Saudi partnership wins contract for infrastructure development in Red Sea project
"Tourism is a forward-looking industry that is not afraid of change". With these words, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet assessed the development of this industry more than four years ago. Four years later, Saudi Arabia has decided to use this premise to expand this sector in its country, with the construction of the so-called Red Sea project, one of the most ambitious tourism projects in the world. The contract for the construction of this infrastructure has been awarded to an alliance formed by the Saudi companies Nesma & Partners Contracting and Almabani General Contractors.
The Rad Sea Development Project is a company owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. The objective of this project is to position this nation as a luxury tourism destination. "The Red Sea Development Company is making great progress towards making Saudi Arabia a world leading destination. By awarding our most ambitious contract to date, we are taking another significant step in this direction, while demonstrating our continued commitment to creating opportunities within the construction sector in this nation," said John Pagano, CEO of The Red Sea Development Company.
"Turning our vision into reality will require us to work with organizations that share our values and our uncompromising commitment to improving the environment. This was a key consideration when we appointed Nesma & Partners Contracting Co. Ltd and Almabani General Contractors. Both partners have impressive experience in the area of aviation infrastructure, along with local and international expertise," he added.
The contract covers the cost of certain air infrastructure works, including the design and construction of several runways, as well as paving works, aeronautical navigation aids or the lighting of the airport surface, among other tasks. "We are proud to be selected to contribute to the development of the Red Sea International Airport, which we believe will play a key role in transforming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by welcoming up to one million visitors per year to the destination by 2030," said Rami Alturki, Vice President and Board Member of Nesma & Partners Contracting Co.
Joseph Daher, CEO of Almabani General Contractors said that for this project they will use "all their state-of-the-art airport resources" as well as qualified experts to "ensure that we meet our customers' expectations". "We are proud to partner with Nesma to become a key contributor to a flagship project in the Vision 2030," he added. Under the agreement, the entire infrastructure of this project, including its transport network, will be powered by 100% renewable energy. In addition to the airport, this project includes 16 hotels, as well as commercial and leisure facilities.
The new airport that will open in 2022 on the west coast of the country is one more piece of the puzzle that makes up the Red Sea project. Saudi Arabia is carrying out a series of initiatives covering various sectors, including entertainment and tourism, as part of its Vision 2030 programme, one of the most ambitious tourism projects in the region, which aims to diversify the economy away from exclusive reliance on oil. According to The National newspaper, tourism is expected to contribute more than 10 percent to Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product by 2030, compared to 3 percent today, and to provide one million jobs.
