With over US$200 billion in planned and ongoing underground infrastructure projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, the surge and buoyant growth of this sector can’t be missed, according to the Society of Engineers-UAE, organisers of 3rd Arabian Tunnelling Conference and Exhibition 2015 (ATC15), to bring together influencers, regional engineering professionals, and tunnelling experts in November in Dubai.
It is in direct correlation to the fast population growth of the GCC, which in 2020 is expected to rise by one-third, from 29.4 million in 2000 to 53 million in 2020, the society says.
All this growth is concentrated in cities and urban areas, which means ever more crowded ground conditions.
The Society of Engineers-UAE is organising the 3rd Arabian Tunnelling Conference and Exhibition 2015 under the under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and UAE Minister of Finance.
The event will take place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai between 23-25 November with the theme “Innovative Underground Infrastructure Challenges & Opportunities””
Essa Al Maidoor, Deputy Director-General of Dubai Municipality highlighted the following well-known projects: The Abu Dhabi STEP Project, Qatar’s Integrated Sewer Project, Riyadh’s Metro Project, Dubai Electricity and Water authority infrastructure projects and Dubai’s Strategic Sewer Tunnel Project, saying all are prime examples of innovation and forward thinking by developing the underground infrastructure in the GCC.
Maged Farouck Hanna, ITA Executive Council member, said the 3rd ATC is comprised of 6 streams: Conference, Exhibition, Awards, Site Visits, a Young Engineers Forum for engineering students, and Workshops, our newest addition. We are thrilled about the 3rd ATC as it’s the first SMART edition, featuring our interactive conference app. The exhibition will be free of entry this year, and the added workshops provide valuable professional development.”
Source: Qatar news agency
