meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Field report: Riyadh

5 May 2023

 

Register for the MEED.com guest programme 

Contracts worth over $2.7bn have been awarded in Riyadh Province so far this year. 

MEED field researchers visited Riyadh in mid-April to monitor the progress on construction projects including Diriyah Gate, King Salman International Park and Riyadh Sports Boulevard.

The team also called in on two of Saudi Entertainment Ventures' (Seven's) entertainment complexes and several National Housing Company housing schemes, among other projects.

DIRIYAH GATE

At the Diriyah Gate project, construction works are progressing on the digital arts centre Diriyah Art Futures and Heritage Five Star hotel in Samhan district.

MEED researchers were able to get visuals of Diriyah Gate's now-completed restaurant complex, Bujairi Terrace.


Opened in December 2022, Bujairi Terrace comprises 21 restaurants over a 15,000 square-metre area

Elsewhere, construction works have started on the Ministry of Culture's headquarters building at Diriyah, while the site preparatory works are under way at the Northern Cultural District P3 car park, where the ground-breaking ceremony took place recently.

Local/Chinese team begins underground main spine tunnel roundabout base slab works

Structural works are under way at Saudi Electricity Company's Diriyah 380/132/13.8kV substation and the super basement project, which WeBuild is delivering.


Diriyah Development Company's three-floor super basement car park will serve the mixed-use Diriyah Square district, which will include leisure and entertainment, hotels, retail, grade A offices, the King Salman Grand mosque and residential units designed in the traditional Najdi architectural style

KING SALMAN INTERNATIONAL PARK

Structural works are progressing well at the Royal Art Complex, the single biggest project in execution by value at King Salman International Park so far. Modern Building Leaders won the contract, worth $1.3bn, to build the project in 2022.


In addition to the Royal Art Complex, the 1,300-hectare masterplanned King Salman Park project includes a national theatre, museums, galleries, a golf course, and spaces for commercial, hospitality and residential components

Construction on the main tunnels and bridges project continues, with the bridge structure now in place. A joint venture (JV) of Consolidated Contractors Company and El-Seif Engineering Contracting Company is executing the project, which is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2024.


King Salman Park was launched by King Salman in March 2019, alongside the Green Riyadh, Riyadh Art and Riyadh Sports Boulevard projects

RIYADH SPORTS BOULEVARD

The construction works are ongoing at almost all of the packages for Riyadh Sports Boulevard.

The projects currently in execution at the Riyadh Sports Boulevard include King Abdul-Aziz underpass package 8 and Abu Bakr underpass package 9, Zone 1A, Zone 1B, Zone 2A, Zone 5A, Zone 6: Package A, B, C, D, E and Cycling Bridge.


Riyadh Sports Boulevard – Package 5 Arts District. There are eight districts in total, with districts for entertainment, athletics and sports also planned

SEVEN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEXES

The structural works are under way at Seven's Al-Hamra entertainment complex (Exit 10), for which Al-Futtaim Engineering has been appointed as the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contractor.

Exit 10 is at the most advanced stage of construction out of the 21 planned entertainment complexes in 14 cities across the kingdom.

Meanwhile, early works proceed apace at Seven's Al-Nahdah entertainment complex (Exit 15) project. Consolidated Contractors Company is delivering the project.


Seven is owned by the Public Investment Fund and was formed in December 2017 as part of Riyadh’s push to localise Saudi spending on entertainment under the mandate of Vision 2030

Elsewhere in Riyadh, the client is delivering the housing units for Roshn's Sedra District community homes phase 1A, package 1. Indian contractor Shapoorji Pallonji is carrying out the construction works, which are in the finishing stages.


Located northeast of the Saudi capital, Sedra will consist of over 2,100 residential units, along with public parks, entertainment areas, retail, coffee shops and restaurants, community centres, schools, sports facilities and health care facilities

National Housing Company (NHC) is well on track with building its housing schemes in Riyadh. The infrastructure works are currently under way at the Dahiyat al-Fursan phase 1 project in the north of Riyadh. The work is being carried out by Al-Omaier Trading & Contracting.

Likewise, construction works are at advanced stages at NHC’s Al-Mashraqiya housing complex as well as for several of the packages at the Murcia complex, most notably Narges View, Rabieh Housing, Saraya al-Gwan, Asalah al-Gwan, Rawa Housing and the Al-Muhannadiya complex.


National Housing Company's Al-Mashraqiya housing complex, where construction is at an advanced stage

The foundation works are in progress at Shomoul Holdings’ The Avenues Riyadh project. 

The project is one of the largest commercial malls in the Middle East and includes multiple districts such as Prestige, Grand Avenue, The Souk, The Mall, Electra, Oasis, Grand Plaza, The Forum and The Walk. Nesma & Partners won the project's main construction contract, worth $1.76bn, in 2021.

There is no construction activity at the Mall of Saudi project site. MEED exclusively reported this week that the Dubai-based developer Majid al-Futtaim (MAF) had put the plans for its estimated SR6bn ($1.6bn) project in Riyadh on hold.

