Imkan hires Ramboll to deliver project on Abu Dhabi's Reem Island

Global engineering consultants Ramboll have been drafted in by Abu-Dhabi-based property developers Imkan to lead the first phase of their flagship Maker’s District project in the city, an 18-hectare mixed-use waterfront development on Reem Island. 

The engineering, design and management consulting firm Ramboll has been appointed as the lead consultancy for Phase One of the AED2 billion ($540 million) Maker’s District project in Abu Dhabi, a vibrant new cultural hub to be built across 18 hectares and featuring an integrated mix of residential, hospitality, retail and commercial spaces. Located on Reem Island, with over 1,000 residential units and 11,000sqm of commercial space slated in its initial phase, the project aspires to become the new ‘beating heart’ of the capital. 

Ramboll, of Danish origin, has continued to expand in recent years through both organic growth and large strategic acquisitions in Denmark, Sweden, India, UK and USA, with a global footprint now spanning 300 offices with 13,000 employees worldwide. The consulting firm works across the Building, Transport, Environment & Health, Energy, Water, and Management Consulting sectors, and will bring to the UAE its previous experience in similar projects, such as guiding the feasibility study for the RiverCity redevelopment in Gothenburg.

Ramboll’s recruitment to the project and $32.67 million contract marks the official launch of the Maker’s District development, which is scheduled for completion in 2020, and will see the company working alongside the architectural firms MVRDV of Holland, which has unveiled plans to build a cluster of towers with a striking ‘pixelated’ appearance, and fellow Danes the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), who will oversee the design of the public spaces. 

Soren Holm Johansen, Group Executive Director at Ramboll, said of the deal; “This is a significant win for our team in the UAE.  Our multi-disciplinary buildings team are involved in several high-rises, and mixed-use projects in the region and this high profile win cements our position as one of the leading engineering design companies. The ‘Makers District’ is a very challenging project, and we are excited to utilise our knowledge and expertise to deliver a project of this scale successfully.” 

Imkan’s CEO Walid El Hindi said of the project; “Makers District is the first development of its kind in the region. We conducted extensive research on the needs and aspirations of young, highly networked and creative workers who currently have a limited choice in where they live and work.  Makers District is a community that fills this gap by responding to the rise of the maker movement - a social movement with an artisan spirit.”

Commenting on the Ramboll announcement, El Hindi added, “We are delighted to appoint Ramboll as the lead consultant for the first phase of Makers District. This is testament to our approach of entering partnerships with global firms with a proven track record in delivering truly outstanding projects.” 

Abu Dhabi’s Maker’s District is just the first step in Imkan’s vision to take the concept to cities across the globe, from the Middle East and North Africa to Asia and Europe, with interconnected sister sites already proposed for Cairo, Sao Paulo, Montenegro and Rabat, Morocco.