MEP design and build in Al Marjan Island 

MEP design and build 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.
• Approvals typically involve the master developer NOC before municipality, Civil Defence and Etihad WE.
• 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 mid-rise residential and mixed-use buildings, the work concentrates on compact plant on the roof, car-park ventilation in podiums, metered apartment DBs and tight ceiling voids that make coordination drawings decisive.

Scope of work

• Concept review of the architectural design to locate plant rooms, risers, shafts and roof space early, before floor plates and ceiling heights are frozen.
• Cooling and heating load calculations, ventilation rates, electrical load schedules, water demand and drainage fixture-unit calculations for authority and utility submission.
• Preparation of authority drawings for Civil Defence, DEWA, SEWA, ADDC or the relevant utility, and green-building compliance under Al Sa'fat or Estidama where applicable.
• Development of detailed design into coordinated shop drawings, with clash detection between ducts, pipes, cable trays and structure before procurement.

Systems we install

• HVAC plant: chillers, district cooling energy transfer stations, AHUs, FCUs and fresh-air units.
• LV electrical distribution from main panel to final circuits, lighting, small power and emergency supplies.

UAE site and climate challenges

• UAE design ambient temperatures around 46°C dry bulb with high coastal humidity drive both sensible and latent loads. We design fresh-air systems to dehumidify outdoor air properly, because under-dehumidified ventilation is the main cause of mould and sweating ducts in UAE buildings.
• Solar gain through glazing on west and south facades dominates perimeter loads. Our load models use the actual facade specification and orientation, and perimeter zones are separated so a sunlit side does not overcool the shaded interior.
• VRF versus chilled water for mid-rise buildings: VRF suits phased occupancy and individual billing with no central plant, while chilled water scales better, runs quieter indoors and centralises maintenance in one plant room.

Relevant Manolia projects

Frequently asked questions