Gulf Construction Online

Saudi Focus

In brief

01 June 2019

Qiddiya names development officer

Saudi-based Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) has appointed Kareem Shamma as the new chief development officer for its entertainment, sports and cultural destination coming up in capital Riyadh.

An industry veteran, Shamma has spent much of his 35-year career in the GCC, with periods in Bahrain and the UAE, as well as in the UK.

He started his professional life in Saudi Arabia and spent several years in the kingdom as an engineer working on Riyadh’s ring road network, including the construction of a number of its bridges and underpasses, said QIC.

Qiddiya is an integrated destination for entertainment, sports and the arts which is due to open by the end of 2022. It will be built over a sprawling 334-sq-km-area at a location 40 km from downtown Riyadh (see Gulf Construction, May 2019).

Dewan marks 10 years of Saudi ops

Dewan Architects + Engineers, a major player in the Middle East’s architectural and engineering design sector, said it is celebrating 10 successful years of operations in Saudi Arabia.

Shortly after it first set up its base in Riyadh in 2009, Dewan Architects + Engineers clinched the contract to design and supervise the construction of a 28-floor commercial tower in Al Khobar.

The company said that this year it has moved to new larger premises in the centre of the Saudi capital, to advance its expansion plans and facilitate client engagement. Its team will be soon expanding with its new base increasing resources for existing clients, while simultaneously allowing it to explore new growth opportunities in the kingdom.

Work begins on Madinah museum

Work has started on the Madinah Peace Museum, a key cultural landmark which will come up over a total area of 17,400 sq m in the Saudi city.

The museum is expected to be built within the next 12 months and aims to enrich the cultural experience of visitors to Madinah by introducing them to the city, reported Arab News.

It will have 10 halls, including one which explains why the Prophet migrated to Madinah and the most important events that he faced on his arrival to the city, while another will be on the Prophet’s Mosque.

The museum, which also has an exhibition area of 4,650 sq m, is located to the west of the Prophet’s Mosque, said the report.There will also be an architecture hall, featuring displays and explanations about minarets, domes, inscriptions and decorations.