S: 1S THE END NIGH FOR SAUDI CONSTRUCTION’S GOOD TIMES? inexpat hi refuunds for Saudi contractors pM CWYISITS THE MaR CITY DEVELOPMENT IN OUGAI Paz ‘ALBAYTSTADIUM DEAL INKED >>P6 GCC MALLS ARE MIXED-USE ENTERTAINMENT HUSS NOW Pas ‘OMAGINE LAUNCHED. INSEE. >>PI0 tan Ce te en eee Ur DST OULU ou ard erernmck cee i) CE em oka Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Lai AL BAWANI Vi Sil, Info@albawaninetCONTENTS uy 14,208 # ISSUE B71 Cc ou Ai Sao de 6 2 oa “ bavDL ReATER Sau Abia STRET ONE TNDOF AN ERA For weekly updates ) Construction Week visits Meydan Unraveling the secrets ofsurvival in Studi Arabia’ 29d subscriptions log onto Sobha’s ibn project closely guarded coneractingsector GUEST COMMENT 5 toe eon Pa series PROJECT UPDATE n overview of Conetrution Week's of Lights and The Sustinabl APPOINTMENTS Jobs in the industry, who's moving on, RETAIL THERAPY am Recal consructionin theGCCis onan upswing, see construcionweekeniine-comyobs and the industry bdievesa slowdown isualikely op tips fr job seckers, For more,eae Ke Fm te gets called in when the biggest, most complex projects are in trouble” PEPE Cc MCE eNeato BEA American project management firm Hill PRTC Lee ne Menorca ee Be ONY Cee CG East for three decades, and has worked on PTW ay NR aT een et om ete Cot een Toke eteuceuiecntelemea ecm one tl to Libya. David L Richter, the president and CEO, speaks exclusively to Construction Week. Paromita Dey reports.FACE TO FACE avid 1 Richter recont vii 0 ual was his irstnterrational tripas HillsCEO ond president, Hetold Construction Week that bh ward the UAE tobe his frst top-ove intheworld sipen’smnstimportantnnrket Wescclwige opportunites and erectiwbea mace plavernere opera" Te perhaps comes asa surprise to some thac Hil Intemational, desite being based in the US, derives about balf ofits global Fevenues fom its Middle East operations, The American project management and construction claims services company, swhich was formed in 1976, ams just bout 1% oftota sales from its home market. Hill International's Middle East arm 2000 people it fist and large venture. The company started out in the region by sting up an office fo whe employs more chan tec il ov related claims in 1988. in Abu Dhabi, “T belive we are the most competitive [industry player in thereon We stared here quite early ty opening the US, which curvy frst ofie out fm hindsight, was a really good choice, Richtorsey While inital the company’ dealt in seating cain clad to dhe Abu Dhabi Dy orks, it entered the project management sector after 10 years Richter says the 1990s ws an deal time” to break into Dubai thoi and gas artment of Public industry wax Boonting offering busin ape oppor Hi fon many projects in both Dubbal and Abu Dhabi, including icone works such ae the Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands in Dubsiandthe Gand Mosque nt Shoo Uhh rrr rr Abu Dhabi in the UAE capital. It has also Tnternational har since worked managed grand projects outside the UAL, ao eeeaee corer) erin PMC RCR ESTEEM date andhiscerroein risks,"he opines. Costes Muscum scar Cairo and the NaGonat aan err ren erent ray Museum of Qatar Per ey ttn! Prior 2008 Hill Insemational er ea primarily manages vesidentacommencia Sead Fowl and high-rise projects for privet int PONSMOME AMET tcadingaprojectman- CED at Hil internationat economic recession stuck the UAE, che EPR eainenm =goingteensineering leadership sills as company’ revised te business modal t Gee teehee een correo mre eS E focus om infrastructure develonrien’s andwas alawyertor school? Ithink everybody just anarrayot projects SEER PORIOMEE nine yours.Sotbelieve presumedthe answer inthe regen, but alzo ‘te hive been involved in manacng ee en ee eee eee airports, ail Hines, hospitals and school, Laer eet een sa ent Cane aD et Sareea The public sector always has the money JAE aeaeS Stren pertJn 2012 we won quite a number of infrasrueture projets ‘Things thea really started to grow quickly tis regiea” says Richter. He claims cha evan during the years of the recesscn, the company grew ly, by about o%6 annvally, and has 10d double-cigit growth caring the Tasco years “Much of the company’s recone grows can be attributed to the visionary les control of Hill International's operations from his