the US and a degree in civil engi-neering from the Istanbul Technical University.WebSite: www.tavconstruction.comtel: (+90) 212 463 3000

abadollah abdollahi

KhataM al-anbia conStruction baSecommander

Abadollah Abdollahi is the new com-mander of Khatam al-Anbiya Construc-tion Base, according to local media,

taking over from former commander Abolqasem Mozafari-Shams. Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Base is the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ most important business arm and the leading engineer-ing and construction group in Iran. The group’s full name is Gharargah-e Sazandegi-ye Khatam al-Anbia, often shortened to Ghorb. Estimates of the number of contracts the group has won range from 750 to about 1,500. It employs about 25,000 engineers and other staff, 10 per cent of whom are also members of the Revolutionary Guards, according to a report by the US’ Rand Cor-poration in 2009. Data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects shows that the company currently has $4.15bn in contracts under execu-tion including the $1.8bn Mashad-Chabahar Rail-way Line, work on Line 7 of Tehran’s metro and the Shahid Baheshti port project. WebSite: www.khatam.com

In this section, we present a selection of the most

influential people leading con-struction in the Middle East and North Africa. They are listed alpha-betically by surname and by com-pany (see page 21). MEED has listed both contractors and cli-ents. We have also included snap-shots of some of the largest con-struction and transport projects currently under way in the region. A freshly updated report on to the region’s top 100 projects can be found on MEED’s website at www.meed.com/3177130.article

ThE LEadErs

Contractor

Client

Speaker at MEED’s Arabian World Construction Summit. For more details, visit www.awcs-me.com

aWcS SPeaKer

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How has the Middle East market performed for your company over the past three years?2011 and 2012 have been remarkable years for TAV. In late 2011, the consortium led by TAV Airports Holding won the first fully fledged public-private partnership airport development contract in the GCC region, the Medina Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International airport [in Saudi Arabia].

Under this contract, the Tibah consortium, consisting of TAV, Saudi Oger and Al-Rajhi Holding, would design, finance, build and oper-ate the Medina airport for 25 years. Works on site have already begun and we plan to com-mence operations at the new terminal building in 2015.

We have rapidly expanded our portfolio with Saudi Arabia operations since our joint venture with Al-Rajhi Holding and Habtoor Leighton Group was selected for the design-and-build construction project for the Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries’ aircraft maintenance hangars at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Internation-al airport. The first phase of the scheme calls for a 360,000-square-metre maintenance re-pair overhaul facility and associated buildings.

However, the most important achievement of the past three years has been the award re-ceived from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) for the Midfield Terminal building at Abu Dhabi International airport. We had been close-ly monitoring this project since 2005. Designed by [the US’] KPF, the terminal is destined to be-come one of the iconic structures of this era and the facility is a 702,000-sq-m building that will have an opening capacity of 27 million pas-sengers a year.

In the past three years, TAV grew exponential-ly with prestigious contract awards to become one of the leaders in the industry. During this period in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, we have completed and hand-ed over the greenfield airport development of Enfidha International airport in Tunisia, the 30-storey Emirates Financial Towers in Dubai, the 52-storey Majestic Tower in Sharjah and the 79-storey residential tower in Dubai Marina. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years and where do you see the main opportunities for your company?In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is currently the most promising market for TAV. We know that there are more airport projects in the pipeline. Having rapidly achieved a successful streak with the winning of the Jeddah and Medina air-ports, we wish to grow further in the kingdom.

TAV is renowned as an expert for airport schemes and our main focus in the short term will remain on airport developments. Other than Saudi Arabia, we are closely following the new passenger terminal building project at Kuwait In-ternational airport and the terminal building ex-pansion scheme in Bahrain.

On the other hand, for TAV Construction, Qatar is a very important market. We are privi-leged to have built the passenger terminal at the state-of-the-art Hamad International airport.

Hamad International is one of the most spec-tacular projects ever realised, not only in Qatar but in the entire world. The terminal building has an exceptional design for the highest level of passenger convenience, an unparalleled level of quality in finishes, and is equipped with the most advanced technology.

All in all, the Hamad International termi-nal building will set new standards in the avia-tion industry. Our strategy is to capitalise on this experience. Like we did in the UAE, here we will look into iconic building projects focusing on

super-tall towers, hotels and mixed- use buildings. What are the current challenges facing

TAV Construction?Increased competition is a common chal-lenge for all contractors. After the US and eurozone crises, the Gulf region cemented its position as a global business hub. Starting with the UAE, the leaders of the GCC states have in-vested heavily in their business infrastructure and now these countries are the venues of the global competition.

Part of the global aviation brand TAV Group, TAV Construction specialises in airports and airport-related infrastructure projects. This seg-mentation, at a regional level, might pose a po-tential challenge for TAV if one day there are no more airports to develop. However, until today this specialisation has been our greatest strength in writing our success story to become one of the three largest airport contractors in the world in less than a decade.

Specialisation brings us the capability and flexibility to efficiently allocate our resources. By only focusing on airport projects, we are able to explore rotation options better and be more responsive to offer competitive solutions. Therefore, our biggest challenge is indeed our biggest strength. Highlight a recent project that has been

significant to TAV.From Qatar to Oman, Saudi Arabia to Egypt, TAV Construction is delighted to have taken a role in developing the Mena region’s ground-breaking airport development projects.

Airport projects are among the most impor-tant schemes in a country, as these facilities are the gateways of nations to the world. Work-ing for the most important clients here and real-ising the most prestigious project in a particular country is a source of pride for TAV Construc-tion. Our top management and each member of the TAV Construction family are committed to offer extensive and desirable solutions to the clients that we work for. It continuously and wholeheartedly shares the vision with the stakeholders to deliver such prominent projects according to their needs.

We deploy our talents to apply TAV Construc-tion expertise consistently at these remarka-ble projects. Therefore, what is significant for us is being selected by these reputable clients and reaching a portfolio of $12.5bn in this region. We at TAV Construction are working very hard to maintain and develop our competi-tive position.

Q&A Yusuf AkcAYoglu, TAV coNsTRucTIoN MIddle eAsT dIRecToR

“In the Middle East region, Saudi Arabia is currently the most promising market for TAV Construction”

07-B.indd 7 02/05/2013 17:15

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Fatima Obaid al-Jaber

abdul maJeed al-Fahim

Nasser mOhammed al-KharaFi

ahmed mOhammed salem al-Futaisi

mOhammed biN abdullah al-Kharashi

mOhammed biN ali al-hedFa

mOhammed abdulmOhsiN al-KharaFi & sONsPresident

OmaN traNsPOrt miNistrytransport and communications minister

rayadah iNvestmeNt COmPaNy (riC)Chairman

Qatari diarChief executive officer (CeO)

al-Jaber GrOuPChief operating officer

dubai PearlChairman

Fatima Obaid al-Jaber is chief operating officer of the Abu Dhabi-based Al-Jaber Group, which was founded by her

father, Obaid Khaleefa Jaber al-Murri, in 1970. She graduated from the UAE University in Al-Ain in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineer-ing, and then went to work for the Abu Dhabi govern-ment in various technical and managerial positions. Al-Jaber left in 2005 to join the family business. The Al-Jaber Group comprises about 30 subsidiaries and affiliates. Among the construction-related sub-sidiaries are Al-Jaber Engineering & Contracting, Al-Jaber Energy Services and Al-Jaber Transport & General Contracting. In December 2009, Al-Jaber was the first Emirati woman to be elected to the board of directors of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Com-merce for a four-year term. She is chairwoman of the local Al-Bashayer Investment Company, vice-chair of the UAE Business Women’s Council, chair-woman of the Abu Dhabi Business Women’s Coun-cil and a board member at several other firms.Website: www.aljaber.comtel: (+971) 2 555 4300

Abdul Majeed al-Fahim is chairman of Dubai Pearl, which is a property invest-ment consortium led by the Al-Fahim

Group, originating from Al Ain, a city in Abu Dhabi. His role is described as driving the company’s long-term strategic objectives, representing its key industry, civil and philanthropic constituents and providing leadership to the board of direc-tors. Prior to leading Dubai Pearl, Al-Fahim was executive director of the private office of a mem-ber of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. He has also held several key positions at leading financial institutions in the region. Al-Fahim was a senior manager at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, vice-chairman at Bahrain’s Islamic Financial Consultancy and head of projects and direct investment at Abu Dhabi Investment Company. His consortium is currently developing the $2.4bn Dubai Pearl mixed-use development in the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone. The project’s handover is scheduled for Decem-ber 2014.Website: www.dubaipearl.com

Nasser Mohammed al-Kharafi is presi-dent of the Al-Kharafi Group, which was established in Kuwait in 1956 as a

trading business and has since developed into a multinational company. Today, it is working on some of Kuwait’s biggest schemes including the $1.1bn phase 1 contract for Bubiyan port, which it is carry-ing out in joint venture with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction; and infrastructure work on the Kuwait Airport expansion project for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Although Kuwait is its home market, the firm has permanent branches in other countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen and Egypt. Its activities cover con-struction, manufacturing and commerce, and it holds other investments in leading Kuwaiti financial institutions. Al-Kharafi is also chairman of Egypt Kuwait Holding Company and sits on the board of the National Bank of Kuwait.Website: www.makharafi.nettel: (+965) 2 481 3622

From roads and ports to airports and railways, Ahmed Mohammed Salem al-Futaisi is leading a raft of major invest-

ments in Oman’s transport network. Almost $9bn in construction contracts are currently being executed in the sultanate, led by major investment in airports and roads. The develop-ment of the Muscat and Salalah international airports are major schemes currently under way, along with four new local airports that are intended to regenerate the regions. Looking to the future, Al-Futaisi is planning a new rail net-work for Oman that is planned to be part of the proposed GCC network and will begin with an initial 230-kilometre phase connecting Sohar with Muscat, then a second phase, which will be 560km long, running south from Muscat to the new industrial port at Duqm. A final 580km phase to Salalah is also being consid-ered. Al-Futaisi also sits on the board of directors at Oman Shipping Company.Website: www.motc.gov.om

