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Construction

Fakhruddin Properties and Holcim UAE have signed an MoU to jointly advance sustainable construction across the UAE and the wider region.

The agreement brings together Fakhruddin Properties, one of the UAE’s leading sustainability-oriented developers, and Holcim UAE, a key partner for sustainable construction solutions.

It also marks a regional milestone for Holcim, representing its first MoU with a developer headquartered in the Middle East. The partnership reflects Holcim’s ambition to expand its regional footprint while supporting the UAE’s net-zero goals through low-carbon and circular building practices.

The collaboration will draw on Holcim UAE’s expertise in low-carbon and circular construction under its NextGen Growth 2030 strategy, alongside Fakhruddin Properties’ long-standing commitment to sustainable development. Together, the partners aim to deliver future-ready communities that balance environmental responsibility with social value.

Sustainable operations

Fakhruddin Properties is recognised as a multi award-winning sustainability pioneer in the UAE’s real estate sector. The developer introduced the country’s first in-building waste management system, diverting 90% of waste from landfills, and continues to focus on wellness-driven developments through smart home solutions, air purification systems and energy-efficient technologies designed to address rising global energy consumption.

Commenting on the announcement, Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO and managing director, Fakhruddin Properties, said, “This MoU supports the UAE’s national sustainability agenda and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement, reinforcing the UAE’s long-held commitment to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. We will work closely with Holcim UAE to reduce both embodied and operational carbon, promote circular economy principles, and scale practical sustainability solutions with full transparency.

“For example, low-carbon materials supplied by Holcim and other manufacturers will be a staple across our future projects. This partnership demonstrates that effective decarbonization requires joint efforts across developers, sustainable solution providers, as well as government and industry stakeholders, combining innovation with measurable climate action.”

Ali Said, CEO, Holcim UAE, added, “Sustainability is not just a goal, it is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration, transparency, and innovation. Through this partnership, we will embed low-carbon, circular, and resilient practices across the built environment. By ensuring traceability of materials along the entire value chain and integrating sustainable design and construction solutions, we will create communities that support wellbeing, respect the environment and nature, and set new benchmarks for sustainable development, starting with the UAE.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to the digitalisation of construction processes, ACCIONA has developed a new digital platform designed to enhance the monitoring of concrete quality and maturity across its projects.

Known as DIGICONCRETE, the platform is intended to improve efficiency, accuracy and transparency in the quality control and traceability of structural concrete elements on site.

DIGICONCRETE enables real-time monitoring of concrete placement and performance by providing remote access to key data on strength development and curing progress.

This allows project teams to oversee critical stages of construction without relying solely on manual inspections or paper-based records. By consolidating information within a single digital environment, the platform supports more informed decision-making and improves coordination between site teams and technical offices.

Through the use of interactive dashboards, DIGICONCRETE streamlines quality control and traceability processes by digitising data acquisition and facilitating verification of compliance with applicable regulations, including updated structural codes.

Key features

The system keeps construction teams continuously informed about the maturity level of each concrete pour, helping to optimise formwork removal and stripping times. As a result, construction sequences can be better coordinated, reducing delays and improving overall site productivity.

The platform incorporates advanced data capture technologies, including optical character recognition (OCR) to digitise documentation, alongside wireless devices equipped with high-precision temperature sensors.

These sensors play a critical role in accurately tracking concrete curing conditions, particularly during the early stages of strength development. DIGICONCRETE is accessible via mobile devices, tablets and computers, ensuring seamless collaboration and information sharing across multiple stakeholders regardless of location.

DIGICONCRETE is particularly well suited to projects in the Middle East, where extreme temperatures and challenging environmental conditions can significantly affect concrete behaviour. In hot climates, accelerated setting times increase the risk of quality issues if curing is not carefully controlled. The platform supports more precise monitoring under such conditions, helping teams mitigate risks, maintain quality standards and optimise construction schedules. Its remote monitoring capabilities are especially valuable for large-scale infrastructure and building projects common across the region.

ACCIONA has already deployed DIGICONCRETE on several projects in Spain, including the new Tax Agency headquarters in Valencia, the Palma de Mallorca Airport terminal remodelling project, and a road construction scheme in Zaragoza. Following these implementations, the company is positioning the platform for broader international rollout, including future projects in the Middle East, as part of its wider strategy to integrate digital solutions into construction delivery.

Wood aims to strengthen local presence.

Wood has maintained record sales booking in the Middle East for two years straight as it reported more than US$1bn in contract wins across the region in 2025

This marks a 20% increase over awards in 2024, led by regions such as United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

The largest award bagged this year has been an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the expansion of the ADNOC Gas Habshan facility. This comes with the scope for substantial upgrades, operational efficiency improvements, brownfield modifications and the installation of new facilities. 

Other deals include project management and engineering services for PetroChina at the West Qurna 1 oilfield in southern Iraq, and project management consultancy (PMC) to TA’ZIZ for the development of the UAE’s first methanol production facility in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi.

Multiple decarbonisation contracts for flare gas reduction and carbon efficiency project solutions has also been secured across the largest oil fields in Iraq.

"Our continued success in the Middle East shows the trust clients place in our teams and our ability to deliver complex projects at scale in support of national ambitions. In 2026, we’ll build on that momentum by strengthening our local presence and developing talent to drive sustainable growth," said Gerry Traynor, president of projects-Eastern Hemisphere.

