Invest Northern Ireland, the regional economic development agency, is set to lead a trade mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from 15–19 September 2025.

A delegation of nine Northern Irish companies will take part, exploring opportunities for collaboration in construction and sustainability while engaging directly with regional developers, contractors, and government stakeholders.

The programme will cover Riyadh, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, featuring site visits, business briefings, and networking sessions designed to showcase Northern Ireland’s expertise in construction, engineering, fit-out, waste recycling, design, and technology.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 continues to generate vast opportunities, with over US$1 trillion worth of projects underway, including transformative developments such as NEOM, New Murabba, and Diriyah Gate.

Meanwhile, the UAE construction sector is forecast to grow from US$43bn in 2025 to US$53bn by 2030, with sustainability and circular economy targets shaping delivery.

These conditions present fertile ground for Northern Ireland’s proven capabilities in sustainable building solutions, specialist fit-out, and engineering excellence.

Northern Ireland companies have long contributed to major international projects, including Legoland and Sony Pictures Studios at Motiongate Dubai, Euro Disney in Paris, the first Audi Digital Showroom in London, and the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Renowned for innovation, adaptability, and client-focused delivery, these companies offer services spanning general contracting, facilities management, building envelopes, civil engineering, and interior fit-outs, as well as advanced waste management systems that divert materials from landfill and create new revenue streams.

By building on this legacy, the trade mission aims to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, supporting shared goals in construction growth, sustainability, and the transition to greener, more efficient infrastructure.

Swathi Sri, head of territory for India, Middle East, and Africa at Invest Northern Ireland, said “This mission offers Northern Ireland companies a unique opportunity to directly engage with stakeholders in both the countries. Participants will meet with developers, contractors, and government representatives face-to-face, gaining valuable insights into the delivery of large-scale projects. They will achieve a clearer understanding of procurement systems, sustainability requirements, and local priorities, while also establishing initial connections with potential partners. Additionally, this mission aims to provide participants with market intelligence, new contacts, and a stronger foundation for long-term international growth.

“Exports to Saudi Arabia and UAE are valued at £162.4 million for the period from April 2024 to March 2025. The exports are dominated by machinery and transport equipment, and miscellaneous manufactured articles, and are on the upward trend owing to large projects in the region”.

The Middle East continues to lead the world in ambitious infrastructure and construction projects. From Saudi Arabia’s giga-developments to urban transformation initiatives across the Gulf, contractors and owners are under immense pressure to deliver projects that are larger, faster, and more complex than ever before. Against this backdrop, digital transformation has become not only a competitive advantage but a necessity.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have long been used in finance and manufacturing. Yet, in construction—an industry defined by unique project-based challenges—traditional ERP often fails to deliver. The sector requires platforms aligned with the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Bill of Quantities (BoQ), the twin pillars of project planning and cost estimation. Without real-time visibility into time and cost benchmarks, contractors risk delays, budget overruns, and compliance gaps.

This has given rise to construction ERP platforms designed exclusively for project delivery. By integrating engineering, procurement, scheduling, and cost control, these solutions provide contractors with a single digital backbone for managing complex projects. Instead of static reports, project leaders gain dynamic insights into resource allocation, cash flow, and progress against milestones—empowering them to act before risks escalate.

One company driving this transformation is DANAOS Projects Software Solutions LLC, a Dubai-based limited liability company with offices in the United Arab Emirates, Greece, and the Philippines. Its flagship platform, ProjectVIEW ERP, is a tier-one cloud ERP developed specifically for large construction and infrastructure enterprises.

Unlike generic systems, ProjectVIEW ERP continuously benchmarks every activity against WBS-defined timelines and BoQ-based budgets. This creates a “quantum cost control” environment where deviations are identified instantly, and corrective actions can be implemented without disrupting compliance or project governance. Designed as an ERP for construction companies, the platform empowers contractors to manage mega projects with precision and transparency.

At the same time, ProjectVIEW ERP reflects a forward-thinking approach powered by structured data. By standardising operations from site to office and office to site, the system weaves a data fabric that connects teams, processes, and stakeholders across the entire project lifecycle. This ensures that decisions are informed by accurate, up-to-date information, reducing risks of miscommunication and enhancing collaboration.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is further extending these capabilities. DANAOS Projects has announced plans to embed AI-driven agents within ProjectVIEW ERP to automate repetitive tasks, predict cost overruns, and detect schedule risks before they materialise. This positions the platform not just as an ERP, but as a digital command center capable of orchestrating mega projects in line with the Middle East’s long-term vision for innovation and sustainability.

Beyond traditional building and infrastructure projects, ProjectVIEW ERP also supports offsite construction, modular construction, and prefabrication workflows. These methods are increasingly adopted across the region to accelerate delivery timelines, improve quality, and enhance sustainability. By extending ERP functionality to these industrialised construction models, ProjectVIEW enables enterprises to maintain full visibility and cost control.

As Middle Eastern nations accelerate their national visions, construction companies will increasingly depend on cloud ERP ecosystems to meet sustainability, efficiency, and governance objectives. Project-specific ERP systems are not only supporting tools—they are becoming the central command centers of project delivery.

