Top 25 MEP Contractors in Gulf Countries(2015).

Next month MEP Middle East will publish its inaugural power list of the Top 25 Mep Contractors in the region.

This is the first time we have collated a list solely for MEP contractors and the results have been fascinating.

If someone had the time or inclination to add up the 2014 revenues and the projected sums for 2015 of every firm on the list, then the numbers would be staggering. It only goes to highlight the great reach and influence that our Top 25 has.

In advance of the publication of the list, MEP Middle East was published the top 10 contractors picked from its 100th edition last September that covered the whole spectrum of the MEP industry 

How many will make our Top 25 when it is finally published? You'll have to wait and see.

For now, enjoy the top 10 from last September.

01. Drake and Scull Engineering

What is there to say about Drake & Scull Engineering? The MEP contractor was an obvious first-place candidate. This is in part due to its burgeoning order book. In the first half of this year, it secured work in the UAE on Jewel of the Creek, a luxury hospitality project and a luxury mixed-use project; while in Oman it scored a series of contract wins.

At the same time, major projects completed in the last year or so include Dubai Airport Passenger Movement System, Dhahran Techno Valley in Saudi Arabia, wastewater treatment plants in Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and Jordan; Zubair oil field in Iraq and a low density ammonium nitrate plant in Egypt. Meanwhile, it has no less than eight MEP projects lined up in the next 12 months. These include Jewel in the Creek, Mall of the Emirates expansion, Maliha Hopsital, Mall of Qatar, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Al Dara Hospital, Habtoor City and the Dohaland development.Managing director Ahmad Al Naser says he is confident of the contractor’s continued success. “The development of the regional rail networks and urban transportation projects in the MENA region is poised to enter a period of rapid growth. Drake & Scull International's extensive experience with rail projects in Asia and Europe, particularly in the MEP packages, and its strategic alliance with leading global rail experts gives it a definitive advantage to undertake rail projects in the region,” he says. Naser points out that the company is likely to be more selective in the projects it goes after, focusing on key schemes that have “potential to help us realize higher margins.”

“We will also concentrate on complete integration of our project delivery operations and focus on reducing our overall costs, improving our return on capital and our current liquidity levels,” he adds.

02. Habtoor Leighton Specon

MEP powerhouse Habtoor Leighton Specon (HLS) continues to go from strength to strength this year with an enlarged project pipeline. Estimate revenue for the end of this year based on current work in hand is AED800m ($217.7m). This would basically double last year’s total with still a quarter of the year still to go.

CEO and managing director Thrasos Thrasyvoulou believes that HLS’ capacity and capability to undertake big, complex and multi-discipline projects sets it apart from many of its competitors. The firm has also been heavily involved in joint venture partnerships, with work in hand including JVs currently standing at AED 2.7 billion ($735m).

“With a large number of specialised projects in the pipeline for UAE, KSA and Qatar, we believe we are very well positioned to secure significant work, both as a sole entity as well as with our strategic joint ventures, alliances and partnerships. We are also confident in securing work in the field of high voltage very soon,” says Thrasyvoulou.

He continues by saying that one of the challenges MEP contractors still face is maintaining discipline on payments in view of payment delays from main contractors/clients.

“Cash flow management still remains challenging and possibly the lowOIL PRICE environment is not helpful in this respect,” adds Thrasyvoulou.

Over the next two years HLS is on schedule to deliver some major projects including Al Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Habtoor City’s threeFIVE-STAR HOTELS, Jewel of the Creek Package 8 in Dubai and King Fahd Medical City in Saudi Arabia.

03. AE Arma Elektropanc

A mainstay in the MEP contracting game, AE Arma-Elektropanc is fully geared towards capitalising on the Expo 2020 in Dubai and the FIFA World 2022 in Qatar.

Given its track record, it would be no surprise to anyone if it picks up work related to these two high-profile events.

“We believe in both UAE and Qatar for the next three to four years,” says Burak Kizilhan, board member and deputy general manager for the MEA region. “These markets will be our target markets for the next couple of years.”

On the other hand, Kizilhan says the biggest challenge for MEP contractors is the fierce competition in the market coupled with the recruitment of qualified engineers and labourers. AE Arma currently employees around 243 qualified engineers and 2,054 labourers.

