Saudi Arabia’s King Salman last month inaugurated Phase One of Waad Al Shamaal and laid the foundation stone for the second phase of the SR85-billion ($23 billion) mega city for mining industries which will come up over a sprawling 440-sq-km area in the country’s northern region.

Saudi King Salman has embarked on a massive development mission launching projects worth SR16.5 billion ($4.4 billion) mainly focusing on the key sectors of housing, road, tourism, water, electricity and public utilities, reported the SPA.

Saudi Arabia has announced plans for 23 new road safety projects at an investment of SR2.2 billion ($585 million), said a report. The government will be completing these major infrastructure projects in phases.

Riyadh Development Authority (RDA) – previously The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh – has awarded naming rights for eight Riyadh Metro stations to leading commercial organisations from Saudi Arabia and the region, generating a total of SR1.045 billion ($278.7 million) over the 10-year contract period.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone last month for the kingdom’s first nuclear research reactor.

Saudi Arabia has announced a major housing development programme under which more than 19,000 residential units will be built in major areas of the kingdom for beneficiaries of its Sakani scheme.

Saudi Arabia has successfully built the region’s first house using 3D printing technology in the capital Riyadh, in partnership with Dutch company CyBe, a pioneer in the technology, said a report.

Oil-to-chemicals plant for Yanbu Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) have announced the selection of Yanbu, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, as the site for the development of an integrated industrial complex to convert crude oil to chemicals (COTC).