Besix reaches great heights in the Emirates
The Belgian company can already pride itself on being a major player in the construction of exceptional buildings in the Emirates. Besix has been involved in the construction of the world's highest tower, the Burj Khalifa (828 metres) in Dubai and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, to mention just the most flamboyant structures. And other even more ambitious projects can also count on Belgian expertise.
The Belgian construction group has been active in the region since 1965 and has 8,000 employees there. "A third of the Group's value comes from this area. We have experience and a local footprint. We are almost considered locals in the Emirates," explained Jean-Philippe Patesson, Technical Director of Belhasa Six Construct, the local subsidiary.
An exceptional project is soon set to take form in the region. This is the construction of the tallest tower in Dubai (and the world), which will be more than 1,000 metres high. Besix has already received a guarantee that it will build the foundations and hopes to build the entire structure, as the Belgian company is still waiting for the result of the call for tenders.
In 2020, the eyes of the world will also be on the World Expo in Dubai. Besix is working on the construction of the Belgian pavilions (as it did with Expo 2015 in Milan) as well as the French pavilions. "We try to promote the Belgian impact as much as possible, with technologies from our own country,” said Jean-Philippe Patesson. This will be an opportunity to highlight a new skill for the Group, namely 3D printing on concrete.