MEP Conference 2009 to showcase Kuwait

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Failaka Island.

ITP Events, in conjunction with Construction Week and MEP Middle East, will be hosting its 2009 MEP Conference at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Kuwait on 28 October. We take a closer look at some of the major construction projects of interest to the MEP sector.

The future of Kuwait looks particularly bright at the moment due to the strengthening of bilateral relations with the United States following the highly publicised visit paid by President Barack Obama to Kuwaiti Emir Sheik Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who reaffirmed that "Kuwait shall remain a partner of the United States."

Combined with accelerated legislative and economic reform, the scope for future investment has the potential to transform Kuwait into a regional financial and commercial centre, backed by surplus oil wealth (it has about 10% of total global oil reserves.) This long-term outlook bodes very well for the MEP sector in Kuwait, especially due to such mega projects as the US$77 billion City of Silk project, touted as the largest real-estate development project in the Middle East.

Such mega projects require considerable resources and integration expertise, which means that regional and international MEP players looking to expand their project and client portfolio to counter the cyclical condition of the business environment would do well to consider the Kuwaiti market.

To give an indication of how seriously Kuwait is taking its future development, the Environment Public Authority (EPA) has tasked RMSI, in conjunction with Al-Arfaj Engineering Company, to develop an environmental monitoring information system for Kuwait.

The global focus on ‘green' building, sustainability and scarce-resource optimisation is particularly pertinent to Kuwait, where water and electricity shortages have placed energy efficiency at the top of the construction industry's agenda. About 75% of potable water has to be distilled or imported at present.

Combined, all these factors present the MEP sector with a unique opportunity to benchmark energy modelling in Kuwait, where the government is committed to a major infrastructure development drive.

Major projects in Kuwait

Madinat Al Hareer (City of Silk)

Client: Al Tamdeen Real Estate Company

Estimated value: US$95 billion

Madinat Al Hareer, or City of Silk, is located in Subiya in Kuwait City. This mixed-use development will cover 250 square kilometres. The city will be divided into four main districts, namely Educational City, Finance City, Leisure City and Ecological City. The development will include an Olympic stadium, residences, hotels and retail facilities. Around 450 000 new jobs will be created, and an estimated 700 000 residents will be accommodated.

The Kuwaiti government approved the project in July 2008, which is now in the process of being designed by CivicArts/Eric R Kuhne & Associates. The construction programme is estimated at a decade, with the first phase scheduled to commence in 2012, and taking five to seven years to complete.

Sabah Al Ahmad Future City

Client: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare

Estimated value: US$27 billion

Sabah Al Ahmad City covers an area of 35 million square metres. It is expected to include 9 000 housing units for Kuwaiti nationals, who belong to the national housing welfare scheme. The scope also comprises apartments, commercial units, health, sports, tourism, educational, retail and a ‘technology village'. The expected population upon completion is 110 000. The project is currently being designed. Construction is expected to begin later this year, and it will be completed in 2015.

Failaka Island

Client: Mega Projects Agency

Estimated value: US$3.3 billion

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