A funding pot from the UK government has kick-started the construction of a prestigious, corporate green project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
One of the last structures designed by acclaimed architect Dame Zaha Hadid, who died in March 2016, the futuristic Sharjah headquarters of waste-management firm Bee’ah will be built to a host of pioneering environmental standards.
It will be the first building in the emirate to be powered entirely by renewable and recoverable energy sources, and a large quantity of recycled materials will be used in its construction.
Said to be worth tens of millions of pounds, the funds from UK Export Finance (UKEF) – an agency based at the Department for International Trade – have catalysed the collaboration from which the building will emerge. Joining Bee’ah and Zaha Hadid Architects as the project’s managing entity is support services firm Carillion.
According to a government statement, UKEF will back the Carillion and Zaha Hadid Architects contracts under its direct lending facility. HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd has arranged the deal, with HSBC Bank Plc serving as agent.
International trade secretary Dr Liam Fox said: “Our support to help Carillion secure this contract shows the UK’s global leadership in sustainable engineering, and our pioneering expertise in developing smart cities and green buildings for the future.”
He added: “The UAE is a key partner in the region and 5,000 UK companies work there. Through UKEF, the government is ensuring that British firms can be the first choice to support the country’s ambitions.”
Carillion group finance director Zafar Khan welcomed the deal, saying that it has cemented his firm’s reputation as a market leader in the Middle East, as well as its credentials in sustainable construction.
“Our ability to offer our customers in the region the support of UKEF,” he said, “is an invaluable asset, making our bids more attractive and helping us win contracts in a competitive global marketplace.”
Bee’ah chairman His Excellency Salim bin Mohamed Al Owais said: “As pioneers in environmental sustainability in the Middle East, Bee’ah is proud of our international alliances and the partnerships we have forged to advance our ambitious strategic goals.”
He noted: “This agreement is a significant moment in the history of the region. It demonstrates Bee’ah’s dedication and commitment to delivering on promises to the people of the UAE by providing tangible solutions to the greatest environmental challenges that face modern civilisation.”
Click here to view Zaha Hadid’s concept designs for the project.