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Firms prepare bids for $2bn Saudi port PPP contract

26 February 2025

 

At least three teams are being formed and are preparing to bid for a retendered contract to develop and upgrade five major land ports in Saudi Arabia.

Known as the Secured Zone Project, the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme entails upgrading the facilities at five land ports to enable the implementation of new customs’ concept of operations, according to an industry source.  

MEED understands that two bidding consortiums have been formed. These include a team of the local Vision Invest and Egypt’s Orascom Construction, and another team comprising the local firms Al-Kifah Holding and Mada Holding.

China Harbour Engineering Company is understood to be forming a third team.

The project client is Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca), which is procuring the project with the National Centre for Privatisation and PPP (NCP).

The five land ports are located in Al-Haditha, Halat Ammar, Al-Durrah, Al-Khafji and Wadiah.

The contract was first tendered in 2022 after Zatca and NCP prequalified nine companies that could bid for the project, which initially covered the five land ports plus another one in Al-Batha.

However, the project was rescoped after Zatca reportedly received three proposals, resulting in the ongoing rebid process.

Zatca and NCP expect to receive bids for the retendered contract in April.

In 2022, the companies that were prequalified to bid for the contract were:

  • Alghanim International General Trading (Kuwait)
  • Modern Building Leaders Company (local)
  • China Harbour Engineering Company (consortium)
  • Vision Invest (local)
  • El-Seif for Commercial Investments (local)
  • Al-Rajhi Holding Group (local)
  • Al-Yamama Company (local)
  • Al-Kifah Holding Company (local)
  • Serco Saudi Arabia 

The retendered contract covers the design, finance and build or retrofit of the Secured Zones’ facilities and infrastructure, including equipping the land ports with specialised equipment required for the concept of operations.

The maintenance duration for the infrastructure is 20 years and seven years for the equipment.

MEED understands the total contract value could fetch up to $2bn.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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