Saudi Projects Magazine Issue 42

M E TA L R E C Y C L I N G C O M PA N Y O F T H E Y E A R

MIDDLE EAST WASTE & RECYLING AWARDS

AL QARYAN GROUP CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE P30

SIEMENS

THINKING SMART AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN CONSTRUCTION P08

T H E

L E A D I N G

MOHAMED HARASANI ARCHITECTS BUILDING WITH PEOPLE IN MIND P24

S A U D I

GENERAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL AVIATION (GACA) LINKING THE FUTURE TO THE PAST P33

T R A D E

M A G A Z I N E

EDITOR’S PAGE 05

FOLLOW US ON

MANAGING DIRECTOR Eddie Rayner e.rayner@tpg.media

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Rod Millington r.millington@tpg.media

ADVERTISING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Laura Wojciechowski laura@tpg.media BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Jane Muff jane@tpg.media MEDIA CONSULTANTS Doris Leonor doris@tpg.media Nazia Anjum nazia@tpg.media Alex Griffin alex@tpg.media

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Dorothy Brigoli dorothy@tpg.media DESIGN MANAGER Daniel Murad dan@tpg.media

ACCOUNTS accounts@tpg.media

SWITCHBOARD: +971 4 349 4925 +971 4 223 6578 www.tpg.media www.saudiprojectsmagazine.com

This magazine is published by TPG Publishing LLC. All material is the copyright of TPG Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. This magazine is the property of TPG Publishing LLC. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without written permission of the Managing Director of TPG Publishing LLC. While every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company or product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the Editor at the time of going to press.

WEAVING DREAMS INTO REALITY Dammam Metropolitan Area’s (DMA) real estate market and its long-term contribution to national GDP is about to receive a significant boost with the development of the King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), which is to be one of the largest and most important projects in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Leading real estate agent JLL explained that SPARK presents a more positive outlook for the entire region, with the up and coming development of the park expected to enhance the market for office space as new tenants drive demand.

SPARK is being developed by Saudi Aramco and it is a project that is destined to become an economic catalyst for the region, creating tens of thousands of jobs in a global industrial hub for energy-related manufacturing services. Craig Plumb, head of research, MENA, at JLL, commented: “The plans to diversify the Saudi economy away from the oil and gas sector presented a less positive outlook for oil-rich DMA compared to other cities across Saudi. However, this new energy hub demonstrates major investments being made within the energy sector itself to fuel economic growth.”

It is estimated that SPARK, as part of the National Transformation Programme, will contribute SR22.5 billion to the nation’s GDP annually once fully developed, which is slated to be in 2035. It will not only boost downstream petrochemicals, but will also increase the contribution of local content across a wide array of industrial sectors.

JLL added that in the first half of 2018 the commercial office market continued to soften, but demand is expected to increase in the medium to long-term in line with Saudi Aramco’s target for sourcing 70% of its input from local companies.

Other sectors in DMA have seen steady growth, even though the retail sector has seen no new developments completed. Residential developments, continued to grow, although at a slightly slower rate than in previous years, whilst the hospitality sector remains active with five new hotels and two serviced apartments projects entering the market.

DMA, formed by the three main neighbouring cities of Dammam, Dhahran, and Al Khobar, lies at the heart of the Eastern Province, which traditionally has been considered as the economic powerhouse of Saudi Arabia, accounting for approximately 50% of the Kingdom's total oil and gas reserves.

The economic diversification of the national economy will inevitably reduce the Kingdom’s time-honoured dependence on the hydrocarbon sector over time and will increase the significance of its other distinctive characteristic - its close connectivity to the surrounding GCC nations.

Editor

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06 LOCAL NEWS

COVER STORY

AL QARYAN GROUP

P30

UNPARALLELED EXPERTISE IN RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE

SAUDI COMMISSION FOR TOURISM AND NATIONAL HERITAGE

MOHAMED SAUDI ELECTRICITY HARASANI COMPANY P24 P27 One of Saudi Arabia’s most respected and sought after architectural firms, Mohamed Harasani Architects (MHA) has built a reputation for producing some of the Kingdom’s most forward-thinking designs.

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P18

China, one of the world's oldest civilisations, has cultural roots that date back over 5000 years and features some of the oldest art in the history of our planet, with its origins in remote antiquity. So there was considerable pleasure and excitement when it was announced that, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the National Museum of Riyadh would host the ‘Treasures of China.

The exhibition, which incorporates 264 items provided by 13 museums and cultural institutions throughout China, is an extension of co-operation in the field of archaeology between Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China. The framework of the co-operation agreement takes in archaeological research, archaeology exhibitions and museum activities. There are, for instance, excavation works being currently implemented by the joint Saudi-Chinese team at the Al-Sereen site in Qunfudha Governorate.

SAUDI ELECTRICITY COMPANY P27 SEC has a commitment and vision that requires a meticulously planned and progressive strategy, which is fuelled by the rapid growth in urbanisation. Recently, for instance, it announced plans to establish a power generation subsidiary

GACA P33 The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is running trial operations for the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, with the first flights now having arrived.

CONTENTS 07

GET TO KNOW P08 In this issue of Saudi Projects Magazine we speak to Mr. Ahmad Farrakh Manzoor, Head of the Building Technologies division at Siemens Saudi Arabia.The Saudi government’s plans regarding smart cities, just like the other aspects of Vision 2030, are ambitious but with very clear timelines.With 82% of the population already living in cities, the ambition to have three cities ranked among the top 100 in the world.

LOCAL NEWS P12 The inauguration by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of the various industrial and mining development projects in the Waad al Shammal city, will further strengthen the diversification of industrialization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic project is in line with the Kingdom’s wider strategy to boost the industries.

WORLDWIDE NEWS P10 Malaysian oil and gas services company Sapura Energy has secured contracts worth RM1.75 billion ($417 million) for projects in Mexico and Malaysia.The company has won a contract from Hokchi Energy for its wholly-owned subsidiary in Mexico to undertake offshore engineering, procurement, transportation, installation and pre-commissioning and commissioning (EPCIC) works in the Hokchi Field Development in the Gulf of Mexico.

ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS P20 Swiss-born British philosopher and author Alain de Botton said, in The Architecture of Happiness, his exploration of the hidden links between buildings and our wellbeing: "One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kinds of walls, chairs, buildings, and streets that surround us." This is a sentiment that cannot be overstated.

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08 GET TO KNOW AHMAD FARRAKH MANZOOR

THINKING SMART AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN CONSTRUCTION AHMAD FARRAKH MANZOOR, HEAD OF THE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION AT SIEMENS SAUDI ARABIA

IN THIS ISSUE OF SAUDI PROJECTS MAGAZINE WE SPEAK TO MR. AHMAD FARRAKH MANZOOR, HEAD OF THE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION AT SIEMENS SAUDI ARABIA.

SIEMENS LTD. P.O. BOX 9510 RIYADH 11423 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA T: +966 11 2378111 E: INQUIRIES.SA@SIEMENS.COM W: WWW.SIEMENS.COM.SA

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Saudi Projects (SP): How would you describe KSA’s plans for developing smart cities in line with its Vision 2030?

Ahmad Farrakh Manzoor (AFM): The Saudi government’s plans regarding smart cities, just like the other aspects of Vision 2030, are ambitious but with very clear timelines. With 82% of the population already living in cities, the ambition to have three cities ranked among the top 100 in the world, and with plans to increase pilgrimage numbers from eight million to about 30 million, means that there is a need for smarter infrastructure in mobility, energy, water, healthcare, buildings etc. And with a young, tech-obsessed population, approximately 50% below the age of 30, the right understanding, human capital and environment are available for the vision to become reality.

The E-Government initiatives over the last 10 years are a clear testament of the capabilities of the government. Now with the recently tested tourist E-Visa and the new E-Gates installed at Riyadh Airport, we are witnessing the exponential phase of the change.

SP: How do you see progress over the next 5-10 years; what will Siemens contribution be in terms of the development of smart cities?

AFM: Change is linear in the beginning.

We have seen that in the past. Now, we are in the exponential part of the curve and that makes the next 5-10 years exhilarating and unpredictable at the same time.

The prime purpose of smart infrastructure is to ensure healthier, more liveable and sustainable cities, which may not necessarily look very different from today, but will function almost entirely based on digital technologies. Being a leading global player in the smart infrastructure market, Siemens is uniquely positioned with a comprehensive portfolio. Smart mobility, smart buildings,

GET TO KNOW AHMAD FARRAKH MANZOOR 09 smart grids, smart security, smart lighting, smart parking, energy efficiency and smart healthcare, Siemens can provide solutions across multiple areas that form the core of smart cities. Siemens is already contributing around the world in many smart city projects and the recent one is next door, in Dubai, at the Expo2020. We have the technology, the right domain experts and a flexible co-creation process with customers that is paramount to developing a bespoke smart city solution using off-the-shelf technology.

SP: What makes your products and services stand out when it comes to the latest technologies?

AFM: This goes beyond products and services.Technology is in our DNA.We have products such as our open IoT operating system, MindSphere, which integrates technologies across all domains and optimises the performance of infrastructure. In other words, MindSphere makes the infrastructure smarter. In addition to that, MindSphere is vendor agnostic and can integrate well with a multitude of applications, enabling necessary flexibility, integration and modular growth of infrastructure. You also need the right domain experts to bring that technology to work for stakeholders and residents of the cities in construction projects. How do we do that? What really works for so many different stakeholders and residents as each city is unique? With our co-creation process, we take our customers through a journey to jointly create what is useful for them.

SP: What does this look like?

