- Successful market entry in United Arab Emirates
- Construction of the “Deep Tunnel Storm Water System” represents pioneering PORR project in Dubai
- Project set for completion by EXPO 2020
- Contract volume: approx. EUR 300m
Vienna, 03 September 2018 – PORR, in a Joint Venture with Belhasa Six Construct, is realising the “Deep Tunnel Storm Water System” project for Dubai Municipality. The project is due to complete ahead of Expo 2020 Dubai, which will be inaugurated on 20 October, 2020. A total of more than 600 international experts are currently involved in the project. The infrastructure project marks PORR’s market entry into the promising economic region of the United Arab Emirates as a full-service provider. The contract value is around EUR 300m.
“Dubai is one of the main hubs for the Arab economies and achieving market entry in the United Arab Emirates is a genuine milestone for PORR. Our longstanding experience coupled with cutting-edge projects in terms of pioneering technology and our exceptional international reputation for realising complex, large-scale infrastructure projects were key factors in the award of this contract”, said PORR CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss.
Ambitious tunnel project in the desert emirate of Dubai
The “Deep Tunnel Storm Water System” comprises a 10.4 km-long tunnel with intake shafts at depths of up to 45 m. The 10 m inner diameter tunnel, which will be excavated by two tunnel boring machines, will be receiving a segmental lining. Upon completion, the tunnel will manage rainwater and groundwater, draining almost 40 percent of Dubai’s urban area, including the Dubai South, Al Maktoum International Airport, Expo 2020 Dubai and other neighbouring localities.
Looking to break a new record in the city of superlatives
Dubai is known for breaking records as well as its impressive architectural landmarks. And new benchmarks are being set once again on this tunnel project: the two cutter heads of the tunnel boring machines that will be used in the execution phase each have a diameter of 11.05 m – the largest ever used in the United Arab Emirates.
Excellence in technology guarantees success
The two starting shafts have already been excavated and NATM works have commenced to build the underground starter caverns for the later tunnel boring machine assembly. The Factory Acceptance tests of the tunnel boring machines has been completed successfully and the machines are expected mid-October in UAE. Until the time of tunnel boring machine start-up, the JV will have started segment production. The logistics of getting the tunnel boring machines to Dubai and setting up both of them on site will also be realised in good time by the experienced team of experts. The team spirit is high and the whole team is confident that the project will be realised in time before EXPO 2020.
Facts and figures at a glance
| Project name | UAE Dubai Storm Water System |
|---|---|
| Client | Dubai Municipality (DM) |
| Consortium | PORR Bau GmbH (Dubai Branch); Belhasa Six Construct |
| Completion | 36 months |
| Project type | Tunnelling |
| Tender volume | Around EUR 300m |