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Neom to tender more port construction

24 February 2023

Neom is expected to tender a contract to complete the second phase of the upgrade and expansion to Duba port at the centre of the Oxagon industrial city development this year.

A tender for the project’s second phase will follow the award of a contract to deliver the first phase of the port expansion. A team of Netherlands-based Boskalis, Belgium’s Besix and the local Modern Building Leaders (MBL) was awarded that estimated SR3bn ($800m) contract in mid-January.

The scope of the Duba Port expansion package includes excavation and dredging, revetments for channel widening, demolition, container terminal quay expansion and earthworks, in addition to the development of a flexible quay, a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) berth and quay walls to a marine services berth and a coast guard facility.

An expanded Duba port is a critical component of Oxagon and the broader Neom development as it will allow greater volumes of materials to be imported for the project. With an expected investment value of $500bn, the project is the largest programme of construction work in the world.

According to regional projects tracker MEED Projects, there has now been over $22bn of contract awards for work at Neom since it was officially launched in 2017.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Oxagon in late 2021. It will include onshore elements as well as floating structures offshore. Construction works on the 48 square-kilometre, eight-sided industrial city have already started.

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Colin Foreman

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