ACTS emphasises on importance of well-trained professionals in Qatar's booming construction sector

ACTS pointed out that the quality of professionals could, to a large extent, influence the sustained progress and vitality of the construction sector in Qatar, where $125bn has been earmarked for construction and energy projects alone.

"Ever since Qatar won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup, the country has been under the spotlight. Construction activities in Qatar have definitely kicked off on a major scale, with several high-value infrastructure and investment projects already underway. Over the next few years, one of the challenges Qatar could face will be the shortage of highly skilled technical staff since the magnitude and scale of the projects for the 2022 World Cup are unprecedented. This is where training for construction industry professionals could play a major role, since training is vital to improving quality by creating more skillful and technically proficient construction professionals," said Dr. Maher El Barrak, Head of ACTS Training & Consultancy Division.

In recent years, ACTS has provided American Concrete Institute 'ACI' certification programmes to several companies in Qatar, such as Qatar Building Company 'QBC'; CH2MHILL; Gulf Cement Company; Midmac; CCC; GHD; EXOVA; Al Wataniya Concrete; Khalid Cement Industries Complex, CDC; KEO International Consultants, complementing the similar trainings it has offered to major regional organisations such as National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) in Abu Dhabi; Transgulf Readymix Concrete Co; Al Falah Ready Mix Concrete; Ready Mix Beton; and Etisalat in Dubai; and Saudi Aramco; Saudi Bin Ladin; Sodamco; BASF; Saudi Diyar; Al Mabani; and Saudi Ready Mix in KSA.

ACTS is the local sponsoring group of the American Concrete Institute 'ACI' for its certification programmes in the Middle East.

ACI is the world authority in concrete construction and produces the main building codes that are universally adopted in engineering design and concrete construction

ACTS has been offering these courses since 1996, and has trained more than 5,000 personnel all over the MENA region and certified more than 2,000 in the various ACI certification programmes.

Since 2009, the Ashghal authority in Qatar mandated ACI Certification as a main requirement for inspection companies to be qualified for the major projects of the country. Every organisation must now have ACI certified staff.

The main ACI Certification required for civil engineers is the ACI Concrete Construction Special Inspector Programme in which candidates should demonstrate a wide knowledge in concrete construction practices such as mix design, placement, pumping, consolidation, finishing, curing, protection, testing and evaluation.

ACTS training division conducts regular training sessions related to the construction field and provides the trainees with the possibility to become ACI certified in different disciplines.

They also offer in house and specific training courses which are tailor-made to fit customers needs. The targeted trainees for these programmes are engineers, managers, inspectors, technicians, contractors, and material suppliers. In some cases, even construction lawyers have attended ACTS training courses.