Building contracting in Abu Dhabi City 

Building contracting in Abu Dhabi City: local context

Abu Dhabi City covers the main island's grid of streets, from the Corniche towers and government buildings to dense mid-rise blocks built from the 1980s onward, along with hotels, hospitals and private palaces. Many buildings are now 20–40 years old, so replacement and upgrade work runs alongside new towers. Manolia's work in the capital includes building works for a G+3P+24 office tower, MEP works for a 28-storey tower and HVAC works for Al Bahar Palace.

• Older towers on the island often need chiller and cooling tower replacements, re-piping of corroded risers and new BMS controls, delivered while tenants stay in place.
• Fire and life safety upgrades are approved and witnessed by ADCDA, and refurbishments commonly bring smoke control, alarm and sprinkler systems into line with the current UAE Fire & Life Safety Code.
• ADDC load approvals and substation arrangements need to be confirmed before final electrical design, especially when existing buildings add significant cooling load.

Building types we serve in Abu Dhabi City

For high-rise towers, the work concentrates on pressure-zoned water and drainage stacks, riser and plant-room coordination, stair pressurisation and a cooling source sized for diversity across dozens of typical floors.

Scope of work

• Pre-construction review of IFC drawings, specifications and soil reports, flagging buildability issues, missing details and conflicts between structural, architectural and MEP drawings before mobilisation.
• Blockwork, plastering, waterproofing of basements, wet areas and roofs, and thermal insulation to meet the building's energy requirements.
• Building envelope packages including curtain wall or window systems, cladding, shading elements and sealants, coordinated with specialist subcontractors.
• Authority inspections, snagging, completion certificates and handover documentation, including keys, warranties and training for the client or operator.

Systems we install

• Basement waterproofing with membranes, waterstops and protection boards.
• Roof build-ups with insulation, waterproofing and protective screed or pavers.

UAE site and climate challenges

• Basements in coastal Dubai and Sharjah often sit near or below groundwater with saline content that attacks reinforcement. Dewatering is planned with permits, membranes and waterstops are inspected before backfilling, and concrete cover is checked against the design.
• Sand and wind carry dust into fresh plaster, paint and MEP equipment. We sequence wet trades and finishing so building envelope closure comes first, and protect installed equipment until handover.
• Separate main contractor and MEP contractor versus a combined package: a combined package removes interface disputes and aligns programmes, while separate contracts give the client more direct control and visibility of each trade.

Relevant Manolia projects

Frequently asked questions