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Construction activity is strong across the Middle East, Sotiris Kanaris looks at the crane market and interesting projects in the region.
After a short period of decline, the economies of the countries in the Middle East are picking up, triggering investments in residential, commercial and infrastructure projects.
This positive change was reflected in the success of the Big 5 Heavy show that took place in Dubai in March.
Andrea Bristot, area sales manager for the Middle East at Comansa, says: "During the three days of the show, we have been very busy with customers and potential buyers, not only from Emirates but also from Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, which shows that the entire region is under an evident recovery. Another good indicator is that the world's main tower crane manufacturers were at the Big 5 Heavy show."
It is not suprising that tower crane manufacturers are targeting this region, as local demand for these machines is high, particularly in the UAE.
UAE-based tower crane supplier and Potain dealer NFT currently has 208 tower cranes on hire between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, not including sold cranes.
"Dubai's driver is the Expo 2020 that has seen an impressive pace of progress. Construction is well advanced on the three 'thematic districts' that form the core of the expo site, named Mobility, Opportunity and Sustainability, all connected by Al Was Plaza, the centrepiece of the site," says the tower crane supplier.
Expo 2020 is a universal exposition, which will take place between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021. It will be the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East.
NFT says 45 tower cranes have been erected at the main Expo 2020 site, with the current works on the project centering on shade structure and canopy installations. NFT supplied seven Potain cranes, mixed between luffers like the MCR 225 and flat tops such as the MDT 368 L16 able to lift up to 16t.
Apart from the main exposition site, there are numerous other major construction projects linked to the event. An example is the Expo Village, the residential development that will provide full-time housing facilities for participating countries' staff working at the Expo. It will consist of five 16-storey towers,...