Six major construction contractors based in Oman are: Stefan Altziebler, Fathi Alaaiddin, Suresh Virmani, Mohamed Ali, Shyam Sundar and Constantinos Shiacolas.
Stefan Altziebler
Position: General manager, Strabag Oman
Biography: Stefan Altziebler is the general manager of Strabag Oman, a subsidiary of the Austrian construction firm Strabag. He graduated in 1977 from the Technical Science and Experimental Institute for Civil Engineering in Villach, Austria, and joined Strabag the following year. After working as branch manager for 23 years, Altziebler moved to Strabag Oman in 2002, taking up his current position in 2004. Strabag Oman initially focused on asphalt and concrete pavements, but under Altziebler’s leadership, the firm expanded its operations to undertake contracts for road works, airports, earthworks and dams. Strabag Oman plans to further develop its capabilites to undertake work such as harbours, construction engineering and building projects. The firm’s turnover has doubled every year since Altziebler’s appointment as general manager. Altziebler received a diploma in National and International Civil Engineering in 2000.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2452 6905
Fathi Alaaiddin
Position: Vice-president, Oman & Pakistan, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)
Biography: Fathi Alaaiddin is vice-president of operations in Oman and Pakistan for the Athens-based construction firm CCC. Alaaiddin graduated from the American University in Beirut with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1973, and completed a master’s degree in 1975. Alaaiddin joined CCC in January 1977. He has been with company for more than 33 years and was appointed vice-president for Oman and Pakistan in 2007. With operations in oil, gas and petrochemicals, real estate and infrastructure, CCC is one of the largest contractors in the Middle East. CCC is also one of the region’s largest private sector employers with 170,000 staff. Alaaiddin also works with Omani government institutions on construction and corporate governance issues. Alaaiddin is a member of the Oman Contractors Association and the Australian Engineering Society.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2477 4774
Suresh Virmani
Position: Managing director, Bahwan Engineering Group
Biography: Suresh Virmani is managing director of Bahwan Engineering Group, based in Ruwi, Oman. Virmani founded the firm in 1977 with 13 other investors. The company started out as a small-scale air-conditioning contractor, but has since evolved into a major construction firm taking on bigger schemes. Before establishing Bahwan, Virmani worked as an electrical engineer for 14 years with Voltas, part of the Tata group in India. During his time with Voltas, Virmani worked on an air-conditioning project for Muscat Palace in Oman. Under Virmani’s leadership, Bahwan has executed projects in the oil and gas industry and power transmission and distribution sector. It has also built hotels, hospitals, commercial and residential complexes, and shopping malls. In 2009, Bahwan won an estimated $217m contract for mechanical, electrical and plumbing works at Muscat International airport.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2459 7510
Mohamed Ali
Position: Vice-chairman and managing director, Galfar Engineering
Biography: Mohamed Ali is vice-chairman and managing director of Galfar Engineering & Contracting, one of the largest contractors in Oman. Ali graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Kerala, India. He began his career as a civil engineer for the Border Road Organisation of India, where he worked for three years. In 1972, Ali was invited by Galfar founding chairman Sheikh Salim al-Fannah al-Araimi to help set up a construction firm in Oman. Initially, Galfar employed just five people, and the first project the firm undertook was the house of the governor of Sur, a deal worth OR13,000 ($33,000). Galfar now employs 27,000 staff and turnover is expected to hit $1bn this year. Ali has played a major role in developing Galfar’s credentials as a respected oil and gas contractor, he is the founding chairman of the Oman Petroleum Alliance.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2452 5000
Shyam Sundar
Position: Chief executive officer (CEO), Larsen & Toubro Oman (LTO)
Biography: Shyam Sundar is CEO of LTO, a subsidiary of India’s Larsen & Toubro. Sundar has a master’s degree in structural engineering from Madras University in India and has held various positions for Larsen & Toubro over the past 25 years, based in India, Dubai and Oman. Before taking up his current position in 2008, Sundar was in charge of the building and infrastructure division of LTO. The firm was established in 1994 as a joint venture between Larsen & Toubro and local business group, the Zubair Corporation. LTO provides services across three main sectors in the construction industry: building and utilities; power transmission and distribution; and infrastructure. LTO, in a joint venture with Galfar Engineering and Contracting, have submitted bids for contracts to build new passenger terminals at Muscat International and Salalah airports.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2476 2202
Constantinos Shiacolas
Position: Chief executive officer (CEO), Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P)
Biography: Constantinos Shiacolas is CEO of Cyprus-based contractor J&P. After graduating in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the National Metsovian Polytechnic in Athens, Shiacolas worked as a design engineer for the Cypriot Public Works Department for two years. In 1968, Shiacolas joined J&P as a site engineer and worked on a projects in Oman, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Cyprus. In 1977, Shiacolas was appointed as country manager for Saudi Arabia, and in 1992, he became general manager of J&P Overseas. Shiacolas took up his current position as CEO in 2002. J&P directs its operations in Oman from its Muscat office. J&P is the low bidder for the contract to build the new terminal at Muscat airport, with a bid of OR746m ($1.9bn). Oman’s Transport & Communications Ministry is expected to award the contract in July.
Contact Tel: (+968) 2449 0200
You might also like...
Abu Dhabi makes major construction investments
25 April 2024
Saudi Arabia seeks K9 PPP project interest
25 April 2024
Kuwait reviews 1.1GW solar prequalifications
25 April 2024
LIVE WEBINAR: Abu Dhabi Oil & Gas 2024
25 April 2024
A MEED Subscription...
Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.