As chairman of the board of directors of RIC, Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Kharashi leads one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest cli-

ents. The organisation acts as the development arm of the Saudi Public Pensions Agency, of which Al-Kharashi is the governor. The organisation is driv-ing forwards 10 major projects in the kingdom, including the King Abdullah Financial District, which has a development value of $7.5bn. A raft of con-tracts for this are currently under construction. Al-Kharashi has held a range of finance-related posts within the government, including assistant director of the Saudi Fund for Development. He cur-rently sits on the board of several firms including Saudi Telecom Company, Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden), Saudi Research and Marketing Group and Saudi Industrial Investment Group. Al-Kharashi has a degree in accounting from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia and a master’s degree from Oklahoma City University in the US.Website: www.raid.com.sa

Qatari Diar made the former chairman of its Lusail Development Corporation, Moham-med bin Ali al-Hedfa, its CEO in March

2010. The appointment was linked to an ongoing strategy to encourage qualified young Qataris into positions of authority in the country. Al-Hedfa is supported by the managing director, Ghanim bin Saad al-Saad, who has led the company since it was formed in 2005.The $33bn Lusail City project is Qatari Diar’s largest single scheme and accounts for the majority of its current work under way, with a range of infrastructure contracts under construction to the north of Doha. The award of the hosting rights for football’s Fifa 2022 World Cup to Qatar has accelerated progress on this and other schemes and has set a major challenge for Al-Hedfa, with the iconic Lusail stadium being a cen-trepiece for the event. Outside Qatar, the company is working on investments in Europe, the Americas and North Africa. Al-Hedfa has a degree in mechani-cal engineering from Texas A&M University in the US. Website: www.qataridiar.comtel: (+974) 4 497 4444

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Nasser ali al-Mawlawi

aMMar al-Kharusi

MohaMed rashid Khalifa al-fahed al-Mehairi

abubaKer seddiq al-Khouri

sheiKha Moza biNt Nasser al-MissNed

abdulrahMaN al-Marouf

MusaNadaCeo

sorouh real estateManaging director

qatar fouNdatioNChairwoman

CoMbiNed Group CoNtraCtiNG CoMpaNy (CGCC)Chairman

qatar publiC worKs authority (ashGhal)president

oMraNConstruction manager

Ashghal is the biggest infrastructure inves-tor in Qatar by value of work currently under way, and this figure is growing thanks to its

expressway projects and the huge amount of forth-coming work in the water sector. The organisation is led by Nasser Ali al-Mawlawi who has been with Ashgal since 2008, initially as acting director- general of public works before becoming president. Before this, Al-Mawlawi was CEO of the local Barwa Real Estate’s subsidiary Barwa City Company. Between 2003 and 2007, he worked as a site man-ager for the Asian Games Organising Committee. Al-Mawlawi supervised the management of several projects related to games and facilities, in addition to managing the sites department. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Boston University in the US in 1987. After graduating, Al-Mawlawi became an officer in the engineering division of Qatar’s Air Force from 1988 to 2003, and was promoted to colonel engineer. website: www.ashghal.gov.qatel: (+974) 4 495 0000

Ammar al-Kharusi is construction man-ager at Omran, a leading tourism-related investment‚ development and manage-

ment company based in Oman. Led by chief executive officer (CEO) Wael al-Lawati, the organi-sation is developing a number of major projects including the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre‚ the Fort Hotel‚ Duqm Crowne Plaza‚ Al-Jabal al-Akhdar Hotel‚ City Hotels and a new hotel in Khasab. Al-Kharusi is a site man-ager at the $52m Jabal al-Akhdar resort in the Al-Dakhliya region of Oman. He is an award- winning engineer who began his career in Dubai with a number of firms, most notably Turner Construction Middle East. He has worked on projects for UAE-based real estate developers including Nakheel’s Discovery Gardens, Emaar’s Dubai Mall and Aldar’s Raha Beach Development (Al-Bandar). Al-Kharusi joined Omran in 2010. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Sharjah in the UAE.website: www.omran.omtel: (+968) 2 439 1111

Mohamed Rashid Khalifa al-Fahed al-Mehairi is CEO of Abu Dhabi Gen-eral Services Company. Known as

Musanada, meaning support, it is a publically-owned entity established in 2007 that works only for Abu Dhabi government clients. Its most active division is its construction arm, which is currently overseeing 82 projects with a total value of AED33bn ($9bn). Of these, 20 are housing and infrastructure schemes, 14 are in the education sector, 12 are civic and sports projects, and 36 are special projects and office buildings. One of the largest schemes is the Al-Wathba North housing project near Al-Ain, which is currently in the design stage. Al-Mehairi began his career at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and also worked at the UAE Ministry of Finance & Industry as direc-tor of the investment department. During this time, he was also elected the UAE executive direc-tor for the World Bank. Al-Mehairi has a degree in management from Boston University in the US.website: www.musanada.co.ae

Following approval by their shareholders in March 2013, Abu Dhabi-based developers Aldar and Sorouh are set to become a sin-

gle company led by Sorouh’s managing director Abubaker Seddiq al-Khouri. He brings extensive experience in finance and investment to the role, with experience in private equity funds and direct deals in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia. Prior to joining Sorouh, Al-Khouri worked as the assistant director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), where he was responsible for overseeing the private equities portfolio. He was also responsible for the daily operation of the department and its investments globally. Al-Khouri was seconded by ADIA in 1998 to Advent Interna-tional in the UK and the US for six months. He served as a director on various private equity fund boards in the US, Europe and Asia. Al-Khouri has a degree in finance from Linfield College in Oregon in the US. He is a certified chartered financial ana-lyst and also completed Harvard Business School’s executive business programme in 2001.tel: (+971) 2 444 0006

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned is consort to Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and currently serves as chair-

woman of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Sci-ence and Community Development, a private, non-profit organisation founded in 1995. Its best-known initiative is Education City. Ongoing construction of facilities has helped Qatar Foundation become one of the region’s biggest client organisations, with $4.8bn in contracts under construction. Sheikha Moza also serves as president of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and is vice-chair of the Supreme Education Council, which oversees the ongoing, comprehensive reform of Qatar’s K-12 education system. In addition, she is chairwoman of the Sidra Medical and Research Centre project; chairwoman of the Silatech initiative to address the growing challenge of youth unemployment; and chairwoman of the Arab Democracy Foundation, based in Doha. Sheikha Moza graduated with a degree in sociology from Qatar University in 1986.website: www.qf.org.qa

Abdulrahman al-Marouf is chairman, managing director, CEO and a major shareholder at CGCC. The Kuwait-

based firm specialises in roads, infrastructure, housing and oil and gas work, and had an annual turnover of $528m in 2011, up from $412m in 2010. Its project portfolio received a massive boost in October 2012, when it was announced that the company would construct the $2.6bn Jaber al-Ahmed Causeway in joint venture with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction. CGCC’s other major schemes under way include a new college of art and education at Kuwait Univer-sity, the Jahra Road upgrade and Kuwait City’s sixth ring road contract. Given Kuwait’s planned invest-ments in megaprojects, the organisation is well positioned to benefit as these emerge. CGCC works with a number of joint-venture partners including the UAE’s Arabtec. The group is also active in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman.website: www.cgc-kw.comtel: (+965) 225 4545

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Sadoun bin bargaSh al-Sadoun

Kaldoon Khalifa al-MubaraK

Prince Miteb bin abdullah bin abdulaziz al-Saud

Saad al-Muhaliby

Prince MohaMMed bin nayef bin abdulaziz al-Saud

abdullah bin abdulaziz al-rabeeah

Saudi arabia national guardcommander

MaSter Planning dePartMent, Kuwait MuniciPalitydirector

Saudi arabia interior MiniStryinterior minister

Saudi arabia MiniStry of healthMinister of health

abV rocK grouPPresident

Mubadala deVeloPMent coMPanychief executive officer (ceo)

Sadoun bin Bargash al-Sadoun is presi-dent of general contractor ABV Rock, which originates from a Swedish com-

pany, Armerad Betong Vagforbattringar (ABV). The firm opened its Saudi Arabia office in 1974 and today is a major force in Middle East contracting. ABV Rock is a member of the Jeddah-based Midroc Group of companies. One of its most important cli-ents is King Saud University, where it is currently involved in constructing several buildings, from resi-dential properties to new educational facilities. In Riyadh, it is building the Security Forces Medical Complex for the Ministry of Interior. ABV Rock is best known for delivering the Saudi Strategic Stor-age Programme, creating five major fuel storage tanks below ground. Al-Sadoun has previously worked in the energy sector and at organisations including Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Saudi Arabia’s Petromin and Saudi Aramco. He is a member of the board of five other Midroc firms and has a degree in mechanical engineering.webSite: www.abvrock.com

As Mubadala’s CEO and managing director, Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak is responsible for ensuring the state-owned investment

firm’s business strategy is aligned with its efforts to diversify the economy of Abu Dhabi. Al-Mubarak is also a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Coun-cil and holds a number of other key positions within the public sector. As chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, he is responsible for overseeing the provision of strategic policy advice to the chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Al-Mubarak has a range of other roles, including chairman of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority, Emirates Aluminium and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management. He is also deputy chairman of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council. Al-Mubarak is a director of First Gulf Bank.webSite: www.mubadala.comtel: (+971) 2 413 0000

With more than $3bn-worth of construction projects currently under way, the Saudi National Guard is an important client for

contractors in the kingdom. One of its major invest-ments is in housing schemes, which have benefit-ted firms such as Saudi Oger and Saudi Binladin Group. The chairman of the National Guard is Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the third son of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. He was groomed for the military from an early age, attend-ing the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and graduating as a lieutenant in 1974. Prince Miteb worked his way up through the Saudi National Guard to the rank of colonel, obtained a master’s degree at King Khalid Military College, became a major general, then a lieutenant general. In 2000, he was appointed deputy chief of the National Guard, responsible for military affairs. In October 2010, Prince Miteb was appointed commander, like his father before him. He became a minister of state and a member of the Council of Ministers. webSite: www.sang.gov.sa

