Hyder Consulting Middle East Limited, the award-winning international advisory and design consultancy, has quadrupled the size of its environmental group of consultants over the past few months. This is a timely response to the booming development in the area and will enable them to advise environment officials in the UAE on ways to protect the environment, manage waste more efficiently and foster social responsibility among companies operating in the region.
Angela Mulgrew, Regional Environment Manager of Hyder Consulting, said the new team is necessary to meet the growing environmental awareness of business and governments in the UAE. The consultants’ portfolio of expertise will include new sectors, such as solid waste management and corporate risk advice.
“We have developed a strong environmental presence in the region and were one of the first international consultancies to transfer a dedicated team from the UK,” Mulgrew said. “We believe environmental sustainability will increasingly move to the forefront as the Middle East grows. Hyder Consulting is committed to helping the UAE and the wider region meet the significant challenges facing it.”
Mulgrew added that while UAE authorities have responded to some of these challenges, citing the introduction of regulatory standards in green building design in Dubai, with similar guidelines also in the works in Abu Dhabi, “we need to do more than construct green buildings.”
“Sustainability is about creating communities where the health of all individuals and all aspects of the environment are considered at every stage of development,” Mulgrew said. ”This includes the provision of public transport, access to community facilities and acceptable levels of air quality and noise. Through our large local team and international expertise, we can offer long-term solutions to these issues.”
An additional environmental issue resulting from UAE’s rapid growth has been waste output. The most recent data from 2006 shows that per-capita waste generation is 730kg in Abu Dhabi and 725kg in Dubai, compared to 300kg per year in the UK. Part of Hyder Consulting’s mandate is to reduce these figures to acceptable levels.
“There is a growing awareness of waste issues throughout the UAE, but more emphasis needs to be put on motivating individuals and businesses to appreciate the environmental and economic benefits of waste reduction,” said Deirdre Dudley-Owen, Hyder Consulting’s Senior Waste Consultant. “We believe that the public and private sectors can play a key role in this aim through the development of waste reduction and recycling strategies, through introducing, accessible and conveniently located recycling facilities in public places, making citizens aware of their environmental responsibilities and through communicating the small steps individuals can take to keep the UAE clean and green.”
About Hyder Consulting Middle East
Hyder Consulting is a an award winning international advisory and design consultancy employing almost 4,000 people worldwide, with offices in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, China and the Middle East.
Hyder Consulting Middle East has been established in the region for the past 45 years, and is today at the forefront of regional growth, contributing to the engineering of prestigious developments such as the Burj Dubai and City of Arabia in Dubai; Shams Development on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi; Lusail and Education City in Qatar; and Al Areen Desert Resort and Spa in Bahrain.
A regional team of 1,200 diverse and highly qualified staff operates from offices across the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Working closely with its international network of staff resources, and utilising the latest technology and systems, the company delivers world class solutions in the following disciplines on which clients and partners can build and grow.
- Masterplanning, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture
- Environmental
- Structural and Civil Engineering
- Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP)
- Water, Wastewater Treatment and Networks
- Oil and Gas Engineering
- Telecommunications
- Transportation and Highways Engineering
- Bridges
- Facades
- Infrastructure
- Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
- Light Rail Systems
For more information, visit www.hyderconsulting.com
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