AFM: Imagine you’re monitoring the air quality in an office building. Our Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can utilise neural networks and, accessing data from the last hour, predict how the air quality will be in the next 10 minutes. If the air quality is going to degrade, or a sandstorm is predicted, action can be taken in advance to get more fresh air into the building or run it through filters. If the air quality is above the required standard, energy saving mechanisms can be activated. People are much more productive, active and healthy if we monitor and maintain good air quality.

In event of a fire, a fire alarm is activated.

But what if the fire is in the 4th floor of a building near the north fire exit staircase?

People can be directed to the alternate exit at the south of the building using SMS/ twitter, auto-voice announcement, or even by displaying messages on existing screens in common areas/corridors. If there’s any other kind of emergency, man-made or nature induced, the same system can be used to direct occupants, in conjunction with the fire alarm, resulting in making the system more robust.

Reducing downtime through predictive maintenance is another application. A motor running an air quality unit is progressively drawing more current to retain the same output. Using AI, Siemens MindSphere technology can predict when this motor is going to fail and schedules maintenance during off hours, therefore minimising downtime.

Predicting traffic behaviour is also possible.

Based on weather sensors, public event data, school timings and CCTV cameras that count cars, traffic could be optimised using advanced algorithms and machine learning.

Lesser congestion means higher productivity, happier residents and lower pollution.

SP: What is the biggest challenge that Siemens faces in KSA at this stage?

AFM: I won’t call it a specific challenge for Siemens; however, there is potential for confusion among some stakeholders due to a plethora of technologies offering bits and pieces. The pace of change is fundamentally altering the way the market functions and innovations need to be quick, especially with shorter value chains. Having said that, the challenges that concern us are the challenges being faced by our customers. Many of these have to do with what kind of technology to implement and what would be the business model. The currently developing PPP framework is a step in the right direction and will alleviate many challenges.

SP: What other objectives and projects are Siemens currently working on at the moment in KSA?

AFM: Apart from our regular technology business, we are helping customers in their digitalisation journeys in the areas of electrification, digital industries (Industrie 4.0) and smart infrastructure.

SP: What has been Siemens biggest achievement to date in KSA? AFM: For 90 years, Siemens has provided innovative solutions to Saudi Arabia and contributed to the development of its infrastructure. Today, the company employs 1,400 people in the Kingdom and is committed to the development of Saudi Arabia.

Over years, Siemens has been a key player in areas of electrification, digitalisation and smart infrastructure.Among one of the recent important milestones is the establishment of our MindSphere Application Centre in Saudi Arabia, where our experts help customers co-create solutions to help in their digital transformation journeys.

SP: What opportunities do you think NEOM will contribute in terms of the development of smart cities in the region?

AFM: NEOM will be the ultimate showcase for generations to come. It will be a smart, futuristic city that will operate on 100% renewable energy sources and deploy AI. This project shows that Saudi Arabia is serious about building smart urban environments for its people and the world.

To me, Saudi Arabia is leading from the front

and I applaud the vision and ambition of the Kingdom.

SP: What is the ultimate benefit of using smart technologies, AI and digital transformation in the construction industry in KSA? AFM: In today’s evolving construction industry, it is important to turn data into value.

Use of smart technology enables significant productivity gains in all phases of building and subsequent phases of infrastructure lifecycle.

Ingenuity with data creates perfect places.

The future of the construction industry is digital and Siemens is successfully driving the digitalisation of buildings forward. However, at the end of the day, the ultimate beneficiary of any technology must be people. These technologies should help people be happier, more productive and make the cities more sustainable for our future generations.

SP: Do you have any plans for expansion, short-term and long-term?

AFM: The most exciting work we are doing currently is co-creation together with our customers. This helps us expand our horizons while ensuring customercentric customisation in the areas of digitalisation, energy efficiency solutions along with our traditional business growth.

We are a long-term player in Saudi market and will continue to contribute towards the modernisation and digitalisation of infrastructure in the Kingdom.

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10 WORLDWIDE NEWS

EDIFY ENERGY'S DARLINGTON POINT SOLAR FARM SECURES APPROVAL Australian renewables developer Edify Energy has secured an approval from the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment for its new $407million ($294.4million) solar farm at Darlington Point near Griffith in New South Wales.

The Darlington Point site is located about 10kilometres south of the town of Darlington Point, in Western New South Wales, on land adjacent to TransGrid’s Darlington Point substation at Donald Ross Drive.

It has been selected due to access to large areas of flat, open terrain historically used for grazing. The 975-hectare development site has the potential to accommodate up to 275MW of solar power generation.

The site also has provision, at a future date, of battery technology for energy storage and resupply during peak demand.

Resource assessments director Clay Preshaw said: “This is a multi-million project

that will power over 130,000 homes each year, boost the local economy, provide up to 300 jobs during and after construction, as well as increasing electricity capacity and helping to cut greenhouse emissions.

“The project has been assessed on its merits, under planning legislation and clear official policies to consider any potential benefits or impacts to the environment, the economy and the community.”

Upon completion, the solar farm will produce enough power to supply more than 130,000 homes each year for a period of 30 years.

Furthermore, the project contributes to the Federal Government’s mandated Renewable Energy Target, which requires 33TWh of electricity production from renewable sources by 2020.

“The NSW Large Scale Solar Guideline aims to provide clear and consistent guidance

to the community, applicants, industry and regulators on the environmental and social impacts of state significant solar energy projects, encouraging early and continued consultation, and suitable site selection.

“The new guideline reflects the NSW

Government’s strong commitment to NSW’S booming solar energy market.

To date, the NSW Government and independent regional planning panels have approved a total of 49 large-scale solar projects across the state.”

CCCC CREATES A DIGITAL TWIN TO BUILD A NEW DIGITAL CITY IN CHINA 2020 AS MALAYSIA CITES HIGH COSTS As part of a coordinated development plan, Zhongguancun will integrate the resources of Beijing, Tianjin, and Zhongguancun to build a new science and technology city. The CNY 2.2 billion project includes the design and construction of roads, utility pipelines, a 174,000-square-meter park, and green roadsides spanning 477,000 square metre.

Given the large geographic span, wide construction area, and tight construction timeline, the overall project consultant CCCC Water Transportation Planning Design Institute (CCCC) implemented a collaborative BIM process to coordinate the many engineering disciplines to deliver the new digital city.

In keeping with the idea of a truly digital city that incorporates a municipality’s needed services, the project scope encompasses a wide range of utility, transportation, and environmental disciplines. Included within the project scope is the construction of 16 roads with a length of approximately 30 kilometres; a layout of rain and sewage diversion pipelines with a length of approximately 78 kilometres; water supply pipelines with a length of approximately 40 kilometres; intermediate water pipelines with a length of approximately 26 kilometres; gas pipelines with a length of approximately 43 kilometres; thermal

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power pipelines with a length of approximately 40 kilometres; power pipelines with a length of approximately 45 kilometres; and telecommunication pipelines with a length of approximately 39 kilometres. Additionally, the project team is responsible for designing and constructing a city park with an area of approximately 174,000 square metres.

The roadside will be green with an area of approximately 477,000 square metres, and the river and water environment will be comprehensively improved.

CCCC acts as the overall consultant and implementer of the BIM process on this project. The organisation is responsible for the creation and application of BIM technology in the design, construction, and operation and maintenance of models in all stages. CCCC is responsible for setting up a BIM project management platform, building project digital assets, and assisting the construction of the regional smart park and smart city.

Using Bentley’s integrated BIM applications, including ContextCapture, LumenRT, MicroStation, Navigator, OpenBridge Modeler, OpenRoads, ProjectWise, ProStructures the team generated a comprehensive 3D model of the entire city. CCCC identified and remedied more than 200 collision points, optimising design and reducing

costly rework. Performing construction simulation facilitated construction management, shortening the construction period by 64 days to save CNY 6.6 million in costs. ProjectWise provided a connected data environment to streamline workflows and improve design efficiency. Integrating ContextCapture to generate a reality mesh from UAV terrain data collected on site enabled the team to facilitate earthworks planning, saving approximately CNY 40 million.

Zhiqiang Lu, deputy chief engineer of CCCC Water Transportation Consultants

Co., Ltd., stated, “By using Bentley solutions, we realise the integrated BIM application in the construction of the project. We apply a brand-new working mode in realising the highly efficient collaboration and highly integrated sharing of information, resulting in all the project participants expressing our design ideas directly and efficiently, at the same time.We reach a target that all participants enhance professional service capability, digital management, and construction quality.”

WORLDWIDE NEWS 11

UK’S FIRST AND LONGEST MOTORWAY TO GET £900 MILLION TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE Preston Bypass, the first and longest motorway in Britain, which has turned 60 and is now part of the M6, is set for a £900 million technology upgrade.

The eight-mile section of road had only two lanes in each direction at the time of inauguration and did not have safety barrier in the central reservation and no electronic signs or other technology.

The government said that this road will undergo a major technology transformation to improve journeys on the M6.

Highways England said that it will complete four upgrades on the M6 by spring 2022 to add extra lanes and better technology to 60 miles of the motorway between Coventry and Wigan.

The first upgrade between Crewe and Knutsford in Cheshire is due to be completed by spring 2019, and currently, 258 electronic signs, 104 traffic sensors and 70 CCTV cameras are being installed along the 20-mile route.

The four upgrades also involve converting the hard shoulder to a permanent extra lane to increase capacity by a third.

Highways England smart motorway director Andrew Jinks said: “The M6 provided a major economic boost to the country when it first opened 60 years ago and it still provides a vital link between London and Scotland through the West Midlands and North West.

“Hundreds of thousands of drivers now use the motorway every day to get to work, meet friends and family, or for long distance deliveries, and the smart motorway upgrades will ensure the M6 is fit for the future.

