Going up: Al Futtaim Engineering's top man talks

Al-Futtaim Engineering (AFE) Elevator Division GM Syed Shamsul Haq

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Al-Futtaim Engineering (AFE) Elevator Division GM Syed Shamsul Haq talks about upwards growth in Abu Dhabi, and the latest developments in vertical transportation.

There are six divisions within AFE, namely elevators, building products, security and LV systems, scaffolding and formwork, MEP and air-con. Established in 1973, air-con is the oldest division, followed closely by elevators in 1974 when AFE clinched the Hitachi agency.

“It was very progressive of us to anticipate the demand for elevators and escalators for high-rise buildings in Dubai, although we could not have anticipated the extent of the construction boom that was to follow,” says Shamsul Haq.

The growth of the Elevator Division has chronicled Dubai’s development, from the Chambers of Commerce building to Atlantis on Palm Jumeirah

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Even though the global financial crisis has had a major impact on the construction industry in Dubai, in particular, Haq says there is still work to be had. “Dubai’s construction sector is not dead. You have to be selective, but there are good projects still out there.”

He points to the Elevator Division’s ongoing involvement at Hotel JAL Tower and Al Hikma Tower, all on Sheikh Zayed Road, and The Address Hotel at Dubai Mall.

“Dubai is not as it was before, but there is still work. Dubai passed through a period which was a bit unnatural to the extent of there being too much work. Companies had to pass through this phase without really getting to grips with the work that had to be done.

So in a sense this is now the time to learn from past experience and prepare, which is how we are approaching it. We are looking at our strengths and weaknesses, and how we can improve upon areas where we are lacking,” says Haq.

Has the downturn meant the end of the trend of high-rise buildings? “If you look at the bigger picture, at the GCC level, definitely overall there are more high-rises now than there were in 2006. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have a lot of high-rise projects. So the trend will continue,” is Shamsul Haq’s firm prediction. “It is quite natural to have a construction boom followed by a lull in activity. In one area there will be saturation, and in another area opportunity.”

He says Abu Dhabi went through a similar experience of a decline in construction activity, while Dubai was booming. “Dubai is relatively quiet now, while our major activity is in Abu Dhabi. We are supplying 50 elevators and escalators, including many high-speed elevators to Nation Towers on the Corniche, and we also have the Investment Corporation Headquarters coming up. We are also involved at Masdar University,” says Haq.