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QATAR - Real Estate & Construction

Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi

President, PUBLIC WORKS AUTHORITY (ASHGHAL)

Bio

Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi began his engineering career after graduating from Qatar University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He also received a master’s degree from Qatar University in 2009 and his doctorate from France in 2016. He has held several leadership and managerial positions in Qatar within
the energy, transportation, and infrastructure sectors. He also held major roles such as electrical grid planning manager, technical affairs manager at Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), and CEO of Qatar Railways Company. In 2017, he was appointed President of Ashghal with the rank of ministerial undersecretary.

Ashghal is adopting innovative technologies like BIM, AI, virtual reality, and 3D printing to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure sustainability in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

What key projects Ashghal is currently working on?

Our plan aims to provide integrated infrastructure and drainage networks for all areas in Qatar. All our programs and projects are being implemented to cater to the future demands of our country Qatar, which is fast developing across all sectors. Ashghal currently manages more than 320 projects under implementation with a total value of QAR88.5 billion, and its portfolio includes vital projects for developing citizens’ land areas and establishing a network of highways, government buildings, and drainage networks, in addition to beautification and forestation works. In addition, Ashghal is working on ConteQ Expo 2024, an eagerly anticipated event hosted by the Ministry of Com-merce & Industry (MOCI), the Ministry of Labour (MOL) along with the Public Works Authority and organized by NeXT-fairs for conferences and Exhibitions. This groundbreaking occasion promises to be a first-of-its-kind event offering an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the latest research and innovative breakthroughs driving transformative improvements in many areas. The event aims to bring cutting-edge solutions that improve productivity, quality, reliability, cost-savings, waste-reduction, and energy efficiency in the construction and services sectors. Some of the most prominent projects that Ashghal will deliver in the coming period in buildings projects are the delivery of buildings for the 21st World Aquatics Championships and the Masters Championship in Doha 2024, and the completion of additional modifications to the firefighting and safety systems for 54 existing schools. Ashghal is gradually transitioning from an authority entrusted with awarding and executing efficient sustain-able infrastructure projects, to an entity that focuses on the operation and maintenance of the state’s road networks and drainage networks and delivering quality services and solutions in managing projects and assets.

What are the opportunities in the construction sector right now?

Over the past years, Ashghal has committed to completing many projects that serve the people of Qatar and leave a sustainable legacy. In the aftermath of FWC 2022, we are working on developing this area extensively in the coming years. In continuation of the country’s efforts to increase the participation of the local and international private sector in the field of infrastructure program, Ashghal is ex-tending the PPP model across upcoming projects. It has listed projects for which feasibility studies have been done in co-ordination with relevant government entities, within the framework of requirements of the law regulating partnerships between public and private sectors. PPP will play a vital role in further developing the private sector, encouraging competition, and be an important mechanism for Ashghal’s future projects. Ashghal also worked to use the latest international technology from the design stage and during the completion stage, such as the use of building information modeling programs, which reduced the cost. We are constantly working to follow the latest international standards in construction in order to complete the country’s projects with the highest standards. Recently, we have also adopted the Lean Construction application, which contributes to the completion of projects with the highest specifications. On the other hand, Ashghal is currently working on updating its corporate strategy and performance management system that is based on and aligned with Qatar National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030 and cascaded to individual employees.

How is Ashghal incorporating innovative technologies in its projects to enhance efficiency and sustainability?

Ashghal seeks to obtain and maintain more internationally innovative construction technologies to minimize the over-reliance on labor and deliver projects, manage assets, and provide high quality services. We embrace continuous improvement and re-engineer business processes, while fostering an environment and culture of excellence and innovation. Ashghal focuses on digitalizing construction technologies in the country using BIM processes, AI, virtual reality, and 3D printing to ensure optimal use of resources, reduce costs, provide the best services, enhance construction practices, encourage innovation, and adopt mod-ern and advanced technology while focusing on environmental sustainability and achieving the best health and safety performance to create a legacy of knowledge that can be developed.

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