fther, Irvin E Richter, in December 2014. Tk was easy because | really did't have wwasthe Chief Operating ice for almost decade since 20047 hessys Family dee remain strong for Richter, himself now a father of four young, Aaughiore — 9 role he describes ar the toughest and the mest rewarding job that hhohasever done to d ship of Richter, whe assumed step into his shoes, 1 Asked about haw he leads the company Richter describes himself as a “nataral encrepreneu” and says“ think now i ‘een more usiness as asa than it as inde my dad. Farme, [dont want Hill 0 ‘become dhe Jack of all ades just want to keep doing what we ane best at ~ stay focused and germon Among che inl stops thar Richeor took as CEO was a concertal fore 10 recognise and reward excellence within the organisation, inorder to promote talent and cffciensy. “I set up a programe caled the Project Manager of the Year and Consultant of the Year We identify and rublily recognise the best among us for ireffors” he says “I just want to keep doing what we are best at - stay focussed and get more clients” David L Richter, Hill Int. REGIONAL PROJECTS GALORE Wil Inemationalispresenty workiagoaa slew of mga infestractare projects the region. Its managing the Green of the Duh Metro, as wa ree aut of six linos af the Riyadh Mtr project. The company has also bagged a project from the Saudi Ministry of Heth to manage 12 nnspitals inthe Kingdom, Wich regards to sirport projccts, Hill Inernational already has (0 its crete project management of the new migfield terminal of Abs Dhabi Inceenationa Airport and the incernaional agports in Muscat and Salslah, Oran, ‘ig complex projects take 3 long time,” Richter says. “We have over 350. people working on the Muscat airport Tn a bocming market like the Middle East, I think finding skilled labour will aluays romain. challenge tie tho jabof the contraetor to provide the bive-colar Tabour, while we provide the whiee collar emplovecs to manage the process, to oversee the budget and inspect the work. We had to staf up in avery shore period of time [for Musca airport, and ‘went from 0 10350 people in a matter of about 90 days. FACE TO FACE Dusiness isn't always easy, expecially for 2 gloat company, with operations in as many’ a8 50 countries, Throughent its existence, Hill Incemnational hes had 10 face the challenges of rising eablhment costs in unvielding markets: the_lobal sconomiic recession of 2008 that acct tsbusiness in Europeand the UAE: and the ongoingerisesin Libyaand Tag. "Youdor"e now which markers willbe bromtng next yearand which onesareguingcobe drying ‘ut? comments Richter om the vag ihe global eoromy. “fut wo remain commited and we want eo be wherever construction is is of happening. We have ot to be in all placos simultaneous” hesays ot his geographical Aiversificationseategy Hill Inernaconal recently expanded in Turkey by acquiring a Tocal company tamed IMS in April allowing the company ‘quickly to achieve 6 staff presence of 130. *Wehavemade slongtermeommitment 0 thatmarket.{Giink weare going todesrest things in Turkey” Richer ays Besides thar deal, dhe frm i also eyeing requisitions fm the US and Asia ~ mainly India and China - where Richter sees reat ‘opportunities inchs future For the projected to grow berween 13% to 7% the ‘hied year ina row of double-digic grat, However ata regional wll as global lee. the company fos st competion from osher Amesican, Brith and Arabian firme But Rstter stresses dhe fact dat Hil Iuemadonal focuses exclusively on project ananagement, unlike is lager egincering and constriction counterpart, which, ns oat as “ide busines emet makes up about 75% of Hills core business; eonseucton claims serviesaccountingfor the remaining quarter “We aethe firm tha gts called in when the biggest and most complex projects are in uouble, When big firms gt entangled in liga, they call us. This has gver us a reputation oF almost being ike ction thinktank” Richter explains he decision to hire a project manager ss because thay don’t want thar projsct 10 be late or go off budge aa certsinly don't ‘vant to spend mone time fv court. Oar in house expertise makes us manage them in ameffoctive way! he cliHiLE Hill International The Global Leader in Managing Construction Risk www.hillintl.com 1,800.283.4088 HIL NYSE