LIST OF TOP PROJECTS KAEC Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University for Women KAFD Haramain high-speed rail
US$ 35 billion 11.5 billion 10 billion 6 billion
THE HARAMAIN HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO COST $6 BILLION.
KAFD AT THE EARLY STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION.
A MODEL OF PRINCESS NOURAH BINT ABDULRAHMAN UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN. KAEC TOPS THE LIST OF ONGOING PROJECTS BY DOLLAR VALUE.
in fact can see it continuing in 2011 barring circumstances as yet unseen,” he said. Manuel La Guardia – chief estimator with Jeddah-based Saudi Freyssinet echoed Daher’s view on the market – although the firm is not as heavily involved with public sector work – and said the market in general is looking better in 2010. “It is getting better certainly, I think it’s fair to say it’s quite good. We have a number of projects we are looking to submit bids for currently.”
on various aspects of the work. Saudi Oger was awarded the first package in mid-January 2009 worth SR12.5 billion, with Saudi Binladin Group and El-Seif Engineering & Contracting winning subsequent packages valued at SR10 billion and SR8 billion respectively. The contracts cover the majority of construction on site, including low-rise faculty buildings, infrastructure and associated works. Despite Saudi Arabia’s strong financial showing, it has not been immune to the impact on the slowdown on construction. The EDUCATION value of the contracts was subject to a significant reduction as This greater emphasis on education has manifested itself in a the client, the Finance Ministry demanded re-tendered bids in surge of university schemes aimed at transforming the educational light of decreasing raw material prices. This lower profit margin remains a concern for contractors moving forward. landscape of the kingdom. Most significant is the massive Princess Nourah bint AbdulrahA fourth package, valued at SR1.5 billion covering a 11-km monoman University for Women in Riyadh. Covering three square- rail network to link the facilities, was awarded to a consortium kilometres, it will include a 700-bed teaching hospital, central led by Saudi Binladin Group and Ansaldo STS and AnsaldoBreda, library and conference centre together with at least 15 academic part of Italy’s Finmeccanica Group. The firms will be part of a three-year deal that involves building faculties. It is one of the largest schemes tendered in the kingthe monorail - elevated 10 metres above the ground - and supplydom in 2009. In a statement, Princess al-Jowhara bint Fahd, the university’s ing the trains. Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) president said: “It would double the admission capacity of women is the consultant on the project. students. The university would have 13 colleges, including those While these facilities in Riyadh point to a new direction for for medicine, dentistry, nursing, languages education in the kingdom, they are foland pharmacy.” The university is expected lowing in the footsteps of the massive “THIS YEAR WE WILL SEE to accommodate 40,000 students when King Abdullah University of Science & A CONTINUATION OF THE completed. Technology (KAUST). CONSTRUCTION BOOM WE Situated 80km to the north of Jeddah, Construction is pushing ahead, with the HAVE WITNESSED IN THE KINGDOM IN 2008 AND 2009” kingdom’s primary contractors all involved KAUST was officially opened by King
MARCH 6–12, 2010 CONSTRUCTION WEEK
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