By Yasir Iqbal, research manager MEED.com | MEED Projects | MEED Insight

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/10817164/main.gif
MEED Editorial

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

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Kuwait on track to hit oil production target

    7 October 2026

    Kuwait is on track to meet its target of having 4 million barrels a day (b/d) of oil production capacity by 2035, according to Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) chief executive Shaikh Nawaf Al-Sabah.

    Al-Sabah also said Kuwait is on course to increase non-associated gas production to 2 billion cubic feet a day by 2040.

    His comments come amid an ongoing crisis in Kuwait’s oil and gas sector linked to the regional conflict that began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

    The subsequent war has significantly disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a crucial export route for Kuwaiti crude oil.

    Kuwait is currently producing around 2 million b/d of oil, down from 2.6 million b/d before the US and Israel attack.

    Speaking at a conference in London, Al-Sabah said: “We have the capacity to go back up to our current maximum sustainable capacity of 3 million b/d, if we have the export routes available, and this comes down to the ability to move oil through the Strait.”

    KPC is investing $9bn-$10bn a year in capital expenditure to meet its oil and gas production goals, according to Al-Sabah.

    He said: “We are doing this because we recognise that it is our hydrocarbons that will be most in demand a decade from now, and two decades from now – in fact, for the rest of our lifetimes.”

    Project Seef

    KPC is pushing ahead with the Al-Seef project, which focuses on developing three large offshore oil discoveries, Al-Sabah said.

    The offshore fields are known as Nokhatha, Julaia and Jazza. The development was first announced in February this year, about two weeks before the US and Israel attack on Iran.

    Al-Sabah said KPC is continuing with the project and believes the three fields collectively hold more than 3 billion barrels of recoverable oil.

    He said: “We are asking international oil companies to partner with us to develop those resources under an operating services contract.

    “So, we’re moving ahead according to the exact same schedule that we had put together even before the war began.”

    Al-Sabah did not say which international oil companies KPC has approached to help develop the three offshore fields.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20315147/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Roshn plans new flagship development in Riyadh

    7 October 2026

     

    Saudi developer Roshn Group plans to develop its next flagship scheme in north Riyadh, spanning an area of 13.7 square kilometres. 

    Roshn is looking to appoint lead design consultants to deliver detailed design, tender documentation and construction documents across the scheme, known as Plot 1.

    The scope covers all infrastructure, utilities, public realm works and site adaptation of Roshn’s residential prototypes, split across two work packages.

    Part 1 covers phases A, B and E, which collectively span about 7.8 million square metres (sq m) and will comprise 17,000 units.

    Part 2 includes phases C and D, which will span about 4.7 million sq m and comprise more than 15,000 units.

    The development is bordered by Expo 2030, King Abdulaziz Park, the Sports Innovation Lab Zone and the National Housing Company-developed Khozam district.

    It will be a residential-led mixed-use development, also featuring retail, offices, hospitality, education and civic facilities.

    Connectivity is a core plank of the masterplan, with two metro stations planned: one at the existing Line 4/proposed Line 7 interchange and another dedicated Line 7 stop. The scheme would also be served by the future Qiddiya high-speed rail and a possible King Salman Road diversion.

    Plot 1 builds on Roshn’s existing footprint in the capital, notably the multi-phase Sedra community, as the developer expands beyond single-family housing into mixed-use districts under its Roshn 3.0 strategy.

    Last month, Roshn Group announced that it had signed a preliminary agreement with Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) Saudi, the local subsidiary of Egyptian developer Talaat Moustafa Group, to establish a joint venture to explore and develop a mixed-use project in Riyadh.

    Under the agreement, TMG will hold a 51% stake in the joint company, while Roshn Group will hold 49%.

    The agreement sets out a framework for the two groups to assess a potential partnership for the project’s phased development, which is planned as a residential-led, mixed-use community featuring retail, commercial, hospitality, leisure, healthcare and education facilities, alongside parks and public spaces.

    Roshn Group and TMG Saudi plan to conduct detailed master planning and develop the project’s business case.

    Preliminary studies indicate the development could include more than 55,000 residential units across all phases.

    Roshn Group did not disclose the exact project location in its announcement.

    As a Public Investment Fund-owned developer, Roshn remains a key vehicle for delivering Vision 2030’s housing programme, which targets 70% Saudi home ownership, alongside the kingdom’s wider quality-of-life and economic diversification agendas.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/19786131/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Al-Yamamah signs Saudi 380kV transmission deals

    6 October 2026

    Riyadh-headquartered Al-Yamamah Steel Industries has signed two supply contracts with Algihaz Contracting Company for the construction of 380kV ultra-high-voltage transmission lines in Saudi Arabia’s Western Region.

    The contracts cover the supply of steel towers and are worth a combined SR254.28m ($67.8m).

    In a disclosure to the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), the firm said the first contract is valued at SR135.65m ($36.2m), while the second is worth SR118.63m ($31.6m).

