Nazek Al Sabbagh: Adopting International Standards in Construction Sector vital
Dubai - A high-level Saudi delegation from the General Directorate of Mega Projects, Jeddah Municipality today (Thursday September 20) paid a visit to the Civil Engineering Department of Dubai World, to learn about CED's experience in the reviewing of building plans, application of technical building standards and, issuance of building permits for high-rise construction.
Engineer Nazek Al Sabbagh, Chief Civil Engineering Officer, Dubai World, while welcoming the guests, said: "There is an increasing need for adopting advanced criteria and standards to cope with the growing demand for construction and architectural services and organize the affairs of this vital sector in the wake of wide-spread real estate development projects across the Arabian Gulf cities and coastlines." "The Middle East region is in dire need for organizing the vast coastlines, which are currently being developed to become projects attracting tourists from all over the world according to the best international standards of leisure marinas and hotels," she said. Al Sabbagh also pointed out that the Civil Engineering Department has exerted extensive efforts over the past years to spell out guidelines governing the development of construction projects, especially sea fronts, in a step aiming at streaming this vital sector.
To this end, CED issued earlier this year a comprehensive new guide book titled "Marinas and Small Craft Harbour Regulations & Design Guidelines", which follows the lead established by CED with its previous publication "Building Regulations and Design Guidelines". It is the first of its kind in the UAE and most probably the first in any Arab country, and a pioneering effort that has put together the cumulative knowledge and expertise of major marina developers such as Nakheel and Istithmar Leisure Marinas who contributed in many ways to this important document. "Dubai has clearly established itself as the Middle East's premier destination for marinas and waterfront activities. Nakheel's developments alone will add hundreds of kilometers of beachfront to the Dubai coastline when fully completed, making it vital for a code of regulations to be in place in order to ensure a safe and secure environment", Al Sabbagh added. Al Sabbagh said that CED is pleased with any cooperation aiming at disseminating knowledge as regards work procedures in the constructional projects, in addition to its readiness to empower its customers and provide them with more independence, which in turn leads to easy and rapid processing of projects and improves communication and work relations.
Al Sabbagh also spoke of the ePermit service, an innovative method which enables engineering consultants to apply for and obtain building permits for any development project with the various business units under the purview of the Department, via the internet. Through this new service, all engineering consultancy companies intending to obtain a building permit from CED need to register online by logging on to the website: http://ced.dubaitrade.ae. And then submit details of their development projects as well as the application for Building Permit for the Department's review.
Speaking about CED, Al Sabbagh said that the Department plays a pioneering role in development by upgrading several electronic systems, such as eArchive, eMaps, eSite for the electronic inspection of buildings and eBidding. The Department has taken the lead in publishing the design system, followed by an engineers' activities system, by issuing color coded cards: blue for buildings; green for building materials quality; red for small crafts berths and yellow for constructional planning and infrastructure.
Dr. Abdulgader Othman Amir, Vice Mayor for Planning Urban Development, Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs, who headed the Saudi delegation, said:
"The General Directorate of Mega Projects at Jeddah Municipality, Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is in charge of reviewing and issuing permits for major projects, including high constructional projects (skyscrapers), is currently reviewing skyscrapers plans submitted by UAE companies, and is therefore looking forward to benefiting from CED's experience in the method of reviewing plans, issuing permits and applying technical and engineering criteria for such major projects".
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George Geagea
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Email:george.geagea@wvc.ae
© Press Release 2007