“Our motorways have changed massively over the past six decades and smart motorways could be just a glimpse of the technology transformation still to come. In 60 years’ time, driverless vehicles could be as commonplace as a car radio.”

The smart motorway technology will allow variable speed limits to be automatically set on overhead signs to improve the flow of traffic, preventing stop-start conditions and tailbacks caused by sudden braking.

The technology will be able to detect queuing traffic, breakdowns and collisions as they happen, allowing traffic officers and the emergency services to respond quickly to incidents.

SAPURA ENERGY SECURES $417 MILLION ORDERS IN MEXICO AND MALAYSIA Malaysian oil and gas services company Sapura Energy has secured contracts worth RM1.75 billion ($417 million) for projects in Mexico and Malaysia.

The company has won a contract from Hokchi Energy for its wholly-owned subsidiary in Mexico to undertake offshore engineering, procurement, transportation, installation and pre-commissioning and commissioning (EPCIC) works in the Hokchi Field Development in the Gulf of Mexico.

The scope of work includes fabrication and installation of a central wellhead platform and a satellite platform, which will be connected to onshore processing facility Hokchi Paraiso.

Sapura Energy has also won a contract from ENI Mexico to undertake engineering, transport, construction, installation and pre-commissioning of sealine and onshore pipeline for the Offshore Block Area 1 in the Gulf of Mexico.

The scope of work includes fibre optic cabling, and transportation and installation of the Mizton wellhead platform at water depths of approximately 40 metres.

The company has also secured a five-year contract for the provision of pan Malaysia

underwater services under the Petroleum Arrangement Contractors (PAC).

The contract will be implemented by Sapura Energy’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sapura Subsea Services.

The PAC comprises Sarawak Shell and Sabah Shell Petroleum; Murphy Sarawak Oil and Murphy Sabah Oil; Repsol Oil & Gas Malaysia; and Kebabangan Petroleum.

Sapura Subsea Services will provide underwater services, which will include the utilisation of its vessels, air and saturation diving, and remotely operated vehicles.

The scope of work includes inspection, maintenance and repair works to support the PACs’ underwater facilities located offshore in East Coast Malaysia.

In September 2018, Sapura Energy’s wholly owned subsidiaries have won three new contracts and a contract extension worth RM815million ($194million) in Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and Nigeria.

In Nigeria, Sapura Offshore won a sub-contract from Saidel to undertake engineering and construction of a 20kilometres, 16” Southern SWAMP Sales Gas Evacuation pipeline in the Delta Region for Shell Petroleum, Nigeria.

Sapura Fabrication has won a five-year contract to undertake the provision of pan Malaysia maintenance, construction and modification for ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia.

Work includes procurement and onshore pre-fabrication works, offshore maintenance, construction and modification to enhance ExxonMobil’s facilities offshore peninsular Malaysia.

In Australia, Normand Sapura secured an award for the provision of the inspection and recovery of subsea structures for the East Spar Project in offshore Western Australia for Quadrant Energy.

In Brunei, Sapura Drilling has secured a contract extension for the provision of semi-submersible tender assisted drilling rig, Sapura Pelaut, for Brunei Shell Petroleum.

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12 LOCAL NEWS

ALFANAR CONTINUES TO BE THE STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR PROVIDING THE POWER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS GLOBALLY The inauguration by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of the various industrial and mining development projects in the Waad al Shammal city, will further strengthen the diversification of industrialization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic project is in line with the Kingdom’s wider strategy to boost the industries and to become a major producer of phosphate products including the industrial fertilizer ammonia, animal feedstock, plastics and detergents.

As one of the leading players in providing the power infrastructure of the Kingdom, alfanar is proud to be a strategic partner in developing the critical electrical infrastructure network in the North Eastern region of Saudi Arabia serving

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the power demand of the Waad al Shamal City Development and its associated region developments.

By constructing the five Extra High Voltage 380kv Transmission Bulk Supply Points, in the most strategic locations in the North Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, alfanar continues to be an integral part of country’s developmental progress.

The electrical infrastructure projects commenced in April 2014 and was successfully connected to the Kingdom’s Extra High Voltage grid within 2 years as planned. The project continues to be the largest ever power transmission project package of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia till date!

Mr. Abdullah Al Otaibi, President, alfanar Construction, said that, “the development

of Waad Al Shammal city as an industrial corridor requires collaborative efforts of various stakeholders from Government as well as public and private sectors. A mega project of this kind and size requires a sustainable and reliable source of power for which alfanar is proud to get this opportunity from the Saudi Electricity Co., which paved way to be part of Waad al Shamaal City development by constructing a significant part of the electrical grids infrastructure”.

As a trusted partner for mega infrastructure projects like the Haramain High Speed Railway, alfanar’s contribution to it was a major cornerstone for the company’s journey towards globalisation, with several key projects that are currently under execution, including several 132kV

and 400kV substations in Dubai, UAE. alfanar is also one of the few organisation to have partnered with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) for the construction of High Voltage and Extra High Voltage level substations (380kV).

Apart from EPC for substations and power plants, alfanar is delivering turnkey projects globally for renewable power generation projects in the UK, Spain, India and Egypt.

Further, the company has made an impact as a renowned renewable projects developer and as a specialised engineering, procurement and construction company with a global portfolio of 1.7GW.

LOCAL NEWS 13

ATKINS ANNOUNCES NEW SAUDI ARABIA COUNTRY DIRECTOR Atkins, one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies and a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is pleased to announce that Rick Hancock has joined its design & engineering business as Country Director for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Rick has had a long and distinguished career in international property, development and project management in Australia, Europe, South East Asia and the Middle East, latterly based in the UAE with Cumming Corporation, the project management and cost consulting firm, and previously with Faithful+Gould following its acquisition of Confluence in 2013.

Commenting on his appointment, Rick Hancock said: “I am delighted to be heading up Atkins’ design and engineering operations in Saudi Arabia. The company has a long and proud history of working on some of the country’s most iconic projects, and this gives us the credibility and knowledge to play a significant role in building its exciting future. A large part of that revolves around its own people, whose development and nurturing form one of our key priorities and core values.

We already have an established nucleus of Saudi talent in our team – diligent, astute and highly capable people, of whom ten per cent are women. We look forward to

welcoming and training many more, and to offering them rewarding and fulfilling careers in a sustainable business through which they can contribute to their country's future success, the growth and diversification of its economy and to the delivery of its Economic Vision 2030.”

Rick’s appointment comes at a time when Atkins’ operations in Saudi Arabia have never been busier. In addition to its original involvement in the delivery of the Riyadh Metro, which will soon transform the city’s transport dynamics, Atkins is currently working on King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), re-masterplanning the area as a worldclass, vibrant and integrated mixed-use destination and a broad range of other projects across Saudi Arabia that will unlock the value of its cities’ master planning and improve the lifestyle of their residents.

Atkins is also committed to growing its presence in the country, so that it can both learn from and share knowledge with Saudi citizens and develop a longterm partnership based on mutual trust and respect, as well as on an ambition to deliver projects to the very high standards.

Atkins has worked on a number of capacity building programs in the country aimed at developing and enhancing local talent, including a chapter of its MEA

region wide, networking and inclusion group for its female employees.

Phil Malem, Atkins’ Managing Director, Design and Engineering, added: “We are very excited by Rick’s appointment. His extensive technical knowledge and understanding of Saudi Arabia’s commercial, economic and social

landscape form a powerful combination that stands him in good stead to build on our long track record in the country.

Having him based there permanently also sends a strong message both to our partners and to our customers of our commitment to their success.”

SAUDI ARAMCO SPICERACK TECHNOLOGY WINS AT WORLD OIL AWARDS Saudi Aramco won the Best Exploration Technology Award at the recently held 2018 World Oil Awards, honoring groundbreaking strides in the oil and gas industry. The technology is SpiceRack, an innovative robotized solution for seabed seismic acquisition.

The awards committee members also recognised the company with multiple finalist nominations. Synergistic Smart Water-based Polymer Flooding was a finalist for Best EOR Technology. CO2 Capture, Sequestration, and EOR Project, and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Water Treatment Solution for Produced Water Recycle and Oil Recovery each were finalists for Best HSE/Sustainable Development-Onshore.

Designing Pillar Fracturing Using a Novel Emulsified Resin Technology was a finalist for the Best Production Chemicals Award.

Two of the company’s Houstonbased research scientists were finalists for Innovative Thinker Awards — Susan Agar, head of the Geology team at the center, and Leiming Li, who is with Production Technology. Aramco’s ArcResin W, a finalist in the Best HSE/Sustainable DevelopmentOffshore category, was created in the Houston R&D lab by the Drilling Technology team, led by Carl Themalitz with Elizabeth Contreras managing the product development.

“Our strong showing at the 2018 World Oil Awards is a great reflection on the hard work, creativity and capability of our scientists working in Aramco labs worldwide,” said Ashraf Al-Tahini, director of Research & Development at Aramco Services.

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14 LOCAL NEWS

ARAMCO AWARDS BAKER HUGHES CONTRACT FOR OIL PRODUCTION BOOST Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil producing company, awarded GE-owned oil services company Baker Hughes a contract to help boost oil production in new and existing conventional fields in the kingdom.

Aramco didn’t disclose the value of the three-year contract, which will help the Saudi state-owned producer reduce time and costs at the project that will start this month, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The contact includes the option of two one-year extensions.

“The contract further reinforces our integration efforts across conventional fields in Saudi Arabia, helping maintain capacity and meet domestic and global demand,” said Mohammed Al Qahtani, Senior Vice President of upstream at Saudi Aramco.