Over the past year, the MEP contractor has grown its business in its core Middle Eastern markets of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, as well as expanded further afield. Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan have all become happy hunting grounds for AE Arma, drafted in on projects ranging from ice cream factories andHOTELS to airports and universities.

In the next 12 months it has assignments to carry out at Meraas’ Dubai Parks & Resorts development, Al Maktoum Hospital Site Redevelopment Phase 2, University of Dubai, Bab Al QasrHOTEL & Residence, Grand Algeria Mosque, Oko Tower in Russia, Socar Tower in Azerbaijan and Garanti Bank Technology Campus in Turkey, to name just a few.

04. Al-Futtaim Engineering

Al-Futtaim Engineering (AFE) is a privately held organisation with operations in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. General Manager S. Murali says its future plans include expanding into new geographies in Africa and the Gulf. AFE pulled in turnover in access of AED800 ($217.7m) and forecasts over AED1bn ($272m) this year. Meanwhile, the backlog of works to be executed is in excess of AED2bn ($544m).

The MEP contractor is well embedded in its key Middle Eastern markets of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Murali points to metro projects in the three countries as a big opportunity for the firm to win work. However, he notes that attracting the right talent, skill development and cash flow maintenance will be major challenges moving forward.

Major projects completed in the past year include a tram depot for Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), heritage quarters for Mshreib Properties in Doha, depots for the Etihad Rail project in Abu Dhabi, and the Shamiya development project near Harram Mosque in Makkah.

Over the next 12 months AFE will beBUSY undertaking complete MEP work

05. ETA Engineering

CEO Shaukat Ali Mir freely admits that it has been a challenging year with fewer project announcements. However, despite the tough market conditions its financial position remains healthy with around AED3.2bn ($871m) worth of projects booked this year.

“We are sitting on a healthy carry forward order booking business of AED6.5bn ($1.76bn),” says Mir. “This has been possible due to the company’s strategy of diversification of business thus making it a dominant force in MEP as well as the power sector in the Middle East.”

Major projects completed in the past year include Qatar's Al Baraha, Al Waab City and Doha Convention and Exhibition Centre, and UAE's Etisalat Data Centre.

Meanwhile, ETA is currently working on 12 projects in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India. These include Damac Towers by Paramount and a district cooling plant in Business Bay for Empower in Dubai, Sheikh Khalifa Mosque in Al Ain and the New Delhi Metro project in India.

Mir says project announcements in relation to the Expo 2020 in Dubai and the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar will provide opportunities to win work in the next 12 months.

“This can happen by having the right partnerships and by utilising project capabilities,” he says.

He cites the retention of employees as well as hiring new recruits as the biggest challenge the firm faces over the next 12 months.

“We are building multiple employee engagement programmes so as to maximise employee efficiency.”

06. AKFA Holding Middle East

One of the leading MEP contractors, AKFA is at the forefront of Turkish conglomerates making a serious dent in the region. Most impressively, it has managed to put down strong roots in Saudi Arabia (for all its red tape, still the biggest construction market in the GCC).

So far this year it has booked around $282m worth of work from GCC contractors. And over the next 12 months in Saudi Arabia alone it will be responsible for overseeing all MEP systems at Al Qassim Hospital, Rayadah Housing Complex and Terminal 5 at King Khalid International Airport.

The Kingdom is clearly AKFA’s biggest Middle Eastern market but this is closely followed by UAE and Qatar. And its footprint stretches even further afield, with jobs completed for Emaar at its Emaar Square development in Istanbul, as well as contracts for clients in the likes of Libya, Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

AKFA has also prequalified for MEP works on the Doha Metro and Riyadh Metro projects. General Manager Ali Kemal Pekkendir says MEP works at the Doha and Riyadh Metro schemes are the biggestBUSINESS opportunities over the next 12 months.

Regionally we caxpect to sn eee AKFA extremely BUSY in the coming months, with work wrapping up at King Khalid International Airport in September, the Qassim Hospital job having just started, Rayadah Housing Complex in full swing, while Mir says a surprise airport MEP project is to be announced very soons on phases four and five of Jabal Omar in Saudi Arabia, Doha Festival City as part of a joint venture, City Walk phase two in Dubai, Dubai Festival City expansion and a district cooling plant at Doha Festival City.

