High-rise MEP contracting in Dubai Production City (formerly IMPZ) 

High-rise MEP contracting in Dubai Production City (formerly IMPZ): local context

Dubai Production City, formerly the International Media Production Zone, is a free zone near Al Khail Road combining residential and office towers with light industrial and media-production facilities. It was largely developed from the mid-2000s. Manolia completed MEP for a 2B+G+15 tower with gym here. Plots here are mid-sized and tightly spaced, with towers sharing service roads and neighbouring construction sites.

• Projects fall under the Dubai Development Authority (DDA) approval channel, with Civil Defence review of fire and life safety systems.
• Towers with two basement levels need car park ventilation, sump pumps, and drainage designed for groundwater and stormwater ingress.
• The area is inland and dusty, so condenser cleaning and filter access are planned into the design.

Building types we serve in Dubai Production City (formerly IMPZ)

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

• Vertical zoning of water supply, chilled water and fire systems to keep pressures within equipment ratings, using pump zones, intermediate plant floors or pressure-reducing stations.
• Smoke control and stair pressurisation systems, including fans, dampers and controls, coordinated with fire alarm cause and effect.
• Typical-floor MEP installation using repeatable layouts and prefabrication where possible to speed installation and improve quality.
• Testing, commissioning and phased handover by floors or zones as required by the developer, with life-safety systems proven before any floor is occupied.

Systems we install

• Busbar risers, floor DBs, emergency generators and life-safety panels.
• BMS integration for central plant, lifts, life safety and metering.

UAE site and climate challenges

• Tall buildings in humid coastal areas need strict control of outdoor air at each floor. Dedicated fresh-air units with dehumidification prevent condensation on ceilings and moisture problems in corridors and apartments.
• Sealed-facade towers depend entirely on mechanical ventilation. Fresh-air intakes are separated from kitchen exhaust, toilet extract and generator flues so polluted air is not drawn back into apartments, especially on still, humid summer nights.
• District cooling versus own chillers: district cooling avoids roof plant, noise and maintenance staff, but adds connection costs and long-term capacity tariffs that residents or owners ultimately carry.

Relevant Manolia projects

Frequently asked questions