meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Driving Madinah’s economic development

14 February 2024

 

The Rua Al Madinah project is a transformative development located next to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the second holiest site in Islam.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announced the infrastructure works and the masterplan for the project in August 2022. It aims to enhance the experience of the millions of visitors who travel to the holy city each year. 

Spearheading the development is Rua Al Madinah Holding, which is a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Its mandate is to develop modern real estate projects in the holy city with goals aligned with the broader objectives of Vision 2030. 

The project is central to the kingdom’s plans to expand its tourism and hospitality sectors. The urban development is designed to integrate the heritage of Madinah with state-of-the-art facilities. Covering an area of 1.5 million square metres, it is expected to contribute SR140bn ($37bn) to Saudi Arabia’s GDP, creating 93,000 jobs.

Visits increase

“Madinah currently attracts millions of visitors annually, primarily due to its religious significance, centred around the Prophet’s Mosque,” says Rua Al Madinah Holding Company CEO Ahmed Al Juhani. “More than 13.5 million Muslims performed Umrah in 2023 – the highest number of international pilgrims the kingdom has welcomed, as per the country’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al Rabiah.

Connect with Rua Al Madinah using this LINK

“With Vision 2030 projects like Rua Al Madinah, the city is poised for significant hospitality growth. These initiatives aim to improve infrastructure and services to accommodate an expected increase in visitors, particularly for Umrah, projected to reach 30 million annually by 2030,” says Al Juhani. 

“This growth presents both an opportunity for economic development and a challenge in sustainably managing the influx while preserving Madinah’s cultural and religious heritage,” he adds.

With Vision 2030 projects such as Rua Al Madinah, the city is poised for significant hospitality growth
Ahmed Al Juhani, CEO of Rua Al Madinah Holding Company

Innovative solutions 

Rua Al Madinah is meeting the holy city’s infrastructure and real estate requirements with cutting-edge solutions.

“The focus lies in modern urban planning and the execution of diverse, comprehensive projects to enhance Madinah’s stature as a destination with a contemporary architectural landscape,” says Al Juhani.

“Rua Al Madinah Holding is leading the development of modern infrastructure and is working on current and future projects to develop a hotel and commercial ecosystem,” he says.

The projects’ objectives are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, which include increasing the number of tourists visiting the kingdom and creating job opportunities.

“The company seeks to advance Madinah’s hospitality and real estate investment sectors to enhance services for visitors while fostering sustainable green environments and a modern lifestyle for residents,” says Al Juhani. “The company also strives to drive economic development in Madinah, providing tens of thousands of job opportunities for local residents.”

While offering best-in-class modern buildings and infrastructure, the “Rua Al Madinah project complements prior efforts and projects”, says Al Juhani.

“By aligning with Vision 2030, it integrates modernised designs that honour Madinah’s heritage, prioritises sustainability and deploys advanced smart city technologies.”

Work is already well advanced, and so far, there have been SR8bn ($2.1bn) of contract awards on the project that include, but are not limited to, construction contracts.

By early 2024, 25% of the infrastructure work had been completed. Key highlights include the Al Amidah Road project, which has transformed the secondary route into a major thoroughfare with a width exceeding 35 metres.

Another major construction effort was the tunnel at Ali Bin Abi Talib Road, which is now completed, making it the first tunnel to be finished as part of the Rua Al Madinah project. 

Investment opportunities

Looking ahead, Al Juhani says that the delivery strategy for the Rua Al Madinah project portfolio is split into phases with the aim of delivering around 47,000 keys up to 2030 progressively.

“The phasing and packaging strategy has considered multiple factors, including asset class, star rating, package value and site logistics, aiming to expand the pool of supply chain to include consultants and contractors from multiple tiers and subsequently support Rua Al Madinah’s strategic objective to create economic opportunities to drive Madinah’s growth and diversification,” he says.

There is a broad range of investment and business opportunities on the project, and Al Juhani says the city is a major economic centre and an attractive place for companies to work.

“Madinah features a sophisticated supply chain and excellent connectivity. Its strategic location and infrastructure, including advanced logistics, cater to fluctuating demands, particularly during peak seasons like Hajj and Umrah,” he says.

“The city is well-connected to key Saudi economic centres like Jeddah and Riyadh, thanks to its extensive road networks, Haramain high-speed railway and international airport. This combination of a flexible supply chain and robust transportation network positions Madinah as a vital economic hub in the kingdom.”

For investors, the project has also proven to be attractive. “We have forged strategic agreements with globally renowned operators such as Marriott International, Hyatt International and Accor Group. Such agreements are set to introduce 14 distinguished international brands to the project,” says Al Juhani.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11515581/main.gif
Colin Foreman

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • UAE firm acquires majority stake in African power producer

    31 August 2026

    Abu Dhabi-based ePointZero has announced a deal to acquire a 90% stake in pan-African independent power producer Azura Power Holdings.