Baker Hughes will invest as much as 1 billion Saudi Riyals (Dh980 million) in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas sector, the kingdom’s investment authority said in September. The company won an

integrated services contract on the offshore Marjan field development from Aramco in September.

The project announced on Tuesday that it is expected to create more than 200 new engineering, field services and project management jobs, and indirectly supports an additional 300 existing jobs, which are all part of Aramco’s In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) initiative, which aims to localise industry in the kingdom.

Baker Hughes has over 1,350 Saudi suppliers in its supply chain and has helped create over 5,300 indirect jobs.

IKTVA, an Aramco programme launched in December 2015, requires all of its suppliers to aim to attain 70 per cent local production and export 30 per cent of locally manufactured energy goods and services output by 2021.

Aramco signed deals worth $27.5 Billion (Dh101 billion) with international and local firms, as it pushed for greater value generation in its local economy at a forum

held in Dhahran last month.

Baker Hughes, Schlumberger, Honeywell, Siemens as well as the UAE’s National Petroleum Construction Company are

among the 31 companies that signed preliminary agreements with the state producer.

ELAF GROUP ORGANISES INTERNATIONAL ROADSHOWS TO BOOST SAUDI ARABIA’S TOURISM Elaf Group recently organised a series of promotional tours to several countries recently as part of its commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s efforts to increase tourism in the country, which aims to attract more than 30 million pilgrims by 2030. During the tours, Elaf showcased a wide range of services and tourism programs especially in the field of tourism for religious purposes and highlighted the various tourism attractions in the Kingdom.

The group is set to launch new roadshow tours to Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Indonesia to promote key services and tourism promotions including the worldclass facilities, hotels and exclusive packages for tourists visiting Saudi Arabia for religious purposes. Organising roadshows periodically is part of the group’s efforts to contribute to the growth of the Kingdom’s tourism sector and establish it as among the most preferred destinations in the world.

“Elaf continues to create unique and innovative services for visitors in all its hotels in Saudi Arabia to ensure they have the most comfortable experience during their stay, provided with the finest services whether it is business tourism as well as during pilgrimages, facilitating their

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performance of Hajj and Umrah and Umrah prayers.”

Mr Ziyad bin Mahfouz, CEO of Elaf Group, said.

“We constantly work on ways to develop and enhance the efficiency of the tourism sector in the Kingdom to enhance the services offered for tourists visiting for religious purposes as well as for business to advance the country’s position on the global tourism map in line with Saudi Vision 2030. We are committed to supporting the government efforts to develop the tourism sector, drive economic diversification and move towards the postoil economy. These roadshows provide the platform for Elaf to highlight the unique tourism features of the Kingdom.” Bin Mahfouz concluded.

Through its innovative and pioneering business practices, Elaf has established its international presence through a network of branches across the Arab world as well as in the most important regions in Europe and the Far East hubs. The company benefits from its strategic partnerships with major airlines to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of its customers. Elaf plays an important role in supporting the tourism sector through its ambitious strategies and innovative plans that have made it one of the best companies in the tourism sector.

LOCAL NEWS 15

SAUDI ARABIA TO DEVELOP MARIB AIRPORT IN YEMEN Saudi Arabia has announced a new airport development project in Yemen, which will accommodate two million travellers a year.

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has announced that the airport in the historic city of Marib, east of the capital Sanaa, will be rebuilt.

The rebuilt airport will provide a critical infrastructure hub for the country and region.

Around 5,000 jobs are expected to be created during construction of the airport, 1,000 permanent jobs after construction and some 10,000 indirect jobs in ancillary sectors.

The work will be carried out by the same company that built and designed an airport in Chicago.

Saudi Arabia ambassador to Yemen and SDRPY Director Mohammed Al Jaber said: “This is an exciting project that gets to the heart of what Yemen needs right now in terms of employment and economic opportunities.

“Its proximity to the capital means it could also revive the efforts to join

the regions of al-Jawf, Shabwah and Hadramaut.

“This essential work, and many projects like it, can’t wait – the people of Yemen need it now, even as we tirelessly strive for a political solution to the conflict.”

SDRPY is also working on several projects in Yemen, including King Salman Educational and Medical City, Seiyun Hospital, al-Ghaydah Schools, al-Ghaydah Water Project, well-drilling

project, two power stations in Socotra, a kidney dialysis centre, petroleum derivatives project, residential complex project, border posts, national security and a counterterrorism centre.

Saudi Arabia has provided $2 billion in monetary aid to Yemen’s central bank to help bolster the country’s currency a few months ago.

In October 2018, the first oil tanker arrived in Aden port carrying the first

instalment of oil derivatives, worth $60 million to supply diesel and mazut to electrical power stations in Yemen as part of the SDRPY. The Aden Refinery started distributing 62,000 tonnes of diesel and 25,000 tonnes of mazut to directorates, under the supervision of the legitimate Yemeni government to power electricitygenerating plants 24 hours per day and benefit some 8.5 million Yemenis.

GALLERIA BY ELAF WINS 'LUXURY ARCHITECTURE DESIGN HOTEL' AT WORLD LUXURY HOTEL AWARDS 2018 The Elaf Group's Hotel Galleria has won the 'Luxury Architecture Design Hotel' of this year's edition of the World Luxury Hotel Awards, a premier global event recognizing luxury hotels for their world class facilities and service excellence provided to guests. The award further consolidates the Elaf Group's leading position across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's thriving tourism segment and recognizes Hotel Galleria's continuing success in offering an elegant destination combined with key aesthetic elements and unique architectural features, resulting in a well-rounded and excellent experience for its visitors and guests.

Mr Ziyad bin Mahfouz, CEO, Elaf Group, explained that winning the 'Best Luxury Architectural Design' category has helped reinforce Hotel Galleria's success, further strengthening the hotel's strong

presence and reputation as an architectural masterpiece located in the heart of Jeddah.

The hotel's elegant design was inspired by the 'Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II' in Milan, Italy, which successfully showcases high-end services that celebrate Saudi and Arabian traditions.

Bin Mahfouz expressed pride in the hotel's latest achievement, which demonstrates the global level of service being offered by the Elaf Group. He stressed that the win has inspired the group to continue in its journey towards excellence, especially in the provision of world-class services based on international standards of quality and efficiency, including best practices in hospitality and tourism.

Bin Mahfouz noted that the Elaf Group continues to remain steadfast in its efforts to

promote the Kingdom as a highly attractive tourist destination on the global map.

Hotel Galleria is strategically located in the central area of Jeddah, close to some of the city's most famous tourist attractions and

heritage sites. The hotel offers a complete portfolio of state-of-the-art amenities and modern facilities, including 364 rooms spread across seven floors, providing guests with an unparalleled experience.

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16 LOCAL NEWS

CONSTRUCTION AT SAUDI ENTERTAINMENT MEGAPROJECT QIDDIYA TO BEGIN THIS YEAR

Waiting for new news

Construction on an up-and-coming recreational megaproject in Riyadh will begin this year, according to Mike Reininger, CEO of the Qiddiya project.

“Planning and design were complete in 2018 and will be implemented this year,” Reininger told Arab News.

Qiddiya, one of the three megaprojects, besides the Neom smart-city and the Red Sea Project launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will be located about 40 kilometers from the city center.

A company tweet read: “We are a step closer to building Saudi Arabia’s first entertainment and sports city.”

Upon completion, the prominent landmark is expected to be the world’s largest entertainment city.

The project targets local, regional and international tourists and will be Saudi Arabia’s pre-eminent entertainment, sports and cultural destination that

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embodies the Saudi identity. It is expected to be the world’s largest entertainment city by 2030, with a total area of 334 square kilometers, surpassing Walt Disney World in Florida, which is only 110 sq. km. Investors hope the project will attract high numbers of international visitors. “We will disclose more information on the construction timeline in due course,” said Reininger.

Developing the entertainment sector by creating high-quality domestic and international investments within the Kingdom is one of the main goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. These projects will have a huge positive impact on the country’s economy and quality of life.

The youth demographic will be the main contributor to Qiddiya’s success since two-thirds of the Saudi population is under the age of 35.Therefore, the project aims to satisfy the recreational, social and cultural needs of the country’s current

and future generations. This project will also contribute to the real estate development of the area, offering 4,000 residential units by 2025 and 11,000 by 2030. It aims to attract residents who want to buy second homes at Qiddiya for weekends and vacations.

Saudis spend $30 billion on tourism abroad every year. By providing new entertainment options for citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia, this project aims to redirect some of the overseas tourism spending back into the Kingdom.

This project will offer people opportunities to explore and experience without the need to travel to other countries. This supports Vision 2030’s objective to increase spending within the Kingdom on culture and entertainment activities, from about 3 percent of household income to 6 percent.

By 2030, the number of annual visitors to Qiddiya is expected to reach 17 million

in the entertainment sector, 12 million in the shopping sector and 2 million in the hospitality sector.

The project aims to improve the quality of local life not only through entertainment, but also by providing around 57,000 jobs for citizens and opening new opportunities for the private sector in various industries. It will also serve the Kingdom’s goal of elevating Riyadh to become one of the world’s top 100 cities to live in.

Qiddiya’s facilities will enable citizens and residents to engage in a wide variety of sports, falling within Vision 2030’s theme of having a healthy society and increasing the ratio of individuals exercising at least once a week from 13 percent of the population to 40 percent.

The first phase of the project will officially open in 2022, with its final phase ending in 2035.

LOCAL NEWS 17

THE BIG 5 SAUDI 2019 PREVIEW The Big 5 Saudi is returning to the Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events from 10 – 13 March 2019 with a record number of free workshops, product sectors and official country pavilions.