Saad al-Muhaliby is a civil engi-neer and director of the master planning department of Kuwait Munici-

pality. The municipality takes a leading role in planning the country’s infrastructure and is con-tinually updating Kuwait’s masterplan, which forecasts the country’s population to rise to 6 million by 2030, requiring 1.29 million new jobs, 315,000 homes, 580 schools, 8,613 hos-pital beds and additional power and water capacity, as well as sea ports and dry ports. The masterplan also foresees construction of 1 mil-lion new homes to the south of Kuwait City and a further 1 million properties to the north at Subiya. Al-Muhaliby is a member of various com-mittees within the municipality and externally, including the United National Arab Division of Experts on Geographical Names. He has a civil engineering degree from the Wentworth Insti-tute of Technology located in Boston in the US.webSite: www.baladia.gov.kwtel: (+965) 2 244 9001

Prince Mohammed bin Nayef replaced his uncle, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, as inte-rior minister in November 2012. Prior to

this, he was responsible for counter-terrorism at the ministry and is credited with leading the kingdom’s crackdown on terrorist activity in response to the Riyadh compound bombing in May 2003, which was the largest in a wave of attacks on international business people living in Saudi Arabia. Since the late 1990s, Prince Mohammed had been assistant minister under his father, Crown Prince Nayef, who was interior minister for 37 years until his death in June 2012. Prince Mohammed was then promoted to deputy minister under Prince Ahmed. As interior minister, he is responsible for security forces, the police force, border services, intelligence agencies and the religious police. In terms of construction, the Interior Ministry has a huge programme of facili-ties under way from security buildings and prisons to staff accommodation. Prince Mohammed was educated in the US.webSite: www.moi.gov.sa

As the biggest investor in hospitals in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health currently has more than $3.7bn of

projects under construction. Minister of Health Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Rabeeah has led the min-istry since February 2009. He holds a range of other positions, including being chairman of the Riy-adh Paediatric Surgery Club and chairman of the board of trustees for the Saudi Council for Health Specialists. Al-Rabeeah also sits on a range of executive committees including the GCC Executive Board of Health Ministers and the National Health Insurance Council. He completed fellowships in paediatric surgery in Canada’s University of Alberta and Dalhousie University and residencies in Riyadh and Canada, culminating in becoming chief resident at the University of Alberta Hospital in Canada in 1985. Al-Rabeeah has been licensed to practice medicine since 1981, having completed his intern-ship at King Khalid University in 1980.webSite: www.moh.gov.satel: (+966) 1 212 5555

awcS SPeaKer

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How has the Middle East market performed for your company over the past three years?We are currently placing more focus on Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, where we believe

the potential is higher than other markets due to the large-scale infrastructure projects an-nounced by those governments. These include housing projects, medical cities, airports, high-ways, metros, schools and universities, power generation, and oil and gas. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years?In general, the Gulf market will continue to see healthy and steady growth, reflecting the spending of governments on developing their countries infrastructure. Where do you see the main opportunities for

El-Seif Group?Although the construction market is growing in the Gulf region, we see the best opportunities for us in large-scale, specialised schemes that

require high levels of sophistication and creativi-ty in construction methods. This will reflect our standard of top-quality work, which is unique in every project we deliver. What are the challenges facing your firm?

The construction industry continues to face challenges in sourcing qualified labour. Highlight a recent project that has been

significant to El-Seif.El-Seif prides itself in completing package 3 at the Princess Noura University in Riyadh on time and within just two years. El-Seif’s role in this significant project was as the main contractor for the whole infrastructure, site development and support buildings of the university on an area of 8 million square metres.

The scheme’s scope included all civil, struc-tural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works for utility and supporting buildings, infra-structure, landscaping, site grading, utility tun-nels, fly-over bridges, road works, the world’s largest chiller plant, solid-waste management, a sewage treatment plant, a power plant, sewage and drainage systems, soft and hard landscap-ing and 750,000 metres of services.

Q&A KhAled Al-Seif, el-Seif GROUP ChAiRmAn And CeO

Fakhr al-ShawaF

khaled al-SeiF

Sheikh abdul rahman al-SudaiS

FaiSal al-Sugair

general PreSidency For the holy moSque and the ProPhet’S moSqueminister

general authority For civil aviation (gaca)vice-president

al-bawani comPanygeneral executive manager

el-SeiF grouPchairman and chief executive officer (ceo)

Fakhr al-Shawaf is the general executive manager of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Bawani Company, the construction

wing and mainstay of parent firm Al-Bawani Group. The company was established in 1992 and spe-cialises in healthcare, airports and educational facilities. It is headquartered in Riyadh and mainly works within the kingdom. Al-Bawani also has an office in Abu Dhabi as it looks to expand its operations throughout the region. Al-Shawaf oversees the performance and progress of the whole group, and is responsible for 5,000 employ-ees, up from 1,300 in 2009. Al-Bawani has a backlog of SR3.5bn ($933m), with SR8bn under execution. Within the company’s current portfolio is a SR1.15bn contract to develop the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh. In joint venture with France’s Vinci Con-struction, it is bidding for the estimated $500m deal involving Terminal 5 at King Khalid Interna-tional airport.webSite: www.albawani.nettel: (+961) 1 293 1137

Khaled al-Seif is the chairman and CEO of the Riyadh-based El-Seif Group, which includes El-Seif Engi-

neering and Contracting Company. A prominent businessman, Al-Seif has been vice-chairman of the Committee for International Trade at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry since 2009. He has also been a mem-ber of the board of directors of the US-Saudi Ara-bian Business Council since 2006 and a board member of the Riyadh Philanthropic Society for Science (Prince Sultan University) since 1999. Alongside this, Al-Seif sits on the board of sev-eral major firms. He is chairman of Amana Coop-erative Insurance Company, a board member of National Power Company, chairman of Marina Towers (Lebanon), chairman of El-Seif Holding Company in Lebanon and a board member of Modern Arab Contracting & Trading Company. Al-Seif is a civil engineer by background and grad-uated with a degree from the American University of Beirut in 1975.webSite: www.el-seif.com.sa

In April 2013 Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais was appointed as the new head of the General Presidency for the Holy

Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, taking over from Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulrahman al-Hussein, who stepped down for health reasons. The agency is responsible for maintaining the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, both of which are currently undergoing expansion work worth $4bn. This is being executed by local contractor Saudi Binladin Group and together will add capacity for a further 2 million worshippers at the two sites. Al-Sudais had been Imam at both the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque before becoming head of the presidency. He has a degree in sharia from Riyadh University and became a lecturer in Islamic Studies while also gaining a doctorate in sharia from Umm al-Qurra University in Mecca.webSite: www.gph.gov.sa

Faisal al-Sugair has been the vice-president of Gaca since it was separated from the Ministry of Defence and Aviation in Novem-

ber 2011. This saw Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Saud become president and chair-man of the board of the newly independent body. Prior to this, Al-Sugair had been the president, replacing Abdullah Rehaimi in March 2011. Gaca oversees airport growth in Saudi Arabia and is in charge of a project portfolio estimated by regional projects tracker MEED Projects to be worth $18bn, with $8.9bn currently under construction. A promi-nent businessman, Al-Sugair brings extensive com-mercial experience to Gaca, along with engineering expertise. He is chairman of the department of civil engineering at King Saud University in Riyadh. Dur-ing his time at the university, Al-Sugair advised the Civil Defence Authority on the planning and design of aircraft shelters. Al-Sugair graduated with a doc-torate in civil and structural engineering from Stan-ford University in the US in 1988.webSite: www.gaca.gov.sa

SuPPlementSPonSor

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Humayun arvmcHy Bakr Binladin

JuBaraH Bin Eid al-SuraiSEri

moHammEd darraJi

yaHya kamiS Juma al-ZadJali

Saudi Binladin Group (SBG)chairman

Saudi araBia TranSporT miniSTry Transport minister

iraq miniSTry of conSTrucTion & HouSinGminister of construction & housing

SpEcial Economic ZonE auTHoriTy duqm (SEZad)Head of planning and engineering

aHaB conSTrucTion companymanager

Humayun Arvmchy is a top executive at Iranian contractor Ahab Construction Company. The firm is currently working

on Line 6 of Tehran’s metro. Construction of the $4bn rail link began with an enormous tunnelling project to bore an 11.7-kilometre underground sec-tion that included 10 new stations. The company began operations in 1947 as a contractor in the water sector, providing new infrastructure to deprived areas in Iran. From dam construction, irri-gation and drainage and water mains, the firm expanded into new areas. It now offers full engi-neering, procurement and construction services, and covers sectors including railway schemes, municipal works, oil and gas, and general construc-tion. Much of its work is in the Tehran and Dama-vand areas. The firm’s clients include regional water companies such as Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Company, the Department of Housing, and South Pars Oil and Gas Company. The company’s goals are to increase the quality and productivity of construction projects in Iran and internationally.WEBSiTE: www.ahabco.com

Bakr Binladin is the chairman of the largest contractor in the Middle East, SBG. The group was founded

by his father, Mohammed Binladin, in Jeddah in 1931, when it was known as the Mohammed Binladin Organisation. Mohammed’s eldest son, Salem, took over the company after Mohammed’s death in 1967 and diversified beyond roads and construction. Salem’s death in a plane crash in 1988 led to his brother Bakr taking the helm, and the company was named SBG in 1989. From its base in the kingdom, the contractor has been making increasing progress overseas, tying up with Qatari Diar in early 2010 to develop projects in Qatar, which include the $1bn Doha-Dukhan highway upgrade. In Saudi Arabia, one of its big-gest recent schemes is the new terminal and major infrastructure for Jeddah airport, totalling $6.7bn. Bakr graduated in 1972 from the University of Miami and attended Harvard Law School, both in the US.WEBSiTE: www.sbg.com.saTElEpHonE: (+966) 2 664 3033

Jubarah bin Eid al-Suraiseri has been responsible, as transport minister, for Saudi Arabia’s 60,000 kilometres of roads since

May 2003. According to the Transport Ministry, there are a further 20,000km of roads currently under construction in the kingdom, making the organisation one of the Middle East and North Africa region’s biggest clients. Al-Suraiseri also over-sees development and operations at the kingdom’s ports and emerging rail network. He is currently chairman of the board of Saudi Railways Organisa-tion. Al-Suraiseri spent 14 years at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, where his most senior position was deputy minister. Before this, he worked as an executive director at the Washington-based World Bank and the IMF. Al-Suraiseri has a doctorate in economics from the University of Colo-rado and a master’s degree in economics from Den-ver University, both in the US, as well as a degree in economics and political science.WEBSiTE: www.mot.gov.sa