07. Arabian MEP Contracting

Arabian MEP continues to make its presence felt in its home market of Qatar under the guidance of CEO M. Vasanth Kumar. Revenues in 2014 were QR410m ($112.5m) and are forecasted to hit QR560 ($153.7m) this year. Of that $153.7m figure, 75% has already been booked says Kumar. With a swelling order book, manpower has also increased, from approximately 3,800 in 2014 to 4,200. The figure is expected to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.

The MEP contractor has been busy this past year. MEP projects completed include Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, Katara Fitness Centre, Souq Waqif underground car park and tunnel - east, CentroROTANA HOTEL, Lusail underground car park, and Qatar Petroleum TD operation centre and control. Ongoing work includes package 7 of a barracks site for the Internal Security Force, a high-rise commercial tower in Lusail, Le Boulevard for Commercial Bank, Qatar Power Transmission System Expansion (phase 11) Substation, Lulu Hypermarket at Messilah, Tawar Mall and Al Ahli Sports Club.

Arabian MEP has also formed several joint ventures with international MEP contractors from Europe and Turkey to undertake major MEP contracts related to metro and stadiums projects in Qatar.

Kumar says MEP contractors are having to face up to low prices, demanding schedules and onerous contractsOFFEREDco by main ntractors.

"The Qatar MEP industry is under acid test now and exposed to all kinds of risks due to the low price and demanding scheduleOFFERED by the main contractors. This is due to the unfortunate situation of the civil construction sector which is currently overcrowded and saturated," he adds.

“It appears that most of the projects awarded in the market by clients are based on cheapest bids and won by hungry main contractors at highly competitive prices with very limited budgtet for MEP subconract works.”

08. Anel

The Turkish ncotractor has been busy consolidating its presence in its home country in the past year. Signature electro-mechanical projects include the Sheraton Hotel in Samsun and the St RegisHOTEL IN ISTANBUL. Further afield, it has completed electro-mechanical works at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Founder and chairman of the board, Ridvan Çelikel, is reticent about revealing what projects the company will be involved in over the next 12 months due to “Turkey Capital Market Board’s legislation” but does say that UAE and Qatar are its most important markets in the Middle East.

However, the “endemic political turmoil” in the region has forced Anel to “limit our economic activities to the safe zones in the Arabian Gulf namely the UAE and Qatar,” adds Çelikel.

He is looking for Anel to get involved in rail projects, especially in Qatar, which has a number of schemes underway in Doha and Lusail, as well as building its section of the GCC network. Anel recently completed a rail scheme at the Marmarary Railway Tunnel project in Istanbul.

“Again as Anel is  one ofthe few MEP contractors with electro-mechanical experience in railway projects. We see big opportunities in this segment,” says Çelikel. He also cites stadium projects linked to the next two FIFA World Cups in Russia and Qatar as further opportunities for Anel to win work, with its involvement on Baku Olympic Stadium providing a perfect illustration of its expertise.

09. Trans Gulf

Trans Gulf is another company that has experienced significant growth this year. Under the watchful eye of general manager Stuart McGregor, the projected 2015 turnover is set at around AED1bn ($272m), up on the AED722.2m ($196.6m) secured in 2014.

McGregor says that UAE is Trans Gulf’s biggest Middle Eastern market followed by Qatar. Kuwait, Sri Lanka and Morocco.

In the past year it has beenBUSY working on some major projects. The largest of these in terms of contract value was a $43.2m district cooling plant job in Business Bay, Dubai, followed by a $32.8m deal on beachRESORT project for Bright Start.

The next 12 months looks pretty busy too, with no less than 21 jobs booked including a $132.5m contract on phase two of Qatar’s Msheireb Down Town Doha project.

“We will also concentrate on complete integration of our project delivery operations and focus on reducing our overall costs, improving our return on capital and our current liquidity levels,” adds McGregor as he outlines the firm's future strategy.

10. ALEMCO

ALEMCO is continuing on an upwards trajectory with projected revenues for the 2015 financial year AED450m ($122.5m), up on the previous year’s total of AED398m ($108.3m). Now a decade in his role as general manager and 12 years in total with ALEMCO, Nathan Hanns remains optimistic about the future. He says ALEMCO’s biggest opportunity over the next 12 months lies with its existing clients.

“As a result of our honest, open book, collaborative approach and ability to deliver we have developed strong trustful relationships with our clients by delivering projects on time, on budget, to a high standard of quality," he says. "There are also market opportunities with new projects opening up in Qatar and Oman.”

ALEMCO has made plenty of headway in the aviation sector, completing no fewer than seven projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during June 2014 and May 2015, on top of work for developer Emaar at West Bay Marina and DMM cooling tower upgrade, and Besix at Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, projects awarded this year have a combined contract value of AED1, 1116bn ($303m) which includes airport projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the likes of Etihad, Abu Dhabi Airports Company and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects; BulgariHOTEL and Residencies and Reel Cinemas City Walk for Meraas, Tower 9 and Marina Gate for Select Group and BP Khazaan in Oman for British Petroleum.

Despite the healthy order book, Hanns is taking nothing for granted. He says the MEP market is still very competitive and therefore securingPROFITABLE works is a challenge.

“In terms of our market competitors we have expanded our operations into Oman and Qatar and these regions have presented us with new project opportunities,” he adds.

11. EFECO

Arabtec Holding subsidiary Emirates Falcon Electromechanical Company (EFECO) continues to be one of UAE's principal MEP services providers. Last year started off in fine fashion with the award of a ($272m) MEP contract at the Abu Dhabi Plaza in Astana, Kazakhstan. That momentum appears to have spilled over into 2015 with revenues projected to increase around 30% to 40% on the AED634.77m ($172.8m) achieved in 2014.

The MEP contractor has completed a number of major projects in the past year including at DIFC in Dubai, Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 expansion project (phase 3), Sheraton Doha Resort in Qatar and the National Housing Project in Al Barsha, Dubai.

The next 12 months looks to be just as busy, with at least six major projects under different stages of execution. These include the Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the aforementioned Abu Dhabi Plaza in Kazakhstan, Reem Development (Mira Community) in Dubai, Salwa Resort in Qatar, ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) Ruwaiouss hing complex expansion (phase 4) and Saudi Aramco Dahran Residential Community expansion project in Saudi Arabia.

CEO Saad Al Taher is keen to see the firm moving forward. He says he expects a number of major projects to draw close to completion within the next 12 months which will boost revenues. Consequently, with all the extra work coming EFECO’s way, Al Taher says that hiring qualified MEP staff will be a challenge over the next year. Internally, EFECO is also pushing through a number of key training objectives for existing staff including training on using Causeway, Oracle and BIM software.

12. Commodore MEP

Commodore MEP is building on a AED410m ($111m) turnover from last year and expects that figure to rise to AED490m ($133.4m) this time around. General manager Nasser Ezzedin is bullish about the next 12 months and expects opportunities to arise from infrastructure contracts.

The firm has completed major projects at Jumeirah Towers – Double Tree by Hilton for Al Ain Properties, a villa complex for HH Sheikha Wadeema Bint Saeed, an office tower for HH Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Saeed Bin Shakboot Al Nahyan, Creek Tower for MAAM Property, Abu Dhabi Ladies Club, National Rehabilitation Centre and Future Schools Programme – Al Shuwaib Al Ain (phase 4, package 5) for Musanda, and Khazna Data Centre at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Dubai International Airport for Khazna Data Centre Limited

.

Over the

next 12 months it has no fewer than 12 projects on its books with the prospect of more to follow. Some of these include Leaf Tower for 3AM Properties Investment Company, Al Jowhara Tower for MAAM Property, SKMC Dialysis Centre for Abu Dhabi Health Services, Al Habtoor City – Dragon Theatre and St. Regis Al Habtoor Polo & Resort Club for Al Habtoor Group, and Emergency Response Centre – Al Ruwais for Emirates Nuclear Energy.

Commodore’s three biggest Middle Eastern markets are UAE, Qatar and Iraq. But Ezzedin warns that all MEP contractors face the challenge of delayed payments affecting their cash flow.

13. Elemec

BUSINESS must be good. Elemec expects to more than double the AED145m ($39.4m) turnover it made last year, with projected revenues for 2015 forecasted at AED350m ($95.2m).

The contractor primarily focuses its activities in UAE, Oman, Qatar and India. In the last year or so it has completed projects at the HolidayINN HOTEL, Muscat, Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies, high-rise commercial buildings and a warehouse and office in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Future Schools for Musanada and showroom and workshop facilities in Sharjah.

CEO V.S. Chandra Sekhar Reddy says Elemec will be looking to consolidate itself as “one of the leading MEP service providers for fast-track projects as well as MEP facilities management.”

Over the next 12 months the firm has around nine jobs to complete, primarily in Dubai, Oman and India. These including a host of residential and commercial buildings, workshops, warehouses, aHOTEL and beach resort, a hotel and hotel apartments and a shopping mall Reddy says: “The biggest challenge facing us over the next 12 months is matching resources to the available work front and ever increasingly portfolio.”

14. Goldline Group

In an interview with MEP Middle East in July, MEP divisional head Arun Salian announced that Goldline Group’s independent MEP unit was ready to take the next step in its evolution. Since last October manpower levels have jumped from 50 labourers to 250, backed up by 40 technical staff. Projected 2015 revenues are expected to be $50m, double last year’s total.

From next year Salian says Goldline will start to compete for external MEP contracts to supplement the internal ones it already has.

“We haven’t gone out and taken MEP jobs externally as yet because we have enough internally at the moment,” he says.

“We know that we are doing everything right when it comes to taking outside jobs. A lot of tenders are coming in now,” he adds. “We will integrate our price with our general contracting company and tender as a package. It’s an obvious next step for us.”

Salian says that in the longer term he would like to separate MEP into three divisions within the firm: plumbing/air conditioning/electrical.

“They are all big divisions in themselves. There will be more people under executive director Mohan Chacko to look after each of these divisions on a permanent basis,” he says. “It will help with the smooth execution of projects.”

Goldline MEP’s biggest ongoing contract is the AED45m ($12m) Silver Stallion Towers 1 & 2 in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Triangle owned by Stallion Developments. This is followed by the AED37m ($10m) deal on the Corporate Bay project inBUSINESS Bay, Dubai, owned by Goldline Real Estate.

15. Mercury MENA

Mercury MENA has had a busy 12 months winning work across a variety of geographies and sectors. For instance, it was awarded the Workers Hospital and Integrated Health Centre project in Mesaieed, Qatar. The project comprises of a 120-bed hospital, an integrated health centre, a mosque and a central utility plant. Mercury MENA, which has more than 5,000 employees operating in six countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, will provide the complete MEP works for the scheme.

It also signed a contract for the complete MEP works for buildings package two of the second phase of the Barwa Al Baraha project in Qatar. The scheme is located in south west Doha in close proximity to the Industrial Area. It is one of largest integrated workers’ accommodations in the region. Package two of the second phase will have around 32 accommodation buildings, each consisting of 130 rooms. The overall complex will include a hotel, entertainment centre, mall, laundry, health centre, mosque, Islamic centre, police station, civil defence centre, fire control centre, sports facilities, shops, restaurants and offices.

President and CEO Adnan Mian says: “This is an exciting time for Mercury MENA as we evolve into a truly international organisation that understands businesses. We have a multi-cultural, multi-skilled task force that is qualified and experienced to take on just about any requirement that our clients ask for.”

16. Al Sabbah Electro-mechanical

Part of the Al Fara’a Group, Al Sabbah Electro-mechanical (SEMCO) has overseen a number of changes in recent times aimed at driving up efficiency. For instance, its procurement, accounts and other support services have been relocated from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi. The company is also able to leverage resources from within the group, making it highly competitive in an already fiercely competitive market.

“As part of the Al Fara'a Group, we bring the group's management and technical resources to all our projects, providing our clients with full-scale solutions,” says vice president Subhash Pritmani.

“Our designers, engineers, construction and installation teams are supported by a complete materials handling and delivery team. This ensures that equipment and supplies are delivered on time, as needed.”

The UAE market is first on its hit-list, but plans to follow some of the group’s companies into Qatar are also on the horizon for this mainstay MEP contractor.

17. Siemens

Siemens continues to mix it with the MEP specialists through its numerous electrical assignments across the Middle East. The company’s technology has been implemented in a diverse range of projects including efficient power plants, rail systems, hospital technology, intelligent building management systems, race tracks, reliable electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, oil pipeline automation and control, smart grids, traffic management and district cooling facilities.

In 2014 Siemens inaugurated its new Middle East headquarters at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. The first LEED Platinum-certified office building in the emirate, in its first year it achieved a 63% saving of energy consumption and a 52% saving of water consumption compared to a standard Abu Dhabi office buildings.

Today, Siemens has a presence in 16 countries across the Middle East. The company continues to focus its operations on supporting the sustainable development of the region’s economies with a comprehensive range of technologies in the fields of electrification, automation and digitalisation.

Standout project awards this year include a triple substation contract by Kahramaa to strengthen Qatar’s power network, Jebel Ali M-Station Power Plant expansion in Dubai and energy orders that will boost Egypt’s power generation by 50%.

18. Haydon

Haydon has its roots in the UK, aBUSINESS founded in 1885. At the same time, the firm has been steadily growing its Middle East footprint over recent years. General manager Chris Brookes says that last year it managed to turnover AED134m ($36.4m) and is on course to deliver AED240 ($65.3m) this year.

During the past year, Haydon has carried out major works at a number of high-profile projects including Etihad Terminal 3 Bus Gate Lounge in Abu Dhabi and refurbishment of MEP services for the ballroom of the Hyatt RegencyHOTEL IN

DUBAI.

Like many contractors, Brookes says that cash collection and staff retention will be huge challenges in the years ahead. He notes that the firm is hopeful of securing a number of projects including the second phase of an Abu Dhabi project which consists of 1,500 apartments.

Whilst securing new business is a priority moving forward, securing the right projects is key to their success. Haydon has plenty of work with which to get on with. At the new 4 SEASONS HOTEL, which is currently under construction at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, the contractor is carrying out full design and build and installation of MEP services to hotel, serviced apartments, restaurants, pool areas, back of house and plant room areas. It is also undertaking MEP work in Dubai for developer Majid Al Futtaim’s Me’Aisem City Centre and developer Omniyat’s The Opus.

19.Al Turki

Al Turki remains one of Oman’s premier contractors with its MEP division fully integrated into its civil works division. In the past year the firm has completed a number of projects at The Wave Muscat which includes the majority of the infrastructure works, apartments, townhouses and villas, on top of work for the Royal Court Affairs Operations director David Skinner says that on its books are a number of projects including phase one of the Ras Al Hamra development for Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) which will complete any time now. This included the full infrastructure works and the construction of 241 units (82 townhouses, 108 apartments and 51 villas). It also has eight ongoing projects at The Wave and eight with Royal Oman Police, as well as work on the new head office of National Bank of Oman.

“The biggest challenge we face over the next 12 months is the provision of good quality and experienced resources to match the growing workload,” says Skinner.

He notes that Al Turki is on the lookout for skilled labor to match its growing workload.

At the same time, the firm has a number of key training programs underway. This includes HSE-related training and some product training from suppliers.
Skinner says that from a CSR point of view, it uses local contractors where possible and helps SMEs to develop their operations.

20. Almoayyed Contracting Group

Under the watchful eye of CEO Mannil Thomas Mathews, the Bahrain-based conglomerate now comprises over 4,600 highly trained and experienced management, engineering and technical professionals. The MEP division has around 1,500 people working under it and takes jobs from within and without the company.

Almoayyed continues to make inroads in its home market where it has delivered some iconic projects, including the Formula 1 racing venue, as well as a host of tower developments and smaller jobs. But it also has a strong presence in Qatar.

“We’ve had a presence in Qatar for more than 10 years now,” says Mathews. “At the moment, about 70% of our MEP revenue comes from Qatar. But we are targeting a 50-50 split in the next few years.”

21. Al Ryum Contracting

Al Ryum Contracting & General Transport Co was founded in 1990 by a team of engineers in Abu Dhabi. Since then it has grown to become the flagship of the regional group of companies recognised as the Al Ryum Companies.

Operating under the Al Ryum banner in Abu Dhabi and ARCO in Dubai, the group of companies is comprised of numerous departments and teams working as one, specialising in engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance and operation of infrastructure, civil, electrical, mechanical, HVAC, buildings and landscaping works Since1990, Al Ryum Contracting says it has experienced a steady and sustainable growth in project revenue as well as geographic expansion across the GCC countries. In October 2011, Al Ryum Contracting opened its first corporate office in Saudi Arabia and in February 2012 in Qatar and in June 2012 in Iraq.In Jun

e this year, developer Limitless awarded ARCO a contract worth AED285m ($78m) for infrastructure work at its flagship Downtown Jebel Ali mixed-use project in Dubai. ARCO is carrying out complete community infrastructure work - including roads, sewerage, utilities and lighting - in all four zones of the development to prepare land plots for handover to third-party developers. The work is due to complete at the end of 2017.

