Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 27 August 2015 - Leading regional development company Gulf Related has appointed Faithful+Gould to provide cost management services for Phase 1 of the $1.5 billion mixed-use development, Al Maryah Central development located on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi.

Phase 1 of Al Maryah Central, the 3.1 million square foot mixed-use development, will deliver a 2.3 million square foot shopping centre. When completed in March 2018, the Al Maryah Central mall will feature the first Macy's outside of the United States, the first Bloomingdale's in Abu Dhabi and 20 specialist Al Tayer stores as part of the 400 store strong retail offering. In addition, Al Maryah Central will include 145 restaurants and cafés, a 20-screen cinema complex, a medical centre, a crèche, a health-club, a public library, a food market as well as three rooftop parks atop the mall.  Subsequent phases of the development will include residential units as well as a hotel in two high rise towers.  

Enabling works have been completed and the construction phase begins this month on the project. Faithful+Gould will act as the client's cost consultant during the entire construction phase through to centre opening in 2018. The integrated project and programme management consultancy, was initially appointed to provide pre contract cost management services on Al Maryah Central in 2013.

Donal O'Leary, Faithful+Gould director, said, "We are very excited and proud to be supporting such an important and high profile project. Our proven track record in the region's retail sector for ensuring our clients' requirements are met, in respect of cost, time, quality and safety was a key factor in our appointment."

"Al Maryah Central will transform Abu Dhabi's retail offering and is a project we are really pleased to be a part of. The mall has definitely differentiated itself ahead of its opening with the presence of the first international Macy's department store, the first Bloomingdale's in Abu Dhabi and a unique roof top food hall and we have no doubt the centre will be a landmark attraction for residents and visitors alike," added O'Leary.

Faithful+Gould has a reputation for successfully delivering high profile projects in the lifestyle sector in the Middle East. Completed projects include Al Zahia Mall in Sharjah, the Ritz Carlton Dubai, Yas Island Marina Hotel, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Beach Resort Dubai, Kempinski Hotels & Residences in Oman, KSA and Muscat and Qurum City Centre redevelopments in Oman and Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai. Current high profile lifestyle projects include Doha Oasis Qatar, The Royal Atlantis in Dubai, Reem Mall Abu Dhabi and City Walk Development Dubai.

About Faithful+Gould
Faithful+Gould, a subsidiary of the Atkins group, provides integrated Project Management, Programme Management and Cost Management Consulting services throughout the Middle East across the property, transport and industry sectors. Active in the Middle East for over 18 years, we have registered offices in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Faithful+Gould has 450 staff across the GCC, with a permanent presence in the UAE since 1997.

With a thorough understanding of the cost drivers in a variety of industries; most notably the hospitality, retail, energy, and infrastructure sectors, it is underpinned by solid benchmarking data which enables Faithful+Gould to integrate development plans, ensuring that its clients' interests are protected and the best value is achieved.

Faithful+Gould has completed projects on a number of high-profile projects, which include King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, KSA; Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai, UAE; Four Seasons hotel in Abu Dhabi; Fairmont hotel in Abu Dhabi, Shaza Kempinski Wave development, Muscat Oman, Muscat and Qurum City Centre malls in Oman, Doha Festival City; Shaza Kempinski hotel in Doha; establishing a world class Project Management Office (PMO) for Kuwait's Ministry of Public Works. and developing a suite of Standard Forms of Contract for Ashghal, the Public Works Authority of Qatar, for its entire procurement programme in Qatar.

Atkins has recently acquired Confluence Project Management Pte. Ltd. ('Confluence'), a project management business with operations in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and India, for a debt-free cash consideration of £8.4m.

The acquisition complements well the Group's Faithful+Gould project and cost management consultancy business and, in particular, augments its presence in the commercial, retail and hospitality sectors.

For further media assistance, please contact:
Ally El-Sayed
ally@meacommunications.com | +97150 559 1557

Anthon Garcia
anthon@meacommunications.com | +97150 139 8661

© Press Release 2015