ACES Strengthens US Presence with Acquisition of Meskel & Associates Engineering

AMMAN, JORDAN and JACKSONVILLE, FL April 20, 2026 – ACES US Holding Inc. (“ACES US” or the “Corporation”), the US subsidiary of the Middle East’s leading construction services and geotechnical engineering services firm, ACES Group, proudly completes its acquisition of Meskel & Associates Engineering (“Meskel” or “MAE”), a premier North Florida geotechnical engineering, materials testing and inspection, and CEI firm with over 18 years of experience throughout the southeast US.  Combined with MC2 Engineers Inc., acquired in 2022, MAE advances ACES’ Strategic Plan, expanding the corporation’s presence in the US and significantly enhancing its capabilities in Florida and Georgia. 

With headquarters in Jacksonville, FL and over 50 staff, MAE provides geotechnical engineering, construction engineering and inspection (CEI), materials testing, subsurface exploratory drilling, and environmental consulting services.  The firm operates a CMEC-Certified and Florida Department of Transportation (“FDoT”) qualified laboratory in Jacksonville.  With existing laboratories and facilities in Tampa, Ft Lauderdale as well as Atlanta, GA, ACES has established a strategically significant presence in the Southeast, exceeding 200 employees.  MAE will continue offering its services, along with MC2 Engineers additional services, for critical civil infrastructure projects led by design consultants, the federal government, the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDoT”), local city and county governments, municipalities, general contractors, as well as industrial and commercial developers.

“Today, we officially welcome MAE to ACES. This acquisition strengthens our position in the U.S. and broadens our capabilities across the construction and engineering value chain at a time of accelerating demand for reliable and resilient infrastructure. By combining environmental advisory, geotechnical engineering, construction support expertise, and construction engineering inspection capabilities, we are creating a more integrated platform to support complex infrastructure programs from planning through execution.” stated Izzat Katkhuda, Co-CEO of ACES.

“MAE brings strong client relationships that enhance the reach and impact of our US platform. Together, our teams are expanding geographically, strengthening our service capabilities, and enhancing our ability to support clients, while providing greater opportunities for our people,” said Dr. Naeem Abdulhadi, Co-CEO of ACES.

“Over the past 18 years, Meskel has become one of the leading geotechnical and material engineering consultants in North Florida. I am proud of our client-centric culture we have built and believe this partnership will benefit our employees and clients. Joining ACES gives our team a broader platform, deeper resources, and expanded opportunities for growth. We are proud of what we’ve built and energized by what we will build together.” commented Tina Meskel, President of MAE.

About ACES

Founded in 1983, ACES offers a wide range of specialized engineering services including site and geotechnical investigation, geophysical investigation, materials technology and testing, quality control of projects, pile testing and instrumentation, special studies, land and marine surveying, and chemical and environment testing. With a strong regional network of over 25 offices across the Middle East, diverse capabilities, state of the art facilities, and over 4,000 highly qualified employees, ACES is committed to the best in class services. Learn More at www.aces-int.com.

About Meskel & Associates Engineering

Meskel & Associates Engineering is a Florida‑based engineering firm providing geotechnical engineering, construction engineering and inspection (CEI), environmental consulting, and construction materials testing services across the Southeast United States. Learn more at www.meskelengineering.com.

About MC2

MC2 is ACES’ US subsidiary offering geotechnical, heavy civil, and construction‑services engineering firm with operations across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The company provides geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, special inspections, and infrastructure consulting services to municipal, state, federal, and private‑sector clients. Learn more at www.mc2engineers.com.

For more information, please contact:

Julie Hines

Chief Human Resources Officer

MC Squared, LLC.

jhines@mc2engineers.com

I-4 at SR 33 Interchange in Polk County, Florida

MC Squared Construction Services in Polk County

MC Squared is serving Lane Construction and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as the Construction Support subcontractor for the I-4 and SR 33 Interchange Reconstruction project near Lakeland, Florida. The project will convert the existing traditional diamond interchange into a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), a design that reduces traffic conflict points and is expected to improve safety and operational efficiency for thousands of daily commuters.

Our team is providing field quality control, foundation inspection, laboratory testing, and engineering support throughout the construction phase. Field technicians and inspectors—certified through the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and FDOT’s Construction Training Qualification Program (CTQP)—are performing continuous on-site testing and verification of materials and structural elements. In these early phases, our scope includes oversight of auger cast pile installation for sound and noise walls, drilled shaft inspection, and laboratory testing of embankment, backfill, and concrete specimens in accordance with FDOT specifications.

We are also providing engineering services through a dedicated Quality Control Manager who is responsible for tracking laboratory data, coordinating with project stakeholders, and ensuring test results are entered into the FDOT Materials Acceptance and Certification (MAC) system. These services are critical to ensuring the integrity of the constructed elements and compliance with applicable standards as the project progresses.

Construction is anticipated to continue through 2025. As the interchange takes shape, MC Squared remains committed to delivering reliable, detail-oriented oversight in support of Lane Construction and FDOT’s shared goal: a safer, more efficient corridor for the surrounding community and the broader Central Florida region.

St. Petersburg Northwest Water Reclamation Facility

MC Squared provided Quality Control (QC) services for concrete testing as part of the St. Petersburg Northwest Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Improvements project. Our team conducted field and laboratory testing to assess concrete strength, composition, and durability, ensuring compliance with project specifications. By delivering accurate and timely test reports, we supported construction progress and upheld the integrity of critical infrastructure.

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Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage Reservoir (C-43 WBSR)

Developed by C-43 Water Management Builders for the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir is a 170,000-acre-foot infrastructure project designed to store excess freshwater from the Caloosahatchee River, stabilize salinity levels, and prevent algal blooms. MC Squared provided critical laboratory management, construction materials testing, and quality control, ensuring compliance with USACE standards. Our contributions—including testing 22 million cubic yards of embankment, 110,000 tons of soil-cement armoring, and 19 miles of soil-bentonite cutoff wall—have helped ensure the reservoir’s durability, reliability, and long-term impact on Florida’s water resources and communities.

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City of Tampa UCAP Pipelines, City of Tampa, Florida

Provided subsurface investigations and associated recommendations for a proposed 48-inch waterline from the David L. Tippin Treatment Plant to South Tampa, a distance of approximately 65,000 LF. The project included horizontal directional drilling and tunneling under the Hillsborough River as well as numerous deep tunnel crossings under major roadways along the project alignment.

Dale Mabry Stormwater Tunnel, City of Tampa, Florida

Performed a limited Phase I along the project corridor to evaluate potential contamination that could affect the development of the project which included 7000 LF of stormwater tunnel thru a residential neighborhood. Also provided a baseline geotechnical report and laboratory testing to support the future design. The project was intended to alleviate flooding in the South Tampa area of Hillsborough County.

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