Mohammed Darraji has worked on some of the world’s biggest construction projects as a civil engineer. He now runs

Iraq’s Ministry of Construction & Housing, which makes him responsible for the country’s roads, housing and public buildings. Housing is the most high-profile of these as Iraq battles an accommo-dation crisis triggered by population displacement, the destruction of property, incoming refugees from Syria and population growth. Data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects shows that more than $3bn is currently being invested in housing and roads, but this is just the tip of the iceberg if planned developments get under way. Darraji was appointed as minister of construction & housing in December 2010. Before this, he worked on schemes such as Energy City in Qatar and Wembley Stadium in London, and also worked in Libya. Darraji has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Baghdad and a master’s degree from South Bank University in the UK.WEBSiTE: www.imarksan.gov.iq

Yahya Kamis Juma al-Zadjali is an experi-enced planning expert currently responsible for planning and engineering at Oman’s

SEZAD. He has 20 years’ experience within Oman’s Supreme Committee for Town Planning (SCTP). From 2005-11, Al-Zadjali was the director of physi-cal planning and policy, acting as planning coordina-tor for the Duqm master plan, coordinating indus-trial and hydrological studies, as well as evaluating and implementing urban planning strategies and infrastructure projects for the sultanate. Between 2000 and 2005, he was a senior planner in SCTP, working on coastal management strategy, prepar-ing Oman’s highways manual and many other schemes. Al-Zadjali has a master’s degree in urban planning and land administration from the Interna-tional Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation in the Netherlands, and a diploma in civil engineering from Oman Technical Industrial College. WEBSiTE: www.duqm.gov.om

Construction has begun on Saudi Arabia’s Har-amain high-speed railway, the first high-speed line to be built in the GCC. The track will con-nect the Muslim holy cities of Medina and Mecca via King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Jeddah. From KAEC, it will connect to the national rail network and link up to King Abdulaziz International airport.

The aim of the line is to alleviate road traffic between Medina and Mecca, especially during the pilgrimage season. The 450-kilometre track will be capable of handling speeds of up to 320km an hour. Major contracts under phase 2 of the project were awarded in 2011, with the largely Spanish consortium led by local firm Al-Shoula Group signing a $7.9bn contract for the construction deal.

HaraMain HigH-SpEEd raiL nEtworkphase 2owner Saudi Railways Organisationlocation Mecca ProvinceBudget $9.4bn

Project snaPshot

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How has the Middle East market performed for your company over the past three years?The last three years were very good for Six Con-struct in the Middle East. We sustained sensi-ble growth year after year and the order book was largely renewed in 2011. The backlog on overdue payments due to the 2008 financial crisis was also reduced substantially. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years?We anticipate growing our operations in the next three years in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and, hopefully, Dubai. Where do you see the main opportunities for

your company?The main opportunities, but major challenges as

well, are predominantly in Saudi Arabia, where Six Construct had not operated for quite some time. We went back there in 2010 and are now working on two major contracts for [state oil company] Saudi Aramco. What are the challenges facing your firm?

The major challenges this year will be to renew the order book in the UAE. We have three impor-tant projects in Abu Dhabi that will be substan-tially completed this year. Highlight a recent project that has been sig-

nificant for Six Construct.Two significant projects for Six Construct are the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi and the Jeddah Stadium in Saudi Arabia.

The Cleveland Clinic is a state-of-the-art, five-star clinic and one of the most important devel-opments happening in Abu Dhabi and we are proud to be part of it.

The Jeddah stadium in Saudi Arabia is a 60,000-seat football facility where we have agreed with Aramco on an acceleration of the programme to enable a soft opening to happen at the end of 2013, instead of the end of 2014.

Q&A PhiliPPe Dessoy, six construct GenerAl MAnAGer

Tony Douglas Meng Fengchao John Ferguson

PhiliPPe Dessoy

china railway consTrucTion corPoraTion (crcc)chairman

BrookFielD MulTiPlexManaging director

six consTrucT (Besix) Middle east general manager

aBu DhaBi airPorTs coMPany (aDac)chief executive officer (ceo)

Former CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Company Tony Douglas is a new addition to Adac, joining the organisation as CEO in March

2013. His experience in delivering the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone, and his background in aviation and construction make him well-suited to his new role, where he will be spearheading the delivery of Abu Dhabi’s Midfield Terminal building. As a contractor, Douglas was chief operating officer and CEO designate at the UK’s Laing O’Rourke, where he had a broad executive remit covering global business development and accountability for the group’s largest projects. Before joining Laing O’Rourke, Douglas worked at BAA, the UK’s leading airport infrastructure operator, culminating in his appointment as CEO in charge of London’s Heathrow airport. A mechanical engineer by train-ing, his career began in 1979 at the US’ General Motors, where he joined as an apprentice indus-trial engineer. weBsiTe: www.adac.aeTel: (+971) 2 505 5000

Meng Fengchao is the chairman of Chi-na’s largest overseas contractor, CRCC, and has ambitions to make the

company the world’s most competitive large con-struction group. It is currently working on one of the region’s largest road schemes, Algeria’s $3.7bn East-West highway. Fengchao was appointed as chairman in May 2010; before this he was a direc-tor, general manager and then vice-chairman at China Communications Construction Group. Fengchao’s early career was spent in the Chinese Railways Ministry, which he joined in 1982, working within its group of engineering firms until 1998, when he became general assistant manager of the China Railway Construction Development Centre. He has also held positions at companies including China Railway Engineering Company and China Zhongtie Major Bridge Engineering Group Company. Fengchao graduated from Southwest Jiaotong Uni-versity with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, majoring in tunnels and subways. Tel: (+86) 105 188 8114

John Ferguson is the managing direc-tor for Brookfield Multiplex Middle East & Asia and is responsible for

the company’s construction, facilities manage-ment and project and development management operations in the region. Ferguson moved to Dubai in 1998 and was appointed as general manager for Brookfield Multiplex on the iconic Emirates Towers project. He was then promoted to managing director of Brookfield Multiplex’s Middle East and Asia business, where he contin-ues to evolve and shape the company. During his time in the Middle East, Ferguson has over-seen a succession of major projects including Emirates Towers; The Gate Building and The Index at Dubai International Financial Centre; Dubai Marina’s first six towers; a range of hotel schemes including Grosvenor House, JW Marriott Marquis, W Doha Hotel, the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Club, and Eastern Mangroves resort in Abu Dhabi; and the Qatar National Library, which is currently under construction.weBsiTe: www.brookfieldmultiplex.com

Philippe Dessoy is the Middle East gen-eral manager at one of the world’s larg-est contracting companies, Belgium’s

Besix. Through the local Six Construct, also known as Sixco, Dessoy has participated in some of the most exciting projects in the region and has been instrumental in the company’s expansion. Projects he has been involved in include the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, for which Sixco was part of a joint venture with the UAE’s Arabtec and South Korea’s Samsung C&T. Dessoy joined Besix in 1989 in the Belgian head office and moved to Dubai in September 1992 to take charge of the ten-der department for GCC operations. From here he was promoted to deputy general manager of Six Construct in 2003, and then to general manager in June 2007. Prior to joining Besix, Dessoy spent four years in Cairo on the first two phases of that city’s metro project, working for France’s CGEE Alstom and Spie Batignolles. He has a degree in civil engi-neering from the University of Brussels in Belgium. weBsiTe: www.sixconstruct.comTelePhone: (+971) 4 347 2777

awcs sPeaker

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Yanick Garillion amar Ghoul aYman rafic hariri

Steve fludder

aGence national deS autorouteS, alGeriaPublic works minister

Saudi oGervice-chairman and deputy ceo

SamSunG enGineerinG Senior executive vice-president

Qatari diar vinci conStruction (Qdvc) ceo

Yanick Garillion is CEO of QDVC, a general contracting company established in 2007 that is owned

51 per cent by Qatari Diar and 49 per cent by France’s Vinci Construction Grands Projets (VCGP). Garillion leads these efforts from Qatar, where he first moved in 2008. Before this, he was the Dubai-based area manager for Gulf countries for VCGP, having already led its considerable operations in Egypt. Garillion spent seven years on the Cairo metro Line 2 project between 1993 and 2000. This was not his first time in Egypt, however, as he had been sent to the country in 1985 as part of his mili-tary service, and stayed on working for Vinci subsidiary SGE. This saw Garillion work on Line 1 of the metro and a range of other schemes, before spending time in Hong Kong. Garillion graduated from France’s L’Ecole Des Grand Pro-jets in 1984.WebSite: www.qdvc.comtel: (+974) 4 453 8400

As the public works minister, Algeria’s Amar Ghoul is responsible for the region’s biggest road project – the 1,216-kilometre East-

West Highway, run under the Agence National des Autoroutes division of the Public Works Ministry. Currently under construction, the link, which also requires 504km of connections, is worth about $12bn and is being built by two separate Asian con-sortiums in three major packages. Ghoul has been public works minister for more than a decade, but was briefly ousted when his political party, the Movement for Society of Peace (MSP), quit the national ruling alliance in 2011. After leaving the MSP in July 2012, Ghoul was reinstated and is now president of his own party, Tadjamou Amal Jazair. Prior to being public works minister, he was the min-ister for fisheries and marine resources. An engi-neer by background, Ghoul began training as a civil engineer in 1986 after first studying mathematics. He then specialised in mechanical and nuclear engineering, earning his first doctorate in 1991.WebSite: www.ana.org.dz

Ayman Rafic Hariri is the deputy CEO, vice-chairman and a member of the board of directors of Saudi

contractor Saudi Oger. His extensive experience, strong leadership capabilities and entrepreneur-ial vision have helped Saudi Oger become the successful international organisation it is today. As the leader of Saudi Oger’s operations, Hariri is currently handling the construction and facili-ties management of multibillion-dollar meg-aprojects such as the King Abdullah Financial District; King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture; Haramain train station; and many others. Har-iri’s direct involvement has helped in the execu-tion and handing over of the state-of-the-art aca-demic and administration buildings of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, as well as the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University for Women. He regularly features in the international listings of the world’s most influential Arab businesspeople.WebSite: www.saudioger.comtel: (+966) 1 477 3115

