Cumming Continues International Expansion with Opening of New Dubai Office

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – (Nov. 11, 2014) – Cumming, an international project management and cost consulting firm, announced today it has officially expanded its international operations by opening a new office in Dubai. This office replaces the smaller Dubai space Cumming previously occupied in Emaar Square. The new Dubai space gives increased capacity for the growing construction management company, which is currently experiencing regional year-over-year growth of more than 50%.

The Dubai office is located within the iRise building in TECOM, one of the region’s largest commercial office developments. Cumming will also retain its Khalediya-area office in Abu Dhabi, which has been open for more than five years.

“Expanding our international footprint by leveraging our successful worldwide experience will continue to be a focus for Cumming as many of our clients operate on a global level and expect the same from their trusted partners,” said Finlay Cumming, CEO and Founder at Cumming.

Cumming’s Dubai-based team specializes in program, project, construction, and cost management services. Cumming has more than 50 permanent team members working within the region. Noteworthy leaders include:

• Alastair Burns, International President – Alastair, President of Cumming’s international division since 2008, specializes in business planning, project identification and funding coordination, government-level negotiations, profit and cash flow management and reporting, and operations management. He has managed more than $30 billion worth of development in a variety of sectors, has overseen multi-disciplinary teams of hundreds of professionals, and has consistently achieved outstanding results. Alastair’ vast international experience includes work in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and Central America.

• Hatham Al-Ani, Director, Project Management – Hatham has been with Cumming since 2010 and serves as Cumming’s Managing Director of Project Management Services for the MENA region. Hatham began his career as an architect in 1986 in Dubai, where he held a variety of technical, operational, and managerial positions. Other positions held by Hatham include serving as the head of the Planning and Construction Management Unit at TECOM, an Associate at Group Consult International, and a Director of Planning and Construction Management with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority. Prior to joining Senior Director leading the project management team at the Chairman’s office.

• Steve Bale, Managing Director, Cost Management – Steve is a highly qualified chartered cost management construction professional with more than 30 years of industry experience. Coming from a UK Quantity Surveying background, Steve started his international career in South Africa, but has spent the last 28 years in the Middle East serving as Managing Director at Hanscomb and later at AECOM, once the firm acquired Hanscomb in 2008.

• John Hudson, Director, Cost Management – John is a senior manager with 40 years of cost management and contract administration experience. He has spent the last 20 years of his career in the Middle East working out of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Prior to joining Cumming, John worked as a Director of Cost and Commercial Director for AECOM, and prior to that as a Resident Manager and Technical Manager for Hanscomb.

Specializing in project, construction, and cost management services, Cumming’s international portfolio includes work across a broad range of sectors, including hospitality, healthcare and themed entertainment. Opening its first physical office in the United Arab Emirates in 2008, Cumming’s international leadership team members have provided services on more than 180 projects throughout the Middle East that have ranged in value from several million US dollars to $20 billion.