Introduction

Following the success and tremendous reception accorded to the inaugural edition,the second edition of The Consultant Contractor Conference enjoys a warm glow of optimism of a deeper engagement among multiple stakeholders in the building performance industry in the UAE.

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Structure

The conference will comprise government-led addresses, presentations, panel discussions and workshops, geared towards a solutions-based approach.

Key highlights

• The largest ever gathering of general consultants, general contractors, MEP consultants and MEP contractors in the GCC region
• Discussions on issues of compelling significance, including drafting of contracts, payment delays, disputes and resolutions, HR-related challenges and regulation and enforcement… with a view to identifying optimal solutions
• Discussions against a mosaic backdrop of oil prices stabilising, the World EXPO 2020 in Dubai, the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, and broad-based regional socioeconomic and sustainable development goals … which point to a need for urgency in resolving long-standing issues, and in identifying solutions to create an enabling business environment for consultants and contractors in the region
• Networking with developers and manufacturers, and broadening the scope for delivering optimal solutions related to energy efficiency, reliability and IEQ-related goals

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Quotes from Past Participants

Cash flow is the lifeblood of our industry and also our greatest challenge in today's market. What can we do to protect our businesses and our industry? Hoping The Consultant Contractor Conference can throw up some answers.

- Nathan Cartwright, Partner, Godwin Austen Johnson

The Contractor Consultant Conference will focus on building healthy relationships so that everybody benefits and projects get delivered on time, and coordination problems are avoided.

- Sameer Daoud, Chief Development Officer and Managing Director (KSA), Drake & Scull

I believe that real estate and project owners need to understand the burden contractors are bearing as a result of the action and approach taken by the owners. The situation is leading to a slow death of reputable MEP players. Owners should consider employing capable designers and consultants and also spending sufficient time in issuing complete compliant – with statuary – designs prior to the release of tender documents to contractors to avoid future additional costs and delays.

- Khaled Derhalli, Operations Director, EFECO (an Operating Entity of Arabtec Holding

My expectation out of the conference is that it will help us identify a better, cohesive and coordinated approach to make all stakeholders for MEP services of the project responsible and accountable.

- Chandra Sekhar Reddy, CEO, Elemec Electromechanical Contracting

The Consultant Contractor Conference will be the ideal platform to bridge the gap between what a developer envisions in their project completion specs and what a contractor endeavours to deliver. Payment delay issues can also be addressed in parallel.

- Nesar Reza Khan, Executive Director, SP Global

The conference should undertake a threadbare analysis of the clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the stakeholders, which I believe would enhance the image of the industry and steer it towards professional growth.

- P R Jagannathan, Manager - Sustainability, PCFC Trakhees

QCC would like to raise the awareness of our product certification services that facilitate and streamline the approval process of good quality and environmentally friendly products in the construction industry.

- Carlos Amaya, Senior Specialist, Conformity Scheme Services - Product Conformity, Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council

The UAE construction industry is maturing gradually, having gone through unprecedented challenges and roller-coaster rides in the past decade. I expect The Consultant Contractor Conference to be an interesting forum for understanding and exchanging ideas and insights from different stakeholders for a positive evolution of this key industry in the growth of the nation.

- Kandasamy Anbalagan, Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants

I look forward to joining the first-of-its-kind conference to speak about supporting the cause of master developers and end-users.

- Darrel Strobel, Managing Director MEP Engineering, Design Division, KEO International Consultants

In-depth consultant-contractor interaction, and the development of trusted relationships, is key to the successful delivery of projects. I am hoping this conference will begin to ameliorate the 'them and us' approach to project delivery that is still apparent in some areas of the Middle East'.

- Mark C. Wilson, Practice Lead – Building Services Engineering, Transport and Infrastructure, Middle East and Africa, Atkins

The lack of liquidity in the market and cash-flow constraints have, undoubtedly, resulted in an increase in construction claims and disputes across the Middle East. I'm looking forward to my panel at the conference to discuss strategies and consensus-building mechanisms to assist in the industry's development and get opinions from other stakeholders involved in the claims process.

- Rachel Ewin, Claims Director, CTBH/Faithful+Gould

With increase in fires over the past months, there is concern over fire & life safety products being specified and installed in high-rise buildings today. There is an urgent need for such critical equipment to be tested and inspected on regular intervals. I look forward to discussing this during The Consultant Contractor Conference and how the MEP community of consultants and contractors can be engaged from an early stage.

- Vijay Jesudas, Sales Manager, Underwriter's Laboratories Middle East

The quality level of a given project far exceeds technical issues. Legal-, financial- and risk-related issues in contracts, plus dispute resolution methods need be evaluated before pointing fingers at technical matters. In that context, I see The Consultant Contractor Conference as helping usher in a smoother process through discussion and collaboration. I am glad the conference is attracting a wide participation from the MEP community.

- Ghaleb Abusaa, CEO, GASO

I'm looking forward to highlighting the technical issues we find in the existing building stock in our day-to-day work and discussing the potential solutions with experts in the field.

- Craig Ross, Partner, Head of Project and Building Consultancy, Cavendish Maxwell

The success of any project depends on the client making payments on time to ensure positive cash flow for the contractor, so that the project doesn't suffer and that there are no undue delays to procure the materials or manpower. The consultant, as a mediator between the two, should play a positive role to ensure that the payments are certified by them in time and released by the client also in time, as stipulated by FIDIC.

- Prabhakar Naik, Managing Director, VASTU & Engg Consultancy DMCC

I would like The Consultant Contractor Conference to create awareness for improving building performance and to highlight its benefits to all stakeholders. On behalf of CEC, I would like to emphasise on ‘consistent and good performance of the project’ by identifying issues relating to conflict of interest among stakeholders and addressing methodologies to resolve them

- Sagar Kulkarni, Managing Director, Consistent Engineering Consultants