Al Assam: Regional infrastructure spending estimated to reach up to $2 trillion by 2020

Abu Dhabi, 13 September, 2010: Dewan Architects & Engineers, one of the region's leading architectural and engineering consultancy firms, has recently been ranked as one of the top 3 largest architectural firms in the GCC, according to a recent ranking issued by prestigious industry publication Middle East Architect magazine.

The ranking covered 15 architecture firms based in the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, with criteria for classification including the company's achievements and ongoing projects, the number and volume of projects, the number of employees, and the number of architects and their career records.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammed Al Assam, Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of Dewan Architects & Engineers, said: "The state of the architectural and engineering design consultancy sector is considered an important barometer of the overall health of the economies of the GCC countries, given the size and strategic and economic importance of the region's projects, which have a direct affect on the economic, social, and demographic development of the country. The current focus is on designing and constructing communities and buildings that are sustainable and energy efficient, and the development of the country's infrastructure backbone projects (roads, bridges, utilities, telecom), including the development of the educational, healthcare, and tourism and leisure infrastructures. We estimate that the GCC region will spend between $535 billion and $2 trillion on infrastructure projects over the next ten years (until 2020), which will drive growth and prosperity of engineering and architectural consultancies in the region".

"A glance at the names of other companies in the list will highlight the importance of this new ranking. These companies are among the largest in the region and have proven track records of remarkable achievements, a fact that demonstrates the significance of projects and landmarks achieved by Dewan since its inception," Al Assam continued.

"Dewan employs a large number of talented and creative architects and engineers, all of whom have made a significant contribution to the region's development, and have enabled us to deliver the best services to our clientele in the region. We have been actively involved in some of the region's largest and most strategic projects, which has contributed to supporting our position as a leader in the sector regionally," he added.

Dewan Architects & Engineers is a leading regional design-led architectural and engineering design firm with offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and the Philippines. The firm has been operational for over 26 years having first established its offices in Abu Dhabi in 1984. In addition to the prestigious Middle East Architect ranking, the firm was recently ranked amongst the world's top 60 largest architectural firms by prestigious UK industry publication Building Design magazine.

Dewan's current projects in the region include the K-12 Bateen School for Aldar Academies in Abu Dhabi in addition to the Bateen Park Residential Community for Aldar, various schools and kindergartens for Abu Dhabi Education Council as part of its "Future Schools Program", the Fairmont Hotel & Resort in Abu Dhabi, the Shegery Residences residential "city" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,  and the masterplan work for the development of the area surrounding the holy shrines in Kadhimiya in Baghdad, Iraq, a project Dewan was awarded the first prize for in an international design competition for the Baghdad Municipality.  Dewan has also designed the now completed projects including the Green Community and Marriott Courtyard in Dubai, The Ibn Battuta Mall, Vision Tower in Dubai, and many others in the region.

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© Press Release 2010