Bahrain’s Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs, and Urban Planning will be carrying out the infrastructure works for the $1bn King Abdullah Medical City, a massive healthcare project in the south of the kingdom.

A financing contract worth BHD16.5mn has been signed between Bahrain government and the Saudi Development Fund in this regard, stated Ahmed Al Khayyat, the works affairs undersecretary at the ministry.

The scope of work includes the main 66 kV power station, a sewage treatment plant, water collection tanks besides sewerage, irrigation, and stormwater drainage networks. The ministry will also handle the internal and external roads networks, lighting, telecommunication network, and aesthetic works, he added.

The giant medical city project is being funded through SAR1bn grant from the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and will be built on a one million sqm plot donated by His Majesty King Hamad at Durrat Al Bahrain.

Read the full article on Construction Business News ME.

Saudi Arabia’s 10 largest construction projects are worth a combined $92bn (SAR345bn), according to research conducted by BNC Network on behalf of The Big 5 Saudi 2017.

The researchers list the country’s top 10 projects as: Jeddah Tower, Abraj Kudai, Holy Haram Mosque, Prophet’s Mosque, Dahiyat Al Fursan, Mall of Saudi, The Avenues, Riyadh Metro, Jazan Oil Refinery, and Fadhili Gas Plant.

At an estimated $700bn (SAR2.63tn), the sectors of urban construction and transportation account for approximately 68% of the overall value of projects in Saudi Arabia.

At approximately 1km in height, Jeddah Tower will comprise 252 floors, and boast a gross floor area (GFA) of 245,000m2. It will include offices, a 200-room Four Seasons Hotel, 121 serviced apartments, and 360 residential apartments. Valued at $1.8bn (SAR6.75bn), the project is scheduled to complete by March 2020.

Read the full article on Construction Week Online.

This comes in light of many of the country’s large infrastructure projects already tendered for and industry players indicating that they expect future contracts to be mainly for medium-sized projects.

“The days of projects valued at QAR7bn-QAR10bn ($1.9bn-$2.7bn) are over. One of the main reasons larger projects are being conducted in phases is to keep the amount of work consistent, as the overall industry will not have as much work in the coming years,” Philippe Tavernier, CEO of local construction firm QDVC was quoted saying by Oxford Business Group (OBG).

OBG quoted top government authorities saying that all major tenders have been awarded for the $40bn, 200,000 inhabitants Lusail City north of Doha, with an estimated 80% of infrastructure work on the smart city already finished, according to media reports.

Due for completion by 2018, Lusail City is set to feature 19 distinctive districts offering a wide range of facilities, with work progressing quickly on the country’s planned rail networks, The Peninsula reported.

Read the full article at Construction Week Online.

Dubai ruler approves award of contract for 12km highway at cost of $136 million

Two road projects worth a combined AED 990 million ($270m) are set to ease congestion on the busy Sharjah-Dubai route and improve access to the airport, according to officials.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the award of a contract for the improvement of Tripoli Road in a 12 km stretch to provide a link between the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and the Emirates Road at a cost of AED500 million ($136m), according to state news agency WAM.

The project provides a parallel and supporting corridor to the Airport Road Improvement Project, which the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is currently implementing at a cost of AED490 million.

Read the full story at ME Construction News.

Qatar’s World Cup organizers have awarded the main construction contract for one of their final tournament stadiums.

The Al Thumama stadium will be built by a joint venture between Qatar’s AlJaber Engineer (JEC) and Turkey’s Tekfen Construction.

The venue will be located between E-Ring and F-Ring Roads, or between the Medical Commission and the under-construction Kahramaa Awareness Park.

It is expected to host matches up the quarter-final stage, and will seat some 40,000 people.

Like several other Qatar stadiums, it will be dismantled to accommodate half that many people after 2022.

The selection of the Turkish firm comes as ties between Qatar and Turkey grow increasingly stronger.

Read the full article on Medium – Doha News.

The first modular seating elements are set to be installed at Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor City as construction continues to advance, according to the organisers of the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament.

The stands of Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor City are now visible from afar reaching a height of 39 metres from ground level, a statement said.

It added that the modular construction of the proposed semi-final host venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup means that almost half of its seating can be removed and given to football development projects around the world.

Construction at the 60,000-seat stadium, which is designed like a traditional Arabian tent, is now in full swing with the installation of the first 2,500 seats at the north stand of the stadium.

Read the full story on Arabian Business.

Prime Minister says works expected be executed on schedule.

About 90% of FIFA World Cup 2022 projects, across all sectors, have been awarded and are expected to be executed on time, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Qatar has said.

According to a report in The Peninsula, a Qatari newspaper, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani said that all the infrastructure development works related to the event were being carried out at a “steady pace”, with 50% of the city’s railway project already completed.

The remarks came during the state cabinet’s weekly meeting, which was chaired by Sheikh Abdullah. The Prime Minister also called for the commitment of competent authorities to the implementation of the projects, as per their plans, deadlines and allocated budgets, the report added.

Read the full story on ME Construction News.

Qatar is spending almost $500m (£400m) a week on major infrastructure projects as it prepares for the 2022 Fifa World Cup, its finance minister has said.

Ali al-Emadi expected spending to continue at that level for three to four years as new stadiums, motorways, rail links and hospitals are built.

More than $200bn (£160bn) will be spent in total by the gas-rich emirate.

But Mr Emadi denied that the plans would make the 2022 tournament the most expensive World Cup yet.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is reported to have cost $11bn (£8.8bn) to host, while Russia increased government spending on the 2018 World Cup by $321m to $10.7bn.

Read the full story at BBC News.