Cundall has launched a new office in Riyadh in support of its commitment to strengthen its Middle East operations and grow its global practice. The opening of Cundall Arabia was marked with a reception hosted at the British Embassy in Riyadh, which was attended by local business leaders and representatives of the Foreign Office, as well as Cundall staff and clients from across the region, a statement from Cundall noted.
The new Riyadh office serves as a hub for the practice in-country work and is said to strengthen the firm’s ability to serve its Saudi clients. The expansion will complement Cundall’s existing offices in Dubai and Doha, bring more of the business’s skills and expertise to the market and increase influence on projects across the region, the firm explained.
The firm said it is already working on a number of high-profile projects throughout Saudi Arabia, encompassing entertainment, masterplanning and the Red Sea Global’s Dark Sky Initiative.
“The eyes of the world are on Saudi Arabia as we witness unprecedented positive transformation, both socially and economically, to realise the ambition of the Saudi Vision 2030. This is driving an incredible level of growth in development and construction and 2023 should be a pivotal year for the country as work on the many of the transformational projects announced in recent years begin to come to fruition,” said Richard Stratton, Partner & Managing Director EMENA.
In mid May 2022, Cundall’s Mrunmai Vaidya said there are three key areas to consider as an industry to pursue development without escalating climate change.
He continued, “Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a clear intention for its projects to set new sustainability benchmarks and this aligns well with our own Net Zero Carbon 2030 commitments. We look forward to building on the success of the projects we are already driving in the region, and continue delivering Cundall’s design and engineering excellence to both public and private sector clients in this exciting and burgeoning market.”
The recent diversification of the Saudi economy with the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030 provides an opportunity for Cundall to help create a more equitable and sustainable built environment which aligns well with its own strategy and values, the firm pointed out.
Carole O’Neil, Global Managing Partner at Cundall commented, “The expansion into Saudi Arabia is a significant and exciting milestone for Cundall. We are already working with some great clients, and we’re looking forward to building new relationships in the region and continuing to have a positive impact on every project we touch. With the recent significant cultural and economic changes that the country has undergone, as well as its plans for a more sustainable future, we see a huge opportunity to support the country on its journey and this aligns well with Cundall’s commitment to building a more sustainable future.”
Cundall is dedicated to achieving sustainable design throughout the built environment. The development of the business’s footprint in Saudi Arabia is a testament to its unwavering commitment to its clients and supporting social and economic growth in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the statement added.
In late June 2022, Carole O’Neil said Cundall is committed to building an inclusive business where anyone can thrive.
Cundall’s partner in Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz M. AlBassam, Managing Partner, MABconsult remarked, “We are thrilled with the launch of Cundall, a globally renowned engineering consultancy, here in Riyadh, where we are certain of the value that it will bring to the local industry. We look forward to the transfer of knowledge to the local talented Saudi engineers and the participation in the unprecedented movement towards the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030.”
The new Riyadh office is Cundall’s 24th global office and brings the practice to over 1000 employees worldwide. In 2023, Cundall will open an office in the Philippines and will make further announcements about openings in the coming months, the statement concluded.
In late March 2023, Mario Saab, Head of Sustainability MENA at Cundall said the wisest course of action is to build on the IPCC call to action and scale up efforts to improve existing buildings and communities.