Hill wins Saudi contract extension

Hill International has received a one-year extension from Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC) to its existing engineering consultancy services contract for a mixed-use development in Makkah.

The one-year contract extension has an estimated value to Hill of SR51.7 million ($13.8 million), said the US construction major.

The Jabal Omar development, situated on 57 acres, includes 37 towers with a total built-up area of 21.5 million sq ft of space, including hospitality, residential, retail, commercial and religious facilities.

Hill has been the project manager on this multi-billion-dollar development since 2010.

“We are honoured that JODC continues to rely upon our project management expertise,” said Mohammed Al Rais, the president (Middle East) for Hill’s Project Management Group. “We are confident that our team will continue to perform beyond our client’s expectations.”

Equipment market to grow 8.75pc

The construction equipment market in Saudi Arabia is forecast to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 8.75 per cent over the next five years, said a report.

The kingdom’s construction equipment sector is highly import-driven and a consolidated one with few global players accounting for the majority of the market, stated 6Wresearch, a global market research and consulting firm, in its report.

Of the construction equipment, loaders accounted for the lion’s share followed by crane and construction tractors. The crawler loaders generated a major share followed by the tower and mobile crane and in the construction tractors sector, the bulldozer/crawler tractor dominated the market.

According to the report, international players are increasingly making entering the market through partnerships or distribution. Metal and mining is the major application of construction equipment market in the country, contributing to the maximum revenue in Saudi Arabia’s construction equipment market, it stated.

‘Workers villages’ model in spotlight

Anan Iskan, a leader in the development and facilities management for workers in the region, said it has developed an optimal model for a sustainable workers’ accommodation.

Anan Iskan CEO Faisal Alsayegh said the slum conditions were no longer acceptable and the answer to the problem was ‘workers villages’ with all amenities.

It will feature fire prevention safeguards, natural lighting and ventilation; solar water heaters; and recycling operations for waste materials. Alsayegh said the project will also comprise a bio-shaft system for the disposal of bio-waste in addition to reverse osmosis systems.