Gulf Construction Online

Saudi Focus

Update

01 March 2016

Work on airport projects on schedule

Work is progressing well on the modernisation of 27 airports in Saudi Arabia and is due to be completed within the next five years, said a report, citing a senior aviation official.

“Our goal is that our airports should be in a position worthy of the kingdom’s status, and that the best level of services is offered,” Sulaiman Al Hamdan, president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), was quoted as saying in the Arab News.

As for King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Jazan, Al Hamdan said the aim was to establish an entirely new airport with a capacity far greater than the current facility.

The budget has been approved for the project had the bidding process had been initiated; however, it has been temporarily stopped as Aramco’s studies suggest the selected location for the project may present an opportunity to explore for oil and gas, he added.

Water and sanitation deals signed

Saudi Arabia has signed 39 contracts worth more than SR534 million ($68 million) for the implementation of water and sanitation projects across the kingdom, said a report.

These projects include maintenance of water and sewage networks in Al Khobar; water purification and supply maintenance in Onaizah and water supply stations in other parts of Al Qassim Province, reported the Arab News, citing the water and electricity minister Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Husayin.

Also, work will soon start for development, operation and maintenance of the treatment plants in the Eastern Province, besides operation and maintenance of water plants in Jazan and drainage systems and a water treatment plant at Al Kharj in the Riyadh region.

The project also includes maintenance of drinking water projects in the villages of Al Jouf region; operation and maintenance of a treatment plant and storage tanks at Bisha in Asir Province as well as maintenance of water stations in Madinah, the report added.

Go-ahead for development projects

The Saudi government has launched a series of developmental projects worth more than SR100 million ($26.6 million) in the Madinah region, according to the Arab News.

These include municipal projects at Khaibar, Al Salsah and Al Ashash municipalities at a cost of SR16 million ($4.3 million), SR50 million ($13.3 million) and SR22 million ($5.9 million) respectively. The other developments include the building of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia) at a cost of SR5 million ($1.3 million) and a charity warehouse at over SR13 million ($3.5 million), it added.