Saadiyat Rotana Hotel & Resort Complex
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Award of Merit
Owner Al Diya Hospitality
Design Firm, Project Management, Civil, Structural & MEP Engineer Khatib & Alami
Contractor Ali & Sons (UAE) & Kier (UK), Joint Venture
Cost Management Faithful+Gould
Interior Design KCA International
Located on the island of Saadiyat off the coast of Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Rotana Hotel & Resort Complex was built with the intent to transform the island into a premiere tourist destination. The luxury development complex includes 327 hotel rooms, 13 villas and amenities such as pools, cinemas and restaurants. The construction team was committed to building a sustainable project, despite the challenges of operating in a desert environment. The team also faced an unusual challenge due to the location, which serves as a nesting ground for hawksbill turtles, an endangered species. Special environmental training was provided for the construction team in order to ensure that the turtles’ habitat was preserved. To guarantee the workers’ safety, weekly and monthly inspections of standards and equipment were implemented. Additionally, precautions were taken to protect the construction crew from the desert heat by maintaining a constant supply of drinking water and creating work-and-rest cycles to avoid too much heat exposure. The $215-million project broke ground in July 2014 and was completed in February.