"This year we’ve delivered critical solutions across the Middle East to improve asset reliability and cut emissions. In 2026, we’ll build on this success by expanding our operations and maintenance services in the region. Our focus is on proven approaches to asset management and modifications that improve efficiency and reduce downtime - practical steps that strengthen energy security and decarbonisation," said Ellis Renforth, president of operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"Decarbonisation and digitalisation remain central to how we support clients in the Middle East. This year, we launched our specialist Middle East Energy Transition and Digital & AI Hubs to further support clients in accelerating emissions reduction while unlocking efficiencies through AI-driven solutions. This in-region advisory enables practical pathways to carbon reduction while supporting national visions for a sustainable energy future. Delivery has already spanned initiatives such as minerals procurement, hydrogen production facilities, and carbon capture and storage infrastructure," said Stuart Turl, vice president of Middle East Consulting. 

Jenan Real Estate acquires Dana Bay Waterfront Project. (Image credit: Jenan)

Jenan Real Estate Company has announced the full acquisition of the Dana Bay project, signalling a major milestone in its expansion strategy and marking the beginning of an ambitious new development phase under its sole ownership.

The move reinforces Jenan Real Estate’s growing presence in Saudi Arabia’s tourism and real estate sectors, aligning closely with the Kingdom’s long-term economic diversification goals.

The acquisition represents a strategic turning point for Dana Bay, one of the largest privately owned mixed-use waterfront tourism developments in the Kingdom. Located along a prime coastal stretch, the project spans more than 2.8 million square metres and is positioned to become a landmark destination on Saudi Arabia’s eastern seaboard. Once completed, the development is expected to reach a projected value of between SAR 6 billion and SAR 8 billion, underlining its scale and economic significance.

Jenan Real Estate continues to strengthen its role in shaping coastal tourism destinations by delivering fully integrated, high-quality developments that combine striking sea views with premium lifestyle amenities. These initiatives contribute to enhancing quality of life, attracting domestic and international investment, and generating both direct and indirect employment opportunities. The Dana Bay acquisition also supports Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by boosting domestic tourism and establishing leisure and hospitality as key drivers of sustainable national growth.

Through the comprehensive redevelopment of Dana Bay, Jenan Real Estate aims to stimulate domestic tourism by offering a destination tailored to families and visitors seeking a distinctive waterfront experience. The project boasts one of the longest private beaches in the Kingdom and will feature a diverse mix of residential, leisure and hospitality components. These include luxury beachfront villas with uninterrupted sea views, family-friendly chalets located close to the shore, and a wide range of supporting service facilities.

A standout feature of the development is “Loopagoon,” a women-only water park – the first of its kind in the Eastern Province – alongside a dedicated women’s spa and private beach, providing privacy-focused, high-end hospitality experiences. Dana Bay will also host world-class hotels and resorts catering to both local and international guests, as well as a fully serviced marina designed to attract yacht owners, sailing enthusiasts and luxury travellers.

Dana Walk will serve as a vibrant commercial and entertainment hub, offering restaurants, cafés, retail outlets and event venues with panoramic sea views. Premium catering services for events, celebrations and corporate gatherings will further enhance the destination’s appeal.

With plans to unveil a detailed development roadmap featuring major upgrades and new facilities, Jenan Real Estate aims to position Dana Bay as one of Saudi Arabia’s premier waterfront destinations and a key contributor to domestic tourism growth.

Prem Rodrigues, vice-president sales and marketing for India, the Middle East and Africa at Siemon. (Image source: The Siemon Company)

The Siemon Company, a global leader in high-performance connectivity solutions for data centres and smart buildings, has introduced Smart Building COMPLETE, a fully unified connectivity and cabling ecosystem designed to support the essential technologies driving today’s intelligent workplaces

Covering everything from Wi-Fi and security systems to AV, access control and sensors, Smart Building COMPLETE provides building owners and operators with a comprehensive, field-proven foundation to plan, construct and manage smarter, more efficient buildings and campus environments.

At the core of Smart Building COMPLETE is Siemon’s advanced PowerGUARD+ technology, delivering extended reach of up to 200 metres. This significantly lowers deployment costs and complexity by reducing or eliminating the need for traditional telecommunications rooms, associated equipment, power, cooling and routine maintenance. Engineered to control heat rise and maintain performance at temperatures up to 75°C, Siemon’s patented, independently verified cabling and connectivity offer the reliability required to deliver uninterrupted power and data to a wide range of connected devices.

Smart Building COMPLETE combines trusted technology with a new suite of intuitive planning and design tools that streamline specification and speed up deployment for customers, designers and consultants. The Cabling Reach Calculator assists users in selecting the right cable type based on real installation conditions and required distances, especially crucial for runs extending beyond 100 metres. The Wired for Wi-Fi tool highlights equipment manufacturer requirements and guides users in choosing the correct cabling solutions for each wireless access point. The Backbone Speed Calculator further supports planning by helping determine the fibre backbone needed for Wi-Fi deployments of any scale.

Sustainability remains a central priority for smart building operators, helping decrease energy consumption, cut operational expenses, reduce carbon emissions and enhance occupant comfort. Smart Building COMPLETE supports these goals through energy-optimising technologies and transparent reporting, assisting operators in meeting green building certification requirements. The solution emphasises transparency through Health and Environmental Product Declarations (HPDs and EPDs) and aligns with leading standards such as LEED, BREEAM, LBC and WELL, ensuring cost-effective, healthy and high-performing indoor environments.

“Modern commercial buildings and campuses must deliver more than just space. They are expected to create safe, efficient, and engaging environments that support the people inside them while maximising facility value for those who operate them. Smart Building COMPLETE, through its PowerGUARD+ technology, extensive application support and a commitment to sustainability, helps building owners and operators create dynamic, future-ready workplaces for a more sustainable tomorrow,” commented Prem Rodrigues, vice-president sales and marketing for India, the Middle East and Africa at Siemon.

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