Building contracting in Al Marjan Island 

Building contracting in Al Marjan Island: local context

Al Marjan Island is a group of reclaimed islands off Ras Al Khaimah's coast developed for resorts, hotels and residential towers, with major hospitality projects under way. Building stock is dominated by hotels and high-rise residential. Several large integrated resort projects are under construction, bringing high-rise hotel and residential towers to what was previously a low-rise emirate, and with them the full range of tower MEP requirements such as pressure zoning, stair pressurisation and high-capacity fire pumps.

• Island location means extreme salt exposure, so marine-grade equipment and corrosion protection are essential.
• Hotels need central plants, fresh-air dehumidification, hot water with Legionella control and kitchen extract.
• Access over the causeway and limited laydown space on the island mean deliveries of large plant must be scheduled and staged carefully.

Building types we serve in Al Marjan Island

For hotels and serviced apartments, the work concentrates on quiet guestroom fan coils, kitchen and laundry extract, hot-water generation at scale, BMS supervision and phased handover to the operator.

Scope of work

• Site mobilisation, hoarding, temporary power and water, site offices and HSE set-up under our HSEMS, with logistics planned around crane positions, deliveries and neighbouring plots.
• Reinforced concrete frame including columns, cores, slabs and transfer structures, with pour sequences and curing planned for UAE temperatures.
• Finishes, joinery, external works and landscaping interfaces, with MEP installed and commissioned in sequence by the group's MEP companies.
• 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

• Concrete poured in summer heat loses water fast, risking plastic shrinkage cracks and lower strength. We schedule large pours for night or early morning, use chilled water or ice in mixes as specified, and keep wet curing going on slabs and columns.
• Facades face extreme solar heat and thermal movement between day and night. Sealant joints, bracket fixings and glass selection follow the facade engineer's movement and performance criteria, and water tests are carried out on sample areas before full installation.
• Conventional formwork versus system formwork for repetitive floors: system formwork shortens tower floor cycles and improves finish quality, but needs upfront investment, crane capacity and an early structural design freeze.

Relevant Manolia projects

Hassan Tower 1, Sharjah

Sharjah · Building · Completed

25 typical floors above a parking podium.

Office tower, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi · Building · Completed

24 office floors above parking and health club.

Frequently asked questions