Gulf Construction Online - Shapoorji Pallonji expands portfolio

Contractors

An artist’s impression of the Saudi Electricity Company HQ in Riyadh.

Shapoorji Pallonji expands portfolio

01 November 2020

Shapoorji Pallonji Group, a leading Indian business conglomerate with interests in construction and real estate sector, is fast expanding its operations in the GCC, including in Saudi Arabia, with several of its major projects under way in the kingdom, reported Arab News.

Shapoorji Pallonji International (SP International), the international construction arm of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited, has cumulative project orders worth $2.7 billion in the GCC countries alone.

Its major Saudi projects currently under way include nine towers in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Sabic’s global headquarters and a mosque in Jubail, a satellite township for the Ministry of Interior at Salwa in the Eastern Province, Al Obeikan Hilton Tower Hotel in Riyadh and infrastructure development for the Mayasem project in Jeddah, stated the report citing a top official.

“Our total order backlog globally stands at $15 billion as of September,” revealed Mohan Dass Saini, CEO and Managing Director of SP International.

Saini said the company is also credited with completing several prestigious projects in Saudi Arabia, which include: Saudi Electricity Company headquarters, Marriott Hotel, Edafah Executive Tower, and Commanders College, all in Riyadh; and Al Khorayef Center, Al Reziza and AKH Tower, all in Al Khobar.

SP International, he stated, was working closely with the kingdom within the framework of the policies and goals set by the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030.

“I am sure the goals are all achievable as I see a lot of social and economic reforms undertaken by the Saudi leadership,” he noted.

“Saudi Arabia today has tremendous potential to attract the best resources, the best global companies and also a sizeable investment,” remarked Saini, referring to megaprojects, such as Neom, Amaala, the Red Sea Project, and several Aramco projects, all of which are at different stages of execution.

According to him, the company fully supports the kingdom’s Saudisation initiative by training and hiring Saudi nationals.

“We have around 4,000 employees, including several Saudi workers, currently deployed on different projects in the kingdom,” he added.

On its regional strategy, Saini said SP International has entered the GCC in a big way by clinching some new projects in countries such as the UAE and Kuwait besides the kingdom. These include construction of 404 precast villas at Mudon Development Phase Two, development of residential plots at Quoz IV Phase Two and Al Maktoom Hospital Site Redevelopment, Green Community West Extension in Dubai; and main works contracts for Bloom Central Abu Dhabi, he adds.