HD, one of the world’s leading engineering, architecture, environmental and construction service companies, has extended its design stage agreement with Al Jalila Foundation to oversee construction of of its new research centre in Dubai, UAE.

The Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, a 10-storey building is to be co-located with a major new academic health science centre within Dubai Healthcare City. It will have three floors of research laboratories, as well as clinic spaces, administration and spaces for other partner organisations.

This will be the first standalone medical research facility in the UAE and focus on five regional health challenges: diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and mental health.

Once established, the centre will undertake medical research programs in purpose built facilities, said a statement from the foundation which is named after Sheikha Al Jalila, daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

GHD led a multidisciplinary team through the design phases of the project, with specialist healthcare architecture services being undertaken by IBI Nightingale.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, the CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: "We are very pleased with the design, which presents Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre as the world-class institution it will be."
 
"As the UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary medical research centre, we hope that it will inspire local youths to study biomedical science, and provide a solid foundation for cutting-edge medical findings that will address the region’s most pressing health challenges," stated Dr Al Olama.

"We thank GHD and IBI Nightingale for helping us transform this vision into a reality," he added.

GHD’s project director Iain Caution said: "We are proud of our significant involvement in this landmark project for Dubai. Our team has worked closely with Al Jalila Foundation to deliver the design and we are delighted to extend our services into the construction phase."

The company is a major player in the water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation sector, he added.-TradeArabia News Service