Steve Fludder is a global executive in energy and infrastructure markets and is head of worldwide sales and

marketing at Samsung Engineering. He joined the firm after leaving the US’ GE in 2010. Fludder has nearly 30 years of leadership experience, including 15 years of international assignments throughout Asia and the Middle East. He began his career as an engineer at GE Aircraft Engines and rose to spearhead the development of several new air-craft engine models. In 1994, Fludder moved to Asia for a series of emerging-market leadership roles across multiple GE businesses. In 2003, he became president and chief executive officer (CEO) of GE Energy China. In 2006, Fludder was elected a corporate officer and appointed vice-president of global sales and service for GE’s water busi-ness. He was educated in the US and holds a mas-ter’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University and a degree from Providence College.WebSite: www.samsungengineering.com

How has the market performed for your company over the past three years?The past three years were record years for Saudi Oger, where we delivered some of the

most iconic projects in Saudi Arabia such as King Abdullah University of Science and Technol-ogy (Kaust), Princess Noura University for Women, the Ritz Carlton and many others. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years?We anticipate growth in the healthcare and education sectors, in addition to infrastruc-ture projects. Where do you see the main opportunities

for Saudi Oger?We see the main opportunities for Saudi Oger in complex and technologically advanced infra-structure schemes, and in healthcare. What are the current challenges facing

your company?Our challenges are getting qualified manpower

and introducing new construction methods and technologies that will reduce dependency on large numbers of workers, and at the same time enable us to deliver megaprojects on time, to the high standards of quality Saudi Oger is known for. Please highlight a recent project that has

been significant to you.Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University for Women in Riyadh is a significant project for Saudi Oger, with more than 1 million square metres of built-up area and sophisticated architecture. The university is Saudi Arabia’s second green campus after Kaust. The campus includes an administra-tion building, a central library equipped with an automatic storage and retrieval system for more than 5 million books, conference centres, 15 aca-demic faculty buildings, several laboratories, and a state-of-the-art 700-bed hospital.

Saudi Oger was one of the main contractors for Princess Noura University, which is one of the leading female educational institutions in the region. The firm was able to deliver in-creased comfort levels and reduced energy con-sumption across all the buildings.

Q&A AymAn HAriri, SAUDi OGEr ViCE-CHAirmAn

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How has the market performed for your company over the past three years?The construction market in the UAE is doing very well in recovering from a trough in the business cycle, marked by the 2008-09 global economic crisis. Work on projects is now back in full force and investor confidence in the property market is seen to have increased over the past year.

The current wave of growth is expected to continue for the next seven to 10 years, pow-ered by government spending on infrastructure, gradual improvement of liquidity, sustained low interest rates, and the continuing growth of city populations. Global spending on construction is forecast to grow by an average of 6-8 per cent a year for the next five years.

In the GCC, total expenditure of $172bn is ex-pected in 2013, the equivalent of several GCC states hosting football World Cup tournaments at the same time. For the next two years in the region, the construction markets in Saudi Ara-bia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE are forecast to grow at between 6-8 per cent. Arabtec Holding is already a construction leader in these core mar-kets, with iconic projects such as Burj Khalifa, Emirates Palace and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Msheireb Downtown in Doha. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years?About 100 of the biggest schemes currently under construction in the Middle East are in the oil and gas sector and the provision of affordable housing, particularly in countries seeing rapid population growth and urbanisation. Arabtec has already won significant contracts in 2013, includ-

ing the Louvre and the Fairmont Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The company has a strong project pipe-line with a backlog of about AED22bn ($5.9bn), which means it has very clear earnings visibility. We look forwards to finalising our joint-venture agreement with South Korea’s Samsung Engi-neering to form a new firm that will enable us to undertake large-scale engineering, procurement and construction projects in the oil and gas, power, and infrastructure sectors in the Middle East and North Africa. Where do you see the main opportunities

for Arabtec?Arabtec has a clear business strategy to cap-ture market growth by enhancing its margins through its focus on high-growth markets and specialised construction sectors. We see strong opportunities in the infrastructure, power, oil and gas, and affordable housing industries. Arabtec is focused on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and India, which are projected to experi-ence higher construction market growth. What are the current challenges facing

your company?Arabtec’s 37 years of consecutive profitability and AED22bn backlog of ongoing and future schemes gives us clear visibility of the strength of our earnings. The company now has the right platform to take the business to the next level of its development, by applying our core competencies and skills to other growth sectors and markets.

We are embarking on a new phase of our ex-pansion, and have welcomed new members to our management team. Their international expe-rience and knowledge will support our growth plans, which we intend to achieve through organ-ic growth, acquisitions and the formation of world-class joint ventures. We look forwards to embracing this new stage in our company’s growth and using our institutional strength to grasp growth opportunities. Highlight a recent project that has been

significant to Arabtec.Repeat business accounts for about 60 per cent of our work, thanks to Arabtec’s reputation for delivering some of the most complex and unique projects in the world, ranging from Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace to the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Our track record consists of technically challenging work on airport schemes and gas installations, and deploys unique technologies such as the tunnel form technique, which is currently being used to deliv-er 55 villas a day at a 5,000-house develop-ment in Saudi Arabia.

Q&A HASAN ISMAIK, ArAbtec MANAgINg dIrector

Hasan abdullaH IsmaIk

arabtec HoldIngmanaging director

Hasan Abdullah Ismaik was appointed to the board of Arabtec Holding in August 2012, and a

month later was made group managing director. He is also the chairman of Arabtec Construction, replacing Riad Kamal. In addition to his duties at Arabtec, Ismaik is the founding chairman of Abu Dhabi-based private investment group HAMG and is chairman of Al-Ashmal Real Estate Invest-ment Company in Jordan. He is a member of the board of German football club TSV 1860 Munchen and is vice-chairman of Al-Manara International Jewellery. Ismaik started his career in the oil and gas sector before moving into con-struction and real estate. Since he took over as chairman of Arabtec Construction, the firm has won several major contracts in the UAE, Qatar and Egypt. These include the AED2bn ($544m) deal awarded to an Arabtec-led consortium to build the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which was signed in January.WebsIte: www.arabtecuae.comtel: (+971) 4 340 0700

Basra New City (also known as the National Housing and New Urban Development Project) is a 500,000-unit, $35bn scheme close to Shatt al-Arab in Basra.

South Korean contractor Trac Develop-ment Group was awarded the contract by Iraq’s National Investment Commission in October 2010 to build the development in a phased approach. Phase 1 consists of 100,000 housing units, infrastructure facili-ties and associated facilities. Hill Interna-tional is the project management consultant and Hyundai Development the main contrac-tor on the scheme.

The project is being part-financed by Export-Import Bank of the US (US Exim) and the US’ Citibank, with the Iraqi government as the financial guarantor for full cash payment upon completion and delivery of phase 1.

Basra New CityPhase 1owner Trac Development Grouplocation Basra Province, Iraqbudget $7bn

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Hamad Abdul Rahman Alabdul Kader is the acting president of SRO, as well as being the vice-president of operations. As such,

he oversees existing operations but also leads the extensive expansion programme that makes SRO one of the region’s biggest clients and will see Saudi Arabia add 10,900 kilometres of new rail line between 2010 and 2040. Currently, the biggest projects under way are the 450km Haramain high-speed track between Mecca and Medina and the 2,400km North-South railway between Al-Jouf and Riyadh. Future initiatives include major expansion projects such as the $7bn Saudi Landbridge to con-nect the Western and Eastern Regions and integra-tions with the GCC railway. Kader also oversees SRO’s strategic developments, which include mov-ing towards privatising SRO and opening the door for national and foreign investments in it to bolster its ability to support national development.Website: www.saudirailways.orgtel: (+966) 3 871 3001

Hamad abdul RaHman alabdul KadeR

sameR KHouRy Jose antonio lopez-monis

CCCexecutive vice-president of operations

HlGChief executive officer (Ceo) and managing director

saudi RailWays oRGanisation (sRo)acting president

Samer Khoury has worked his way through the ranks of CCC, the engi-neering and construction company

founded by his father, Said Khoury. Despite being headquartered in Athens, the firm has its roots in the Middle East, having been founded in Lebanon in 1952. Today, it is one of the largest Arab interna-tional construction companies operating through-out the Middle East, Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe and America. CCC is active in the region across all major sectors, from buildings and roads to pipelines, airports, energy projects and major industrial schemes. In 1990, Khoury moved to CCC’s head office in Athens, where he worked in various departments and gained a wide range of experience in engineering and construction. In 1997, he took over the posi-tion of executive vice-president of operations for the group, becoming responsible for the marketing and execution of CCC’s worldwide activities. Website: www.ccc.grtel: (+971) 2 614 7666

Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis joined HLG as CEO and managing director in Octo-ber 2012, having worked for Spain’s

Dragados, one of the world’s largest construction companies and part of the ACS Group, since 1989. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the construction of major bridge, highway, tunnel, airport, port, flood control, rail and transit projects, as well as in the development and construction of multimillion-dollar privatisation and public-private partnership projects. Prior to joining HLG, Lopez-Monis was Dragados’ director of global business development, a role he was promoted to from director of the international division. He has also held senior management roles with the company in the US, South Africa, the Middle East, Colombia, Ecuador and Ireland. Lopez-Monis has a master’s degree in civil engineering from the Polytechnic Uni-versity of Madrid and is a member of the National Society of Civil Engineers in Spain. Website: www.hlgroup.comtel: (+971) 4 285 7551

How has the Middle East market per-formed for your com-pany over the past three years?The Middle East mar-ket for Consolidated Contractors Company

(CCC) has performed reasonably well, especial-ly on large infrastructure projects. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years?In Saudi Arabia and Qatar in 2013-14. Where do you see CCC’s main opportunities?

In metro, rail and airport schemes. What are the challenges facing your firm?

The Arab unrest and its effect on the entire Middle East region is a major concern to me, as we do not know where all this is headed. Highlight a recent project that has been

significant to CCC.Abu Dhabi International airport is one of the largest, most technically challenging projects. We won it despite tough competition.