An ideal platform for construction industry professionals to network, secure qualified leads and close business deals in the largest and most populous GCC country, the exhibition is expected to attract 15,000 visitors, hosting over 400 manufacturers of construction products from around the world.

Marking a growing international participation, the 9th edition of the event

will feature for the first time official country pavilions from Egypt and Pakistan, alongside Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, India, Turkey and China, among others.

More than 100 top Saudi construction players will also exhibit at The Big 5 Saudi 2019, displaying the latest technologies and building solutions across eight dedicated product sectors.

Beyond the traditional MEP Services, Building Interiors & Finishes, Construction Tools & Building Services, Building Envelope & Special Construction, in fact, The Big 5 Saudi 2019 will introduce

the all new Heavy Equipment, HVACR Equipment,

Smart

City

Technology,

Solar Equipment, and Urban Design & Landscaping Equipment zones.

Alongside the exhibition,The Big 5 Saudi 2019 will also offer 80+ CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certified and free to attend workshops, a 48% increase year on year. Delivered by renowned industry experts, the educational sessions will focus on four major themes: General Construction,

Project

Management,

The Big 5 Saudi 2019 is supported

by Al Fouzan Trading & General Construction Co. (Gold Sponsor), Astrolabs (Entrepreneurship Partner), The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC), the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce.

Organised by dmg events Middle East, Africa & Asia, To know more about The Big 5 Saudi, visit www.thebig5saudi.com.

Sustainability, and Architecture & Design.

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Photo credit by: Scth

18 SAUDI COMMISSION FOR TOURISM AND NATIONAL HERITAGE (SCTH)

CHINA TREASURES CHINA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST CIVILISATIONS, HAS CULTURAL ROOTS THAT DATE BACK OVER 5000 YEARS AND FEATURES SOME OF THE OLDEST ART IN THE HISTORY OF OUR PLANET, WITH ITS ORIGINS IN REMOTE ANTIQUITY.

SAUDI COMMISSION FOR TOURISM AND NATIONAL HERITAGE (SCTH) P.O. BOX 66680 RIYADH 11586 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA T: +966 118808855 E: INFO@SCTH.GOV.SA W: WWW.SCTH.GOV.SA

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So there was considerable pleasure and excitement when it was announced that, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, the National Museum of Riyadh would host the ‘Treasures of China’.

The exhibition, which incorporates 264 items provided by 13 museums and cultural institutions throughout China, is an extension of co-operation in the field of archaeology between Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China. The framework of the co-operation agreement takes in archaeological research, archaeology exhibitions and museum activities. There are, for instance, excavation works being currently implemented by the joint SaudiChinese team at the Al-Sereen site in Qunfudha Governorate, as well as other important sites, with a number of pieces have been uncovered showing communication between Chinese civilisations and the civilisations of the Arabian Peninsula.

One of History’s Most Influential Nations The exhibition includes rare pieces that have never been displayed outside China, representing valuable archetypes of Chinese cultural heritage extending back

thousands of years. Indeed, the exhibition presents a clear vision of the cultural development and the social, cultural and aesthetic life in China, with the exhibition allowing visitors to become more acquainted with Chinese culture and the

SAUDI COMMISSION FOR TOURISM AND NATIONAL HERITAGE (SCTH) 19 includes an area has been allocated to introduce the excavation works being carried out at the present time by the joint Saudi-Chinese team at Al-Sereen.

The terracotta army is part of a much larger necropolis, with ground-penetrating radar and core sampling having measured the area to be approximately 38 square miles.

The Terracotta Army One of the most important and popular exhibits at Treasures of China takes in the internationally renowned terracotta warriors.

It was back in 1974 that a group of farmers stumbled across one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds whilst digging a well. Over 40 years later, a huge subterranean necropolis covering an area of 22 square miles has been unveiled, with 16 pits and thousands of figures, all surrounding the huge burial mound.

The warriors represent China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The figures, including over 8000 soldiers, as well as a wide variety of other statues, such as chariots, musicians and horses, are believed to date back around 2300 years, and were sculpted to guard Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.

Two Countries With Their Own Distinctive Styles The National Museum in the Chinese capital, Beijing, had previously hosted the ‘Roads of Arabia Expo’, featuring Saudi Arabian artefacts across the ages, which was organised by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in Rabi AlAwal in December 2016, and in total lasted for three months on a tour that visited a number of celebrated international museums.

A collection of 466 archaeological treasures, ranging from statues and jewellery to inscription and pottery, explored the historical, cultural, social, scientific and economic dimensions of the Kingdom and helped Chinese audiences to understand

how archaeology and history shaped the making of modern Saudi Arabia.

China and Saudi Arabia are, as always, advocates of cultural diversity. The ancient Chinese civilisation and Islamic culture in the Kingdom each have distinctive styles of their own, and the two cultures, both respectful and modest, have embraced each other, setting an example for global cultural communications and sharing.

His Royal Highness Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz concludes: “China is an important pivotal country, exactly like Saudi Arabia. Therefore, there are many areas of co-operation in the fields of humanitarian and cultural heritage, in addition to tourism. The latter is especially pertinent as Chinese tourists are considered to be some of the most important in the world today, and we look forward to welcoming them to Saudi Arabia after the opening of tourist visas in the near future.”

Photo credit by: Scth

history of one of the world’s most powerful and influential civilisations.

The exhibition consists of five individual sections representing the timelines and historical dynasties that China has passed through. These include several specific periods in China’s history, including, in chronological order: The Beginning of Civilization, Establishments of Etiquette; Unification, Consolidation and Development; Prosperity and Diversified Communication; Start-up of Business and Marine Trade; and Palace and Royal Art. The exhibits vary from pottery, bronze, jade and porcelain through to gold, silver, enamel, and many other Chinese treasures.

The National Museum is also exhibiting – on the sidelines of the Treasures of China – archetypes of the Chinese archaeological artefacts recovered during the excavations at sites in Saudi Arabia, which represent the commercial exchange between China and the Arabic peninsula civilisations. This

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20 ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS complex features a 930-seat Grand Hall, plus a cinema, library, exhibition hall, museum, and archive. Architecturally designed to look like a series of stacked pebbles clad in parallel bands of metal piping, it transforms into graphic, linear patterns that disclose a delicate metal structure underneath. In addition, the Grand Hall’s ceiling is wrapped in perforated copper panels.

Jeddah Tower When completed in 2020, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill’s 3280-foot Jeddah Tower will stand as the tallest building on Earth.

It will be the focal point of the Kingdom City development, an up-and-coming $20 billion economic area master-planned by California–based Calthorpe Associates.

The tapered skyscraper is structured to imitate desert vegetation and is built with petal-shaped apartment blocks at its base.

It will also contain a hotel, commercial spaces, and an assortment of observation platforms.

THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURE IN HUMANITY’S STORY SWISS-BORN BRITISH PHILOSOPHER AND AUTHOR ALAIN DE BOTTON SAID, IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF HAPPINESS, HIS EXPLORATION OF THE HIDDEN LINKS BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND OUR WELLBEING: "ONE OF THE GREAT BUT OFTEN UNMENTIONED CAUSES OF BOTH HAPPINESS AND MISERY IS THE QUALITY OF OUR ENVIRONMENT: THE KINDS OF WALLS, CHAIRS, BUILDINGS, AND STREETS THAT SURROUND US."

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This is a sentiment that cannot be overstated, because although on a physical level architecture simply provides the physical environment in which we live, on a deeper level it is an expression of human civilisation at a fixed-point in time, which can endure for generations to come.

Architecture lies in full view of everyone, every day of the week, which makes it different to other art forms. It is a semi-permanent representation of how society sees itself, and a mirror on how it views the environment. It is a compelling manifestation of human culture.

Part art and part science, architecture responds to society’s practical needs, whilst making use of up-to-the-minute technology during design. In recent years, this has been extremely evident in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It’s a country that has been growing fast, too, underlined by the appearance of a number of pieces of stunning architecture.

Many projects are also of an enormous scale, and here we take a quick look at some of the biggest and most revolutionary completed and ongoing developments in the kingdom today.

King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture International architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and brand design practice, Snøhetta, which has offices in Oslo and New York City, won a competition to design the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture in the city of Dhahran in 2007. Created as a new knowledge incubator to symbolise the nation’s aspirations for a diversified economy, this one-million-square-foot

Haramain High-Speed Railway Stations Foster + Partners and Buro Happold has designed a series of highly individual high-speed rail (HSR) stations across the kingdom, as the Saudi government pushes to improve regional connectivity.

Designs for the stations are intended to seed new urban areas in each locale by fusing vast 85-foot-tall arched interior spaces with strategically-placed solid facades to limit solar gain and overhead bridges to create covered outdoor spaces around the stations.

King Abdullah Financial District Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen has master-planned a new business district on the northern edge of Riyadh which, due for completion in 2020, will see 59 high-rise towers constructed. The firm took inspiration from the city’s

ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS 21 historic centre when positioning each of these towers, fashioning a tight, soaring cluster of angled and closely set structures.

The layout is designed to reduce solar penetration into the city, resulting, it is hoped, in ambient temperatures up to 10 degrees cooler than surrounding areas.

King Abdullah Petroleum Studies & Research Centre Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) recently completed the 750,000ft2 King Abdullah Petroleum Studies & Research Centre. The honeycomb-shaped complex is calculated to optimise solar and wind direction and consists of five buildings gathered around a succession of interlocking courtyards topped by metal canopies. Amongst other features, it includes a 300-seat auditorium, a library with 100,000 volumes, and an inspiring prayer area called a Musalla.

There are a number of reasons why good architecture matters in the modern age, not least: 1. Life is fast, often too fast. And one of the most important lessons we can be taught in the 21st century is how to slow down.

