UCC sharpens its tools to target large government projects by Moataz al-khayat

UCC sharpens its tools to target large government projects by Moataz al-khayat

UrbaCon Trading & Contracting equips business development department with assertive strategy and dedicated resources to target large-scale public masterplans over the next three to four years

Under experienced business development management UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC) is firmly directing its attention towards large-scale public contracts, and is keeping a keen eye on the key upcoming projects while looking to build its overall presence in Qatar.

Moataz Al-Khayat, CEO of UCC, says: “We have increased our activity in pre-qualifications and tender submissions, so we know what we are doing – we have the vision, we have the mission, we have the details and the balance scorecards, all prepared here in a plan.”

Targeting especially the one-billion-plus local currency government master plans, UCC has already made seven project submissions, and is working on two JV submissions where it does not have the full range of technical capabilities required on the projects.

Dr. Basim Ibrahim Mohammed, deputy MD of business development, notes: “The managing director is sparing no expense to move forward, because three or four years from now, everything will be awarded, that’s it, done.”

Ramez AlKhayat, MD of UCC, comments: “As a contracting company, if you cannot get your opportunities within these next few years, it will be too late for you to enter the market unless go in as a subcontractor – but with a company of 10,000 plus on the payroll, you cannot do that.”

Such is the enormity of the emerging works that UCC’s business development department is developing its own estimation capabilities to specifically target government projects.

Dr. Mohammed explains: “Currently we are supervising the estimation department. We took the responsibility for the technical details, and we started to be heavily involved about a month ago. The next stage is to develop a parallel estimation department within business development to allow us to prepare the bid A-Z understanding the specific strengths that the client is looking for.”

Moataz Al-Khayat, adds: “There will be heavy communications during bidding with the clients, there will be interviews, proposals, presentations – for big projects it’s not just a bid submittal.”

“Since we have several projects, we can capitalise on our substantial resources. Besides, we have to provide the flow of projects to keep everybody busy.”

Apart from private residences and a couple of malls, all major upcoming infrastructure projects belong to the government, including new cities such as Lusail, all the stadiums and associated facilities under the Q2022 programme, and some 20-30 hotels.