ALEC wins UAE school construction deal

expat network

ALEC wins UAE school construction deal

ALEC has been awarded the design-and-build contract for The New Jebel Ali School in Dubai, UAE It will be located within the Akoya by Damac development and have a total plot size of 32,000 sqm and a gross floor area (GFA) of 20,000 sqm.

The Dubai-headquartered contractor has revealed that it will directly engage Broadway Malyan as lead consultant, in addition to other sub-consultants.

Commenting on the project, Carl Wamsley, senior contracts manager at ALEC, said: “ALEC is delighted to be involved in the development of The New Jebel Ali School and its facilities. We are committed to delivering the highest quality building, to be completed in time for the new school opening in August 2016.”

The school will offer foundation to 13th-grade British curriculum, with the new campus boasting separate foundation, primary, and secondary school buildings. The New Jebel Ali School will also feature a sports hall, an auditorium, an external swimming pool, and outdoor sports pitches.

ALEC will carry out the concrete, wet trades, and MEP works directly, and will appoint specialist subcontractors for façade, finishes, and external works packages.

Shepherd Gilmour and CSA (M&E) Gulf will act as structural engineer and MEP engineer for the project, respectively.

Source: Construction Week Online

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.