RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and a consortium of French engineering companies, involving Setec, Egis and Assystem, have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the infrastructure development in the historical city.
The MoU was signed by RCU’s CEO Amr Al-Madani, and Egis’ Middle East CEO Alaa AbuSiam at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Oct. 26, according to a press release.
The ten-year alliance will see the consortium’s AlUla workforce rise from 40 to 200, and includes performing operation and maintenance activities, and developing professional capabilities in AlUla.
Laurent Germain, the CEO of Egis Group, told Arab News: “The deal signified a fantastic journey between Egis, its partners and RCU, and we are very proud to be at the heart of a very iconic project of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for another 10 years.”
The ten-year partnership includes operation and maintenance activities besides developing professional capabilities in AlUla.
“We’re going to manage the implementation of all the projects and to make sure that the infrastructure will be top-notch and serve the ambitions of RCU,” Germain said.
Over the past two years, the consortium has facilitated and structured the city’s infrastructure, including the inauguration of a new airport.
Germain said RCU’s partnership with Setec, Egis and Assystem would ensure that focus remained on the benefits to the historical city and its people.
“We will make sure as the project manager that the local aspects of this project are maximized over the next 10 years. We are developing AlUla for its people,” he said.
“The strengthening of RCU’s partnership with SEA gives us a platform to further plan and deliver the next stage of AlUla’s development,” said AlMadani of RCU.
He added: “The newly expanded MoU will allow AlUla to continue its upwards trajectory of sustainable growth as it evolves into the world’s largest Living Museum and the beating heart of business, culture, and tourism for the north-west Arabia region and beyond.”
