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Saudi Arabia’s Rua Al Madinah, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) subsidiary tasked with Medina’s tourism and cultural development, has revealed that construction work is under way on the main tunnel that will take all incoming traffic towards the Harem area. 

Extensive works are also ongoing to redevelop the airport road and modernise the city’s wider transportation network. 

“There are significant opportunities for contractors and partners,” said Abdulsalem Alharbi, projects delivery director, Rua Al Madinah, at the MEED Giga Projects event in Riyadh on 13 May. 

“We are looking for capable service providers and strategic partners to support the large-scale infrastructure and construction works.”

Alharbi said five packages of residential towers – comprising over 120 towers in total – are currently in various stages of design and tender. 

The superblock 5 package includes 18 towers and is already on the market, while superblock 4, involving 19 towers, is in the design phase.

Packages District 9 and District 10, consisting of 35 towers and 46 towers, respectively, are seeking partners to take on development roles. 

Alharbi also highlighted several investment opportunities being developed to support the growing tourism sector, including a central kitchen, cold storage warehouse, commercial laundry and staff accommodation facilities.

“This represents a major chance for local and international companies to participate in the redevelopment of Medina,” he added.

Project background

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the infrastructure works and unveiled the masterplan for the Rua Al Madinah development in August 2022.

Before this, US-based Hill International was awarded a contract in 2021 for the project management of road works at the Madinah Central Area (MCA).

In June 2022, a local media report cited China Railway 18th Bureau as having won a contract to build the Medina tunnel. 

The tunnel, valued at $970m, was expected to be completed within 42 months. The work includes building the AH tunnel, the Ali Bin Abi Talib tunnel, the airport tunnel and related projects, including a pedestrian bridge.

Rua Al Madinah Holding Company CEO Ahmed Al Juhani told MEED in February that construction work on the Ali Bin Abi Talib road has been completed, making it the first tunnel to be finished as part of the Rua Al Madinah project. 

In February 2023, US-based Parsons won a $15m contract to provide construction project management consultancy and contract administration services (PMCM) for the project. The US consultancy firm will manage the main infrastructure works, including the tunnel, road and utility works.

MEED’s April 2024 special report on Saudi Arabia includes:

> GVT & ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia seeks diversification amid regional tensions
> BANKING: Saudi lenders gear up for corporate growth
> UPSTREAM: Aramco spending drawdown to jolt oil projects
> DOWNSTREAM: Master Gas System spending stimulates Saudi downstream sector
> POWER: Riyadh to sustain power spending
> WATER: Growth inevitable for the Saudi water sector
> CONSTRUCTION: Saudi gigaprojects propel construction sector
> TRANSPORT: Saudi Arabia’s transport sector offers prospects