Business & Money | Sunday 25 January, 2015 12:01 pm |

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has appointed a consortium of CH2M HILL and Mace to undertake all real estate and construction delivery related programme management services for its Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali development - the master district that will also host Expo 2020 Dubai within a secure gated area when the six month event debuts in October 2020.
US firm CH2M HILL and UK-based Mace formed a joint venture to bid for the highly competitive multi-company tender, which included leading global firms with complex large-scale development and mega-event experience. Their successful appointment at the end of the rigorous procurement process now sees CH2M HILL-Mace providing full-service consultancy, real estate programme management, design, construction and operations management for the end-to-end development and delivery of Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali and the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

Core precincts on the site, which will be ready for Expo 2020 Dubai, are being programmed with a strong legacy focus minimising redundancy and expediting transition to the planned signature end-state development reflecting the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create the prototype smart destination for 'purposeful innovation', retaining a core focus on youth and culture, establishing Dubai as a global city of the future.

Post Expo 2020 Dubai, which runs until April 2021, the site aims to continue to inspire the region's youth through the delivery of an inclusive environment that fosters cultural learning, collaborative co-creation and business in a complete destination proposition. Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali development will become a new focal point of global business tourism for the region, reinforcing the UAE's established position as an international destination fostering thought leadership across key sectors for economic development and a business networking hub through trade fairs, mega-events and conferences.

CH2M HILL-Mace brings a wealth of experience in the sport and events arena, having joined forces in the past on several occasions including most recently to deliver the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Separately, CH2M HILL played a strategic consulting role on Rio 2016, while Mace is the programme manager for the Qatar Public Works programmes and provided strategic programme advice to the organising committee of Astana Expo 2017.

Within the region, both firms have a very strong presence, and specifically in the UAE they have independently delivered successes on major mixed use private sector and government projects including Jumeirah Beach Residences, Mall of the Emirates, Business Bay Development, Media City, Silicon Oasis; and Abu Dhabi STEP Programme, ENEC Nuclear Programme and Masdar City.

"In CH2M HILL and Mace we have a proven partner that we feel confident will enable the delivery of a state-of-the-art home for Expo 2020 Dubai. The success of the development is critically linked to its timely and efficient evolution to the planned legacy of Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali, and we look forward to seeing this partnership with CH2M HILL-Mace support DWTC and Dubai in fulfilling this long-term commitment," said Ahmed Al Khatib, Director - Real Estate, DWTC.

Additional Quotes:

Joseph Danko, Senior Vice President and Operations Director, Urban Programs at CH2M HILL said: "We are excited that we have been appointed with Mace to deliver the Dubai Trade Centre Jebel Ali development and the site that will host Expo 2020 Dubai. As a world leader in Programme Management, we will bring our track record of delivery excellence, sustainability and innovation to this programme, a benchmark for major events. We are excited to take on this amazing opportunity and contribute to the ever increasing global role of Dubai, its leadership and people."

Jason Millett, COO for Major Programmes and Infrastructure at Mace said, "I'm delighted that we have been appointed with CH2M HILL to deliver the programme management of such a high-profile and prestigious development. At Mace we have a wealth of experience in international programme management and this appointment gives us a great opportunity to export our expertise. This work will provide invaluable opportunities for Mace people, as well as the chance to collaborate with local businesses to deliver this exciting programme of events."

Neil Reynolds, senior vice president and MENAI regional managing director added, "We are so happy to help Dubai drive this project forward. We have been fortunate to win some of the UAE's most iconic projects, and this programme is right up there with them all; this will provide a strong push for our already solid brand and reputation in the region."

Marcus Burley, Mace's Chief Operating Officer for International, said: "Over the past 16 years, Mace has built a great relationship with the Dubai World Trade Centre and we are therefore very excited about this new opportunity. Our presence in Dubai has been advancing rapidly over the last year, with the team taking on a range of iconic projects such as One Za'beel and the high-profile Dubai-I. Receiving an appointment to deliver around the highly prestigious Expo 2020 Dubai further supports our long-term commitment to Dubai, and the UAE."