Saudi contractors want a slice of stadium pie

As many as 350 Saudi contractors have urged Saudi Aramco to give them a chance to participate in the project of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for establishing 11 new stadiums across the Kingdom.
Saudi Aramco welcomed the contractors’ request and specified the areas where they can compete. It invited them to register their companies’ data on the designated website in order to test their competence and potentials.
At the same time, the National Committee for Contractors in Saudi Arabia announced that it has been assured by Saudi Aramco that Saudi contractors would be given a chance to make their contributions to the project.
The committee has confirmed that national contractors will find a favorable climate for success and achievement under the supervision of Saudi Aramco. This will qualify them to have a pivotal role in the construction process according to the required specifications.
About 800 people, including more than 350 Saudi contractors, participated in the meeting held by Saudi Aramco at the Asharqia Chamber to present the requirements of the king’s project.
Abdul Rahman Al-Otaishan, chairman of the chamber, expressed his happiness over Saudi Aramco being given the task of implementing the project. He said the company enjoyed high potential and would implement the project according to the highest technical specifications.
Motaz Al-Mashouq of Saudi Aramco said the company was proud of being assigned the task. “The project will contribute to the development of sport and youth in Saudi Arabia. We are committed to complete it in two years according to the highest international standards and specifications.”
He indicated that each of the 11 stadiums will accommodate about 45,000 spectators.
Al-Mashouq said: “Chances are open for all contractors to participate in the implementation of the project, especially that our relationship with them is getting stronger and stronger with time.”
“The projects implemented last year in the construction sector under the supervision of Saudi Aramco and executed by national contractors amounted to more than SR23 billion,” he added.
Meanwhile, the value of purchasing services that were awarded to national companies reached more than SR114 billion.
“Implementing the project of stadiums will create 10,000 jobs for Saudi youth in the construction sector,” Al-Mashouq added.
Ibrahim Al-Mowalad, project engineer at Saudi Aramco, confirmed that work offers are available for all contracting companies and Saudi consultancy offices that can carry out basic projects such as mechanical work, electrical works, sewage networks and civil work.
In addition, there will be offers for contractors who work with low-voltage systems, as also for contractors for external enclosures and steel structures, interior designs, asphalt, natural grass and tests on soil quality, processing sites, infrastructure, temporary facilities, staff housing as well as preparing offices, and security and safety services during the work on the project,” he added.
Al-Mowalad hinted that Saudi Aramco will secure needed materials for the project according to certain specifications.
Al-Mowalad gave details of work stages, the location of stadiums and time frame. “The project’s implementation time is two years according to global designs that simulates Al-Jawhra stadium at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The designs will go along the culture and the environment of each region,” he said.
“Specialized competent authorities will supply the necessary sites with necessary basic services such as water, bridges, roads, electricity, sewerage network and communications, which will offer more work opportunities for national contracting companies and consulting offices,” he added.
Al-Mowalad said that the stage of planning and initial designs will take between 3 to 6 months while the implementation phase will take 18 to 21 months. The construction process for the 11 stadiums will run simultaneously.
Saudi Aramco, in collaboration with local universities, will choose the designs that are compatible with the culture and history of each region that hosts one of the new stadiums.
Saeed Al-Ghamdi, representative of the contracts management at Saudi Aramco, invited Saudi contractors who would like to take part in the project to register their companies’ data on the website allocated for this purpose.
Al-Ghamdi explained the mechanism of registering on the designated website. Any contractor will be able to access the site, and know the specifications and conditions after fulfilling all the conditions and requirements of registration,” Al-Ghamdi added.