Good architecture can help us to do just that; to look around and take in the view.

When we do this, we are no longer in a place, but part of it. Good architecture can touch the soul and raise the spirit.

2. It is frequently asked: ‘In a world driven by greed, what can we truly value?’

One answer is good architecture, which can give the world meaning. Consider the places where you have been happiest, whether that be at home, in a concert hall, a mosque, or wherever, and you can be sure of one thing – an architect has been involved.

3. Modern life can sometimes be a bit bland; the same brands, opinions and responsibilities ad infinitum. However, life is not just about the functional, and architecture can provide the ‘Wow!’ factor we all crave. There is a genuine sense of awe when we stand in front of a magnificent building; it can lift us to another level. And this is a gift that architecture gives to the entire world.

4. Architects do not think in straight lines; they think laterally and, to use a wellworn cliché, out-of-the-box. This is the kind of thinking we need in the world today, to make it a safer, fairer and happier place, and architects have the key.

5. Architects give form to ideas, shape to the world. They are the keepers of geometry, providing our buildings, cities and lives with a sense of continuity and coherence.

As we are witnessing in Saudi Arabia at the present time, architects attempt to push the envelope, and this is how the world advances and evolves: architecture is at the forefront of our progression as a species.

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Khatib & Alami

K&A is well on track post-onboarding of K&A transformation program.

And this is only the beginning.

Awarded as: Consultant of the Year in Construction Innovation Awards

Dr NAJIB KHATIB, PhD Chairman & CEO, Khatib & Alami

In 1959 Prof. Mounir Khatib started his consultancy firm. After a few years Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company (K&A) was officially registered in Lebanon in February 1964.

Your Partner of Choice Prof. Mounir Khatib and Dr. Zuheir Alami launched K&A with a shared vision. This unified vision was to become a large and leading international company thanks to local talent and to build a real institution and not just a business.

They believed hard work would make this a reality and were determined to leave a legacy for future generations of professionals. After that K&A extended the areas of its professional activities to the world in accordance with the growth of its experience, and its human and financial resources.

Today, Dr. Najib Khatib, Chairman & CEO of the board, is leading K&A to be an international multidisciplinary consultancy firm, comprising architects, engineers, planners and other technical specialists. We offer deep expertise, combined with a broad understanding of delivering complex major projects within agreed timeframes and budget.

K&A is among the Top 100 international design firms in the world and the Top 10 in the Middle East, according to Engineering News-Record (ENR), and employs 5,000 talented people across more than 30 locations. Our award-winning work covers a broad spectrum of sectors and disciplines, including: architecture and urban planning; transportation and urban mobility; water & environment; energy; program management services; and Geospatial Integration Systems.

In other words, our experts are involved in enhancing infrastructure, creating new buildings, developing neighborhoods and reshaping entire cities. We are driven by curiosity, with a firm belief in the importance of delivering exceptional quality in order to make a positive and sustainable contribution to the communities in which we work.

Khatib & Alami P.O. Box 3928 Riyadh 11481 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel: +966 11 477 8384 E-mail: info@khatibalami.com www.khatibalami.com

24 MOHAMED HARASANI ARCHITECTS

BUILDING WITH PEOPLE IN MIND JEDDAH GATE

ONE OF SAUDI ARABIA’S MOST RESPECTED AND SOUGHT AFTER ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS, MOHAMED HARASANI ARCHITECTS (MHA) HAS BUILT A REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING SOME OF THE KINGDOM’S MOST FORWARDTHINKING DESIGNS.

MOHAMED HARASANI ARCHITECTS P.O. BOX 13307 JEDDAH 21493 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA T: +966 12 6510131 E: ADMIN@MHA.COM.SA W:WWW.MHA.COM.SA

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Indeed, with an award-winning portfolio and an unparalleled commitment to architecture and interiors, the practice investigates every project with a careful attention to detail that the individual needs of the client, and sustainability all to the forefront.

MHA offers a full range of services, including architectural and interior design, cost control and construction management.

This ensures project outcomes of the highest standards. Its extensive portfolio covers everything from residential, healthcare, office and commercial through to light industrial, master planning, hotel and retail sectors.

The firm has been privileged to be associated with some of the Middle East’s most prestigious public and private clients, as well as completing a number of projects further afield.

Enhanced Lives MHA is focused on creating inspiring architecture and urban environments with buildings that enrich people’s lives.

It is not just form and visuals; it is constructional behaviour through visual impact along with the historical value of certain materials that form the essence of the built environment.

Time and Place Each project begins with a dream, an individual’s aspiration. The firm’s task is to fix aspirations in time and place. The process of finding the relationship between the dream and physical space makes each project unique.

Space Space is the dreams hub. Space is air, light, shadow, it’s the relationship of voids.

MHA bring a curiosity and awareness by flying through space.

Material If space is the relationship of then voids, voids are formed from material or surface.

The firm’s engagement with material stems from a hands-on and tactile approach. The detailing of how materials and the elements it forms come together is every bit as important as the space that wraps them.

ASSILA TOWERS

WANT A WINDOW TO CLOSE? TELL IT!

IMAGINE WHAT’S NEXT

Imagining. Creating. Innovating.

What you imagine, we create. Creativity is the bedrock of our growth. Using imagination, we visualise a life more comfortable. Once, we dreamed of opening a window by voice alone. Today, Technal make it possible. A big step forward? At Technal we see it as just the beginning.

Windows - Doors - Façades

TECHNAL MIDDLE EAST - P. O. Box: 21848, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain T: +973 1722 5777 - F: +973 1721 7799 - E: technal@technal.com.bh - W: www.technal-me.com

26 MOHAMED HARASANI ARCHITECTS March and White – Interior Designers March & White has been working with MHA for over five years and has recently developed a strategic partnership. Together they have been working on diverse interior projects, ranging from private residents to 100+ metre luxury yachts.

EDCO Design – Landscape Architects EDCO Design has been working with MHA for over six years, delivering worldclass landscape environments. EDCO and MHA recently teamed up for one of the biggest residential palace with over 400,000m2 of landscaping.

transforms communities, with all of MHA’s projects notable for their harmony, charisma and drama. The firm strives to shift the perception of space and design, inducing powerful emotions and a sense of place.

MHA has always been a firm that provides high value services, whilst placing the betterment of society at the core of everything it does, creating projects that are known for their quality of design, construction, timely delivery, keeping within a pre-agreed budget, and compliance with local regulations.

MHA dedicates itself to continuous evolution and improvement, attracting and retaining clients that value its expertise and refuse to compromise when it comes to innovative design and superior outcomes.

Refuse to Compromise Bringing together beauty, function and form, great design captures imaginations and

JEDDAH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

At the same time, the process MHA engage in is usually more straightforward, involving dialogue, consideration, drawing, testing and building. But nonetheless, it works with formal ideas as a basis for creating rigorous design and rich environments.

Sustainability As one of the region’s leading architectural practices, MHA has an opportunity to define the environment of both building occupants and local communities. The firm recognises that the buildings, landscapes and infrastructures created by its industry make a significant impact up the environment at local, regional and global levels. As a result, it is essential that a sustainable approach is applied to the design of its projects; a philosophy that is also carried through to the general running of the business.

Sustainable solutions involve accepting that every action it takes and everything it makes impact the environment as a whole.

That is why the firm is committed to lessening this impact through economy and optimisation. This may involve a technical solution or just keeping it simple.

A Broad Portfolio MHA has an impressive portfolio across a wide variety of architectural areas, with its comprehensive approach taking in such practical topics as budget and timescales in order to gain a full picture of the client’s aspirations. In addition, plenty of time is

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allocated to the early design stage, as no amount of technical know-how can make up for a lack of creative design.

This enlightened approach has allowed the firm to work on numerous important and prestigious projects in KSA, with completed assignments including such celebrated developments as Rosewood Hotel, Jeddah; Jeddah Gate "The Crescent", Jeddah; MIG Tower, Riyadh; Assila Towers, Jeddah; and ANB New Headquarters Building, Riyadh.

Minister of Interior Office, Jeddah, FRACT Retail Centre, J1 Compound Jeddah, Saudi Health commission HQ, Jeddah. Al-Rajihi Bank, Riyadh.

There are also a significant number of projects currently under construction too, such as Shaza Kempinski Hotel/ JCCI – Offices, Jeddah; Effat University Extension; Al-Madinah Railway Museum, Al Madinah; Al Yafee Retail Centre, Jizan; Al-Sakkat Office Tower, Jeddah.

We can also add to these quite a few projects in the design phase, including Al Tahlia Retail Development, Jeddah; Swissotel, Jeddah, Kempenski hotel, Madinah, Fairmont hotel, Jeddah, Al-Naeem Residential compound, Jeddah; and Al Fadl Mosque, Jeddah.

Strong Partnerships MHA strengthens its offer through strategic international partnerships; collaborating with the best to achieve unrivalled results in the built environment.

FAIRMONT HOTEL

SAUDI ELECTRICITY COMPANY 27

POWERING THE KINGDOM IN TODAY’S WORLD, ELECTRICITY IS A CRUCIAL PART OF FUNCTIONING AS A SOCIETY. SIMPLE TASKS SUCH AS BOILING A KETTLE REQUIRE ELECTRICITY.

SAUDI ELECTRICITY COMPANY P.O. BOX 22955 RIYADH 11416 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA T: +966 11 8079395 E: INFO@SE.COM.SA W: WWW.SE.COM.SA

One only needs to consider the consequences of a fairly short power outage: factories close, cities are plunged into darkness, and major forms of communication are lost. Electricity is a key part of our lives. It therefore follows that in order for a country to flourish and prosper, it must generate sufficient amounts of electricity.The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is an organisation that must rise to this challenge, and in doing so help to improve the standard of living and enhance the economic competitiveness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SEC has a commitment and vision that requires a meticulously planned and progressive strategy, which is fuelled by the rapid growth in urbanisation.

