World Construction Today – The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to some of the world’s tallest structures and cutting-edge skylines, is at the forefront of developing contemporary skyscrapers for the future. Cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai continue to receive more than 16 million tourists each year because of their extravagant landmarks and cutting-edge high-rises.
Construction Market Projection For The UAE
As per the United Arab Emirates Construction Market Report 2022–2025, the UAE construction market is projected to expand by 4.2% this year as the nation continues its excellent recovery from a challenging two years caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. An increase in COVID-19 instances would have a detrimental influence on the construction industry’s projected 3.7% annual growth rate between 2023 and 2026.
Global Data estimates that the market will be worth US$85.6 billion in 2021. According to the survey, the commercial construction industry is forecast to grow in absolute terms in 2022, which would be aided by the tourism and hospitality industries’ ongoing recovery.
UAE Investments In Infrastructure
Development of the nation’s transportation and road infrastructure is still crucial. The UAE is currently working on a variety of transport and road infrastructure investments, including the US$2.7 billion Sheikh Zayed double-deck road project.
More unorthodox transportation initiatives exist as well, such as the $5.9 billion projected hyperloop plan between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Status of Dubai’s Hyperloop
Virgin Hyperloop said late last year that, instead of launching its operation in the UAE by 2030 as initially anticipated, it would do so within the next three to four years. The principal shareholder in the US-based Virgin Hyperloop, the Dubai government-owned DP World, reportedly advocated for moving up the launch of the freight services.
Instead of the hour-long or greater existing trip times, the hyperloop might reduce those to 12 minutes. Whether hyperloop is a practical alternative in the future or not, the UAE is aware that they need to accept this and support efficient transportation networks across the country given a 1.89% growth in population since last year and more cars on the road.
With the completion of more than 140 projects, it is estimated that the overall length of federal roads has increased to more than 900km.
Dubai’s Shindagha Bridge
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai is in charge of the Shindagha Corridor project, which entails creating a 13 km long road network in Dubai along Sheikh Rashid Street, Al Mina, Al Khaleej, and Cairo Streets.
The project has been divided into five distinct phases, with an investment amount of AED 5 billion (US$1.37 billion), including a 295m bridge. By 2027, all five phases should be finished. After 40 steel pieces of the bridge’s infinity arch had to be lifted during construction, the Shindagha Bridge in Dubai finally opened to traffic in January.
The bridge is known as the “Infinity” Bridge because of its unique architectural style, which has an arch shaped like the mathematical representation of infinity. 40 steel sections of the infinity arch, with a combined weight of up to 130 tonnes, had to be erected during construction across the Dubai Creek and above the bridge deck because the latter could not hold a crane of the necessary size.
Mammoet, a company that specialises in heavy lifts, determined that the middle bridge segments needed simultaneous lifts by two cranes with a 140-meter working radius, placed on opposing banks of the creek. The entire project took six months to complete, with the final infinity arch piece being erected this year.
According to Somnath Bhattacharjee, crane operations manager for Mammoet’s UAE Branch, working collaboratively with Aertssen, they provided equipment with sufficient power and reach, together with specialist engineering to ensure the safe operation of the CC 8800-1 to gain maximum overall utilisation and its capacity.
The bridge has a 3m track for cyclists and walkers as well as a capacity for 24,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
The UAE Uses BIM, AR, And IoT
The International Trade Administration’s market information indicates that local developers are pursuing effectiveness through digitally interconnected components on initiatives as the need for roads rises in the UAE. Augmented Reality (A/R), Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D Printing, Information of Things (IoT) data applications are among the technologies that have seen an increase in demand recently, according to industry trends.
Dubai’s Approach To 3D Printing
Over the past ten years, 3D printing has gained popularity in Dubai. The wall structures of a two-story administrative building in Dubai were printed in 2019 by the US company Apis Cor, which claimed to have created the largest 3D-printed structure to date.
According to Apis Cor, significant research and development were done to test the equipment in challenging climatic settings and create 3D printing. A crane was used to move the printer around the construction site.
As per a rule established by the Ruler of Dubai, by 2030, the UAE expects that 25% of Dubai’s structures will be built using 3D printing. The rule aims to improve Dubai’s sustainability while also staying current with technological trends worldwide. The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 also outlines how the nation’s transportation system will change over time. This comprises various projects that concentrate on expanding the road and rail networks, as well as the renovation of the Mina Rashid port to allow it to handle more than 20,000 yachts.
Etihad Rail Initiative
The UAE’s national rail project, Etihad Rail, got underway in 2016 with the goal of linking 11 of its important commercial hubs. The project is a part of the UAE Railway Programme, a broader initiative to improve travel among the seven emirates.
As part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail network, it will be one of the biggest single railway projects ever undertaken. This will establish a link between the UAE and its neighbouring nations, including Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. It is predicted that 13,300 workers will need to put in 47 million hours of effort to finish the 1,200 km of railway. 75% of Stage 2 has been completed in the 28 months after construction got underway.
Aecom started offering comprehensive programme management solutions, encompassing design management and construction supervision, in stage one in 2011. This monumental project involves considerable environmental concerns and meticulous planning to guarantee that the railway does not severely influence local populations and ecological areas, according to Aecom’s project description.
The government-sponsored project has made significant advancements. The project, in the opinion of those involved, shows the UAE’s commitment to developing and enhancing its nationwide transportation infrastructure.
In his keynote address at Middle East Rail 2022, Shadi Malak, CEO of the UAE’s national railway network, said that they are in a capacity to mould the sector, rethink business strategies and human behaviour. The future of transportation is, in his opinion, in their control. At Etihad Rail, they are dedicated to supporting the leadership’s vision in order to significantly contribute to shaping the development of the UAE for future generations.
