In 1881, Arthur Scull created a plumbing firm in Bristol, England and achieved tremendous success.

In 1886, Bernard Drake founded Drake & Gorham to focus on Electrical and Mechanical Works.
The two companies led the adoption of electricity across England, and then the UK, working on private homes, gentry’ manors, castles, mills, industries, commercial offices and Palaces during the next 80 years.

Some of the major milestone projects delivered in this phase of DSI’s history include Chatsworth House, Bank of England (Thread Needle Street), Broadmead Bristol, Liverpool cathedral, and The Bristol Guildhall.

The two companies merged in 1964 to form Drake and Scull Engineering.

Drake & Scull Engineering decided to expand its footprint beyond the UK in the 1960s.

Drake & Scull Engineering delivered major projects like the Severn Suspension bridge connecting England and Wales, Montego Bay Hospital in Jamaica, Nun River Electrification in Nigeria, The Harbour City Project in Hong Kong, Intel PCB Manufacturing Plant in Singapore, and the MRTC headquarters in Hong Kong.

DSI ventured into the Rail business and worked on projects like St Pancras Redevelopment, The Jubilee Line Extension, the Channel Rail Tunnel Link and the Ashford and Ramsgate Depots.

DSI established first base out of the UK, by opening an office in Abu Dhabi in 1966.

DSI worked on the King Hussein Medical City project in Jordan and established an office in KSA and Dubai in 1977. DSI KSA won the MEP contract for the Intercontinental Hotel in KSA during the same year.

In the 90s, DSI relocated operations from the UK to the booming Middle East market.

DSI picked up prestigious projects like Emirates Golf Club, Baynunah Hilton, Jumeirah Beach Residences, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Dubai Internet City.

DSI offered 55% of its shares in a highly successful IPO that was oversubscribed 101 times in 2008. The IPO was ranked among the top 20 IPOs by Ernst & Young. DSI listed on the Dubai Financial Market in 2008 and became a publicly listed company.

DSI expanded in MENA and established offices in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, and India.

DSI expands by creating Drake & Scull Engineering, Drake & Scull Construction, Drake & Scull Rail & Infrastructure, Drake & Scull Oil and Gas, Drake & Scull Development. DSI also acquires Passavant Energy and Environment, Gulf Technical Construction Company and the International Centre for Contracting Company.

DSI was certified as ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001: 2004, ISO 27001:2013 and OHSAS 18001:2007 compliant.

DSI’s landmark projects currently include King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC), Lamar Towers, Saraya Aqaba, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Kuwait State Audit Bureau, Dohaland,  Louvre Museum, Braila Wastewater Treatment Plant, The River, World Crest Tower, Tahrir Petrochemicals complex, Low Density Ammonium Nitrate Plant in Egypt and the Zubair Oil Field Development.