Recently, for instance, it announced plans to establish a power generation subsidiary, subject to shareholder approval, a step that would be at the heart of its long-awaited restructuring.

Saudi Arabia is embarking on a push to raise approximately $200 billion in the next several years through privatisation programmes in 16 sectors, ranging from oil and healthcare through to education, airports and grain milling. The unbundling of SEC is a centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s energy reforms and restructuring of the power sector.

the company one of the most innovative, reliable and customer-driven in the industry.

Generation With short, medium and long-term plans in mind, the Generation business focuses on meeting electric power requirements as identified by the company and by the infrastructure required to achieve dependability by way of cost-effective investment projects. In addition, this business unit develops dynamic plans aimed at examining optimum alternatives to satisfy the power generation demand all over the kingdom.

These plans are based on authentic data and findings that reflect power needs by the remaining core business functions.

The components of strategic planning adopted by the Generation business function comprise:

• Identifying and selecting the specifications and optimal size of power stations in all operating areas.

• Investigating the cost-effective use of the most favourable combustion fuel while taking into account the maintenance and operating costs, efficiency enhancement of production units, environmental hazards, fuel provision on the medium and long-range operation, and assessing trade-offs and implications.

• Implementing regular maintenance programmes that ensure the essential dependability and upgrading of power plant assets.

• Provide continuous on-the-job training aimed at enhancing the expertise and skills of Saudi staff, thus ensuring the efficiency of the Generation business function.

Main Business Functions There are several main business functions within SEC, all aiming to make

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SAUDI ELECTRICITY COMPANY 29 the intensification of installations’ maintenance programs and technical system-design enhancement devised to increase the readiness of these installations.

Coordinating with the authorities that supervise the electric power industry is an important aspect of National Grid SA’s work too, as is raising public awareness towards the importance of implementing power projects within the required timeframes in accordance with technical, environmental and financial requirements, and in doing so ensuring suitable project locations that will provide safety and reliability without undue investment costs.

Furthermore, research studies and technical reviews of new technologies related to cost-effective power generation have been conducted, including: • Assessing the impact of major power stations upon the environment, searching for adequate solutions to the problems of fuel specification degradation and its instability and the formation of particle matter; examining technically efficient, economically feasible, environmentally sound methods to reduce adverse reaction pollutants in the fuel system.

• Developing cost-effective methods of managing the stand-by spare parts inventory in the power generation stations.

• Life assessment of the hot components of gas-fired turbines to evaluate alloy and mechanical characteristics, identifying causes of mechanical failures, writing lifecycle specifications for the hot pathway components, and investigating economically feasible alternatives.

exploit it cost-effectively, thus enhancing the efficient allocation of the kingdom’s economic resources and the company’s financial gains to shareholders, customers and employees.

A number of characteristics are common to these plans, such as pooling creative skills and increasing the efficiency of capital expenditure and operation investments in power transmission assets. SEC is also committed to the completion of a national grid that is designed to allow greater flexibility in choosing power plant locations in proximity to oil or gas fields, and to power-demand focal points through identifying their most advantageous dimensions and output, whilst setting up clear-cut time schedules so as to enhance fair competition and reduce the electricity bill to benefit the national economy.

Moreover, since it is an acknowledged fact that investing in maintenance projects for new expansion schemes is highly profitable, potential investors are encouraged with suitable incentives, pinpointing the arguments in favour of investing in electric power assets through

Distribution and Customer Services SEC has approved a number of strategies in this fundamental area of business, including a customer satisfaction survey that is aimed at improving customer service and delivering the required electrical service all over the kingdom in support of development projects and programs. It also looks to reduce operating costs by means of increased efficiency and optimal use of available resources, making use of costeffective asset management so as to yield returns on investments, in addition to delivering new products and services to serve customers and increase company revenues.

The Distribution and Customer Services function was created in order to combine centralised planning with decentralised implementation. The need to be closer to the customer led to the formation of four operating areas – Central, Eastern, Western and Southern – which also serve as costaccounting centres. Customer service branches have opened in each administrative area, in addition to the establishment of a

centralised system for both distribution and customer service activities, tasked with the elaboration of plans and programs to develop both activities and supporting the development efforts throughout all of the operating areas.

SEC hopes, in the future, to transfer both distribution and customer service functions to one or several independent distribution companies and looks forward to the participation of new competitors involved in selling and delivering electric power to various categories of customer. It is possible to have more than one formula: some companies could engage either in selling and delivery electricity via their own distribution networks, or in distributing electric power for a pre-agreed fee, while some other companies could take over buying and selling electric power directly to consumers, with the latter encompassing meter reading and payment collection.

There are numerous reasons why the Kingdom’s power sector is growing apace and as to why it is able to meet the challenges being set, including the fact that Saudi Arabia is the region’s leading economy with a young and growing population and a diversifying business landscape. This means that the Kingdom’s energy output to being pushed to incomparable levels.

Nevertheless, this is a challenge that SEC is happy to accept, as it continues to plan, strategise and innovate in order to allow the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to retain its position as the most pioneering and vibrant in the GCC region.

National Grid SA The strategic plans within the National Grid SA revolve around well-defined and innovative mechanisms that play a part in achieving SEC’s overall and specific objectives over the next several years, which will be a particularly challenging period for energy companies all over the world.

The focus is on implementing programs and projects that assure the safety and stability of electric power supply throughout the Kingdom, whilst ensuring appropriate operating margins in all of the electric utilities.

National Grid SA empowers the participating private sector in electric power projects as a way to boost transmission capabilities. Investors can either contribute to add more multipurpose productive assets (for example, electricity and water), or lease the actual power transmission network in order to

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30 AL QARYAN GROUP

A REPUTATION FOR PREMIUM QUALITY AND SERVICE SHREDDER

“WITH BLESSINGS OF ALLAH WE BEGIN.” WITH THIS AS THE STATEMENT THE FIRST STEPS WERE TAKEN IN THE YEAR 1988.

AL QARYAN GROUP P.O. BOX 3703 DAMMAM 31481 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA T: +966 13 8226969 E: INFO@ALQARYAN.COM W: WWW.ALQARYAN.COM

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A step by one man, a pioneer, a visionary, a leader (Mohammed Qaryan) and now approximately 1300 dedicated men and women are continuing to follow in his footsteps daily serving our customers and clients; all of whom combined today represent a workforce that is highly skilled, reliable, and represents the accumulated years of expertise of Al Qaryan Group of over three decades.

We can humbly state that we have just begun our journey towards becoming one of the best-in-class ‘Metal Recycling and Waste Management’ companies in the region. Although we have accomplished 30 years of products, services, and logistic support in the kingdom, and despite the expansion, international partnerships and many awards, we are still very young and eager to grow and expand.

We put in health, safety and environment standards at the centre of our operational excellence. Our goal is to undertake recycling of industrial waste using the finest methodologies and latest technologies in collaboration with global companies, so that our environment remains pure and pristine for future generations.We are committed to serving our beloved nation in maintaining a

clean and healthy environment, meeting the kingdom’s ambitious environmental goals as per ‘Vision 2030’.

In order to lead and maintain the quality of our services, we established a Quality Management System as per ISO 9001:2015 standards, as well as retaining Gold membership with BIR, membership with ISRI, BMR and MRAI. We are also Diamond and Gold sponsors for any

major events and conferences that align with our overall business interests and community goals.

Chairman’s Message No doubt the start of any journey always begins with a dream but even when those dreams turn into reality, there must be a desire to carry those thoughts and aspirations through to the present and into

MOHAMMED QARYAN AL QAHTANI, CHAIRMAN OF AL QARYAN GROUP

AL QARYAN GROUP 31

BILLETS

the future. That is where The Al Qaryan Group is a leader in formulating those dreams and turning them into reality.

The Al Qaryan Group has the comprehensive range of the required skills to meet these challenges, specialising in manufacturing industries related to recycling. The recycling industry is in itself a broad encompassing industry with many ideas that help development and growth.

In the past we began working in the scrap trade but as time has passed we now recycle raw material that is waste from light & heavy industries. In addition to this we our experts utilise modern technologies and the latest systems in the recycling of metals and industrial waste.

As the head of a large environmental group, Al Qaryan is proud of our nation’s commitment to the environment. This has led to the introduction of new laws and regulations to ensure everyone joins together in their pursuit to preserve and protect the environment and promote the localisation of

waste recycling and management. Due to the importance of the role our citizens play in the development and success of this sector, the group’s management plan is to increase localisation by 15% by the year 2020.

We at Al Qaryan Group shoulder the burden to change the stereotype of belonging to an industry that is seen to be harmful to the environment. At Al Qaryan we need to work with partners that share our vision and also have the experience and capabilities to delivery on this vision. Our success is only achieved once the satisfaction of our customers has been met and all their requirements and needs are fulfilled.

With the help of Allah we will continue to work to continue our success and more which will promote prosperity of the Kingdom's economy and advancement and development while preserving the environment and natural resources safety.

Award-Winning Performance Our highest priority has been to keep our

GRANULATED ALUMINIUM PRODUCT

working environment safe and clean for our people and clients.

We firmly believe that a healthy mind can only exist in a healthy body. To achieve this objective, we rigorously follow all health and safety guidelines, always use the correct safety equipment for jobs, and carry out our daily jobs in a safe and secure manner in order to meet our employees, as well as client commitments regarding Health and Safety. This also helps maintain high moral satisfaction.

