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  • Record-Breaking Big 5 Construct Saudi 2024 Catalyzes Kingdom’s Construction Boom

    The 12th edition of Big 5 Construct Saudi, the largest construction event in the Kingdom concluded in Riyadh, having welcomed 64,331 attendees across four days from 26 to 29 February 2024 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre at ROSHN Front. The event was held under the patronage of and inaugurated by His Excellency Mr. Majid Abdullah Al-Hogail, the Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing in Saudi Arabia.

  • Red Sea crisis raises Saudi construction costs

    Riyadh-based Jadwa Investment has now estimated that disruption to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has contributed to a 25-50% construction material price rise in recent weeks. This steep rise comes amid renewed escalation in the Red Sea following a start to the year characterised more by falling risk perceptions due to the heavy build-up of the US-led naval coalition in the area. All of this changed on 18 February with the holing of the UK-owned Rubymar, which sank on 3 March. That ship had been carrying Saudi fertiliser from Dammam to Bulgaria. However, perhaps a more direct concern for the Saudi construction sector is the strike on 6 March of the bulk carrier True Confidence, which came from China loaded with steel and commercial vehicles.

  • Al-Urubah Park construction begins in Riyadh

    The Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) announced the start of construction work of Al-Uruba Park, one of the largest parks in the city of Riyadh, as part of the ‘Green Riyadh’ program. The project will be implemented on a sprawling area covering 754,000 square meters. More than 600,000 trees and shrubs will be planted, covering 65 percent of the park area. The park is distinguished by its vital location at the intersection of Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road with Al-Urubah Road, and that facilitates easy access for the residents from various parts of the city. The park contributes to raising the quality of life, providing recreational places for residents and visitors, and transforming the city of Riyadh into one of the most sustainable cities in the world, the commission said in a press statement.

  • UK construction firm wins bid to develop world’s largest airport in Riyadh

    UK construction firm Mace will serve as the delivery partner for Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport, expected to be the world’s largest airport following its 2030 opening. A variety of international firms competed for the contract since last year, with Mace winning the bid, the Middle East Economic Digest reported on Thursday. The firm will offer project and design management, cost consulting and procurement information. It has considerable experience in airport construction and maintenance, including a 30-year contract covering London’s Heathrow Airport, the largest in Europe.

  • Big 5 Construct Saudi: Driving Saudi Arabia’s Construction Sector Towards Vision 2030

    The upcoming 12th edition of Big 5 Construct Saudi promises to build upon the successes of previous years, featuring an expanded exhibition space, five new product sectors, and participation from 1,300 exhibitors representing 47 countries. The event aims to unite over 55,000 industry players, government stakeholders, and active buyers, all aligned towards the advancement of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals.

  • Riyadh prepares construction tender for stadiums

    Saudi Arabia's Sport Ministry is preparing to issue tenders for contracts to build sports stadiums as part of its SR10.1bn ($2.7bn) capital projects programme. "The prequalification process has been completed and the tender for the stadiums is expected to be issued in a week or two," sources close to the scheme told MEED. In July, the ministry invited construction companies to submit prequalification documents for the main construction contracts. The projects are slated for completion before the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Civil Code: ‘good faith’ in construction contracts

    Saudi Arabia’s Civil Transactions Law clarifies the requirement for ‘good faith’ contracting throughout the lifecycle of construction projects in the Kingdom.  Saudi Arabia's Civil Transactions Law (Civil Code) entered into force on 16 December 2023. In this article, we consider the potential consequences of provisions within the Civil Code requiring parties to contract in ‘good faith’.

  • Giga Projects will Continue to Aid Construction Market Growth in Q1 2024

    Projects like the Neom and the Red Sea resorts will drive construction spending in the Kingdom over the next three to four years, thereby supporting the growth of the construction industry. As part of its 2030 ambitious plan, the Kingdom is also launching new airports as it seeks to transform itself into a global tourism destination. Overall, the publisher maintains a robust growth outlook for the Saudi Arabian construction industry over the next three to four years.

  • Soaring to new heights: the construction of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International Airport

    The airport will be spread over 57 sq km (22 sq mi) and will also include 12 sq km (4.6 sq mi) of retail, logistics support and recreational facilities. Featuring six parallel runways, the airport aims to accommodate 120 million passengers, with extra capacity allowing for further growth of 185 million, and the capacity to process 3.5 million tonnes of cargo, by 2050. The new airport will take over the current King Khalid International Airport and will be designed by the British architecture firm, Foster + Partners. Seif A. Bahaa Eldin, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, stated: “This visionary development will play an important role in shaping the city into a global hub of creativity and innovation.”

  • Perspective: Rushing to fail: Understanding construction disputes in Saudi Arabia

    The case for change is clear. Construction and engineering projects in the Middle East are subject to more delay than in most other regions.
    Our integrated research programme, CRUX, shows that contractors across the Middle East sought extensions of time averaging 81.6% of planned project schedules.
    The Saudi average was 98.8%, meaning the extra time sought nearly doubled the time originally specified.
    Claimed costs in Saudi Arabia typically amounted to 29.8% of original contract values, lower than the 37.4% average elsewhere in the Middle East.
    There are clearly legacy challenges in the Kingdom, and now also recognition that things need to change.