Germany in the haus

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For years Europe's industrial driving force, German efficiency and productivity is now becoming more and more in demand in the GCC. Hugo Berger finds out more.

German industry and engineering are renowned across the globe for their efficiency and quality.

Because of this the GCC, when looking for the highest possible standards for its building projects, is taking advantage of German excellence.

The UAE - the centre of the construction boom - has enjoyed close ties with Germany since a diplomatic relationship was signed in 1972.

This was strengthened in 2004 with a strategic partnership between the nations, showing the intentions of the two governments to step-up political and trade relations.

Across the Middle East, the UAE is Germany's leading economic partner.

In 2006, trade between the two reached about US $8.3 billion (AED30.5 billion), and was expected to increase by 25% last year. In fact, over the last four years trade between the UAE and Germany has doubled.

Many of the major projects in Dubai have had some kind of input from German companies.

For example, in Dubai Sports City, three out of four of the showcase stadiums have been developed by German contractors.

Firms such as Max Boegl and Alpine Bau Deutschland, fresh from the experience of building stadiums for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, are turning their hand to building the new arenas in Dubai.

Other major projects being taken on by firms from the country include the H Station electrical plant expansion in Dubai, which saw its $100 million contract won by Siemens.

As well as the major companies, smaller firms are making their mark over here.

For example, German concrete cooling specialist KTI has benefited from the boom in residential construction over the last year with a 50% increase in orders.

German pipe support system producer Mupro has also seen a huge boom in sales as it provides earthquake protection for new buildings.

And Geze, a German door and window control system company, has seen a huge rise in sales.

The firm, which has its base in Leonberg, near Stuttgart, has been in existence since 1863. It has supplied its products to most Spinneys supermarkets in the UAE, The Souk at Madinat Jumeirah and Children's Science City.

Barry Peile, managing director, Geze Middle East, says that the major issue facing his industry was the influx of cheap imports.

He says: "As with all high-quality manufacturers, we face strong competition from low-quality, low priced products from Asian markets. They do not offer ongoing support and service to their buyers.

But he claims that most of the projects the firm had worked on had gone without any serious glitches, leaving the client content.

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