CONSTRUCTION & TECHNOLOGY

During his early career, Suwaidi overcame a number of difficult obstacles. But, it was when he first started work at the Burj Khalifa that he faced his biggest professional hurdle. “I was very happy to get the job at the Burj Khalifa. I was delighted,” he insists.

Dubai-based Alumco, one of the UAE’s largest architectural facade specialists, says the effects of the global economic slowdown finally filtered through to its services this year but, with a number of high profile projects completed in Saudi Arabia and several more under development, Alumco’s activities outside Dubai have kept the company buoyant.

Right at the start of 2010, with much fanfare and fireworks, the world's tallest man-made structure was officially opened. The Burj Khalifa was one of the most anticipated, watched and reported on construction projects of all time and its opening is also ranked as the best moment so far, in the tenure of Hyder Consulting's regional managing director Wael Allan.

Samsung C&T has demonstrated its technological edge in the Middle East, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the Burj Khalifa being one of the most notable examples. Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world, whose construction started midway through 2004 and was officially opened early this year to become the landmark of flourishing Dubai.

MBR technology is benefiting from the increasing reuse of wastewater in the region. But for MBR to supercede the conventional activated sludge process, membrane costs will have to come down, and the full potential of the technology needs to be realised.

Malott also gave an example of what wouldn’t be built in China: “One Kilometer Tower,” a proposed supertall building that would be the first to reach 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). By comparison, the world’s highest building, recently completed Burj Khalifa in Dubai, tops out at a mere 828 meters (2,716 feet).

When the Burj Khalifa opened in Dubai, it officially became the world's tallest building. Now the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is calling it one of the best tall buildings for 2010.

The Burj Khalifa, with three others, has bagged the best tall buildings in the world award, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Burj Khalifa: Jotun supplied 122,000 kilograms of powder coating and 487,000 litres of paint on the world's tallest tower.

In May 2010, a number of Hyder's clients were taken on a knowledge sharing tour of the Burj Khalifa site to demonstrate the company's strength and direction in health & safety leadership.