Aconex, a leading provider of project collaboration solutions to the construction and engineering industries, said it has won the contract to service 'The Regent Emirates Pearl' hotel development in Abu Dhabi.

As per the deal, the web-based Aconex system will be used to manage information and link the organizations involved in the construction of the 45-storeyed hotel, the company said in a statement.

Scheduled to open in 2012, the 240 metre Regent Emirates Pearl will include 377 rooms and suites and 60 furnished apartments. The project is poised to become a landmark of the Abu Dhabi skyline, the company added.

The project is being delivered by Emirates Pearl for Development and Investment, a joint venture company between TDIC and Atlas Telecom. Arabian Construction Company (ACC) has been awarded the building contract.

Aconex said it will provide all the parties involved in the development with a secure, central platform for managing project-related documents and correspondence.

By using the system, project members will be able to access, distribute, track and archive their data in real time, from any location and at any time, it added. 

Saeed Ahmed Seddiq Al Mutawaa, CEO of Emirates Pearl for Development and Investment, said: 'On complex joint venture projects such as this, efficient cross-company communication is crucial for on-time delivery. It’s therefore important that the project team has the systems in place to support open communication and information sharing.'

'By enabling the fast retrieval and dissemination of files and correspondence, Aconex will help us to meet our compressed schedule,' he added.

Peter Hedlund, Aconex general manager (Middle East), said, “During the design and construction of Regent Emirates Pearl, we anticipate that hundreds of project team members will exchange tens of thousands of documents and correspondence items, including drawings, reports and RFIs.

'Without a collaboration system such as Aconex, managing and tracking this volume of data would be extremely difficult, increasing the risk of disputes and delays. Using Aconex will ensure that all parties have instant access to the information they need and that an audit trail is maintained between team members,' he added.

Since entering the Middle East in 2004, uptake of the Aconex system has increased rapidly and, from its five offices across the region, the company now services many of the Gulf’s most famous developments, said Hedlund.

According to him, Aconex services $260 billion worth of construction, infrastructure, energy and resources projects in 70 countries from its 38 offices worldwide.

'Over the past six years, Aconex has become the Middle East’s most-used collaboration platform on multi-party construction and engineering projects,' Hedlund said.

'The experience and expertise we’ve gained from supporting developments such as Dubai Metro, Dubai Sports City and Yas Island has provided us with an unparalleled ability to service major projects, and we look forward to continuing our growth across the region,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service