JEDDAH, 13 May 2007 — Emaar, The Economic City (Emaar.E.C), the Tadawul-listed company developing King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) — the single largest private sector-led project in the region — has signed a construction contract worth SR52 million with International Centre for Commerce and Contracting.
Dr. Abdulraouf Al-Mannaa, managing director, Emaar.E.C, and Mohammed Al-Khuraiji, chairman, International Centre for Commerce and Contracting (ICCC), signed the deal which covers the construction of KAEC’s resort villas and main entrance gate.
“After completing the necessary studies and designs, we are now awarding contracts to construction companies for completing KAEC on schedule,” Mannaa said. “Saudi-based companies like International Centre have extensive expertise and perfectly complement our aspiration to develop a world-class mega project.”
Al-Khuraiji said “KAEC is one of the most prestigious developments in the Kingdom, and as a home-grown company, it is our privilege and honor to be associated with a project that is billed to usher in a new era of economic prosperity for Saudi Arabia.”
KAEC sprawls over 168 million sqm and is located on the Red Sea coast. It has six key components — the Sea Port, Industrial Zone, Central Business District (including the Financial District), Resort District, Educational Zone and Residential Communities.
The main gate to the project will be 32 meters high and have a length of 150 meters. International Centre will complete construction of the gate in four months. As the main access to the project, the gate will be equipped with closed circuit cameras.
The deal covers the construction of town homes and villas in a total area of 6,400 sqm. The villas, the first development within the Resort District, are scheduled for completion in 10 months.
The Resort District will be a self-contained enclave of residential villas, golf course and resort hotels, set along the shores of Red Sea. It will also feature restaurants, retail outlets, Juma mosque and pedestrian walkways set amid landscaped gardens.
“There has been considerable investor interest in the Resort District already, and the villas will meet the needs of a discerning clientele looking for world-class homes,” Mannaa added.
Construction of the first apartment buildings in the residential area has commenced. The Presentation Center and a 15-km access road have been completed earlier this year. Potential investors can have a true-to-type feel of the villas at the Presentation Centre, and also register their interest.