ALEC Holdings positions itself as a hub for transformative construction solutions

At its latest annual Innovation Day, ALEC Holdings highlighted how its structured Innovation Roadmap has positioned the company as a “Platform for Global Innovation Solutions,” fostering the ideation, development, and scaling of transformative construction technologies across the industry

With the GCC construction market projected to reach US$2.7 trillion by 2033, the sector faces mounting pressure to deliver projects faster, safer, and more sustainably.

Imad Itani, head of innovation at ALEC, stated, “The region is a fertile ground for innovation, but this cannot thrive in isolation. It needs an ecosystem which allows promising technologies to be applied to the most ambitious undertakings, investors to access vetted solutions, and innovators to secure fast-track funding. At ALEC, we have made a clear and concerted effort to become that ecosystem. Today we are the epicentre of construction innovation, identifying, implementing, and scaling technologies that can transform how the region builds.”

ALEC’s innovation culture encourages experimentation across departments, with champions driving the testing, refinement, and commercialisation of new ideas. Many business units now regularly launch their own innovative products and services.

The event featured 15 external partners who showcased technologies developed in collaboration with ALEC. Notable examples include TENDERD, an AI-powered equipment management platform that recently secured US$30mn in Series A funding, and SOLUT, whose workforce productivity analytics have increased labor efficiency by approximately 30% across multiple pilot sites.

Aleksander Belousov, Founder of SOLUT, said, “Since collaborating with ALEC, we have seen increased engagement from developers and contractors, as well as from customers in other industries, who now have the confidence to adopt and support our solutions. It has significantly shortened our time to market and accelerated our ability to refine and scale our technology.”

ALEC also emphasised the growing role of subcontractors in driving sector innovation.

Itani added, “Subcontractors play a vital role in ALEC’s project delivery, which makes their involvement in our innovation journey essential. This year marks the first time we have expanded our innovation initiatives to include select subcontractors, and we intend to broaden this across the entire supply chain in the future. By creating opportunities for shared learning and collaboration, we are building a collaboration framework that will enhance capabilities across the ecosystem and drive collective progress.”

In addition, ALEC introduced a new set of Collaboration Awards, recognising partners contributing to industry-wide innovation. Awards were presented in four categories: Innovative Subcontractor of the Year, Technology Collaboration of the Year, Start-up Engagement of the Year, and Client Collaboration of the Year, reflecting ALEC’s commitment to fostering partnerships and advancing the construction ecosystem.

Penta Global, a UAE-based EPC construction company, has released a new report titled Mind Matters in Construction: The State of Mental Health and Wellbeing in the UAE, highlighting the need for a more coordinated and standardised approach to worker wellbeing across the industry.

The construction sector contributes more than 9% of the UAE’s GDP and employs over 1.8mn workers, most of whom are expatriates. Despite its scale, Penta Global’s report finds that mental health remains an underaddressed area of worker welfare, even as awareness and initiatives continue to grow.

The report notes that untreated mental illness leads to at least 37.5mn lost productive days annually across the GCC, amounting to US$3.5bn in economic losses. It also references research showing that construction workers who work beyond eight-hour shifts are 2.7 times more likely to report symptoms of depression.

Sujay Nair, Executive Director at Penta Global, said: “This report takes an in-depth look at the mental health realities of the construction workforce. There is a clear growing recognition of employee mental wellness as a strategic priority in the UAE and globally. It highlights the progress made but also the need for change, shared accountability, and sustained attention to the wellbeing of the people building the UAE’s future. So, we are calling on the industry to come together and make the change together to foster a culture of care in construction.”

The study highlights uneven access to wellbeing programmes, with major contractors investing significantly in safety and mental health support, while smaller subcontractors often lack formal frameworks or dedicated budgets.

Government-led reforms, including the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031, the 2024 Mental Health Law, and the Dubai Health Authority’s Mental Wealth Framework—are accelerating improvements. Abu Dhabi has reported a 30% rise in mental health treatment uptake since 2022.

Penta Global aims to shift the industry focus from awareness to action, urging the sector to increase wellbeing data and transparency, collaborate on unified standards, and prioritise prevention over reactive responses. By enhancing data, strengthening industry-wide collaboration, and addressing root causes of stress and fatigue, the UAE construction sector can set a global benchmark for sustainable and human-centric development.