By weaving structured data across the construction lifecycle, project-specific ERP platforms such as ProjectVIEW ERP are enabling contractors in the Middle East to deliver mega projects on time, within budget, and to the highest international standards.

More details on https://www.danaos-projects.com

Collaboration to deliver step-change capabilities through software-defined vehicle and autonomy platform. (Image source: Komatsu)

Komatsu has announced a strategic technology collaboration with Applied Intuition, a Silicon Valley-based leader in vehicle intelligence, to accelerate the development of its next-generation mining equipment

The partnership is focused on equipping Komatsu’s machinery with advanced technologies and real-time adaptability, enabling customers to achieve higher productivity, minimise downtime, and operate with greater precision.

By combining Applied Intuition’s expertise in vehicle operating systems, autonomy stacks, and AI-powered tools with Komatsu’s extensive background in off-highway autonomy and mining applications, the two companies will jointly create a unified software-defined vehicle (SDV) and autonomy platform. This platform will serve as the central intelligence of Komatsu’s future mining machines. Considered one of Komatsu’s most significant technology undertakings, the initiative signals a decisive move toward increasingly autonomous, software-driven mining operations.

“Komatsu is committed to creating value together with our customers, and this collaboration represents a step change in how we bring innovative, high-performance technology to their operations,” said Peter Salditt, president, mining business division, Komatsu and CEO, Komatsu Mining Technologies. “By combining Komatsu’s deep mining expertise with Applied Intuition’s cutting-edge AI and SDV solutions, we’re enabling a future where our equipment continuously evolves to meet customers’ unique mine site needs.”

The platform will deliver advanced machine intelligence through several core features:

• A software-defined vehicle architecture that supports continuous feature delivery over the machine’s lifecycle, with built-in data management, cybersecurity, and connected support.

• Scalable autonomy capabilities ranging from operator-assist functions to full autonomy on a single adaptable platform, suitable for diverse fleets, commodities, and operational conditions.

• Embedded AI and machine learning to enhance functionality and enable continuous adaptation to site-specific requirements as environments change.

With these innovations, mining companies are expected to see improved equipment performance, lower downtime, and higher return on investment. The architecture also aims to accelerate deployment, simplify support, and provide scalability across mines of varying sizes and locations—an important advantage for an industry navigating labor shortages, difficult environments, and growing global demand.

“In a world where autonomy is becoming the norm, our goal is to ensure our customers don’t just keep up—they lead,” said Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition. “The mining industry is one of the most regulated in the world, and as the bar keeps rising around emissions, human safety and geopolitics, Applied Intuition and Komatsu plan to build the next generation of mining products and redefine modern software product development. The team is looking forward to breaking new ground and digging into the future.”

This collaboration strengthens Komatsu’s long-term vision of fully autonomous mining operations while also addressing urgent industry challenges. As demand for minerals accelerates and fewer skilled workers enter the sector, autonomy becomes increasingly vital for safe, efficient, and scalable mining.

Together, Komatsu and Applied Intuition are setting the stage for mining machines that can think, learn, and evolve—helping operators worldwide enhance efficiency, unlock more value, and build a more sustainable mining future.

As part of its commitment to working closer than ever before with its customers, Volvo Construction Equipment is offering Site Optimization, a new consultancy service aimed at helping customers transform operational efficiency and sustainability

Site Optimization refines operational processes across entire worksites by effectively mapping workflows and aligning material movement processes and machines, no matter what brand, to deliver peak performance. Initially targeted at customers in the quarrying sector, Volvo CE’s diverse experts help to identify strategies that boost efficiency while curbing costs and emissions.

Niklas Samuelsson, customer site performance service owner at Volvo CE, explained, “With Site Optimization, we are committed to forming deeper partnerships with our customers. Our goal is to be an invaluable extension of their team, leveraging our industry and machine knowledge together with data from our customers’ operations and our machines to help customers deliver on their ambitions and address their unique challenges.

“In today’s highly competitive market, achieving operational efficiency and sustainability are crucial. But sometimes the demands of keeping a site running efficiently day-to-day can leave little time to explore alternative solutions. With Site Optimization, we provide expert consultancy and tailored solutions for today, while planning for the future.”

Data-driven improvements

The first step with Site Optimization is for Volvo CE’s experts to undertake a thorough site assessment, mapping out processes like stockpile placement, materials handling, and the movement of machines on site to measure costs and productivity and identify any inefficiencies. Analysis of fleet utilisation provides insights into the optimal machines to use for particular tasks to improve productivity and reduce cost per ton, while individual machine use is also studied to identify potential operator training needs. This comprehensive pre-study uncovers areas for improvement.

The Site Optimization team then creates alternative setups for the customer’s operations, employing simulations and telematics data to demonstrate potential impact on productivity, cost savings and CO₂ emissions. Clear insights are presented highlighting recommended actions and anticipated outcomes.

Delivering tangible benefits with tailored consultancy

Whether optimising existing sites or setting up new sites for peak performance, Site Optimization is intended to transform how customers work. Its data-driven insights guide decision making, ensuring operations are smooth, profitable and aligned with environmental goals, both now and in the future.