22. How United Services 
How United Services Established in 2000 as an MEP contractor, How United Services (HUS) is a joint venture between UK-based Interserve and Qatar’s Al Darwish United. HUS is active in all important sectors of Qatar construction.

HUS recently completed fit-outs of the Qatar National Bank Branch located at Al Rayan for Interspace and Ooredoo Data Centre at Mesaimeer for Bluu.
Meanwhile, it was awarded a deal by Qatar Cool to deliver two energy transfer stations for Abraj Quartier at The Pearl.

Chairman Yousuf Jassim Al Darwish says: “Qatar today is experiencing rapid progress and development in all spheres, thanks to the wise leadership of His Highness the Emir of Qatar and his Government. This hectic pace of development, growth and diversification: thanks to the tapping of its immense natural gas wealth, is seeing Qatar establish itself as one of the prominent finance and business centres in the Middle East, with construction and the provision of new infrastructure as the first phase of growth in this nation’s upward trajectory.

“How United Services has grown together with the fast-paced construction industry in Qatar to become one of the major MEP and facilities management service companies in the country and can pride itself as being one of the major contributors to the overall progress and expansion of this nation’s built environment.”

23. Kharafi National

Any KharaParent compafi Group has gone through a number of changes this year. The firm run by one of Kuwait's most prominent merchant families has appointed Fawzi al-Kharafi as chairman of theBUSINESSto replace his brother Jassim, who passed away in May. Al Kharafi Group also appointed Mohannad Mohamed Al Kharafi as deputy chairman.

The billionaire family has stakes in a number of high-profile Kuwaiti companies including telecommunications firm Zain and construction firm Kharafi National.

This year has seen it team up with a number of major players. For instance, a consortium of Kharafi National and Turkey’s Limak Holding was awarded a $4.8bn contract to expand the country’s international airport. Under the contract, a new terminal for Kuwait International Airport and a new runway will be built in addition to around 30 gates to boost the facility's capacity from the current 7 million to 13 million in 2016.

Furthermore, it is undertaking expansion works Kuwait’s Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant.

“Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant leverages the world’s most advanced technologies to accelerate our operational efficiency and strengthen production capacity. This is led by our commitment to support the country in meeting its growing water requirements,” says Dr. Ibrahim Al-Ghusain, corporate director at Kharafi National.

24. Thermo

Famed for bagging the largest MEP contract in UAE history in 2005, with a $462.8m deal for work on Concourse 2 at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3, the company has continued to keep things ticking over with a number of ongoing projects.

One such job has been the Souk Waqif Car Park in Qatar for Urbacon Trading & Contracting. The facility consists of 47,000m² of surface area. It also has three underground basement floors with approximate built-up area of 105,000m² and can accommodate a parking capacity of around 2,500 cars. The top of the car park on the ground floor will be an open landscaped area having amenities like parks, water features and an open air amphitheatre for various performance events.Another signature project is ADNOC's (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) new corporate head offices in Abu Dhabi. Thermo is undertaking the enitre MEP fit-out package.

The scheme is located adjacent to the existing ADNOC headquarters building at the south west corner of the intersection between the Corniche and Bainunah Street.

The MEP fit-out works are expected to provide fully functioning high quality interior office finishes in full coordination with all architectural and MEP systems. The 65-story tower has a typical floor of trapezoidal shape with a width of 30m and a length of 70m.

25. Al Arabia

This company was formed in 2004 as a spin-off from Juma Al Majid. Led by a group of 180 techno-commercial professionals and a 3,500 skilled labour force, it is now independently developing its portfolio of new projects in Dubai in close association with the parent firm Around 80% of its order book relates to projects in Dubai, while more recently, contracts have also been won in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

“A fair number of last year’s contracts were huge — some of them truly iconic — and released by Dubai’s largest semi-governmental organisations such as Meraas,” says Dr Saleh M. Chehade, chief contracting officer at the Projects Unit of Juma AlMajid Group.According to Chehade, his firm could consider joint ventures if the size of the projects handled exceeds AED100m ($27m), both within the mandate of an individual project or an extended one for strategic benefits.