Q&A SAmer Khoury, CCC exeCutive viCe-preSident How has the market

performed for your company over the past three years?The past three years have been challenging for Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) as, like

most contractors in this region, we’ve had to deal with the fallout from the global financial cri-sis. We believe that most markets have now bot-tomed out, and we are seeing positive signs in all our key markets. In general, the market out-look is very positive. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years? Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq are our three most important growth markets, underpinned by gov-ernment infrastructure programmes funded by oil and gas revenues. Where do you see HLG’s main opportunities?

Infrastructure, particularly transport and social infrastructure, and oil-and-gas-related opportuni-ties in the growth markets of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The UAE will continue to offer select

opportunities for HLG and will remain a key mar-ket for the company for the foreseeable future. What are the challenges facing your firm?

The challenges facing HLG are no different from those facing our competitors. The past few years have seen an influx of international contractors into the region, leading to increased competition in our existing and new markets. As a result, margins have come under extreme pressure and this is likely to continue. Selecting the right cli-ents and the right projects also remains a chal-lenge, but we have set ourselves clear criteria in this regard and will ensure these are met before we decide to pursue any opportunity. Highlight a recent project that has been sig-

nificant to HLG.In the UAE, our recently completed projects at Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone were important as they were successfully delivered for a satisfied client. In Qatar, we have delivered a number of water storage projects and expect to secure re-peat business with the clients. We also secured our first projects in Saudi Arabia and Iraq last year across a range of market sectors. All these projects have positioned us well for future growth.

Q&A JoSe Antonio Lopez-moniS, hAbtoor Leighton Ceo

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Steven Miller MohaMMad Montazeri tarek talaat MouStafa

GhaSSan Merehbi

tehran urban and Suburban railway CoMpany (tuSrC)deputy managing director

alexandria ConStruCtion CoMpanyexecutive chairman

arabian ConStruCtion CoMpany founder and chairman

Shapoorji pallonji international Senior vice-president of business development

Steven Miller is an award-winning architect and urban planner with more than 49 years of experience in

business development, design management and construction administration for planning and architectural projects. He is senior vice-president of business development at India-based contrac-tor Shapoorji Pallonji International, which has an annual turnover of $2.5bn. Miller is an experi-enced real estate investment planner and has a deep understanding of the issues that drive real estate development and the elements that make it successful. Prior to joining Shapoorji Pallonji, he held senior positions at architects Kohn Peder-sen Fox, Perkins Eastman and FX Fowle. Miller has also been international director for UAE developer Emaar. He is a past president of the American Institute of Architects’ Continental Europe chapter and a founder of its Middle East Chapter. Miller is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. webSite: www.sp-group.co.in

Mohammad Montazeri is currently the deputy managing director of TUSRC, which he joined in 1993. For the last

14 years, he has held a range of positions in TUSRC including board member and secretary to the board of the directors, deputy managing director for planning and budgeting, deputy man-aging director for operations and deputy manag-ing director for human resources. As a university lecturer, Montazeri’s speciality is providing finan-cial solutions to finance metro lines using public-private partnership models. He has also pre-sented numerous papers at national and international conferences on the subject. Mon-tazeri has been an active member and modera-tor in engineering projects including Mashad metro Line 2 and Tehran metro Line 7. He was educated in Belgium, receiving his doctorate from the University of Leuven and his post- doctorate degree in industrial management from the University of Gent.webSite: www.metro.tehran.ir

Tarek Talaat Moustafa is the chair-man of Talaat Moustafa Group Hold-ings and also chairman of its subsidi-

ary, Alexandria Construction Company. The group was founded by his father in the early 1970s and began as a construction contractor building water infrastructure, bridges, and roads before diversifying into real estate. Moustafa also heads a range of other businesses operating in the construction sector and is the director of vari-ous family-run companies operating in the agricul-tural and real estate sectors. His biggest project under way is the $3bn Madinaty development, with 120,000 residential units situated northeast of Cairo. The scheme’s phase 2 works, currently under way by Alexandria Construction Company, are estimated to be worth $1.5bn. The firm is also expanding the Al-Rehab development near Cairo. Moustafa graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Alexandria in Egypt in 1975.webSite: www.acctalaatmoustafa.com

Ghassan Merehbi started his civil engineering career in Lebanon with Ori-ent Construction Company, after grad-

uating in civil engineering from the American Uni-versity of Beirut in 1963. He worked on three major projects with Orient before launching his own busi-ness in the country, which carried out two major schemes: the American Life Insurance Company building, and general construction work on the Abu Ali River. In 1967, Merehbi moved to Abu Dhabi and started Arabian Construction Company in part-nership with Taha and Anas Mikati. The business grew throughout the UAE, then established opera-tions in Syria, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In 1989, the firm’s Lebanon office was re-established, and between 2002-07, offices were opened in Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. The New Delhi office in India was opened in 2012. Merehbi has been an advisor to the board of Banque Audi since 2004, and was chairman of the Tripoli International Fair from 1994 to 1999. webSite: www.accsal.comtel: (+971) 2 677 1225

awCS Speaker

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Avia-tion is expanding King Abdulaziz International airport (KAIA) to increase its annual capacity from 13 million to 30 million passengers, and then to 80 million passengers once completed in 2035. The KAIA development project is being undertaken in three phases.

Phase 1 includes the overhaul and con-struction of two passenger terminals (North and South), construction of a general aviation terminal, and construction of a desalination plant. By the fourth quarter of 2012, work was about one-third complete.

Package 1 includes the new terminal and its 42 departure gates, aircraft hangars, a new control tower, a railway station zone and a maintenance facilities area.

King AbdulAziz internAtionAl Airportrevamp and new terminalowner General Authority for Civil Aviationlocation Mecca Provincebudget $3bn

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Algeria’s Public Works Ministry is building a 1,216-kilometre East-West Highway running across northern Algeria. Phase 2 of the road network covers 930km of the project and package 3 is for a 399km section of this.

The current road system suffers from bottle-necks and, without an upgrade, cannot cope with traffic levels. It is also hindering access to the more remote parts of the country. Once completed, the government hopes the highway will improve road safety and attract additional investment into the region. It will also support most of Algeria’s overland trade and form part of the planned trans-Maghreb highway.

The scope of work includes the 399km, six-lane eastern section between Bordj Bou Arre-ridj and the Tunisian border, 22 intersections, 11 tunnels, and 88 overpasses.

eAst-West HigHWAypackage 3 of phase 2 owner Agence Nationale des Autorouteslocation Algeriabudget $5.3bn

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Fadel SaFar ali SaFar HuSSain Sajwani HaSSan Mutlu

HeSHaM taHa Muqbel

Kuwait Public worKS MiniStryPublic works minister

daMac ProPertieSchairman

trac develoPMent GrouPPresident for europe and the Middle east

al-raHji conStructionchief executive officer (ceo)

Public Works Minister Fadel Safar Ali Safar is also the minister of state for planning and development affairs in

Kuwait. As such, he is responsible for public infrastructure, the construction of which has long been a source of frustration for the construction industry and the general public alike, thanks to the country’s inability to get its megaprojects started. However, the past two years have seen real progress on infrastructure, with work begin-ning on a raft of long-awaited projects under the supervision of Safar. Today, it is estimated that $9.2bn of construction and transport projects are under way, including the delayed $2.6bn, 36-kilometre Jaber al-Ahmed causeway. This deal was awarded to South Korea’s Hyundai Engineer-ing & Construction working with the local Com-bined Group Contracting Company in October 2012. Other major schemes under way include the $1bn Jaber Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah hospital and the $1bn Al-Jahra road upgrade. webSite: www.mpw.gov.kw

Hussain Sajwani is the founder, owner and chairman of UAE real estate devel-oper Damac Properties, which, to date,

has completed 37 buildings with 7,817 units, and has a further 66 buildings at various stages of progress across the Middle East and North Africa. The company was inevitably affected by the financial crisis, but, unlike some firms, it has continued to build and has launched a variety of new schemes, including the 28-storey Damac Tower in Lebanon in association with Italy’s design house Versace; a $1bn development with US group Para-mount Hotels & Resorts in the Burj Khalifa area of Dubai; and a number of projects in Saudi Arabia. In October 2011, the company launched a new hospitality division for more than 4,000 serviced hotel apartments, which will be completed or will be under development by the end of 2013. Sajwani has a degree in industrial engineering and economics from the University of Washington in the US. webSite: www.damacproperties.com

Trac Development Group is work-ing towards the construction of 500,000 housing units throughout

Iraq, with the first phase (100,000 units) at Basra New City worth an estimated $7bn. The scheme’s masterplan was finalised in January 2013. In April 2012, the company entered into a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rahji Hold-ings to create Al-Rahji Trac Middle East. Has-san Mutlu serves as the president of Europe and the Middle East of Trac Development Group, and is responsible for overall company strategy, policy and direction. Mutlu has 16 years of experience in proprietary deriva-tives trading, 22 years of experience in sys-tem design, research and development, and 23 years of experience in project management and team-building. He was educated in the US, where he received his master’s degree in busi-ness administration with specialisation in finance. Mutlu also has a master’s degree in systems analysis.webSite: www.tracdevelop.com

Hesham Taha Muqbel brings more than 30 years of civil engineering experience to his role as CEO of

Al-Rahji Construction. The company is the con-struction arm of the Saudi-based conglomerate Al-Rahji Holdings and is engaged in a variety of projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, most nota-bly the Haramain high speed rail project linking Mecca and Medina. Al-Rahji is the lead contrac-tor on the $1.8bn rail link for the client, Saudi Railways Organisation. The firm is also delivering infrastructure for the Shamkha South develop-ment in Abu Dhabi for the client, Abu Dhabi Gen-eral Services Company (Musanada); an aircraft maintenance facility at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz International airport; and the Batinah Housing development in Oman. Muqbel came to Al-Rahji from Dubai-based contractor Wade Adams, where he spent 27 years rising through the ranks to become a manager. He has a degree in civil engineering from Cairo University in Egypt.webSite: www.arconst.com

TUSRC in Iran is expanding the Tehran metro system in an effort to tackle road congestion and pollution created by cars in the city.

