Schedule

Networking

Delegate registration and networking
Registration and snacks/networking outside the main hall at the Dusit Thani, Dubai.

Host Introduction

MC event introduction and welcome
Welcome to the 2025 Future of Engineering Summit, event mechanics and what’s lined up for the day.

Jason Saundalkar

Welcome Speech
Big Project Middle East’s Head of Content Jason Saundalkar welcomes speakers and delegates to the summit and discusses the event’s key themes and focuses. He will also outline the Big Project brands’ plans for the rest of the year.

Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East

Keynote Address

Keynote address
Content to be announced soon.

Panel Discussion One

Floating Cities

In response to a growing need for land and rising sea levels, settlements/cities that float are being positioned as a potential solution to urban expansion demands. Concepts have been announced in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the Maldives and the United States. This panel discussion will present insights on:

• The benefits of floating cities and whether they are a more sustainable alternative to manmade islands/land reclamation in cases where land is scarce?
• Governance on floating cities and what authorities have to put in place to ensure these developments are built and managed properly to ensure longevity and safety?
• Sustainable floating city concepts include integrated systems focusing on food, energy, water, waste and mobility. What else must these developments incorporate to be successful and thrive now and in the future?
• Contemporary examples of floating cities and design, engineering and delivery learnings that developers of current/future floating cities can benefit from
• What are the environmental concerns around floating cities and how can they be addressed through cutting edge environmental engineering?
• What climate-change related extreme weather events are floating cities susceptible to, and how can these issues be mitigated?

Moderator

Engi Jaber, Associate Partner – Sustainability and Head of Climatize, part of +impact

Confirmed Panelists

Cameron Alexander Livingstone, Committee Chair, Policy & Governance, The Floating Institute

Dr. Harpreet Seth, Head of Architecture, Heriot Watt University Dubai

Maubeen Ali Gulzar, Highways Lead & Project Manager, KEO International Consultants

Rola Nasreddine, Executive Director, Springs Global Consultancy

Roland Luke Shine, Operations Manager, GHD Global Pty Ltd Abu Dhabi

Presentation One

Presentation

Content to be announced soon.

Rima Boudaba, Sustainability Manager, Climatize, part of +impact

Panel Discussion Two

Facades of the Future

As the world evolves and requirements change, façade engineers are faced with an uphill battle to build increasingly complex structures whilst simultaneously satisfying a multitude of other requirements. Developers in the MEA region are particularly demanding, considering the region’s harsh weather, the increasing impact of climate-change, appetite for aesthetically pleasing structures, growing focus on sustainable development, and tight project budgets. This panel discussion will explore:

• The impact cutting edge façade design and engineering can have on enhancing a structure’s energy efficiency and resident quality of life (reducing street noise intrusion, cutting down on heat intrusion/loss etc)
• The balancing act between form, function, sustainability and cost – what is the current order of priority and what should it actually be?
• What should façade design and engineering incorporate to ensure that it protects the rest of the structure from the growing occurrence of climate-change driven extreme weather events?
• How technology such as 3D modelling is enabling engineers to create better and more accurate designs, and identify problems before fabrication of the physical elements actually begins?
• The role robotics can play in the installation and maintenance of complex facades
• Climate adaptation and trends such as the use of advanced materials such as bio-reactive facades, self-cleaning concrete and others, as well as responsive façade systems to ensure a structure is as resilient as possible

Moderator

Ghina Yamak, Principal Façade Consultant, Zutari Engineering International

Confirmed Panelists

Imran Shaikh, Director of MEP & Specialisms, Ramboll Middle East

Izzeddin Hasan, Chief MEP Engineer at MERED

Jason Pardesi, Business Group Manager – Structures & Facades, GHD Global Pty Ltd

Stuart Rennie, Senior Project Architect, Adjaye Associates

Surabhi Saran, Senior Building Physicist, AESG

Presentation Two

Safeguarding Health in the Built Environment: Engineering Public Health into Building Design

As the built environment evolves, so do expectations around brand value, sustainability, and occupant well-being. People are increasingly aware of their environmental impact and the health risks posed by modern living.

In the GCC, developers, consultants, and contractors face mounting pressure to deliver higher-quality buildings faster, with tighter budgets and greater sustainability demands—all in a region challenged by extreme climate and rapid urban growth.

This talk explores:

• Why public health in buildings matters—and the risks of neglecting it
• How prevention is more cost-effective than cure
• The real cost of public health failures
• Smart engineering solutions that protect people and reputations

Dan Martindale, Sales Director, Buildings, Polypipe Middle East

Networking

LUNCH BREAK
Buffet lunch and networking.

Panel Discussion Three

Built to Last

Several markets in the MEA region are undergoing significant development, with key cities undertaking the construction of tall and super-tall structures. Building these complex towers, which are increasingly taking on the profile of vertical cities, presents engineers with a number of challenges from a structural standpoint and others. This panel discussion will cover:

• What is the current raft of challenges that structural engineers face when building tall and super-tall structures in the region?
• Are the current raft of structural engineering codes and standards still relevant today or do they need to be revised in line with modern requirements and challenges?
• What impact is climate-change and the resulting extreme weather events having on soil/land preparation, and the design/delivery of foundations for tall and super-tall structures? What are the challenges and how can they be mitigated?
• In aging structures or those that have been damaged by weather, wear & tear etc, can concrete be repaired/refurbished to ensure that the asset remains structurally safe and viable?
• What are the best materials and techniques to use for concrete repair and restoration? How are smart materials transforming the space?
• What are some of the new innovations and technologies positively impacting the structural engineering space?

Moderator to be confirmed soon

Dr. Mustafa Batikha, Assistant Professor, Heriot Watt University Dubai

More speakers to be confirmed soon

Presentation Three

Presentation Three
Content to be annouced soon

Event Wrap

MC closing remarks
Thank you for attending the 2025 Future of Engineering Summit!