    The transaction will give the subsidiary of UAE investment group 2PointZero control of 752MW of operating power generation capacity across Nigeria, Senegal and Mozambique.

    The company will acquire the respective stakes held by existing shareholders Actis and Africa50 through an acquisition vehicle established with Amaya Capital, an Africa-focused investment firm based in London.

    Amaya Capital founded Azuro Power in 2010 and will retain a 10% minority stake in the company, which also has a development pipeline of more than 1.5GW of planned power projects.

    The pipeline includes expansions at existing sites, as well as new gas and renewable energy projects and battery energy storage systems.

    Azuro Power’s operating portfolio comprises the 461MW Azura-Edo power plant in Nigeria, the 116MW Tobene power plant in Senegal and the 175MW Central Termica de Ressano Garcia plant in Mozambique. The company’s operating assets generate around 10% of each country’s grid baseload power, the statement said.

    The company’s projects have received financing and support from development finance institutions including the World Bank, British International Investment, German Investment & Development Company, the US International Development Finance Corporation, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and France’s Proparco.

    The deal, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, marks ePointZero’s entry into African power generation and follows the acquisition of a 20% stake in Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric in 2024.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19171095/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Contract award nears for Saudi Landbridge Riyadh section

    31 August 2026

     

    Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) is preparing to award the main construction contract for the design-and-build of the Riyadh Rail Link, a new north-to-south railway line across the capital.

    MEED understands that the commercial proposals were opened two weeks ago, with a decision expected imminently.

    SAR began the post-tender clarifications with bidders in July, as MEED reported.

    The bidders include:

    • China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation / Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting (China/local)
    • Nesma & Partners / China Harbour Engineering Company (local/China)
    • Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting / IC Ictas Construction / Saipem (local/Turkiye/Spain)
    • Saudi Binladin Group (local)

    In June, MEED exclusively reported that contractors submitted their commercial proposals on the 30th of that month.

    The scope includes a 35-kilometre double-track line connecting SAR’s North-South Railway to the Eastern Railway network.

    Issued on 29 January, the tender also covers the procurement, construction and installation of associated infrastructure, including viaducts, civil works, utility diversions/installations, signalling systems and other related works.

    Once delivered, the Riyadh Rail Link is expected to become a key component of the Saudi Landbridge railway.

    In January, SAR said it would deliver the Saudi Landbridge project through a “new mechanism” by 2034, after failing to reach an agreement with a Chinese consortium to construct it, as MEED reported.

    In an interview with local media, SAR CEO Bashar Bin Khalid Al-Malik said the consortium failed to meet local content requirements, and that the project would instead be delivered in several phases under a different procurement model.

    Negotiations have been under way between Saudi Arabia and China-backed investors interested in developing the scheme through a public-private partnership (PPP). Al-Malik put the project cost at about SR100bn ($26.6bn).

    Overall, it comprises more than 1,500km of new track. A core element is a 900km railway between Riyadh and Jeddah, providing the capital with direct freight access to King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea.

    Other key elements include upgrading the existing Riyadh-Dammam line, a bypass around the capital known as the Riyadh Link, and a connection between King Abdullah Port and Yanbu.

    The Saudi Landbridge is one of the kingdom’s most anticipated project programmes. First announced in 2004, it was put on hold in 2010 before being revived a year later. Rights-of-way issues, route alignment and the high cost have been among the main stumbling blocks.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19161887/main.gif
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Prequalification begins for Dammam suburb boulevard PPP

    31 August 2026

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities & Housing, in collaboration with Ashraq Development Company and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP, has issued a request for qualification (RFQ) notice for the development of the King Fahd suburb boulevard project in Dammam.

    The notice was issued on 27 August, with a submission deadline of 22 October.

    The public-private partnership (PPP) project will be delivered using a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer model, with a 43-year contract term.

    The project is located in Al-Bayda Governorate and features a 4 kilometre (km) mixed-use zone along a central boulevard, forming part of a larger 7.3km corridor.

    The project will be developed in two phases and span about 1 million square metres.

    According to a statement: “The private sector partner will be responsible for developing and operating the boulevard, which includes leisure and recreational facilities, public parks, entertainment venues, retail outlets, office spaces, hospitality zones, pedestrian walkways and road networks.”

    The project is the latest addition to the growing number of PPP projects in the kingdom. 

    In January, Saudi Arabia launched a national privatisation strategy aimed at mobilising $64bn in private sector capital by 2030.

    Building on the privatisation programme first introduced in 2018, the strategy focuses on unlocking state-owned assets for private investment and privatising selected government services.

    In a statement, NCP said the strategy comprises 147 opportunities drawn from a broader pipeline of more than 500 projects across 18 sectors.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19160560/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractors submit bids for Kuwait power transmission works

    31 August 2026

     

    Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has received bids for two tenders covering power transmission works at the South Saad Al-Abdullah residential development.

