UK firms win world's biggest paving deal in UAE

This week’s “world biggest” from the UAE is, wait for it, the largest permeable paving contract. The whopper paving deal to cover an area a quarter of a million metres squared has been won by in Dubai by a joint venture between two British firms. Hanson Formpave and WT Burden Middle East will be paving a giant golfing complex which includes a course designed by Greg Norman.

The client Jumeirah Golf Estates, has specified Hanson Formpave’s total Aquaflow system and all its component parts including the Formpave Inbitex geotextile and Formpave SC Integrid, which make up what the two firms call the SUDS solution.

The 250,000 m² of permeable paving is being produced in Sharjah, UAE, with implementation due to start next month.

Mott MacDonnald is project manager and engineering consultant on the scheme.

Steve Spikes, development director at Hanson Formpave said the contract was “a real achievement and testament to the hard work and efforts from our sales, design and production team. This installation in Dubai reflects the proven performance, versatility and durability of our permeable paving and SUDS solution.”

Jumeirah Golf Estates comprises luxury housing, four championship golf courses based on the themes of earth, wind, fire and water. Course designers besides Norman include Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and golf course design expert Pete Dye. The Earth course designed by Norman is to host what the organisers are billing as the richest tournament in golf in November, the Dubai World Championship, which is the season ending event of the Race to Dubai event: www.dubaiworldchampionship.com.

Last week we brought you the world exclusive on the biggest flatbed truck, which was brought into being to deliver giant glass panels for RMJM’s leaning tower in Abu Dhabi, Capital Gate, which, by the way, is also hoping to break another world record.