The construction sector in the Gulf has been through a series of ups and downs in the past three decades, during many of which Saudi Arabia has been the dominant force. Now in the wake of the global economic turmoil, there has been at least one major impact in the construction ranks: the kingdom is being reinstated as the magnet of the region.
Saudi Arabia is believed to have projects in excess of SR2.0 trillion ($500 billion) currently under way, and although the kingdom may be selective in announcing further projects this year, project spending is expected to pick pace post 2010.
The long-awaited project to develop a new terminal complex at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) has finally got under way with the ground having just been broken at the 105 sq km site just north of Jeddah.
EARTHWORK is now complete on Phase One of the $12-billion Al Wasl, an iconic, integrated urban community, located north of Saudi Arabia’s capital, which will be home to more than 200,000 people. Currently, a fleet of more than 400 machines are engaged in the final stages of ground levelling and clearance work on the sprawling 1,411-hectare (14.
CONSTRUCTION work is under way on the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, designed to be one of the largest financial centres in the Middle East, with contracts having been awarded on at least 10 packages on the project. The project occupies a 1.6 million sq m site in the capital city close to the main business district of Olaya.
ALARABI Decoration and Construction Company recently won a contract or the prestigious King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (Kaust) in Thuwal, near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
KIRBY Building System, a pioneer in the pre-engineering buildings (PEBs) industry in the Middle East, is utilising its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and global sourcing practices, to take on some of the most challenging projects in the region.
SAUDI-based Raghadan, which has supplied its trendy decorative paints to numerous projects in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Arab world, continues to expand its offerings in response to the market demand for innovative finishes.
SINCE entering the Saudi market in 2004, the National Occupational Safety and Health Centre (Osho) has established a sound reputation for its occupational safety and health solutions and enhancement systems, having worked with many Saudi companies to provide work safety analysis (WSA) and the latest occupational safety and health (OSH) products and
SAUDI Electric Industries Company (Seico), which has been breaking new ground in product design and development since its establishment in 1990, has implemented expansion programmes over the past two years that have positioned it among the largest producers of electrical systems and accessories in the region.
THE INTERNATIONAL Company for Building Materials (Binex), one of the largest building material companies in Saudi Arabia, describes 2008 as a good year despite the increase in prices and shortage of materials in the market and is confident of posting satisfactory results for this year too.
SAUDI Lighting Company (SLC) has set its eyes on becoming one of the world’s largest luminaire manufacturers through a progressive strategic plan that includes expanding its product range and entering into new business partnerships and alliances.
SIGMA Paints, a pioneer in cutting-edge paint solutions, has shown that it can think both big and small by launching a paint system that takes building protection to “cosmic levels” and addresses not just the extreme exposure conditions of the Middle East but also the reason for paint failures worldwide.
DESPITE the global economic crisis, Steelfields Limited has recently secured two further orders for its successful SM 60 range of semi-mobile/compact plants. Both plants have been sold to the Saudi Binladin Group from Jeddah for its growing number of new readymix operations throughout the GCC.
LIEBHERR, the German heavy machinery company which has maintained an active presence in Saudi Arabia for more than 30 years, continues to supply top-quality civil engineering and construction equipment to all parts of the kingdom right from Jeddah to Al Khobar.
UAE-based ESC Al Sharafi Steel, a leading regional sheet pile solutions provider, is keenly looking at entering the Saudi market with its quality products and services and is presently evaluating plans to set up a partnership and presence in the country.
AL GHANNAM Building Materials, which started operations just three years ago, has seen considerable growth, both in size and diversity, to become one of Saudi Arabia’s leading companies in its line of specialisation.
WITH ongoing contracts worth more than SR286 million ($76.26 million) and new deals just inked, Naba International is not perturbed by the global financial crisis, especially considering that it is currently involved in projects at one of the world’s largest petrochemical developments.
WITH more than three decades of experience in the region, Gulf Co-operation Symbols Contracting Company (GCS) says has an established a track record for completing projects on time and within budget in Saudi Arabia.
.jpg)
Since its inception, Rowad National Plastic Group (Rowadplastic) has strived to locally manufacture products that meet globally-competitive standards and has been contributing to Saudi Arabia’s industrial advancement through manufacturing advanced plastic products using the latest technology, says Hesham Bin-Mahfoudh, marketing manager for the gr
CONSTRUCTION Material Chemical Industries (CMCI) is mulling expansion plans in a bid to meet increasing demand and is optimistic that the Saudi market will remain buoyant over the coming years.
Arabian Jacking Enterprises for Contracting and Trading (Aject) – a fully-owned Saudi Arabian company within a Saudi international conglomerate, with its headquarters based in Dammam – is a specialist provider of a wide range of trenchless technology services.
YAMAMA Factories for Red Bricks and Clay Products this year marks three decades of service to the regional market.
Saudi Rubber Products Company (Sarpco), which specialises in sports arena, playground, equestrian and stable and construction products, has announced plans to install a new line to produce material for preparing safe sports surfaces.
WITH the Princess Al Anoud mixed-use complex, one of the striking projects that took shape on the drawing boards of East Consulting Engineering Centre (ECEC), now set to rise on the horizon, the firm of multi-disciplinary engineering consultants is pressing on with creating functionally-efficient designs for some of health and government facilities
A SUSTAINED focus on boosting production and expanding into new markets has paid rich dividends at Zamil Steel Industries, which recorded its best-ever performance last year.
ARABIAN Fibreglass Insulation Company (Afico) has completed a major expansion at its manufacturing facility in Dammam, which has boosted its production capacity by 50 per cent. With local and regional demand rising for the company’s products, Afico says it is well positioned to meet the current and projected market requirements.
OWNERS, designers, builders and contractors are all reaping the benefits of using Canam Asia’s products, thanks to the architectural superiority and the design flexibility these floors and roofing systems provide, says Dr Wafik Ajam, technical and marketing manager of the Dammam-based steel joist and decks specialist.
QANBAR Dywidag Precast Concrete Company (QDC) is set to launch trial production at its third factory in Rabigh in the Western Region this month, further consolidating its position as one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of precast concrete in the region. The new facility will more than double its annual capacity to 500,000 cu m.
FORMWORK expert Doka has managed to buck the global downtrend in business by initiating a number of strategic moves both on the international and local levels.
ALKIFAH Batching Plant Factory (KBP), which is the only producer of mobile, portable and stationary concrete batching and mixer plant and accessories in the Middle East, has set up a new marketing arm to spearhead the sales of its products in the region.
A WISE strategy to diversify its area of operations has ensured that Al Osais Contracting Company remains a thriving contracting business, offsetting the repercussions of the global financial crisis that has affected the region’s construction industry.
SAUDI Arabia’s Al Rushaid Group has partnered with Flowserve Corporation of the US to set up one of the largest pump manufacturing, repairing and testing facilities in the Middle East.
KABBANI Construction Group (KCG) sees 2008 as the year which consolidated its reputation as the region’s leading specialised contractor and placed it firmly on a steady path towards expansion.
NATIONAL Marketing Establishment has been actively pursuing new business opportunities while focusing on product development – a strategy that has served the pipes and fittings specialist well over the past year.
The construction of the Red Sea Gate container port is well under way, with the first phase set to open later this year and the second and final phase by the end of the third-quarter in 2010. The SR1.
A TOTAL of 33 cranes from Germany’s Wolffkran will shortly be arriving in Saudi Arabia to help construct the highly prestigious Princess Noura University for Girls in Riyadh.
