Landlocked Saudi economic city to get seaport

Saudi Arabia government officials are not allowing the fact that the King Abdullah Economic City is landlocked to prevent them from accepting bids to begin construction on a seaport in the new city.

The project is one of the six zones forming the Economic City in Madinah region. The port has been designed to support and reinforce the economic growth in the Kingdom as well as boosting the competitiveness within the Saudi economy. It is also expected to be the largest near the Red Sea and the 10th largest seaport in the world.

According to Richard Beard, executive director of Halcrow Co., an international consultancy specialising in planning, design and management services for maritime projects in the Middle East, the seaport will lead to the emergence of a new world characterized by “dynamism” as it will link the Kingdom with several world markets.

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While Saudi officials did not elaborate on the selection KAEC for a seaport, it most likely will be located between the Red Sea coastal town of Yanbu and Rabigh, a little more than 200 kilometres north of Jeddah and the site of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

The port will be built on an area of 168 million m2. It is scheduled to be operational by 2011. It will be distinguished for its accommodation and storage capacity.

An estimated 20 million 20-foot storage containers are expected to be able to be accommodated at the port, which will have an 18-metre deep dock capable of receiving super vessels. The seaport will be linked with an integrated roads network that will accelerate the handling of the Kingdom’s exports and imports.

The port will also be directly linked to the Industrial City. This will help facilitate the transportation and handling of primary materials and industrial products which will positively contribute to the increase of the Kingdom’s exports to global markets, construction planners said.
 
On the coast of the Red Sea and situated on one of the largest shipping line routes, the new city's Seaport will create a regional logistics hub, Beard said.

The port's proposed integrated transportation system also promises to deliver cargo to various destinations within the region and internationally.

"KAEC facilities planned and designed to satisfy not only current needs, but to provide for the Kingdom's future requirements and to boost the Kingdom's global competitive advantage", said Fahad Abdul Mohsen Al Rasheed, board member and chief executive officer of Emaar.E.C."In the planning, design and construction oversight of maritime projects Halcrow have a proven track record of success in creating state-of-the-art, efficient facilities and Halcrow team of technically diverse employees demonstrated the full range of expertise required for the KAEC Seaport."

KAEC has six components: the Seaport, Industrial Zone, Central Business District, Resort District, Educational Zone and Residential communities.