01 July 2020

Saudi Arabia-based Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) said steady progress was being made on the kingdom’s ambitious entertainment, sports and the arts destination, Qiddiya, with the preliminary construction work due for completion in 2021.

While many countries have been forced to stall or scale down similar construction schemes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been business as usual in the kingdom for the building of the ambitious visitor destination, reported Arab News, citing a top official.

“To ensure the tourism project has been able to remain on track, QIC obtained the necessary permits to carry on with construction on the site while closely monitoring health and safety measures outlined by the authorities,” said its CEO Michael Reininger. “After taking the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of our employees and contractors, we obtained the necessary work permits to continue work on the site.”

Qiddiya, an initiative born from the Vision 2030 reform plan and supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is located southwest of Riyadh, and is set to become the kingdom’s capital of entertainment, sports, and the arts.

QIC has awarded three key construction contracts to Saudi companies – Abdul Ali Al Ajmi, Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company (Sajco) and Saudi Pan Kingdom Company (Sapac), said the top official.

As per the contract, Abdul Ali Al Ajmi is set to prepare site foundations for Qiddiya’s first major zones – the Resort Core, and the City Center, explained Reininger.

Sajco is responsible for construction of the roads network and Sapac is in charge of building security fencing around the entire premises, he noted.

Qiddiya is a prestigious project for the kingdom and the only way to achieve this is to remain on track with the development of the project and carry on working, Reininger added.  

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