Careful craftsmanship was used to replicate the surrounding mountain area to match the “Deserts of the World” theme of the entire Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort development, including colour themes and textures. For sustainability purposes and to mirror the geological features of the surrounding environment, locally available materials such as the Al Ain dune sand were selected, setting a natural scene with Jebel Hafeet in the background.

 

Organised by the American Shotcrete Association, the Outstanding Shotcrete Project Awards is a prestigious yearly programme that demonstrates the possibilities and advantages of Shotcrete, a process in which concrete is applied by spraying.  The Shotcrete project at Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort is one of a few projects of its kind that are driven by sustainability objectives. The surrounding natural environment was used as a guiding principle for the design and completion of the work.

 

Haleema Al Hammadi, Chief Property Development Officer at Al Ain Zoo, commented: “We are honoured to receive this award from the American Shotcrete Association and grateful to our contractors for the successful and innovative execution of the Shotcrete process to enhance the natural look and feel of the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort project. This recognition further supports our commitment to develop and operate in an environmentally sustainable manner at any and every stage, and we are proud ambassadors of this cause.”

 

The winning Shotcrete project was undertaken by Hilalco as the General Contractor and UNIBETON Ready Mix as the material supplier, along with other contracting partners. The scope of Shotcrete work at the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, which was completed in less than a year, consisted of three parts: the structural retaining wall at the North Kenyan Safari, artificial rocks, and the ha-ha retaining wall (animal containment barrier).