Front Row Seat

How does Redco Construction—Almana distinguish itself from the other construction bureaus here in Qatar?

Redco Construction—Almana is a local company and one of the key players in the construction market. We established Redco in 1998 from scratch and today it is one of the top five companies in the sector. What makes us different is our capabilities, our name, the types of jobs we have done, and what we are currently doing. There are a lot of clients who want to work with Redco because we deliver high-quality jobs on time; this is one of our policies. We have established sister companies to cover any gaps in the construction field, like ready-mix, aluminum, glass, electromechanical fit out, and facility management. We have made Redco successful and our vision for the future is to make sure it remains one of the top companies in the market. Our policy is to be a local contractor with international standards, and we are achieving this today by winning major projects solely as Redco. For example, we have just been awarded the Doha Oasis project, which is the biggest private sector project to be awarded this year. We have just completed the Handball Association Complex, which was recorded as the fastest sport facility project completed in Qatar. We designed and built the stadium in 14 months. Redco was also granted one of the most sophisticated projects in the market, the Qatar Foundation Research and Development Complex. This project was designed and built in around 14-16 months. On top of this, we have an ongoing project in The Pearl and two towers already under construction in Lusail. In 2012 we have completed prestigious hospitality projects, such as Intercontinental the City Doha, Crowne Plaza Doha, and Viva Bahriya 11 & 17 at the Pearl-Qatar.

What is currently your focus in further developing Redco Construction—Almana?

We have obtained the prequalification for all the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums. For the last three to four years, we have been working to convince the market that local companies are capable of doing megaprojects. We were the local contractor for the mockup stadium, which was successfully handed over before the FIFA Committee’s visit for the World Cup bid, and it was completed in five months. We are selective with the clients that we work with. We are not in every project in the market because we are making sure that we go with the right client and that we deliver the job on time at the highest quality. You have to be aware of requirements; this makes a big difference to the success of the project. Furthermore, it is important to make sure that you have the right people working for you.

What would you identify as your main strengths?

There are challenges when it comes to delivering a project on time, but we are well known for handling such challenges. We make sure that the job is delivered on time so that our clients are happy and so that we can establish a long-term relationship with them. We also do not compromise on quality and have a huge quality control team. Lastly, we have always been one step ahead when it comes to ensuring high welfare and safety standards for our laborers. We were one of the first local companies to comply with the requirements set out by the Labor Department, doing so before it became compulsory. We provide the highest standards for our workers in terms of healthcare and accommodation, and we make sure that any problems are investigated immediately. All of our projects are monitored by Qatar Foundation and by the Labor Department.

What is your policy in order to minimize the impact on the environment during your projects?

Construction jobs increasingly require a certain level of sustainability to be achieved. We have established a consultancy firm called BG2 for all sustainability and green requirements. They are also supervising our projects to make sure that we can add value. It is a new trend in Qatar, but it will be a requirement for most of our projects, like it was for the stadium we recently built. The desire to build a sustainable project should come from the client’s side because it saves money for the client in the long term.

How is Redco Construction—Almana preparing for the imminent boom in construction in the run up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and what challenges do you foresee?

We are flexible in our ability to grow. Redco Construction—Almana has around 6,500 workers today and the possibility of bringing in another 2,500 depending on the requirements of the market. We are targeting megaprojects and moving away from small projects. I think we can handle any challenges we face because today we have reached the point where we wanted to be. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is one of the major targets for us because it will complete our vision of where we are going.

How do you see Redco Construction—Almana developing in the next five years?

I think the company will grow according to the market. We can expect to be very busy for the next four to five years. We are targeting prestigious jobs like stadiums, hotels, resorts, and so on. In the next five to six years there will be a lot of new resorts in Qatar and the country will be attracting many tourists. The country’s infrastructure needs to be properly managed and, if that happens, Qatar will reach a different level.

© The Business Year – December 2014