    Both contracts have a one-year duration, with supply scheduled to begin in March 2027. The financial impact of the contracts is expected to start appearing in Al-Yamamah Steel’s results in the first quarter of 2027. 

    Algihaz is currently carrying out construction works for several transmission projects, including Saudi Energy’s $206m Bisha 380/132kV BSP connection project, for which it was appointed the main contractor in 2025.

    The project involves a double-circuit 380kV overhead transmission line connecting the Bisha PV bulk supply point to the existing bulk supply points in Aseer Province.

    The deals also add to a series of steel tower contracts secured by Al-Yamamah Steel for 380kV transmission projects in the Western Region.

    In September, the company signed a SR103.14m ($27.5m) contract with the Saudi branch of National Power Construction Corporation to supply steel towers for a 380kV ultra-high-voltage line. Supply under that contract is due to begin in February 2027. 

    Al-Yamamah Steel also signed a SR176.48m ($47.1m) contract in November 2025 with Arabian Electrical Transmission Line Construction Company to supply steel towers for another 380kV ultra-high-voltage line in the Western Region. 

    The company has expanded its tower production capacity in recent years to meet expected demand for steel towers used in electricity transmission lines. Its 2024 annual report said it had added production lines and a galvanising plant in Jeddah Industrial City for this purpose. 

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20308551/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Eagle Hills plans new Syria projects

    6 October 2026

    Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer Eagle Hills has signed a framework agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Public Works & Housing to develop a series of residential and tourism community projects across several Syrian governorates.

    The first phase will include Damascus Heights in the capital and Latakia Yachts & Marina on the Mediterranean coast.

    Damascus Heights is planned as a mixed-use community comprising homes, retail, hospitality and business facilities, supported by schools, healthcare services, green areas and resident amenities.

    Latakia Yachts & Marina is planned as a waterfront destination anchored by a marina, with homes, hotels, branded residences and leisure offerings.

    During development and operation, the projects are expected to support economic activity and tourism, create jobs across construction, hospitality and services, and add new housing, community facilities and tourism infrastructure.

    Syrian professionals and businesses are expected to play a central role in both delivery and operations, creating opportunities for contractors, suppliers and service providers, strengthening local supply chains and SMEs, and supporting skills development and knowledge transfer.

    Eagle Hills is also inviting applications for investment participation from Syrians in Syria and abroad, with priority for qualified Syrian individuals, businesses and institutions. 

    Following the signing, both projects will proceed to implementation, with enabling and construction works expected to begin shortly in Damascus and Latakia.

    READ THE OCTOBER 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Industry and logistics drive development at Neom; Saudi Arabia’s investment priorities realign amid conflict; MEED’s 2026 power developer ranking.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the October 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20308460/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractors submit revised bids for Dukhan field facilities upgrade

    6 October 2026

     

    Contractors have submitted revised proposals to QatarEnergy for a key tender to upgrade facilities at the Dukhan oil field in Qatar, about 80 kilometres west of Doha.

    Following the submission of the initial round of bids for the project on 9 August, QatarEnergy requested revised proposals from contractors, which they submitted by 27 September, sources told MEED.

    The following local contractors, among others, are understood to be bidding for the DPFU Phase 1B (Part 2) tender, according to information obtained by MEED Projects:

    • Doha Petroleum Construction Company (Dopet)
    • Galfar Al-Misnad Engineering & Contracting
    • Qatar Engineering & Construction Company (Q-con)

    QatarEnergy originally stipulated a bond validity of 150 days (until 23 December) and a bid validity of 120 days (until 23 November) for the project.

    The engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning scope covers upgrades to 56 oil manifolds, 108 gas-lift manifold slots, chemical injection systems and key pumping facilities, along with associated piping, instrumentation, control, electrical and civil works.

    The scope includes the demolition of obsolete equipment, degassing station enhancements, and full testing and handover. It also encompasses additional capacity enhancement works under Part 3, mainly the installation of new oil export and produced-water transfer pumps, along with supporting facility modifications.

    The project involves complex interfaces and shutdown-critical activities, requiring expertise in live-plant integration.

    QatarEnergy issued the tender for the DPFU Phase 1B (Part 2) project on 8 June and initially set a bid submission deadline of 26 July, later extending it to 9 August.

    Dukhan, Qatar’s first and only onshore oil field, was discovered in 1938, with oil production starting in 1939-40. The country currently produces about 1.8 million barrels a day (b/d) of crude, with the Dukhan field accounting for about 350,000 b/d.

    The Dukhan oil field covers about 80km by 8km and consists of four reservoirs: Khatiyah, Fahahil, Jaleha and Diyab. The first three are oil reservoirs. The more recently developed Diyab reservoir contains non-associated gas and is estimated to hold around 2 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. Diyab lies on Dukhan’s southern flank.

    ALSO READ: QatarEnergy selects contractors for offshore oil field expansion
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/20306273/main5440.jpg
    Indrajit Sen