Cementir Group has expanded its global decarbonisation efforts with the introduction of two lower-carbon white cement products under its D-Carb range

Produced in Egypt by Sinai White Cement Company, the new variants are now available across Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets.

The offerings include a Limestone Portland cement that meets CEM II/A-LL 52.5N EN197-1 requirements with an approximate 10% clinker reduction, and a CEM II/B-LL 42.5N option featuring around 20% clinker reduction when compared to the widely used Aalborg White CEM I 52.5R.

Designed to support industrial users in accelerating their decarbonisation pathways, the launch provides MEA customers with a practical shift toward lower-carbon construction materials without affecting performance, production efficiency or aesthetic outcomes.

“In 2024 and early 2025, we progressively introduced D-Carb products across Europe and APAC region, including Australia, where we have received positive feedback from diverse industry segments. We are pleased to see D-Carb enabling customers to meeting emerging low carbon requirements in building and urban infrastructure projects, while continuing to deliver the high performance and architecture aesthetics expected of white cement.” said Michele Di Marino, chief sales, marketing and commercial development officer of Cementir Group.

“Today, extending this portfolio to MEA with two tailored variants represents an important milestone in Cementir’s journey toward net-zero emissions by 2050. As the building and construction sectors worldwide increasingly prioritize decarbonization, these products reinforce our commitment to low-carbon solutions aligned with regional decarbonization targets.”

Stefano Zampaletta, Group Product and Solution Manager at Cementir Group, added, “The introduction of the two D-Carb® variants in MEA highlights our understanding of the diverse application requirements for lower-carbon materials in the region. Achieving reduced carbon footprints while maintaining the good standard of performance expected of white cement is a complex challenge, but these products demonstrate our capability to deliver both, supporting a shared ambition for sustainable construction across entire value chain.”

“MEA markets are rapidly embracing sustainability, and the arrival of D-Carb® positions us to lead this transition. By combining lower carbon emissions with the performance expected of white cement, we are setting a new benchmark and opening new opportunities for responsible construction in the region,” concluded Abdel Hamid Gadou, commercial director of Sinai White Cement. 

Bobcat has expanded its electric materials handling line up with the launch of the B16 to B20 NT series, the company’s first three wheel forklifts designed exclusively around modern lithium ion technology.

The new B16NT, B18NT and B20NT models are aimed at light to medium duty operations and combine compact design with zero emission performance. Bobcat says the series represents a future proof investment for manufacturing and logistics users seeking safer, cleaner and more efficient in plant transport.

The forklifts deliver load capacities between 1.6 and 2 tonnes at a 500 millimetre load centre and feature a 4.5 kilowatt dual drive motor alongside a 12 kilowatt hydraulic motor. Their small turning radius gives operators the ability to work confidently in narrow aisles without compromising on stability.

Bobcat states that the models’ manoeuvrability is matched by a significant emphasis on operator protection and comfort. The low access step, generous legroom and modern driver interface are designed to reduce fatigue and enhance visibility, while the intuitive colour display provides at a glance diagnostics to help avoid unexpected failures. The standard electric parking brake with ramp stop forms a central part of the safety package, ensuring secure stopping even on gradients.

Coinciding with the forklift launch, Bobcat has introduced its own lithium ion batteries for both the NT series and its existing electric range. Available in 400 and 600 amp hour capacities, the new batteries use lithium iron phosphate chemistry which is regarded for its high safety levels and thermal stability.

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An integrated thermal management system enables operation in temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius, safeguarding performance in demanding environments. The batteries also connect directly into the machine’s CAN bus, removing the need for a separate display and allowing real time monitoring through Bobcat’s Machine IQ telematics. This visibility supports preventative maintenance, safer charging routines and a longer operational lifespan.

The company has also developed a dedicated charging infrastructure for the new energy packs. The fast chargers are built for efficiency and reliability, with a typical full charge taking around two hours depending on the model. Smart charging electronics continuously adapt output to the battery’s condition in order to prevent overheating and extend service life.

Their robust construction and flexible connectivity options make them suitable for both centralised charging rooms and distributed charging points across large sites.

According to Bobcat, the introduction of the NT series, the new batteries and the associated charging solutions demonstrates its commitment to safer and more sustainable intralogistics. The firm expects the lithium ion technology to deliver longer battery life, reduced maintenance requirements and greater operational control for users seeking an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional power sources.