The Tehran metro, which is Iran’s first such railway, began operating in 2000. It has six lines, four of which are operational (lines 3, 4, 6 and 7). Line 6 runs from Sadeghi Square to Azadegan Highway in the capital, and the main contractor for Line 6 is Ahab Construc-tion Company.

Work includes the building of 30 kilome-tres of track, new tunnels, stations, rolling stock and control systems. The Line 6 project is due for completion in the third quarter of 2015, although industry sources say work may be progressing slowly due to a lack of financing.

Rayadah Investment Company is building King Abdullah Financial District, a 1.6-million-square-metre real estate development located south of Riyadh. The district will include the headquarters for the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the Capital Market Authority and the Commodity Market.

The scheme also includes a financial academy for 5,000 students, offices, buildings, hotels, shops, recreational facili-ties, waterways, squares, parks, sports arenas, restaurants, six mosques and other amenities.

This contract covers the construction of 20 towers within King Abdullah Financial Dis-trict. The towers are divided into five packages of four buildings each.

TEhran METro Phase 3 of Line 6

King abduLLah FinanCiaL disTriCTPhase 2: towersowner Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway

Company (TUSRC)location Tehrancontract $4bn

owner Rayadah Investment Companylocation Riyadhcontract $3.7bn

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Khaldoun Tabari

ossama mohammed el-husseiny abdel salam

yu Tao

nassef sawiris

david welch

Jung soo-hyun

china sTaTe consTrucTion engineering corporaTion (middle easT)president and ceo

orascom consTrucTion indusTries (oci)chairman and chief executive officer (ceo)

bechTelsenior vice-president

hyundai engineering & consTrucTion (hdec)president and ceo

draKe & scull inTernaTional (dsi)vice-chairman and ceo

arab conTracTors (ac; osman ahmed osman & company)chairman

Khaldoun Tabari is the vice-chairman and CEO of DSI, and has led the devel-opment of the company from a local

mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) con-tractor to a regional leader in the construction industry. He acquired DSI in 1998 and has expanded the business to include EPC and civil contracting in addition to the development of design-and-build engineering expertise in infra-structure; water and power; rail; oil and gas; and wastewater treatment. Together with its core MEP capability, DSI provides integrated services in the construction industry spanning markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Libya, Jordan, India, Vietnam, Djibouti, Thailand and Alge-ria, and managing projects in the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Asia. Tabari also serves as a non-executive chairman and director of sev-eral other corporations. He graduated from the University of Colorado in the US with a degree in engineering and business administration.websiTe: www.drakescull.com

Ossama Mohammed el-Husseiny Abdel Salam is an engineer who has been chairman of AC since September

2012. He is a board member of the Egyptian Feder-ation for Construction and Building Contractors, the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate, the Egyptian Civil Engineering Society, the Egyptian Tunnelling Society and the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineers. Salam is also a member of the faculty of engineering councils in the Ain Shams and Cairo universities. Prior to assuming his current position, he held several management positions at Egypt’s Zagazig University and was the founder and a board member of US-based Pickett Engineering Consultancy and Sogera Middle East for Engineer-ing Consultancy. Salam has a doctorate and a mas-ter’s degree in science and technology facilities from the Central College of Engineering in Paris, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Egypt’s Ain Shams University. websiTe: www.arabcont.com

Since September 2004, Yu Tao has been the president and CEO of China State Construction Engineering

Corporation (Middle East), making him fully respon-sible for the company’s operations in the UAE and other Gulf states. The firm is currently working on a number of high-profile schemes in the region includ-ing the Central Bank of Kuwait’s new headquarters and Al-Hikma Tower in the UAE. Between 2007 and 2010, Tao was also vice-president for overseas operations at China State Construction Engineer-ing. Before assuming his present position, he was based in Singapore, where he was deputy manag-ing director of China Construction (South Pacific) Development Company between 2003 and 2004. From 2002, Tao was a project director at that com-pany. He has a master’s degree in science and project management from the National University of Singapore, and a degree in civil engineering from Chongqing Civil Engineering Institute in China.websiTe: www.chinaconstruction.ae

The youngest son of Orascom Group founder Onsi Sawiris, Nassef Sawiris was appointed

CEO and director of OCI in 1998, and became chairman in 2010. He had already overseen Orascom’s construction division for eight years prior to that. OCI is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor operating in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. In 1999, 40 per cent of the company was sold off in an initial public offering. Sawiris is also one of the largest shareholders and a direc-tor on the board of French materials conglomer-ate Lafarge. He is also a director of the Dubai International Financial Exchange and of NNS Holding, a privately-owned investment group. Sawiris attended the German International School in Cairo before moving to the US, where he obtained a degree in economics from the University of Chicago.websiTe: www.orascomci.comTel: (+202) 2 461 1111

David Welch is a senior vice- president at US construction giant Bechtel, as well as being its London-

based regional president for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He is a former US diplomat who served as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs in the US Department of State in 2005-08. Welch was US ambassador to Egypt from 2001-05, and assistant secretary for international organisations from 1998-2001. He has also served in Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House. Welch is a board member of the US-Saudi Busi-ness Council and the US-UAE Business Council, and is a member of the US-Egypt Business Council. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy. Welch is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Fletcher School at Tufts Uni-versity, both in the US. He also attended London School of Economics in the UK. websiTe: www.bechtel.com

Jung Soo-Hyun is president and CEO of South Korea’s highly successful HDEC, which is now part of the

Hyundai Motor Group. The group acquired the company in April 2011, after the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s led to their separation. Before taking over as president, Soo-Hyun was president of Hyundai Amco, which was an existing construction business owned by Hyundai Motors. Data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects shows the company is working on construction and transport projects worth $3.9bn in the Middle East and North Africa region. These include high-profile projects in Kuwait such as the $2.6bn Jaber al-Ahmed causeway in joint venture with Kuwait’s Combined Contracting Group, and Hamad Medical City in Qatar for the Public Works Authority (Ashgal). Soo-Hyun is a construction veteran who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years since he graduated from Seoul National University in South Korea.websiTe: www.hdec.kr

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dubai ContraCtinG Company (dCC)Ceo

CitiC Group CorporationChairman

al-naboodah ConstruCtion GroupChief executive officer (Ceo)

Gary Wells was appointed CEO of Al-Naboodah Construction Group in 2011, maintaining overall profit-and-

loss responsibility for the engineering and construc-tion divisions. This spans civil, building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, micro-tunnelling, asphalt and concrete production, and major plant holding. Wells says steering the business according to a well-guided plan has driven growth and productivity improvements since his arrival. He describes him-self as an engineer first and foremost, delivering value to business and client productivity through a structured approach. Wells uses his knowledge of the industry to ensure maximum profitability in a controlled risk environment. He started his career as a graduate civil engineer with the UK’s Costain Group, ultimately becoming responsible for the company’s Middle East operations. Wells then moved on to lead business in the Middle East and South Africa for South Africa’s Murray & Roberts.Website: www.alnaboodah.comtel: (+971) 4 294 9947

Abdallah Yabroudi is CEO of DCC, which is headquartered in Dubai with regional operations in Saudi Arabia and

Jordan. Yabroudi built his career at DCC, starting as a senior site engineer in 1979 after completing his master’s degree in industrial engineering and opera-tions research at Syracuse University in the US. He worked his way up from senior site engineer to project manager and then deputy managing partner, before becoming CEO. Other roles Yabroudi holds today include general manager of Development and Contracting Company in Chile and DCC Lebanon. He is also chairman of District Investment & Devel-opment, a Dubai-based developer and property investor. Yabroudi continues to support his former university through a range of endowment funds and bringing civil engineering students to Dubai to train with DCC. He is also a supporter of the UAE’s Cleve-land Clinic, where he supports training and develop-ment of young Middle Eastern physicians.Website: www.dcc-group.comtel: (+971) 4 333 7100

China’s CITIC Group Corporation is a leading Asian contractor working in the Middle East and North Africa through

its subsidiary CITIC Construction. Its most notable project is the $3.7bn Algerian East-West highway, where it is working in joint venture with fellow Chi-nese contractor CRCC on the 1,216-kilometre, six-lane link. Its chairman is Chan Zhenming, who has held the role since December 2011. He has built a long and illustrious career with CITIC and his previ-ous roles include vice-president of CITIC Industrial Bank; executive director and vice-president of CITIC Group; vice-chairman and president of China Con-struction Bank; and vice-chairman and president of CITIC Group. A major priority for Zhenming is preparing the firm for its capital market launch; the next step for CITIC, which has undergone a major restructuring as part of the Chinese enterprise reform programme. Zhenming graduated from the New York Insurance Institute with a master’s degree in business administration.Website: www.citicgroup.comtel: (+86) 106 466 0088

How has the Middle East market performed for your company over the past three years?It has been a time of change for sure, and one we have had to look at with a critical

eye to ensure continued success. Where do you anticipate growth over the

next three years?We see growth in the industrial sector across the UAE and in the infrastructure sector across the Gulf region. Al-Naboodah Construction Group has always been first and foremost a deliverer of in-frastructure, and this market has, to a certain ex-tent, survived some of the recent market turmoil. We are well positioned to pick up our fair market share across the UAE and assist in the regional growth areas, not least in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Where do you see the main opportunities for

Al-Naboodah?Al-Naboodah Construction is strong in its core business: infrastructure delivery. We are verti-cally integrated and are supported by a solid

asset base and mature supply chain. This will help us secure our market share of the infra-structure sector both within the UAE and across the region. We also see the growth area in the industrial sector as a prime opportunity, driven by downstream petrochemical development. What are the challenges facing Al-Naboodah?

Payments by clients are slow and in many cases unpredictable; this is a major challenge. Also, we see a shift towards unfavourable contract terms and conditions weighted against contrac-tors. This is not good for the industry at a time when all project stakeholders should be doing the reverse and getting closer in their joint deliv-ery of bankable project development solutions. Highlight a recent project that has been

significant to your firm.We are currently working on an airport construc-tion project in Abu Dhabi. This is our first scheme with a major industrial client in the petrochemi-cals sector. The project poses a major logistical challenge, being 150 kilometres offshore. It is forcing a new mindset of pre-engineering, helping improve our planning skill base and enabling a modular approach to our construction activity.

