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29 March 2024

Amana projects aim for green certification

Amana is training employees for Leed certification ahead of the green building legislations next year. (CRAIG SCARR)

Published
By Sona Nambiar

Amana Contracting & Steel said yesterday that two of its major industrial projects are aiming for Leed certification in the UAE.

"We are working on two industrial facilities that will be Leed-certified. Both the projects are in the UAE," said Riad Bsaibes, CEO of Amana Contracting & Steel. He said he could not elaborate on the names at the moment.

In addition, Amana has been training its staff to get Leed certification as part of its long-term objective.

"One of our employees has already gone through the Leed certification process and is a certified Leed Accredited Professional," he said. "Nine of our employees are preparing and will be taking the examinations between October and December. Since Leed certification can be done by project or by employee, we have chosen to go the employee route."

Currently, when it comes to their design-build projects, the company hires consultants. "We are hiring people to work with us and designing as per the Leed requirements. But we are also gearing up our resources in anticipation of the future," added Bsaibes. As of this month, the company is also now an official member of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). "We are proud to say that we had applied to the USGBC and are now its members," said Bsaibes. "We joined them early this month."

Amana has been preparing ahead of the green building legislations that will come into effect next year.

"We are gearing up our resources so that when the legislation for green buildings come into effect, we have the means and understanding of what is required," he said. "We can use the qualifications in our procurement and construction work."

Meanwhile, Amana has been awarded a KD1.67 million (Dh22.88m) project by Kuwait Hotels Company. The project, to be completed by March 2009, encompasses design and construction of a commercial building at Al Dajeej area in Farwaniya.

The project mandate includes design and construction of the basement and two floors of the building and will be spread across a total built-up area of 9,700 square metres. The basement is designed to be a central kitchen to serve the hotel's business all over Kuwait, whereas the top two floors are designed to be offices for the employees and operations. The project will be designed and constructed by fast track methods using pre-cast elements.

Commenting on the contract, Shaikh Fadel Al Sabah, the chairman of Kuwait Hotels Company, said: "The contract for the construction of the commercial building for Kuwait Hotels is a reflection of Amana's expertise."

Mutasem Kayyali, general manager at Amana Kuwait, said: "We are pleased to be associated with the Kuwait Hotels Company. We are confident that the project will provide Amana a vital impetus for its growth in Kuwait, which has fast emerged as a leading business centre in the region.

"The country is definitely a key market for us and we have a lot of plans in place aimed at our involvement with other upcoming projects in Kuwait."

Amana is one of the regional leaders in the design-build of industrial and commercial facilities, with more than 1,500 buildings constructed across the region.

 

The numbers

9: The number of Amana Contracting & Steel employees who are preparing for Leed certification and will take the examinations between October and December

1: Employee of the company has already obtained Leed certification

KD1.67m: Hotel project has been awarded to Amana by Kuwait Hotels Company, which is expected to be completed by March 2009

9,700: Square metres is the total built-up area of the design and construction project in Kuwait