Aedas today announced the completion of an impressive 1200 sqm structure to house the new British Council Teaching Centre operation in Dubai. The building’s infrastructure boasts forward-looking design, as well as sustainable practice.

Cedric Gonsalves, Senior Architect at Aedas said,

“The great challenge for the British Council complex was to create a high impact building of modest size, on a modest budget, in a city where most architecture projects are of a gigantic scale, with costs to match.”

This challenge was overcome by placing minor emphasis on the main area of the single story, white-walled building, while placing major focus instead on the elevated front façade. This front elevation is said to embody a celebration of UAE‘s spectacular landscape and natural resources, imitating ripples of desert sands, with a flowing gold veins running its entire length. Illuminated water cascades, reflective ponds and colourful banners are some of the other exciting features of the building that create a compelling sense of drama and height.

The Teaching Centre boasts a large resource area-cum-meeting place designed for students and customers alike to engage while learning about the British Council, supported by a back office area, as well as 10, state of the art classrooms. The accommodation encircles an exterior courtyard, surrounded by high glass walls that create an ambience of tranquillity and a transparent flow throughout the area.

Aedas opened its doors in Dubai in 2005, and since then has successfully emerged in the Middle East as one of the region’s leading international architects. It’s high rise residential, commercial and mixed-use developments have contributed in shaping the UAE‘s emerging skyline. Aedas has also been instrumental in facilitating Dubai’s transport infrastructure, having worked on the design of the Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines.

The organisation preaches a holistic approach to sustainability for both the built environment as well as society at large. Sustainability was thus a driving force for the design development of the Dubai British Council building, setting it apart from many of its new neighbours.

Cedric Gonsalves continued “The Insulation levels far exceed current good practice. The exposure to direct sunlight is minimised by adopting a solid exterior idiom and most of the natural light comes from the full height glazed courtyard walls, with the sunlight being controlled by horizontal fabric shades.”

The building design also offers extensive flexibility of usage; with moveable classroom walls to accommodate events or exams, as well as easily moveable furniture that can be adapted according to the specific occasion.

British engineering groups and consultants are owed up to $2 billion (£1.25 billion) by government-related companies in Dubai, following the collapse of the Gulf state’s property market and subsequent debt crisis.

Previous estimates put the money owed to UK companies at $250 million (£157 million).

The Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is scheduled to visit the emirate in mid-February to urge the Dubai government for swift repayment of unpaid bills due to British contractors.

Dubai’s real estate market went into freefall early last year, with up to 50 per cent wiped off property values in the last 12 months. As construction projects across the city were put on hold or cancelled entirely, some businesses have been offered as little as 50p in the pound on the value of their contracts by government clients.

Nakheel and Limitless, two developers behind some of Dubai’s more extravagant projects, are known to be among the main offenders for renegotiating contracts. Both are part of Dubai World, the state-owned conglomerate which triggered panic on international markets in November when it revealed it was unable to repay $26 billion of debts. The group is currently locked in talks with its banks to agree a standstill on its debt repayments pending a restructuring of the business.

Dubai received $10 billion from the Abu Dhabi Government and its banks late last year to repay a $4 billion bond issue by Nakheel. The remaining funds are to be used to settle outstanding debts to contractors and provide working capital for ongoing projects.

Some funds have begun to trickle down to flagship projects, but smaller companies with little leverage and few long-term interests in Dubai have been squeezed particularly hard. Fearful of aggravating their clients, they have turned to the UK Government for assistance.

Others have slashed staff numbers in the region to wait out the downturn. WS Atkins, which has worked on the $7.6 billion Dubai Metro project and a number of developments with Nakheel, has cut 30 per cent of its Gulf workforce. The company has declined to reveal how much it is owed.

“It is a real concern. We have raised the matter consistently at the highest levels with the UAE authorities,” said Jeff Wilson, director of UK Trade and Investment in Dubai.

Mr Mandelson’s visit will be the latest in a series of government initiatives to press the case of UK contractors in Dubai. The issue was put to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, when he visited London in November. Trade minister Lord Davies also raised the matter during a visit to the region in January.

Dubai World declined to comment.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), has received in his office H.E. Guy Warrington, Consul General – the British Embassy in Dubai, in a visit that comes in the context of RTA objectives to build on the ongoing cooperative relations with relevant bodies at the local, regional and international levels.

Dubai metro

During the meeting Al Tayer praised the existing cooperation between the UAE and the UK, and referred to the rising numbers of British investors and tourists attracted to the UAE, and also noted the rising influx of Emiratis heading to the UK as tourists or investors.

The meeting also explored means of boosting cooperation and exchanging expertise between the RTA and its counterpart British companies engaged in rail, roads and transportation industries, and the parties also reviewed the forthcoming road & infrastructure projects in Dubai.

RTA Chairman and Executive Director briefed the British Consul on the key projects currently undertaken by the RTA and said: “The UAE in general and Dubai in particular is witnessing massive developments triggering an influx of peoples and businesses; which require upgrading the infrastructure of roads & various transportation modes such as the metro, water transport, buses, and taxis to accommodate the growth in population, projects and urbanization”.

For his part the British Consul in Dubai hailed the sweeping development the Dubai Emirate is seeing in a record time, turning it into a focal point for investors, businessmen and tourists, thanks to the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He also commended Dubai Metro Project, which added a beautiful dimension to the array of distinguished projects in Dubai Emirate, besides easing the mobility of residents and curbing traffic congestion.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has recently received a visiting delegation from the British Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) headed by Mrs. Jean Venables, President of ICE, and included Mr. Tim Askew, and Managing Director of WS Atkins ME&I, Mr. Crighton (ICE UK), in addition to ICE UAE Event Organizing Team comprising of Alaa Albanaa, Bob Eves, and Mark Jamieson.

In the outset of the meeting Al Tayer welcomed the delegation of the British Institution of Civil Engineers and praised the role of the British companies which operated in the UAE long ago and participated in designing & constructing several roads, bridges and tunnels in the UAE, particularly in Dubai.

“We are looking forward for more cooperation between engineers in the UAE and their counterparts in the UK in exchanging expertise and knowledge to upgrade the engineering practices in both countries. This is particularly relevant under the accelerating development of infrastructure projects in the UAE spanning public transport, rail, tram and marine transport systems” said Al Tayer.

RTA Chairman briefed the British delegation on the Dubai Metro project, the first phase of which was opened on 09/09 and the metro could serve about 1.5 million passengers between 10 stations in a month time.

Dubai Metro is the world’s longest automated driverless train constructed as one project. It comprises two lines; the Red Line: extending 52 km connecting 29 stations (4 underground stations: Al Ittihad, Khalid bin Al Waleed, Riqqa and Port Saeed), and the Green Line: extending 23 km connecting 18 stations, including 6 underground stations.

While constructing Dubai Metro Project RTA managed to overcome several challenges such as delivering the project on schedule i.e. in about 4 years period; which is a record period as completion of such projects usually requires about 3 folds this period.

The project complies with the highest global safety standards and the services of world-class institutions have been sought to assess the safety standards of all phases of construction, accordingly the project recorded an accident rate less than the international rate which is one case per one million working hours. The project uses state-of-the-art rail technology and provides all means of comfort and luxury to passengers.

For its part, the delegation of the British Institution of Civil Engineers congratulated RTA on the launch of Dubai Metro; which has redefined transport systems in the region and added a beautiful dimension to the host of exclusive projects witnessed by Dubai, besides contributing to transportation of commuters and easing traffic congestion in the emirate.

Afterwards, an introductory tour of Dubai Metro was arranged for the delegation during which it was accompanied by the Acting CEO of Rail Agency Adnan Al Hamadi, Director of Operations Dep’t Ramadan Abdullah Mohammed, Director of Rail Planning & Development Abdul Rida Abu Al Hassan, and the Manager of Office of the CEO of Rail Agency Nasir Al Bahri. The tour covered several metro stations; namely Al Rashidya Station, Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport Station, Al Ittihad Station, Khalid bin Al Waleed Station, and Mall of the Emirates Station.

Al Hamadi gave the visitors a brief account of Dubai Metro highlighting the key elements of the project which is environment-friendly, and designed to fully comply with security & safety at top quality standards. He commented on the metro stations which have a unique design that forms a blend of modernity and authenticity. Stations comprise two major groups: underground stations and elevated stations.

The external design of roofs is inspired by the shape of the shell, and the internal design of the stations replicates the four elements of nature: water, air, fire and earth; while Al Ras & Al Ghubaiba stations have heritage-inspired designs. The stations provide the sort of amenities and services needed by metro users such as the commercial outlets, restaurants and waiting areas.

Al Hamadi added that Rail Agency focuses on several key aspects based on the principle of integration of all elements which includes increasing the capacity of public transport modes through expanding the existing network and upgrading mass transit modes to provide top quality transport systems that meet the requirements of various segments of the community.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, has recently received a visiting delegation from the British Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

Al Tayer receiving the delegation of the British Institution of Civil Engineers.

The delegation was headed by Mrs Jean Venables, President of ICE, and included Mr. Tim Askew, and Managing Director of WS Atkins ME&I, Mr Crighton (ICE UK), in addition to ICE UAE Event Organizing Team comprising of Alaa Albanaa, Bob Eves, and Mark Jamieson.

In the outset of the meeting Al Tayer welcomed the delegation of the British Institution of Civil Engineers and praised the role of the British companies which operated in the UAE long ago and participated in designing & constructing several roads, bridges and tunnels in the UAE, particularly in Dubai.

Al Tayer said:

“We are looking forward for more cooperation between engineers in the UAE and their counterparts in the UK in exchanging expertise and knowledge to upgrade the engineering practices in both countries. This is particularly relevant under the accelerating development of infrastructure projects in the UAE spanning public transport, rail, tram and marine transport systems.”

RTA Chairman briefed the British delegation on the Dubai Metro project, the first phase of which was opened on 09/09 and the metro could serve about 1.5 million passengers between 10 stations in a month time. Dubai Metro is the world’s longest automated driverless train constructed as one project. It comprises two lines; the Red Line: extending 52 km connecting 29 stations (4 underground stations: Al Ittihad, Khalid bin Al Waleed, Riqqa and Port Saeed), and the Green Line: extending 23 km connecting 18 stations, including 6 underground stations.

While constructing Dubai Metro Project RTA managed to overcome several challenges such as delivering the project on schedule i.e. in about 4 years period; which is a record period as completion of such projects usually requires about 3 folds this period. The project complies with the highest global safety standards and the services of world-class institutions have been sought to assess the safety standards of all phases of construction, accordingly the project recorded an accident rate less than the international rate which is one case per one million working hours. The project uses state-of-the-art rail technology and provides all means of comfort and luxury to passengers.

For its part, the delegation of the British Institution of Civil Engineers congratulated RTA on the launch of Dubai Metro; which has redefined transport systems in the region and added a beautiful dimension to the host of exclusive projects witnessed by Dubai, besides contributing to transportation of commuters and easing traffic congestion in the emirate.

Afterwards, an introductory tour of Dubai Metro was arranged for the delegation during which it was accompanied by the Acting CEO of Rail Agency Adnan Al Hamadi, Director of Operations Dep’t Ramadan Abdullah Mohammed, Director of Rail Planning & Development Abdul Rida Abu Al Hassan, and the Manager of Office of the CEO of Rail Agency Nasir Al Bahri. The tour covered several metro stations; namely Al Rashidiya Station, Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport Station, Al Ittihad Station, Khalid bin Al Waleed Station, and Mall of the Emirates Station.

Al Hamadi gave the visitors a brief account of Dubai Metro highlighting the key elements of the project which is environment-friendly, and designed to fully comply with security & safety at top quality standards. He commented on the metro stations which have a unique design that forms a blend of modernity and authenticity. Stations comprise two major groups: underground stations and elevated stations. The external design of roofs is inspired by the shape of the shell, and the internal design of the stations replicates the four elements of nature: water, air, fire and earth; while Al Ras & Al Ghubaiba stations have heritage-inspired designs. The stations provide the sort of amenities and services needed by metro users such as the commercial outlets, restaurants and waiting areas.

Al Hamadi added that Rail Agency focuses on several key aspects based on the principle of integration of all elements which includes increasing the capacity of public transport modes through expanding the existing network and upgrading mass transit modes to provide top quality transport systems that meet the requirements of various segments of the community.