As you are aware, Al Qaryan Group consists of several companies. Foremost among them is the Metals Recycling Company, an associate company with a state-of-the-art metal recycling plant for ferrous metal. Al Qaryan Steel Company is another subsidiary company with a manufacturing capacity of 300,000 tons per year of steel billets, with an ambitious plan to reach 600,000 tons per year capacity soon, Insha Allah. Eastern Wooden Pallet Factory is also a subsidiary company for the

manufacture of wooden pallets to serve the needs of vast petrochemical industries around the region. We also have a growing Portable Cabin Services and Solutions business, whilst Jana Marine is an associate company specialised in freight forwarding services by sea, air and land, including customs clearance, which continues to add value to our overall group trading business and operations.

In the last three decades we have managed to supply the region with many products and services, such as recycling of ferrous steel scrap, stainless steel, copper, aluminium, brass, nickel, zinc and electronic scrap.

Moreover, we have also started to produce steel billets, trade surplus steel pipes, including plates, flanges and fittings, and wooden pallets, plastic, paper, boxes and crates. Our service offerings to our customers includes end-to-end capability of recycling, including industrial services on site, transportation of industrial waste and all the logistics associated with it, heavy equipment supplies, freight forwarding services, and demolishing and dismantling of industrial plants. All of these and more makes us one of the most integrated group of recycling companies in terms of its product offerings, as well as services to the industrial sector.

We are very happy to announce that some of our esteemed customers and clients include various government agencies such as the Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu and well known large private sector companies such as Saudi Aramco, SABIC, , SAFCO, STC, SWCC, SEC, Chevron, Maaden for Phosphate, Aluminium, and for wa'dAlshamal, Sadara, SATORP, SASREF, SAMREF, Saudi Cement and many more.

We at Al Qaryan Group truly believe that we have a very bright and glorious future ahead of us towards being one of the best ‘Metal Recycling and Waste Management companies in the region’. At the recently concluded MEWAR awards at Dubai, UAE, Al Qaryan was recognised as being the best ‘Metal Recycling Company of the Year 2018’, which is testimony to our continued successes to date.

GRANULATED COPPER PRODUCT

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GENERAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL AVIATION (GACA) 33

TRIAL OPERATIONS AT KAIA KAIA NEW JEDDAH AIRPORT

THE GENERAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL AVIATION (GACA) IS RUNNING TRIAL OPERATIONS FOR THE NEW KING ABDULAZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KAIA) IN JEDDAH, WITH THE FIRST FLIGHTS NOW HAVING ARRIVED.

GENERAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL AVIATION (GACA) P.O. BOX 47360 RIYADH 11552 KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA T: +966 11 5253333 E: GACA-INFO@GACA.GOV.SA W: WWW.GACA.COM.SA

The airport at this stage began by operating six gates, but these will gradually be increased during this pilot operation phase.

The trial run is a scientific and practical approach that is adopted when implementing major infrastructure projects around the world. This allows for testing of vital facilities in a safe and purposeful manner. The procedure focuses on testing all of the operating systems, identifying technical problems and solving them before full operation commences. Improving airport security procedures and operational safety, as well as improving passenger experience, are some of the main objectives of GACA in this trial run.

There are four phases of trial operations, the first phase began in May 2018. The second phase ran from July to September 2018. At this stage, the airport received a number of domestic flights. The third phase ran from November to December 2018, during which all domestic flights were received at the airport. The airport will be fully operational from the first half of 2019, which is the fourth phase, during which the airport will welcome domestic and international flights through 46 gates.

Covering 105 square kilometers, the new airport will incorporate extensive facilities, including an automatic railway system for transporting passengers of international flights inside the hall complex and a tunnel that connects to a maintenance centre. It is also worth mentioning that the new KAIA can serve 70 aircraft at the same time by mobile bridges, as well as having parking spaces around the terminal complex that accommodate 28 aircraft.

Connecting the Airport GACA has provided an all-embracing roads network, including bridges,

connecting the main roads in Jeddah with the new KAIA. In the first phase of the project, GACA ensured the development of the very latest means of transport to connect passengers through KAIA with the road network and Al Harmain railroad.

This included the implementation of 36 kilometres of surface roads and 14 kilometres of bridges. In October 2017, GACA opened Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Road, which connects the main entrance of the new airport to Prince Majed Road, Al Harmain Road East and Madinah Road West at a length of 5 kilometres and a width of 46 metres, with a capacity of three lanes in each direction.

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34 GENERAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL AVIATION (GACA) of halogen illumination. This is done to reduce heat emission and thus saves energy, as well as cooling in an effort to improve operation and maintenance performance.

The KAIA project also includes a parking area for 21,665 vehicles, incorporating a multi-level parking structure that can accommodate 8,209 vehicles, including 749 taxicabs and 48 buses. There is an area allocated for car rental companies, too, which can accommodate 1,222 vehicles, as well as a long-term parking area that can accommodate 4,344 vehicles. Parking for business and first-class passengers is also available with a capacity of 145 parking spaces, while 119 spaces are available for VIP parking. Two areas for staff parking, one that can accommodate 1,521 vehicles and the other that can accommodate 2,936 vehicles, are also available.

This huge project was also linked to Al Harmain railroad station by constructing a train station within the project spanning an area of 12,000m2, containing two docking stations at a length of 519 metres.

State-of-the-Art Luggage System GACA has put the latest luggage handling system in operation at KAIA, installing a sophisticated and flexible system that reaches 34 kilometre in length. The new system aims to link all passengers’ luggage, including those on transit flights, with an assured accuracy and speed in transferring and delivering their bags. The time it takes to transfer one piece is about 9 to 25 minutes, and the new system features a trolley for each bag to ensure safety and timely delivery.

Luggage handling is run through an advanced electronic system that carry passengers’ baggage from the check-in counter area to the aircraft in a very short period of time, with full-automated control without any human interference. It is accomplished through very accurate programming, which adds flight number, destination and passenger information to each piece. This the largest system in use that transports luggage and provides full protection for passenger bags from loss or damage thanks to its speed, flexibility and control.

The 34km of the baggage system is in the form of conveyor belts, including 9km that are designated for ‘tub trax’ for fast trolleys.

The whole system is operated under a complete automated control system

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Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), which has 220 counters for standard size luggage and 11 counters for oversize luggage. In addition, 16 counters are used for transit flights, while 16 conveyor belts are used for receiving luggage on arriving flights; these conveyor belts reach a grand total of 1,700 metres in length.

This sophisticated and advanced system also provides 32 x-ray machines, 1,500 electric substations and contains 40,000 metres of cables.

Setting Environmental Standards KAIA, with its new and unique design, is rated as the most important and most distinguished airport in the region. Jeddah is, of course, an important city on the world map, and so it is vital that it has a high quality, fully serviced airport that can compete with the best on the international stage.And this is exactly what has been achieved.

A few things were taken into consideration when designing the airport to make it eligible for the LEED award, which is given to environmentally friendly projects. These include the environmental elements in use, recycling energy and water, the construction materials chosen, and the adoption of LED lighting instead

Linking the Future to the Past GACA has decorated the entrances to the check-in area at KAIA with beautiful paintings of the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud (God bless his soul), the Kingdom’s founding king. This is in order to connect the Kingdom’s exciting present to its ancient past. A number of international artists presented some incredible works of art to give the airport a feeling of creativity and possibility.

Overseas artists, including Alex Hamilton, Timothy O’Brien, Martin Simpson, Philip West, Chris French and Ronaldo Wong, created 10 paintings of the founding father of the country, King Abdulaziz. They also completed a number of paintings of aircraft, such as the historic Dakota. The artwork that decorates the halls of the airport tells a story about the great history of King Abdulaziz as it relates to civil aviation.

These paintings, which will be viewed by the travelling public, reflect the bond and the gratefulness of Jeddah airport (the gate of the two holy sites) to the founder of the Kingdom, who the airport is named after.

The paintings reflect the great interest bestowed by the founding father on the civil aviation sector, with King Abdulaziz realising very early on the importance of its role. He set up the first building blocks of civil aviation and dedicated his own private plane, gifted to him by President Roosevelt, to the people of the Kingdom.

A Tradition of Aviation Innovation Thereafter, the first domestic flights between Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran

were introduced and, in just a few months, three planes of the same model were purchased. This was the dawn of the civil aviation industry in the Kingdom.

It should be noted that after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia obtained its first civilian aircraft in 1945 (1364 H), a number of dirt runways were built, which included Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran, Hawiyah, Taif, Hofuf, Buraidh, Jazan, Al Kharj and Afif.

The first flight that King Abdulaziz took was on the 25th of Shawal 1364 H, corresponding to the 4th of October 1945, flying from Afif to Al Hawiyah in Taif.

Meanwhile, Jeddah witnessed the construction of the first modern and fully integrated airport in the Kingdom. The airport was built in the Al- Kandara district and was inaugurated in 1372 H (1952) under the patronage of King Saud bin Abdulaziz, who was the Crown Prince.

Furthermore, King Saud inaugurated Dhahran International Airport in 1962, which continued to be the main airport in the Eastern Province, until King Fahad International airport was erected at a different location and was inaugurated by the then Crown Prince, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

In the meantime, King Khalid bin Abdulaziz inaugurated King Abdulaziz International Airport on 8/4/1401 H corresponding to 1/4/1981 to replace the old Jeddah airport.

King Khalid International Airport, which replaced the old Riyadh airport, was inaugurated by King Fahad bin Abdulaziz (mercy upon his soul) on 12/2/1404 H corresponding to 16/11/1983.

Major achievements in civil aviation have followed, and now the Kingdom has a total number of 27 airports that have regularly scheduled flights.

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