10 biggest infrastructure contracts in KSA

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With government infrastructure jobs boosting the market, Construction Week digs out the biggest planned and ongoing infrastructure jobs in the Kingdom.

1. Saudi Landbridge project

The Landbridge project is a 950km railway connecting Jeddah on the Red Sea with Dammam city. The project will also include a 115km rail track to connect King Fahd Industrial Port with Jubail Industrial City.

Client: Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) 
Value: US $10 billion
Contractors: To be awarded
Project Duration: Q1 2010 to Q1 2015
Schedule: Four consortiums including Trabot, Saudi Oger, Saudi Binladin Group, and Al Mada applied for the BOT contract.

2. Haramain High Speed Rail Project

Haramain High Speed Rail Project is a rail link connecting Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah. The railway will be a high speed electrified passenger double line capable of running trains at speeds of up to 360kmph. The design, construction, operation and maintenance of the project will be executed in two phases.

Client: Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) 
Value: US $1.9 billion
Consultants: Dar Al Handasa Consultants; Getinsa
Contractors: Al Rajhi consortium
Project Duration: Q2 2009 to Q1 2013
Schedule: Al Rajhi consortium won the civil works contract for the Project last January. Construction began in April. 

The project calls for the construction of a 782km section from Al Nafud to the Al Jalamid mine and Al Qurayyat.

Client: Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) 
Value: US $763 million
Consultants: Louis Berger (design and project management); Systra Company; Canarail Consultants; Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company
Contractors: Barclay Mowlem; Mitsui Company
Project Duration: Q2 2007 to Q4 2010
Schedule: Australia’s Barclay Mowlem and Japan’s Mitsui Company were awarded the main construction contract in April 2007. Work on the project has begun and is expected to be completed in October 2010. 

4. North South Railway package 1

The project calls for the construction of a 576km section from the planned fertilizer and aluminum complex at Ras Al Zour to the bauxite mine of Al Zabirah, including the spurs to the Al Zabirah mine site and Jubail.

Client: Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) 
Value: US $628 million
Consultants: Louis Berger (design and project management); Systra Company; Canarail Consultants; Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company
Contractors: Saudi Binladin Group; Mohammed Al-Swaliem Company
Project Duration: Q2 2007 to Q4 2010
Schedule: Systra, Canarail, and Khatib & Alami will undertake the general design of the transportation system and the operating plan, preliminary route definition, functional definition of systems and rolling stock, detailed design of the railway roadbed and track structure, and evaluation of SRO's existing infrastructure and superstructure. The consortium of Saudi Binladin group was awarded the main construction contract in April 2007. The project is in progress and expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The project calls for the construction of the signaling and traffic control system for the project.

Client: Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Railways Organization (SRO)    
Value: US $533 million
Consultants: Louis Berger (design and project management); Systra Company; Canarail Consultants; Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company
Contractors: Saudi Binladin Group
Project Duration: Q1 2009 to Q4 2010
Schedule: Saudi Binladin Group received the Letter of Intent last January. Construction is expected to begin next month and completed by the end of 2010. 

6. North South Railway package 2

The project calls for the construction of a 440km section from Al Zabirah to the middle of the Al Nafud Desert.

Client: Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) 
Value: US $524 million
Consultants: Louis Berger (design and project management); Systra Company; Canarail Consultants; Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company
Contractors: Al Suwaiket Trading and Contracting Company
Project Duration: Q2 2007 to Q4 2010
Schedule: Systra, Canarail, and Khatib & Alami will undertake the following activities: general design of the transportation system and the operating plan, preliminary route definition, functional definition of systems and rolling stock, detailed design of the railway roadbed and track structure, and evaluation of SRO's existing infrastructure and superstructure. Al Suwaiket Trading and Contracting Company was awarded the main constriction contract in April 2007. Construction on the project has begun and is expected to be completed in October 2010.

The project calls for the excavation and shoring up of more than 200 million m3 of earth and fill in crevices and wadis to ensure a flat surface for the railway track laying. The works covers two sections: Hail Section and Al-Jawf Section. 

Client: Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) 
Value: US $510 million
Consultants: Louis Berger (design and project management)
Contractors: Saudi Al Fahd and Saudi Al Omair joint venture for the Hail Section; Abdullah AM Al Khodari Sons Company for Al Jawf Section
Project Duration: Q3 2006 to Q2 2010
Schedule: In August 2006, a joint venture of Saudi Al Fahd & Saudi Al Omair was awarded the main construction contract for Hail section, while Abdullah AM Al Khodari Sons Company was awarded the main construction contract for Al Jawf section in June 2006. The project is underway and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.

8. King Abdullah Highway Development

The project calls for the modification of the current road to be a highway, construction of 3 tunnels, service roads, subways, and beautification works. The development will increase the capacity of the highway from 190,000 cars to 520,000 cars.       

Client: Arriyadh Development Authority   
Value: US $375 million
Contractors: Saudi Oger
Project Duration: Q2 2008 to Q1 2012
Schedule: Saudi Oger was awarded the main construction contract in early 2008. Construction started in May 2008. The development is expected to be completed in early of 2012. In November 2008, 18% of the work had been completed.

Package 1: Work involves the construction of a 27km-long dual highway that links Arriyadh – Qassim Highway and Al Thomamah Road; refurbishment of 8km of Sheikh Jaber Road and construction of 34kms of sub-roads in Riyadh city.

Package 2: The package covers the construction of the southern section of Riyadh Ring Road. It also includes refurbishment of intersection 6 and 7 on Riyadh Ring Road, the eastern section of Riyadh Ring Road, Obair Road, and Al Mahdiah Road. Client: Ministry of Transport    

Value: US $5 million; US $135 million
Contractors: (Package 1) Haif Bin Mohammed Bin Abboud Al Qahtani & Associates for Trading & Contracting Company; (Package 2) Mohamad Al Ali Al Swailam Trading & Contracting Company.
Project Duration: Q4 2008 to Q4 2011
Schedule: (Package 1) Haif Bin Mohammed Bin Abboud Al Qahtani & Associates for Trading & Contracting Company was awarded the main construction contract in September 2008. Construction began in December last year and is expected to be completed in 36 months; (Package 2) Mohamad Al Ali Al Swailam Trading & Contracting Company was awarded the main construction contract in September 2008. Construction began in December last year and is expected to be completed in 36 months. 

10. Jeddah Gate Development – Infra package

The package includes the building of water, waste management and drainage infrastructure, the electric supply infrastructure, side walks and walks-ways throughout the project. 

Client: Emaar Properties  
Value: US $50 million
Consultants: Fayez Zuhair Architectural & Engineering
Contractors: Saudi Building & Development Management Company; Al Taafuf Company for Electrical Works
Project Duration: Q1 2008 to Q1 2010
Schedule: A joint venture between Saudi Building & Development Management Company and Al-Taafuf Company for Electrical Works was awarded the main construction contract in January 2008. Construction is in progress and expected to be completed early 2010. 

For the latest news and in-depth analyses on Saudi Arabia watch out for Construction Week’s Saudi Arabia Special out May 23.