Building contracting in University City (Sharjah) 

Building contracting in University City (Sharjah): local context

University City is Sharjah's academic district, home to the American University of Sharjah, the University of Sharjah and several colleges, research centres and medical facilities set across a large planned campus area. Buildings are institutional, often large-span and heavily serviced. Manolia completed MEP works for the AUS library, HVAC and BMS works on the campus, and MEP for the G+4 Bowling City leisure building.

• Campus buildings need large central chilled-water systems, AHUs with fresh-air treatment and BMS integration so facilities teams can schedule cooling around semesters and events.
• Libraries and archives need stable temperature and humidity control to protect collections, with fire protection chosen to suit sensitive contents.
• Leisure buildings such as bowling and entertainment venues combine high occupancy, kitchen extract and variable loads.

Building types we serve in University City (Sharjah)

For schools and university buildings, the work concentrates on high fresh-air rates for dense classrooms, quiet systems, holiday-window works in occupied campuses and robust controls.

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.
• Excavation, dewatering where groundwater requires it, shoring and foundations, including raft or piled foundations as designed by the structural engineer.
• Blockwork, plastering, waterproofing of basements, wet areas and roofs, and thermal insulation to meet the building's energy requirements.
• Finishes, joinery, external works and landscaping interfaces, with MEP installed and commissioned in sequence by the group's MEP companies.

Systems we install

• Roof build-ups with insulation, waterproofing and protective screed or pavers.
• Complete MEP: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, drainage, fire protection and BMS.

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.
• 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

AUS Bowling City, Sharjah

University City (Sharjah) · MEP · Completed

MEP design & build plus decoration for a G+4 leisure building.

Al Durrah International School, Sharjah

Sharjah · Building · Completed

G+2 school with service building.

Frequently asked questions