Groundwork on the $26.6 billion King Abdullah Economic City, the largest single private sector investment in Saudi Arabia, got under way as bulldozers moved in on the 55 million sq m of greenfield site, north of Jeddah.

Construction of Saudi Aramco’s SR4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) Hawiyah natural gas liquids (NGL) project got to a start with a groundbreaking ceremony.

The kingdom will invest SR809 million ($215.7 million) in expanding its desalination facilities, according to the Water and Electricity Ministry.

The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR) has awarded the local Kuwait Commercial Markets Complex Company (KCMCC) a KD18 million ($62 million) 20-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession to develop Salmiya Park in Kuwait City.

On-site work is due to start shortly on one of the largest developments in the region which will have an estimated budget of $5 billion and accommodate up to 200,000 people. Contracts for the necessary infrastructure involving Qatar’s 35 sq km Lusail Develop-ment have already been awarded.

The Qatar subsidiary of Arabian Construction Company (QACC) has received a letter of intent (LoI) worth $170 million to construct the residential components on two parcels of land directly owned by United Development Company (UDC), in Pearl-Qatar.

Carrying on TCM’s tradition of superior performance, the Japanese manufacturer has recently launched its new series of forklifts – the Inoma range – that promises to offer durable toughness with operator-friendly features.

GE Energy has signed a contract with the Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) for the expansion of the Ras Abu Fontas B-2 power plant. This $500 million venture, to be developed by a consortium including GE and Fisia Italimpianti, is due for completion in 2007 and will help Qatar support future demands for power and water.

A leading Bahrain group has formed a new company in Bahrain known as HKTC Middle East, which will serve as the Middle East agent for HKTC Liebherr (Korea) cranes, offering a wide range of cranes in a variety of capacities and models including hammerhead and luffing cranes.

The third part of the Cares Guide to Reinforcing Steels – a four-page insert is within this issue. The 10-part guide is being offered exclusively to Gulf Construction readers.

Charilaos Apostolides (Chapo) the main contractor for the Meena 7 development, part of the Amwaj Island development, has recently taken delivery of Atlas Copco’s XA 136 portable air compressor to meet the on-site air power requirements on the project. Chapo is also using an Atlas Copco QAS 228 generating set to meet its site electrical power.

Hisham Abdulrahman Jaffer (HAJ), one of the leading cost managers for construction projects in the kingdom, has completed 10 years of operations in the kingdom. Established in 1995, with a handful of professionals, the company has grown 40-strong, which is the largest number for such a practice in Bahrain, claims a HAJ spokesman.

The Makkah Development Authority has approved the master plan for developing the central region of the holy city. Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majid said that efforts were under way to implement new development projects including the Jamal Omar housing project, King Abdul Aziz Road and Ajyad General Hospital.

Saudi Arabia’s Hadi Haidar Contracting Company has won a SR391 million ($104.25 million) contract for the construction of high-voltage electricity transmission stations in Yanbu 2 industrial city.

A unit of Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) has won a $355 million contract to build a science and technology centre in Doha, Qatar, OCI said. A fully consolidated OCI subsidiary, Contrack International, won the deal to construct the facility in Doha’s Education City, an OCI spokesman added.

Intersec 2006 – the eighth edition of the region’s largest security, safety, fire and police event – set to open from January 29 to 31 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, has grown by 30 per cent attracting an even larger number of exhibitors and visitors, says a spokesman for the organiser.

Following the success of last year’s show, Tuyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organisation is staging the Istanbul Window 2006 next month (February 16 to 19) at the Tuyap Fair, Convention and Congress Centre in Istanbul, Turkey.

Buoyed by the growth of the construction sector in the region, Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions (SME) will organise the Dubai Woodshow 2006 – the region’s first-of-its-kind, exclusive exhibition for the wood industry – at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from April 10 to 12.