Dubai to host debut Mega City Infrastructure Week

Dubai is set to organise the inaugural Mega City Infrastructure Week, a first in the region, aimed at highlighting the innovations in construction business across the Middle East, from April 16 to 17.

Featuring more than 15 countries, the conference will be themed around innovations and technologies driving infrastructure and will host global visionaries and stakeholders working on major infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

Organised by IQPC Middle East, the event will showcase major projects in the region besides sharing innovative infrastructure design and facilitating discussions around creating smart infrastructure of the future.

Mega City Infrastructure Week will boast forums focusing on roads, bridges and highways; housing and residential development; port development and connected and clean cities, said the organisers.

It will also feature an exhibition of world-class solution providers who will be showcasing their solutions on the exhibition floor, it added.

The event will be attended by Jamila Mohamed Khalfan Al Fandi Al Shamsi, General Manager of Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.

Commenting on the event, Al Shamsi, said: "The relevance of conferences such as these is important in the region as it allows experts from diverse fields a platform to discuss various challenges, as well as addressing the future of the many sectors involved."

Dr Mohammed Aref, OSH Expert, Ministry of HR and Emiratisation, said: "The Mega City Infrastructure Week, being the first in the region to address the infrastructure and construction industry, is a platform to discuss opportunities as well as exchange knowledge and notes with industry experts. This conference will help authorities in planning for the future."

With the total value of active infrastructure projects in the Middle East surging to $1.14 trillion – and with the UAE and Saudi Arabia ranking among the top 12 global markets for infrastructure investment worldwide – it is clear that governments across the region find these investments as vital to social and economic growth,. said the organisers.

As per a survey conducted by IQPC Middle East with over 300 construction professionals, more than half of the respondents ranked sustainable solutions as their top priority while 85% of the respondents saw technologies such as AI, robotics and big data having a massive impact on theeir upcoming infrastructure projects.

Elaborating on the survey findings, Ayusha Tyagi, the managing director, Mega City Infrastructure Week, said: "Middle East governments are not only spending heavily on new infrastructure projects but also focusing on innovations to drive mega city infrastructure projects towards excellence."

"The event will attract over 500 attendees from more than 15 countries and an impressive line-up of leading solution providers exhibiting at the event," stated Tyagi.

"Global experts from the City of Rome and Smart City Association of Italy; Barcelona Provincial Council; Infrastructure and Projects Authority - UK Government, and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Saudi Arabia, will share their world-class projects and it will be a great platform where the infrastructure community can meet and discuss the innovations and challenges related to mega city infrastructure development in the region," she added.

Carles Agusti Hernàndez, Open Government Director, Barcelona Provincial Council said: "The world of data is an opportunity for all - people, countries and the world. It’s very exciting for me to share these opportunities at the event. The Mega City Infrastructure Week is going to be an extraordinary event where we can explore the use of data to improve efficiency and benefits."

Discussing the impact of technology in the changing infrastructure landscape, Safder Nazir, Vice President, Digital Industries, at Huawei Middle East said: "Our participation in Mega City Infrastructure Week stems from our vision to provide a fully-connected and intelligent experience to every person, home and organisation. The role of innovation and Artificial Intelligence is growing exponentially in line with today’s ever-changing infrastructure landscape."

"Consequently, businesses are on the lookout for new technologies to harness their potential and gain a bigger competitive edge," he noted.

Some of the other key partners and exhibitors at the event include Midea, Elite Road Supplies, Trevi Ground Engineering, Total Styrelf & Sustainable Road Solutions, Polypipe, Tanqia, Jotun and Gecat Plastic Factory.-TradeArabia News Service