Specialising in cost consultancy and project management, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) assists its clients in controlling construction costs with localised property and construction advice. Using its global experience and networks combined with local expertise, it is the partner of choice for Asian companies in the Middle East. "We can offer great advice and services during tender situations if Asian clients are looking to bid on projects and they want local knowledge and expertise," says Tony Bratt, managing director of the RLB offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. "We can offer a lot of good upfront advice early on in a project." RLB has 50 offices in Asia, 20 of which are in Hong Kong and on the mainland. The company works closely with companies such as Hong Kong-based international design firm Aedas to bid on projects in the region. The 2,500-strong company with 100 offices worldwide has had a strong presence in the Middle East for more than 30 years. Its design, implementation and planning hub is in Dubai. Going beyond cost consultancy, RLB offers project management assistance. It also provides advisory services on due diligence, asset registers and facilities management, which can help clients ensure the sustainability and long-term success of their property investments. An aggregate of the firms Rider Hunt of Australia, New Zealand and the United States, Levett & Bailey of China, and Bucknall Austin of Britain, RLB benefits from being part of an international group. "The construction problems and issues in Hong Kong and China are similar to the problems in this part of the world. We have the global training and skill sets to solve these problems," Bratt says. RLB works with government, semi-government and private construction entities. It is eyeing great opportunities for growth in Doha with the building of infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. Having worked with clients from different regions, RLB aims to carry on relationships with Asian clients.
