Ahmad Al-Sulaim, director of the drainage department at the municipality, announced a contract would be signed with the Al-Khobar-based company to support the field team supervising the implementation of the project.

“The company will also review the project and pronounce its impartial opinion during various phases of engineering design work implementation by the US company ICOM International. It won’t have any relations either with the project implementation companies or the company entrusted with engineering design works,” he said. SNC-Lavalin Arabia will also offer solutions for problems and impediments that may arise while implementing the project.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Al-Sulaim disclosed a high level committee has been formed to evaluate the real estate and properties that are to be expropriated for implementing permanent flood and rainwater drainage projects in Jeddah.

Last Wednesday, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal had awarded contracts worth SR3.39 billion to four companies for implementing these projects. Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras, Al-Sulaim and several government officials will be members of the committee, headed by Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Majed.

According to Al-Sulaim, the permanent solution projects involve more than 25 million hours of work. “More than 8,500 workers will be engaged in implementing the project at 35 work sites covering a total area of 1,000 square kilometers, and the workers’ number would rise to 14,000 during the peak period of implementation. They will use over 2,500 pieces of equipment and instruments,” he said.

The permanent drainage solution projects include the construction of five dams, expansion of existing canals in the northern, southern and eastern parts of Jeddah and construction of a new canal along King Abdulaziz International Airport. Two Saudi and two international companies have been awarded contracts to implement these projects. Nesma Company won a contract worth SR803 million to build four dams in Wadi Ghaya, Wadi Um Hablain, Wadi Daghbaj, and Wadi Briman and another contract worth SR372 million to build another dam in Wadi Ghalil and renovate the southern floodwater path. Another contract valued at SR143 million was awarded to the China Communications Construction Company to renovate the northern floodwater path.

Snamprogetti Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., a company of the Saipem Group of Italy, has won the biggest contract, valued at SR1.319 billion, to construct a rainwater drainage system for the new Jeddah airport.

Saudi Pan Kingdom for Trade, Industry and Contracting (Sapac) won a SR751 million contract to renovate the eastern floodwater path.

The four were picked from 13 companies that were pre-qualified to present tenders for the projects.