Over 60 top speakers and 700 dignitaries will be at second edition of Arabian World Construction Summit (AWCS) in Abu Dhabi to discuss the challenges and sustainability issues facing the construction sector in the Middle East.

The AWCS will also explore industry-specific solutions to deal with the global crisis, said the organiser Meed, a leading business intelligence provider in the region.

The summit, to be held from February 9 to 11 at the Emirates Palace Hotel, will see industry leaders, government representatives and decision makers addressing key issues within the Dh2 trillion ($544 billion) Gulf construction industry.

'A pre-summit workshop on February 8 will discuss ‘Project Partnering in the Arabian Gulf’, focusing on the 'three Ps' - predictability, productivity and profitability,' said Anca Westley, director of summits at Meed.

Led by industry leaders Trowers and Hamlins, the workshop will highlight successful strategies  for collaboration and partnership in the Middle East region.
 
“We live in exciting times where the overall dynamics of the construction industry are changing. We’re looking forward to the outcomes of the summit and anticipate strong viewpoints and intense debate,' Westley remarked.

“In its second year, the event has already become an industry must-attend, drawing over 700 participants including top-tier industry executives and senior government officials from the Middle East and beyond. We are confident the upcoming summit will generate industry-defining outcomes.”

Business sustainability will be the focus area on the opening day of the summit, with panellists seeking solutions for achieving long-term growth.

Panellists for the discussions will include Richard Clare, chairman of EC Harris,  Ivor Catto, chief executive officer of Hyder Consulting, and Johan Beerlandt, chief executive officer of BESIX Group, among others.

The role of multi-disciplinary international expertise on business sustainability will also be analysed. The afternoon will feature landmark projects such as the Masdar City, Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, and the Dynamic Tower.

The second day of the summit will be themed around business success in challenging markets, featuring talks on price volatility, health and safety issues, and capacity building.

The third and final day will focus on raw material cost fluctuation, price volatility and supply chain management.

It will conclude with an on-site visit to Al-Raha Beach development, a multi-billion dirham project situated on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.-TradeArabia News Service