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Neom in advanced negotiations with contractor for The Line

6 July 2023

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The UK’s Keller is in advanced discussions with Neom for a second works order at The Line.  

In a trading update posted on 5 July, the Keller Group said: “At Neom, we are in advanced discussions with the client in respect of the award of a second works order which is expected to be at least twice the size of the first works order that was completed in February 2023 (c£40m).

“As previously indicated, the precise phasing of this material project remains subject to variation and will require measured investment in equipment and working capital as it accelerates.”

Keller is one of nine contractors that Neom has engaged for the foundations of The Line buildings. The other eight are the local Al-Osais, France’s Bachy Soletanche, Germany’s Bauer, the local Huta, UAE-based NSCC, China’s PowerChina, the local Saudi Baytur and Italy’s Trevi.

In April, Neom awarded Beijing-based PowerChina a work order for pilling works. The contractor said the order covers piling work on modules 45-48. The construction period is 100 calendar days.

MEED reported in March that Neom was shifting the focus of the world’s largest piling project to The Line modules at the marina as excavation work for the waterway reached an advanced stage.

Modules 45-48 are at the marina, which is expected to host the world’s largest cruise ships.

The structures that make up The Line comprise 135 modules that are 800 metres in length and 500 metres tall at sea level.

The marina is located on the other side of The Line facing the sea, meaning ships headed for the marina must pass through The Line buildings.

This presents a major engineering challenge since it requires creating a 165-metre-wide waterway passing through the 500-metre-tall buildings.

In March, the marina was the largest excavation project in the world, with about 1 million cubic metres of earth being moved every week.

Three firms are working with Neom as delivery partners for The Line. They are UK-based Atkins and two US firms, Jacobs and Parsons. 

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Colin Foreman

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