Q&A GAry Wells, Al-NAboodAh CoNstruCtioN Ceo

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior is developing a network of seven rehabilita-tion centres for prisoners across the king-dom. The centres will house inmates who will undertake manual labour and tasks designed to help them reintegrate into society.

Each centre will be two storeys high and cover about 4 million square metres, with a built-up area of 232,000 square metres. The facilities will be built in Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Taif, Baha, Dammam and Al-Jouf.

The main contractor on the project is the local Saudi Binladin Group, with US-based Vanir Construction Management acting as consultant. The centres are due for comple-tion by the end of 2013.

REhabiLitation CEntREs foR PRisonERsseven facilitiesowner Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interiorlocation Saudi ArabiaContract $3.4bn

ProjeCt sNAPshot

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ConstruCtion lEADErs At A GlAnCE

Source: MEED Projects

*=Under execution. Source: MEED Projects*=Under execution; JV=Joint venture; CSCI=China State Construction International; CCC=Consolidated Contractors Company. Source: MEED Projects

profiled contractors by company

clients by project value* contractors by project value*

Contractors Person profiled TitleABV Rock Group Sadoun bin Bargash al-Sadoun PresidentAhab Construction Company Humayun Arvmchy ManagerAlexandria Construction Company Tarek Talaat Moustafa Executive chairmanAl-Bawani Company Fakher al-Shawaf General executive managerAl-Jaber Group Fatima Obaid al-Jaber Chief operating officerAl-Naboodah Construction Group Gary Wells Chief executive officer (CEO)Al-Rajhi Construction Hesham Taha Muqbel CEOArabian Construction Company Ghassan Merehbi Founder and chairmanArab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company) Ossama Mohammed el-Husseiny Abdel Salam ChairmanArabtec Holding Hasan Abdullah Ismaik Managing directorBechtel David Welch Senior vice-presidentBrookfield Multiplex John Ferguson Managing directorChina Railway Construction Corporation Meng Fengchao ChairmanChina State Construction Engineering Corporation (Middle East) Yu Tao President and CEOCITIC Group Corporation Chan Zhenming ChairmanCombined Group Contracting Company Abdulrahman al-Marouf ChairmanConsolidated Contractors Company (CCC) Samer Khoury Executive vice-president of operationsDrake & Scull International Khaldoun Tabari Vice-chairman and CEODubai Contracting Company Abdallah Yabroudi CEOEl-Seif Group Khaled al-Seif Chairman and CEOGalfar Engineering & Contracting Salim bin Said bin Hamad al-Fannah al-Araimi ChairmanHabtoor Leighton Group (HLG) Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis CEO and managing directorHyundai Engineering & Construction Jung Soo-Hyun President and CEOKhatam al-Anbia Construction Base Abadollah Abdollahi CommanderMohammed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi & Sons Nasser Mohammed al-Kharafi PresidentMusanada (Abu Dhabi General Services Company) Mohamed Rashid Khalifa al-Fahed al-Mehairi CEOOrascom Construction Industries Nassef Sawiris Chairman and CEOQatari Diar Vinci Construction Yanick Garillion CEOSamsung Engineering Steve Fludder Senior executive vice-presidentSaudi Binladin Group Bakr Binladin ChairmanSaudi Oger Ayman Rafic Hariri Vice-chairman and deputy CEOShapoorji Pallonji International Steven Miller Senior vice-president of business developmentSix Construct (Besix) Philippe Dessoy Middle East general managerTAV Construction Yusuf Akcayoglu Middle East director

Clients Value ($m)1 Agence Nationale des Autoroutes, Algeria 11,7422 Saudi Railways Organisation 11,6683 Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education 10,5094 Kuwait Public Works Ministry 9,2135 Oman Ministry of Transport & Communication 8,9846 Saudi Arabia Interior Ministry 8,9467 General Authority For Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia 8,8878 Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Company 8,6809 Aldar Sorouh Properties 8,452

10 Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) 7,82111 Rayadah Investment Company 7,18312 Trac Development Group 7,00013 Saudi Arabia Transport Ministry 6,27414 Qatar Foundation 4,76615 Emaar Properties 4,22916 General Presidency of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque 4,00017 Damac Properties 3,95318 Qatari Diar 3,82519 Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health 3,71720 Abu Dhabi Airports Company 3,32521 Mubadala Development Company 3,14322 Saudi Arabia National Guard 3,13023 Iraq Ministry of Construction & Housing 3,12924 Dubai Pearl 3,08025 Musanada (Abu Dhabi General Services Company) 3,065

Contractor Value ($m)1 Saudi Binladin Group 23,1472 Al-Shoula Consortium for Haramain Rail 7,7333 Hyundai Development Company 7,0004 Saudi Oger 6,9505 CITIC Group Corporation/CRCC (JV) 6,4026 Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) 6,3307 Cojaal (JV) 5,3408 Al-Rajhi Holding Group 4,1689 Khatam al-Anbia Construction Base/Sepasad Engineering Company 4,000

10 Ahab Construction Company 4,00011 Arabtec Construction 3,98912 Arabian Construction Company 3,89513 Al-Jaber Group 3,50514 ABV Rock Group 3,39015 Al-Omrane Chrafate 3,00016 China National Chemical Engineering/CSCI (JV) 2,95017 CCC/TAV/Arabtec (JV) 2,87218 Groupe Etrhb Haddad/FCC (JV) 2,68719 The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company) 2,66620 Azmeel Contracting 2,63921 Hyundai E&C/Combined Group Contracting Company (JV) 2,60022 El-Seif Engineering Contracting 2,57223 China State Construction International Holdings 2,52624 Orascom Construction Industries 2,42425 Contrack International/OHL (JV) 2,300

21-22 Data.indd 21 02/05/2013 17:47

www.meed.com



Source: MEED Projects

*=Under execution; JV=Joint venture. Source: MEED Projects

profiLEd CLiEnts by CoMpany

LEading ContraCtors by Country

Project owner Profile TitleAbu Dhabi Airports Company Tony Douglas Chief executive officer (CEO)Agence Nationale des Autoroutes, Algeria Amar Ghoul Public works ministerDamac Properties Hussain Sajwani ChairmanDubai Pearl Abdul Majeed al-Fahim ChairmanEmaar Properties Mohamed Alabbar ChairmanGeneral Presidency for the Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais MinisterIraq Ministry of Construction & Housing Mohammed Darraji Minister of construction and housingKuwait Municipality (master planning department) Saad al-Muhaliby Director of master planning deparmentKuwait Public Works Ministry Fadel Safar Ali Safar Minister of public worksMubadala Development Company Kaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak CEOOman Transport Ministry Ahmed Mohammed Salem al-Futaisi Transport and communications ministerOmran Ammar al-Kharusi Construction managerQatar Foundation Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned ChairwomanQatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Nasser Ali al-Mawlawi PresidentQatari Diar Mohammed bin Ali al-Hedfa CEORayadah Investment Company Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Kharashi ChairmanGeneral Authority For Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia Faisal al-Sugair Vice-presidentSaudi Arabia Ministry of Health Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Rabeeah Minister of healthSaudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education Khalid Mohammed al-Ankary Minister of higher educationSaudi Arabia Interior Ministry Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Interior ministerSaudi Arabia Transport Ministry Jubarah bin Eid al-Suraiseri Transport ministerSaudi Arabia National Guard Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud CommanderSaudi Oger Ayman Rafic Hariri Vice-chairman and deputy CEOSaudi Railways Organisation Hamad Abdulrahman Alabdul Kader Acting presidentShapoorji Pallonji International Steven Miller Senior vice-president of business developmentSix Construct (Besix) Philippe Dessoy Middle East general managerSorouh Real Estate Abubaker Seddiq al-Khouri Managing directorSpecial Economic Zone Authority Duqm Yahya Kamis Juma al-Zadjali Head of planning and engineeringTAV Construction Yusuf Akcayoglu Middle East directorTehran Urban and Suburban Railway Company Mohammad Montazeri Deputy managing directorThe Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company) Ossama Mohammed el-Husseiny Abdel Salam ChairmanTrac Development Group Hassan Mutlu President for Europe and the Middle East

Contractor Contract value* ($m)UAEHabtoor Leighton Group (HLG) 5,400China National Chemical Engineering/China State Construction International (JV)

2,950

CCC/TAV/Arabtec (JV) 2,872Arabian Construction Company 2,732Al-Jaber Group 2,542Al-Naboodah Group 2,100Commodore Contracting 2,051El-Seif Engineering Contracting 2,000Al-Shafar General Contracting 1,934Arabtec Construction 1,739

IraqHyundai Development Company 7,000Tasyakan Construction 2,150Bedo Insaat 1,600Karzan Company 1,500Alstom 1,500FiberPro Contracting 1,500Anwar Soura General Contracting Company 1,166Al-Radhwan Company 1,138Salah Khadr Aola Group 900Al-Fao General Engineering Company 778

Contractor Contract value* ($m)QatarContrack International/OHL (JV) 2,300Arabtec Construction 2,190Qatari Diar Vinci Construction 1,735Six Construct/Midmac Contracting Company 1,652Al-Jaber Engineering/Boeing Construction Company/Bouygues/Midmac Contracting Company

1,301

Draieh Contracting 1,282Qatari Diar/Saudi Binladin (JV) 1,250Middle East Dredging Company 1,200Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)/Hochtief 1,100Hyundai Engineering & Construction 968

Saudi ArabiaSaudi Binladin Group (SBG) 22,737Al-Shoula Consortium for Haramain Rail 7,733Saudi Oger 6,467ABV Rock Group 3,390Azmeel Contracting 2,639Saudi Oger/SBG/El-Seif Engineering Contracting/Yapi Merkezi (JV) 2,149Al-Rajhi Holding Group 1,800Al-Rajhi Construction 1,786Al-Fouzan Trading & General Construction 1,538Al-Jabriya/Building Construction Company/Gulf Elite/ Al-Suwaiket (JV)

1,500

21-22 Data.indd 22 02/05/2013 17:47

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Documents

€¦ · The individuals appearing in MEED’s Construction Leaders 2013 list are the ... gian firms such as Besix, which operates in the region as Six Construct