    The first tender covers the supply, installation and maintenance of 10 main 132/11kV transformer substations for the third phase of the development. 

    According to sources, five contractors submitted bids on 26 August. The local Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons made the lowest offer of $104.2m.

    The bids include:

    • Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons: $104.2m (Kuwait)
    • Industrial Electrical Projects (IEP): $111.5m (Kuwait)
    • Larsen & Toubro: $114m (India)
    • Oman National Engineering & Investment: $118m (Oman)
    • National Contracting Company: $126m (Saudi Arabia)

    The second PAHW tender covers the supply, installation and maintenance of 10 main 132/11kV transformer substations for the fourth phase of the project. 

    According to sources, five contractors also submitted bids on 26 August, with A-Ahleia Switchgear making the lowest offer of $103.3m.

    The bids include:

    • Al-Ahleia Switchgear: $103.3m (Kuwait)
    • Industrial Electrical Projects (IEP): $111.7m (Kuwait)
    • Larsen & Toubro: $114m (India)
    • Oman National Engineering & Investment: $118.3m (Oman)
    • National Contracting Company: $126m (Saudi Arabia)

    Both projects were initially tendered in May. As reported by MEED, PAHW previously issued addendums for both substation tenders, revising the qualification requirements for bidders.

    According to the revised requirements, contractors must be approved by Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy and have experience supplying and installing at least 10 132kV substations in Kuwait.

    The addendums also introduced requirements related to transformer and gas-insulated switchgear manufacturing approvals, as well as operational performance records for installed equipment.

    Sabah Al-Ahmad residential city

    Meanwhile, bids remain under evaluation for two 132kV underground cable tenders for the South Sabah Al-Ahmad residential development, tendered by PAHW in May.

    The first cable tender covers the supply, extension and maintenance of 132kV underground cables feeding eight main transformer substations serving the N1, N6 and N11 districts in the project’s fourth phase. 

    MEED previously reported that Egytech Cables, a subsidiary of Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric, was the lowest bidder with an offer of $42.37m.

    The second cable tender covers the supply, extension and maintenance of 132kV underground cables linked to substations serving the N5, N6, N8 and N10 districts in the project’s third phase. 

    Egytech Cables submitted the lowest offer of $39.95m. TBEA Shandong Luneng Taishan Cable submitted a bid of $41.89m, along with Riyadh Cables ($42.05m) and The Contractor General Trading & Contracting ($44.97m).

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19151780/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Eni plans to drill 230 oil and gas wells in Egypt

    31 August 2026

    Italy’s Eni is planning to drill 230 new oil and gas wells in Egypt, according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources.

    Eni’s chief executive, Claudio Descalzi, discussed his plans for exploration and development in Egypt on 25 August during a meeting with Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi.

    During the meeting, Descalzi said that the company has plans to drill 30 exploration wells in addition to 200 development wells.

    Descalzi said his company plans to intensify its exploration and development programmes, especially in the Mediterranean and Western Sahara regions, to increase production of natural gas and crude oil.

    He said that his company plans to use the latest seismic imaging and artificial intelligence technologies as a key part of its exploration and development plans.

    In a separate statement, Eni also said that it is working with UK-headquartered BP and state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) to reach a final investment decision (FID) for a project to develop the major gas discovery of Denise West in Egypt’s Temsah concession.

    Eni made the discovery in February and says it holds about 2 trillion cubic feet of gas and 130,000 barrels of condensate.

    It is targeting first gas in less than two years and expects to reach FID “in the next few months”, according to its statement.

    Eni’s total investments in Egypt have reached a value of $8.5bn, according to the statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources.

    During the meeting on 25 August, Descalzi also stressed the importance of linking Cyprus’ Cronos gas field to Egyptian export infrastructure.

    In July, Eni reached the FID to develop the Cronos project in deep waters offshore Cyprus, targeting the first Cypriot gas to market in 2028.

    Production is expected to reach a plateau of 500 million standard cubic feet a day.

    In October last year, Egypt and Cyprus signed provisional agreements to connect Cyprus’ Cronos gas field to Egypt’s gas infrastructure.

    The agreements were signed by parties including Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eni, and the French oil and gas company TotalEnergies.

    Connecting the Cronos field to Egypt is expected to involve the tendering of a major subsea pipeline project.

    This will allow gas to be transported and processed in existing Zohr facilities in Egypt, then transferred and liquefied at the Damietta LNG plant for export as LNG to international markets, primarily Europe.

    At the meeting on 25 August, Descalzi said the planned project to connect the Cronos field to Egypt will be considered a model for regional cooperation in the gas sector and will enhance Egypt’s status as a regional gas hub.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19079059/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp