The oil industry has been key to the modern day development of the United Arab Emirates, and the development of the national oil industry is being assisted by the Joint Venture between Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray & Roberts through the construction of the new ADNOC Group Headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Ben Smalley reports.

The discovery of oil in 1958 is the most significant defining moment in the modern-day history of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The emirate sits on 10 percent of the world’s known crude reserves, enough to last for the next 150 years at the current rate of production of over two million barrels a day, and there can be no underestimation of the importance of Abu Dhabi’s hydrocarbon resources to the national economy.

The oil industry is administered by the government-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), whose headquarters on the capital’s Corniche are undergoing a massive transformation by the UAE’s leading construction partnership - the Joint Venture between Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray & Roberts of South Africa.

Al Habtoor Engineering project manager, Said Hasan, explained: “The many different companies which comprise the ADNOC Group are currently spread out, so what we are doing is constructing a new headquarters to consolidate the different strands of the organisation so they could be based in a single location.”

The new Group Headquarters comprises twin 29-storey office tower blocks, complete with a six-storey car park and associated amenities in total 1200000 sq. metres of built area. Construction began on site at the beginning of May 2001, and is scheduled to be complete and handed over to the client by June 2004.

“It is a modern building with state-of-the-art technology in terms of back-up and entry systems, with the main structure being built from steel,” Said said. “The construction includes all the necessary MEP systems, such as central air-conditioning for which we are using 10 chillers - each with a total capacity of 300 tons of cooling using the latest technology available.

“The MEP also includes the supply and fixing of sanitary fixtures, water supply and drainage systems, and the towers will also be provided with the most advanced fire alarm and fire protection systems. In addition, each tower will have eight high quality medium-speed passenger lifts and two service lifts.”

The Dh 270 million contract awarded to the Joint Venture between Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray & Roberts also includes all necessary external works and landscaping to complete the development of the area around the towers on the Corniche and Khalifa Street.

But one of the most challenging aspects of the project has been working around the existing facilities, which have remained operational during the construction process.

“The construction of the new towers has demanded a process of careful demolition to a certain portion of the existing car park and pile caps, and strengthening of the existing columns of the car park and pile caps using the most advance technology of hydro demolishing and wire saw equipment,” Said explained.

“As with the construction works, these are being carried out with due care and recognition of structural stability of the existing parking, and the safety and comfort of the existing occupants of the ZADCO/GASCO Headquarters. Like ourselves, ADNOC adopts strict health and safety procedures which have been strictly adhered to during the construction process.”

Said, who graduated in Civil Engineering from Baghdad University in 1971, worked in Iraq before moving to the UAE to work for Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises in 1980. He has previously worked as Project Manager on a number of prestigious developments for the company, including the Dhow Wharfage, Airport Free Zone and Liwa Palace Complex.

“The oil industry has been a major contributor to the development of the UAE, so it is particularly satisfying to work on such a major project as the new ADNOC Group Headquarters which play such a major role in the continuing evolution of Abu Dhabi and the country as a whole,” he said.

Indeed, the rise of UAE as a major regional force can be attributed to its oil wealth, and the investment of that wealth in infrastructure and social development through wise leadership.

Traditionally, the economy revolved around pearl diving, fishing and cultivation of the date palm, but the region slid into poverty with the collapse of the pearl trade in the Gulf in the 1930’s due to the world recession and the creation of cultured pearls in Japan.

The revival of Abu Dhabi’s fortunes date back to 1939 when the late Ruler, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, granted concessions to a British company to search for oil, but it was not until 1958 that huge reserves were discovered offshore at Umm Shaif by an Anglo-French consortium.

The following year the onshore field at Murban was discovered and the first exports took place in 1962, providing the wealth that has transformed Abu Dhabi into the modern, developed city of today.

In 1971, the government negotiated new concessions with its foreign partners to secure the controlling interest in its reserves and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was incorporated on 27th November 1971 to operate in all areas of the oil and gas industry.

In less than three decades, ADNOC has steadily broadened its activities through different subsidiaries in exploration and production, support services to the oil and gas industry, oil refining and gas processing, chemicals and petrochemicals, maritime transportation and refined products and distribution.

A typical example of this is the ADNOC/Borouges massive polyethylene facility in Al Ruwais, which became operational in March 2001. Part of the complex was constructed by the Joint Venture between Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Murray& Roberts.

Other major projects, in which HEE has been involved with in the emirate of Abu Dhabi include the capital’s stunning Dh 255 million Marina Mall shopping complex, a new headquarters for the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (both projects in a JV with Murray&Roberts), a new Dh 84.38 million VIP grandstand and other work to upgrade the facilities at Al Ain Sports Club and the construction of a 80,000 square metre shopping center and 78,000 square metre hotel at the five-star Al Raha Beach Resort.

    Blaming Arabs for injustices wrought upon them by Europeans is disingenuous and even dishonest on the part of Zionists. The Palestinians have suffered for the sins of people on another continent and it’s time that wrongs were put right and history objectively re-written.