Peter Fischer, Managing Director, Advanced Formwork Co. Ltd. (Doka), shares his thoughts about the country’s USD 2.1tn construction pipeline, its evolving landscape, and the importance of early-stage involvement and technological innovation.
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Driven by Vision 2030, the Kingdom's ambitious economic diversification plan and numerous large-scale projects are taking shape across the country. From futuristic megacities like NEOM through to specific projects such as The Line and New Murabba, each venture promises to shape the nation's landscape. As a company with a long-standing presence, Doka’s arrival in Saudi Arabia in 1978, through a committed distributor means that, unlike much of the industry, it has had a front row seat to its metamorphosis, including the direct involvement in vast parts of the King Abdullah Financial District and the third extension of the Masjid al-Haram Mosque of Mecca. Certainly, Saudi’s giga projects represent the embodiment of the country’s national ambition and while they hold immense promise, their realisation hinges on responsible investment, long-term viability and the partnership of companies that are in it for the long-haul. With serious projects come serious budgets, meaning a high saturation of contractors and subcontractors, all keen to capitalise on what is likely to remain a buoyant market in the decades to come. As a result, established firms with a proven track record and a commitment to quality, like Doka, are capable of being long-term partners, particularly for giga-projects that not only require significant resources, but demonstrable experience, competence, and engineering prowess.
With thousands of projects executed, the product portfolio, engineering and site service teams are well aware of the conducive environment to ensure project success; placing an emphasis on Doka’s extensive regional experience, most notably in high-rise construction which includes the delivery of several national landmarks. Other unique selling points include Doka’s adaptable logistical solutions and its Ready-to-use-service which saves both site space and resources, while ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of project delivery.
At the heart of this overall approach is an understanding of early-stage involvement and the ability to utilise technology in mitigating risk, while increasing cost efficiency. Subsequently, we have consistently worked alongside our clients during the design phase, ensuring each project benefits from our end-to-end solutions.
In line with Doka’s commitment to integrating the latest construction technology, the use of tools such as BIM (Revit) and its proprietary in-situ sensors out of the DokaXact portfolio (load, pressure, and concrete maturity) has not only helped to improve efficiency but provide customers with real-time data and greater project oversight.
As an additional attribute for those seeking a long-term stake in Saudi’s development, a focus on knowledge transfer is paramount. As a result, we actively invest in training our Saudi workforce, ensuring a future-proof talent pool. Today, approximately 40 per cent of our growing workforce are Saudi nationals, male and female, signifying one of the most important shifts in both national and industry culture.
As part of the branding that comes with a commitment to sustainability, we’ve also seen an increase in the number of projects seeking LEED certification, and consequently, an increase in demand for resource-efficient construction solutions. At Doka, we are committed to providing data on our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is why we have recorded the sustainability credentials of over 7,000 of our products through our Product Carbon Footprint initiative, allowing developers to make better informed choices.
As an additional challenge, Saudi Arabia’s mandate includes preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage while embracing innovation and modernisation, as clearly demonstrated by its leadership. This has also meant fostering a business environment that incentivises MNCs while nurturing and promoting local businesses and talent. Additionally, the leadership’s focus on education will help to ensure that the future workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the modern construction industry.
The Saudi transformation story is unlike any other and while there are lessons to be learned from regional peers like the UAE, Saudi Arabia is charting its own course. This path prioritises national identity and a gradual, measured approach to economic diversification. It's a journey that requires collaboration, and a commitment to quality and sustainability. At Doka, we are confident in this by continuing our partnership with the Kingdom's ambitious vision and its people.
With thousands of projects executed, the product portfolio, engineering and site service teams are well aware of the conducive environment to ensure project success; placing an emphasis on Doka’s extensive regional experience, most notably in high-rise construction which includes the delivery of several national landmarks. Other unique selling points include Doka’s adaptable logistical solutions and its Ready-to-use-service which saves both site space and resources, while ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of project delivery.
At the heart of this overall approach is an understanding of early-stage involvement and the ability to utilise technology in mitigating risk, while increasing cost efficiency. Subsequently, we have consistently worked alongside our clients during the design phase, ensuring each project benefits from our end-to-end solutions.
In line with Doka’s commitment to integrating the latest construction technology, the use of tools such as BIM (Revit) and its proprietary in-situ sensors out of the DokaXact portfolio (load, pressure, and concrete maturity) has not only helped to improve efficiency but provide customers with real-time data and greater project oversight.
As an additional attribute for those seeking a long-term stake in Saudi’s development, a focus on knowledge transfer is paramount. As a result, we actively invest in training our Saudi workforce, ensuring a future-proof talent pool. Today, approximately 40 per cent of our growing workforce are Saudi nationals, male and female, signifying one of the most important shifts in both national and industry culture.
As part of the branding that comes with a commitment to sustainability, we’ve also seen an increase in the number of projects seeking LEED certification, and consequently, an increase in demand for resource-efficient construction solutions. At Doka, we are committed to providing data on our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is why we have recorded the sustainability credentials of over 7,000 of our products through our Product Carbon Footprint initiative, allowing developers to make better informed choices.
As an additional challenge, Saudi Arabia’s mandate includes preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage while embracing innovation and modernisation, as clearly demonstrated by its leadership. This has also meant fostering a business environment that incentivises MNCs while nurturing and promoting local businesses and talent. Additionally, the leadership’s focus on education will help to ensure that the future workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the modern construction industry.
The Saudi transformation story is unlike any other and while there are lessons to be learned from regional peers like the UAE, Saudi Arabia is charting its own course. This path prioritises national identity and a gradual, measured approach to economic diversification. It's a journey that requires collaboration, and a commitment to quality and sustainability. At Doka, we are confident in this by continuing our partnership with the Kingdom's ambitious vision and its people.
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