May 10, 2015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The 2nd Annual Smart Skyscrapers Summit, held under the patronage of the Dubai Municipality, is all set to begin tomorrow at Sofitel The Palm Resort and Spa, Dubai, with two days of intensely exciting speeches, panel discussions and case studies. The two-day summit is produced by global conference organizers, Expotrade.

The summit will be inaugurated by Abdullah Al Rafia, Assistant Director General - Engineering and Planning Department, Dubai Municipality, who will also deliver a special address.

Dignitaries expected to attend include H.E. Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Consul General, Consulate General of Canada to United Arab Emirates in Dubai; H.E. Erdem Ozan, Consul General, Turkish Consulate General in Dubai; H.E. Raymund Furrer, Consul General, Consulate General of Switzerland in Dubai; H.E. Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Chief Executive Officer, SHUROOQ - Sharjah Investment and Development Authority; H.E. Mohammad Reza Fayyaz, Ambassador, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran; Sarika Lata, Second Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Fiji; Elodie Journet, Trade Commissioner and Deputy Consul-General, Australian Consulate-General Dubai; Majida Ali Rashed, Assistant Director General, Dubai Land Department; Sanam Shahani, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada to United Arab Emirates in Dubai.  

The global drive towards sustainability has fuelled innovation in sustainable skyscraper construction, especially in Dubai and the Middle East. The Smart Skyscrapers Summit focuses on highlighting the latest advancements in design, technology and solutions in modern skyscraper development, keeping the core theme of sustainability in mind. The summit is expected to host over 300 participants, with topics including construction challenges, intelligent transit, safety, innovative technology, energy efficiency, trends in architecture and much more.

Speakers and panelists at the summit include Ahmad K Abdelrazaq , Sr. Executive Vice President, Samsung C & T; John Mizon, Vice President Advanced Programs, Schindler Transit Management Group; Scott Coombes, Principal Consultant, AESG; Rudi Clayton, Manager Marketing & Exports, SULB Company; Simon Lay, Director – Fire Engineering, AECOM; Johannes de Jong, Head of Technology, Major Projects, KONE; Matthew Neidlinger, Director - Marketing MEA, Emerson Climate Technologies; Gabor Andrasi, Sales and Marketing Director - Africa & Middle East, Guardian; Nawras Rimawi, Director, Al-Jazeera Paints Academy; Matthew David Carton, Specification Manager, Kansai Paint MENA & CIS; Rafic Hanbali, Managing Partner, Emirates Insolaire; Philip Angell, Managing Director, Vision Project Services; Dr. Montasser Hussein El-Raie, Projects Manager, Khatib & Alami; Richard K. Pulling, Vice President - Sales, Global Major Projects, Otis Elevator Company, UTC Building & Industrial Systems; Errol Bull, Architectural Engineer, Technical Services Manager, GE Construction Sealants; Dr. Yasser Mahgoub, Head of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering, Qatar University; Abdulmajid Karanouh, Director - Head of Façade, Ramboll Middle East; Thomas D. Bohlen, CTO & Head of Corporate Sustainability, Middle East Centre for Sustainable Development; Wulf Binder, Sales Manager – Architecture, Novelis; Phillip Jones, Principal & Managing Director, Middle East & North Africa, B+H Architects; Mark Lavery, Associate Director - Tall Buildings, BuroHappold Engineering; Benjamin Piper, Director of Architecture, Perkins+Will; Ante Baric, Principal Consultant, BuroHappold Engineering; Simon Ingvartsen, Design Director, Henning Larsen Middle East.

Day 1’s agenda features sessions on the challenges of delivering tall buildings; intelligent transit; design and construction of sustainable buildings in the Middle East; advantages of using structural steel; smart paints; safety in tall buildings; innovative technology to future proof buildings; compressor modulation technology in air conditioning; energy efficiency with glass facades; sustainable paints with active benefits; innovative colored solar glass; use of precision mapping drones. The panel discussion will delve into the current and future trends in architecture.

The Day 2 agenda includes sessions on vertical transportation and integrated building technologies; silicone structural glazing; socio-cultural sustainability and tall buildings; sustainable design and facades for skyscrapers in the Middle East; sustainable development guidelines for skyscrapers. Also scheduled are a case study on the Cayan Tower and the panel discussion on making tall building developments and city infrastructure work.

The summit’s second edition is supported by major companies such as Schindler, SULB Company, KONE, Al-Jazeera Paints, Emerson Climate Technologies, Kansai Paint, GE Sealants, Guardian, Emirates Insolaire, UTC Building & Industrial Systems, Vision Project Services, Novelis and many more. The exhibitor lounge will feature over 25 solution-providers showcasing a range of innovative solutions and products.

Brad Hariharan, Regional Director, Expotrade Middle East, organizers of the conference, said, “Skyscraper development in the Middle East is a particularly relevant topic for Dubai and the Middle East. In today’s age of sustainable development, skyscrapers must be built using the latest technology and solutions to ensure safety, stability and durability. The Smart Skyscrapers Summit will focus on bringing the latest technology and solutions into the limelight. We are privileged to hold this event, under the esteemed patronage of the Dubai Municipality this year.”