Bridging the Gulf

by Henry R. Derr, Metcalf & Eddy International, Sharjah, UAE,


Serial Information: Worldwide Projects, 1993, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Pg. 28-31


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

The Gulf War and saturation of traditional Middle Eastern markets have prompted Western firms to look into the United Arab Emirates, the wealthiest of the small states around the Arabian peninsula and the one with the greatest potential for new business. The main source of the UAE's wealth is oil, although the emirates have broadened its economic development in the last two decades. The author, who works for Metcalf & Eddy International in Sharjah, notes that conditions in the UAE can take even experienced international firms by surprise, thanks in part to the hasty, patchwork way in which much of the underground infrastructure was developed. The use of Western vs. developing-country staff is discussed, along with ways to break into the local consulting market, changes in specifications and design standards and the entrance of U.S. firms in the UAE.

Subject Headings: Gulfs | Business management | Underground structures | Standards and codes | Infrastructure | Eddy (fluid dynamics) | Economic factors

Services: Buy this book/Buy this article

 

Return to search