Bill Estes

Hi everyone,

Good day to you all. I have joined our group today. I am working as a Landscape Project Manager in Dubai, UAE. I love creative ideas, innovations in the field of landscaping. I found the group so interesting that i decided to be a part of it. I am still learning and trying to learn from my friends and experiences. Hope we can have a…[Read more]

Hi; I m new in this group. I m working in some projects in the Emirates, but our office is in beautiful Sicily, Italy. I decided to learn the arabic language. People told me that at least in UAE you don´t need to know the language for working there, but for me It is a matter of respect, I would like to know the culture from the country / region…[Read more]

Does anybody have any suggestions or tips on which ME countries have the best job potential? I’m trying to figure out if work in the region is a viable option these days as my home market (Phoenix, Arizona) has stalled completely. Contacts or resource information would be more than appreciated. Thanks!

I work in dubai right now in G C L A, the thing is that Landscape architecture companies stopped hiring but are not firing, as a respond to the crisis, but as a company we are minorly affected some projects un dubai were terminated. Gunther its weird because our abu dhabi projects are the one keeping us up.

Thanks Ammar. At the moment, construction and any new development is being put on hold in Dubai. There were speculations on Abu Dhabi to be the next player in the industry with a lots of exciting ‘green’ projects coming up..

~Just abit of an updates on the current situation in Dubai~

Abdulkader A. Al-Gilani,

Thanks for the reference for middle eastern plants. An Illustrated Guide to the Flowers of Saudi Arabia will be added to my shelf, and will be a great help for future projects in the area.

Syaryzad,

The market is Saudi Arabia is good. In fact, I’m now looking for three landscape architects to work with me. I work at one of the biggest design firms in the region “Zuhair Fayez Partnership” I am the lead landscape architect at the rapid projects department, and I urgently need three landscape architects to start working with my team…[Read more]

Hi guys..
I am wondering whether any of you are affected by the economical crisis at the moment? A few of my friends in Dubai were laid off recently due to the stagnant market..
Are there still market for Landscape Architect in the Middle East?

Info about the LEED Credentialing Program:
http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=83

Info about the LEED 2009 Greenbuild Update & the LEED 2009 Exam:
http://www.intheleed.com/the-leed-2009-greenbuild-update-the-leed-2009-exam/

Hi everyone! I have worked in Cairo on a collaborative project with Ain Shams University architecture students. It was an amazing experience and I would love to go back…maybe someday! I am glad to have found this room so I can see all the wonderful projects you are all working on in that part of the world.

Hey, everyone. Let’s get some discussions going. I’ve noticed that the top 5 active groups are always displayed on the main Lounge page. It would be cool to have this group always active and highlighted. Please, feel free to start your own discussions, no need to wait for me.

The Sunshine State…searching for that perfect orange.

Note: Buildings are “certified”, people are “accredited” – a possible question on the test according to a USGBC study group I went to. I am taking the test in December.

I wanted so say thank you to Abdulkader for the recommendation of the the Illustrated Guide to the flower of Saudi Arabia. It is a great resource. I was hoping that someone might be able to share their experience with procuring plant material in Dubai. The Landscape Contractor that we are working with is procuring most of the plant material from…[Read more]

Hello, hope this will be a constructive forum.

I am posting this for the sake of sharing knowledge. This might me the most comprehensive encyclopedia of native plants in Saudi Arabia.

An Illustrated Guide to the Flowers of Saudi Arabia. By Sheila Colenette.
Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Flora Publication no. 1.
Scorpion Publishing Ltd.,…[Read more]

The accreditation system seems quite blurry for now this side, save bulletins for seminars by the Emirates Green Building Council (initiative by HH Sheik Makhtoum), but developers are taking notice. Much talk in meetings about projects meeting Green Building standards, but not much push or initiative from the companies yet on getting on board the…[Read more]

I’m currently involved in a number of projects (mainly Qatar) going for LEED accreditation, some of the platinum.

It is not a directive from our consultancy (consider impact on client cost) but a desire from the client.

The main drive is in Qatar is from by QF / QP (Qatar Foundation) with the direct hands on influence of the Emir’s w…[Read more]

Hello all.

Three questions for all. (1) How significant is the LEED initiatives of the UAE (or the GCC in general) to your current projects and practice? (2) Is LEED accreditation a must in your office? (3) Have your office/EGBC/local LEED contacts informed you of the process to get accreditation?

A mouthful but important. Thanks in advance for…[Read more]